When the elephant steps on the tail of the mouse, what should you do? Should you be neutral?
It is Desmond Tutu, former Anglican Archbishop of South Africa who said: If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.
This statement is very relevant today just as it was at the time it was made. This is true because injustice will always be with us.
Injustice in society today comes in many forms. We have injustice that is done by one person against another person or injustice that is found within a system of governance. Social and political systems can be unjust and can hinder people from reaching their potential as God intended for them.
Last week and this week has seen a lot of anger expressed in the wake of the death of a black person in the USA. The man was killed by a police officer. It is ironic that a person who is supposed to enforce the law is the one who does the exact opposite.
A lot of people have expressed their views on the issue. In the USA where this injustice happened, many people have expressed their anger by turning to violence.
These events have raised many questions. For example, what do we do when we are confronted with such events? Do we stand with those who are demonstrating are do we stand with those whose property has been destroyed and whose lives have been shattered?
Fortunately, the Bible is very clear about these issues.
The root cause of what we are seeing in these manifestations is sin in the hearts of men.
The sin we are talking about here is partiality. Partiality is when we show a liking or dislike for one person against another because of their race, tribe, social status, education or any other similar reason.
James 2:9 tells us that “But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors”. James teaches us that favoritism and racism and tribalism are wrong, and that a system that treats people differently because of their color or status or race is sinful.
The Bible tells us in Micah 6:8: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
God expects us to show justice, to be kind to others and to be humble in our actions. Humility is when we consider others to be more deserving than us.
Therefore, God is clear that he does not tolerate those who practice injustice, whether as individuals or within a system.
But, there is the other question of violence that we are now witnessing as people protest. Where does God stand on this issue?
1 Peter 3:9 says: “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing”.
God says we should not take revenge against those who have hurt us. The Psalmist reminds us in Psalm 11:5 that, “The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion”.
What is my point in all this: One, God hates every kind of injustice against his people because all lives matter to God.
Two, God hates every kind of violence. In place of revenge, He wants us to bless those who harm us.
When God says that we should bless those who harm us, it does not mean that the law should not take its course for someone who has violated the law. Those who violate the laws of any land should face the full force of the law.
When we forgive those who hurt us, it means that we are leaving them in the hands of God who knows when and how to punish them. He knows their needs more than us.
So, what should you and I as believers do? Well, we need to go back to what Desmond Tutu said: We should not keep quiet in the face of injustice. We are God’s voice in this generation and we should speak against injustice and violence when they happen in our midst.
All lives matter to God. Christ died for all – white, brown, black and yellow, victim and perpetrator. He died for all. All people are lost and they need the grace of God.
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