Of Prayer and Justice

Jesus tells the parable of the Persistent Widow in Luke 18. One of the applications that he cites is this: So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly!

I'm not sure that I get it. I am becoming more and more aware of the injustice in this world. From people dying somewhere in Africa because they don't have access to clean water to folks in State College getting pushed out of their mobile home park to make way for Krispy Kreme Donuts or apartments that produce more income for the owners, it's plain to see that injustice is prevalent.

Jesus appears to be saying that if his followers will pray, and continue to pray, that God will bring justice to those in need--and quickly.

I believe in prayer. I believe in God's faithfulness. My time-frame and God's time-frame are probably vastly different. I guess that I'm wrestling with how this all fits together. All this injustice certainly flies in the face of God's mercy, and his command for us to be compassionate.

One of the ways that God (who is not an unjust judge at all) works to combat injustice, need, and other societal ills is through his people. We who have resources must jump in to help.

Jesus told the rich man to sell everything he had and give to the poor. That's how the early church did things (Acts 2:45 and Acts 4:32-35)

Our 8th grade girls are buying gifts for a girl who needs things tonight. Our children's ministry is putting together a project to raise money to build wells in Africa for people living with HIV/Aids through Blood:Water Mission.

Justice. Mercy. Compassion. Prayer.

I think there's a tie-in here with something else that my wife and I have been talking about: selfishness vs. sacrifice.

Perhaps there's more to come...