There are many populations that live with injustices: People who are poor. People who deal with mental illness. People who have a criminal history. People who lack access to education, job training, etc.
Here are four actions we can each take to help justice happen:
1. Increase proximity.
Get close to the person dealing with injustice. Listen well. Be present.
Making assumptions is rarely helpful. Making an effort to truly understand can be life impacting for you and for the person dealing with the injustice.
2. Change our language.
We so often talk about politically correct (PC) language. Let us think about this for a moment. My premise is that, before we named this PC, it was Biblically correct language. As we are each made in God's image, we would speak that versus speaking something like; "he's just an addict. Or she's just stupid. And on and on. NO, we are Biblically correct in speaking, "this person is loved by God and made in His image...and this person deals with an addiction. " This woman is made in the image of God. She's not had opportunities to pursue an education or obtain skills."
We also need to look at why we use words of anger and/or fear about certain populations. Discussions about people who are dealing with being homeless often have fear words, anger words . . . "Why don't they just get a job?! Stop begging and work. (Anger). OR, "Not in my neighborhood. I don't want them that close, ruining everything. (Fear).
We CHOOSE to act out of love or fear when dealing with any population. Or any Neighbor in Need.
3. Stay hopeful.
To continue to be persistent. This can become difficult in the 'long haul." One crucial way to combat becoming hopeless is to fill our minds with Truth. Scripture is FULL of Hope! Again, this is a choice we make.
4. Know that we CAN do hard things.
We are not promised a life of ease. We are in a battle for people whom GOD dearly loves.
"Dear Children, Let us not love with words or speech . . . but with ACTION and in TRUTH." 1 John 3:18
What is your part, your calling, in the battle for justice in our community?
Here are four actions we can each take to help justice happen:
1. Increase proximity.
Get close to the person dealing with injustice. Listen well. Be present.
Making assumptions is rarely helpful. Making an effort to truly understand can be life impacting for you and for the person dealing with the injustice.
2. Change our language.
We so often talk about politically correct (PC) language. Let us think about this for a moment. My premise is that, before we named this PC, it was Biblically correct language. As we are each made in God's image, we would speak that versus speaking something like; "he's just an addict. Or she's just stupid. And on and on. NO, we are Biblically correct in speaking, "this person is loved by God and made in His image...and this person deals with an addiction. " This woman is made in the image of God. She's not had opportunities to pursue an education or obtain skills."
We also need to look at why we use words of anger and/or fear about certain populations. Discussions about people who are dealing with being homeless often have fear words, anger words . . . "Why don't they just get a job?! Stop begging and work. (Anger). OR, "Not in my neighborhood. I don't want them that close, ruining everything. (Fear).
We CHOOSE to act out of love or fear when dealing with any population. Or any Neighbor in Need.
3. Stay hopeful.
To continue to be persistent. This can become difficult in the 'long haul." One crucial way to combat becoming hopeless is to fill our minds with Truth. Scripture is FULL of Hope! Again, this is a choice we make.
4. Know that we CAN do hard things.
We are not promised a life of ease. We are in a battle for people whom GOD dearly loves.
"Dear Children, Let us not love with words or speech . . . but with ACTION and in TRUTH." 1 John 3:18
What is your part, your calling, in the battle for justice in our community?