Justice League

Justice

Intro

Here in Forerunner we have tried our very best to focus on the greatest commandment that there is.

Matthew 22:36-40 (NKJV) "“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment…

And we have done ok (C-) with the second which Jesus identifies as being just as important…

 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”"

The C- is based entirely on the fact that we have recognized that people on the other side of the planet are still considered our neighbor.  But what about our real neighbors…

What good can the community say that we are?

What evidence is there?

Are we relevant to our community?  In our old religious community where church populations are on the decline.  Are we showing them a Jesus that is very much alive and well, and still reigning over the universe?  Are we showing them that this generation is not a hopeless self-centered self-serving lot, but that Jesus is still changing lives today? 

I say what proof is there to this community that we are called to be a shining light on a hill to, that Jesus is Alive!

You have responded in great ways to the needs of people overseas.  You have fed the poor and seen that they are cared for and that the they are taught the Gospel.  You have put Bibles in the hands of the persecuted Chinese Church, so that their passion may be directed with Knowledge.  So that they can come to know the heart of God as it is revealed in Scriptures. 

But what about your neighbor?  What about the child that is born into a house where the parent’s are addicted to drugs?  Is that fair?  Is that Justice?  How will they see and know the love of Christ?

What about the grandma who has no one to help her maintain her house, or mow her yard for her?  After a life of hard work, raising children, at an age where she is supposed to be able to relax and enjoy the fruit of her labors.  Is that Justice?

That’s not fair!

Growing up I used to get so mad when my sister got to go out and do things and I had to stay home.  Or she got to stay out later than I did.  I would get mad and shout “It’s not fair!”  It wasn’t my fault that I was younger.  We used to drive our parents crazy making them try to figure out what would seem fair to a couple of adolescents.

How do you feel when you are treated unfairly? 

Someone gets preferential treatment over you?

There is something inside of us that cries out against injustice.

As a Christian we gain some understanding to the kind of world we live in, but I also believe that our sense of Justice should be even stronger. 

Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT) "You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."

Are these things a reflection of the God of Justice that we serve? 

Romans 10:14 (NLT) "But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?"

You have been taught the Word.  You have been encouraged.  Now it is time that you minister.

This is my hope:

I hope that tonight a bunch of you get pregnant!

One day this challenge will burn in the heart of a few people so that they get a determination deep down in their bellies to do something about it.  This type of ministry would be a great opportunity for those people who maybe don’t want to be on the stage, or who don’t really want to sing in a mic or play an instrument, but still have the desire to minister to people. 

It would be a no glory team that simply serves people in order to serve Christ.

The team could go out once or twice a month on Saturdays.  It would likely involve working with the city for projects and sponsorship, and working with some people in our church.

In the winter this Justice League could help shovel snow for people who cannot do it themselves.  In the Fall you will rake and blow leaves for those who cannot.

James 1:27 (NLT) "Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us."

Until such time as a ministry can be shaped into being, there is nothing stopping you from acting on your own or even grouping together with some friends and doing something.  In fact, it may well be that the ministry I just talked about will come about as a result of you doing just that. 

God is looking for a few good men and women.  He is looking across the whole earth for those to whom He can show His strength and favor.  Those who, when they hear the challenge of His call, will respond in faith to Him and say “Here am I, send me!”

Isaiah 6:8-9 (NKJV) "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” And He said, “Go…”

Instead of pointing to our own perceived needs all the time; instead of focusing on what we want and don’t have; what if we took seriously the commands in Scripture and began to serve the poor around us. 

I wonder how many of us classify ourselves as poor in our conversational speech, when really we are far from it. 

Did you know that next to idolatry there are more verses dealing with our responsibility to the poor than any other subject? 

Bring in food for the pantry?