Spirit of Complacency

Intro

Micah 6:8 NIV

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere

-Rev martin Luther King Jr.

Injustice is wrong. whether it is injustice in slavery, abortion or cheating your coworker out of a promotion. It can be as simple s lying to get ahead or to stay out of trouble, or as complex as gaining insider info and and using that info to advance yourself personally.

Do you and I practice injustice?

Injustice occurs when we actively work to harm and cheat others.

When we take advantage of those around us. Injustice has occured.

Maybe we take the credit for a project that was not own at work?

Maybe we actively work to steal? Lie? Abuse?

Perhaps we have an affair? Perhaps we oppress our neighbor? Or take advantage of our friend? Manipulate someone weaker than us?

All of these are injustices that occur when we raise our hand to tip the scales in our favor. An injustice has occured.

Amos 4:1–5 NIV

Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, “Bring us some drinks!” The Sovereign Lord has sworn by his holiness: “The time will surely come when you will be taken away with hooks, the last of you with fishhooks. You will each go straight out through breaches in the wall, and you will be cast out toward Harmon,” declares the Lord. “Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years. Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings— boast about them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do,” declares the Sovereign Lord.

Injustice also occurs when we remain silent in the presence of Injustice.

You see church the call of the Gospel is not just to not Sin, but to actively promote and stand for justice. Yes even if, No especially if it will cost you. That is the call of the Gospel. to stand up for those who have no voice.

Isaiah 1:17 NIV

Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

In Nazi Germany the German Church may not have persecuted the Jews, but they were certainly complicit in that tragedy. How? If they didn't drive the trains, or pull the trigger how were they complicit? They were complicit in the fact that they remained silent. In the face of this terror. they chose to shut up. Their silence was sin.

ERgo, When we stand idly by when others are oppressed we are complicit in that sin. You and I cannot stay silent and think God approves. But I have to feed my family. I need this I need that. If we remain silent in the face of grave injustice we are walking to our own judgement.

Pastor why are we talking about this? Because my friend Injustice is rising. small or large we must take a stand for truth and justice.

The CRT and Equity movement in this country is a platform for injustice. I do not believe it is going away.

Amos 6:1–6 NIV

Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come! Go to Kalneh and look at it; go from there to great Hamath, and then go down to Gath in Philistia. Are they better off than your two kingdoms? Is their land larger than yours? You put off the day of disaster and bring near a reign of terror. You lie on beds adorned with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves. You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments. You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.

Spiritual Complacency gives birth to Injustice.

First they came for the Communists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Socialists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists And I did not speak out Because I was not a trade unionist

Then they came for the Jews And I did not speak out Because I was not a Jew

Then they came for me And there was no one left To speak out for me

Pastor Martin Niemöller

To begin fighting Injustice we must start breaking our spiritual complacency.

Here is the reality. There is injustice. to rail and scream and point fingers at people is pointless. because the reason there is racism or violence or any for of injustice is not because one group oppressed another, but rather is because Sin has fractured us all and even our best attempts fall short.

Injustice will continue to grow until the church stands. Now I am not talking political rally. WE are not talking politics today. I’m not telling you to vote one way or the other. Because quite honest the republicans are as messed up as democrats. Our hope cannot be in a political party. Our hope must be in Jesus. Stand by reading the word. By praying. by seeking the face of God and then allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you to heal our land.

Stand up by doing justice, by treating others fairly. By speaking out in defense of others when injustices occur. even if it is your enemy.

Micah 6:8 NIV

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

So today,

Are you practicing injustice? are you turning a blind ey to injustice in others lives?

Would you defend your nieghbor if people to attack them unjustly? Or would you remain silent, held in fear of the cost you will pay.