A Voice for the Voiceless (2)

Founders stirred up by poverty/starvation/injustice they saw around them. / Realised if gospel was to have any effect on poor of their time, then needed to be backed up with actions > soup, soap, and salvation.

Simply reflects God’s heart for poor.

Young Bible college student, decided to go through Bible > cut out every reference to justice/poor. Genesis>Revelation. When finished, Bible in shreds > wouldn’t hold together/fell apart in his hands. Bible has much to say about justice/poor - over 1,000 references.

God

God’s Heart for the Poor

1 Samuel 2:8 NLT

He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, placing them in seats of honor. For all the earth is the Lord’s, and he has set the world in order.

Our God is a compassionate G who has no hesitation in intervening to liberate poor/needy. / Exodus - G frees Hebrew slaves from Egypt. / The Law he gives Moses protects poor and needy, upholding their rights. / Prophets like Amos, Micah warn God’s people they’ll be punished if they don’t act justly/care for the poor. / Psalms/Proverbs portray G as one who judges those who don’t help poor and who is moved by love/compassion to take action himself to being justice to those in despair.

Jesus Demonstrates Social Action

Luke 4:18–19 NLT

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”

God’s demand for justice was made flesh in J. His life = dramatic example of G’s heart for the poor. / J - G’s Son/G the Son = born/lived in poverty/homeless/refugee/lived & preached social gospel/especially spent time with powerless/lonely/broken/hungry/sick/broken-hearted/voiceless/scandalised respectable society.

Fighting for justice for poor was his mission, reason he came to earth.

You

Will You Fight?

“While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight While little children go hungry, as they do now, I'll fight While men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight While there is a drunkard left, While there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, While there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight-I'll fight to the very end!” (General William Booth)

If it was J’s fight, then it’s ours too. / He left his mission in our hands. / J’s mission is now TSA’s mission.

Are there women weeping/children hungry/men in/out of prison/drunkards/girls on streets/dark souls without light of God? Then we must fight!

Speak Up!

Proverbs 31:8–9 NLT

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.

Speak up = lit. open your mouth. / Speak up for rights of poor/those who cannot speak for themselves. / Defend them. / Serve them / Remove their misery.

Fight Against Destitution

Right now, more and more people are being pulled into poverty trap by cost of living crisis. As Christians/Salvationists, we need to do all we can to help. Maybe you could volunteer - food bank, employment plus, soup run, winter shelter, debt counselling, etc.

There are hungry/thirsty/homeless/sick/imprisoned/broken people out there, and they need us. They Need Christ.

Next Steps

They Need Christ

There are people hurting in the world out there. They need you, they need me, they need Christ. There are children crying and no one to care. They need you, they need me, they need Christ. And they’ll go on hurting in the world out there, And they’ll go on dying, drowning in despair, And they’ll go on crying, that’s unless we care! They need you, they need me, they need Christ. 2 There are people living who would rather die. They need you, they need me, they need Christ. And their Christian neighbours simply pass them by! They need you, they need me, they need Christ. There are people sitting by a silent phone, People cold and hungry, people left alone, Suicides for reasons that remain unknown. They need you, they need me, they need Christ. 3 There’s the prostitute, and there’s the pris’ner too. They need you, they need me, they need Christ. There’s the skid row fella who won’t look at you. They need you, they need me, they need Christ. The compulsive gambler dreaming of his yacht, And the lad that’s stealing just to get his ‘shot’, And the girl that’s pregnant and pretends she’s not. They need you, they need me, they need Christ. 4 There are runaways who want a place to go. They need you, they need me, they need Christ. There are alcoholics who don’t seem to know? They need you, they need me, they need Christ. There are godless people who have lost their way, And they need God’s love but they’re afraid to say. If we close our eyes perhaps they’ll go away Without you, without me, without Christ. John Gowans (1934-2012) © The General of The Salvation Army. Used By Permission. CCL Licence No. 30158 Copied from The Song Book of The Salvation Army Song Number 935

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