Does this jerk at your heart?  The above picture was taken by a photographer on March 24, 2008 at a business on St. Catherine Ouest.   What should we do about it?  What can we do about it?

Impact is taking off on social justice causes.  In January 2008, we sponsored Justice Jam and 275 people attended that event raising $1600 for International Justice Mission.  In March, we served food to about 80 people at the Mission of the Great Shepherd on a Saturday.  In April, a handfull of people fed homeless people on the streets as a random act of expressing God’s love.   We can, and will do much more, as you catch the vision.  What are you called to do to make an impact on a social justice issue in the name of Christ?  Check back here for more info soon!

A Word About Social Justice

By Jeremy Jackson

Oppression, poverty, bondage, physical, sexual and mental abuse, discrimination, prejudice, violence.  What causes injustice?   Will the unjust ever be brought to justice?  Is there an end to all these horrible things and is that at all relevant for our lives now?

Prophets in the Bible lamented again and again at the injustice perpetrated by Israel, God’s chosen people.  In the Book of Amos, the Israelites are accused of oppressing the poor, debasing what God had established as sacred, being selfish, materialistic, glutonous, and proud.  Though the Israel of that day was wealthy and successful, their lives were leading to nothing of eternal value and worth.  The prophet gives the image of Israel as being a young woman dead before her time of promise.  This is a culture not too different from ours today.  We have achieved great success in the arts, culture, and education, but few of us have experienced true personal satisfaction.  So many are still seeking, spiritually and have not found the fulfillment that comes through a relationship with the Living God.

The Bible explains that a lack of care for God leads to death and destruction.  Sin - missing the mark God has set for us as humans - results only in death and separation from God; Romans six  23 says - “for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus”.  Paul’s letter to the Romans (in 3:23) also says that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”, and that salvation only comes through the love of Christ Jesus.  Many religious figures have said great things and taught much that is true, but only Jesus claimed to be the Truth.   And only He taught that he is the way to heaven.

While many in Israel at that time tried to find satisfaction in living only for themselves and the things that they loved, others thought that doing certain religious actions would satisfy God and that because of these actions they would be saved from their wrongs on judgment day.  They pined for their vindication as the people who were right all along in what they called “the day of the LORD”.  Our guess is that these people thought that God didn’t really care about the injustice going on in their midst.  They didn’t believe that they were meant to leave their world better than they found it.  Well, the Israelites were told again and again by the prophets that they too would be judged, and in some cases they were judged more harshly than the people around them because they were the people God had called to be his representatives and be like Him.  While they thought they were safe not doing anything wrong, God’s anger burned against them for the good that they had the opportunity to but didn’t do.

If you’re in either of these situations, the fact is that there is injustice happening all around us.  And this is not just some distant, metaphysical problem.  There is a relational disconnect between the creation and the creator.  The creator intended to have relationship with the creation through people.  But the Bible and our experience show that our attitudes and actions have separated us from God.  And most of us don’t know where we will be when we die.  The need is clear then for every person to commit to a changed life and come into a saving faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ.  We challenge all in our community to engage with the teachings and life of Jesus, and consider seriously his mission and purpose.

Because of these things, to do this work, we are uniting around the person of Jesus Christ.  He is our Lord, and Savior.  In our lives and throughout the world, there is none who brings Justice like he does.  So, until Justice rolls down like waters … Jeremy