A Flood of Justice

So the past couple weeks, I have been listening to Jon Foreman a lot, which isn't too out of the ordinary. However, I have been listening to one song more than others: 'Instead of a Show.' The lyrics indicate that rather than constantly being fed and fed by the church and instead of the church putting on a show for those in attendance, the church should open up a flood of justice.

As I think about these things, I can't help but feel small. After all, I am just one college aged kid who doesn't know as much about life or difficult circumstances as most other people in the world do. I feel small because I don't know what difference I can make or whether or not I will mess it up if I can make a difference. But then again, if I am a part of God's plan, I don't really think I have a say in whether or not I can mess it up.

And going back to the Jon Foreman's song something really resonates with me when I think about the words and what the role of the church should be in the world. We (the church, God's people) are a people set apart by God, not simply so that we can feel special or have a bigger place in God's heart, but rather so that we can turn around and show others that the spot we have in God's heart is not just for us but for everyone else too. And that sounds to me like a good bit of justice.

From last summer I really learned a lot about some of the injustices of the world. Spending time with street kids helped me to see that there is a lot that has gone wrong with the world. The fact that kids don’t have anywhere to go where they feel wanted that they turn to the streets is, in my mind, a terrible thing. I have to think about my growing up and realize that I had more than I could have ever needed and I grew up in a church that was very much the same way.

So where does the church fit on the continuum of justice? Has it been moving toward the justice end more and more? Or the injustice end? And even more than the church, where do I fit on the continuum?

"And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

What would it look like if every action I took was deeply cemented in justice? If every action of every Jesus follower was first dedicated to justice? That flood of justice just might start to look a little bit like the kingdom of God here on earth.