Throughout biblical and redemptive history, God has commanded (not suggested) that His people act in a way which display His character in a broken world. One of the things which mystifies most about the present global socio-economic situation is the derogation of that, in preference for advancing personal status.
ISAIAH 1:17 like many similar verses is extremely clear...
Note:
1) This is habitual and developmental, not a one off / extraordinary act for the cameras or those watching,
"learn... to do good"
Don't go near any brand which calls itself "Christian" but assumes the goodness in themselves. This is not the gospel. Our goodness is from Christ alone, teaching us to be like himself. Goodness starts with the admittance that we are not, rather than pretending before the world that we are the goodness they need, that we are the messiah or answer to their problems - that is not good and leads to no good place,
2) Justice is an absolute not a subjective opinion. Right is right, wrong is wrong, it does not depend on the difficulty of putting into it practice.
3) Correct oppression - nuff said.
4) Bringing justice to the Fatherless and pleading the widows cause is exactly where Ukraine is, and what the church honouring Christ are prioritising. Many new believers are widows and children who have received love and practical help through our ministry partners in the name of Christ.
5) All of the above is active. When Christians remain silent about what is wrong it is the opposite of being salt and light in our world. Salt stops the decay, silence condones it. Light brings attention to the darkness, it exposes... it doesn't procrastinate or sweep it under the carpet in the hope that it cannot be seen.
PRAY FOR JUSTICE AND CORRECTION NOT JUST "PEACE WHICH IS NO PEACE" (Jeremiah 8:11 springs to mind - when false prophets offer false hope)
Exodus 22:22 commands us not to take advantage of the widow or Fatherless. If we show no mercy, how then would we expect to receive from God ? (Matthew 5:7)
BBC quotes Nobel Peace Prize winner Oleksandra Matviichuk...
'We must return the human dimension' to talks, says Nobel Peace Prize winner
Joel Gunter
Reporting from Kyiv
Ukrainian human rights lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize winner Oleksandra Matviichuk tells the BBC that the “human dimension must be returned to the political process” taking place over the war.
“What will happen to the dozens of thousands illegally detained citizens, men and women, and prisoners of war… this question is very urgent,” Matviichuk says.
According to Ukrainian authorities, nearly 16,000 Ukrainian civilians are still in captivity in Russian prisons after being abducted by the invading army.
That's not counting the nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children estimated to have been taken to Russia.
In June, I spent time with families of Ukrainian civilians still detained in Russian prisons.
Their fear is that their loved ones are being left out of the discussions around peace, and there is no framework in place to return them to Ukraine.
Matviichuck says she has lost faith that Trump can bring a peaceful solution to the war.
“As a candidate for president, [he] said that he would finish this war in 24 hours. This is the longest 24 hours in history.”
- Matthew 25:40 - "you did it for me"
- Deuteronomy 15:11. Generosity to the poor is hand in hand with this, not greed (Luke 14:12-14)
- James 1:27 Loving widows and orphans is not the only expression of true faith but it is a great bellwether of its health and existence.
- Proverbs 14:31
- Prov 31:8-9, Ps 82:3-4. We speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.
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