Seeking Justice

Most Americans know the phrase, “Innocent until proven guilty.” This is one crucial foundation of America’s judicial system and is quoted in the United States Constitution under The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 11, which states: "Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence." In article 10, the right for a fair trial is also mentioned. On the surface, these principles give a strong assurance that justice will prevail in almost every court case; however, no matter what laws are passed or principles instilled, mankind is corrupt. In light of such depravity, we often see justice, in this life, become buried under the weight of bribery, deception, connections, fear, and position. Claims of wrongdoing have often been squelched by threats or appeased through payouts. There is also another factor involved in our attempts at reaping justice. It is the ever changing sentiment of what type of punishment should be administered. Where one person would say, “Geez! He practically got a slap on the wrist!” Another would declare, “Oh my! That seems a little harsh to me.” Never mind whether justice is truly served; we can’t even agree on which punishment actually fits the crime!

Obviously, as a believer in Christ, I have the assurance that the Judge of all the earth will one day right all wrongs and the perfect justice He gives can never be redacted or contended (Genesis 18:25, 1 Peter 4:5). Yet, so often my eyes are focused on what is seen around me and not on what is promised in scripture that I cannot help but be like Habakkuk crying out, “Your eyes are too pure to look at evil. You can't watch wickedness. Why do You keep watching treacherous people? Why are You silent when wicked people swallow those who are more righteous than they are?” (Habakkuk 1:13 / GWT) Attempting to reconcile the truth of God’s goodness and sovereignty with the truth of man’s wickedness and free will is indeed a hard endeavor. Some people just give up trying to understand it. They will either hold to man’s innate goodness or just deny God’s very existence. If they can’t grasp it, they eschew it.

This sort of vengeful denial is nothing new. The prophet Elijah whined about his solitary faithfulness, not realizing there were many others committed to God. In Psalm 73, Asaph would vehemently question why evil prevailed on earth, yet later affirm that wickedness could never overshadow the glory of God. Thomas would not heed to the many eyewitness accounts regarding Christ’s resurrection. He was critical. He wanted proof of life before his own eyes and when he finally saw Jesus for himself, he made one of the most definitive declarations concerning the deity of Christ (John 20). Many people who followed God in scripture, were still plagued with qualms regarding sovereignty in the midst of suffering and sin. They were not blind sheep running off some cliff in glee. They were inquisitive and sometimes doubtful, yet in the midst of their painful postulations, they clung to the hope that the Almighty was keeping account of the good and the bad and that one day He would “...wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain...” (Revelation 21:4).

Now I am not stating that we should just sit idly by, while watching the chaos of this world and say, “Well, one day everything will be okay and I can’t really do anything about it so I’m just going to mind my own business.” Not a chance. The apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:11, “Have nothing to do with the useless works that darkness produces. Instead, expose them for what they are (GWT).” The King James uses the word reprove rather than expose, but the Greek word ἐλέγχω carries the meaning both ways in that one must convict and cry out over such wickedness. Earlier, I wrote about how evil works are oftentimes swept under the rug because of bribes, threats, connections etc. But I want to focus on a big problem within churches that has gone on for years. It is the problem of loyalty. Yes, loyalty.

Understand, I fully believe that the Bible teaches that there is to be respect for those who labor in the ministry. Of course, all believers are to be laborers in the gospel, but we are specifically dealing with the role of leaders in the church. 1 Timothy 5:17 states, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine (KJV).” By no means am I advocating for people to be hugely critical of a pastor or to demean the role of deacons, elders, associates etc. There should be respect. There should be a sense of gratitude over those who strive to edify and lead others into God’s truth. Yet, far too often I have found a pervasive mentality within church government that one is supposed to never question those who are “over him.” I have heard some preachers practically demand reverence from others. When I was a youth pastor in South Carolina, there was a man in the church that had gotten angry with me, simply because I sent a letter out to him and his wife relaying the excitement and gratitude I had being a part of the church work (This letter was also sent out to every family in the congregation). So, why was he mad about my letter? Well, he didn’t like the fact that I prefixed his name with Mr. instead of Rev. Such insolence from me!

I have heard sermons from various preachers and lectures from spiritual leaders that have slyly instilled the notion that there should be an unquestioning devotion to their office. Though the apostle Paul marveled over how the church of Corinth could so easily fall prey to the pomp vitriol of self aggrandized leaders (2 Corinthians 11), while disdaining his own humble efforts and heartfelt service, did he demand loyalty? Did he scream out for unquestioning devotion? Did he berate them for not forking over enough money for his ministry? No! He resoundingly declared, “But I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls, even if loving you more and more, I am loved the less. (2 Corinthians 12:15 / LITV)” I am calling for a holy balance where the congregation doesn’t demean OR deify spiritual leaders! Like the Corinthian believers, one would be utterly foolish to pridefully cast aside the love and sacrifice of a minister, while counting their role as trite. In the same way though, one would be ridiculous to hold up a spiritual leader as some glorious, untouchable being. Sheer nonsense!

When I ministered in Georgia, I would often tell the congregation that they should never place their faith in the personality of a preacher, but only in the person of Christ. Sadly, I have seen numerous times where a scandal would break out regarding some “strong”, spiritual leader, and in the end, several professed believers would end up renouncing the faith. They so highly viewed the “man of God” that they couldn’t imagine how such a thing could happen and Christianity still be true. Quite simply, they got their eyes off of God Himself! When an allegation did come to light, it would often be found out that certain people within the congregation knew well in advance such accusations were made against the spiritual leader, but brushed them aside as nonsense or hushed them away with money. A “man of God” is still a man.

Respect him, fine, but do not allow that respect to turn into its own form of worship. Ultimately, if we want to see better justice in this world then it must first begin within our homes and churches. I have a very dear relative who was molested many years ago by an evangelist. This same evangelist preached in churches across America and had a ranch where troubled teens went to “better themselves.” Accusations were made against him, but nothing was done. The voices of young “riff raff” could not surpass the apparent reputation of this “godly” man. The evangelist is now deceased, but his supposed faithful legacy is still magnified by several who only saw what was on the surface. Yet, what about those who were abused by him?! What about the millions of children who are abused everyday?! Over and over, there are stories of abuse at the hands of priests and religious leaders, many in the entertainment industry, those within the framework of politics and big business etc. Is there a voice for the broken and battered or are their voices drowned out by money, threats, or connections?

Justice will be served one day, “for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth (Psalms 96:13 / KJV).” We must ask ourselves if we are striving to be a voice today for those who have been hurt and who are hurting? No matter what threats are sent my way, no matter if I lose friends or never receive the limelight of fabricated praise, may I always stand firm on God’s truth and stand against the works of darkness! May I expose them while lifting high the light of Christ!