The Justice Conference was in Philadelphia, also a place with lots of American history. If you hear of people fighting for justice, maybe thoughts of Civil Rights activists or picket-signs flash in your head. Maybe your impression is some over-zealous complainers who should just accept that life will never be perfect. At the Justice Conference, many speakers came and informed the 5,000 people attending of their stories of justice and a proper approach to fighting for it. More importantly, we were shown lots of scripture on God's justice and righteousness. Often in the Bible, these two characteristics of God, His justness and righteousness, go hand in hand.
"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you." -Psalm 89:14
"For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face." -Psalm 11:7
"The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love." -Psalm 33:5
"I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion." -Hosea 2:19
"'Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the LORD." -Jeremiah 9:23-24
Obviously this subject is important to God and I'm trying to figure out what that means for me. Probably the most powerful moments for me at the conference were during one of the 15 minute breaks. There were booths to many ministries with tons of information about them. It almost seemed like a shopping center for your broken heart's desire to serve. Lots of people talking, laughing, sharing great stories, positive chatter. Then I saw a closed-off tent that people could walk through. I wasn't exactly sure what was inside but the outside had a wooden sign that read "27 million slaves", the number believed to exist today. As I walked in, there was a sign that showed four pictures of girls between 6 and 13 years old. Next to the pictures were descriptions of their "experience" and how much certain things done to them would cost you. It was a menu typical in places where sex slavery occurs. 6 through 13! Well, that set the mood for this very slow and somber walk. A red light bulb hung from the ceiling, as a symbol for the "red light districts" where sex slavery occurs. To the right of the tent, on the floor lay a tattered mattress with a tattered blanket and a tattered stuffed bear as a symbol for where a child's life is tattered. Further down the tent, a broken mirror with a story written of how a child who refused to obey her "master" was thrown into a mirror as punishment. Even further down, an open wooden box rests, maybe 4ft by 3ft by 3ft, with a story written of an orphan who was promised food, kidnapped, stored in a shipping crate with three other girls, thrown overboard when the "cargo" was being check on deck, recaptured, and sold into slavery.
The fact that this is happening makes me mad. I can very easily be filled with hate. Sin is a big problem, not just to point at in others, but in ourselves as well. A quote from the conference that will stick with me was, "People are more willing to fix the world than they are to fix themselves." I don't have a problem, just everyone else does. Everyone makes mistakes, but only those other people have to pay and repent.
Yes, I am overjoyed that Jesus has redeemed my life from the pit and crowned me with love and compassion. I am grateful for all the blessings He has given me and the ways He has provided. I just look at Matthew 25:31-46 and wonder where the church is? I was encouraged to bump into a pastor from the church I grew up in. He said he wanted to learn how to communicate justice to the congregation, a topic seldom preached on in today's church. In a consuming world, I can see why not. In a capitalistic country, I can see why not. In a "move-up-the-corporate-ladder" nation, I can see why not. I refrain from making totalistic judgments on all churches, but many have missed a huge part of Jesus' teachings. If justice was discussed in a sermon I saw, it never came across as vital in a Christian's life. It just seemed like a small slice with justice toppings in the God pizza when in fact it is an ingredient (k)needed in the whole dough.
On the topic of sex trafficking, the first time I heard that child prostitution was happening in the world was during my time working at the Christian bookstore where we were selling CD's called "Freedom", a compilation of artists who performed songs about justice. It raised money for the International Justice Mission, an organization that fights against human trafficking. I bought one to support the cause, not really getting it for the music. Few movies have made me cry, but only two songs in my life, that I can remember, have ever made me cry.
Here's one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R9rdKoCqGY
Please pray whatever God is putting on your heart right now. If you're indifferent, ask him why you are. If you're feeling a hurt, cast your anxiety on him because he cares for you. He is the maker and perfecter of your heart. He desires both justice and righteousness. Do you? Please pray that I would desire them more than I do.
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