THE AMOS PROJECT:
Seeking God's justice for children at risk
What is "injustice"?
Injustice could be defined as that which is not just, or righteous, according to God's standards. Injustice usually involves a violation of the rights of a person with less power by a person with more power. But more specifically in our world, when does an injustice occur?
Consider this explanation of the sin of injustice from Gary Haugen, President and CEO of International Justice Mission:
The sin of injustice is defined in the Bible as the abuse of power-abusing power by taking from others the good things that God intended for them, namely, their life, liberty, dignity, or the fruits of their love or their labor. In other words, when a stronger person abuses his or her power by taking from a weaker person what God alone has given the weaker person-God judges this as sin. (Just Courage. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008.)
How does this happen in our world? Unfortunately, we can find many kinds of injustices happening every day:
- Exploitation of the poorest and least powerful
- Mistreatment of the fatherless and the widow
- Illegal land seizures
- Police brutality
- Human trafficking
- Children forced into the sex trade or bonded labor
Beyond these things, there are millions of children born with or orphaned by AIDS, refugees and other victims of war or persecution, and those without access to clean water, leading to preventable death and disease.
The list goes on, with injustices related to desperate human need as well as situations brought on by violent oppression of evil men.
Fortunately, we know that God cares about injustice. He identifies with, suffers with, and cares for the afflicted. As his people we are called to step out of safety and comfort to intervene with His strength for those who do not have the resources or support to stand up to their oppressors.
Ultimately God will crush all evil and eradicate injustice from the face of the earth, and His Kingdom will come in power. Until then, He has chosen to work through His people to be His instruments of justice and righteousness in the world.
