Justice?

Jason Self

Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

0 ratings

· 20 views

Notes

Transcript

War in Oklahoma

The Tulsa Race Massacre

In 1921 there was a battle on American soil. Devastating attacks came by ground and firebombs and shots were fired upon the civilians odn the ground. The final destruction was that 35 city blocks where burned, 300, 800 were wounded and 9,000 people lost their homes.

See the neighborhood of Greenwood in Tulsa Oklahoma had become a center for affluent African American families, it had been nicknamed “Black Wall Street”

But on May 30th, Memorial Day, 19 year old black man, a shoe shiner, was accused of assaulting a 17 year old girl who was an elevator operator. A girl who ultimately declined to prosecute.

But as the shoe shiner was held in custody calls came in threatening lynchings. As a result, 75 armed black men gathered at the jail to protect the young man from being killed, they were ultimately persuaded that the authorities had things under control, but a shot rang out and with it the violence known as the Tulsa Race Massacre as White men rioted and began to destroy the affluent black neighborhood of Greenwood in retaliation.

Naive

When I was a kid and naive to the realities of the world, I heard about racism and it seemed like it was about the most idiotic thing imaginable. Surely by the time I was an adult this injustice would be a thing of the past.

Well, like I said, I was a kid and naive. There were complexities to the issue I couldn’t understand, having a child’s perspective of the world.

Not only did our country have the atrocities of slavery and bigotry sewn into it’s fabric, even at it’s founding; It also can’t be overlooked that when two cultures come into contact with each other there is often a clash.

If you add to this the reality, that the median family income in the United States for White Americans is $76,000 a year and the median income for African American families is $46,000 a year it is no surprise that in addition to the ethnic culture conflict there is in many cases a conflict of social class.

We see this most evidently in that the the poverty rate for White Americans is 9.6% and that of African Americans is 25.1% and with poverty is a correlation with crime, a truth we find across all societies and throughout history.

These realities create tension and the opportunity for political opportunism that has been exploited to great affect. Sadly, this thought I had as a child that racism would be a thing of the past by the time I had become and adult, couldn’t have been further from the truth.

Our message this morning is entitled “Justice”

Pray

America’s Original Sin

June 19th, this coming Saturday, is known as Juneteenth. It is a day that commemorate the last day where slavery was legal in the United States in 1865. 155 years ago, just 6 generations past and 2 years after the emancipation proclamation.

Some have used the Bible to justify racism and even slavery, particularly in the South. The argument was that since the Bible condones and even recommends slavery in it’s text, then slavery is lawful under God.

But what the proponents of slavery failed to include in context is that Exodus 21:16 is pretty clear about God’s view of what took place in Antebellum Slavery, that is that which took place before the civil war. In Exodus we read

Exodus 21:16 KJV 1900

16 And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

God never condoned the slavery that existed in this country, on the contrary it was a offence so grievous that death was ordered even for the one caught in possession of the slave. This isn’t a small matter.

In our country punishment for slaves included whipping, beating and mutilation, but the terms for slavery in the Bible dictate that a slave must be treated well.

Exodus 21:20 KJV 1900

20 And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.

The idea being the same vengeance that would be taken if a free person were to be beaten and killed.

For the most part slavery in the Bible was the result of the person not being able to take care of themselves and pay their debts. Israelite slaves were to be let go after 7 years. And even those of neighboring lands were to be set free if someone related came and paid their debt.

It looked nothing like Antebellum Slavery.

Social Justice

It is my contention that the church and the office of the pastor is not something that should be used for political gain. Political issues that are not addressed biblically really have no place being preached. We should all be more invested in the Kingdom of God than in the kingdom’s of God. And while i have a lot of very strong political feelings, this isn’t the place for them. It was a change for me, and probably a healthy change in hindsight, that I am refraining from posting politically on my facebook page, because I don’t want my political opinions to be a barrier to someone who needs to hear the gospel of Christ.

But there are times when the two collide, where the Word of God has something very specific to say on a matter. In those situations, we absolutely need to stand with the Bible regardless of the politics involved.

Today, unfortunately we are reaping the harvest for what was planted in this countries history. Racism, bigotry, and segregation.

And these things are being used as said earlier for political gain, and this is true even in churches. You may have heard the term ‘Social Justice’ but what you may not have heard is the term ‘Social Gospel’. It is a call not just to faith but to social reform

Statement on Social Justice

A few years ago a web page was created by a number of conservative Christian leaders. You may be familiar with some of the names: John MacArthur, Voddie Baucham, Phil Johnson, James White, Justin Peters, Paul Washer and the list goes on.

The website is called statmentonsocialjustice.com and it is just that. A conservative Christian statement regarding social justice. The problem that we have is that the the Social Justice movement as a whole has crept into the teachings of many churches and this statement serves to outline the Biblical position on the topics of Social Justice.

Race / Ethnicity

The section on Race and Ethnicity is worded well:

We affirm God made all people from one man. Though people often can be distinguished by different ethnicities and nationalities, they are ontological equals before God in both creation and redemption. “Race” is not a biblical category, but rather a social construct that often has been used to classify groups of people in terms of inferiority and superiority. All that is good, honest, just, and beautiful in various ethnic backgrounds and experiences can be celebrated as the fruit of God’s grace. All sinful actions and their results (including evils perpetrated between and upon ethnic groups by others) are to be confessed as sinful, repented of, and repudiated.

We deny that Christians should segregate themselves into racial groups or regard racial identity above, or even equal to, their identity in Christ. We deny that any divisions between people groups (from an unstated attitude of superiority to an overt spirit of resentment) have any legitimate place in the fellowship of the redeemed. We reject any teaching that encourages racial groups to view themselves as privileged oppressors or entitled victims of oppression. While we are to weep with those who weep, we deny that a person’s feelings of offense or oppression necessarily prove that someone else is guilty of sinful behaviors, oppression, or prejudice.

Whosoever

Men and Women regardless of race or ethnicity have been created as the image of God.

A very familiar passage and a prominant stop on the Romans Road if have used that as an outline for evangelism is Romans 10:13

Romans 10:13 KJV 1900

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

We have been taught to read whosoever as just meaning ‘anybody’ and that is true, but the word Whosever comes in context after verse 12 where we read

Romans 10:12 KJV 1900

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

There was absolutely racism within 1st Century Judaism. But God through the writings of the Apostle Paul made it clear that this is a human problem not a God problem. People may be racist but with God there is no difference.

Where to Side

This past year we have seen racial tensions turn from protest, to destruction and then to violence. Conservative Christian Churches are dividing on how to deal with these issues. But as Christians we can’t afford to ask the question of what is the correct response politically, we have to align ourselves with the truth and wisdom of God.

Truth is important.

Voddie Baucham, is a well respected preacher who incidentally happens to be a black man who grew up in a rough neighborhood. He recently wrote a book titled Fault Lines. And, in it he references Proverbs 18:17

Proverbs 18:17 KJV 1900

17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; But his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

What that is saying is that when someone comes and claims that they have been wronged in some way, being the first person raising concern, it appears that they are the just and righteous party in the dispute.

But under examination what you might find is that they are giving a version of the truth that has been heavily edited as to distort the reality of the situation.

Career activists, politicians and the media all tailor the facts around their hidden agendas, and that is true regardless of if the political bias is conservative or liberal. After all it was Rahm Emanuel the former mayor of New York and the White House Chief of Staff for Barak Obama made one of the most politically honest statements I have ever heard when he admitted:

You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it's an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.

Without a doubt, the issues of slavery and bigotry have been used as a lever for many political agendas throughout the history of our country.

A Point of View

Josh Ties who you may know is a Pastor in Las Vegas. and he said something on a Podcast he hosts that struck me:

He said that a sweet older black couple wanted to share their perspective of growing up in the South in the 60’s and then told him

One of the things that a lot of people like you don’t understand is that we sat in our living room surrounded by 35 family members and we all broke down weeping and praising God.

There is a perspective that regardless of political ideals, for a man who is black to become the president of our country was a big deal for people who less than 40 years prior were disallowed from sharing the same water fountain in some places.

And while you may agree or disagree with the politics involved it is easy to see the impact that racism has played.

An Example

In Romans 15:1 we find a principle

Romans 15:1–3 KJV 1900

1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

The strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak.

If we follow the wisdom of the world we will find ourselves always seeking after those things that make our own situations better, that only serve to benefit ourself.

But verse 3 tells us that our example in Christ wasn’t that of pleasing himself, instead he sacrificed himself on the cross taking upon himself the reproach of sin and ultimately its full penalty.

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Staying on Message

We can’t void a history that is filled with injustice. But if you remember, even our Lord had to overcome discrimination. He was Jewish, but because of the area he came from, he was discriminated against. Remember John 1:46

John 1:46 (KJV 1900)

46b Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?

I wish I could say that my children who no doubt look at racism the same way that I did when I was a child…as some stupid thing that still goes on and something that will be gone by the time he is an adult. I hope it’s true, but while those with bad motives can still gain from being divisive, I’m not too optomistic.

As Christians we should see he world, not based on differences of culture or ethnicity, but in he same way that God views the world. A world with no Jew nor Greek, just his image bearers.

And, it would serve us well to consider the perspective of others. Even if we are convinced that they are misled. We should be empathetic to their worldview for no other reason but this…What the world needs more than anything isn’t another conversation about inequality, it needs Jesus.

If you have questions about this message or about what it is to have faith in our Lord Jesus, please see me after the service or message me if you are watching online.

I pray this morning if you aren’t a Christian. If you haven’t put your faith and trust in him for your salvation, that you would make that decision today