Worship & Justice Collide

Justice: It's catchy. It's trendy. And it's infectious. But we in the church must remember that for God, justice is bigger than simply feeding hungry bellies, providing much needed AIDS medication and pushing to stop global warming.

 

A revival of justice, as Jim Wallis of Sojourners calls it, is sweeping across the church and he's right. The Spirit of God is moving upon His church, much like He moved upon the earth when it's foundations were laid, brooding over hearts and minds to be awaken to who she is called to be: the greatest lovers the world has ever seen.

But even in the catch phrases and feeling-good emotions that living a life of love brings, we must remember that justice is so much more than this.

As it's heart, the justice we are to bring to the world is about overturning every unjust deed and righting every wrong. But we cannot forget that this means salvation itself is an act of justice from God, where He has overturned every unjust act we have committed against ourselves, our friends and family, the world, or even against God Himself and made us right in His eyes.

This is why we go to church and sings songs and hymns–because He has made a way for us. In other words, His justice in our life makes us respond in worship.

But it doesn't end there.

Jesus told us that as we do for the least, it is as if we are doing it to Him. Matthew 25 shows us that these are all acts of worship and just as valid as worship as singing a song, painting a picture or writing a poem or story. Worship and justice collide each and every time we step out of our comfort zone and into someone else's world because we do it all as an act of worship as unto Jesus.

This is how the Kingdom of God operates, with Jesus at the center of everything we do. And it is this that sets the Church apart from any other organization or non-profit on the earth. This is about worship and meeting God on the streets, in the cardboard villages and tin-box shanty towns and doing these things as unto Him when we share lunch with the homeless man on the corner or stop by the convalescent home. Each opportunity is an encounter to meet and know Jesus...