They say art should afflict the comfortable, and comfort the afflicted. I think the same is true for Scripture. It challenges and confronts, yet at the same time, it comforts and supports.
But I need to ask when was the last time you wrestled with what was in the Bible?
I think scripture has a lot to offer us, especially in light of how everything is unfolding right now. Yet we often come to its pages with an ‘assumed knowledge…’
“ahh yes, I know how this story goes.”
“oh yeah, I’ve heard it before.”
“I remember this one as a kid.”
But I think we constantly need to come to scripture with fresh eyes, to allow it to help us understand, approach and wrestle with our current realities. After all, Scripture remains animated and active and pulsing with possibilities (Heb 4:12).
See coming at it with an assumed presumption, we often miss what’s going on beneath the surface. I believe that scripture is loaded with meaning that helps us address, understand, tackle, and confront the issues of our day. Rob Bell reminds us about the power of the Bible when he writes, “When you read the bible in its context, you learn that it’s a library of radically progressive books, calling humanity forward into a better future.”1
I love how he puts it, the bible as a ‘radically progressive book,’ yet not many would see it that way. If anything, people see it as outdated. However, I think that misses the beauty of scripture. Furthermore, just seeing it as a rule book that tells us what is right and wrong is also one that misses the richness of scripture.
It’s not only a book about the past, nor is it a book just about the future, but it’s a book about right now. A book that is inviting us in to take part in the narrative, to question the status quo and bring about God’s ideal into the world. (Matt 6:10)
Let’s look at a topic that is on everyone’s mind.
‘Social Justice ‘
It’s a term that has always been on the radar in our society. Everyone has an opinion on it, and our opinions are often based on personal, social and political circumstances.
Even Christians have an opinion on it. Some good, some bad. Some biblical, some not. Some choose not to speak on it in fear of not saying the ‘right thing,’ or not wanting to be seen as ‘liberal,’ or simply because it’s one of those things ‘we just don’t talk about in church.’
Yet I think we need to talk about it. Because if we’re not talking about it in church, then we’re just going to talk about it elsewhere. Or it’s a subject we’ll learn about from the ‘secular world.’ Yet this is a subject scripture speaks too.
This is a subject that impacts everyone. Whether you’re inside the church or outside the church. Believer or not. Good meaning people care deeply about this subject. It’s also something God cares deeply about. Luke 4:18 reminds us that,
“He has sent me to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to liberate the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
Justice, restoration, and positive change, these are all themes found throughout scripture. I mean have you read the Exodus narrative? God cares about the oppressed and restoring His people. As you dive into the words of scripture you see a call to honour the poor, welcome the stranger, and liberate the oppressed.
Now, these all sound like relevant topics, yet they are found within the very ancient words of scripture.
See. A radical book that’s calling us forward.
Let’s look at the Biblical idea of justice.
Biblical justice ever since the old testament has actually been about reconciled relationships. And to understand this we must first understand two important Hebrew words, mishpat, and tzedakah (finally my Hebrew class is coming to good use!)
Tzedakah צדקה refers to righteousness. It is an ethical standard that refers to right relationship between people. It’s about treating others as the image of God and giving them the God-given dignity they deserve. Not just some people. But ALL people. All people are image-bearers of God and thus all deserved to be treated as such.
It’s a word used in scripture in conjunction with the word Mishpat מִשְׁפָּט.
Mishpat is a word used to describe justice. A particular kind of justice. Restorative justice, meaning to actually seek out vulnerable people, those who have been taken advantage of and actually helping them. It means taking steps to advocate for them and to change the social structures to prevent injustice.2
These words are about a radical selfless way of life. This is what love for another looks like. The kind Jesus describes in John 13:35.
The Bible paints a beautiful picture of justice, see these verses: Proverbs 31:8-9, Jeremiah 22:3, Amos 5:21-24, Micah 6:8
Yet so often I think we miss the point and we focus on topics and arguments that don’t actually lead us anywhere. The words in Amos are especially challenging, what if the very things we do in church God hates? While they may be good, unless it’s paired with biblical justice, it’s pointless.
The very thing scripture calls us to, we neglect. Sometimes I think those outside the church are actually doing a much better job than those inside the church. What if we could unite and partner with them to bring about radical change? That might be challenging for some to accept, but guess what, many people who consider themselves “atheist” are actually better at following the principles of Jesus. Read this biblical parable by Ty Gibson that demonstrates this very well.3
For centuries the Bible’s stories have offered comfort to the suffering and a challenge to the privileged.
Are we allowing the words of scripture to challenge our assumptions and biases? Are we coming to it with fresh eyes, seeking to learn from the wisdom contained within? I want to leave you with a challenging thought from Rachel Evans, she writes:
“That is why it’s especially important for those of us who come to the Bible from positions of relative social, economic and racial to privilege to read its stories alongside people from marginalized communities, past and present, who are often more practiced at tracing the crimson thread of justice through its pages.”4
WRITER: Joshua Stadnik, intern pastor at Dandenong and Wantirna Polish SDA Church.