Injustices |
God's View:
Gen. 3:15
; Matt. 5:10-12
; Gal. 1:12-13
; Col. 2:13-15
-God's people have
been at war with the enemy since the fall. From this point on and for the
rest of history, there is a vicious conflict between God and Satan, between
those who follow God and those who reject Him. Central theme of Old Testament
holy war is that God is present with His people as a warrior. Jesus came
as the Divine warrior to rescue His people from the devil himself by waging
the greatest war of all-the war against the devil. He did this not by killing
but by dying. When Jesus died on the Cross, He incisively defeated Satan
and all of his evil hordes.
Hope:
Matt. 24:30-31
; Rev. 19:11-16
-Before He died, Jesus told HIs disciples
that He would return in the future with a full display of power and will
return to earth as a glorious warrior who will once and for all bring evil
to a violent end.
Eph. 6:10-18 -Before He comes to end it all, we, in Him, are to stand and fight against the spiritual forces of evil, and that we will have victory only as we allow God to use us realizing that our strength comes only as we put on the 'armor of God'.
Matt. 7:5 ; Rom. 7:21-24 ; Rom. 8:18 -Our christian growth is a battle against Satan in our own hearts, that we have to battle against our own vicious and destructive thoughts, emotions and actions. The struggle between God and Satan is waged in our very hearts. This is a spiritual battle that is won not by physical but by spiritual weapons:prayer, faith and love. We use prayer as a weapon against our abusers by praying for their repentance; faith is a deep trust in our Commander-in-Chief, Jesus Christ, and we relax in His presence who does the battling which is already accomplished on the cross; and love, we are to love our enemies to the point we move into their lives to open the door of their repentance. Jesus defeated evil by dying on the cross. He shows that the road to victory is through love and sacrifice, not hate or greed.
Change:
Ps. 25:7
; Jere. 31:34
; Ps. 103:12
; Matt. 6:9-15
; 18:21-35
-As
christians we are told to be like God, who does not remember sin but forgives
wickedness. Likewise, we are to cancel the debt owed to us, and provide a
door of opportunity for repentance and restoration of broken relationships.
Lu. 17:3-4 -We are not to rebuke unless a sin has been committed, nor are we to forgive unless true repentance has occurred. Reconciliation is not to be withheld when repentance-that is, deep, heart changing
acknowledgemnet of sin and a radical redirection of life takes place in the one being rebuked, nor reconciliation to be extended to one who has not repented. Forgiveness involves a heart that cancels the debt
but does not lend new money until repentance occurs. Cheap forgiveness-peace at any cost that sacrifices honesty, integrity and passion-is not true forgiveness.
Rom. 12:16-18 ; 2 Cor. 7:11 -It is for joy that Paul tells christians to be at peace with everyone, and develop a desire for beauty and harmony to reside within all of us to see reconciliation to all those who offended us. Our hatred of evil will produce a passion to live righteously in accord with restored relationships.
Matt. 10:39 ; Lu. 6:27-28 ; 2 Cor. 5:18-20 -We want others to change for our pleasure , convenience and vindication which leads away from restoration. This only deals with the symptoms. God tells us to go beyond, to love our enemies, to do good to those who persecute us. We are to do good as God does to us. We were His enemies, but we were reconciled and commissioned to do as He did.
Prov. 20:30
-God's love may demand change, brings consequences for a failure
to change, withholds involvement until harmony is restored, and may hurt
another for the sake of a greater good.