As we look at God’s heart for justice today, I
have some questions based on demographic data. Why don’t you try to guess the answers? Are Catholics generally registered with the Republican or Democratic Party? The Democrats. And how about the Assemblies of
God? Republican. And how about United Methodist pastors? Democrats. And how about United Methodists? Mixed.
What does it mean? It means that Christians in America generally get their views on the world from politics, not from their faith. Martin Marty says that in 50 years of polling, he has never seen American Christians stand together on social issues because of their faith.
The Bible tells us that the character of God is justice. God promises a coming day where history will be rolled up like a scroll and every misdeed will be corrected. No prayer shall remain unanswered, no tear will be unattended.
Why does this message make us uncomfortable when it is so clearly good news? Why don’t all Christians run to our faith as soon as an issue of war, social order, poverty, or civil rights appears? Christians are certainly affected by these problems. Is there anyone here who has never been mistreated? Anyone here who looks on the world at war and wonders how good will win?
And our communities are interested in justice. Islam has grown in urban America because it has a plan for justice. Many of us have family in troubled areas of the world and want to know that good will triumph. Our families have us in New York and want to know that good will triumph over terror. Even our own nation is an imperfect union. The incarceration rate is higher or lower based on our race, and gay people, women in the workplace, and equal investment in education remain problems. Our hearts cry out for justice. And the great news, one of the 7 key stories of the gospel is God crying out to us, ‘I’ll make it right.’
Our title today is from Sojourners Magazine. Jim Wallis, if you place the Bible at the center of our thoughts on the world, its not by the right or the left, but by the Spirit of God.
Today we are going to listen to the three questions of Habakkuk. It’s the story of an entire book of the Bible as he struggles to understand justice. And God comes through. If you are looking for justice in your life or in the world, then lift up your heart. Let’s worship (Break)
Habakkuk is written in frustration. The leaders of Israel are people in the 7th century before Christ who are corrupt. They are wrecking a nation that Habakkuk has the highest hopes and feelings for. In despair and anger, he casts the first question to God, why do you let violence prosper?
I wish I had a dollar for every person who has said to me, ‘If God is real, why does he not step in and stop people from hurting each other?’ I wish I had a dollar for every time I have felt that question in my own heart. Isn’t that a universal human question? Why can’t humans be proper stewards over this wonderful world? And if we can’t be trusted, and there is a God, why doesn’t God protect us from ourselves?
God says to Habakkuk, ‘I will do what you ask. I will get rid of the leaders of Israel.’ The Chaldeans are the Iraqis of old. And they have the mightiest army on earth at that time, about to swoop down and seize Israel with terrible violence.
But Habakkuk did not intend for Israel to be destroyed by his prayer. He only wanted the leaders removed. He understands that nations are not just the leaders but the managers, shops, and businesses that let them stay there. But he is horrified that justice will be delivered by the Chaldeans. So Habakkuk’s second question is ‘God, why are the less evil punished by the more evil?’
God’s answer should make all nations and our own pause for thought. God declares that any nation that allows oppression will have a day of accounting. The Chaldeans are feared by other armies but not feared by God. God says that the mechanism by which nations thrive or fail is not their cleverness or natural resources or military power. God not only promises a just future, but God protects the world even now from the evil that some would accomplish.
Habakkuk accepts the answer of God and
returns with a heart braking third question. ‘God if we ask for justice, will you also give us mercy.’ Justice is a terrible desire by itself. Jesus says to the crowd of executioners centuries later, ‘Let him who without sin cast
the first stone. And they walked away.’
The truth is that if God only gave justice, we would all perish. Isn’t that true? Can anyone truly say to themselves, I’ve never done anything wrong. I’ve never hurt anyone? Most of us can’t even say that about today. Even if we got up and ran to church without speaking. We know a vision of what the world needs, but we fail even our own ideals.
God’s wonderful answer is that mercy is there for those who ask. That’s always the great message of the gospel. Jesus death is accepted as punishment for our failings. We can fearlessly ask for justice and so can the entire world. God’s plan is for a justice that does not destroy. And that is what we need.
Habakkuk gives us a beautiful picture of his own conclusions. [Hab 3:17] Though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit is on the vines; though the produce of the olive fails and the fields yield no food; though the flock is cut off from the fold and there is no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will exult in the God of my salvation.
Habakkuk was bold enough to come to God with claims of justice and held on until God gave him answers that satisfied. If you are here today with a feeling about injustice, feelings about how you have been treated, maybe feelings about how the church has treated you, if you came with deep heart concerns for our nation and our world, take hope from God’s word to you. Justice will prevail. God’s word will stand. Wait even if the olives are not on the trees. Wait even if fruit fell from the vines. Wait even if the pastures are barren. God will protect this wonderful world. Amen.
