How do we tackle injustice when treated unjustly?

 

The people who challenge God with their injustice and wickedness may think God does not see or know. However, after they harass those who follow Christ with sincere hearts, God punishes them properly. These people often rely on their wealth (even if they are churchgoers), thinking it will save them from God's wrath. But when God pursues his enemies, he destroys them utterly. Our God is a consuming fire, a beacon of justice. He repays those who hurt his people justly. That is why I wait for him to act on my behalf against those who tortured me (Psalm 110:1-2).

 

When we face injustice, the hardest thing to do is be grateful to God. Sometimes, thanking God is more challenging than forgiving our oppressors. In those times, it would seem as if God purposefully predestined all our sufferings. He would seem like a sadistic ruler who allowed the wicked to torment us unhindered. I have often wondered why I should thank God amid my adversities? I came up with a few reasons. Most of them are factual and not related to what I may feel. Still, it is worthwhile to consider these hard facts before quitting. These are my reasons.

 

1. God is God. He created everything we can see and feel out of nowhere and from nothing. That is why he deserves my praise. 2. God gave me life. He blessed me with the ability to see the sun, feel the wind, hear the birds, smell perfumes, and touch my parents' feet. God gave me appetite and the ability to eat and digest tasty food. 3. God allowed me to live and be in good health. He also taught me the art of healing, which cures sicknesses from within without any side effects. 4. God has blessed me with every heavenly blessing in Christ (Eph 1).

 

5. God gave me good parents and a loving brother. My mother has taken many pains to educate me and help me become a doctor. My father was unhappy with my faith in Christ. However, he did not hurt me and, in my tough times, readily welcomed me into his home. 6. I may not have a church family or a wife. I may have lost my daughter because of divorce conditions. I may have many complaints against fellow Christ-followers for how they treated me in challenging times. However, God has given me the love to love even my enemies, let alone several Kattappas in Christ.

 

I am grateful for all my haters, mockers, and all those who attack me or criticize me for the right or wrong reasons. 1. It is a delight to know that someone is affected or influenced by me –aroused to jealousy or, conversely, to think of things that matter. 2. I make some people happy for the right or wrong reasons. 3. It helps me see things from other viewpoints and keeps me humble and reasonable. 4. It helps me make positive changes to be more effective in my work and service. 5. It increases my reward in heaven. 6. I am sorry, but to those who hate me for the wrong reasons, it makes them recipients of God's wrath. Honestly, I am not happy about it. 7. It allows me to love those who hate me and display my father's nature.

 

How do we tackle injustice when treated unjustly? 1. Acknowledge the pain and hurt of injustice. 2. Express the pain to God in prayer with tears. 3. Know that God will punish the wicked. He may use Babylon to punish Assyria or Assyria to punish Israel. 4. God will use you to right the wrongs done to others. Since you know the pain of injustice, you will know how to bring justice into the lives of those more oppressed than you. 5. God will right the wrongs people have done to you. He can use authority figures like the Pharaoh to bring justice to wronged people like Joseph. God can use the Roman Caesar, like Constantine, to defend the church's truth. Or else, in the coming age, he will reward you more.

 

Those who know God love others as they love themselves. They do not harass others. They do not condemn others with false accusations in law courts. They do not destroy other people's lives with lies and deceit. They do not treat others with cruelty. Instead, those who know God show kindness and mercy to those suffering. They pray for God's justice for those who are treated unjustly. They do not support the wicked as the wicked torture the weak. They do justice. They do mercy. I have heard many speak about it but have seen few who do mercy. Therefore, when treated unjustly, be the person who does mercy to other sufferers despite the injustice done to you. These acts of mercy empower us and foster compassion in our hearts.