I Want Justice I Want Fairness That's All I Want.

Published: May 17th, 2010

Lately my brain’s been stuck on a few simple questions on justice:

If we believe God is who He says He is, then why do we pray like He’s our grandfather asking for our Christmas list?

It strikes me that one of our road blocks in approaching justice is our sense that one person can’t make a difference and that the issues are too big to even begin. If we’re praying to an all-powerful Creator God, then those are not insurmountable problems. This is a Father who grieves over the pain and brokenness in His creation. We are not trying to convince Him to act.  We are joining in a reconciliation of all things that is already underway.

What would happen if we prayed like we actually believed? What if we prayed like it would change things?

Judging from most of our prayers for justice you could be forgiven for thinking we were praying for the crumbs from the Father’s table.  In many cases prayer is the most powerful way we can act to challenge injustice. There’s very little I can do to change the situation in Burma. However, God can do plenty. 

When we had our week of prayer on human trafficking in October a sex shop in Kansas City was closed across the street from the prayer room.  In Reading, UK a human trafficking ring was broken during the week. Prayer has a power beyond understanding and reaches further than we will ever know.

Prayer can be our most valuable tool in the fight for justice in three ways:

Power - I am just one person, but when I stand with my Father I have a power beyond any I could hope for in this life.

Wisdom - Many of the greatest victories for justice in the world came in ways no one would expect.  William Wilberforce outlawed the slave trade with a small piece of tax legislation.  Bono has achieved much of his progress in alleviating the international debt crisis by working with people who appeared to be his enemies.  No political strategist would have laid out the plan Martin Luther King Jr. used in his struggle for civil rights. Remember to pray and listen! "Human wisdom is so tinny, so impotent, next to the seeming absurdity of God..." (1Cor 1:25 – The Message)

Hearts - Prayer and time spent in God’s presence has a powerful ability to transform us. As you are praying about a justice issue God may be preparing you to be the answer to your prayer.

Prayer and justice are closely entwined. The Bible is full of instruction to pursue justice and mercy. When we pray “Your Kingdom come...” we are entreating God to break heaven into earth and bring God’s reconciliation to things big and small.

Similarly, it is hard to imagine trying to pursue justice without prayer.  It leads to superman syndrome, burnout and a pursuit of our own agenda over God’s.

Since the early days of 24-7 Prayer, prayer and justice have gone hand in hand.  Somehow our prayers couldn’t stay confined to the Prayer Room and spilled out in to our towns, cities, campuses, neighbourhoods and nations. Our hearts were breaking with the things that break God’s heart and things started to happen.

In 2008 there was a prophetic word spoken over Pete Grieg that made us look again at justice within 24-7 Prayer.  We prayed a lot for wisdom about how this might look.

Over the last few months that’s been slowly taking shape. You may have noticed the Just 24-7 section that has appeared on the website. It’s full of resources to support you as you and your community pursue justice locally and highlights just some of the many projects already happening in our communities.

Our hope is to inspire you, provide resources, build a network and educate.  Read through and learn more about the theology behind justice.  Sign up for our online Virtual course and learn more about biblical understanding to justice and practical approaches.

Most of all, get involved! On your street, in your city, on international issues and in the Prayer Room.  We are God’s hands and feet. Pray! And act! Pray “Your Kingdom come..” and be prepared to make that happen.

The title of this article comes from The Message translation of Amos 5 v24 which in full reads: 'Do you know what I want?  I want justice— oceans of it. I want fairness — rivers of it. That's what I want. That's all I want.'

Alana Wiens is originally from Halifax, Canada but now lives and serves 24-7 Prayer as part of the Reconcile Community in Reading, England.  Alana works with the 24-7 training team and does communication work for a church in London.  She also enjoys photography, tea, talking with friends, writing and movies.  Further ramblings can be found on her blog and you can also follow Alana's often random life on twitter.

 

Post to: Facebook del.icio.us digg Newsvine