injustice and compassion

why is there so much injustice in this world?

very recently i have been thinking about the injustices we face as a human race. these thoughts came flooding to me by way of a documentary called "invisible children". the movie shows how the rebel group in uganda is abducting children old enough to carry a gun. they take them to the jungle and train them to be killers. they desensitize them by torturing and killing in the most brutal ways. they are threatened with death if they try to escape.

i think of aids and how it is ravishing africa and leaving millions dead. i think of how over half of the world's population lives in poverty. i think about human trafficking and selling children into the sex slave industry. i think about war and the people who want nothing to do with it and yet because of location can't escape it. i think about how unfair life seems.

so where does the fault lie? is it God that causes the pain, suffering, and injustice that is going on? or are we to blame?

it's very easy for us to blame others. we say, "it's not my fault. i'm not doing these things, so i'm not responsible for them. those guilty should pay for their crimes." or we choose to blame God. we say, "if God is so good and just, why does He allow these types of injustices to happen?" but do we ever blame ourselves?

what about us? let's look into our hearts. Jesus said, "for out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander." this is what is referred to as the sinful nature. if our hearts are capable of these things, then is a father capable of raping his child? is a man capable of murdering another man because his nose is a different shape? is a man capable of strapping on a bomb and walking into a crowded place?

yes, these things are happening. yes, the people who commit these acts are deplorable. yes, we are capable of such evil. but we are also capable of good. those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature and live by the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:19-25).

so if we are capable of this fruit then why does it seem like we are not seeing progress? i believe it is because, although we are capable of good, we do not act. we have the means to do something, but choose to shift blame rather than take action.

we internally take inventory and justify ourselves by comparing ourselves to others. we say, "i don't kill. i don't rape. i'm not a prostitute. i don't do drugs. i'm a good person." but we don't help the sick. we don't love the poor. we don't reach out to those in need. we show no compassion to those who need it most. where is the compassion? why don't we act?

because we have the sinful nature. because we shift the blame to others or to God. because we just don't act. because we are not informed. because we are so overwhelmed by the injustice and say, "i'm just one person, what can i do?"

all excuses. yes, you are just one. but here's what one can do...

what if you gave one dollar to provide medicine to the sick?
what if you spent one hour volunteering to help the community?
what if you said one loving word to someone in need?
what if you sacrificed one possession to help the poor?
what if you offered one day to spend with a child that had no family?
what if you helped build one well so a tribe could have clean water?
what if you told one person about Jesus?

now what if i did the same? and you and me became we!

it starts with one. it can become many. there is hope.

it takes one person right now to do one thing for one other to affect change for many for a lifetime. will you be that one?

please read isaiah 58:6-12. it is God's Word. it is the inspiration for writing this post.