Here at IHOP-KC, we have been praying for the ending of abortion in America for 3-4 years. For the past two years, we have widened our focus to include the subject of sex trafficking of women and children. In the days ahead, I believe that the church will become a refuge for those who have suffered injustice in many different ways. We will be a people who discover James 1:27 and live it out with the heart of Jesus.

Jesus cares about every girl trapped in sex slavery. He cares about those who are starving around the world because of the economic oppression greed and corruption. He cares that unjust wars have been fought since the dawn of time. He really really does.

Yet what He considers to be the most unjust thing is not any of these things, or anything you may be thinking of. The most unjust thing is forsaking HIM- every other evil in the world is a result of that central injustice. As believers, messengers of reconciliation, bringing men into right-standing with God must remain our central activity, in many forms and ways. If we pursue justice without the gospel as our central concern, we would not be doing justly.

To save a girl from slavery; to fill an empty stomach; to clothe a naked one without telling them about the love and salvation of Jesus is unjust. It would be like placing a band aid on a corpse; meeting a temporal need without giving life. In all of our actions and activities, we must proclaim the hope of His glorious appearing and His invitation to live in the everlasting Kingdom of His well-being.

I also believe that those who pursue justice without the glory of Christ and the salvation of humanity as their central concern will become disillusioned and hardened towards injustice, bitter and angry at God, and/or will fall away from the faith.

So to sum it up, I believe that the church will not be able to understand justice nor act justly until:
1) We see that God cares about the injustice more than we do. He sees and feels it all.
2) We believe that the gospel is God’s answer to this injustice.

The Lord has both Jocelyn & I on a journey in understanding His heart and our own unbelief. I am writing this not to preach, or to give a theology of justice, but to put up “flag of remembrance”. As the Lord leads us into His purposes for our lives, I want to remember that justice is about the glory of Jesus.