Injustice is all around us, including our own lives. Everywhere one looks someone is exploiting a human being, a relationship, or a situation. Even when you think that you can trust an institution they fail you. What is left is broken lives, shattered hope, and vaporized opportunities.
The blunt fact is that “it’s wrong, very wrong, to go along with injustice.” (Proverbs 24.23) You know that, I know that, but what are we supposed to do? Is there a call to sacrifice yourself on each alter of injustice? Given that this is logistically not going to work, what are we called to do? Standing around doesn’t make much sense.
Visiting India always brings this more visibly to the surface. People are struggling under extreme adverse conditions to just survive. Hope seems to be a legitimately scarce commodity. The sheer size of the problem defies comprehension. Yet, standing around doesn’t make much sense.
Listening to a friend grabble with the problems around him brings out the aggression that I always hope stays buried. Reading an email about a situation that has gone south brings out a cold sweat of anger. Grabbling with how to explain life to someone who is young – warning them of the dangers especially from other people finds pockets of intensity and compassion I did not know existed. In these moments standing around doesn’t make much sense.
The good news is that you and I do not have to stand around. We can stand up for the oppressed and exploited. We can fight to defend those being attacked. We can voice our concerns and views in public forums so those looking to sneak around the edges will be exposed. We can do all these things and more! We can engage, stay involved, and stand by those who can use a helping hand.
Standing around is tantamount to enabling evil and helping the enemy succeed. The world already has more than enough people who have taken that alternative. We can choose to stand up for the oppressed. Take one situation today and make a difference.
