Good morning. For those strong enough, brave enough, concerned enough to allow themselves to be discomfited by Man's evil designs toward other weaker souls in the World, here is a must-read book; The Good News About Injustice by Gary A. Haugen.
For background, Haugen writes an autopsy on injustice as he has (vividly) seen it while an official UN-appointed investigator in Rwanda, Africa, the Philippines, and other unfortunate parts of this planet. Through his words we see writhing in pain of all species among peoples of all colors.
Haugen was so deeply affected by what he saw in Rwanda that after returning he established the International Justice Mission (IJM) whose mission is to intervene in the Name of Christ by rescuing victims and shining the light of God's justice into the darkness, cruelty, greed and deceit in the marketplace of man's inhumanity to man.
Young girls in their early teens abducted into forced prostitution; children forced to labor a lifetime for a family member's debt that can never be paid; men rotting in prisons without charge, without representation and without hope.
In the chapter, The Anatomy of Injustice, Haugen dissects injustice into its larger parts; 1. Coercion by force, and 2. Deceit. Those who coerce---by whatever means---cover the truth with lies.
The Old Testament prophet Micah exposed the injustice of Israel's leaders (political and religious) when he wrote...
"Both hands are skilled in doing evil;
the ruler demands gifts,
the judge accepts bribes,
the powerful dictate what they desire---
they all conspire together." [Micah 3:7]
The prophet goes on to say...
"But as for me, I am filled with power,
with the Spirit of the Lord,
and with justice and might,
to declare to Jacob his transgression,
to Israel his sin," [Micah 3:8]
It occurred to me this morning that there is another---perhaps equally evil---face of deceit: Silence.
Very often the trail of lies can be uncovered as evidence---documents and witnesses---are discovered and published; but Evil is not easily shamed.
Silence on the face of evil deeds is insidious; more so than lies, I would opine. Silence is a faceless, expressionless, sinister attitude that cannot be read. It is a different, far different behavior than was the silence of Christ when he faced His tormentors and accusers the day He was crucified.
The silence of Evil is cynical; contemptuous in other's opinions; smug in its selfishness.
Those who believe there is Good and Evil; who differentiate between Right and Wrong...especially those who name the Name of Christ...cannot keep silent in the face of injustice because in doing so they become default conspirators with the Unjust.
Christ ended His Sabbath in the grave, emerging as the Judge and Conqueror of all Evil and Injustice. That being True, what shall we do?
The Christ answered that question: "Go ye into all the World...preaching the gospel..." even into the dark, evil, unjust, uncomfortable and unsafe places where corruption, coercion and lies flourish like an unchecked plague. Take heart dear souls. He is coming. Meanwhile, what will you do about injustice? ec
