Many professed believers seem to believe holiness consists of ignoring human rights or even think human rights don’t exist at all and consider it a mark of humility to overlook or downplay the sinfulness of injustice.
That is a gross error. If someone doesn’t have rights to anything there would be no such thing as injustice in the poor treatment anyone receives. But that is not the case and the Bible is clear on that. It is not Godliness to ignore social problems. “I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the poor.” Psalm 140:12 “Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.” Isaiah 1:17
“‘“‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’ “In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exploit all your laborers. Indeed you fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, to make your voice heard on high. Is it a fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?
Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’”’” Isaiah 58:3-9
We are fooling ourselves if we think it is possible to live Biblically while being indifferent to suffering. Any profession to serve God while disregarding justice is just empty talk with no value. “You have wearied the LORD with your words. ‘How have we wearied him?’ you ask. By saying, ‘All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and he is pleased with them’ or ‘Where is the God of justice?’" Malachi 2:17 While we may not say those who do evil are good with our words (although some do) are we saying it with our actions (or lack thereof) by ignoring problems as if nothing needs to change? Until we understand that God requires justice and there is no true love without it we will continue to lack godliness. We cannot truly follow God while ignoring the suffering of humanity. “To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” Proverbs 21:3 “Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand all.” Proverbs 28:5
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