Ep. 453 Speaking to the Injustices in Our Culture

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Shows Main Idea – Since Adam and Eve fell in the Garden of Eden, there have been injustices. It’s vital to recognize we live in a fallen world, not a utopian one. It is similar to getting married, thinking it will be happily ever after without defeats, setbacks, or injustices. Setting up an unreachable standard is a setup for disappointment, leading to responses that can never hit that high mark, only making things worse. Some folks can have a misguided idealism. But rather than focusing primarily on them, it would be more appropriate for us to ponder how to respond to a culture caught in the injustice trap.

Show Notes

You may want to read:

• What Is Reactive Racism and Reflective Racism?
• Open Letter to My Culture: I Have an Identity, Too
• Cancel Culture Manipulates You to See Things Their Way

We Discriminate

People discriminate against people. People are treated differently based on preferences and prejudices. The world we live in is not set up for every person to accept or respect every person equally all the time. There are two ditches: discriminate for ungodly reasons or attempt to create a world where every person is equal and treated equally.

• We have our favorite kind of person we like to be around.
• Churches are full of people who pick and choose their friends.
• If you are married, you chose your spouse over other options.
• If you have children, you love yours more than others.
• If you vote, you discriminate by picking one candidate over others.
• Sports teams have drafts, choosing who is best for their team and overlooking others.

You can add a thousand more illustrations to this acceptance/rejection construct. These are standard and accepted practices that only become problematic when our acceptance/rejection practices are uploaded and laced with hate.

No Hate

It is never right to hate another person. Though you can make a case for selecting your associations, you cannot make a case for hating anyone. You might hate what they do. A mantra that says, “I can select who or what I want to select—within a proper moral framework—while not hating on anyone,” has to be the foundation for working through our problems.

Elusive Middle

1: This broad middle ground between my freedom to exercise my preferences while not hating anyone is full of landmines. There is no satisfying answer for determining the correct worldview or path forward for this middle ground.

2: I will suggest a Christian presuppositional worldview, but that suggestion will be met with anger and hate speech. Do you see the problem? Do you sense the impasse? “Who gives you the right to choose the kind of world we will live in?”

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you (John 15:18-19).

3: My view automatically creates rejection while giving the person asking the question the right to choose the basis for figuring out how to give everyone a fair shot at life. Only one primary opinion will drive the discussions, while all other beliefs may influence but will subordinate to the predominant worldview.

4: I’ve got enough sense to know that my worldview will not be the driving one, though I plan to go to my grave sharing my perspective with anyone who will listen while rejecting any other worldview that tries to subvert mine. Hopefully, I will do this humbly, graciously, and wisely.

Summary Points

• Point #1: I have set myself up to be rejected (and even hated) by others because of what I believe and practice.
• Point #2: No matter who you are or what you believe (Christian or non-Christian), somebody will reject you.
• Point #3: We must ask God for the grace to give us the courage to speak to our problems.
• Point #4: Recognize that God made all people in His image, and we must respect each image-bearer.

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:18-21).

Call to Action

1. The tension brings us to a place where we have to decide how we will respond to the unresolvable inequity in our culture. Are you going to throw a rock at someone, or will you work humbly and redemptively to bring change?
2. You cannot sit back and let things be as they are. That is un-Christian. What will you do to make a difference in your culture?
3. You cannot hate other people. That, too, is un-Christian. Is there something you need to change to have a greater love for unlovable folks?

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls (1 Peter 2:18-25).

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Rick Thomas

Rick launched the Life Over Coffee global training network in 2008 to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. His primary responsibilities are resource creation and leadership development, which he does through speaking, writing, podcasting, and educating.

In 1990 he earned a BA in Theology and, in 1991, a BS in Education. In 1993, he received his ordination into Christian ministry, and in 2000 he graduated with an MA in Counseling from The Master’s University. In 2006 he was recognized as a Fellow of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).