Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | 1 Peter 2:19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Peter 2:19 For this finds favor, if a person endures the sorrow of suffering unjustly because of an awareness of [the will of] God. |
Subject: What's the proper response to injustice? |
Bible Note: You are correct, of course, especially with reference to that previous discussion. The answers have been given to the leaders of the church. We presume that they have read the letters and they know what to do. But we are in the same situation as Habakkuk saw, and Jeremiah, where it is the leaders themselves who are perverting justice. One may well sing the dirge again: “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” from Psalm 11. It is a rhetorical question, perhaps, and one should not expect an answer, except the one that God gives. The truth is, my dear sister, that I ask the question here in fear. There has been someone who would discourage anyone from providing suggestions here because he knows that I seek these answers, not necessarily for myself, but for some who come to me for help. And sometimes I am lost for words to say to one who is suffering emotionally and otherwise because of the treatment they receive at church. I have tried what I know, to give words of comfort, and to intervene on their behalf. And I know what it means to be ignored, or attacked, for “interfering” on behalf of a victim of injustice. But I ask the question if perhaps it might focus attention on what is going on, and maybe prick a conscience. I am about to leave for a meeting now, and I am taking along a young man who has been a victim. I can but hope that the sight of him will touch the hearts of the leaders who have been against him. I am afraid that he will leave the church and abandon his efforts to serve the Lord there. I do not know if this trip will be a step forward or backward. I think of your words again, and Jesus’ words, that one must be wise and harmless. I hope I can be that. It is a strange phenomenon that I see, no matter how often I see it, and though I know the word of God is true: “If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they” (Ecclesiastes 5). One should rest in the fact that God sees, perhaps, but it is hard to stand and look. Even men of the world have been moved by conscience to shake off slavery and apartheid and discrimination. But what will the righteous do? |