AUGUST 11 VICTORIOUS and injustice

Acts 16: 20-40

^“37But Paul replied, ‘They have beaten us in public, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they going to discharge us in secret? Certainly not! Let them come and take us out themselves.’ “

Conflict resolution is a learned task for most people.  We start young, by teaching children to admit when they did something wrong, and accept the consequences. By the time we are adults, most people have learned to navigate situations from “the little white lie” to outright illegal activity.  Certainly, our legal and prison systems are in place to deter adults for serious unlawful activity.

But how do we deal with injustice?

As Christians, are we willing to come to the aid of people who are in need?  Would we stand up for the obvious disregard of the rights of individuals? 

Look at the mass demonstrations in Egypt and the reaction of that Government.  Wisdom seems to be in short supply, along with compassion and understanding.

The text from the Bible talks about Paul and Silas who have gone to Thyatira, to preach and stay with Lydia who has been baptized.  Paul and Silas are dragged before the Roman magistrate to explain how they have managed to remove a woman of her ability to “divine” the future, and therefore deprive her owners of substantial earnings.  

Nothing short of an earthquake and prisoners who stay put even though the doors of the prison are wide open, lead to the dismissal of charges against Paul and Silas.  The magistrates want the two to leave quietly.  Paul and Silas are having none of this.  The injustice of all that has preceded this decision prompts Paul to say, “I’m not going until they apologize”.  The magistrates comply. 

Simple enough.  An earthquake.  Prison doors open and no one leaves.  Guards and magistrates being convinced that Paul and Silas need to leave town.  An apology and public acknowledgement.  God again has to show His power in a physical act that could very well have destroyed lives and property.  And Paul and Silas move on to the next town. 

These are men of God certainly, because lesser men would have carried on about injustice and stayed to incite people to stand with them.  Indeed, force their point of view with riots and mobs.'

Sometimes, injustice is solved in simple ways.  Rev. Jason told the story of how Jackie Robinson dealt with the constant injustice.  One riveting example.  Jackie Robinson was denied access to a hotel swimming pool because of his race.  His point?  He arrives in the hotel lobby, strips off his shirt, dives into the pool and swims to the other side.  Gets out and quietly goes to his assigned room.  And this man, Jackie Robinson, didn’t even know how to swim.

I am, a renewed Christian