Speedy Justice

Christians should have very few issues with the modern social justice discourse and the assessment of societal problems. We should be the least defensive about the subject of sin, ungodliness, and unrighteousness and how pervasive these are in society. Therefore, the societal assessments that people make, regardless of their ideology, agenda, or political narrative, are not in and of themselves compromising for me to agree with (to the degree that I am able to with integrity). I can find much common ground with many by simply agreeing that there are serious problems in our world.

However, the ability to identify sin and corruption at a societal level does not mean that I am qualified to solve those issues. Romans 3 “levels the playing field” whereby all ethnic groups fall short of the glory of God and therefore require a Divine solution to the problem of our sinfulness. This does not mean that I am to be “passive” as I seek to bring positive change where possible. It simply means that I cannot be naive regarding the depth of my potential impact.

I can chip away at injustice faithfully if that is my given assignment before the Lord, and I can serve others in their assignment simply because I love Jesus and love them, but I do not want to exaggerate my potential impact or give into my own sense of self-righteousness as I engage culture and people.

Jesus connected intercession with “speedy justice” because of both the pervasiveness of the sinfulness of men and their powerlessness to deliver themselves from the sinful world they built. In other words, the scope and breadth of the issues and problems, combined with the smallness and relatively powerless condition I find myself in, forces me to find solutions that can actually impact the problem.

This is why intercession is the justice strategy of the humble, the meek, and the lowly. We find comfort in engaging societal sins and widespread corruption in partnership with the One who has far more zeal than we do to bring small and immediate as well as large and ultimate solutions to the crisis of sin on the earth.

Intercession, in other words, represents the fastest means to a just end for society and the people of the earth - every ethic group, tribe, and language, regardless of history or economic background. As Romans 3 levels the playing field of our common sinful dilemma, intercession levels the playing field towards a righteous solution for all.