Thursday: A Voice for the Voiceless
Solomon wrote that there is “a time to be silent and a time to speak” (Eccl. 3:7, NIV). He was right, and finding that balance is not simple for any of us. However, when it comes to speaking for the oppressed and being a voice for the voiceless and seeking to overcome evil with good, is it possible that as a church we have erred on the side of too much silence when our voice should have been heard?
Justice
Christians have often talked about being the hands and feet of Jesus, referring to the call to practical service for others as Jesus would have us do. But in the prophetic role as demonstrated in the Bible, God’s first call is for men and women to be His voice—and in speaking on behalf of God, also speaking up on behalf of those God wants to defend (see Ps. 146:6-10).
Read Isaiah 58:1-10. What should this message, given in its specific time and place and context, say to us today in another time, place, and context? How much has really changed between the time Isaiah wrote this and our world today?
The prophets’ call to justice was never a path to popularity. But motivated by their commission from God, understanding God’s passion for justice, sympathizing with the plight of the poor and oppressed, and seeking the best for their society, these prophets dared to be a voice for the voiceless in their time and place, despite opposition, discomfort, and danger (see 1 Pet. 3:17).
Based on our understanding of the gospel and the call to reflect Jesus to the world, Seventh-day Adventists also have many good things to offer in regard to dealing with the evil in the world.
Such as: “Seventh-day Adventists believe that actions to reduce poverty and its attendant injustices are an important part of Christian social responsibility. The Bible clearly reveals God’s special interest in the poor and His expectations as to how His followers should respond to those who are unable to care for themselves. All human beings bear the image of God and are the recipients of God’s blessing (Luke 6:20). In working with the poor we follow the example and teaching of Jesus (Matthew 25:35-36). As a spiritual community Seventh-day Adventists advocate justice for the poor and ‘speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves’ (Proverbs 31:8 NIV) and against those who ‘deprive the poor of their rights’ (Isaiah 10:2 NIV). We participate with God who ‘secures justice for the poor’. (Psalm 140:12 NIV)”. Seventh-day Adventist Official Statement on Global Poverty, June 24, 2010.
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I am travelling today and don’t have time to write a long comment, so I will ask a question.
Are we as good at speaking up for “the least of these” as we are at speaking about our own loss of privilege?
Jonathan son of Saul heir to the throne becomes friend of David.
That friendship saved David's life many times.
Jonathan repeatedly disobeyed his father.
Saul asked Jonathan several times to find, betray, and even kill David, Jonathan always managed to find a way to avoid doing that.
Saul was the king. Rightly or wrongly, what he decreed had the force of law. For Jonathan to disobey his father the king was essentially to commit treason, even if the instructions were wrong. Yet the account in 1 Samuel never says that Jonathan agonized or debated with himself. It was as if Jonathan instinctively responded in ways to protect David.
Forced repeatedly to choose between his father and his friend, he chose his friend.
And yet he would die standing with his father and brothers. Jonathan’s body lying not far from the father he had disobeyed so many times.
Jonathan became the voice for David.
Many have become the voice for voiceless through Christianity.
Early Adventist church wrote many articles against slavery.
Even today ADRA is voice that is heard across the globe meeting the need of the people.
It is the love of God that moves us, compels us to become who we are.
Praise God for his relentless work on our behalf.
I am not an Adventist genius but I tried to read a lot of our pass articles since the name was given to the church. From then to now I found we have err many times, whether in ignorance or presumption he alone knows.
As the author says, do we keep silent when we should have spoken up? do we guard against the inevitable? He who judges the heart knows. Can we move forward when we have some things to correct in our past?
Isa 58:1-10 Do we misunderstood the true meaning of fasting? Can we afflict our body for our soul? Fasting 3 times a week yet we are the same when we sit in church board? Church board brings out the best in some people, sad.
Guide me oh Holy Spirit.
"Can we move forward when we have some things to correct in our past?" Absolutly! I am reminded that the sins of the past are insitaneously forgiven. Psalms 103:12 says that as far as the east is from the west so our sins are removed. That means if we are standing in the west, our sins our put on a scram jet that hits Mach 7 heading east. Gone forever. Then by loving Christ, copying Him, depending wholly upon Him, we become transformed into His likeness. When our heart rest most fully upon Christ, we will be most earnest and active in labor for Him. Our loss of privlage becomes inmaterial while in labor for Him.
Words and practice must match. While helping others in need, specially the least-favored, we should do it as all we got is a gift, something we received so we can share.
I wonder if this study might address our shopping habits in the Western world. Much of what we buy is manufactured in the developing world, and if news reports are to be believed, by people working under conditions such as Isaiah condemned. Should we support this exploitation? I wonder. As Paul says, let each person be persuaded in his own mind.
Food for contemplation.
In the USA, our large cities are quickly deteriorating. Many of the downtown areas have scenes that one used to see only in, in fact I would argue not even see in downtown, in third world countries. Many of our large cities are literal “war” zones ( Chicago alone there have been 2000 shootings and 425 deaths in 2019). The big question is, why is it happening?
Yes, a sign of the times of the end but what do we do about it in the mean time? Those of us that are older have come to know that we are on God’s time and the end could be many years or decades away. I submit that it is a consistent pattern of permissiveness, permitting drug use-phelonies are now misdemeanors, permitting one to live on the street leads to a rat infested cesspool (Los Angeles) breeding disease we have not seen in centuries. This is not being humane or tolerant to those living on the street or the to people who live and work around it.
I’m sorry, this is bad governance and Christians need to take a look at who is making the decisions. Permissiveness is not a solution. It is a road to disaster.