Can we just stop with the comment, “come Lord Jesus” when we see the wrongs in society? I know this is going to be a controversial statement. So let me explain. As I have been scrolling through Facebook, my heart breaking at what is going on in society right now. I have seen some expressing their sadness about what is happening and then ending their statements with, “come Lord Jesus”.
Now I understand where they are coming from, but I wonder if this statement is actually more harmful than helpful. The comment, “come Lord Jesus” implies that we have surrendered to the false narrative that we can really do nothing to change society because this world is inherently evil, instead we have to wait until Jesus comes for things to improve. The danger in this thought process is that the very people that should be doing the most to influence society and to stand up for the oppressed, will withdraw into their insular communities to wait for the end.This in no way is what God has called us to do.
Now I understand where they are coming from, but I wonder if this statement is actually more harmful than helpful. The comment, “come Lord Jesus” implies that we have surrendered to the false narrative that we can really do nothing to change society because this world is inherently evil, instead we have to wait until Jesus comes for things to improve. The danger in this thought process is that the very people that should be doing the most to influence society and to stand up for the oppressed, will withdraw into their insular communities to wait for the end.This in no way is what God has called us to do.
From the very beginning God has called us to be influencers, His partners in mission. In fact, today of all days, calls us out to be the change in society. Today is Shavuot, the day when God descended on Mt. Sinai and gave His teaching to the Israelites. This teaching calls for justice for the oppressed, help for the poor, and checks on the powerful. It calls for people to be involved in government. It rails against people being talebearers (read gossips) and even for people to call out their neighbor if they see them going down the wrong path. Leviticus 19:15-19 None of these things were directly enforced by God, but all had to be instituted by the people and their earthly government.
The prophets take it even further. Read through the book of Isaiah and you will find that although idolatry is mentioned, Isaiah is far more often protesting against the abuses of the poor, the widow and the foreigner. He even says that the people’s correct worship of God, sacrifices, Sabbath keeping, and Yom Kippur, is hateful to God if they are still abusing their fellowmen while worshiping Him. Read Isaiah 1:10-31 and Isaiah 58 and really the whole book of Isaiah.
The prophets take it even further. Read through the book of Isaiah and you will find that although idolatry is mentioned, Isaiah is far more often protesting against the abuses of the poor, the widow and the foreigner. He even says that the people’s correct worship of God, sacrifices, Sabbath keeping, and Yom Kippur, is hateful to God if they are still abusing their fellowmen while worshiping Him. Read Isaiah 1:10-31 and Isaiah 58 and really the whole book of Isaiah.
In Isaiah 1:27 it literally says,
“Zion shall be redeemed with justice,
And her penitents with righteousness.”
Notice, at least here it DOES NOT say that God is the only one who redeems Zion, although, admittedly, it does say that in other places. Instead God says that Zion shall be redeemed with justice and her penitents (those who have repented) will be redeemed with righteousness. Righteousness in the Old Testament is always about justice and righting the wrongs and imbalances in the world.
But what about the New Testament? Didn’t Jesus say we should be focused on his second coming and the signs thereof? Didn’t he say, “wait for him to come back for change to happen?” Well, let’s take a look at the Olivet discourse, one of the favorite passages of those looking for the end times. Matthew 24 talks about events that will happen up until Jesus coming, warns people that no one knows when it will be, and ends with a parable warning people not to think that because Jesus hasn’t shown up yet, it does not mean they can start oppressing their fellow workers.
But the discourse doesn’t end there, it continues into Matthew 25. For the sake of time we will skip over the two parables and go straight to the end of the discussion Jesus is having with his disciples. Here, Jesus warns that when the Son of Man comes in his glory he will repay people not for, hoping and believing in him, or in hoping and waiting for the second coming, or knowing the end time prophecies. Instead he tells them, “the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.” In the very next line these people are called righteous. Again righteousness in the bible, with the possible exception of the writings of Paul, is always associated with Justice. Justice for those who have none.
Fellow believers, this is the time. It is now. We must stand for change in our society. When we see war and oppression, brutality and injustice, we have no right to sit back and wait for Jesus to fix it all. We need to be doing what God has always called us to do, take care of others, strive for a moral government, care for others, right the wrongs and injustices and improve our society. This is the partnership God calls us to, our mission in the world He created and designed for us to enjoy.
