Chris
Tomlin, at Passion 2007, performed a song titled "Did
You Feel the Mountains Tremble?" It is
one of my favorite songs. But there is a line in the chorus that
puzzles me. He pictures the Church as "dancers who dance upon
injustice."
What
a peculiar visual image. How does one dance upon injustice? In the
bible, there are many stories and parables that describe injustice. I
get the feeling that our reaction to them is supposed to be anger.
After all, how will positive change happen if people are content to
let injustice survive? Isn't our moral exception to injustice the
basis of human law? Doesn't God command us to establish government
with justice?
But
the book of Jonah tells us a different story. You know the Sunday
School version of the story. Nineveh was doing wrong and they were
about to be judged by God. But God, in His love for humanity, sent
one of His prophets, Jonah, to warn them. Jonah didn't want to go so
he set sail on a ship heading the opposite direction. The waves came;
Jonah confessed; he was thrown overboard; the fish swallowed him;
Jonah repented and God landed him on the beach in front of Nineveh.
He preached and the city repented. We emphasize the miracle of Jonah
surviving three days in the belly of the fish (yes, I believe it).
But that isn't the point of the story.
Here
is the rest of the story. Jonah was upset and angry with God because
Nineveh repented. He said: “I
am mad enough to die.” Israel and Nineveh were enemies. Jonah
didn't want to go to Nineveh because he didn't want them spared from
God's wrath. But God said 'There are 600,000 young age children....”
The Spiritual principle that we find in the book of Jonah tells is
that God alone is God, God loves everyone and God does not play
favorites among the nations.
So
how do Christians dance upon injustice? The answer is simple: with
the gospel. God's news is good news. Jonah suffered three days in the
belly of a fish because he confused his religion with his politics.
God doesn't care about human political systems that always create
winners and losers. His desire is for everyone to win. His desire is
for everyone to be blessed. God wants to bless the entire world with
no exceptions. That is why God came to us in Jesus Christ. Jesus
said: I
came that you might have life to the full. (John 10:10).
The
gospel does not get political. The gospel tells a different story
than politics. The gospel seeks to redeem everyone involved.
Unconditional love melts hard hearts. Unconditional love raises up
those who believe they are trapped in despair. Unconditional love
creates generosity. The good news helps people no matter what station
their life possesses. God loves saving the world.
We
are the church. We have the same power inside of us. Romans
1:16 tells us that the good news is like dynamite that releases
the power of God to transform anyone. Therefore, I am apolitical. And
I have to remind myself that God loves every side as much as He loves
me.
The
mental image “dancing upon injustice” is different than “stomping
out injustice.” Yes, the dancer is on top, but the dancer is
celebrating God's love. And the celebration of God's love lifts the
injustice up to the point of celebration. And that is the place where
the Good News redeems us all.
Praise
God!
