Kingdom Hearts, Not Capitol Hill: Living Out Biblical Justice in Our Everyday Rome

 

"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" - Micah 6:8

    I believe we live in a world that seems to be saturated with discussions about justice, fairness, and truth. It seems to be something that we hear a lot about these days. It seems there is always someone championing for change for one thing or another. There seems to be more and more people willing to speak out and call out injustices that they see going on in this world. This is not a bad thing necessary and it certainly beats the alternative of silence in the face of iniquity and inequality.

    As followers of Jesus, our hearts resonate deeply with these concepts or at least I believe they should. We read the powerful pronouncements of the prophets, the compassionate acts of Jesus, and the calls for righteous living throughout the Scriptures. Verses about caring for the widow and the orphan, about speaking truth to power, and about loving our neighbor as ourselves often leap in our mind when we see injustice in the world around us. The bible has a lot to say about the world that we live in and how we should live in it. And rightly so. The Bible undeniably speaks to issues of injustice. 

    However, I believe there's a crucial distinction we sometimes miss – a distinction that shifts our focus from demanding political solutions to embodying Christ's love in our daily interactions. Could it be that many of these powerful biblical calls are less about reforming the Roman Empire from the Senate floor and more about transforming our own "Rome" – our communities, our workplaces, our homes and most certainly our own hearts – from the ground up?

    Think about it for just a moment. Jesus spent his time ministering to individuals, healing the sick, comforting the marginalized, and challenging the hearts of those he encountered. While his teachings undoubtedly had societal implications, his primary focus was on the transformation of individuals through the power of the Gospel. He didn't lead a political revolt against Rome, even though the Roman occupation was undeniably unjust. He did not demand a rally to resist and fight back against the oppressive Roman government. 

    Instead, he called his followers to a different kind of revolution – a revolution of love, compassion, and radical forgiveness. Jesus did not teach his disciples how to invoke change on a national level. He did not teach his followers to boycott and petition the Emperor to demand justice. We see Jesus taught his followers to be just, even in the face of an unjust governmental system. He taught compassion, mercy and grace on an individual basis, not on a national scale. Jesus was not about reforming government, but rather reforming the hearts of individual people. 

    This doesn't mean we should ignore injustice or remain silent in the face of wrongdoing. As citizens of our earthly nations, we have the liberty (for those living in nations that offer such liberty) – and perhaps even the responsibility – to engage in the political process, to vote according to our conscience, and to advocate for laws that reflect biblical values. There will undoubtedly be times when our faith compels us to stand against laws that contradict God's principles.

    However, I don't believe this political engagement should  become our primary focus. Our ultimate mission, the very heartbeat of the Christian life, is to point others to Jesus Christ. Our most powerful witness to the world isn't necessarily through the laws we pass, but through the lives we live. In my opinion lasting change does not rest in laws that can be broken, but in the hearts of people who are broken over their own sin. It is far easier to demand a government to enact laws that reflect our biblical views, than it is to live out those biblical views in our own lives. I think sometimes we wish and demand the government to do that which Jesus has called us do personally.  

    Consider the immigrant, whether they are here legally or not really should not make any diffrence to us as Christians. Our biblical call to love our neighbor transcends national borders and legal statuses.  We can, and should, extend compassion, offer practical help, and treat them with the dignity they deserve as image-bearers of God. We should desire for each of them who are hear to come to know Jesus Christ. Did not Jesus die for those who were born in Mexico, Haiti, Guatemala, Columbia, and South Africa? My bible say's that He did! Should not our hearts go out to them who have come over to this country where they know nobody, can't speak the language and looking to give their children a better life? 

    Furthermore, many of these immigrants are fellow believers in Christ. Many of them had a church they worshiped in, believers that instructed them and helped them draw closer to God. Now they are in a country surrounded by churches who worship the God of the Bible, but they are unable to join in with us because they can't speak our language! Should not our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ find in these churches a home away from home. A place where they know that they are loved and cared for. A place where the are not looked down on as an immigrant but rather welcomed as a fellow brother and sister in Christ? 

    This doesn't negate the need for just and effective immigration reform. I believe we can hold both these truths in tension – loving the individual while still advocating for a better system. Our personal actions of love and kindness can be a powerful testament to the heart of God, regardless of the current legal framework.

    The early church thrived not by lobbying the Roman authorities, but by their radical love for one another and their unwavering commitment to the Gospel, even in the face of persecution. They changed "Rome" not through political power, but through the transformative power of the Holy Spirit working in and through their lives.

    So, as we navigate the complexities of our modern world, let's not mistake the means for the end. Let's not prioritize changing "Capitol Hill" over cultivating "Kingdom Hearts." Let's live out the justice and compassion the Bible calls us to in our everyday interactions, trusting that this bottom-up transformation, fueled by the love of Christ, will ultimately have a far more profound and lasting impact than any political decree. 

So what can we do?.... Let me offer you 4 things I think we can do.

Prioritize "Kingdom Hearts" in Your Daily Sphere: Instead of solely focusing on national policy, and get burdened down with the national and global news. Instead identify opportunities to embody justice and compassion in your immediate environment. 

• This could mean actively listening to a coworker who feels unheard, extending an act of kindness to a struggling neighbor, or fostering an inclusive atmosphere in your social circle.
• Think about where you can directly impact individual lives with Christ's love, rather than waiting for systemic change.

Practice Radical Hospitality to the Marginalized: I talked about how we should treat the immigrant, but this principle extends to anyone who feels "othered" or on the fringes of society – the lonely, the disabled, those from different backgrounds. 

• Intentionally seek out opportunities to welcome and serve them. This might involve volunteering at a local charity, inviting someone new into your home or social gatherings, or simply offering a genuine smile and conversation to someone often overlooked Remember, Christ welcomed all.

Lead by Example, Not Just by Demand: Before advocating for a specific law or policy, ask yourself if you are personally living out the biblical values you wish to see enacted. 

• If you desire justice for the poor, are you generous with your own resources? If you want truth to prevail, are you honest in all your dealings? This internal consistency builds credibility and allows your life to be a powerful testimony, rather than just your voice.

Engage with Wisdom and Humility in Public Discourse: While political engagement is not our primary focus, it's still a space where Christians can exert influence. 

• When discussing societal issues, do so with humility, seeking to understand diverse perspectives, and speaking truth in love. Avoid demonizing those with differing views. Remember that true change often happens through patient dialogue and relationship-building, not just by "winning" the argument.