Justice League – Fightin’ Friday

February 5, 2010

February Focus on Discrimination & Human Rights

ALL PEOPLE ARE EQUAL
Let us remember that all people are created by God, in his image and likeness. It is from this truth and starting point that we can begin to restore the rights of those whose rights have been denied.

God created man and woman in his own image and likeness. ~ Genesis 1:26-27

All people are equal, and carry the image of God. To deny a person any of their rights is a direct offence to God who created them. When Cain killed Abel (btw – the first murder in the bible!), God said to Cain “Where is your brother Abel?’ (see Genesis 4:8).

Jesus talks to the Samaritan woman ~ John 4:1-32
Women is Jesus’ time where not to be spoken with unless they were a family relative. The woman was a Samaritan, and Jesus was a Jew, these two groups were in great rivalry and meant to keep separate. Also the time of day that the woman visited the well also shows she was an outcast, the sixth hour was late in the day, the sun was hot at this hour, and the regular time for fetching water was early in the day when it was still cool. And here we have an account of Jesus addressing the inequalities in his day, he spoke with a woman, affirming her, he knew she was a Samaritan but did not make her religious sect to be less, and he did not ignore her or sweep her aside as an outcast.

Jesus welcomes the children ~ Matthew 19:14
When children were brought to Jesus for him to pray for them, the disciples refused them, but Jesus welcomed them. There is no hierarchy, no one is greater than the other, all people are equal. And Jesus welcomes the children and not only that, but he says “the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these”

Jesus’ death on the cross ~ John 19:20
The sign that was nailed above Jesus’ head while he hung on the cross was written in many languages of the day. It read “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” and was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. Jesus’ death was for all people, and the sign above his head showed this.

Pentecost, God’s Spirit comes to all people of all languages ~ Acts 2:1-11
I can imagine the crowd, and the event of God’s Holy Spirit moving among God’s people like a wind. And all of a sudden people are talking in many languages, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and all people gathered there heard the message of Jesus in all their languages. God’s spirit united all those who were gathered, there was no barrier between them.

The believers share their possessions ~ Acts 4:32-35
All the believers were one in heart and mind, but they came from different backgrounds, some were educated, some were tradesmen, there were men and women gathered, families. They came from all over the Roman world, but it is not their differences that is noted, it is their unity.

All are one ~ Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

THINK ABOUT IT
How many people do you know of different languages, nationalities, and backgrounds? How do you share life with these people? Are they close friends, people you talk to regularly, or people you do not have much contact with? Think of ways you can encourage the variety of people that you know and live out the truth that we are all created by God and equal. When you look at them, a part of God’s creation is looking back at you.

RESEARCH IT
Look at the UN Declaration of Human Rights and focus on 1 of the 30 human rights – see here

PRAY
Pray this prayer:
Lord let us not create division or boundaries in your creation. Teach us to recognise you in every person, and celebrate each other. We pray that the rights of all people would be protected. Deliver us from narrowness, comparison, and prejudice. Help us to welcome, and not push away. Please teach us to be unified, one in heart and spirit. Amen

MORE INFO
See February’s full justice post with all the details here

Drop by next Friday for another post with actions you can take & prayer suggestions

This post was submitted by Zoe Fay.

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