Justice Seeking

Today we had our fourth chapel on Justice Seeking. Proverbs 31:8-9 have been our focus for the last four weeks. We are called to see and act on things that are "not fair" in our world. 

We've been singing this song this month: (Great Are You Lord -All Sons and Daughters)

Today we heard the parable of the persistent widow found in Luke 18:1-8. It is perhaps a lesser known parable:

18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought.3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
New International Version (NIV)

The focus of the parable is for us to persist in our faith against all odds. This includes being persistent when seeking justice for all. We need to continue to work for justice in a world full of injustices. And while we can't fix every wrong in the world, we must never give up hope.

After our time of worship together, we divided into our GIFT (Growing in Faith Together) groups and discussed what we can ask God to help us with in seeking justice at school, as well as what we can pray for in relation to seeking justice in our world. We then wrote out thoughts on hands to display as a reminder for us as we continue to seek justice in God's world.

And finally, here is our Grade Two "orffestra" playing God of Great

Justice Seeking

Our program at Beacon Christian School is woven together by ten threads called Throughlines. Throughlines are qualities that we desire our students to develop as God is revealed to them "in all things." They answer the question, "How now shall I live?

This month our focus in on the throughline Justice Seeking.

As written by the Prairie Centre for Christian Education based in Alberta, we acknowledge that the world is not as God intended it to be. U2 lead singer and social activist Bono once said, “Every age has its massive moral blind spots. We might not see them, but our children will.” We are able to lead our students to see the injustices in this world—the injustices of poverty, racism, gender inequality, war, exploitation in work places, abuse in relationships, poor governance etc. 

But seeing these things can’t be where we stop. If we do, we leave our students discouraged and hopeless. We need to enable students to act as agents of change by BOTH identifying and responding to injustices. Together we must find the moral blind spots and bring the vision of God’s kingdom to them.

The Bible is clear that justice is a central part of the shalom of God’s kingdom.  The Bible leaves no doubt that Christian lives must be lives of justice.  It is the first requirement listed in answer to Micah’s question, “What does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

God has decided to use his people (us!) to do His work in this world!  What a responsibility and privilege!  Christian education nurtures and disciples young people to take on this ongoing responsibility and to rejoice in the glimpses of the kingdom that they get in this task.

Last week, we welcome Pastor Kevin to our chapel. He told us the story of the Good Smaritan. He asked us how we wanted to be remembered?

What do we hope those who know us will see in us? Words like compassionate, caring, loving, Godly, humble, helpful, kind were some of the things our students hope others see in them. 

This week, we continued digging into what it means to seek justice.

Our Grade 1 students led us in opening worship.

We also welcomed two people who are involved in the homeless shelter at Southridge Church. 

Both spoke about finding friendship through the shelter. 

 It was interesting to meet and hear their stories and how finding friends in unlikely places has changed their lives. We were reminded that no one begins life dreaming about being homeless and that those without homes began their lives much like the rest of us. Their stories offered insight and thought into another area where we can seek to do what is just. 

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:8 (NIV)