Deeper ReflectionTHIS WEEK LEADS UP TO NEW LIFE FRIENDS’ DAY. AS WE reflect on social justice, we recognise that there is a significant amount of injustice around us, such as poverty, discrimination, neglect, bullying, violence, abuse and exploitation. God requires us to do good works, even as we uphold the centrality and indispensability of the Gospel for God’s redeeming and transforming work in the lives of people. Let us start by considering the source of injustice.Human beings are created in the image of God.
40 As God’s image-bearers, we are unique among God’s creatures. We have God-given capacities to relate to God and to serve Him by ruling over the rest of creation as His vice-regents.
41 God, the King of creation, is good, benevolent and kind. His intention is to bless humankind and all living creatures, and provide for their needs and flourishing.
42But God’s good design was corrupted by sin − humankind’s rebellion and disobedience against God’s rule and command (vv.15-17; Gen 3:1-6). Everything went downhill from there. We started to experience shame and guilt.
43 As a result of the corruption of sin, humankind experienced pain in life and work, as well as physical death (Gen 3:16-19); depravity from idolatry (Rom 1:21-32); a violence-filled earth (Gen 6:11-12); and a broken created order (Rom 8:19-22). Further, all kinds of injustice began to characterise human relations and experience, such as envy, anger, murder and revenge killing.
44 People had great wickedness and their thoughts devised nothing but evil all the time.
45 Clearly, therefore, the source of injustice is sin, the fall of humankind. And ultimately the solution is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
46
40 Genesis 1:26-27. When God the Creator created the universe, the earth, vegetation and living creatures, He saw
that it was good (Gen 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21 and 25). After God created humankind − the pinnacle of creation − He saw
that all that He had created was very good (Gen 1:31).
41 Genesis 1:26, 28.
42 Genesis 1:22, 28, 29-30.
43 This can be seen in Adam and Eve’s attempts to cover their naked bodies from each other’s sight and hide
physically from God’s presence (Gen 3:7-8. Cf. Gen 2:25).
44 Genesis 4:8, 23-24.
45 Genesis 6:5.
46 Romans 1:16-17.
