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Issues

Justice

Now what does the Lord require of you, but to act justly?

 God requires that humans act justly. God is a God of justice, who cares for the poor and weak. The church is called to express God's justice, but also to be his voice, calling out for justice for the poor, the weak, and the oppressed.

Christian individuals, churches, and organisations have always been at the forefront of work and campaigns for justice in issues such as slavery, prison reform, apartheid, civil rights, Third World development and debt cancellation. Sadly, however, parts of the church have often neglected, or even sought to justify huge social injustices.

Justice issues today
What are the issues of today, where the church needs to stand with the weak and speak up for justice? Will we stand for God today or stand accused of complicity by our silence? There are many issues on which the church needs to find a voice - issues such as war and the arms trade, terrorism, refugees and asylum seekers, political and religious oppression, prejudice, corruption, basic human needs and human rights, and globalisation. For more information on these, follow the relevant links.

Here we will focus on two main issues - the issue of Third World Poverty, and the issue of the Environment.

Justice Issues: thinking and responding biblically

Part of the call of the church is to stand for justice as an expression of God's kingdom, of his hatred of injustice, and in particular of his concern for the poor and needy.

The righteous care about justice for the poor. (Prov 29:7)

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Third World Poverty

One of the great scandals of injustice in our time is the huge inequality and poverty that exists in the world. As part of our call to justice, we should be calling for Trade Reform, Increased Aid, and Debt Relief.

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The Environment

Stewardship of God's creation is also a justice issue. We have a divine charge to take care of God's creation. But we also need to recognise that, as in everything, mismanagement of the environment unequally affects the poor. Wise management of the earth is therefore an expression both of worship to its Creator, and of justice for the weak.

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