To be a Christian is to Love Justice
By Maria Lourdes Sereno
PERVERSE ANG LINYA NA: “ALL MEN ARE SINNERS, KAYA ALL OF US BEING SINNERS, HINDI PWEDENG PUNAHIN ANG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS KAHIT UNJUST O CORRUPT PA, IN FACT PWEDE PA NGA SILANG IBOTO MULI.”
Evil na naman iyang linyang iyan, troll na troll ang dating. Ang scripture verse na binibigkas natin para sa pagsisisi sa kasalanan at panunumbalik sa Diyos, ay ginagamit to justify the corruption and other gross sins of government officials. Only people under Satan’s influence could have even imagined that.
Pareho iyan ng linya na: because grace abounds in Christ, kaya Christians can sin more, so grace can abound even more (Romans 6:1). Hindi ba condemned ni Paul ang ganyang thinking sa verses 15-16?
Malinaw sa Bible, kahit pa all have fallen short of God’s glory, mayroong decent and good people that we can elect to office, and there are those whom we should absolutely avoid.
Gamitin natin ang advice ni Jethro kay Moses para ilatag ang minimum qualifications for a good leader, “But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens” (Exodus 18:21).
Tapos ay idikit ang essence ng public office sa ating Constitution na nakasulat sa Art. XI, section 1: “Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, act with patriotism and and justice, and lead modest lives.”
At ipaliwanag sa marami ang dapat iwasan na kandidato pagkat abomination sila kay Lord at panay kapahamakan lang ang idudulot. Ayon sa Proverbs 6:16-19, ito ang dapat iwasan o huwag iboto:
ArrogantLiarsViolentWickedMischief makersFalse witnessesOne who spreads division
We cannot avoid speaking out against injustice and corruption.
It is precisely because we are sinners who have been forgiven and now follow the God of Justice, that we are to champion justice and fight against injustice. Marami na tayong na-post tungkol dito. Ulitin natin ang iilan lamang sa maraming scriptural references which prove that doing justice, including speaking against oppression and corruption, is a clear Christian duty: Isaiah 1:17, Proverbs 31:8-9, Micah 6:8, Amos 5:24, Matthew 23:23. God’s throne is founded on justice and righteousness (Psalm 89:14).
