Portrayals of injustice evoke anger and stir us to raise a protest. Some of us even rise in action to provide recourse for victims. Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman’s docu-movie, Born into Brothels, chronicles the stories of the children of prostitutes in Calcutta, India, in hope of helping them find a better life away from the crushing poverty and crippling dehumanization of their squalid existence. Inspired by the movie, a group of young people in their early twenties from Singapore visited the children and responded by starting an advocacy group called The Amber Initiative¹ to fight human trafficking. Until there is action, injustice will continue to fester and society will degenerate into an inhuman quagmire.

However, there is another response, just as necessary and critical as action that is frequently neglected. Jesus says we “should always pray and not give up.” ² He illustrates with the triple-whammy story of a widow who is a victim of injustice and has to contend with an unjust judge. In the days of Jesus, a woman is defined only in relation to her husband. If he dies, she loses not only her spouse, but also financial support and social significance as well. A widow has little standing in society and before the law. In such a society, the dowry system becomes an important safeguard. The dowry, which is provided by the bride’s father, always accompanies a woman to her marriage. If her husband dies, she can remain in her deceased husband’s home if she has a son, who now cares for her. Otherwise, she would return to her parents, taking her dowry back to her family.³

In His story, Jesus does not describe the injustice that afflicts the widow. Apparently, she has been perversely dispossessed by a supposedly wicked opponent who probably knows the poor widow has no recourse to redress. Her predicament is bad enough for her to go to a judge in a court of law. Not only does she not have a good standing before the law as a widow, she pleads her case before one of the infamously corrupt judges common in those days! She relentlessly badgers him, “Grant me justice against my adversary.” We are told this judge “neither feared God nor cared about men.” Our moral benchmarks come either from divine authority or cultural norms. Jesus’ comment on the judge hints that the official does not bend to divine authority nor does he care about cultural moral standards. He dispenses justice that suits himself!

Jesus seems to be describing the wrangling helplessness of those who suffer from injustice. The Wisdom writer observes, “I looked again at all the injustice that goes on in this world. The oppressed were crying, and no one would help them… The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless. I envy those who are dead and gone; they are better off than those who are still alive.” ⁴ Despair and meaninglessness ooze from the grindstone of injustice and oppression. Small wonder the Middle Eastern sage concludes that life is a chasing after the wind!

In the most deplorable and unjust situations, Jesus says that we “should pray and not give up.” Where we have no power to right the injustice or overturn the oppression, we should seek the face of God. Activists seek to right the wrongs in society by protesting, advocating for the victims or inciting a revolution. We frequently neglect the most powerful response open to us, which is to pray to the righteous and merciful God. We mistakenly perceive prayer to be too passive a response in the face of situations that are too critical and urgent. By neglecting the means of supplication we forfeit the succor of our Creator who alone has the power to change hearts and history. The Jewish writer is perceptive when he says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” ⁵ If there is any who can change the hearts of those powerful enough to alleviate human misery then He must be God.

In His parable, Jesus uses a “how much more” argument to urge us to pray. The judge in the story is corrupt; but God is righteous. The judge is not concerned about justice, acting only in self interest; but God cares for the weak and powerless. The judge responds only when the supplicant wears him out with persistent and irritating impositions; God’s ears are inclined to the pleas of His people. God is not like the unjust judge; how much more then should we intercede for those who are denied justice. We have the assurance from Jesus, “Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.”

As long as the human heart remains depraved, there will be oppression and injustice. You and I are not exempt from the destructive powers of evil in our hearts. We are victims and perpetrators at the same time, as there are those who wield power over us and there are those whose well being are determined by our decisions. While we pray for justice, we need to be prepared for God to also work in our own hearts. God answers our prayers according to our readiness for His work of deliverance; and it frequently begins in our hearts.

Injustice will only be eradicated when God is present. Only in His presence is there fullness of joy.⁶ But God’s presence can only be welcomed when there is faith. So Jesus asks at the close of His parable, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” In the most deplorable human conditions, where oppression tramples on human dignity and injustice robs humanity of respect and esteem, the most potent response is to pray. When we express faith in prayer, we welcome God’s presence. And, when God comes to us, the light of His presence dispels all darkness. In the most hopeless situation, Jesus urges us to “always pray and not give up”; a neglected but most necessary response.

References:
1. The movement can be accessed at www.theamberinitiative.com
2. Luke 18:1. The story that follows is found in Luke 18:2-8
3. Winter, Bruce W. Seek the Welfare of the City: Christians as Benefactors and Citizens. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1994.
4. Ecclesiastes 4:1-2 (Good News Bible & New Living Translation)
5. Proverbs 21:1
6. Psalm 16:11

Peter Chao is the Founder-President of Eagles Communications.

The New International Version of the Bible has been referenced unless otherwise stated.