Justice Ain’t Just Us

Proverbs 28:5“Evil people don’t understand justice, but those who follow the LORD understand completely.”On this date in 1963, roughly 250,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C., for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.History remembers the speeches, songs, signs and sea of people surrounding the Lincoln Memorial.But before it became history, it was somebody’s decision:Go take a stand for justice—or stay home and wait for a better day.Those marchers couldn’t know how the day would be remembered. They knew something was wrong—and standing on the “side of right” required movement.And I need to confess something.On October 16, 1995, my brother invited me to the Million Man March.I didn’t go.My uneasiness as a Christian about the Nation of Islam’s leader Minister Farrakhan kept me home watching the entire event on television.Even then, something inside me knew: Dang. I missed a moment.Three decades later, I can respect religious differences in others without surrendering my own personal conviction—and admit that religious rigidity kept me from standing with fellow Black men gathering for unity, responsibility and change.If I could speak to my younger self, I’d say, let go of your pride. Go. Be there.Proverbs 28:5 says:Evil people don’t understand justice, but those who follow the LORD understand completely.Following God doesn’t give us perfect politics. But it should train us to recognize what’s right and respond even when it costs something.Understanding justice isn’t merely defining it. It’s recognizing when justice is demanding something from you, regardless of the cost.Eventually, justice develops feet.It gathers.It stands, walks and marches.It speaks, shouts and sings.It takes up space where taking up space costs something.Justice ain’t just us—our denomination, our doctrine, our political party or circle of comfort. What is right may call us to stand beside people we don’t agree with about everything.Discernment still matters. Every march is not righteous and every coalition is not wise. We get that.But sometimes what we call discernment is really cheap grace searching for a theological excuse to avoid the cost of standing up.History remembers the people who showed up. It rarely records all the private reasons others stayed home.Don’t wait until history makes a struggle safe before deciding it deserved your presence.Justice often unsettles comfortable people because somebody else has been broken and uncomfortable for far too long.And if you still don’t understand why people gather, march, speak, shout and take up space—maybe Proverbs is right.Maybe you just don’t understand justice…yet.🔥 REMEMBERJustice understood deeply enough eventually grows feet.🙏🏽 PRAYERGod, lead me beyond comfort to stand for what’s right.🎯 TODAY’S CHALLENGEPut justice on its feet: contact one local organization doing work you believe in and ask, “Where can I show up?” Put one date on your calendar today.About the AuthorFred Lynch is a creative communicator, author, and Christian Hip Hop pioneer. To learn more about Fred and what he’s up to now…click here or you can find him in all the socials by searching the handle: heyfredlynch📱 Experience Proverbs Daily by Subscribing!Ready to receive daily wisdom directly on your phone?Go to proverbsdaily.org for the app or just click that Subscribe button right now! Get full access to Hey Fred Lynch! at heyfredlynch.substack.com/subscribe