Pre-Video Discussion Question: Our three discussions about justice will be grounded in stories. Tell us a little bit of your story by introducing yourself and telling us what it is about this topic that motivates you to be here.
OPENING VIDEO OPTIONS (choose 1)
Supermaarko (4min)
Maarko is an ordinary boy in the Philippines who wants to be a superhero. But the evil that happened to him and his sister exists beyond the imagination
Esther (8min)
When Esther was a child, she was taken from her family and forced to work as a slave on Lake Volta, in Ghana. For nearly a decade she labored, suffered, and was held captive by people profiting from the illegal fishing industry. Yet in a place where so many were lost, the bravery of a few would drastically impact her future.
Discussion Questions:
REACTION: Let’s go around and talk about our emotional reactions to what we just watched. If possible, try to name at least one emotion we felt as we watched the video and the scene(s) in the video that evoked that feeling.?
Both justice and injustice involve the use or misuse of power. Power is often related to privilege. Privilege is when someone’s status, identity, or other aspects of who they are afford them opportunities others may not have. How have you seen power or privilege used in negative ways in the world around you?
Share a time when you have seen power used for the sake of someone who needs help.
Before talking about our own responses to injustice, I’d like to share some examples from the Jewish and Christian traditions. The Psalms are ancient poems and prayers, and many are cries to God for help, rescue, and justice.
Note: You may choose to read all of the below examples or only a few.
The cry of injustice:
Psalm 10
1 Why are you far away, Lord?
Why do you hide yourself
when I am in trouble?
2 Proud and brutal people hunt down the poor.
But let them get caught
by their own evil plans!
3 The wicked brag about their deepest desires.
Those greedy people hate
and curse you, Lord.
4 The wicked are too proud to turn to you or even think about you.
5 They are always successful, though they can’t understand your teachings,
and they keep sneering at their enemies.
6 In their hearts they say, “Nothing can hurt us! We’ll always be happy
and free from trouble.”
7 They curse and tell lies, and all they talk about is how to be cruel or how to do wrong.
8 They hide outside villages, waiting to strike and murder some innocent victim.
9 They are hungry lions hiding in the bushes, hoping to catch some helpless passerby. They trap the poor in nets and drag them away.
10 They crouch down and wait to grab a victim.
11 They say, “God can’t see! He’s got on a blindfold.”
12 Do something, Lord God, and use your powerful arm to help those in need.
The cry for leaders to lead with justice:
Psalm 72: 4
Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son!
May he judge your people with righteousness,
and your poor with justice!
May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the children of the needy,
and crush the oppressor!
The cry for all people to seek justice:
Psalm 106:3
Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!
Psalm 112:5
It is well for the person who deals generously and lends; who conducts their affairs with justice.
A cry of a God who loves justice:
Psalm 99:4-5
The King is his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
You may not naturally use the exact words of these Psalms, but you may relate to some of the heart behind them.
How do you deal with the fact that the world is messed up? When you see injustice, what do you tend to want to do? Here are some possible reactions.
“I want to turn away.”
“I want to fight!”
“I want to cry.”
“I want to pray.”
“I want to understand more.”
Which reactions do you identify with most? Why do you think that is?
Note to host
You may choose to bring out a current news story that makes it real, timely and more personal.
Closing Comments by Host:
Come back next week as we hear someone’s personal journey of understanding the reality of injustice and how that is connected to his journey of understanding who Jesus is.