Does God Care About the Oppressed?

How should we, as Christians, react to the humanitarian crises around the world? A better first question might actually be, "What is a humanitarian crisis?" Humanitarian crises are crises that threaten human lives and cause the suffering of individuals. A crisis could stem from a natural disaster or from a corrupt political regime. It can be the oppression of some types of people, while elevating others above them.

Now that we know what these crises are, how should we be responding to them? 

I try to stay well-versed in what is happening around the world. I try to do this by following the news on any crisis that gets reported on. Lest I be accused of only reading the news of "my side", let me reassure you that I have tried to read both conservative and liberal, both national and international, and both fear-mongering sensationalists and fake news. That should cover everything right?

I have read people's opinions on social media and listened to them discuss this in public venues. Everyone seems to have an opinion.
"I think..."
"It seems to me..."
"In my opinion..."

What we seem to be lacking is God's perspective in this matter.

I realize that any humanitarian crisis is by its nature an incredibly complex and volatile mess right now. They run the risk of being so politicized that we can no longer hold conversations with anyone who is not on our side of the aisle. 

While we do need to dialogue with our leaders about ways to solve crises, this post is not about dictating exactly what a government should be doing to fix things. Right now, most sides seem more interested in casting blame than fixing the problems, so let's appeal above all human leaders, shall we? Let's go to God with this.

Today, I'd like us to look at what God says, through His word, about the oppressed and those oppressing others. A quick online search yielded many results (quoted from the NIV Bible):

Psalm 9:9...The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
Psalm 14:6...You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their refuge.
Psalm 72:4...May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor.
Psalm 103:6...The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
Proverbs 14:31...Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
Proverbs 17:5...Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
Proverbs 22:16-17...One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty./Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach,
Proverbs 22:22-23...Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court,/ for the Lord will take up their case and will exact life for life.
Proverbs 31:9...Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Isaiah 10:1-3...Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees,/ to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless./ What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches?
James 5:1-5...Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.

Does God care about the oppressed? My reading of Scripture says that He does. I also learned that God will punish those oppressing others. 

Instead of spouting off our opinions like they are gospel truths to be obeyed by all, we need to instead approach God and ask Him what He would have our response be. 

Questions to Ask God:
-What is Your view on this issue?
-Does the Bible speak about this issue? 
-Am I looking at the whole breadth of Scripture to fully learn Your view or am I searching for verses that "prove" my point?
-How does God call His Church to respond to this situation?

New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Pray Big Prayers

Do you listen to people's prayer requests? I mean, do we really listen to what is being said and reflect on what is being left unsaid?

I've come to the conclusion that either A) we don't want to risk overwhelming God with the weighty, big prayers, or B) our prayers are too small and narrow.

God is not JUST the God of one specific city, state, country, or even one world. He is the God of the Universe.

Yet, if our prayers were to light up a map, not based on where we were physically standing or sitting while we were praying, but based on where we praying for, how many prayers would be outside of our country or even our own city?

We need to pray big prayers.
Pray for the lost to be found.
Pray for slavery to end.
Pray for the persecuted to endure faithfully and lovingly bear witness to Christ during their trials.
Pray for their persecutors to become family through Jesus.

We should pray for the small things we see and encounter in our daily lives, but that doesn't mean that we are absolved from praying big prayers as well.

Now this isn't to say that we shouldn't pray small prayers, but rather we should pray big prayers alongside them.

For example:

Don't just pray for... abortion to end the Church in your country forgiveness for sins physical healing blessings your friends, family, and leaders Christians the enslaved victims those a part of your nationality kind people those killed or hurt by terrorism the persecuted Church us

But also pray for... all killing to be stopped the global Church deliverance & the power to overcome habits/tendencies/sins passed through generations spiritual healing to be a blessing to others your enemies those of other faiths to come to know the Lord their enslavers their perpetrators  refugees and immigrants jerks terrorists the persecuted mosque/temple/synagogue/shrine them