I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.
-Harriet Tubman
This quote has me thinking about social justice and spiritual freedom. I am wondering if one can ever truly exist without the other.
It is amazing when people step away from selfishness and stand up for the oppressed and the poor. When we use our talents and resources to right the wrongs of society, we live at the center of God’s heart.
The poor need help, they suffer in ways that the affluent can’t imagine. But in hidden ways, the middle class, the wealthy, and everyone in between are often enslaved and, unfortunately, comfortable in their chains. Many of us don’t even realize that we are bound in our own souls.
We cover our insecurities with beautiful things, push away our fears of insignificance by making much of our abilities, pacify our soul hunger with gourmet food, and distract our true desires with sexual satisfaction. And we are happy to do it.
But really, people need to be set free.
The world needs a Moses generation.
Moses was born to lead the Jewish people to freedom. But before he met the true God, his zealousness for social justice caused him to kill an Egyptian who was mistreating a Jewish slave.
Social justice without God’s Spirit will not be enough to lead a whole nation to freedom.
You can’t govern the human heart. The law cannot break the chains of selfishness and sin. One strike at unrighteousness can’t undo a culture’s ignorant dismissal of the value of human life and freedom.
But once Moses met God in a burning bush, everything changed.
Social justice was only a part of what Moses accomplished. He led people out of physical enslavement so they could one day be set free from spiritual slavery.
Social justice is a road that must end at the cross of Christ.
It is not our deeds of social justice or spiritual goodness that bring God’s righteousness to the earth. It is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus that makes us worthy of God’s approval.
We need to see a bush that doesn’t burn, a God that dies and then lives again, to hear a calling that resurrects who we are really meant to be.
We are made to free, designed to be equal with one another in God’s glory and plan. Injustice and inequality in our nations scorn the gospel.
Harriet Tubman was also called Mama Moses. Her hope and dream of freedom can rescue us still as it points us to the God of freedom.
She also said this:
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”
“Lord, I’m going to hold steady on to You and You’ve got to see me through.”
I believe that. I cling to it. He will see us through, and running after His heart for His suffering children will cast His glory all over the earth.
