Injustice
At the beginning of this month, I visited pastors in Moldova and Turkey. One of the biggest struggles they face is how to remain faithful to God while confronting injustice. I have a strong sense of right and wrong, and I am infuriated by injustice. I am working through what Paul calls us to do in Ephesians 4:26, where he advises us to be angry but not to sin. Here are some examples of injustice that I witnessed during my trip.
In Moldova, it seems that getting anything done often requires a “gift” or a bribe. For instance, my Turkish friend had to give a “gift” just to secure a doctor’s appointment. When I asked a Moldovan Christian about this, she was surprised and hadn’t encountered the same issue. Many conclusions can be drawn from this, but what I know for sure is that no one should have to offer champagne and chocolates just to see a doctor. My friend did eventually get an appointment.
Another example of injustice relates to my friend’s application for citizenship. To qualify for citizenship in Moldova, one must demonstrate proficiency in Romanian, the local language. My friend has been diligently taking classes and working hard to learn the language. Meanwhile, he knows people who “passed” the proficiency exam but don’t understand or speak Romanian. The unspoken truth is that they bribed their way through the test. My friend, however, is committed to passing the test without paying a bribe.
The last example of injustice I encountered involved a young man trying to obtain a driving license. He passed the written exam but failed the driving test multiple times. While the evaluator didn’t explicitly ask for a bribe, he became upset when the young man’s father recorded the test. This young man needs a driving license to secure a good job, but his family is determined not to pay a bribe.
Each of these stories demonstrates injustice, but the actions taken vary. In the first case, a bribe was paid; in the second, it was complicated, as some people paid while my friend did not; and in the third case, no bribe was paid. What is right? Is it simply black and white, or is there a gray area? The bribe to get a doctor’s appointment is wrong, but the moral burden does not fall on the patient needing care; instead, it rests with the doctor. The bribe is essentially an additional cost. For the Romanian proficiency exam, it is clear that paying a bribe is wrong, as it involves lying. The results of the test may not be open to evaluation, but it is evident when someone knows a language or not. In the case of the driving test, it seems the evaluator is exploiting the young man’s need in order to profit.
What is right? What is wrong? As believers in Christ, what should we do? As Christians, we accept that we will endure hardship, suffering, persecution, and injustice while following Jesus. Will we allow someone else’s sin against us to lead us into sin? The answers are not always clear.
My heart breaks over these injustices. It pains me to see my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ suffering. It is painful to witness individuals inflicting harm on others, which ultimately harms them as well. I sometimes feel hopeless in such situations, but I know better.
We serve a God who is making all things new. I need to look to Him to address these situations. May God bring justice to Moldova. May He grant perseverance to the Christians in that country. May God change the hearts of those who perpetrate injustice. Please pray with me.