Justice and Reconciliation:Philip Yancey

People clapped and welcomed Philip Yancey for being an influencial author, eagerly waiting to hear him as he came on to the stage. After greeting the Hyderabadis,’ he began saying, “The world today needs a dose of Grace.”In his observation, the world is run by rules and karma; therefore, is filled with discrimination. Follow these lines as we summarize Philip’s message to Hyderabad in particular, and India at large.

People flocked into Hari Hari Kala Bhavan on a Sunday evening from 6pm (23 Nov’08). It started with lively music, introductions and traditional garlanding to the guests. It wasn’t until 7:40pm, that Phillip was finally given the microphone. And then, what is common in India actually happened, even at this important gathering... a complete black-out!  And Philip had to speak for 10 minutes in the dark without the audio to an auditorium full of people. These are the Hyderabad woes of event organizing!

Here is a brief of Philip’s message.

When Victor Yushchenko, an independent candidate wanted to campaign during the Ukrainian Presidency elections in 2004, he was poisoned by the senate causing a disfigured face and a temporary state of mental illness (see article). When the polling was over, the big screen announced that the opposition party had won. But, on the right corner of the screen, a translator-girl in a small window doing the sign language on the TV, understood the truth behind the scene and she said” “we know that these men are lying through their teeth.” She gave a signal that people are meeting at a prominent location to protest against the decision of the senate. As a result of this message, the truth was revealed and since then, Yushchenko has been the President of Ukraine till this day.

Today, the Big screen (Hollywood, Bollywood, etc) determines an individual’s world view. The world says ‘your worth is what you look like, your wealth and your positions.’ But, it is not the rich who are blessed, but ‘blessed are the poor in spirit and those who are persecuted.’ The world needs the gift of grace and let us have our hands open.

Let us journey through the life of Jesus and meet few characters who were heroes, not of the Big screen but of the small. Not the powerful and the affluent, but those how are poor and oppressed yet receiving grace.

In the parable of the Prodigal son, the elder brother had everything and rightly deserved his father’s possession. The younger son went away out of his own will, and destroyed himself. It was not until he ate the pig’s food that he realized that he was under oppression. He came back and embraced his waiting father. It was not the elder brother, but the younger son who was lost, but found the grace of his father and remained as the hero of the story.

In the story of the Rich Man, Lazarus the beggar was waiting for crumbs from the table of the rich man. He was infected with decease and longed for death. The situation changed after both died. While the rich man was in agony and torment, it was the beggar who is found ‘just’ before God. In fact, Jesus did not find it important to mention the name of the rich man even.

Jesus spoke to a Samaritan woman who was oppressed by the Jews. She was a woman of loose morals, yet Jesus gave meaning for her life. She was not the only one who was reconciled, but many from her village. In fact, this is perhaps the only place where Jesus openly said that he is the long expected ‘Messiah.’

Another prostitute woman came to Jesus when Jesus was dining at a religious man’s house. She brought expensive perfume and anointed Jesus. He recognized her brokenness and accepted her heart against the views of his host that evening. Again, it was not the host Jew, who was the hero, it was the prostitute woman.

Bartimeaus was not only born blind but also was disabled, and could only beg at the city gate. His name means ‘son of garbage.’ While he was crying out to meet his need, Jesus’ disciples tried to keep him quiet implying that the master is too busy to stoop down to meet his need. But Jesus exactly did that, he healed the blind Bartimeaus. The disciples were going by the values of the big screen, while Jesus intentionally went by the values of the small screen; justice and reconciliation brought by grace. People who are oppressed are most likely to be great in God’s kingdom.

Missionary Graham Stanes was burnt alive in India along with his two sons because he served lepers in Orissa for more than 30 years. His wife did not give up her husbands mission, she came back to continue the work, extending grace with complete openness.

Zacchaeus was a rich man who extorted money from the oppressed Jews and served Rome. He was the oppressor. Jesus gave a personal attention and the result was that he and his house-hold received grace. That night, Zacchaeus reconciled to those whom he had wronged and promised to pay-back four times. He gave half of his possessions to the poor. It is easy to reach down to the oppressed, but harder to show grace to the upward.

Disciple Thomas doubted the resurrection of Jesus. He was not around when Jesus appeared to his disciples the first time. Later, Thomas was there! He wanted to feel the wounds of Jesus before he could believe. Jesus was gracious to clear his doubt.

Nelson Mandela, who fought against injustice in Africa had been in prison for 28 years. After his release, as he took over as the president of South Africa, he spoke about not having the time to keep fighting with people anymore, but to serve his people and the world at large.

Grace is the most powerful element that can overcome sin, oppression and injustice. It is not the people of the big screen, but the people of the small screen that reflect the face of Jesus.

Note: This is only a summary of Philip Yancey’s message on 23 Nov’08 as written by Mahalife reporter.