The Greatest Injustice

Illustration by Viktor Miller-Gausa

Ken Ham, President/CEO
Answers in Genesis

In recent days we have seen a lot of discussion in the media about sins of the past and the supposed need to pay reparations to modern-day people because of injustices committed by some members of past generations. How should we respond?

History is very complicated. There is much that we don’t know, and it’s always easy to look back and say they shouldn’t have done this or that. When discussing the history of humanity, we will never be able to even begin to deal with issues of the past unless we have the correct history.

In reality, the only way to begin to deal with such complex issues regarding humanity requires us to know the true history of humans. And there’s only one infallible history book that we can turn to—God’s infallible Word. Until people believe in the true history of the one human race as outlined in the Bible beginning in Genesis and build their worldview on the gospel, people will never be able to deal with issues of racism, prejudice, injustices, and reparations.

Now that doesn’t mean that governments shouldn’t change some things to help people and stop prejudice. But without the foundation of God’s Word, who then determines what is right or wrong? And if you think about it, the reason there have been injustices over the years is that people did not obey God’s Word but allowed their depraved natures to determine how they acted. Again, unless people believe the true history of the human race from the Bible and build their worldview on this foundation, we will never be able to deal with these issues.

Building a Biblical Worldview

Before we consider how to deal with reparations in our culture, we must understand the spiritual reparations that we all owe but could never repay. Surely the greatest injustice of all was when we in Adam committed high treason against the God of creation by disobeying his direct command (Genesis 3:6; Romans 5:12). Can sinful man pay “reparations” to God for his sin of rebellion? God’s Word is very clear:

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8–10)

Fallible, sinful humans can’t pay “reparations” to God for our sin. But God paid those reparations for us. Salvation is a gift for those who receive it. Praise God for what he did for us. On the cross, Jesus paid all those “reparations” we owe!

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Understanding what God has done for us as Christians should totally transform the way we look at others who have wronged us:

[God] saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began. (2 Timothy 1:9)

Forgiving Our Enemies

After we understand that the answer to spiritual reparations is to receive God’s free gift of salvation, we can build a worldview about the reparations in our culture.

Jesus instructed his disciples how to treat people when they wrong us and are considered enemies.

I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:44)

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. (Luke 10:27)

Jesus taught us how to pray when dealing with those who mistreat us:

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (Matthew 6:12)

Now that is a hard one at times. We ask God to forgive our sins, as we have forgiven others who sin against us!

We can also apply specific passages to build our biblical worldview of reparations, such as Ezekiel 18 to help us understand that the children don’t pay for the sins of their fathers.

The Ultimate Answer

What should our answer be to those claiming injustices and calling for reparations? The ultimate answer is the cross. Until they understand that answer and receive God’s free gift of salvation and build their worldview on what God teaches, they will never be able to ultimately deal with such issues.

We all need to be reminded that each of us has committed the greatest injustice of all because we sinned in Adam. That’s why each one of us needs to make sure we have responded to and received God’s free gift of salvation and know that we will spend eternity with our Creator. That’s the most essential message of all time.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)