How NOT to pray for Justice

A Hard (but Biblical) Topic

I can understand why some entirely disengage from social justice discourse. We’ve all seen dysfunctional discourse (especially online) that leaves us more disconnected and frustrated than we started. Aiming at justice, we create more injustice. Like a Chinese finger trap, the harder we try, the more stuck we get.

But God is a God of justice, and Christians simply must act, talk, and pray about it. In Isaiah 58:3 the prophet critiques Israel: you “oppress all your workers.” (58:3) God dignifies the oppressed (workers); God humbles the oppressors (Israel); God speaks through allies (the prophet).

This triangular framework wasn’t invented by Nietzche, Foucault or Marx. Conscious or not, they were drawing from the Bible’s well of compassionate justice.

Obviously, just because the Bible acknowledges these roles, doesn’t mean they are played out in redemptive ways. As I watch the ways we criticize, defend, and blame one another, I was reminded of another triangular framework; Stephen Karpman’s Drama Triangle. In it, the Persecutor, Victim and Rescuer all relate to one another in dysfunctional, self-perpetuating ways.

 How Justice Gets Stuck

Social justice discourse gets mired in three familiar sad cycles.

First, there is the Cycle of Vengeance between the Oppressor/Persecutor and the Oppressed/Victim. The Oppressor blames the Victim, to justify their oppression. The Victim then justifies revenge. The one harmed yesterday inflicts harm tomorrow. We see this play out in wars between nations, and in the modern slavery sector where trafficked humans can themselves become traffickers.

Second, there is the Cycle of Dependency between the Ally/Rescuer and the Oppressed/Victim. Dependency language is familiar to Development Theory, which I learned about working for Tearfund. Whether addressing poverty or systemic inequity, the ‘help’ cannot be offered from a posture of superiority. When the insights and agency of those being ‘helped’ are bypassed, they are not empowered to thrive. In justice discourse, there is legitimate suspicion of ‘performative allyship’ that seems more interested in being ‘right’ than truly helping.

Third, there is the Cycle of Enmity between the Ally/Rescuer and the Oppressor/Persecutor. The Ally goes beyond legitimate critique and instead demonises the Oppressor, only amplifying their defensive fears of being misrepresented. Discourse fails. Nobody is helped.

Praying for Justice with Mercy and Humility

The above cycles thrive on a lack of self-criticism and an excess of judging others. Biblical wisdom shows us a better way. Doing justice must be accompanied by loving mercy and walking humbly (Micah 6.8). Mercy for the other; humility for myself.

So, finally: how do mercy and humility undo the drama?
And how can we pray accordingly?

Storms of Vengeance can be stilled when Oppressors confess their sin.
Lord, open my eyes to the ways my attitudes and behaviours harm others.
And as Miroslav Volf writes, the Oppressed must also “repent of the desire to excuse their reactive behaviour.”
Lord, empower me to unclench my fists and be the one who breaks the cycle here.

Fetters of Dependency are unlocked when Allys restrain their well-meaning desire to be ‘good’ and truly partner with those facing oppression.
Lord, purify my heart, remove self-serving ego and make me a servant.
Likewise, the Oppressed must be given space to embody their own part to play in the journey to justice.
Lord, guide and strengthen me to say and do what only I can do in this situation.

Wounds of Enmity are healed when Allys dare to see humanity in Oppressors.
Lord, help me to extend the same mercy to them that I would want for myself.
And when Oppressors vulnerably open themselves to needed critique.
Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner, and help me to change where needed.

Ultimately, we truly pursue justice in the way of Jesus when we pivot from pointing out the wrongs in others, and instead look at ourselves. When, as David Crawley of Laidlaw college so wisely put it, we “take the Triangle out of our own eyes.”

Lord, keep me from pointing the finger of judgment at others.
Empower me instead to remove the logs from my own eyes.
Remove blame, defensiveness, revenge, passivity, superiority, and demonising from my lips.
Flavour my speaking and acting for justice with your mercy, which triumphs over judgment. Amen.

Dale is married to Diane and lives on Auckland’s North Shore with their son Thomas. He was a pastor for 11 years and did his master’s thesis on Baptist Worship. He worked for Tearfund helping run the Justice Conference from 2019 to 2022 and is passionate about practical spirituality. He is the Prayer Leader for Auckland Church Network. This blog is a short summary of a journal article for Stimulus.