Please leave. I won’t ask a second time. The class sat in stunned silence.
Please Leave
A professor walked in on the first day of his university class. He surveyed the room and his eyes fell on one student. He asked her name and she told him. For a moment he stared at her and then responded, “I don’t ever want to see you in my class again. Please leave.” The student was confused. “What did I do?” He responded firmly, “I’m not going to ask you a second time.”
And then he waited, staring at her.
The class sat silently, somewhat shocked.
She gathered her books and purse and walked out of the room, all the while the professor faced the remaining students.
When the door closed with a timid click, he asked them a question “Why are there laws?”
After a few responses one student answered, “Justice”.
Unfair
The professor said, “Thank you.” And then he asked, “Tell me, was I unfair to your classmate?”
Everyone tentatively nodded their heads or vocalized a whispered, “Yes.”
He challenged them. “Why did no one speak up on her behalf?”
Without waiting for an answer he told them, “You didn’t say anything because you weren’t affected yourself.”
He went on to explain, “What you just learned could never have been received in even 1,000 lectures.”
And he followed up with, “If you don’t help bring about justice, you may one day experience injustice.”
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
Micah
Blindfolded
Years ago, I was asked to film a segment of a commercial for Little Warriors, a non-profit organization that helps children deal with the trauma of sexual abuse. The director of the organization was a personal friend and she asked me to film the segment in my role as the lead pastor of one of the largest churches in Edmonton.
“Please wear a suit and a tie.” There was a wooden stool positioned against a backdrop. “Please sit here.” My lines weren’t complex. I was scripted to say, “Is this how you see childhood sexual abuse.” There were other professionals who spoke the same words in earlier recording sessions.
Before I spoke my line, a production assistant tied a red blindfold over my eyes.
The year was 1999.
That advertisement was shown repeatedly on prime time TV. My blindfolded face was on display on the backs of Edmonton transit buses. It’s a weird feeling pulling up behind a bus and seeing your image.
The campaign worked.
The funds raised launched Little Warriors as an integral part of raising awareness of the scourge of childhood sexual abuse in Canada and it would pave the way to build the Be Brave Ranch, the first multi-modal treatment centre in Canada for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
Compassion and Healing
Sometimes, justice takes the form of compassion and healing and sometimes it is a disruption.
The Justice of Jesus, authored by my friend, Father Joash Thomas, is not an easy read. It unsettles, disrupts, and provokes precisely because Thomas is convinced the church must recover the justice of Jesus if it is to embody the gospel fully.
I am not an activist. I am a Christian living to effect justice and mercy.
Justice is why, when we came to Edmonton in 1990, we started ESL classes for immigrants at Central Tabernacle.
It’s why we partnered for over six years with 32 volunteers to help 500+ inner city children feel like a winner in an outreach called Son City.
It’s why we offered Celebrate Recovery at North Pointe for addicts.
Jocelyn and I work in Ukraine to stand against injustice.
My writing about immigrants and minority groups in Alberta is an act of justice.
Standing with Alberta teachers in 2025 when their rights were stripped away is an act of justice.
The biblical call is not simply, “Don’t hurt people.” It is also, “Do something when people are being hurt.”
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.” Isaiah 1:17
We can’t help every child or addict or stop the war in Ukraine, but can stand beside the people who are bearing the consequences.
We’ve seen that practical help for Ukrainians says:
“Your suffering matters. Your life matters. You have not been forgotten.”
Loving Your Neighbour
Mercy and justice treat people as neighbours rather than victims. Justice is the summation of “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Mark 12:31
If you don’t help bring about justice, you may one day experience injustice.
Have eyes to see and resolve to bring about justice.
Please leave your comment below. Share this post in your social media platforms as an encouragement to others. Thank you.
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