Raising the Bar for Social Justice
Main Text: Malachi 2:17–3:6 NKJV
2026 Vision: All Things New
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
II Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
Declaration:
“I’m becoming who God wants me to be.”
At Lily Baptist Church, our 2026 challenge is to Believe, Belong, and Become:
Believe — Trust God, trust the process, hear God clearly, and respond in worship.
Belong — Honor God, honor yourself, honor others, and create an environment for healing.
Become — Represent God everywhere, be the light in the room, and live as an ambassador for Christ.
Series Review
The book of Malachi records a series of conversations between God and His people. Through the prophet, God examines their hearts, challenges their current level of commitment, and raises the bar to His standard.
So far, we have studied:
- Part 1 — Raising the Bar for Worship
- Part 2 — Raising the Bar for Covenant
- Part 3 — Raising the Bar for Relationships
- Part 4 — Raising the Bar for Social Justice
The central question of today’s message is not simply, “Is there injustice in our world?” The deeper question is:
What does God expect His people to do about it?
Malachi teaches us that when we seek God for justice, we must also be willing to allow God to examine us, refine us, restore us, and then use us in His work for justice.
1. Seek God for Justice
“You have wearied the LORD with your words; Yet you say, ‘In what way have we wearied Him?’ In that you say, ‘Everyone who does evil Is good in the sight of the LORD, And He delights in them,’ Or, ‘Where is the God of justice?’”
Malachi 2:17 NKJV
The people looked around and saw evil apparently prospering. From their perspective, people who were doing wrong seemed to be getting ahead while God appeared to be doing nothing.
So they asked:
“Where is the God of justice?”
That ancient question remains relevant.
Where is the God of justice when working people struggle to afford necessities?
Where is the God of justice when children attend struggling schools?
Where is the God of justice when elderly people struggle to afford food, medicine, housing, and other necessities?
Where is the God of justice when people experience discrimination?
Where is the God of justice when immigrants are treated without dignity?
Where is the God of justice when political power benefits the powerful while vulnerable people suffer?
Malachi isn’t asking a 2,400-year-old question. Malachi is asking today’s question.
But notice God’s response:
“Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the LORD of hosts.
Malachi 3:1 NKJV
God essentially says:
“I’m coming.”
God had not abandoned His people. God had not lost control. God had not become indifferent to injustice.
But God’s solution would come God’s way, through God’s messenger, according to God’s covenant, and according to God’s timing.
A Spiritual Principle
When we face injustice, our first response should be to seek God.
That does not mean Christians should become passive. Seeking God prepares us to respond correctly.
We need God to give us:
- Wisdom to recognize injustice.
- Discernment to separate truth from misinformation.
- Courage to speak when silence would be easier.
- Compassion for people who are hurting.
- Direction concerning what we should do.
- Spiritual power to remain faithful while doing it.
Questions for Reflection
- When you see injustice, what is usually your first response—anger, fear, frustration, social media, conversation, or prayer?
- Have you ever become discouraged because people doing wrong appeared to prosper?
- Are you seeking God’s perspective on the social and political issues that concern you?
- Could your political opinions sometimes be stronger than your biblical convictions?
- What injustice are you presently asking God to address?
This Week’s Challenge
Take one issue of injustice that concerns you and intentionally pray about it every day this week. Don’t merely ask God to change the situation. Ask God, “What would You have me do?”
2. Justice Begins With Us
“But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire And like launderers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness.”
Malachi 3:2–3 NKJV
Here is the surprising part of God’s response.
The people were asking God to deal with everybody else.
God started with them.
The work of justice begins with us.
Scripture teaches:
“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God…”
I Peter 4:17 NKJV
Before we ask God to correct the world, we should be willing to allow God to correct us.
The Refiner’s Fire
God compares His work to the refining of precious metal. The ore was heated until impurities rose to the surface. Those impurities—dross—were removed, and the process continued until the metal reached the desired purity.
God wants to perform a similar work in us.
There may be spiritual dross that needs to come out:
Unforgiveness. Malice. Pride. Selfishness. Contempt. Animosity. Hatred. Jealousy. Prejudice. Political idolatry. Indifference. Classism. Sexism. Racism.
God even needs to remove our contempt for people who disagree with us and our desire for revenge rather than justice.
There is an important difference:
Justice says, “Make it right.”
Revenge says, “Make them hurt.”
Followers of Christ must know the difference.
Ask yourself:
“Do I want God’s justice—or do I just want my side to win?”
The Launderer’s Soap
God also compares His work to launderer’s soap.
The sermon makes an important distinction:
Some things are in us and need refining. Other things have gotten on us because we’ve been living in this culture.
Political tribalism can get on us.
Social-media anger can get on us.
Fear can get on us.
Hatred can get on us.
Conspiracy theories and misinformation can get on us.
The attitudes and values of the world can get on us without our realizing how deeply they are affecting us.
So God says, in effect:
“Before I use you to clean up the world, let Me clean some of the world off of you.”
Questions for Reflection
- What “dross” might God be trying to remove from your heart?
- Have political disagreements caused you to think or speak about people in ways that do not reflect Christ?
- Is there prejudice in your heart that you have never seriously confronted?
- Are your views being shaped more by Scripture or by social media, television, political personalities, friends, and family?
- Do you want justice for everyone—or primarily for people who look, think, vote, or live like you?
- Is there a place where your desire for justice has turned into a desire for revenge?
This Week’s Challenge
Pray:
“Lord, before You change what is happening around me, show me what needs to change within me.”
Then give God permission to reveal attitudes, prejudices, assumptions, loyalties, and behaviors that need to be refined.
3. Restore Spiritual Justice
“He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem Will be pleasant to the LORD, As in the days of old, As in former years.”
Malachi 3:3–4 NKJV
The people complained about injustice around them, but God was also concerned about their relationship with Him.
Earlier in Malachi, they had brought God halfhearted, unacceptable sacrifices. Now God says He will refine His people so they can once again bring Him “an offering in righteousness.”
They wanted God to make things right around them.
God wanted to make things right between them and Him.
That teaches us something important:
We cannot demand justice from the world while resisting righteousness in ourselves.
Before saying:
“God, fix America,”
perhaps we should also pray:
God, fix me.
Correct my thinking.
Purify my motives.
Forgive my hatred.
Remove my prejudice.
Restore my compassion.
Teach me Your truth.
Make me righteous.
Make me just.
Social justice must never replace spiritual righteousness. Biblical justice flows from a life submitted to God.
Questions for Reflection
- Is there an area of your relationship with God that needs restoration?
- Are you asking God to correct society while resisting His correction in your own life?
- Does your worship on Sunday agree with the way you treat people Monday through Saturday?
- How can your prayer life become part of your pursuit of justice?
- What would an “offering in righteousness” look like in your daily life?
This Week’s Challenge
Before criticizing an injustice you see in someone else, ask:
“Lord, is there anything in me that contradicts what I’m asking You to correct in them?”
Practice justice first in your home, workplace, church, relationships, finances, and everyday treatment of others.
4. Join God’s Work for Justice
“And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness Against sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers, Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, And against those who turn away an alien— Because they do not fear Me,” Says the LORD of hosts.
Malachi 3:5 NKJV
God finally identifies some of the injustices He will confront.
Notice whom God mentions:
People who lie.
People who exploit workers.
People who mistreat widows.
People who mistreat orphans.
People who turn away the foreigner.
God cares about what happens to vulnerable people.
Therefore:
The church does not get its definition of justice from Democrats.
The church does not get its definition of justice from Republicans.
The church gets its definition of justice from God.
That means Christians should examine every political party, candidate, policy, movement, and ideology through the Word of God.
Consider these additional biblical principles:
“And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself…”
Leviticus 19:33–34 NKJV
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:28 NKJV
“He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.”
Proverbs 17:15 NKJV
“Thus says the LORD: ‘Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow…’”
Jeremiah 22:3 NKJV
“Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.”
Proverbs 31:8–9 NKJV
The sermon applies these principles to contemporary concerns including racism, treatment of immigrants, economic exploitation, political accountability, assistance for vulnerable people, and voting rights.
For the Christian, civic participation is not about blindly following a political party. It is about carrying our Christian convictions everywhere we go—including into the voting booth.
A Biblical Voting Filter
Before voting, don’t merely ask:
“Which candidate belongs to my party?”
Ask:
“What does God care about?”
Consider:
- Does this candidate or policy value truth?
- Does it protect workers from exploitation?
- Does it care for vulnerable people?
- Does it treat immigrants with human dignity?
- Does it protect people from oppression?
- Does it promote justice rather than favoritism?
Questions for Reflection
- What does Malachi 3:5 reveal about the kinds of injustice God takes seriously?
- Have you ever excused something wrong because the person doing it was someone you supported?
- Can you disagree politically with someone while still loving and honoring that person as someone created in God’s image?
- When evaluating candidates, do biblical principles or party loyalty have the greater influence on you?
- Beyond voting, where has God given you influence that could be used to help someone who is vulnerable?
- Are you willing to speak when speaking for what is right may cost you something?
This Week’s Challenge
Before the next election, commit yourself to PRAY. PREPARE. PARTICIPATE.
PRAY — Seek God’s wisdom and pray for justice.
PREPARE — Check your registration, learn about the candidates and issues, and examine them through a biblical lens.
PARTICIPATE — Cast your vote and encourage another eligible voter to participate.
Believe. Belong. Become.
Our pursuit of justice connects directly with our 2026 vision.
BELIEVE — Pray Before You Vote
Seek God’s wisdom. Study Scripture. Ask what justice, mercy, truth, righteousness, human dignity, and concern for vulnerable people require.
BELONG — Care Enough About Your Neighbor to Vote
Don’t only ask:
“What’s best for me?”
Ask:
“What happens to my neighbor?”
What happens to children?
What happens to working families?
What happens to the elderly?
What happens to the poor?
What happens to the stranger?
What happens to the marginalized?
BECOME — Represent Christ in the Voting Booth
Our declaration is:
“I’m becoming who God wants me to be.”
So we must ask:
“Does becoming who God wants me to be stop when I leave church—or does it follow me into the voting booth?”
Final Reflection: A Faith That Works
God promises to do His part, but God’s people have responsibilities too.
Israel was promised the land, but they still had to possess it.
Jesus did not save us so we could ignore our responsibilities. He saved us and gave us the Holy Spirit so that we could become His witnesses.
If we are going to be witnesses, we must be willing to stand up and be counted.
The sermon declares:
We must testify with our vote.
We’ve shown the world what faith without works looks like. Now let’s show the world a faith that works.
We have a faith that can move mountains.
We have a faith that can step out on nothing and receive everything.
We have a faith that will not fail.
We have a faith we can live by.
We have a faith we can walk by.
We have a faith we can vote by.
Personal Study Questions
As you review this message during the week, spend time prayerfully considering these questions:
- What does biblical justice mean to me?
- Where do I currently see injustice in my community?
- What injustice have I complained about without asking God what I can do about it?
- What attitudes does God need to refine out of me before He can effectively use me?
- Do I extend the same concern for justice to people who are different from me?
- Has politics ever influenced my interpretation of Scripture instead of Scripture influencing my politics?
- How can I use my voice, influence, resources, service, prayer, and vote to pursue what is right?
- What is one concrete action God is calling me to take?
Invitation
The greatest injustice in our lives has already been answered by Jesus Christ. We have sinned against God, but God loved us enough to send His Son to pay the penalty for our sins.
Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead so that we could be forgiven, reconciled to God, and receive eternal life.
If you are ready to place your faith in Christ, pray:
“God, thank You for creating me and loving me. I realize I have sinned in my life and I’ve been separated from You. I ask You to forgive me for my sins. I believe You sent Your Son Jesus to die and pay the penalty for my sins. I believe He rose from the dead according to the Bible. I confess Jesus as Lord of my life and Savior of my soul. I ask that You send Your Holy Spirit into my heart. In Jesus’s name, Amen.”
If you prayed this prayer, let us know and visit the Become a Member page on the Lily Baptist Church website.
This Week, Remember:
Seek God for Justice.
Justice Begins With Us.
Restore Spiritual Justice.
Join God’s Work for Justice.