I Need to Know There is Justice

Music is one of the few experiences we have in this life that is truly magical. By some miracle, a collection of words and sounds can be combined to utterly transform our mood, our thinking, and overwhelm our soul with emotion. At times, our entire perspective can be altered as we inhabit the thoughts and emotions of another human being through the power of music.   

“Citizens” by Jon Guerra, I believe, is one of those experiences.  

I first heard “Citizens” playing at the end of a podcast about the moral shortcomings within the church and how we can reflect on the mistakes of the past to strengthen the body of Christ. The song begins with a quiet, almost pensive, piano line. It’s in a 5/4 time signature (for the non-music nerds out there, that means it’s a bit weird and uneven). That said, the lack of symmetry and that feeling of never quite finding a place to settle are indicative of the mood of the song. After only two bars, we hear the first lyrics and already an assortment of complicated emotions can be detected: doubt, timidity, frustration… 

I have a heart full of questions

Quieting all my suggestions

What is the meaning of Christian

In this American life?

From there on out, each and every line is packed with pathos and brutal honesty, giving the listener a wealth of reflective material. The verses ask a number of incisive and poignant questions about Christianity in America that touch on politics, immigration, demagogy and the true nature of the gospel.

However, I think the heart of this song is found in the chorus. 

I need to know there is justice

That it will roll in abundance

And that you’re building a city

Where we arrive as immigrants

And you call us citizens

And you welcome us as children home

When we survey the world around us, we are faced with devastation and heartbreak at every turn. Whether it’s immigration, poverty and racial division in the United States, or millions forced from their homes by war in places around the world like Syria, Afghanistan, Sudan and now Ukraine. Political turmoil and culture wars here in America, or dictators and despots abroad.

Sometimes we feel like the singer; pleading to God to show us His justice and heal the heartbroken and desolate places of this world. The verses of the song read like a lamentation from the Old Testament. You can almost hear him screaming, please God, you promised that there would be justice in your kingdom! You promised goodness and abundance! Why do the poor and innocent suffer? Why do liars and evil men succeed? Why do those who claim your name seem just as wicked as those who hate you?  Like the teacher of Ecclesiastes, we observe that wickedness has taken the place of justice and righteousness (Ecclesiastes 3:16) – it grieves us and rightly so.

And yet, we know, as Christians, that God is building His kingdom and ultimately it will prevail over evil. That God is building a city, the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-8), where all nations will come to worship the Lord together (Revelation 15:4). Where every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). Where peace, justice and righteousness will reign (Isaiah 9:7). He reminds us that we are not native citizens in this city. No, we are truly foreigners, immigrants, brought into this new kingdom only by the mercy of the One who descended from on high to bring us home (Philippians 2:7-8, John 14:2-3). Jesus sacrificed, suffered and died in order to purchase our spiritual green card for this heavenly country. But even that isn’t all, we are not merely “citizens” of this country, we are called “children” (1 John 3:1).

The question we have to ask ourselves then is what does it mean to be a citizen of God’s kingdom, where justice and mercy reign, yet live and represent Jesus in a world where those things are all too often elusive, if not impossible? Like the Israelites exiled in a dark and distant Babylon, we can “seek the welfare of the city” while refusing to acquiesce to its moral brokenness (Jeremiah 29:7). As followers of Jesus we are neither to conform to the ways of the world, nor to run and hide from them. We are called to live in this broken world, yet not become like the world (John 17:14-19). We are commanded to “not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of [our minds…]” (Romans 12:2). 

My hope is that you’ll listen to this song and when you do, I hope it transforms the way you think about scripture and the way you pray for the world. Ask God to break your heart where His breaks, ask Him to show you how to bring the kingdom of Heaven to earth. Ask Him what it means to be a citizen in His city, where we are all immigrants and children, and where justice rolls in abundance.