We know that Christians should obey their masters, whether they are good or bad. Aside from obeying the masters and praying for them, what should be the duties of Christians in times of their injustice? If Jesus stood up for the victims of the unjust, aren’t we supposed to do the same?
As soon as I read your question I thought of 1st Peter 2:18-23 which reads: “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth’; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (NKJV). There is so much instruction in this passage as to “the duties of Christians in times of injustice.” Let’s look at some key phrases to see what we can learn.
“Servants, be SUBMISSIVE to your masters WITH ALL FEAR”…Servants and masters, in this verse, can surely apply to “employees and employers,” and here we see that we should, as you noted, OBEY THEM, but it adds “with all fear.” What does that mean? It means that we should have “respect for them” even if they are harsh. Why? Because they are in a position of authority over us and we should “respect that position.” We are told in Romans 13:1, “Let every sol be subject to the governing authorities. For THERE IS NOT AUTHORITY EXCEPT FROM GOD, AND THE AUTHORITIES THAT EXIST ARE APPOINTED BY GOD.” As I write out this answer there are riots taking place in cities throughout the United States where anarchists are defying the authorities (policemen, mayors, governors, etc.). This should never be true of God-fearing believers in Christ who realize that “the authorities that exist are appointed by God,” and this includes employers who have authority over us in the workplace.
“When you do good and suffer, if you take it PATIENTLY, this is COMMENDABLE BEFORE GOD”…This is, perhaps, the hardest lesson for us to learn and to apply in our lives. If our employer is causing us to suffer, we are to “take it PATIENTLY.” This is not natural, for our natural reaction would be to rebel and lash out at him/her, perhaps with nasty words or actions. I believe the key to being patient in circumstances like these is to be CONSCIENCE OF GOD’S PRESENCE and want to PLEASE HIM. If we can learn to “look beyond our earthly employer” and see “our heavenly Master,” we will then be given the grace to act in such as manner as to be COMMENDABLE BEFORE GOD. I would encourage you to study the life of Joseph in Genesis chapters 37 & 39 to see how he was mistreated by his brethren and by his employer, yet because he was always conscience of God’s presence he was willing to “suffer patiently.”
“Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps…who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten”…You had mentioned that Jesus stood up for the victims of the unjust, but you notice here that He NEVER STOOD UP FOR HIMSELF! Jesus was WILLING TO SUFFER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE from wicked men and He never once retaliated. In fact, when He was on the cross, He PRAYED FOR HIS PERSECUTORS! In Luke 23:34 He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” The Lord Jesus told us in Matthew 5:44, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”
So we see that Jesus was NOT a political activist or a revolutionist. He was here to manifest God before men and when He “suffered wrongfully” He didn’t revile or threaten men; He “committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.” And because He is OUR EXAMPLE we are to “follow His steps.” This means we are not to rebel against any authorities over us; we are to willingly suffer from their hands and commit ourselves to God “who judges righteously.” Regarding standing up for others who are the victims of injustice, the same principle would apply. Like our Lord Jesus we are not here to “make the world right” by political activism, so instead of protesting against injustices inflicted upon innocent victims, we can certainly “pray for them in their affliction” and also go to them privately and seek to comfort them. By seeking them out and comforting them, we will be living out the truth of Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” The day is coming when the tables will be turned; Christ will be ruling over the earth and all the wicked will be forced to “bow the knee to Jesus and confess that He is Lord” (see Philippians 2:10-11). But until that day, it is our privilege (and responsibility) to emulate our blessed Lord Jesus by willingly suffering the injustices of ungodly men. (424.3) (DO)