Fallen & Imperfect People: Justice or Mercy
In his book, We the Fallen People: The founders and the future of American democracy, Robert Tracy McKenzie states the following:
If the dignity of imago Dei [the belief that we bear the image of God] gives us hope that a government of the people might flourish, the corroding effects of original sin persuade us never to take self-government for granted. Given humankind’s fallen state, a free and just society is as fragile and unnatural as it is precious.[1]
It stands to reason that if we treated everyone as God’s image bearers, we would live in a much better world. However, though we Christians believe we were created in the image of God, and want to be treated as such, sometimes we forget that others are also created in the image of God and that we should treat others as image bearers. People we disagree with, people who commit crimes, people with different political or religious beliefs – we’re all created in God’s image. That’s difficult to come to grips with sometimes. It’s hard to look at some people, after listening to something outrageous they just said, and think, “this person was created in God’s image.”
Fallen & Imperfect People
McKenzie also reminds us that we live in a fallen state. We are all fallen and imperfect people, including those in the institutions we hold dear – whether that’s the judicial system, church, law enforcement, firefighters, military, medical, or other first responders. Should we be surprised then, when someone in one of those institutions acts outside of what is acceptable? Should it surprise us when we hear allegations against a pastor for rape of a teen girl in his congregation? Knowing that we are all fallen people, the pastor accused of rape shouldn’t get less scrutiny than anyone else, simply because of his position. It also shouldn’t surprise us when a police officer uses excessive force and goes beyond what is acceptable. Police officers are human, that is, they are fallen and imperfect people. We hold these people to higher standards because of their positions, and we expect them to act with the highest morals and ethics. But, they are still fallen and imperfect people.
What is the Christian Response to Injustice?
What is our response as Christians? What are the Christian beliefs about justice? Like most people, I’m on social media and I see the timelines and feeds of people on both sides of the political spectrum. I’ve seen the response to police shootings involving people of color to be labeled racially motivated and abhorrent on one side and on the other side, “justified” because he/she didn’t obey police commands or was with the wrong person at the wrong time. What do the people on my timelines and feeds on both sides have in common? They are professing Christians. How can people with the same foundation of beliefs have such different responses? How can one side believe there is systemic racism and thus oppression, while the other side doesn’t believe there’s any sort of systemic racism or oppression?
Justice or Mercy
Christians are called to do justice, do righteousness - for victims, for the accused, for all of us. The prophet Micah wrote God’s command as “do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God”. Mercy follows justice, meaning justice is tempered by mercy. What we may think would be justice, may not be what is required of us. This is not to say there shouldn’t be accountability and punishment. People should be held accountable for their crimes and wrongdoing in a court of law, there must be accountability and punishment. There must be laws, people must follow those laws, and there must be order. We can see throughout the Bible that God demands laws be obeyed and He punishes people for not following the laws. Society needs order and laws to function so there’s not chaos and anarchy. However, there must be room for mercy. James wrote in 2:10-13 (NIV),
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ also said ‘You shall not murder.’ If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
We are to show mercy so that mercy will be shown to us. A few verses before this, James wrote in 1:27, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” The part about being “polluted by the world” has proven difficult. We are being polluted by the news we watch and the media we consume, and the company we keep (online or in person).
Christian Teachings on Justice
Jesus had a lot to say about justice and injustice. His actions spoke even if He didn’t open His mouth. The coming blogs will focus on what Jesus said - in words and deeds - about justice.
Until then . . what is your idea of justice? Connect with me here to share your thoughts.
[1] McKenzie, Robert Tracy. We the Fallen People: The Founders and the future of American democracy. (Downer’s Grove: InterVarsity Press 2021), 71.