Justice: Walk with God
More than justice and mercy, though, is that we are to “walk humbly” with God. Humility, not pride. Where did God walk? He walked with the poor, oppressed, widows, orphans and the marginalized. He walked with the accused, the shamed, the hurt. Ultimately, He walked up a hill carrying a cross to do justice – not for His sins, but for ours. The onlookers believed it to be for his own sins. Looking at the crucifixion of Jesus from the point of view of the religious leaders and the onlookers, “justice” was prevailing. To them, a man had entered their lives stirring up trouble. He said He was the son of God – a blasphemous statement, a statement that warranted the death penalty. This man, Jesus, was saying things and doing things that didn’t align with what the majority believed, or what had been their time-honored traditions, what had been the status quo. They were religious, followed God’s laws, and adhered to the rules they created to ensure their people followed God. They were right and believed they were righteous.
Good Trouble
To the religious leaders, Jesus was stirring up problems that could hurt all the Jews living at that time under Roman rule. The relationship between the Jews and Romans was tenuous, and the Jews didn’t want anyone to cause any type of stir that could cause Rome to crack down on them. Thus far, Rome was allowing the Jews to continue to worship as they wished, rather than forcing them to worship Roman gods. So, the religious leaders were trying to preserve that peace and balance when Jesus came along and stirred up trouble.
Justice Perspective
We’d like to think we’d recognize Jesus – the Messiah - or at least recognize what’s right and just. But do we, now, recognize what is right and just? How do we treat people who raise issues of injustice? But also, who’s injustice? The idea of justice depends on the person’s perspective. A victim of a crime will believe “justice” is served by the criminal spending the rest of his or her life in jail. The prosecutor may believe justice will be served by the criminal having the conviction on his or her record and spending some time in prison, the amount determined by the type of crime, circumstances of the crime, and the person’s criminal record. The defense attorney may believe justice will be served by the minimal amount of time required by law, or just probation, with some accountability for the criminal. Injustice, like justice is subjective and relative. How does God view justice?
It is natural for us to be self-interested. (See previous blog) Self-interest goes all the way back to the original sin. Self-preservation is certainly an element of being self-interested. McKenzie’s warning to not take self-government for granted because we are in fallen state is well taken. As we consider that we have divided ourselves into groups who reflect our self-interests, with people who see justice our way, who don’t challenge our “truths”, who see things as we do, and how we are unable to bridge the gaps now because the discourse in America is antagonistic, our free and just society is indeed in jeopardy.
Christian Teachings About Justice
Jesus, in Matthew 23:23 (NIV) says, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices - mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law – justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” James tells us in 1:27 (NIV), “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.” This life is not about us. My self-interests must give way to what Jesus requires of me: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. It’s not about adherence to all of the dos and don’ts I learned growing up in church, the requirement to tithe, the don’t cuss or drink.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 (ESV), “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Jesus is the fulfillment, He is the embodiment, He administers divine justice. Jesus calls us to adhere to the law, to adhere to justice, not just by following the commandments, what lawyers call the “black letter of the law” – the word for word, “thou shalt not kill” or “thou shalt not commit adultery” but He calls us to follow the spirit of the law – don’t lust after your neighbor’s spouse, don’t get jealous of other’s things, and don’t hate.
In the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37, a crime is committed. What do we all expect to happen after a crime is committed? Someone is to be held accountable. Someone should be punished for the crime. But, what about the victim? In this story, Jesus’ focus is on the victim and lending aid to the victim. He pointed out who helped the victim and who didn’t help. If we believe that an aspect of justice is to make right, to make someone “whole”, who administered justice to the victim in this story? Who showed justice, mercy, and humility? Who did what was righteous?
In the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37, a crime is committed. What do we all expect to happen after a crime is committed? Someone is to be held accountable. Someone should be punished for the crime. But, what about the victim? In this story, Jesus’ focus is on the victim and lending aid to the victim. He pointed out who helped the victim and who didn’t help. If we believe that an aspect of justice is to make right, to make someone “whole”, who administered justice to the victim in this story? Who showed justice, mercy, and humility? Who did what was righteous?
Do Love Walk
Act justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly with your God. Act. Love. Walk. That’s the New International Version. The ESV states, “Do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God”. (Micah 6:8) Do. Love. Walk. Both translations reflect the same actions: do or act, love, and walk. God’s requirement as stated by the prophet Micah is not for self-preservation. God’s command here is about love and kindness to others, and to spend time with Him.
The Christian response to justice is born out of walking more with God. God has so much to say about justice. Spend time reading the Bible - reading the prophets, reading the Gospels to see what Jesus did and said and reading the works of those who walked with Him. Take a literal walk, talk to God and listen to Him as you walk. Walk. Love. Do.