JUSTICE
By Andrew Dragos
JUSTICE
INJUSTICE: SOME EXAMPLES
- Thousands of Hebrew boys killed by Pharaoh around the time of Moses’ birth.
- Between 7-11 million people perished at the hand of Joseph Stalin under the Soviet Union.
- Upward of 7 million Jews were killed during WWII.
- In 1994, 800,000 people were killed in Rwanda, in just 100 days; most of them by machete.
- It is estimated that 300,000 child soldiers are serving in world conflicts around the world right now.
- In 1999, there were an estimated 20 million slaves in forced labor around the world.
- Currently, there are over 2 million children in the commercial sex trade.
- Since 1973, over 40 million abortions have been performed in the U.S.
JUSTICE: A DEFINITION
Rendering to every one that which is one’s due; moral uprightness. (RIGHTEOUSNESS)
Law of cause & consequence; what should happen as a result of an event.
The emptiness of atheism is that it has no objective standard by which to measure justice, since it is based upon a moral law.
- Is it possible for a secular society to practice real justice?
- What are the chances that without the law of God a secular society will come to the same moral convictions as a Christian one?
- Have there been any?
JUSTICE IN PHILOSOPHY
Plato – justice is based upon idea of an ultimate reality as a transcendent form of cosmic order.
Thomas Hobbes – justice is self-preservation.
John Stuart Mill – justice is the pursuit of happiness for the greatest number in a society.
Immanuel Kant – justice is acting in accord to one’s nature, in spite of circumstances.
Problem: value for individual and society cannot be grounded in themselves; need a transcendent source.
JUSTICE IN THE BIBLE
The Christian concept of justice is founded on the character and will of God as revealed in Scripture.
God Is Just
“He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)
“And there is no other God besides Me, a just God and a Savior; there is none besides Me.” (Isaiah 45:21e)
God Wants A Just Creation
“For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” (Genesis 18:19)
“Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.” (Leviticus 19:15)
God Makes People Just Through Jesus Christ
Romans 3:21-26 “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
God Will Arbitrate Ultimate Justice In the End
“Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets! God has judged her for the way she treated you.” (Revelation 18:20)
“With justice He judges and makes war.” (Revelation 19:11-21)
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)
“I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” (Revelation 22:12)
JUSTICE & THE CHRISTIAN
We tend to personalize justice in our consideration of hypothetical situations that may affect us, often neglecting God’s command to be concerned for the justice of others.
“Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.” (Proverbs 24:11)
“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another’.” (Zechariah 7:9)
“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.” (Matthew 23:23)
“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” (James 4:17)
Christians are commanded by God to take an active role in bringing justice to the lives of others.
Examples: Genocides; child soldiers; abortion; sex trafficking; slavery; abusive relationships
International Justice Mission: www.ijm.com
SOME QUESTIONS TO REFLECT ON
- Should government apply capital punishment? Is war ever justified?
(Genesis 9:6; Exodus 21:23; Joshua 10:40; Luke 3:14; Romans 13:4; Acts 22:25-29)
- Should countries come to the aid of each other if they are under oppression from their own leaders? Under what circumstances?
- Should Christians be in the military? What if they disagree with a war?
(Exodus 1:17; Daniel 6; Luke 3:14; Matthew 26:52; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-14;)
- Is it ok to hurt or kill someone in an act of self-defense? Should you kill someone that is not saved if you are? (Matthew 5:39)
- Should Christians seek personal justice? (Matthew 5:39; Romans 12:17-21)
