Justice (I)
5.11.08
As I have been preaching through Mark
I have been talking about Justice
this has led to many questions about what I mean by Justice
I wanted to examine that topic this morning
many think Christianity is not about justice
many think love is different from justice
that love is an improvement on justice
that Jesus taught love, not justice
We saw in Mark 13
that Jesus prophesied judgment and destruction on Jerusalem,
the Temple, and the leaders
for their failure to do justice
What is justice?
What quickly comes to mind is judicial punishment
this is “corrective justice”
but corrective justice is applied
when there has been a failure in “distributive justice”
distributive justice is treating another human being
in the way he has a right to be treated
this is first or primary justice
corrective/punitive justice is secondary
if there is failure in distributive justice
God commanded both
God was concerned about both
everyone should practice distributive justice
everyone (especially leaders) should be sure there is corrective justice
I must treat another person in the way
that gives him the good he has a right to
Neither do wrong to them
not fail to do right to them
human beings created by God have rights
given them by God
they have rights to be treated a certain way by other humans
justice is a boundary-marker
I can never increase good for myself (or another)
in a way that wrongs another person
deprives him of that to which he has a right
when there is injustice
it means a person has been wronged
he has not received his right
two parties
one many is guilty
and the other is wronged
one is a sinner
the other is a victim
the sinner needs punishment or forgiveness
the victim needs deliverance from the injustice against him
When we do injustice
we are not just guilty of breaking a rule
but wronging a person
God holds us accountable
as that person’s creator
we wrong God when we wrong human beings
*
Amos was a prophet to the cities of Israel
His prophecy parallels Mark 13 – Jesus prophecy against Jerusalem/Temple
Amos 5-6
7
Failing to do justice in some way
10
You are against the one who does justice in the courts
Who bears witness against injustice and tells the truth
11
The rich are practicing injustice against the poor
Taking his grain, trampling him down
12
The leadership, judges, elders
Take bribes—they help the wealthy to win their favor
And when the victims, the poor cry out for justice, you deprive them of it
24
This is what God desires
This is what makes him happy
6:12
Great sin
Is turning justice into poison—injustice
*
Jeremiah was a prophet against Judah
Especially on Jerusalem and its leaders
Jeremiah 21-22
21:12
The idea here is rescue of the victim from oppressors
22:3
The idea of rescue of the victim
And of course punishment of the oppressor
To cease oppressing the vulnerable and defenseless
Foreigner, orphan, widow
13
They get wealth off of oppressing the poor
Making them work for nothing, next to nothing
16
Defend the cause of the poor and needy
This is justice
This is what a just nation is to practice
Just leaders, just people
17
Dishonest gain
Shedding blood,
Oppression—exercise of authority in a cruel manner
Extortion—obtain money by force, intimidation or abuse of authority
*
Micah prophesies judgment on Samaria and Jerusalem, capital cities
Because of the injustice of their leaders
Micah 3, 6
*
Let me conclude with a prophecy of the coming Messiah or Servant of the Lord (Isaiah’s title).
Notice for what reason the Messiah comes.
Isaiah 42:1-4
To bring justice
If the Messiah has come
And we are his people
What do you think we are supposed to be doing?
I will give you 3 guesses.
*
This is my simple message today
Begin to think about justice
That is all.
Start thinking about it.
We are called to social justice.
We are called to make sure the vulnerable
such as foreigners, poor, widows, orphans
are defended and rescued from injustice.
We are called to practice justice ourselves in our dealings with people.
We should be the remnant in this nation that practices social justice.
Even if all else abandon it.
Think about justice.
It starts with thinking.
We can’t do it until we think about it.
