Kingdom Life: Justice as Mercy
But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God: it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others. ~ Luke 11:42
It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice. ~ Psalm 112:5
For the Lord your God is God of god and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome; who is not partial and takes no bribe; who executes justice for the orphan and widow; and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. ~ Deuteronomy 10:17-19
I do not pretend to understand the moral universe, the arc is a long one; my eye reaches but little ways. I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. But from what I see, I am sure it bends toward justice. ~ Theodore Parker (later paraphrased by Martin Luther King, Jr.)
Punishment is justice for the unjust. ~ St. Augustine
Most of us are familiar with the justice of St. Augustine here. It seems often as if we 21st century folk most often use the word justice as a synonym for punishment. When someone is wronged, we seek justice against the perpetrator. (or justice for the victim).
Other times, we hear the word justice in terms of social justice: the equal opportunities of wealth and privilege for all, not simply a few.
In scripture, we can find examples justice as both punishment and equality. Both are tied to God's order for the world and desire for righteousness.
So what is it exactly? We hear it often also as the opposite of mercy. I've taken personality tests where you had to choose one or the other as if they are simply binary.
Yet, justice and mercy for God are tied together.
Look at the words and phrases that they stand with in the quotes here: love of God; love of stranger; generosity; conscience.
Justice as part of God's kingdom is a rich, full, deep wholeness for all. God's justice is more often than not merciful. Yes, there are many who are punished "justly" in scripture, but always as a way to make sure that God's desire for compassion, community, mercy, and righteousness are fulfilled.
Justice as simply anger or punishment is not complete without the healing that it is meant to bring about. We have a God of open arms who has created for us a Kingdom of Justice for all, not to punish us, but to show us a better, more complete way to be.
Prayer: Lord, rain your justice on a hurting world that we may live together fully, fairly, and righteously. Amen.
It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice. ~ Psalm 112:5
For the Lord your God is God of god and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome; who is not partial and takes no bribe; who executes justice for the orphan and widow; and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. ~ Deuteronomy 10:17-19
I do not pretend to understand the moral universe, the arc is a long one; my eye reaches but little ways. I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. But from what I see, I am sure it bends toward justice. ~ Theodore Parker (later paraphrased by Martin Luther King, Jr.)
Punishment is justice for the unjust. ~ St. Augustine
Most of us are familiar with the justice of St. Augustine here. It seems often as if we 21st century folk most often use the word justice as a synonym for punishment. When someone is wronged, we seek justice against the perpetrator. (or justice for the victim).
Other times, we hear the word justice in terms of social justice: the equal opportunities of wealth and privilege for all, not simply a few.
In scripture, we can find examples justice as both punishment and equality. Both are tied to God's order for the world and desire for righteousness.
So what is it exactly? We hear it often also as the opposite of mercy. I've taken personality tests where you had to choose one or the other as if they are simply binary.
Yet, justice and mercy for God are tied together.
Look at the words and phrases that they stand with in the quotes here: love of God; love of stranger; generosity; conscience.
Justice as part of God's kingdom is a rich, full, deep wholeness for all. God's justice is more often than not merciful. Yes, there are many who are punished "justly" in scripture, but always as a way to make sure that God's desire for compassion, community, mercy, and righteousness are fulfilled.
Justice as simply anger or punishment is not complete without the healing that it is meant to bring about. We have a God of open arms who has created for us a Kingdom of Justice for all, not to punish us, but to show us a better, more complete way to be.
Prayer: Lord, rain your justice on a hurting world that we may live together fully, fairly, and righteously. Amen.