By Pastor Nissa Peterson
Chatfield and Root Prairie
Lutheran Churches
There has been a lot of conversation in our country lately around Justice. It’s a word that has gathered a lot of political baggage- from “Social Justice Warrior” being used derogatorily, to accusations of politicians trying to control the courts, to high profile court cases calling for justice.
Amid these conversations, I wanted to explore what the Bible says about Justice! God’s people have been called by Jesus to seek justice many, many, many years before any of our modern issues were even imaginable. While scripture will not give us an easy solution to the complex problems of injustice we face today, scripture gives us a foundation upon which to build modern justice. Scripture is our guide to help us know when our justice matches God’s vision for people, and when we fall short.
Here are a few samples of what scripture says about justice:
•I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me.
•Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.
•But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! Amos 5:21-24
•Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times! Psalm 106:3
•You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. Leviticus 19:15
•Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them. Matthew 7:12
•Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and please the widow’s cause. Isaiah 1:17
•He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
Biblical justice is focused on God’s enduring love for all people! God’s justice wants us to see one another as siblings in Christ – dedicated to lifting one another up, and not breaking one another down. God’s justice is focused on forgiveness and reconciliation, not vengeance or making people pay.
Biblical justice will never translate perfectly into our political system. It is never going to be as clear as “this party is right and on God’s side, and this other party is wrong, and doesn’t follow God.” We know our political system has many imperfections. But we, as followers of Jesus, are dedicated to Jesus’ Justice. We live out that justice through radical love and welcome. Abundant love and mercy. We speak up, contact our representatives, and strive to shape our political systems to match the sort of Justice that Jesus calls us to.
So no matter what the issue is, no matter which political side you tend to agree with, when you enter a conversation about justice, I encourage you to look for where you see the love of Jesus shared abundantly.