Righteous Justice
“Social justice,” “racial justice,” or “economic justice” are empty phrases unless there is a “RIGHTEOUS JUSTICE” whereby humans judge any kind of injustice.
This week’s Idea #6 is on behalf of all who have been and are treated unjustly.
SO WHAT? Getting attention, interest, “buy in”
I am a BIG fan of The Search for God and Guinness, one of the wonderful, positive justice stories of all time. You can watch an old Comenius video here entitled “Beer & Justice.”
OR (better yet!) you can’t beat the bar-background by watching the 5 minute YouTube story from the author, Stephen Mansfield, himself!
I first started writing about Mansfield’s exceptional book after I read it in May, 2010. You can read my first essay on Searching here.
My Truth in Two on Attucks: The School that Opened a City is a historic snapshot of the great Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis. I was able to attend the premier showing with HB Bell on air that evening.
“Rush to Judgment” can also be problematic. Consider my Truth in Two as I interact with the “courtroom of public opinion” in movies.
WHO CARES? Relation to student, potential applications
On the Comenius Institute Channel there are any number of radio shows archived there which deal with specific examples of guests who are engaged in justice issues. Here are a few:
Dountonia Batts is actively involved in educational and economic justice.
Aaron Story discusses his work “Elevate” mentoring in IPS schools.
Shepherd Community Center serves the Indianapolis area as a “little platoon.”
ABORTION is the biggest justice issue of any time in any place: the killing of unborn children. Find my many writings and videos by searching WarpandWoof.org here.
WHY SHOULD I? Reasons for investing time, thought
“Social Ethics” is an encyclopedia entry I wrote some years ago that goes into great detail about the biblical basis and rationale for the need of a righteous standard for any kind of justice.
In my video series on “Wisdom” one episode is dedicated to the concept of “justice.”
The “Minor Prophet” series has an episode on Malachi focused on justice issues.
When students shout “That’s Not Fair!”
HOW DO I? Ways to be involved
“But we all judge!” Yes, we do. Here is a 2 minute video where I discuss how to help students navigate their thinking on the topic.
Frank Reich, a Christian and coach of the Indianapolis Colts, did something quite unusual by kneeling on the sidelines while his players stood. Read what I wrote here.
The very next day, I flipped the script (one of my favorite ways to teach!) by showing the gigantic billboard “No Police, No Peace” in my essay here.
Helping folks to see both sides of an issue teaches that there are hardly ever absolute solutions to any given problem. I am SO committed to hearing all perspectives, I did a Truth in Two episode entitled “Intentional.”
Get folks excited about justice with an introduction to the International Justice Mission (IJM) here.
WHO SAYS? Authority, standard, influence
Biblical principles include:
- Because of the example set by God toward all people (Acts 10:34-35), believers should give fair treatment to all people (Lev 19:36; Deut 16:18; Prov 1:3; 2:9; 9:9; 17:26), granting a level place where no advantage is given (the Hebraic definition of fairness). This justice is stimulated by “fearing” God, having a personal relationship with Him (2 Sam 23:3).
- Freedom of the individual is based upon inalienable rights, the source of which is the transcendent Creator of the universe. Impartiality is established in the natural law of creation. Justice for all people should be paramount. However, equal opportunity is not the same as equality of outcome. Distribution of resources fails to account for a fallen world with inevitable inequities and personal irresponsibility (Deut 32:4; Ps 89:14; Lev 19:36; Deut 16:18).
- The judicial system (Gen 3; Deut 16-19; Isa 58-59) should maintain that the standard for justice is righteousness, setting precedence for fairness and equity. The possibility that good can be rewarded and evil punished exists because the transcendent source of Truth exists. Justice in human relations should eschew bribery and favoritism while encouraging consistency, mercy, and protection of the poor, weak and defenseless.
- Bribery—an external motivation for desired physical behavior—is a perversion of justice (Prov 17:23). If children in a classroom know that there is a “pay off” for certain types of behavior they work for the gift not right living. Bribery is said to destabilize a country because of greed (29:4). Greed for bribes is said to bring trouble to a family (15:27). If children are taught to reach for the carrot at the end of the stick it may produce a desire for more carrots rather than developing a righteous life. “Giving gifts” may be the way things are done (18:16) but that doesn’t make it right. Everyone wants to be friends with those who have gifts to give (19:6). But getting in good (“currying favor”) with the teacher may prompt the kind of undo influence all rail against in business and politics. Surely it is the poor who suffer most (19:7-8).
- Uncaring attitudes for the poor that arise from wealth and privilege are cited as reasons for judgment (Isa 3:16-26; Amos 4:1-3; 8:4-6). The exile of Judah was largely the result of economic injustice (Amos 2:6-7; 5:7-12; Micah 3:8-12), as was the flood (Gen 6:6, 11, 13). In Genesis 6:11 and 13 when God judged the “earth filled with violence” the Hebrew word hamas was used. God desires to fill the earth through human procreation (Gen 1:28; 9:1), whereas the greedy fill the earth by procreating violence (Ezek 8:17; 28:16). [1] The prophets use the same word to describe the exploitation of the poor by the rich (Amos 3:10; Micah 6:12).
- Dishonesty (Amos 8:4-6), selfishness (through loans, Amos 5:11), loving things over people (Isa 5:8; Micah 2:1-4), and courtroom bribery through unjust judges (Isa 1:23; 3:13-15; Amos 5:7, 10, 12) are targets of prophetic condemnation. Scripture judges the rich by how they treat the poor (Job 29:12, 16; Ps 112:9; see also, Deut 15:1-11; James 2:1-7, 15-16; 4:13-16; 5:4; 1 John 3:17).