Justice (Introduction)

As we have worked through various topics related to Biblical Anthropology, we’ve had many many tricky topics to touch on. But this may be the most controversial one up to this point. One reason is that so many biblical ideas – and not so biblical ideas – are in churches themselves.

So before we start, I would like to explain a couple of things, and give you a bit of a road map to explain where we’re going.

These days, many of us are more and more aware of global issues. In my case, over the past few years, I’ve been very interested in the three countries of North America: Mexico, the USA, and Canada.

Some things that I talked about when I did this series originally were more specific to Mexico. Other things were more common to all countries in the world. You may find that some things have been common in other countries, and are now entering yours.

Talking about the topic of justice, those three countries in particular are quite different. But in a global culture, we need to see how some of the same ideas are developing in different areas. And so you’ll excuse me if I may talk about things that apply in varying degrees to different countries.

When we talk about justice, we may need to learn some new vocabulary and new ideas. But as usual, we’ll start by laying some foundations. And, as always, it’s most helpful if you’ve read all the previous posts in the series.

And I can pretty much guarantee that you’ll have questions, to say the least, about this topic. Because we have all been affected by the currents of ideas that are in the world around us. And I am certainly open to hearing your questions and concerns.

You will notice that, as you think about these ideas, you’ll start to see the applications all around you!

And I hope that, as we learn, we would understand how to “do justice”, as Micah 6:8 says.

But let’s start here:

You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Deuteronomy 16:18-20

This is a fascinating summary in the Law of Moses. You see, when we “do justice”, we are imitating God Himself. The “Song of Moses” in Revelation 15:3 says, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!”

Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
For the word of the LORD is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness.
He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.

Psalm 33:3-5

God loves “righteousness and justice”. A study of Greek and Hebrew will show how these ideas are closely related – you might say equity, rights, the right, and so on. And sometimes, in fact, the same word can be translated in different ways. So we will be talking about justice and rights, that is, righteousness. More specifically, how we administer justice on earth, through the authorities that God has given us.

So here’s our plan for the next while. We’re going to look at the topic of justice from 7 different perspectives, 7 points of view. As we go, we’ll also try to look at how the world of today is trying to twist and distort these 7 things. And we’ll start with another look at something that we’ve discussed before – that ever controversial topic of – truth.