A Different Way To Think About Justice

What is justice?

There’s been a lot of recent discussion about justice. I’ve noticed that there seems to be little agreement about what, exactly, constitutes justice. It appears that one’s definition of justice depends on political affiliation, nationality, economic status, geography, and a host of other factors.

Justice, it seems, is a moving target in society.

For those of us who follow Jesus and look to the bible for guidance, the notion of varying definitions of justice seems fundamentally flawed. If God is a God of justice, as I believe He is, then there can be only one justice–God’s justice.

Our call is not to define a form of “justice” that conforms to our particular political, social, racial, or national views. Our call is to determine God’s notion of justice–the principle, the universal, eternal justice–and seek it, regardless of consequences.

Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow. (Isaiah 1:17)

I don’t think God’s justice can be codified. It’s not a matter of rules or laws. God’s justice is a heart issue. As soon as you start looking for loopholes you know you’re not really seeking it. God’s justice doesn’t change depending on which news channel you watch or which flag you salute.

God’s justice is definitely not about “my rights.” It’s about “what’s right.”

Seeking justice means a good deal more than enforcing the law. For many of us, seeking God’s justice means acknowledging our position of priviledge and accepting that demanding our legal rights in every circumstance may be unjust.

For followers of Jesus, there’s a big difference between “legal” and “just.” All laws are not just. An act may be lawful but clearly unjust, and a just act may be unlawful.

If I fall back on the world’s notion of justice because it’s more comfortable or convenient, do I really believe what I believe?

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