The Fight for Justice

Everyone, it seems, is passionately declaring this or that as just or unjust. It can be confusing. We must be wise and discerning and not easily deceived in our fight for justice. – Clint Decker

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” wrote Martin Luther King, Jr in his letter from a jail cell in Birmingham, Alabama. Nelson Mandela, who spent 27 years imprisoned for speaking against South African apartheid, stated in a speech, “As long as poverty, injustice, and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.” And long before King and Mandela, the eloquent Fredrick Douglas said on the 24th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, “Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob, and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.” (Image by Unseen Histories on Unsplash)

When the overwhelming powers of evil are against us, it is part of human nature to rise up and oppose those forces. This is the fight for justice, and throughout human history there have been many noble people who inspired others to stand for what is right.

But today, the fight for justice, or what many call social justice, has a fogginess that has descended upon its battlefield. There are new words and phrases, and new definitions for old words that make our modern call for justice puzzling and divisive. So let us go back to the basics. What exactly is justice?

Speaking about God, the Bible says, “He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.” (Deuteronomy 10:18) Then God Himself declared, “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:24)

The whole concept of justice comes from God. It is part of who He is. He is holy, eternal, sovereign, and many other things, which are called His attributes. And among those, God is also just. In simple terms it means God is “right” in all He does and thinks. God is right in His judgements, decisions and spoken Word. The places where we see the justice of God is in His relationship with people, and in His expectations of how people should treat one another.

The measuring stick or standard of God’s justice is God Himself. It is what He deems is morally right or wrong, good or evil, just or unjust. The terms “justice” or “social justice” are used much today, especially in higher education, the church, and politics. Everyone, it seems, is passionately declaring this or that as just or unjust. It can be confusing. We must be wise and discerning and not easily deceived…even if someone uses Bible verses to make their case.

Let us ask three questions whenever we hear voices stir up the masses by alleging some form of injustice like racism, dehumanization, inequality, Christian nationalism or something else. Consider these three principles of godly justice.

1. Is the accusation of injustice truthful? Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Seeking the truth is paramount in the call for justice. We must resist immediate judgements based on what the crowds say. Take time to sort through the facts, and be willing to accept the truth, wherever it may lead.

2. Is the accusation of injustice impartial? The Scripture says, “For God shows no partiality.” (Romans 2:11) The pursuit of justice is the pursuit of truth, and that pursuit must be impartial. The call for justice must never favor one race over another, or one economic class over another. Justice must see the truth but be blind to favoritism.

3. Does the accusation of injustice consider the heart? “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) As we pursue the facts and examine if there be any partiality, we must also consider the motives of the heart. Too often we accuse people of injustice without regard to their intent. Instead, we judge.

A prayer for you – Lord God, in the era of social justice where accusations abound, help us to pursue godly justice. Let us search for the truth, be impartial and not judge the hearts of our neighbors. In Jesus’ name. Amen.