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Justice vs. Corruption

"Taking PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY to uphold what is pure, right, and true"

 

 

 JUSTICE - A Four-Minute Sermon
Faith Committee, Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky

Contributed by Dr. Paul E. Toms
Senior Pastor (Retired), Park Street Church, Boston, MA
April 18, 2002

ARE YOU GROWING IN JUSTICE?

Outline:

  1. What Is Justice?
  2. The Bible Calls For Justice
  3. Application: Are You Growing In Justice?

  1. WHAT IS JUSTICE?

    We regularly pledge... “with liberty and justice for me”—oops, that should be “with liberty and JUSTICE for ALL.” Here is an often-used word—and it clearly calls for an important character quality. We toss this word around a lot. We have a Department of Justice in our government; our judges are called Justices; we have Justices of Peace; we have Supreme Court Justices. We “bring somebody to justice.”Or, “we do justice to somebody.” It seems to be pretty important to understand what that word means. You can look it up in various places and find suggestions like: to be honorable; to practice fairness; to be reasonable.

    This word, however, is not new. Go back a few thousand years and read about God giving the 10 Commandments to Moses. And then the account goes on to say that the Lord gave a long list of requirements and laws, and one of them was, “Do not deny justice…” (Exodus 23:6). Again, “Follow justice and justice alone...” (Deuteronomy 16:18-20). And the prophet Isaiah tells us, “Maintain justice and do what is right.” (Isaiah 56:1). The Hebrew words used were defined as right or righteousness. Justice refers to right rule, to right conduct, to righteousness - to doing right.

  2. THE BIBLE CALLS FOR JUSTICE

    As we have already seen, the Bible calls for justice - for doing right. It is doing things as God (the Author and Standard of right) has prescribed them in the Bible and as Jesus Christ would do them. And it is receiving rewards and penalties accordingly (e.g. Deuteronomy 30:15-19). It is doing right toward the Lord, loving Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength; and it is doing right toward people, loving them as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31).

    God said he chose Abraham to do “what is right and just” (Genesis 18:19) - to love Him with all his heart, to defend the weak and fatherless and practice justice toward the poor (Psalm 83:2,3), do away with misleading and deceitful talk and dealings (Proverbs 4:24), not be partial to a wicked man and deprive a righteous man of justice (Proverbs 18:5), .... ! How do we handle all of this? “There are things for which an uncompromising stand is worthwhile.” (D. Bonhoeffer, Christian History, No. 32) Because these are the Lord's directions, they are worthwhile! Have you decided that pleasing the Lord is worthwhile? Have you determined to act justly each day - to do right?

    Often we feel we have not been justly treated, and sometimes with good cause we feel that way. And often unjustices occur beyond our influence. U.S. News and World Report reported a short time ago, as quoted in Leadership: “The number of violent crimes in the U.S. last year: 4,370,000. Number of violent criminals sent to jail last year: (only) 153,370.” Justice is not always accomplished. And then, “Justice with strength is helpless; strength without justice is tyrannical. Unable to make what is just strong, we have made what is strong just.” (Pensees Pascal, Christianity Today, vol. 34, no. 14) Read that again please- “we have made what is strong just.” This is "might makes right". So justice is thus not always served. But despite all of the injustices that occur, our primary responsibility nevertheless is our personal commitment to act justly - to do right. Rotary clubs, using their Four Way Test, ask, “Is it Fair to all concerned?” Good question! “Integrity is like the weather. Everybody talks about it but nobody knows what to do about it.” (Stephen Carter in "Integrity", Christianity Today, Vol. 41, no. 3) Remember our goal is to please the Lord, and liberty and justice is for all.

    The greatest illustration of all is found in the Gospel. God is a holy God and His holiness and righteousness demanded, justly, the ultimate price in payment for sin—that is the death of the sinner. Suddenly MERCY appears. The law was strict and demanded payment. But God in His mercy intervened. He did not pretend that the broken law would simply be overlooked. No, He graciously sent His son to pay the price. And Christ came to die-and He paid the demand, and justice was done. We should have been the ones to pay, but God in His mercy offered salvation as a gift, something that had already been paid for by His death. Now, “if God be for us, who can be against us? Who will bring any charge?"—It is God who justifies. (Romans 8: 31-34)

  3. APPLICATION: ARE YOU GROWING IN JUSTICE?

    Let's spend these closing moments quietly with the Lord in prayer. In your life, are you growing in doing right - in doing and rewarding good, and avoiding and opposing and punishing evil? In standing firm for what is right, and pure and true? Ask Him to help you see where you have been unjust - did not do what was right, did not defend the weak and practice justice toward the poor, was misleading or deceitful in your talk or dealings, was partial to a wicked person or deprived a righteous person of justice. Ask the Lord for forgiveness where you have been unjust. And ask the Lord to show you steps to take this week to grow in being just and doing right. Commit to Him to take these steps with His help. Thank Him for His patience with you, for loving you, and for helping you.

 

 

This material is published by the Faith Committee of the Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Reproduction and Adaptation is encouraged.