Thoughts on Justice

The world today is overrun with concerns about "justice"; we have social justice, environmental justice, lifestyle justice, reparations, socialism, and many others, all promising "justice" without the common user of the word understanding what justice really is.

Going back to one of the last true dictionaries ever printed, Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language, Justice is defined as:

"The virtue of giving to everyone what is his due; practical conformity to laws and to principles of rectitude in the dealings of men with each other; honesty; integrity in commerce or mutual intercourse."

I asked CoPilot to reword this in modern day English, and it gave me to two versions, one verbose and one succinct:

“The virtue of treating every person with the fairness they are owed; consistently acting in accordance with moral principles and just laws in all dealings with others; honesty and integrity in business and everyday interactions.”

 “Upright conduct that gives others what they are due, guided by fairness, honesty, and moral integrity in all dealings.”

 On the surface this sounds like modern-day justice; the idea of giving each person what they are due and what they deserve, whether it be reparations, recognition of alternate lifestyles, or help in overcoming personal issues.

These concepts on the happy side of justice have been a part of the scriptures for many years.  For example:

King David had sworn to take care of Jonathan's family, and 2 Samuel 9 is the record of David seeking out Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, and restoring to him land, titles, and having him live at the palace and eat at the King's Table.

Jesus Christ's coming to earth to bear the sins of the world so that we could deserve, through Him, something better than what we were due on our own.

The problem with the modern day version of justice is that for most it ignores the reality of the "flip side"; as justice means giving people the good things that they are due, so justice also means meting out punishment to those deserving it.  This is the first issue with modern "justice".

The word integrity is used in this definition and means:

"Integrity is moral reliability — the alignment of character and conduct so that a person acts consistently according to what is right, regardless of circumstance."

Without integrity, justice becomes simply the fulfilling of desires.  If the only justice meted out is that which people desire, then society in general will fail.  Integrity demands consistent action, and consistent action means applying both rewards and punishment.

The idea of justice has become so bastardized that people demand, for the sake of justice, what the Bible tells us to avoid seeking: money, land, houses, fine foods and drink, and all the other trappings of a worldly life.  The Legacy Standard Bible translates Matthew 6:24 as:

"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.  you cannot serve God and wealth."

This seems very clear; the seeking of worldly gain through "justice" is a turning from God, whether if is with direct money sent to you or through complicated environmental schemes.

True Christians need no more money that what it takes to pay the bills and live a simple life; seeking more is turning from God.

"Justice" becomes just an excuse that attempts to bypass what God's Word says, and grasp after worldly things.

True Christians realize they are ambassadors living in a foreign land, and look forward to Jesus Christ setting up his Kingdom here on earth.

Next we will look at ways to determine if you are truly saved...