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Administering True Justice
Brian Mashburn
October 18, 2015
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Administering True Justice
What do you think of when you think of the word "justice"? My knee-jerk reaction is to think of people getting what they deserve. I think of judgement (not the bad kind, but the kind that is based off of facts). I think of the victims of wrongdoing as having the right of retribution, and the perpetrators of wrongdoing needing to pay for what they've done. So, when I think of the "administering of justice," I mainly picture a courtroom.
But when I go to the Bible, the word justice takes on a much larger meaning. It is not that my view of it is wrong so much as it is inadequate. It is not enough.
The biblical concept of justice emphasizes restoring wholeness to the world. It is a "society word" (as opposed to an "individualistic word"), and therefore demands that the Christian think about society as a whole in order to understand it as the Bible explains and administer it as God intends. In other words, justice cannot be done by a Christian when he or she is by themselves. Justice can only be done "socially".
I found an old quote of God that best summarizes what the Bible means, and therefore what we should picture, concerning justice. It is in Zechariah 7:9-10 - "Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other."
Over and over in the Bible, justice is related to our society's treatment of the least among us. While the courtrooms administer justice in their ways utilizing the law of the land, let us administer justice in Christ's way utilizing the vulnerable, marginalized, and defenseless.
Buckle in, because this will cost you. But take heart, because this will become your greatest joy.