If you were a mantis, it would be socially acceptable to devour your mate. And if you’re a lion, you have no regard for other animals. If you’re a panda with twins, it’s normal to abandon one to take care of the other. But if humans do any of these things, we would call it “wrong”, “unfair” or “unjust”. The Bible has a fascinating response of that question. In Genesis, humans are set apart from all other creatures as “the image of God”. This identity is the bedrock of the Bible’s view of justice. All humans are equal before God and have the right to be treated with dignity and fairness, no matter who you are. But, we know how the world really works. The Bible shows how we constantly redefining good and evil to our own advantage at the expense of others. The weaker someone is, the easier it is to take advantage of them. In the biblical story, we see this happening on a personal level, and in whole civilizations that create injustice, especially towards the vulnerable.
The word “justice” can refer to retributive justice. Like if I steal something, I pay the consequences. Most often in the Bible, justice refers to restorative justice. Seeking out vulnerable people who are being taken advantage of and helping them. It means taking steps to advocate for the vulnerable and changing social structures to prevent injustice. So, justice is about a radical, selfless way of life. In Proverbs, “Open your mouth for those who cannot speak for themselves”. In Jeremiah, “Rescue the disadvantage and don’t tolerate oppression or violence against the immigrant, the orphan and the widow.” In Psalm, “The Lord God upholds justice for the oppressed, gives good to the hungry and sets the prisoner free.” So we need to stand up and be strong to fight for the vulnerable.
Saturday, 3 May 2025