Act Justly
The call to pursue justice is not merely the reaction to a cultural moment. It is a biblical call. It is God’s call. It is proclaimed in the Old Testament, found at the heart of Jesus’ ministry, fulfilled on the cross, realized at Christ’s return and should be passionately lived out by all who follow Jesus. This series examines some of the key biblical texts related to the issue of justice, amplifies our biblical mandate, acknowledges our failings and applies the truth of scripture to this current cultural moment.
The Longing to be Free
The history of the world is the struggle against people and systems that enslave. Abraham’s family became immigrant slaves, oppressed by the injustice of Egypt. Israel’s longing to be free is a universal longing. When God heard their cries and set the Israelites free, it reflected God’s desire to set us free from anything that enslaves. The Psalmist says, “The Lord sets prisoners free.” (Psalm 146:7). Jesus launched his ministry by declaring, “He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed.” (Luke 4:18) For those who follow Jesus, our calling is the same.
United Around the Pursuit of Justice
We live in a world that tends to pit injustices against each other. We pick and choose our injustices. We scream loud about some and remain quiet about others. The fight against injustice often divides culture. For those who follow Jesus, the pursuit of justice should not divide us. It should unite us. Micah calls us to “Act justly and to love mercy.” Proverbs says that we are to “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.” Jeremiah calls us to, “Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed.” The implications of pursuing biblical justice are huge. But it cannot be an either/or proposition. It must be a both/and pursuit. We are to “act justly” in every area of our lives and in every area of culture.
The Law and the Heart
Laws are important. Policies are important. Government leadership is important. But, in the end, they do not have the power to change the world. They will always leave you wanting more. Longing for more. Hoping for more. Needing more. Even the perfect law of God, handed down on stone tablets and codified by God’s Word was not enough to change the world. It took a crucified and resurrected Jesus, who dwells within us through his Spirit, to turn the world upside down. The primary failure of the church throughout history has not been the failure to enact laws. The church has failed whenever we have been driven primarily by what culture allows us to do rather than by what love compels us to do.
Justice and Money
Injustice is almost always driven by the pursuit of economic gain. Rather than being seen as individuals of infinite worth, created in the image of God, people are dehumanized and used to help others accumulate wealth and power. We see the same oppressive pattern repeated over and over again in history. Paul was right on target when he said, “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” (1 Timothy 6:10) Money can easily become a god, both for individuals and for systems. Jesus is clear. "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Matthew 6:24) Who will you serve?
Where Do We Go From Here?
The Bible says that, in Christ, you are holy, righteous, pure, gracious, merciful, and just. At its core, acting justly is simply living out who you already are in Christ. When we fail to act justly, it’s because we have lost sight or turned our back on our identity in Christ. So, what does it look like to live out who we are in Christ and work toward restoration and repair? What are some practical steps? The story of Zacchaeus gives us a vision of what reparative justice can look like. Acting justly is not waiting for change or simply calling others to change. Acting justly is BEING the change.
