February 9th, Leviticus 24-25
What is Justice? There seems to be two(or maybe three) sides to this coin. First we find these verses in Leviticus 24. It is the eye for an eye code. Injury for injury, break for break, life for life. To some, this sounds a bit harsh. But let me interject that before we get too immersed in how bad this might sound, it is a break from the the more normal view of justice that people have.
The normal view of justice that mankind has when there is no restraint is eye for head, life for entire families life and all your belongings and the offender's existence stricken from the record forever. Victims never want something equal from someone, victims want offenders to pay at levels that are over the top. You killed my cow, I kill your herd. God's instruction here is to show some constraint to the injustice of justice that human nature seeks.
I say all of that, because it seems there is a new understanding that all of these thoughts are wrong. Life for life is defined by me as life taken wrongfully is paid for by life taken justly. But some are rearranging the terms using the word violence. Seeing both acts as violence and that all violence is evil. Change the word from justice to violence and words are being used to incite a bunch of feelings into the system of justice. Our symbol for justice here in America is the lady blindfolded with a scale. Feelings are what make people want more than justice, and it seems to also make want people less than justice feeling bad for people who have done wrong.
Some say that the New Testament is a new way. That forgiveness is the order of the day. That all sounds nice until my family is murdered and the judge simply asks me to forgive the person and lets them go free. People then cry out for justice.
Overjustice, Justice, Underjustice Certainly subject for debate.
Good News: The Year of Jubilee The year of restoration. An underlying theme in this is the realization that the land is not to be swallowed up by a few to lord it over many, rather that the land is on loan for a certain number of growing seasons. When you buy land your actually purchasing the number of crops you can get off the land before you give it back in the Year of Jubillee. How much better would it be if we saw our lives as leasing what is God's. Holding it with an open palm instead of a clenched fist.
A year for trusting God's provision. In the sixth year a crop that is three times what it is in a normal year. All of this is about putting our trust in Christ that he will provide for our needs.
In the song "My Jesus I love thee" one of the lines says "I'll praise thee as long as Thou lendest me breath." From matters of justice to the realization that life is on loan all I can really think to say is... COME LORD JESUS COME.
Showing posts with label justice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label justice. Show all posts
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Lev 19-21 Do Justly, Love Mercy
February 7th, Leviticus 19-21
This week has been non-stop discussion about the mission of the Kingdom of God. Evangelism is one of those things, but the deeper discussion is doing justly and loving mercy. Not to be lazy but the words if chapter 19 express this better than I and it is God's word so...
Here's the frustration of my blog this week, I wanted to just insert Leviticus 19:9-18 and let it speak for itself. If someone could help me by posting that text as a comment I would appreciate it.
One last word about seriously plunging into justice issues comes from my class this week. "Mercy is pulling people from the river and offering help. Justice is going upstream and finding out why so many are falling into, getting pushed into the river and seeking ways to put a stop to it."
Stepping into the gap and using our strength as an asset for the widows, orphans, strangers, and the poor. That's kingdom work!!!
This week has been non-stop discussion about the mission of the Kingdom of God. Evangelism is one of those things, but the deeper discussion is doing justly and loving mercy. Not to be lazy but the words if chapter 19 express this better than I and it is God's word so...
Here's the frustration of my blog this week, I wanted to just insert Leviticus 19:9-18 and let it speak for itself. If someone could help me by posting that text as a comment I would appreciate it.
One last word about seriously plunging into justice issues comes from my class this week. "Mercy is pulling people from the river and offering help. Justice is going upstream and finding out why so many are falling into, getting pushed into the river and seeking ways to put a stop to it."
Stepping into the gap and using our strength as an asset for the widows, orphans, strangers, and the poor. That's kingdom work!!!
Friday, January 25, 2013
Ex 22-24 Widows, Orphans, Strangers, Poor
January 25th, Exodus 22-24
The heading for the blog I type in has a setting for normal. A drop down list has it as one of several options. Today's text could be a list of the same. Prior to this point in history God never laid out his expectations in such a full manner for all of society. Two things I see as the rules of society are unfolded by God...1. How concerned God is about matters of justice. 2. How often people say God is unjust.
It's clear from these chapters that our interactions with one another matter to God and when one wrongs another there is a price to be paid. Many of the laws revolve around stealing property, other gods, and social justice. In the week of honoring Dr Martin Luther King, it seems fitting. It becomes evident that God is looking out for those who could be lost and abused in society. The widows, orphans, strangers, and the poor are even spoken of as the people God defends. Oppressing them puts one in a position of God standing against you.
In any group of people (nations, families, business, social groups) there are people who exert power in those systems, and people who have that power enacted upon them. When things go wrong in those systems people in power use their power for their own end. People without power are forced to grovel, complain or be beaten down, living in a world of injustice. When things go right, people in power are willing to give up some of their strength for the benefit of those who need help(communisim forces it, a right heart offers it willingly thus the drastic difference). An interesting insight into systems is that people in power are generally delusional about how just things are in the system. People without power are keenly aware of justice issues, their awareness means survival.
This justice issue will come up many times as we move into the prophets later. The ways that powerful people abuse their power is astounding, but not surprising. How about you and I. Like Bruce Almighty do we use our strength just for ourselves, or are we choosing the way expressed in Exodus?
The heading for the blog I type in has a setting for normal. A drop down list has it as one of several options. Today's text could be a list of the same. Prior to this point in history God never laid out his expectations in such a full manner for all of society. Two things I see as the rules of society are unfolded by God...1. How concerned God is about matters of justice. 2. How often people say God is unjust.
It's clear from these chapters that our interactions with one another matter to God and when one wrongs another there is a price to be paid. Many of the laws revolve around stealing property, other gods, and social justice. In the week of honoring Dr Martin Luther King, it seems fitting. It becomes evident that God is looking out for those who could be lost and abused in society. The widows, orphans, strangers, and the poor are even spoken of as the people God defends. Oppressing them puts one in a position of God standing against you.
In any group of people (nations, families, business, social groups) there are people who exert power in those systems, and people who have that power enacted upon them. When things go wrong in those systems people in power use their power for their own end. People without power are forced to grovel, complain or be beaten down, living in a world of injustice. When things go right, people in power are willing to give up some of their strength for the benefit of those who need help(communisim forces it, a right heart offers it willingly thus the drastic difference). An interesting insight into systems is that people in power are generally delusional about how just things are in the system. People without power are keenly aware of justice issues, their awareness means survival.
This justice issue will come up many times as we move into the prophets later. The ways that powerful people abuse their power is astounding, but not surprising. How about you and I. Like Bruce Almighty do we use our strength just for ourselves, or are we choosing the way expressed in Exodus?
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