We see the obsession for justice dominate our public discourse as if justice is the standard by which we mainly base society's actions. President Obama makes this claim when he distorts the Constitutional mandate for separation of powers by stating "the role of the Supreme Court is to enact social justice." If you look close enough Obama bases all his arguments on the preeminence of justice. Hillary picks up the mantra in her first campaign speech as she anchors her candidacy in "prosperity must be shared by all."
The obsession with justice is not limited to liberal politicians. Recently the annual meeting of the PCA Presbytery allocated time and focus on repentance for the injustice the denomination has perpetuated on the black community. The motion put forth by two prominent pastors was a statement of corporate repentance of the church's sins against our minority neighbors, especially during the Civil Rights era.
Many of us would agree that the most common "push back" parents get from their children, especially teens is "dad (mom), it's not fair." Experts in social psychology tend to agree that justice (the equity norm of fairness) is main's dominant concern. While there may be much agreement on this point, there's no real explanation as to why. You can have whatever opinion you want on this. The study of human psychology and sociology does not inform us as to the source of the human obsession with justice, only that it exists. Let me offer a perspective from God's word. You can decide if your "bloated" obsession with justice is from "water or food" :-)
While justice is the character of God, justice is something He takes care of and does not push the responsibility down to us. Mankind inherits the obsession for justice from Adam as he sought to be God (part of our original sin). The Old Testament discusses justice often, but the intent is to establish justice as an immutable character of God. Man's attempt at justice always fails. Paul describes this dilemma for humans in Roman's 9. He reminds the Jews they seem to have every right to God's favor, but God has chosen to bless the Gentiles too and moreover, the fact that one is a Jew does not grant him or her God's favor. Paul then raises the question that we all must ask because it is in our nature, "Is God not fair?" Paul's reply seems to be saying that we are barking up the wrong tree. That is, God acts for His glory, He wills what He wills for His purposes. People are to leave justice to Him. He is the potter, we are the clay and He will make His riches known to His vessels (those He purposes) in His glory.
The problem we have as humans is that we are cursed with the obsession for justice. Life in the Kingdom means God provides all justice for us, we are free from its burden. We like to quote Jesus, "I am the truth and the truth will set you free." Yet, we merely say we are set free from sin without always knowing what that means.
Jesus regularly describes God's Kingdom as a place where Grace, not justice is the operating principle. The need for justice is the source of strife and discontent, not the resolution of it. Just a couple of examples, Matt 6 begins with Jesus explaining that the basis for rewards is the discretionary nature of God (the ultimate reward giver), not the exchange nature of man (a temporary reward giver). In the parable of the laborers in Matt 20 Jesus says "for the Kingdom of Heaven is like this" and He goes on to describe how the landowner (God) rewards His workers. In this parable we also see how the laborers obsession with justice blocks their experience of His grace and restricts their experiencing the provisions and privileges of the Heavenlies.
So, what does this mean? If you accept in faith that God is just and He has taken care of all injustice for us (the Cross), then you can be free from the obsession of justice. Forgiveness will not be about resolving injustices in our lives, but a spirit that lacks a sense of offense at all. Repentance is not about telling others we are sorry for our actions, but a complete reappraisal of justice and Grace. We will not have guilt over our actions and we will not have bitterness over actions of others. You might say, this is impossible, "I am only human"! That's right, that's why we need a Savior.
This is a difficult message for everyone, especially Christians, because it runs counter to our nature. However, the explanation is all over Scripture, the issue for us is the degree our own perspective is biased and filtered by our nature.
So, don't you think questioning our obsession with justice is certainly worth pondering .....
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