Oh wait, this is not new. 2000 years ago the Pharisees and Sadducees were the banner carriers of the law, which was anchored in justice. Is it odd that Jesus saved His harshest words for these people, those obsessed with moral law?
Does this bother anyone?
It bothered Michael Horton, a famed contemporary theologian, enough to write about it. In his article entitled "Justification and Justice", he encourages Christians to be Grace carriers, not justice policemen. He didn't say it exactly that way but if I quoted him, you'd stop reading now probably.
Yes, justice is one trait of God. Justice by design is in His job description. Justice is Common Grace given to everyone. The point is that at the Fall, man became the giver of justice rather than the receiver of justice. Well, aren't we suppose to take to the world the character of God? We are in His image you know. Rewarding and punishing others based on what they do is God's law designed to make society work better, for sure. While we bear His mark, we should be justice advocates, but so are people who do not even know God exists. We can facilitate reciprocity, but we cannot justify. We cannot be the giver (creator) of anything He specifically has not given us first so we can then give others. Jesus gave us a new commandment, that we turn our affections toward God, the giver of all things and then share that with others, giving them unmerited favor.
We cannot justify another person, that is enacting justice. But we can love all other persons, that is enacting Grace. In our human nature we cannot do that. We get it reversed. We want to be the givers of justice and receivers of Grace.
Easter is the celebration that we have been set free from that warped obsession. Easter points us back to remember that God has taken care of justice for us and the world. He calls us to be light, to take His unmerited favor everywhere we go. Don't put it under a bushel, "No, I'm gonna let it shine". This picture was taken in Croatia. Below is a bunker, where men fought and died for justice against Bosnia, who were fighting and dying for justice. At the top is the cross, where Jesus died so none of us will have to.
Man fights man until death for the sake of justice. God defeated death for the sake of justice so that man may live.
That's what I think about when I think of Easter, leave justice to God, we look no different than anyone else in the world when we are justice warriors. We look very different when we are the light of the world.
Just a little Easter pondering .....
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