Social Justice, God's Way

Today is, according to the United Nations, the World Day of Social Justice. The term, "social justice," has different meanings depending on who you talk to. In recent days, the idea of "justice" has been rather distorted to mean many things it just doesn't mean. But what is social justice? Maybe the easiest way to define it is the way it's defined in business law. That is to say, "the fair and proper administration of laws conforming to the natural law that all persons, irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, possessions, race, religion, etc., are to be treated equally and without prejudice."

Actually, our just God agrees: Exodus 23:6, for example, says, "Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits." Leviticus 19:15 is even more explicit: "Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly."

God Himself treats us equally, as Jesus reminds us in Matthew 5:44-45.

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 

The truth is, we don't live in a world capable of total social justice. We live instead in a world that is fallen and incapable of the grace of Christ. But, in Him, we can treat one another with equality and justice. We can be kind to our neighbors and pray for and love our enemies. This is justice, God's way.

As often as we cry out for the heads of those who hurt us, God's justice is one tempered with mercy.

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)

We are a condemned people -- and under God's justice, we ought to be. But he adds to His justice grace and mercy. The price must be paid, but our God has paid it Himself, for all who believe. That's not the World's justice -- but it ought to be ours. 

Social justice, God's way: equal grace, equal mercy. Love for friend and foe alike. Pointing all, no matter who they are, how much money they make, or what they've done, to the cross of Christ.