Rooted in principles of mercy, equity and compassion, the pursuit of justice is woven into the fabric of Christianity. The prophetic texts in the Old Testament issue unequivocal statements about social righteousness. In the Gospels, Jesus practices a love so radical that it costs him his life.
At its core, biblical justice is an expression of profound reverence for the dignity and worth of every human being. It is increasingly difficult to speak publicly about justice these days because of the hyperpolarization in politics and faith. Nevertheless, Christian disciples are called to respond courageously to God’s vision of a more just world.
The Hebrew word for this vision is shalom, which is a concept that expresses God’s intentions for human wholeness, peace and well-being. Shalom is both individual and communal. It seems increasingly the case that local and national policies are being driven by what is good for some people without taking into account what’s good for all. In addition, many pastors have the challenging task of standing in the pulpit each Sunday to speak to a group of people they love who have wildly divergent views of what God’s justice looks like.
In whatever way a pastor discerns is the best approach to lead a congregation to understand God’s justice, it is crucial to keep in mind that justice is more than flowery words. Justice is faith in action. Churches must not stop with doing charity; justice-oriented congregations seek ways to instigate change, confront biased systems and advocate for the hurting. This is how we do what God requires of us, which is, according to the prophet Micah, to “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”
