arunangelo
Member
- Mar 29, 2005
- 181
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What is Christian justice?
Only God (who is love) is truly just (Matthew 19:17). Furthermore, only love fulfills the law (Roman 13: 10), because only true love is impartial. True justice, therefore, is love. To be just is to be fair, impartial and righteous. Justice therefore, is fair to all, including one’s opponent. Furthermore, it is not affected by time, place, person or situation.
True justice is revealed to us in the New Testament. When we were unfaithful to God and rejected His friendship, He did not give up on us, condemn us or take revenge. Instead, in His love, He compensated for our selfishness by emptying his life on our behalf and putting his life in us. Therefore, true justice does not condemn or sue others. On the contrary, it exercises mercy by forgiving others, and by sacrificing self, in order to help others to recover from their weaknesses. St. Paul teaches us that, the fact that we have legal disputes amongst us means that we have failed completely. He tells us that, it is better to be wronged and robbed, rather than we wrong or rob another person (1 Cor. 6:7).
True justice does not prefer one person’s right over another person’s right; rather, it makes sure that both sides are treated with love and dignity. It, therefore, helps both the offender and the victim, and does not fight or condemn the offender; does not ask back what has been borrowed; loves one’s enemies and prays for their happiness; gives without expecting anything in return; forgives others unceasingly; and keeps one’s good deeds secret (Matthew 5:38-42, Luke 6:27-38). True justice is merciful because mercy (which comes from God) is above all laws (James 2:13) and God demands mercy (Matt. 9:13). True justice therefore is never revengeful.
We should, therefore, pay back our offender’s offenses by love. Offer the other cheek when slapped on one, go an additional mile if asked to walk one, give more than what others demand from us and give our coat as well if someone demands of our shirt (Matthew 5:38-42, Luke 6:27-38).
Only God (who is love) is truly just (Matthew 19:17). Furthermore, only love fulfills the law (Roman 13: 10), because only true love is impartial. True justice, therefore, is love. To be just is to be fair, impartial and righteous. Justice therefore, is fair to all, including one’s opponent. Furthermore, it is not affected by time, place, person or situation.
True justice is revealed to us in the New Testament. When we were unfaithful to God and rejected His friendship, He did not give up on us, condemn us or take revenge. Instead, in His love, He compensated for our selfishness by emptying his life on our behalf and putting his life in us. Therefore, true justice does not condemn or sue others. On the contrary, it exercises mercy by forgiving others, and by sacrificing self, in order to help others to recover from their weaknesses. St. Paul teaches us that, the fact that we have legal disputes amongst us means that we have failed completely. He tells us that, it is better to be wronged and robbed, rather than we wrong or rob another person (1 Cor. 6:7).
True justice does not prefer one person’s right over another person’s right; rather, it makes sure that both sides are treated with love and dignity. It, therefore, helps both the offender and the victim, and does not fight or condemn the offender; does not ask back what has been borrowed; loves one’s enemies and prays for their happiness; gives without expecting anything in return; forgives others unceasingly; and keeps one’s good deeds secret (Matthew 5:38-42, Luke 6:27-38). True justice is merciful because mercy (which comes from God) is above all laws (James 2:13) and God demands mercy (Matt. 9:13). True justice therefore is never revengeful.
We should, therefore, pay back our offender’s offenses by love. Offer the other cheek when slapped on one, go an additional mile if asked to walk one, give more than what others demand from us and give our coat as well if someone demands of our shirt (Matthew 5:38-42, Luke 6:27-38).