Tuesday Rambling about justice:
- To truly understand justice, we must see things from perspectives besides our own.
- These questions will come in the first person. I must include myself in evaluating these things!
- Why does justice demand the view of another’s perspective?
- Philippians 2:4: Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
- Christ looked to our interests to bring justice for our souls. Thus, understanding justice in our world demands we see others’ viewpoint.
- How can we do this effectively?
- Can we see through a lense of mercy in various situations?
- Does even admitting the existence of injustice present difficulty for us?
- Do we have information to evaluate situations in our culture from a variety of cultural perspectives, rather than tunneling into our own perspective and fussing that others don’t agree?
- Do we have relationships in our communities with people from various backgrounds, races, ethnicities? Or with those affected directly by injustice?
- Do we understand how political issues affect anyone besides ourselves?
- Do we start with a desire to help someone in a difficult situation before we judge how they got there?
- Do we understand that James, in warning against attitudes of favoritism, warned believers against setting themselves up as judges while challenging them to see that mercy triumphs over judgment? (James 2:13)
- Does our household budget show mercy?
- As believers, do we value mercy to the point of personally sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with others in need?
- I hope these questions will form your thinking on issues of justice and mercy and give you some potential places of action. May the Holy Spirit lead and empower!