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Biblical Justice

Biblical Justice. The Christian Way to Social Justice. What are we talking about?. Equality Minimum Wage Free Health Care Free College Tuition Right to Housing Women’s Rights Gay Rights. Remember.

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Biblical Justice

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  1. Biblical Justice The Christian Way to Social Justice

  2. What are we talking about? Equality Minimum Wage Free Health Care Free College Tuition Right to Housing Women’s Rights Gay Rights

  3. Remember ... There is no better solution or proposal than that found in Scripture and there is no better mind than that of a Christian to find it and to implement it.

  4. A Complex Issue Difficult questions that demand answers

  5. The Issue of Definitions What is justice?

  6. The Issue of Definitions Who set the standards and which are they?

  7. The Issue of Definitions Who does perform the administration of justice?

  8. What is NOT a Solution The secular approach and its failures

  9. Failure in Definition • No clear definition! • Multiple usages according to one’s own agenda: • “ ... The spread of social justice ...” • “ .... To bring economic justice to the workplace and social justice to our nation ...” • Benefit: don’t you dare to be against us! It is unobjectionable. You are a proponent of injustice.

  10. Failure in Solution • Increase of the State’s power. • Decrease of personal resources and responsibility. • Freedom must be sacrificed and redistribution must take its place.

  11. Failure in Definition and Solution • The attempt of a UN report: • “Social justice may be broadly understood as the fair and compassionate distribution of the fruits of economic growth” • “ Social justice is not possible without strong and coherent redistributive policiesconceived and implemented by public agencies.” • “Present-day believers in an absolute truth identified with virtue and justiceare neither willing nor desirable companions for the defenders of social justice.”

  12. Failure of “ War on Poverty” 1964 1984 Budget of over $180 billion. Approximately 15% of Americans considered poor. Unemployment around 11%. • Budget of $2 billion. • Approximately 13% of Americans considered poor. • Unemployment around 3.6%

  13. Products of the Secular Approach • Loss of liberty. • Increase in greed and idleness. • Legalized oppression. • Injury on those from who something is taken. • Injury on those to whom something is given. • Benefit of non targeted group.

  14. Modern Example

  15. The Biblical Approach The biblical notion of justice and its administration in society.

  16. What is Justice? • Old Testament: tsedeq and mishpat: • Rooted in the very nature of God • Isaiah 40:14; Psalm 145:17 • Exhibited and experienced in the life of man conformity to an ethical or moral standard • Genesis 6:9; Genesis 18:19 • Must never show partiality: • Deuteronomy 24:17; Leviticus 19:15

  17. What is Justice? • New Testament: dikaios and krima • Being in accordance with high standards of rectitude • Romans 2:13; Romans 5:19 • Administration of what is right and fair • 1 Corinthians 3:8; Galatians 6:7-8

  18. What is Justice? • Four Criteria: • Impartiality • Deuteronomy 1:16-17 • Rendering to each his due • Romans 13:7 • Proportionality/symmetry • Leviticus 24:17-21 • Conformity to the standard • Leviticus 19:35-36; Deuteronomy 25:13-16

  19. What is Justice? • Two important principles: • Conformity with a right and perfect standard which is God’s character and God’s law. • Rendering each his due without partiality regardless his condition. • In sum: • Each person is rendered his due according to Gods established righteous standards.

  20. Administration of Justice • The Sabbatical Year Law – Deuteronomy 15:1 • “ At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debt.” (NASB). • “ but on the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow”. Exodus 23:10-11. • What is the sabbath about? • Temporary, not permanent, release. The creditor could not collect the debt that year. • Not a permanent cancelation but a year long suspension.

  21. Administration of Justice • The Jubilee Year Law – Leviticus 25 • Conquest of the land. Each family received a lot. • Land should not be sold permanently in Israel. • A land could be sold temporarily in Israel. • Price: “for it is a number of crops it is selling to you” (vs. 16). • Assured that the debt would be payed (through the crops) and that the land would be returned.

  22. Administration of Justice • The Rich Young Ruler – Luke 18:18-30 • “sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor...” (vs. 22). • This command is not given to the disciples but specifically to the rich young ruler. • The following chapter (Luke 19:8-9) Jesus rejoices with Zacchaeus. Does Jesus demand him to give all he have to the poor?

  23. Administration of justice • The Jerusalem Church – Acts 2:44-45; 4:34-35. • Wealth was shared and needs were met. • It was a voluntary sharing. • Occurred periodically and for specific needs as they came up. (2:45). • The resources that were designated for distribution were laid at “ the apostles’ feet” . (4:35). • “ Christians considered that what belonged to them was entrusted to them by to serve their fellow Christians.” Dr. E Calvin Beisner.

  24. Administering Justice Biblical and, therefore, true justice must conform to these four principles: Impartiality Rendering to each his due Proportionality/symmetry Conformity to God’s standard revealed in his Word

  25. Justice in the Local Church 1. We must take care of the poor but let us set our priorities straight. Galatians 6:10 2. It can only go to those who cannot support themselves and cannot be supported by their families. James 1:27 1 Timothy 5:3

  26. Justice in the Local Church 3. Its aim is to provide food and covering sufficient for basic survival and health. Proverbs 30:7-9 4. Recipients must serve the church in return for charity insofar as they are able. 2 Thessalonians 3:10

  27. Justice in the Local Church 5. Choose man full of the Spirit to serve as deacons, who are effective in their office and funded to do the work. Acts 6:1-7 1 Timothy 3: 8-13

  28. A Plea for Consistency What kind of justice should we really be interested in?

  29. Justice of the Soul 1. Point people to Christ. The Gospel is the only way to transformman and society. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” Matthew 5:6 “But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets. And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” Romans 3:21-22

  30. Justice of the Soul 2. Pray for the return of Christ. When he comes he shall judge de living and the dead. HC Q.52 - How does Christ’s return“to judge the living and the dead”comfort you? A. In all distress and persecution, with uplifted head,I confidently await the very judge who has already offered himself to the judgment of God in my place and removed the whole curse from me. Christ will cast all his enemies and mine into everlasting condemnation, but will take me and all his chosen ones to himself into the joy and glory of heaven.

  31. To learn more ...

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