Tag Archives: rightness

Sowing Justice

Living in the Spirit
September 4, 2018

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 22:1-2,8-9, 22-23

Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,
   and the rod of anger will fail.
Those who are generous are blessed,
   for they share their bread with the poor.
Do not rob the poor because they are poor,
   or crush the afflicted at the gate;
for the Lord pleads their cause
   and despoils of life those who despoil them. –Proverbs 22:8-9, 22-23

We are reaping calamity and it is most often because we are sowing injustice. The word translated injustice in the above scripture may also be translated iniquity or unrighteousness*. I fear because our culture attempts to view justice objectively, which is a good thing, we may, however, lose some of the essence of justice’s connection with relationship(s). An eye for an eye could be viewed objectively as being just. When considered as it might apply to relationships one with another the phrase takes on new meaning. Meaning that asked the question: what is right?

One of my great grandfathers was hit in the head with a Minié ball during a Civil War battle which was left in his head as the surgery to remove it was deemed too dangerous. It apparently limited his vision immediately and some thirty years later he received a veteran’s pension for a full disability as the bullet had finally blinded him. This injury was considered a side effect of war, and it begs the question would he have received justice if the man who shot him were located and had his eyes removed? I did not know my great-grandfather, but my guess is while he might have held a grudge or might not have, I doubt he would have wished the same disability on anyone else. I doubt he held a grudge. He was far too busy farming and raising a family. He knew the searing pain of having his oldest son died of disease at the age of 15 and the joy of raising his other children who became successful adults. If he had held a grudge the only person, he would have hurt was himself wasting his time and talent on something that leads to nothing but inward turmoil.

Justice, righteousness is about relationship. It is by nature subjective not objective. While our legal system must function in an objective way, real justice, righteousness is about heart and God’s love. God must define the justice and righteousness we live. Our relationship with God or rightness with God is reflected in the just, righteous ways we live in relationship with others.   We can and have addressed blatant injustice through our legal system through things like the Civil Rights Act and that was a good first step but the needed reconciliation only comes when we all seek God’s righteousness and justice in the way that we live.

Prayer:  Righteous God, mold us and make us love like you in our relationships with all others. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5766.htm

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

My Norms or God’s

normsLiving in the Spirit
June 10,2016

Scripture Reading: Galatians 2:15-21

For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing. –Galatians 2:19-21

Which comes first a rule or a norm? The word “norm” is defined as an authoritarian rule, a standard of conduct or ethical value, or an ideal standard binding upon the members of a group and serving to guide, control, or regulate proper and acceptable behavior. * So what is the difference between a rule and an authoritarian rule? An authoritarian rule has a bases beyond the rule itself. Perhaps the only reason we obey the speed limit is the knowledge that we might have to pay a ticket if we fail to obey the law. That is a shade of authority and probably the one on which most of us fall back. Jesus calls us to a higher authority, the authority of doing what is right for the sake of its rightness. It is called justice. Actually it resonates also throughout the Mosaic laws and particularly the prophets. I commend to you Joan Chisttester’s book The Ten Commandments: Laws of the Heart to explore this further.

Discerning justice is a whole lot more complicated than following closely a check list of rules that, once obeyed get us through the turnstile of rightness. Thus we try to win the battle of being the people who establish the rules. We certainly want our norms to be at the top of the list. It makes life a lot easier since we are already practicing them.

How do we know that our norms are in synch with God’s or for that matter how do we know another’s norms are not in synch with God’s? What is just? What is really right? Discerning justice requires a very close walk with the Lord. It requires us to study the Biblical word of God and the Word of God in the person of Jesus Christ. Discerning justice is a precursor to doing justice which we are called to do.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for assuming that my norms are your norms. Broaden my vision to see your justice and help me take the difficult journey to make your justice my rules for living. Amen.

*http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/norm

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Right or Wrong

words2Living in the Spirit
June 2, 2016

Scripture Reading: Galatians 1:11-24

You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus. –Galatians 1:13-17

It is really hard to admit when one is wrong, particularly when it relates to one of the, if not the most important thing in your life. Back in the early 1980’s the church I was attending decided to deal with the question of whether women should be elders or deacons. This was an interesting question when one considers that my denomination had female ministers since the 1800’s. Even with that history, it was no less controversial. The glass ceiling was first broken with the decision to elect a female elder. The next year consideration was given to regarding female deacons. It was approved after heated discussion. The next year I was elected as a deacon. Sometime during my first year of service, one of the most outspoken men against female deacons approached me and apologized saying, “I was wrong.” I know it was hard and it meant a lot.

I have always thought that Paul was so thunderstruck by the experience he had on the road to Damascus that he had to withdraw from the world for a while to glean from the scriptures as he knew them so well through the eyes of the Word of God he met on the road that day. Thus, was born probably the greatest Christian evangelist in history.

There are a lot of positions being taken and negative speak being spilled out in this election year that is at least hurtful and in some cases harmful to the targets of these vocal bullets. Our world is changing as it has been changing since it was created and we must adjust to new rightness as we live into the justice of the gospels—the Word for this time and this place.

Prayer: God give us both the wisdom to discern what is the rightness according to the Word and the courage to admit when long held cultural ways may not be. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

The Facts of Justice

Right sideEastertide
April 9, 2016

Scripture Reading: John 21:1-19

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the lake. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. –John 21:4-8

As a left handed person, I sort of cringe every time I read about the rightness of being on the right side. I also take some solace when I hear the Holy Spirit being referred to as the Left Hand of God. That said and accepting the cultural norm in describing the “right” way as the better way, I can make some sense out of this story of Jesus and his disciples. In the Hebrew “right” is also identified as “just”, which also occurs in the Greek. Our English word “righteousness” is related to “justice”. The disciples had returned to their normal work of fishing. In the stunned grief of losing their leader, they may have lost his purpose. My guess is they were sensing a whole set of emotions telling them their world had changed, and they would never be the same. Their purpose had changed.

Fishing is an honorable vocation and I am sure there are many people who fish for a living or for food or for recreation who practice the avocation of justice Jesus modeled for his disciples. It was his way that we have been called to follow.

What then is justice? Justice deals in facts. We serve the little gold fish crackers as part of our feast in children’s worship. Generally, I place five in each cup. After one of the children had passed the cups out, one child said, “My cup only has four” as she pointed to her neighbor saying “hers has five.” The neighbor nodded verifying the error. I added the fifth gold fish to the first child’s cup and justice prevailed. These were preschoolers. They understand facts and inequality. They also do justice.

It is hard to find uncolored and unblemished facts today. We might do well to search deeper making sure or neighbors have their fair share.

Prayer: God of Justice and Mercy, help us live justice and practice mercy too. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.