God Is... Justice

By Nick (My Experience As...)

But that's not fair!

At face value, it seems like kids are preloaded with a concept of who God is and all the attributes of God.  In fact, CS Lewis suggests that the universal morality is proof of God’s existence.  This isn’t to say that all people have the same moral values, but rather that we can make statements of “wrongness” because there is a predefined morality that we appeal to.  Something generally instinctive that we simple know to be true.  Hitler was a bad guy.  Sure some folks would argue against this, but generally most can appeal to the wrongness of what he did based on the Universal Morality that trying to exterminate others is wrong.  The proof is much more involved than this, but it is a very interesting thing to be aware of when folks try to argue against the existence of God because “If God existed He wouldn’t let bad things happen.”  Basically this proof comes back and says “If you believe there are bad things then God must exist.”

I digress; along with the general idea of morality we have the best friend to morality, justice, built into us.  From a very early age we generally know right and wrong, and clue in on consequences. That is, my two year old knows when I say, “put that down,” and he responds, “NO!” that there will be consequences.  It is based on his past experience. At some point his little brain will catch up and decide yelling no isn’t a good thing.

This evolves into the most basic sense of justice, that which is fair.  This is one of those self evident truths, justice must be fair, it cannot show favoritism, and when it does it isn’t really justice. How many times have children cried out “but that’s not fair.” This is their internal justice meter going off.  Of course therein lays the problem.  It has been corrupted by a sense of self. It affects me in a way I don’t want so it cannot be fair.

This is the greatest problem a parent faces in helping the internal sense of justice develop correctly. It is part of our job. Just like making sure our children grow strong and healthy with good food, exercise, and education. We must also help finish the development of justice in our children so that they will recognize injustice apart from self, and then be moved to deal with it.

In doing this we are teaching them important parts of who God is. His fingerprint left in the very dirt He formed so many years ago. A portion of the Imago Dei, the image of God, that He left us with. It is His justice, as much as His love, that moved Him to the path of Salvation. Yes, in His love He sent the Son, but in His justice He made the sacrifice. He made every sacrifice. He made the first, when He clothed Adam and Eve, covering their nakedness and sin and He made the last, with His own Son.  This was all from His justice, which shows no favoritism.

There is a story of an African king who was just and firm. He setup laws and would not vary. Folks would steal for their starving families, but he would sentence them to their lashes. The people respected him, but some resented him because they wanted to be treated better than the masses.  They conspired to trap him and setup his own mother to break the law. Then they brought her before him, guilty. They waited for him to forgive her but were shocked when he passed judgment, 20 lashes, the same anyone else would have received. She was taken to the post where so many had been beaten, and was stretched out, her bonds placed on the post hooks. Then the jailer took up his flog and the kind cried, “Stop!” The accusers waited in glee. Their plot had worked, the king couldn’t watch his own mother be beaten. Then they were confused as the king stood and took off his royal robes. They were shocked as he walked to his mother and wrapped his strong arms around her. They were dismayed as he told the jailer to begin and bravely bore the 20 lashes on his own back.

This is the justice of God. A price must be paid. There are consequences. There are absolute. No one gets out of jail for free.

This is the love of God. None should suffer His wrath. All are worthy of life. Everyone deserves a change of heart.

This is the Cross. The place where Justice and Love stand in perfect balance.

Nick is a husband and father to four children all of whom he loves dearly. He is also a youth pastor to over 50 students, a great writer and a whiz with computers. He has a fabulous blog where he shares his Experience as a Husband, Father, Youth Pastor, Geek and Jesus Freak. Be sure to go check it out.

Comments

[jasonS]

What a powerful example, Nick. Thank you. We need these reminders.