The God of Justice

“ That’s not fair!” Children have an innate, amazingly acute sense of justice Also conveniently bend notions of justice to self-interest In the hands of clever human beings, justice becomes an amazingly flexible concept. The older we get, justice becomes a powerful tool for getting what we want. Breeds suspicion .

Children have an innate, amazingly acute sense of justice

Also conveniently bend notions of justice to self-interest

In the hands of clever human beings, justice becomes an amazingly flexible concept. The older we get, justice becomes a powerful tool for getting what we want. Breeds suspicion .

It’s Confusing “ Given the manipulations of humans, we find ourselves locked into a paralysis of equivocation and sophistication about this call to ‘seek justice.’ As Christians, how can we think clearly about the struggle for justice in a way that empowers us for right, responsible and effective action in the world—actions that are pleasing to our Maker and meaningful to those who are hurting?” Gary Haugen, Just Courage (62)

“ Given the manipulations of humans, we find ourselves locked into a paralysis of equivocation and sophistication about this call to ‘seek justice.’ As Christians, how can we think clearly about the struggle for justice in a way that empowers us for right, responsible and effective action in the world—actions that are pleasing to our Maker and meaningful to those who are hurting?” Gary Haugen, Just Courage (62)

injustice : the abuse of power by taking from others what God has given to them God hates injustice and wants it to stop because God loves the victims of injustice so very much. Psalm 12:5 “Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the Lord. “I will protect them from those who malign them.” God is intensely, personally present in their suffering. God cannot do nothing.

God hates injustice and wants it to stop because God loves the victims of injustice so very much.

Psalm 12:5 “Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the Lord. “I will protect them from those who malign them.”

God is intensely, personally present in their suffering. God cannot do nothing.

God Is a God of… COMPASSION – “to suffer with” (Latin) Psalm 116:5 “Our God is full of compassion.” WRATH – great righteous anger Psalm 90:11 “Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.” RESCUE – unrelenting focus Like a parent of a kidnapped child

COMPASSION – “to suffer with” (Latin)

Psalm 116:5 “Our God is full of compassion.”

WRATH – great righteous anger

Psalm 90:11 “Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.”

RESCUE – unrelenting focus

Like a parent of a kidnapped child

The God of Rescue Is at Work! Psalm 10:17-18 “ O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek; you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear to do justice for the orphaned and the oppressed, so that those from earth may strike terror no more.” Psalm 35:10 “ O Lord, who is like you? You deliver the weak from those too strong for them, the weak and the needy from those who despoil them.”

Psalm 10:17-18

“ O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek; you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear to do justice for the orphaned and the oppressed, so that those from earth may strike terror no more.”

Psalm 35:10

“ O Lord, who is like you? You deliver the weak from those too strong for them, the weak and the needy from those who despoil them.”

We Are God’s Rescue Plan Isaiah 1:17 God calls his people to “seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.” “ God desires to shine light into the dark places of injustice, and he does that through us. For those who take the Bible seriously there can be no doubt that God has given to us the work of justice in the world. Justice is not optional for Christians. It is central to God’s heart and thus critical to our relationship with God.” Gary Haugen (65)

Isaiah 1:17 God calls his people to “seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.”

“ God desires to shine light into the dark places of injustice, and he does that through us. For those who take the Bible seriously there can be no doubt that God has given to us the work of justice in the world. Justice is not optional for Christians. It is central to God’s heart and thus critical to our relationship with God.” Gary Haugen (65)

Unless We Become Like Children Recovering Our Innate Sense of Justice “ That’s not fair!” Inconsolable OUTRAGE that leads to ACTION Families & Workplace Social Settings Society (Near and Far) But this time it CAN’T be personal

“ That’s not fair!”

Inconsolable OUTRAGE that leads to ACTION

Families & Workplace

Social Settings

Society (Near and Far)

But this time it CAN’T be personal