The Law of God and Public Policy: Justice (1)

For the word of the LORD is right,
And all His work is done in truth.
He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. Psalm 33.4, 5

Learn to do good;
Seek justice… Isaiah 1.17

Public policy watchwords
Word. Right. Truth. Righteousness. Justice. Goodness.

What would this country be like if these were the watchwords of all public policymaking?

God has appointed civil government as His servant for good. When the Law of God—and all His Word—informs and shapes public policy, lawmakers will make right decisions; they will ensure that truth pervades the public square; and they will oversee a society increasingly familiar with righteousness, justice, and goodness.

Which makes the Christian’s participation in matters of public policy just that much more important.

Public policies are not to be made because they favor one group over another to the advantage or aggrandizement of policymakers. Any public policy that is tainted by partiality, favoritism, whim, or catering to special interests does not conform to the requirements of God’s Law and cannot expect the blessings of God. The goal of public policy is not the satisfaction of various interest groups. If we could boil all these glorious watch words down to one, my choice would be justice.

The goal of public policy is justice—based on Scripture, productive of righteousness, ensuring goodness as servants of the Lord should.

Is justice possible?
Can we achieve justice? Yes—at least a greater measure of justice—if we are willing to guard the policymaking process. Since justice is a function of the decisions of men, the best solution to overcoming the sinfulness and partiality inherent in the American public policy system is to elect people to office who understand and embody the principles and practices of justice, and who can show a credible record of justice in all aspects of their lives.

At the same time, we must work for reforms in campaign financing and the practices of lobbyists. This can help to ensure that policymakers are swayed neither by the interests of their supporters or their own interests, but by the requirements of justice first and always.

Any practices that transgress the boundaries of justice and can be demonstrated to be motivated primarily by self- or special-interest should be regarded as perversions. They should be challenged in conversations, publication, and the courts and corrected according to the terms and demands of justice.

But this assumes that the public has a taste for true justice and disdains all special-interest politics. It’s clear we have a long way to go in this area as well.

And it assumes that we as believers understand the nature of justice and the many ways justice operates to bring goodness to a society.

The nature of justice
But what is justice? In brief, justice can be seen in those policies and practices which embody the character and purpose of God. Since, as Paul insists, God is both just and One Who justifies others, justice must be intimately associated with and defined by the being and character of God (Rom. 3.26). A society is just when its laws and ways reflect the righteousness, goodness, wisdom, compassion, and honor of God.

Our text relates justice to right, truth, righteousness, and goodness. Each of these qualities, in turn, has its origin in the character of God. God cannot lie and does not deceive. He is all wisdom and understanding and knowledge. And God is righteous in all His ways. In the Trinitarian relationship of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, right, truth, righteousness, goodness, and love always obtain, and evidence a Being full of glory and abounding in blessings for all who know Him.

God intends people to live in ways that reflect His own goodness and redound to His glory and honor. A government is good and a society is just to the extent it does this.

Again, achieving such justice does not bring salvation to society. But it can help to create a social and cultural environment in which the prospects are enhanced for salvation to reach many people.

How can we achieve a just society, one which reflects the very being of God? By obedience to God’s Law and attendance on all His counsel and ways. We cannot expect to have just public policies if the Law of God is ignored or despised. Only people can introduce the Law of God into the public policy arenas of our society. Each believer bears a responsibility for seeking to affect public policy, as we have seen (the loci of public policy). We should encourage our political representatives to consider the teaching, promises, and record of the holy and righteous and good Law of God.

And we must be ready to assist policymakers by every means to make policies that are agreeable to the requirements of justice, being careful to use the language of public policy as we do.

But what are the requirements of justice? What does justice promise? What forms does justice take in the Law of God? As we shall see, justice is a five-faceted jewel, radiant with the promise of truth, right, righteousness, goodness, and flourishing.

For reflection
1. How would you define “justice”? Can you give an example or two of a just policy current in place in our society?

2. Why must we as Christians work for “justice” defined in Biblical terms? What happens when “justice” becomes the plaything of changing social attitudes?

3. What kinds of things interfere with achieving justice in public policy? How can we use the language of public policymaking to address these things?

Next steps—Demonstration: What can you do to make sure the people in your Personal Mission Field see the justice of God in you?

T. M. Moore

What is the place of the Law of God in the Christian’s life? Our book, The Ground for Christian Ethics, answers this question and shows us again why Jesus taught us that keeping the Law is an indispensable part of our calling in God’s Kingdom. Order your free copy of The Ground for Christian Ethics by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.