Biblical Justice (4)

“If fire breaks out and catches in thorns, so that stacked grain, standing grain, or the field is consumed, he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.” Exodus 22.6

Guarding against injustice
Justice, we have said, refracts the character and will of God into the human situation. The Kingdom economy is thus concerned with justice as the objective of every grace exchange – all the ways we use our time, pursue our work, relate to others, make and use culture, and participate in society. Justice is a jewel with five facets – at least, according to the Biblical worldview. We are acting justly when we love our neighbors in the same way God loves them. Thus, the first facet of justice is what we may refer to as obligatory justice, and it is a kind of catch-all category for whatever love requires.

The second facet of the jewel of justice we may refer to as preventive justice. Public policy should provide laws and statutes that help to ensure that people will keep the interests and wellbeing of their neighbors in mind at all times. People cannot be permitted to undertake endeavors which may endanger their neighbors or their property without taking appropriate precautions. By keeping watch over a fire one has started, one may ensure that only what should be burned is burned, thus preventing injustice from occurring against one’s neighbor.

While it’s possible to see each of the Ten Commandments as containing some aspect of preventive justice, the practice of preventive justice is exemplified in the Law of God in various ways, designed to suggest a variety of situations and circumstances. One must guard against his flocks or cattle grazing in a neighbor’s fields (Deut. 22.1-4). Open pits should be covered (Ex. 21.33, 34). Homes must be built to guard against injury to people (Deut. 22.8). Dangerous animals must be kept in (Ex. 21.35, 36). Inheritances are to be protected (Num. 27.8-11). And so forth. Even animals and the creation itself are protected by the Law from being treated unjustly by human beings (cf. Deut. 25.4; 22.6, 7).

Considering others
These various statutes serve primarily to remind people to consider the interests and wellbeing of their neighbor so as to prevent any injustice arising from negligence or indifference. As with obligatory justice, preventive justice is backed up by other forms of justice. These statutes and precepts are intended to guide people in loving their neighbors so that no unintended harm may come from any of our actions.

Preventive justice, like obligatory justice, describes the practice of grace economics on the part of all members of a society. We do not require courts of law to balance the scales of preventive and obligatory justice; each of us must study and learn to practice the obligations of these basic forms of justice as part of our everyday lives.

The Golden Rule is simply the best way of encapsulating the demands of obligatory and preventive justice: Think about what you’d want others to do in order to show grace to you. Then do that for others. Prepare to do it, plan for it, and practice it consistently.

Preventive justice at work
More formally, many examples of preventive justice, written into civil statutes, exist in our own society. In many communities, people are required by their neighborhood association to remove the snow from their sidewalks as soon as possible. This is to protect the safety and ensure the wellbeing of delivery persons and neighbors who may be out on a stroll. There is no penalty for not removing the snow. However, if people do not remove it, neighbors may look askance at them, and someone who is injured or can show that he has been unduly inconvenienced by our neglect, may have grounds to collect damages. The neighborly thing to do is to keep the sidewalks clean in front of your home, and thus bear witness to all who may enter your neighborhood that here we love our neighbors as ourselves.

Other communities may pass laws to protect their water supplies – wells, rivers, or reservoirs. In order to ensure that water is as good as it can be, local statutes may prohibit the use of certain kinds of fertilizers or other outdoor chemical treatments. During summer months, signs may appear in the community advising people that the town council has determined that “Voluntary Water Usage Restrictions” are in effect. The policies put in place by elected officials are designed to discourage and, hopefully, prevent neighbors from committing injustice against one another by failing to exercise appropriate regard for the water supply of their neighbors.

Such policies and statutes reflect the preventive justice facet of God’s Law, and are to be welcomed, not begrudged. They help us to see that the Law of God can and should – and, indeed, already does – inform our public policies and our personal practice when it comes to living out the requirements of justice.

For reflection or discussion
1. Explain the difference between obligatory justice and preventive justice. Is there overlap here?

2. Can you think of any other kinds of laws today which would be examples of preventive justice (for example, speed limits)?

3. Do you think it’s possible for a government to go too far in trying to prevent injustice? Can you give an example of what that might look like?

Next steps – Conversation: Review the Biblical examples of preventivejustice cited in this article. How many of these have some parallel in the laws we follow today? Meditate on Romans 2.14, 15. People may cringe at the idea of obeying God’s Law, but can we – should we – avoid doing so? Why or why not? Share your observations and thoughts with a Christian friend.

T. M. Moore

This week’s ReVision study is Part 8 of a 10-part series, “The Kingdom Economy.” You can download “Biblical Justice” as a free PDF, prepared for personal or group study. Simply click here. For a background study of Kingdom economics, order the book, The Kingdom Turn,  from our online store, and learn what it means to enter the Kingdom, not just talk about it.

Start your day in the Word of God. Study with T. M. in our daily Scriptorium newsletter, as he walks us through the ongoing work of Christ in the book of Acts. You can subscribe to receive Scriptorium each day at 5:00 am Eastern, or go to the website to download each week’s study in a free PDF.

Your gifts to The Fellowship of Ailbe make this ministry possible. It’s easy to give to The Fellowship of Ailbe, and all gifts are, of course, tax-deductible. You can click here to donate online through credit card or PayPal, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Dr., Essex Junction, VT 05452.

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