Justice
November 23, 2003
Dear Friends,
The legal system of the United States is often erroneously called the justice system. Perhaps this misnomer comes from the last words to the Pledge of Allegiance which holds the promise of “liberty and justice for all.” Any lawyer will tell you that the US legal system is set up to administer laws, not administer justice. What is the difference between administering laws and justice? A lot.
In a legal system such as we have, the merit or truth to any case is secondary to the law. An admittedly guilty individual can walk free if they can find the right legal loophole such as they were not read their rights or the judge did not follow the correct procedure. The recent “not guilty” verdict of the millionaire who admitted killing and dismembering his neighbor is an example. Another example of law versus justice is the now infamous case where a woman won a million dollars from McDonalds for spilling hot coffee on herself. In neither case would too many people argue that justice was served, but it was according to the law. Perhaps this explains the common negative sentiment toward lawyers. Not to wax eloquent in defense of lawyers, but for the most part they are only doing their job. They know the system is set up to administer laws while the lay person expects justice.
God’s laws under the Law of Moses were set up to administer both law and justice. However, in the hands of mortal and wicked men, justice did not always prevail under the Law. The prophet Ezekiel warned the leaders concerning injustice as follows: “In the land shall be his possession in Israel: and my princes shall no more oppress my people; and the rest of the land shall they give to the house of Israel according to their tribes. Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD.” (Eze. 45:8,9) We cannot lay the blame solely on the leaders either. As people tend to do with laws, they look for the loophole. Jesus points out the willingness of the people to ignore the Law for their own benefit when he condemns their Corban law in Matt. 7. In the end, the dispensation of the Law of Moses was not a justice system either because of the failings of those administering the system.
Before we feel too bad about the lack of justice, we need to remember that under the Law of Christ, we are not under a true justice system either. We are under the Law of Grace. This means that we receive benefits that we don’t deserve or merit. We stand before the Judge of all the Earth guilty as can be and despite that are declared righteous. Being declared righteous is far superior than a simple “not guilty.” “Not guilty” is not synonymous with “innocent”, but simply means the law could not establish guilt. We, under grace and by faith, are declared righteous despite every last one of us not being worthy of such a declaration. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Ro 3:10) If God and Christ treated all of us as we deserve, we would be in big trouble. Yet, God is both just and merciful. He recognizes our sins and yet has made a way for mercy in the person of His son, Jesus Christ.
One day, there will be a true system of justice on this earth. There will be no more bribery, hung juries, mistrials and acquittals by technicality. Justice will prevail because the Just One, Jesus Christ, will rule from Jerusalem over a multitude of justified ones. The prophet Isaiah shares with us a vision of this wonderful day. “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” (Is. 9:7)
Have a great week!
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