What is missional justice?
In Scripture, God has clearly revealed Himself to be a God who loves justice, and we see that justice is a comprehensive concept. At its core, it means to treat people equitably. This involves the fair punishment of offenders, but also giving people their rights, including the protection and care of the vulnerable and powerless in society. In general terms, this is often referred to as social justice. God declares that our treatment of poor and marginalized is not merely a matter of mercy or charity, but justice and injustice.
We use the term missional justice to describe this calling on Watermark. This reminds us that all of the church’s pursuits should ultimately be connected to God’s mission of bringing redemption and restoration to all of creation through Christ. Therefore, even as we seek to help the hungry to find food, we also seek to tell them about the one who called Himself the bread of life (John 6:35). The purpose of our good deeds is that others may see them and glorify our heavenly father (Matt. 5:14-16).
On a related note, we have chosen not to use the term mercy ministry, because mercy does not typically embody the ideas of obligation or right and wrong in the way that justice does. For Christians, justice is never optional.
What are some key Bible passages about justice?
Psalm 146: The God of justice
This passage is a holistic description of God’s work of social justice for needy, which by implication are things that He cares about. God Himself is our example to follow.
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob… who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless. Psalm 146:5-9 (ESV)
Micah 8: The call to do justice
This is a foundational verse about our calling to do justice, particularly in the context of discipleship and a relationship with God.
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 (ESV)
Proverbs 31: Justice and advocacy
This verse gives us a mandate to not only take action with our hands and feet, but to use our words to engage in advocacy on behalf of the vulnerable.
Speak up for those who have no voice, for the justice of all who are dispossessed. Proverbs 31:8 (CSB)
Isaiah 58, Matthew 23, James 1: Justice as religious practice
In Isaiah 58, God highlights and rebukes His people’s hypocrisy in observing religious practices such as fasting, but neglecting the work of justice. The New Testament passages continue this important theme of approaching justice as a normative and essential aspect of religious and spiritual life.
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them…? Isaiah 58:6-7 (NIV)
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices – mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law – justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. Matthew 23:23 (NIV)
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress. James 1:27 (NIV)
Luke 10, Galatians 6: The scope of justice
The parable of the Good Samaritan addresses the fundamental question of who our neighbours are, i.e. who is deserving of our help. In essence, the answer is anyone. The call to justice transcends all the barriers that we find in society, including the animosity that existed in ancient times between Jews and Samaritans. In Galatians, we have a mandate to do good to all people, which certainly includes the non-believing poor.
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” See Luke 10:25-37 (NIV)
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:10 (NIV)
Job 31: A portrait of the justice seeker
This is one of the most comprehensive texts on Israelite ethics, as Job illustrates what it looks like for a person to live a life of justice. What is particularly noteworthy is that Job sees the failure to live in such a way as sin and unfaithfulness to God.
If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary, if I have kept my bread to myself, not sharing it with the fatherless… if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing, or the needy without garments, and their hearts did not bless me for warming them with the fleece from my sheep, if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, knowing that I had influence in court, then let my arm fall from the shoulder, let it be broken off at the joint. For I dreaded destruction from God, and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things… these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high. Job 31:16-28 (NIV)
How can we do justice?
As we continue our journey to be a church that loves justice like our God does, below is a little resource that can help each of us take a next step in that journey, and equip us to help others do the same. These pathways to engagement are through Watermark, but they are certainly not the only ways. Pray and ask God to lead you to the resources and opportunities that He wants to provide you with.
