Aristotle’s concept of justice is granting the equal between persons. For instance, in a goods exchange, there must be an equal amount of goods—by either using money as a medium or by making sure that the goods exchanged were of equal value. Also, in terms of a punitive justice, there must be an equal punishment to the crime done. This is called reciprocity. That every action done to another—whether good or evil—there must be a reciprocal action done to them. By this means, everyone who gives to the poor should have an equal good done to them, and for every sweat shop, the owner should be fined and it granted to those being oppressed. That would be reciprocity.
Jesus’ idea of justice is different, however. His idea of justice is the justice that will be established on judgment day, and if one is simply reciprocal, that is not justice enough. Jesus says, “If you only love those who love you, what good is that to you? Even gentiles love those who love them.” In other words, Jesus looks are reciprocity and say that it is a limited sort of justice, but not the sacrificial kind of love Jesus would call characteristic of those of God’s kingdom. Jesus’ justice is not to grant one equality according to one’s actions, but to grant an amount according to another’s need. In other words, we need to give whatever excess we have to those who do not have excess (Luke 12:33). We need to grant honor to those who lack honor (Luke 14). And this meeting of need has to happen not according to a code of reciprocity—we give to those who give to us—but instead it is even to those who have done hateful things to us, our enemies. Jesus’ kind of justice is meeting the needs of all, even if they don’t deserve it.
This isn’t the justice we see today, nor have we ever seen it. In our system, justice is hard, unyielding, only giving when it has received, and strictly punishing no matter how much a person has changed. In Jesus’ concept, justice is not in opposition of mercy. It is justice and mercy walking hand in hand, along the same path. It is granting an opportunity for repentance, and offering full forgiveness for it. It is the poor having all their needs met. It is our enemies, while still hating us, granting us blessings because of our generosity.
Which system would you rather live with? I suppose, if you were wealthy, you'd want reciprocity because that would mean you'd never lose your wealth unless you did something stupid. But if you were poor, you'd want Jesus' form, because it would mean your needs would be met.
In the end, I don't think it matters much which is the most effective. Because come God's judgement, it will be Jesus' form of justice that we will be judged by.
this is a partial synopsis of what Shane Claiborne said tonight. During the Q&A someone asked how/if justice & mercy can go together, he answered partly with illustrations of these principles, and explained the limits put on retribution, i.e. "and eye for an eye". interesting similarities and timing. i guess the difference is that, (as i mentioned to Diane) he says great things and is entertaining, but he looks like a cartoon. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't look like a cartoon? :)
ReplyDeleteYa know I had a feeling it was Steve but as I was reading it I was reminded of another Brother who teetered between the prophetic and apostalic modes and his name is John Wimber. Of course John is with the Lord and this was at a conference some 20 plus years ago addressing the need for the church to re-evaluate its stance of being in lock step with the Legal system.
ReplyDeleteyou a cartoon... hmm. you'll have to try harder. since we're categorizing, you guys are hippies. wear it proudly. :-)
ReplyDelete