CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO UPHOLD JUSTICE, EQUALITY AND FAIRNESS

The God of the Bible stands for justice, equality and fairness, in all His dealings. He expects the same from the Jews, and the Christians, as His people. The greatest evidence for this is our Redeemer hanging on the cross of Calvary. God upheld His law, in order to redeem and restore the fallen, wicked, sinful human beings – in simple words, the enemies of the holy God.

This righteous and holy God wants us – the Jews and the Christians to uphold His standard of justice, fairness and equality in all our dealings. This is what makes us, as His representatives and ambassadors, *truly His disciples and followers.* Consider these Scripture portions…
1- “6 With what shall I come before the LORD, And bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” – Micah 6:6-8
2- “8 Then the word of the LORD came to Zechariah, saying, 9 “Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Execute true justice,
Show mercy and compassion
Everyone to his brother.
10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless,
The alien [foreigner] or the poor.
Let none of you plan evil in his heart Against his brother.’” – Zechariah 7:8-10
3- “3 Thus says the LORD: “Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger [foreigner] the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.” – Jeremiah 22:3
4- “19 You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. 20 You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” – Deuteronomy 16:19-20

English Standard Version Study Bible, notes these words as commentary on Amos 5:24 – “True worshipers of God will manifest justice and righteousness (cf. James 1:26–27). See also Amos 5:21–24. Justice (Hb. mishpat) is much more than legal equity; it refers to the entire scope of God’s government of his world. Thus, to “do justice” involves, on the part of government, a fair and just use of power and proper functioning of a fair judicial system, especially to protect the weak from the strong. On the part of individuals, “justice” involves honest and fair business dealings and faithfulness to keep one’s word, as well as not taking advantage of the poor or those with less power or protection. Righteousness (Hb. tsedaqah) involves doing what is right in the sight of God, especially with regard to conduct toward others.”

Augustine, writing about justice in his book, “The City of God” says, “Remove justice, and what are kingdoms but gangs of criminals on a large scale?… A gang is a group of men… in which the plunder is divided according to an agreed convention. If this villainy… acquires territory, establishes a base, captures cities and subdues people, it then openly arrogates to itself the title of kingdom.”

The LORD our God expects us, as Christians, His disciples, His representatives, and His people, to be just and fair in all our dealings, including those with whom we disagree, those whom we dislike, and also our enemies who hate us. Because He is holy, He wants us to be holy too. If we don’t know our God; don’t know His law; don’t know His heart, then we will be walking in ways that are contrary to the ways of the LORD. We ought to know, not only our LORD, and what He desires, but also know, the human beings; know the deceitful human heart, and all its fallacies; know the wickedness that resides in every human being, including you and me. When we do this, then we will stand for God of the Bible, and will uphold justice, equality and fairness of God. This brings glory and honour to the LORD who loved us, the enemies of God, and rescued us from our sins.