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Love defines justice

Andy Nagahara

Today, I would like to focus on some proverbs from the 12th chapter of Proverbs. Firstly, let me introduce two proverbs.

A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted. (3)
In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality. (28)

These two proverbs are today’s theme. Despite the atrocities committed in the name of “justice” around the world, here is our hope. The justice described here is, of course, not the justice that the tyrants of the world are selfishly claiming today, but the justice that God seeks. It says that even when storms of violence rage in the world, those who are rooted in God’s justice will be able to endure and will be able to preserve their lives by continuing to walk that path.

So how is God’s justice different from theirs? How can we know that?

Is that what the preacher says at Sunday services? Traditionally, the talk given during Sunday morning worship has been called a “sermon.” In seminaries, there is a subject called “Homiletics,” which is studied as a comprehensive summary after studying many basic Bible and doctrinal subjects. In Christianity, it is also called “preaching the word of God” and is highly valued, but too much emphasis on it can also have negative effects.

For example, the authority of the “Word of God” is confused with the authority of the pastor who speaks the “Word of God” from the pulpit, and it becomes as if the pastor is God and an intermediary between each believer. Then, this leads to the illusion that the pastor’s words are the word of God, and some people begin to say that rebelling against the pastor is rebelling against God. Furthermore, the preacher’s justice is sometimes spoken of as God’s justice.

When I first became a pastor, a senior pastor told me that I should never say “I think…” when preaching, but to speak definitively, as if it were the word of God. But the pastor is not God, nor is he God’s mouthpiece.

So what I am going to say is not Jesus’ opinion. I am telling you what I believe to be Jesus’ will. So my expectation from you is not that you agree with me, but that each of you will try to hear what Jesus is saying to you.

Also, what you need to know is not “whose opinion is closest to God’s opinion.” Rather, I would like you to think about how Jesus is speaking to you by reading the Bible, rather than using social media. This is essential if we are to understand the justice that God requires.

As you all probably know, the nature of social media and online news is that they tend to display things that sound good to you. The many voices we hear tend to sound correct. This danger of false information and biased opinions being mistakenly accepted as correct, as if sound were echoing in a small space, is called an echo chamber. It has happened without the internet or social media. For example, the cries for the innocent Jesus to be crucified as a criminal, the enthusiastic welcome of the rise of the Nazi regime, and Japan’s reckless plunge into war were all examples of the uncontrollable rampage towards destruction that began with the entire society echoing in an echo chamber.

What were the results of those? Both the Nazis and Japan collapsed, while Jesus, who was executed as a criminal in the name of justice, was resurrected and now lives and works as King in the hearts of many people. The proverb in verse 7 proves these things to be valid.

Wicked men are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous stands firm.(7)

In the Old Testament, before Jesus came to this world, it was people called “prophets” who conveyed God’s justice to people. The prophets whom God raised up spoke out against the injustice of those in power at the time, and were persecuted and even killed. John the Baptist, the last prophet before Jesus, was also killed by the king.

And if prophets are those who demonstrate God’s justice, then Jesus can be said to be the ultimate prophet. In fact, Jesus’ life was prophetic, as he harshly criticized those in power, politicians, and religious leaders who imposed a false sense of justice on people. Jesus’ justice was not self-righteous or hurtful. He did not discriminate based on social status or race, but rather actively placed himself on the side of those in weaker positions.

However, this was not due to mere emotional sympathy, but was made possible by listening more intently than anyone else to God’s will. Jesus said:

By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. (John 5:30)

These words of Jesus teach us the importance of trying to know God’s will through the words of the Bible, the words and actions of others. It’s not just the words of the pastor’s “sermon.” God speaks to us through children, through people of other faiths, even through atheists and agnostics, if we are willing to listen carefully.

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. (1)
The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. (15)
A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. (26)

If we do not seek to hear God’s will through someone else, then we will be deciding what is right based on our own preferences and judgments. Jesus not only told us that he was one who “hears and does his will,” but he also commands us to be one who “hears and does his will.”

For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. (Matthew 12:50)

This means that just like Jesus, we too have been given the role of prophets in this world and have words to speak. Today’s text also contains many proverbs that teach the power of spoken words.

A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies.(17)
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (18)
There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil, but joy for those who promote peace. (20)

Good words make people stand up, bad words make people fall down.

With good words, we as the church strengthen the weak, help the oppressed, and give hope to the hopeless.

At the same time, we want to confirm from Jesus’ own words that we are prophets who admonish those who seek to dominate others, discriminate unfairly, and exploit others.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. (Matthew 5:13-15)

Now, have you noticed that despite the title of my talk, I have not used the word “love” once so far today? If it doesn’t talk about God’s love, then it certainly is not a “sermon.” However, for God, “love” and “justice” are not separate things. I’m sure you all know that the core of Jesus’ teachings is “love.”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

The last verse, verse 40, says that on this love hang the Law and the Prophets. That is, anything that contradicts love cannot be justice.

Now, who is the neighbor? Before Jesus, neighbors were fellow Jewish people. 

In other words, Gentiles, Samaritans, Jews who could not keep the law, shepherds, tax collectors, and those who were considered unclean and sinners were people who did not need to be loved. But Jesus extended this meaning of neighbor to everyone.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (Matthew 5:43, 44)

Everyone is everyone. There is no one who does not need to be loved, no one who is not a neighbor. Sadly, even among those who call Jesus Lord, there are still a significant number who discriminate based on race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and more. They claim that it is written in the Bible, but that is a very superficial and incorrect reading.

If you read the Bible superficially, ignoring the context, historical and cultural background, you will find that it is a book full of contradictions. If you read it that way, you can agree with anything and disagree with anything.

Who does Jesus call a friend? The criteria are not whether to attend church every week, whether they are Christian, whether they are pro-life or pro-choice, whether they are gay or straight, or whether they are transgender or cisgender.

It is those who feed the hungry, heal the sick, welcome the stranger, and visit the imprisoned. Jesus even said that they had done those things to Himself. That is what is expected of us, to love our neighbor, and that is the justice we should do.

(Prayer) God, thank you for loving and guiding us.
Thank you for giving us instruction and warning us when we stray.
Help us to know and act on your righteousness, not our own, at all times.
Use us to move this society, even if only a little at a time, towards your justice.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

Summary

The justice that God demands of us is the justice based on love that Jesus practiced. It is not justice that borrows Jesus’ name. In the Old Testament, when injustice was rampant in the world and caused suffering to people, God raised up prophets to demand justice. When Jesus walked the earth, He Himself embodied justice. Today, the work of the prophets has been entrusted to the church, the body of Christ.

For Discussion

1) What can we do to know the justice that God requires?
2) What can we do to ensure God’s justice is realized?