Justice
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. ~ Micah 6:8
"You can’t have justice without mercy, and achieving both requires humility as well. Justice is the pursuit of what is right. It is helping those who are weak, fighting for those who have been wronged, speaking against those who oppress their fellow women and men." - Tim Fall
_____________________________________________________________________
This verse has been on my mind for some time now. I grew up hearing it preached and taught fairly often. I even sang a song about it with a group of friends several years ago! Like many other things, my understanding of the concept of justice has shifted significantly in recent years.
I used to think that justice was some abstract quality that only God Himself practiced, or perhaps human judicial systems as well. I thought that it was only practiced against the wicked or the criminals of society, yet I have come to realize that, even more so, justice is to be practiced on the behalf of the oppressed, wronged, and abused. I have learned that justice is a quality that every Christian should not only possess, but put into practice every day, in every interaction with other human beings, regardless of their gender, race, age, or social/financial status. And like the verse above states, justice is inherently linked with mercy (compassion and empathy in action), and humility (the ability to see yourself on the same level as others, not above them).
Unfortunately, this is a difficult concept for many people to grasp, because it requires the acknowledgement that evil truly exists, and that it typically manifests itself in human form. (Yes, some people really are just plain evil!) Many are also unwilling to admit that evil exists in our very midst and finds its safest haven in many churches, often via erroneous teachings on and dangerous practices of submission/authority, forgiveness, and gender/sexuality.
How can we fight against evil if we are unwilling or unable to even recognize it? How can we stand for justice and help the oppressed if we cannot even see that there is a problem to begin with? How can the church make a difference in the world when we are slower to recognize evil and more unwilling to properly expose and deal with it than the world is?
I firmly believe that the church will never grasp these concepts until or unless certain things happen. I also think that the "revival" for which many have been praying for so long will continue to be delayed until those things happen.
First of all, more people need to learn to recognize abusive behaviors and attitudes, as well as abusive people; call them out as the evil hypocrites they truly are; and hold them accountable for their actions, especially those within the church. If you care at all about justice, learn all you can about the dynamics of abuse, control, and manipulation. Learn about the various types of abuse; and what they typically look like. (Note: Abuse is NOT simply physical. Abuse is also -and more often- spiritual, emotional, psychological, financial, verbal, and sexual.) People also must learn that, as a general rule, abusers DO NOT CHANGE, and we need to stop enabling abusers and putting victims in more danger by expecting that to happen! For more information on the mindset of an abuser, research malignant narcissism. This is the same type of person the Bible calls "evil" and/or "wicked".
Secondly, the church needs to wake up to the doctrines and traditions that justify and perpetuate abuse/evil. This includes: patriarchy, complementarianism, "biblical" gender roles, and "created order"; hierarchical relationships between men and women, spouses, and/or parents and children; permanence of marriage, or forbidding divorce under any circumstances, except infidelity; child-rearing practices that deny the basic human rights of children; over-emphasis on the "authority" of males and the subjection of females; stay-at-home daughterhood; modesty/purity culture and its connection to rape culture; reformed doctrine, Calvinism, or neo-Calvinism; and fundamentalism/legalism in general. Not trying to step on any toes here, but yes, all of these things are related to abuse and help to perpetuate it in the church. There are many reasons for these connections, which I will not attempt to explain here.
Third, religious folks need to stop bashing those who are bravely trying to bring about this change in the church, and instead recognize how the preachers, teachers, theologians, "ministries," and schools they support and follow are in fact adding to this problem of evil in the church. (In other words, FEMINISM IS NOT EVIL, SO STOP SAYING IT IS!) This "hall of shame" includes John Piper/Desiring God, Mark Driscoll, Douglas Wilson, Michael & Debi Pearl/No Greater Joy, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, Bill Gothard/IBLP/ATI, Doug Phillips/Vision Forum, Voddie Baucham, The Gospel Coalition, Council for Biblical Manhood & Womanhood, Lori Alexander/The Transformed Wife, Focus on the Family/James Dobson, John MacArthur, Elizabeth Rice Handford, Above Rubies/Nancy Campbell, The Botkin Sisters, The Duggars, Ladies Against Feminism, Jenny Chancey, Stacy McDonald, Josh Harris, Acts 29/Matt Chandler, Kevin Swanson, Al Mohler, Ligionier/R.C. Sproul, CJ Mahaney/Sovereign Grace Ministries, Kevin DeYoung, Tim Keller, Tullian Tchividjian, Saeed Abedini, HSLDA/Michael Farris, R.J. Rushdooney, Pat Robertson, Jack Hyles, Hyles-Anderson College, Pensacola Christian College, Patrick Henry College, and Bob Jones University. Google any one of these people or "ministries" and I guarantee you'll find allegations of abuse by these people (usually sexual), cover-ups of abuse within their group or congregation, or exposes of teachings that promote, encourage, or defend abuse.
I would also add the following "church fathers" to the "hall of shame" for their shameful beliefs and comments about women: John Calvin, Martin Luther, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and John Knox. Just because something was said or written hundreds of years ago, or has been "church tradition" for that long, that doesn't make it true! We also ought to be wary of other things these men had to say, considering their views on women are so awful. As wise and learned as these men may seem to us, they are but men and are subject to as much fallacy and error and prejudice as anyone else, modern or historical!
We also need to stop promoting and supporting politicians and related organizations that are either abusive themselves (our current president), ascribe to dominionist, theocratic, and/or sexist beliefs and practices (our current vice president), or support legislation that diminishes accountability for abusers. (Yes, I'm going "there". Again, do your research. The information is out there for those who are willing to look!)
If you currently support and/or follow any of these, please reconsider! Do your research, and find out what they really teach, promote, and defend. Or even more importantly, what they've tried to hide and cover up. Read and study the Bible for yourself, to find out what it truly says about these things. Learn about abuse and evil, and how it often masquerades as good. Pray for discernment and clarity. Study the real history of the church, and where these teachings really came from. Stop promoting things that contribute to abuse! Then, and only then, will we be able to live out God's standard of justice, mercy, and humility. And maybe, we'll finally see true revival in our homes and churches.
To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. ~ Micah 6:8
"You can’t have justice without mercy, and achieving both requires humility as well. Justice is the pursuit of what is right. It is helping those who are weak, fighting for those who have been wronged, speaking against those who oppress their fellow women and men." - Tim Fall
_____________________________________________________________________
This verse has been on my mind for some time now. I grew up hearing it preached and taught fairly often. I even sang a song about it with a group of friends several years ago! Like many other things, my understanding of the concept of justice has shifted significantly in recent years.
I used to think that justice was some abstract quality that only God Himself practiced, or perhaps human judicial systems as well. I thought that it was only practiced against the wicked or the criminals of society, yet I have come to realize that, even more so, justice is to be practiced on the behalf of the oppressed, wronged, and abused. I have learned that justice is a quality that every Christian should not only possess, but put into practice every day, in every interaction with other human beings, regardless of their gender, race, age, or social/financial status. And like the verse above states, justice is inherently linked with mercy (compassion and empathy in action), and humility (the ability to see yourself on the same level as others, not above them).
Unfortunately, this is a difficult concept for many people to grasp, because it requires the acknowledgement that evil truly exists, and that it typically manifests itself in human form. (Yes, some people really are just plain evil!) Many are also unwilling to admit that evil exists in our very midst and finds its safest haven in many churches, often via erroneous teachings on and dangerous practices of submission/authority, forgiveness, and gender/sexuality.
How can we fight against evil if we are unwilling or unable to even recognize it? How can we stand for justice and help the oppressed if we cannot even see that there is a problem to begin with? How can the church make a difference in the world when we are slower to recognize evil and more unwilling to properly expose and deal with it than the world is?
I firmly believe that the church will never grasp these concepts until or unless certain things happen. I also think that the "revival" for which many have been praying for so long will continue to be delayed until those things happen.
First of all, more people need to learn to recognize abusive behaviors and attitudes, as well as abusive people; call them out as the evil hypocrites they truly are; and hold them accountable for their actions, especially those within the church. If you care at all about justice, learn all you can about the dynamics of abuse, control, and manipulation. Learn about the various types of abuse; and what they typically look like. (Note: Abuse is NOT simply physical. Abuse is also -and more often- spiritual, emotional, psychological, financial, verbal, and sexual.) People also must learn that, as a general rule, abusers DO NOT CHANGE, and we need to stop enabling abusers and putting victims in more danger by expecting that to happen! For more information on the mindset of an abuser, research malignant narcissism. This is the same type of person the Bible calls "evil" and/or "wicked".
Secondly, the church needs to wake up to the doctrines and traditions that justify and perpetuate abuse/evil. This includes: patriarchy, complementarianism, "biblical" gender roles, and "created order"; hierarchical relationships between men and women, spouses, and/or parents and children; permanence of marriage, or forbidding divorce under any circumstances, except infidelity; child-rearing practices that deny the basic human rights of children; over-emphasis on the "authority" of males and the subjection of females; stay-at-home daughterhood; modesty/purity culture and its connection to rape culture; reformed doctrine, Calvinism, or neo-Calvinism; and fundamentalism/legalism in general. Not trying to step on any toes here, but yes, all of these things are related to abuse and help to perpetuate it in the church. There are many reasons for these connections, which I will not attempt to explain here.
Third, religious folks need to stop bashing those who are bravely trying to bring about this change in the church, and instead recognize how the preachers, teachers, theologians, "ministries," and schools they support and follow are in fact adding to this problem of evil in the church. (In other words, FEMINISM IS NOT EVIL, SO STOP SAYING IT IS!) This "hall of shame" includes John Piper/Desiring God, Mark Driscoll, Douglas Wilson, Michael & Debi Pearl/No Greater Joy, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, Bill Gothard/IBLP/ATI, Doug Phillips/Vision Forum, Voddie Baucham, The Gospel Coalition, Council for Biblical Manhood & Womanhood, Lori Alexander/The Transformed Wife, Focus on the Family/James Dobson, John MacArthur, Elizabeth Rice Handford, Above Rubies/Nancy Campbell, The Botkin Sisters, The Duggars, Ladies Against Feminism, Jenny Chancey, Stacy McDonald, Josh Harris, Acts 29/Matt Chandler, Kevin Swanson, Al Mohler, Ligionier/R.C. Sproul, CJ Mahaney/Sovereign Grace Ministries, Kevin DeYoung, Tim Keller, Tullian Tchividjian, Saeed Abedini, HSLDA/Michael Farris, R.J. Rushdooney, Pat Robertson, Jack Hyles, Hyles-Anderson College, Pensacola Christian College, Patrick Henry College, and Bob Jones University. Google any one of these people or "ministries" and I guarantee you'll find allegations of abuse by these people (usually sexual), cover-ups of abuse within their group or congregation, or exposes of teachings that promote, encourage, or defend abuse.
I would also add the following "church fathers" to the "hall of shame" for their shameful beliefs and comments about women: John Calvin, Martin Luther, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and John Knox. Just because something was said or written hundreds of years ago, or has been "church tradition" for that long, that doesn't make it true! We also ought to be wary of other things these men had to say, considering their views on women are so awful. As wise and learned as these men may seem to us, they are but men and are subject to as much fallacy and error and prejudice as anyone else, modern or historical!
We also need to stop promoting and supporting politicians and related organizations that are either abusive themselves (our current president), ascribe to dominionist, theocratic, and/or sexist beliefs and practices (our current vice president), or support legislation that diminishes accountability for abusers. (Yes, I'm going "there". Again, do your research. The information is out there for those who are willing to look!)
If you currently support and/or follow any of these, please reconsider! Do your research, and find out what they really teach, promote, and defend. Or even more importantly, what they've tried to hide and cover up. Read and study the Bible for yourself, to find out what it truly says about these things. Learn about abuse and evil, and how it often masquerades as good. Pray for discernment and clarity. Study the real history of the church, and where these teachings really came from. Stop promoting things that contribute to abuse! Then, and only then, will we be able to live out God's standard of justice, mercy, and humility. And maybe, we'll finally see true revival in our homes and churches.
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