____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ February 21, 1999 ____________________________________________________ JUSTICE by Jere E. Frost Justice is symbolized as being blindfolded while weighing evidence. The idea is that there is supposed to be no respect of persons in justice. The facts, not who the facts relate to, are supposed to decide the issue. No disadvantage is to be put upon the poor or politically weak, and no advantage is to be given to the rich or politically strong. It makes no difference. Justice is not supposed to peep to see who is involved. She simply weighs facts and dispenses judgment without respect of persons. But Justice has a twin sister, Injustice, who is as different from her as Cain was from Abel. She wears the same judicial robe and wields the same judicial power, but there the resemblance ends. She peeps. She takes careful note of who is being tried. She is sensitive to the mood of the people. Thus when respect of persons, or the polls, affect the verdict, it is not the verdict of Justice but of Injustice. Principles of Justice Two characteristics of the administration of Justice are swiftness and impartiality. Three characteristics of Injustice are needless delays, respect of persons, and political expediency. As to swiftness: ``Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily...the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil'' (Ecclesiastes 8:11). When there is no sentence at all against an evil work, the effect would obviously be infinitely worse. Unpunished crimes increase the hope of the would-be law-breaker that he can transgress and then get by. After all, he has observed unpunished transgressions. As to Impartiality: God strictly forbade the use of one standard for the weak and another for the mighty. ``Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty'' (Leviticus 19:15). Over and again this point is emphasized. (See Deut. 1:17; 10:17; 2 Chron. 19:7; Job 34:18-19; Gal. 2:6; James 2:9.) There is no respect of persons with God (Acts 10:34; Romans 2:6,11; 2 Corinthians 5:10). God will, in righteousness, apply the same standard to all men (Romans 2:16; Acts 17:30). Impartiality also demands that ``to whom much is given,'' of them ``much is required'' (Luke 12:48). That's simple equity. The greatest responsibilities, and therefore the severest penalties, are for those at the top. James said that masters ``shall receive the greater condemnation'' (James 3:1). That's fair. He who has sworn to uphold the law, and who executes it upon others, must be held accountable. As to Political Expediency: The chief priests and Pharisees admitted Jesus' miracles and expressed fear that his influence with the people would lead the Romans to ``come and take away both our place and nation.'' Caiaphas offered a solution, namely, that it was better for one man (Jesus) to die rather than for the whole nation to perish (John 11:47-50). So they decided to do what they thought was politically expedient, namely, kill Jesus (John 11:53). In so doing, it may very well be that they ``voted their consciences,'' for they did it for what they deemed to be ``the greater good.'' But Justice rules according to law, not according to its view of what is socially or politically best, however sincere that view might be. Spiritual Wickedness in High Places There would be no great impending trial of a president except for some big differences in moral and spiritual philosophies. Humanism wants to remove God and Biblical morality from the national conscience. There may be many who support the humanist cause on this point who are not humanists but have been won over to the humanist view on the point. Christians want moral integrity as the national standard. There may be many who support morality who are not Christians but still want to stop moral recklessness and disregard for established law. We have noted in preceding articles that humanism explicitly promotes sexual promiscuity and situation ethics. (See The Humanist Manifesto II and their magazine, The Humanist.) That fully accounts for why they vehemently say that sexual promiscuity and lying under oath about it do not warrant impeachment or removal from office. The sex part is represented as personal and nobody else's business, and the latter is therefore not very important. A president who is promiscuous and also promotes gay rights is exactly what they want (though they might prefer a little more discretion in what they term his private business and personal life). A Spiritual Attack in the Name of Politics The defense of the president is far more critical than the behavior that is at the crux of the national conflict. The defense reveals the character and destructiveness of this mindset that threatens us all. Note that the defense no longer denies either sexual promiscuity or deliberate deception about it by the president. It does not claim innocence. It does not claim honesty, forthrightness or candor. Sexual promiscuity, lying and lying under oath are all conceded. So, what is the defense? The basic defense is an attack. They vigorously assault what they call the ``religious right.'' Some of the pundits are even using the word Christian as a negative and evil. One said that he considered the religious moralists to be our nation's greatest threat, and another said ``psalm-singing zealots'' are the cause for the mess in Washington. Christians are accused of capturing a wing of a political party and initiating a witch-hunt. ``Clinton-haters.'' ``Right wing conspirators.'' ``Extremists.'' ``Radicals.'' None of this is really a defense of the man or his conduct. But it has caused many Americans to lose their focus and to conclude that Christians are mean-spirited, hate-filled radicals. The poor president made a ``mistake,'' but those who are aggrieved at his transgressions are worse; they are mean and out to get him. The result is that some feel harder toward those who advocate morality than they do toward the practice of immorality. Do not be deceived by the liberal politicians' and media's oft repeated words of assault, albeit uttered with an almost matter-of-fact tone of calmness. Why? Because the humanist-inspired pundits do not want the traditional moral standard that has characterized our republic from its inception! So their warfare is vicious! They hurl the epithets, and then they accuse the ones at whom they hurl them of smear tactics. It staggers one's rational senses. They are fighting hard to get God and morals out of the American conscience. The idea is that if Christians would leave their morals at home or in church, there would be no concern about the president's sexual sorties. And they may be right about that. Our presidents and high government officials could then rival, with equal impunity, the morals of the Caesars in the days of Rome's decline. The liberal message is clear: Christians ought to be quiet because they are extremists, and God and Biblical morality are not welcome. The Current Conflict But instead of just a continuing war of opposing forces setting forth their views, Justice is being called on to settle a critical matter. The focus is now on a trial, and the outcome will greatly affect the tide of this war against ``principalities, powers and spiritual wickedness in high places'' (Eph. 6:12). The immediate question is whether the law -- the nation's law that declares sex between an executive and employee, and lying under oath, are crimes -- will be indiscriminately applied. The nation watches. Our youth are watching. Will we sow the seeds for the next generation to practice the rule of law, or respect of persons? If adultery, lying, and lying under oath are not severely punished, spiritual wickedness will have carried the day, and the oncoming generation will have a humanist's view of morality and justice. Will Justice rule, or will Injustice wear the judicial robe? The Tempting of the Judiciary So we come to the tempting of the judiciary. Gifts, the popularity of the defendant, and the mood of the multitude supply the temptation; these have all been historically used to alter the scales of justice. Senators for whose election campaigns the president has raised millions of dollars have a challenge to ignore that fact. The polls regularly report the president's popularity and the will of the people. These are powerful influences. They are certainly temptations for judges who are also politicians and derive their positions and power from pleasing the people. You cannot but wonder if the blindfold is in place. Remember, Jesus' only failing on the day he stood before Pilate was that he lacked popularity. Although the evidence on the scales of justice found him innocent, by the judge's own admission (Luke 23:4), the judge's eyes and heart took note of his lack of popularity, and the multitude's wish. It was enough; Pilate succumbed to the polls and sentenced Jesus to death (John 18:39,40; 19:4-6). Like Herod, he ruled as he did ``because it pleased the Jews'' (Acts 12:1-3). It was not Justice, but Injustice, that sentenced the innocent Jesus to death and released the guilty Barabbas. This was neither the first nor the last time the innocent was convicted and the guilty was vindicated because the verdict pleased the people. If Justice, and not Injustice, is to rule, the blindfold must be kept on and the evidence must be weighed dispassionately. Whether the defendant is eminent and popular, or obscure and despised, should not matter. What the polls say should not matter. Political expediency should not matter. What is the law? What did the accused do? What are the facts? When any emphasis is given to who the accused is, or to polls (the public mood), it is the tempting of the judiciary. And if the temptation succeeds, it will be Injustice who wears the robe and renders the verdict. Does Justice Have Any Mercy? Just as the law applies equally to all, so do the terms of mercy. God does not want any to perish; he desires the repentance of all (2 Peter 3:9). But mercy is not meted out according to one's person or status. It must be preceded by a humble and frank acknowledgement of whatever sin one wants forgiven (I John 1:8-10). This does not mean a sin must be publicized, but it does mean it cannot be denied. Forgiveness does not always remove all immediate and earthly consequences (it did not for David in the matter with Bathsheba). Those in prisons, for example, can obtain forgiveness of their sins, but that does not translate into release from prison. If our president, or you, or I, want forgiveness and mercy, let us not obfuscate or deny reality. And God forbid that we rail on those who have exposed our sins. It is as incumbent on us to humble ourselves as it was on David to humble himself when Nathan confronted him with his sin. He paid a just price for his iniquity. But he also obtained mercy. Conclusion Let no one think he is so big and important that he is above the law; let no one think he is so small and insignificant that he is helpless before it. But if such becomes the case in a nation and with the laws of men, it is not so with the laws of God. Justice will certainly prevail on that last day. Let us boldly preach this as the doom of the arrogant and impenitent, and the hope of the humble and obedient. As for the here and now, for our days and those of our children, may God bless America, and may it be a land of liberty and Justice for all. -- Via The Bulletin of the North Courtenay church of Christ, February 14, 1999 ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES Welcome to all who are visiting with us this day. Please come again. We enjoy having you. Free Bible correspondence courses are available upon request. ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________