When someone sins against you, what is the natural reaction? You want justice. But what is justice? The simple answer is getting what you deserve. Sometimes it seems like justice would be an easy thing. But other times, justice is extremely elusive. Part of what complicates justice in national situations, is because there are people who seek to use justice as a means for political gain. Of course, this is nothing new. In 2 Samuel 15:4 Absalom said, "Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!" Absalom was undermining his own father, King David, so he could usurp the throne. So justice can be used as a tool for the wicked. We see this happening today. But, set that aside, and we still have a call for justice. To whom are the calls of justice being directed against? Justice executed rightly is not a simple thing. In large measure what makes justice so difficult is the lack of a standard by which to make judgments. Back in the 1500's there was a very developed system of Puritan Casuistry. Casuistry is simply a way of teaching people how to think and behave in given circumstances by presenting them cases or situations in which to practice. |
