Justice and the Gospel: The Responsibilities of Authority

Part 1: The Justice of God and the Gospel: Responsibility of Authority

Introduction:

To our very cores, we are struck today by what we saw just a few days ago on May 25th. A white man, a police officer in position to help and protect the community, almost casually, but brutally knelt down on the neck of Mr. George Floyd until he lost consciousness and died while at least 3 other officers in the immediate vicinity watched or disregarded what was happening to Mr. Floyd! The killing was recorded with cell phone video and the footage has gone viral around the country, if not around the globe. The footage sparked social upheaval in Minneapolis as well as in other cities around the country, with protesters assembling in Minneapolis and persons/people burning down the police station in addition rioting and looting of some businesses and other property destruction. The officers were all fired and the one officer directly responsible has been charged with 3rd degree manslaughter. Adding insult to injury, no charges have been filed yet for the other 3 officers present. The situation is ongoing to say the least.

As the tweets and comments on social media platforms suggest, many in our nation are wondering:

Where is the justice in all of it?

How can this happen in 2020 America?

Why is another black man dead at the hands of someone who obviously didn’t value black life.

Why is police brutality at an all time high for black men in America?

Why didn’t the other officers do something– anything– to save Mr. Floyd’s life?

Why would the president say that looters could be shot and that the military was available to help quell the unrest in Minneapolis? (But many states only allow the use of force that is commensurate with the threat presented, and have duties to attempt to avoid using force when reasonable to do so[https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/what-are-the-laws-against-looting-31613])

Where is the church and what is its stance on these issues?

Because of the situation we find ourselves in today, I thought it necessary to begin a short 4 part series today titled Justice and the Gospel, where we explore what the Bible has to say about these issues and gain insight and hope, and to move towards reconciling our own positions as Christians, based on the gospel, in reference to the social justice issues we are faced with today in the United States and even abroad.

Today we will begin with The Responsibility of Authority. Second, we will take up the issue of justice from God’s viewpoint showing what God says about race and about ultimate justice. Third, we will look at how the gospel applies to social justice issues. And fourth, we will explore some of the rich heritage and contributions that black people have made in historic Christianity.

First Let us look at the concept of justice.

Deuteronomy 32:4 ESV

4 “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

The Moody Handbook of Theology, Revised and Expanded Relative Attributes

The justice of God means that God is entirely correct and just in all His dealings with humanity; moreover, this justice acts in accordance with His law. The justice of God, therefore, is related to man’s sin. Since God’s law reflects God’s standard, then God is righteous and just when He judges man for His violation of God’s revealed law.

Ryrie’s Basic Theology J. Righteousness

Though related to holiness, righteousness is nevertheless a distinct attribute of God. Holiness relates to God’s separateness; righteousness, to His justice. Righteousness has to do with law, morality, and justice. In relation to Himself, God is righteous; i.e., there is no law, either within His own being or of His own making, that is violated by anything in His nature. In relation to His creatures He is also righteous; i.e., there is no action He takes that violates any code of morality or justice.

Now let’s look at Lemuel’s oracle in Proverbs 31

Preaching and Teaching from the Old Testament: A Guide for the Church Interpreting Proverbs’ Wisdom

the most characteristic aspect of a proverb is that it involves a partial generalization arising out of a rather specific situation, which in turn is applied to parallel a new situation

Preaching and Teaching from the Old Testament: A Guide for the Church Interpreting Proverbs’ Wisdom

It is important to realize that these are not universal truths that apply equally to all situations

Proverbs 31:1–9 ESV

1 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: 2 What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? 3 Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, 5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. 6 Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; 7 let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. 8 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

I. King Lemuel’s oracle (v. 1)

II. A Mother’s Call to Hear (v. 2)

Proverbs 31:2 ESV

2 What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows?

III. Instructions from a godly mother:

Don’t give your strength to women

Don’t give your ways to them who destroy kings

Danger: Sexual promiscuity, they may destroy you.

The New American Commentary: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (1) Three Lessons for a King (31:2–9)

The keeping of a harem of wives and concubines was not only a large expense but was also a distortion of the purpose of royal power. The king should use his authority for his people and not to serve himself

Don’t indulge in intoxicating yourself.

Danger: You may pervert the rights of the afflicted.

Leave drink and wine to the bitter of soul and those who are in poverty and misery.

Open your mouth (v. 8-9):

for the mute (v. 8a) the socially weak, those with no voice among the administrators of justice; they need help in establishing their rights

for the rights of the destitute (v. 8b) little people more likely to be neglected or hurt by careless judges

judge righteously (v. 9)

defend the rights of the poor (v. 9b)

“His faith was a heart for the Third Ward that was radically changed by the gospel, and his mission was empowering other believers to be able to come in and push that gospel forth,” said Nijalon Dunn, who was baptized at Cuney. “There are things that Floyd did for us that we’ll never know until the other side of eternity. There were times where we’d have Church at the Bricks until 3 p.m., and by 4:30, they’re firing shots right at the basketball courts.”

Full George Floyd article in Christianity Today: https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/may/george-floyd-ministry-houston-third-ward-church.html?utm_source=ctweekly-html&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_term=12146323&utm_content=714737199&utm_campaign=email