Kingdom Justice in the Midst of Poverty and Injustice

Viv Grigg

He has shown you, O man,What is good and what the Lord

Requires of youBut to do justice

And to love mercyAnd to walk humbly

With your God(Micah 6:8)

Story: Land Rights Confrontation

½ the world are dispossessed, and landlessOwnership of land is the basis of entrance into the economic systemsView a Video of Manila Slums

The Biblical Basis for Doing Justice

• God is a God of Justice (Jer 9:23,34)Story of Hector

• We are to Seek first his Kingdom, his justicia (Matt 6:33)

• We are to defend the poor from those who oppress (Proverbs 31:8,9).

Four Levels of Doing Justice

1. Personal justice and peace

2. Relational Justice at Family & Community Levels

3. Movements Who Live Justly & Seek Justice

4. National / International Justice

The Servant of Justice Foretold

Isaiah 42:1-4One of the Four Servant Psalms

The Servant Among the Poor Foretold

Four Servant Songs in Isaiah Isaiah 42:1-4, 49:1-6, 50:4-9, 52:13-

53:12 Prophecies about Jesus Prophecies of a servant among the poor

The Servant Foretold

Behold my Servant whom I upholdMy chosen one in whom I delightI will put my Spirit on him and he

will establish justice in the earthHe will not falter or be discouraged

till he has established justice in the earth.

Isa 42:1-4

Incarnation as the Beginning of a New Social Ethic

Incarnation as a Profound Economic Act Incarnation as a Profound Political Act Incarnation as a Profound Historical

Symbol

Peacemaking begins in being one of the people

HOME⏎

What is Justice?

• The right thing

• The right place

• The right way

• The right timing

• These lead to peace

• Is that the same as holiness?

1. Personal Justice

• Definition of righteousness (Ezek 18:7,8)

• The Command (Micah 6:8)

• Not dealing with issues too high for us (Psalm 131:1)

The Spirit of Peace

• The presence of the Spirit is the core of personal peace – Meet him daily in word and prayer

• And let the peace of Christ dwell in your hearts…Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (Col 3:15,16)

2. Relational Justice

• Leave Edges of the Crops (Lev 23:22)

• Relationship to Authorities – Speaking Truth + Submissive Spirit

• Peacemaking (Matt 5:8)

• Equity: – Favoring the poor in order that justice is done

• Is God biased– No, he equalizes, so he helps the poor

3. Development of Justice Movements

• Doing justice begins in prayer– E.g. Garbage in the slums

• Those who separate from the world impacts the world

• Society is strong when small organisations multiply– Economically – small businesses– Spiritually – movements of churches– Politically – grassroots organizations– These diffuse power in society

• Seek the welfare of the city (Jer 29:7)

Movements for Justice

• Two levels of movements to transform society– Religious movements among the poor – Social transformation movements among the

elites

Reconciliation of Peoples in New Zealand

• The story of Ruapekapeka

National Movements

4. National/International Justice

• How does a country become injust? (Isa 58:9-16)– Transgressions are multiplied– Denying the Lord, Turning away– Speaking revolt ------------- Speaking oppression

(Breakdown of Consensus)– Violence ------------- Law & order

– Beyond Ethics

• Solution: a man or woman to intervene

Upper Level Justice

• Joseph, entrusted with the care of his masters house (Genesis 39:6).Doesn’t belong: live as exiles (1 Peter 1:14,15)God is with him = success at every stage and

blessing of those he servesVicious opposition. Good actions may bring evil

consequencesSees two Kingdoms, but fully engagedSets clear boundaries