Our faith practice focus in June is Mercy and Justice. Of all of our faith practices, this is the one is likely to make us the most uncomfortable. My confession is that I share this discomfort, even as my heart holds dear how critical these practices are.
I think we’re OK with mercy, but the Justice part is hard. We get caught up in the confusion of Justice with social agendas, political platforms, and such. I find very helpful this description of Mercy and Justice that Anne Delgado posted on our website:
Justice and mercy often go hand in hand in Scripture. When we experience mercy, we can receive or offer compassion and love regardless of merit. Biblical justice encourages us to go a step further and live selflessly to restore justice or fairness to those who are unrightfully hurt or wronged. Together, mercy and justice help us establish ourselves and our neighbors in right relationship with God.
What is justice? Quite often we equate it with a social agenda or political platform. We then worry that churches shouldn’t be involved in such controversial or difficult topics. Yet, the challenge to us is that justice is, in fact, hardwired into our practice of faith. Indeed, without justice, community cannot exist, and the fundamental purpose of the church is to build community as the People of God.
Both justice and mercy are critical components of the practice of our faith that is rooted in scripture, from the giving the of the Torah to Moses, to the teachings of the prophets, to the life of Jesus, to the ministry of the Apostles. Probably the best way to understand Justice is to see it as “the balancing of the scales.” Biblical justice does not create privilege. It is a healing action that restores balance to that which has become tilted in favor of one and against another.
I have had my own struggles with understanding, practicing, and advocating for both justice and mercy. Like each of us, I am human! I have learned along that way how critical mercy is with regard to discussing justice.
A key understanding I have learned is that we are all on different journeys. Those journeys give us different experiences. Calls for justice often begin with people trying to share the reality of their lives. Unfortunately, others might assume that life is the same for everybody and either ignore those realities or even try to claim those realities do not exist. That perpetuates marginalization and prevents an opportunity for conversation and learning. We can become allies only when we truly understand the reality of another and the need for change.
When I recognize that somebody’s journey is different from my own, it frees me up to be able to listen, to practice mercy, and to accept that I may not fully understand that person’s lived reality, but that their experiences are no less real because of that.
I think a fundamental start to justice is simply recognizing the reality of another person’s pain. The power of acknowledging that reality allows us to lower barriers that divide us. When we lack the capacity to see through the eyes of another, barriers remain, and injustice continues.
As we strive to practice justice and mercy in this month, I encourage each of us to begin by simply listening. What do we hear? What is the pain being expressed? How does that challenge us? Have we ever had a similar experience? Are there ways we contribute to that pain, even unknowingly? What can we do to acknowledge the reality of another person’s experience? What opportunities are there to bring the scales back into balance?
With such ways, we seek and serve Christ in all people, love our neighbor as ourself, respect the dignity of others, and begin to strive for justice and peace. Then we are able to participate in Christ’s healing work in this world.
Our website has many resources to begin this journey or to go deeper. Check it out and let us know what you think.
Blessings Always!
Dirk+
I Have a Confession