If you Google “the Bible” and “justice,” you’ll find lots of websites that walk you through the story of Joseph (the guy who had the coat of many colors), you’ll find mentions of mercy, and there will be a lot of Psalms. You might stumble across the mention of Biblical justice. 

Biblical justice asserts that all people are made in the image of God. And, therefore, should be treated as image-bearers of God. The same respect and appreciation we would show to him, we should show to the creation made in his image. So it stands to reason that we should be respectful (at the very least) to people who are different from us. And people who are the same as us.

So justice shouldn’t just be something that comes up in conversations during Black History Month or when there’s a racially motivated shooting. It shouldn’t be limited to senate rooms and diversity & equity committees or high school textbooks highlighting the effects of the civil rights movement. Justice should be a part of our day to day life as we treat people as God’s creation. 

With that in mind, what would the pursuit of justice look like in your day-to-day world? What would it look like to fully respect your neighbors as image-bearers of God? 

The book of Micah is my favorite place to dive into the practical application of justice. Micah was a prophet, sent by God to deliver a message to the people of Israel. God was unhappy with the way his people were living. The book opens with 

“The Lord is coming from his dwelling place; 
He comes down and treads on the heights of the earth.
The mountains melt beneath him 
And the valleys split apart,
Like wax before the fire,
Like water rushing down a slope.” -Micah 1:3 - 4

Micah goes on to speak against “Jacob’s transgression, the sins of Israel” (vs 5). He promises that there will be writhing in pain, disaster, and mourning. They might as well shave their heads. And here’s why: 

• Those in power were coveting, defrauding and robbing (Micah 2:1-2 )

• The rich were violent, lying cheaters (Micah 6:10-12)

• You couldn’t trust a neighbor, a wife, or a family member (Micah 7:5-6)

But in between calling out the sinners and prophesying the coming of a Messiah (yep - that’s in chapter 5), Micah gives us hope. 

“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord requires of you
But to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God. -Malachi 6:6-8

Doing justice means that from the cashier at the grocery store to a potential boss to the homeless man on the street to your neighbor’s obnoxious kid who just broke your window with a baseball...you acknowledge that they are God’s creation, made in his image. You are called to love and respect them. We don’t just talk about justice or pray for justice or read books about justice. We do justice. The word “do” implies an action. Active, not passive. But don’t confuse “action” with “bigness.” Justice is not always a big, bold action. It happens in small decisions that you make every day - where you buy your clothes, books you read, charitable contributions, even the church you choose to attend. How do your actions support justice? 

Loving kindness gives us a way to act on that justice. Go out of your way to extend kindness to those who might not otherwise receive it. Notice the people in your world who might be treated as “less than”...grocery store cashiers, weird kids who sit alone in the cafeteria, an elderly neighbor who never receives visitors. Although it might be hard to physically show up for people, you can get creative with your kindness! Don’t just think about being kind...love it. Live it.

Walking humbly might be the hardest part of this. When we pursue justice and kindness, we’re tempted to give ourselves a pat on the back. Going on a big mission trip across the country or across the world deserves some celebration. Working in a nonprofit should receive some sort of recognition. The big, bold actions typically get acknowledged. But the smaller acts of justice and kindness that you practice in your day to day probably won’t be noticed. Are you willing to pursue justice and kindness even if no one notices? If you’re walking humbly with God, it becomes easier and more natural. 

When we allow justice to become a part of our day to day life, this is what it looks like. It’s making simple decisions to be kind and humble, all while placing a greater sense of value on other people. It might feel like this is a small step...and it is. But sometimes God doesn’t need the big elaborate gesture from us. He just needs us to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with him. 

A resource from Bible Project on Justice

Author’s Note - I had pieces of this article written months ago. I was struggling with dissatisfaction in my job and the presence/absence of justice in the world. It has been and continues to be a concept that I wrestle with when faced with the contrast between the different communities where I have worked and now work. In sitting with the concept of justice to string these words together and diving deeper into Micah (6:8 has long been a favorite verse of mine), I am finding a sense of peace in where God has placed me. He reveals himself in places of comfort and places of discomfort, communities of justice and communities of injustice. Wherever you are and however much justice you see around you at the moment, rest assured that we serve a God of mercy and justice. And because that is who He is, that is who He wants you to be. Pursuing justice might not seem like something that fits within your life...I challenge you to think again. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mary Elizabeth spent the past six years doing life in Nashville, TN…from grad school to working in a pie shop to running after school programs. But then she got a little antsy. She’s currently in a season of “wandering”…exploring the people, tastes and experiences that the country has to offer. As she set out on this journey her hope was to engage with people in more authentic ways and to hike everything possible.