The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Brooke R. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Research - Justice
Justice has long been an evasive concept. Parents, judges, and law schools all try to determine it, each using different tools to determine its meaning. Even highly respected judges have made rulings that are contested and declared unjust. But there is only one Judge who has a perfect track record, who possesses a perfect understanding of justice. It is the Judge who defined the very rules of justice - God. Only the Creator has the authority to determine what constitutes earthly justice, just as the inventor of a board game has the right to define its rules.
The Bible brings up numerous examples and declarations of God’s justice.
Psalm 9:16 "The LORD is known by his justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands."
Psalm 33:5 "The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love."
Psalm 45:6 "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom."
Psalm 89:14 "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you."
This God is not simply someone who knows about justice - being just is an intrinsic part of who He is. There cannot be justice without God, since He is the embodiment of justice. When God is removed from the understanding of justice, its meaning becomes impossible to discover. However, a perfect understanding justice is not automatically revealed to all Christians. The Bible entreats Christians to pursue godly justice. In a corrupt system, it is common for the wealthy to be well represented in court, while those without the financial means to hire a brilliant lawyer are unfairly discriminated against. Isaiah describes godly justice:
Isaiah 1:17: "Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow."
Jesus provides a simple yet thorough principle for determining what is right:
Matthew 22: "One of them, an expert in the law, tested [Jesus] with this question: 'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.'"
These two commandments are the basis for the entire Law. Although simple to understand, they are not at all simple to keep. Understanding these commands is necessary for understanding the Law, and determining justice. Loving God with everything we have requires self-denial and obedience - easier said than done - as well as a thorough understanding of God's word to know what he desires. Jesus was not just telling the Pharisees what the most important commandment was - he was challenging them to study the Word and seek God's will in their lives. There is irony here. The Pharisees were testing Jesus, trying to make Him look uneducated in the law. They prided themselves on their scholarly knowledge of God and the Law. But, in answer, Jesus tells them they have only a shallow and superficial understanding of the Law. Legalistic minor rules with a selfish and uncompassionate heart will not produce godly justice.
Anyone who truly seeks to be just must seek God. The pursuit of God is the pursuit of truth, and the discovery of this truth leads to justice.
