Is Justice Unchristian?
Unlike most of my articles, this was triggered by a series of tweets I came across. I don’t have room to go into them, but they conveyed a common idea practiced and stated both consciously and subconsciously in America. This idea is that it is “unchristian” for someone to believe there should be punishment or discipline. It’s promoted that Christianity is love and forgiveness, therefore everyone who does wrong should always be given chance after chance.
This is seen in not spanking children to not having the death penalty for heinous crimes. That last may be extreme, but this idea that Christianity only promotes getting people out of punishment because of love and forgiveness permeates our culture. We see this fulfilled in instances as churches not preaching against sin to government leaders not answering to clear wrongs.
God Is Just
I’m not sure as believers we even see this happening, but we must recognize though God is love, He is also just. He fairly judges which means He gives out punishment. This doesn’t mean someone who has conducted great evil can’t be saved for they surely can, but they also are still to receive just punishment in the land. Even though we are forgiven when we place our faith in Jesus, punishment isn’t taking away. We’re not going to receive it, but Jesus has received that judgment. It’s necessary because God is just.
Injustice
Injustice isn’t limited to crimes not being punished but covers every area of life. There are countless levels of injustice in our world.
Injustice isn’t also occurring only because of confusion on understanding the balance of God’s character for injustice is the heartbeat of Satan and rises from humanity’s sinfulness.
I bring out our blind spot to injustice because we should expect future headlines to be crimes unpunished, larger gaps between the rich and poor, government leaders lining their own pockets, unfair treatment overlooked, lopsided advantages for certain groups, etc. This should be expected.
we should expect future headlines to be crimes unpunished, larger gaps between the rich and poor, government leaders lining their own pockets, unfair treatment overlooked, lopsided advantages for certain groups Share on XWhy would I say that?
Injustice Will Be the Norm
One of the repeated themes of the last days is that wickedness will increase. Plainly stated in Matthew 24:12, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” Found in 2 Timothy 3 and elsewhere as lists of sin in the last days are given. Also, the passages comparing the last days to the times of Noah and Lot point to this sinfulness. With the increase of sinfulness, integrity of the judicial system crashes. Leniency and unfairness must become the norm.
Another area of Scripture that points to injustice rising and being the norm, is in the identity of the Antichrist. Now most of my writing and teaching about the Antichrist focuses on the overwhelming Biblical details of His origin and rise to power, but the Apostle Paul gives unique insight through the name He gives the Antichrist.
In 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul calls the main end-times villain—the man of lawlessness. This description isn’t unique to Paul for Daniel writes in Daniel 11:36 that the Antichrist will do whatever he pleases. In verse 37, it’s written the Antichrist will have disregard for God. The term lawlessness isn’t specific to exactly what he will do as it could be talking about sinfulness or disregarding laws. Yet, I believe it’s safe to say both are likely.
Jesus Will Bring Justice
The last area of Scriptural evidence to injustice rising and being the norm in the last days comes from the descriptions of Jesus at His return and in the establishment of His kingdom. Before I share them, think about what you know of the prophecies of Jesus and His Kingdom. Most every description involves Jesus bringing peace and justice. Why would this be pointed out as unique if peace and justice were the norm?
Read what Jesus will do at His return,
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse… And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding…He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips she shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist… (Isaiah 11:1-5, NIV)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. (Isaiah 9:6-7, NIV)
Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (Isaiah 2:3-4, NIV)
As you see there is plenty of evidence that Jesus will bring justice and peace, something that is obviously missing on earth and especially in the last days. No matter how many commercials we see or speeches we hear we must know that no man or organization—even the church will bring worldwide justice to this earth—only Jesus. Therefore, we can expect future headlines that show injustice is the norm.
This article first appeared in Jake’s syndicated column Stand Firm & Live Epic as published in The Baptist Trumpet and other publications. After three months the articles are adapted and published here. To read the articles at release subscribe here.
Executive Director of Stand Firm and lead pastor of Epic Church NWA in Springdale, AR and multiple award-winning author, Jake has a B.A. in Bible and Pastoral Studies from Central Baptist College, and an Advanced Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Former regular contributor to the Baptist Press and WND News with popular conservative voices such as Pat Buchanan, Ann Coulter, Ben Carson, Chuck Norris, Greg Laurie, Ben Schapiro, Joel Richardson, and others. He now is a weekly contributor for Israel, Islam, and the End Times and Armageddon News. He has authored books such as the, award-winning Spiritual Prepper from WND Books. Award-winning devotional books, Invincibleand For Uncertain Times, he authored the ground-breaking children’s book, Jesus and His White Horse from CrossLink Publishing. He is also a regular guest on national and international radio and streaming web shows, along with hosting his weekly live streaming program Talking Stand Firm and weekly podcast Stand Firm Parents.
