Justice in Government

You don’t usually think of a political fundraiser as beautiful and inspiring, but I was deeply encouraged to experience something of this recently.  The featured candidate currently serves as a Democrat on the New York City Council and is running for New York State Senate.  Ministry and business leaders, men and women of all backgrounds, including Caucasian, Latino, and African-American, filled the home where the fundraiser was held.  These dynamic Christian leaders support this candidate not because he is Democrat, or Latino, or a man.  They were not supporting him because he would do a favor for them or for people like them, or because of his likability (even though he is very likable).  They support him because he demonstrates godly understanding of governmental responsibility.

God has a high calling for government officials, but what precisely does He expect of them?  Which governmental candidates should a Christian support, which would honor God, and therefore brings blessing and life to a community?  In the following passages, take note of the commendable actions of government officials:

2 Samuel 8:15 (ESV), “So David reigned over all Israel.  And David administered justice and equity to all his people.” (Italics mine.)

Jonah 3:8, 9 (ESV), [King of Nineveh speaking] “but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth and let them call out mightily to God.  Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.  Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” (Italics mine.)

Romans 13:4 (ESV) “for he [government official] is God’s servant for your good.  But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain.  For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.” (Italics mine.)

1 Peter 2:13, 14 (ESV): “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.” (Italics mine.)

Whether in ancient Israel, Nineveh, or the Roman Empire, we see that the primary function of government officials is to promote justice for those under their authority.  

So, what honors God and helps bring wholeness to communities is the presence of government officials who promote justice.  And what does justice look like?  There are a variety of important justice issues in our society, but the greatest injustice currently unresolved in America is the extinguishing of 50 million innocent lives since Roe v. Wade in 1973.  Fathers and mothers failing to take responsibility for the lives of children created through their sexual union has meant that innocents have been discarded at the rate of more than 3,000 per day, every day, all year long, for more than 40 years.

The issue isn’t whether every innocent child’s life would be protected if America had laws and courts that were more just, because of course no law completely wipes out evil.  But the loss of innocent lives would probably be reduced by hundreds of thousands per year if more just laws were in place, such as requirements that mothers view a sonogram, or wait three days before being allowed to follow through with an abortion.

In Isaiah 58, the prophet calls the nation to “true fasting.”  Verse 6 says, “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?”  We are in a season of fasting and prayer, which has no power apart from repentance and attention to the grave injustices in our midst.  Relief for the oppressed also pertains to those who may have participated in the past in an abortion.  God fully and completely forgives all who repent of their sins. 

Over 150 years ago, heroic citizens of the United States supported a president who opposed slavery, even though they had reasons of self-interest to vote for other candidates, and even though there were other, though less significant, justice issues.  American citizens must once again seek the promotion of justice as the highest ideal in the selection of governmental leaders.  Hundreds of thousands of lives are at stake, and we must do everything we can to see that our government promotes justice as its number one responsibility.

Matt Bennett