2. WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE - TRUE JUSTICE

WHAT IT’S GOING TO TAKE, Part 2 

TRUE JUSTICE

I need your forgiveness. It has been rightly said that whenever you put an adjective (a modifying word) in front of the word justice that justice no longer means justice. This is why ‘social justice’ actually distorts the word justice. Thus, because I am forced to entitle this second instalment, True Justice (so as to distinguish it from all of the other modified versions of justice), I must seek your forgiveness – but I hope that the content of what I am going to manifesto will compensate for my literary violence. In this second instalment of my manifesto for how our society can experience and enjoy the divine blessings of happiness, security, wellness, fulfilment, enlightenment, and prosperity, I am going to challenge those who are called to arena of justice to fulfil their calling just as I did for those called to politics and government in the first instalment.

O LORD, You hear the desire of the afflicted;
You will strengthen their heart;
You will incline Your ear
to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.
Psalm 10:17-18

WHAT IS JUSTICE?

Justice is primarily about what is right and true. It involves reasonable fairness based on what is right and true. (This is why we must be careful using the term social justice because it invariably involves positive unfairness.) Because it is grounded in what is right, it is unavoidably linked to the work of legislators who are responsible for codifying (writing in Law) what is right. This is why words matter. And this is why grammar matters (including pesky little things like commas and apostrophes which can inadvertently change the entire sentiment of a law).  

Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
Psalm 82:3

The Scriptures speak a lot about the need for those people of influence to defend those less fortunate from abuse and oppression. The need for justice is viewed in Scripture as especially needed for the vulnerable – widows, fatherless, disabled, and the destitute – who are most susceptible to have it denied to them. In the late 17th century in England, a person could be imprisoned for missing a repayment on a loan, or, even if it was only alleged (even falsely) that they had committed an offence, and there was no judicial process for them to get justice – and no release from their imprisonment – until they had paid the jailer for their time in remand. One of the reasons we should all thank God is for a legal right called Habeas Corpus which was introduced by the British Parliament in 1679, and has since been adopted by most western countries. It now means that someone cannot be imprisoned unless they have been charged with a crime and had their case heard in a court of law. Habeas Corpus is fundamentally grounded in a Christian worldview which regards all people as being equal under the law and entitled to reasonable justice. Sadly though, there are too many nations today where this is not the case and people can be held in prison – and even tortured – without being charged with an offence or the due process of having their day in court. Saudi Arabia is one of the worst such human rights abusers of any nation according to Amnesty International.  Obviously they are not the only nation which do not recognise Habeas Corpus as a human right. China, Yemen, Syria, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Russia, and Turkey, each fail to provide reasonable justice to its citizens. Because I regard the unstoppable light of the Gospel through Spirit-empowered Christ-ambassadors to the transforming force for good in the world, I expect that eventually each of these nations will succumb to the message and influence of the Gospel and that they will subsequently embrace a Christian worldview in the justice systems. I therefore expect that there maybe teens reading this whom God has called from birth (they would have already become known for their keen sense of justice and concern for human rights globally) to become lawyers, or barristers, or attorneys, or judges, or justices, who will play a role on the international stage of diplomacy by using their trained legal minds to become the agents of such national transformations.

How blessed are those who promote justice,
and do what is right all the time! 
Psalm 106:3 NET

WHY DOES JUSTICE MATTER?

Justice matters for three important reasons. Firstly, it is the express will of God our Creator and an expression of His heart of love for all mankind. To promote true justice is to invoke God’s blessing (Psalm 106:3; 112:5). Secondly, it fulfils the second of God’s two great commandments for all people – to love your neighbour as yourself (Matt. 22:39). Thirdly, it becomes the framework for the Gospel to be understood and heightens men’s consciences to their unworthiness and need for a Saviour (Rom. 7:7).

Have you sensed the call of God on your life to be a minister of justice? I’ve already mentioned lawyers and judges as ministers of justice, but there are also those who serve as police and in the military. In addition to these public service roles, there are other ways to minister which you may not be familiar with and while some of them are ‘front-line’, many are invaluable behind the scenes roles. For example –

The International Justice Mission – works to free slaves around the world by working with local law enforcement. IJM Officers are usually seconded from experienced ex-Police and Military personnel. They rely on public donations for their vital work. Did you know that there are more people in slavery today than at any other time in human history?

Compassion Australia – is a Christian based organisation which is working to break the cycle of poverty in the Two-Thirds World. On their website they state, “Worldwide, 385 million children live in extreme poverty. Poverty robs children of their basic rights to learn, play and grow. In its ugliest form, poverty can lead to exploitation, child labour and even death. It’s unacceptable. That’s why our Child Sponsorship Program exists. Because more powerful than poverty is the hope of Jesus, the care of a local church and the encouragement of you: a loving sponsor.“

World Vision is possibly the world’s largest child sponsorship ministry. In Australia, under the leadership of Claire Rogers, they have made a significant re-mission focus back toward being a Gospel support ministry.

The Alliance For Defending Freedom is based in the USA and has a team of attorneys who take up the legal cause of Christians who are being ill-treated because of their faith in Christ. There are moves afoot to launch a similar ministry in Australia.

WHAT IT’S GOING TO TAKE

For those called into the frontlines of the judicial system as lawyers and barristers, and for some of you, as justices, your pathway necessarily involves you reading the classics and studying history, theology, English, philosophy and rhetoric – before you embark on your law degree studies. Chances are, that if God has already called you into the legal fraternity, you have already met practising lawyers and law students. Your road ahead is going to hard. It will require you to become highly self-disciplined and determined. You might be surprised how God will use you once you have qualified as a lawyer – it may not be in the courtroom where He will use you and your training! 

In recent times in America, and in other countries, radical social change has taken place when just one unelected judge made a ruling that changed the law and thereby the course of history! We need lawyers and judges who fear the Lord and understand the Christian worldview is not about imposing religious ideas, but about upholding reasonable justice and th truth for all – especially the most vulnerable. For those of us, and that’s most of us, who are not called into the frontlines of administering and ensuring justice, we can play our part in three vital ways:

Labor Party Policy on Abortion promotes great harm to the most vulnerable

1. At the ballot box – don’t waste your vote! If any political party or candidate promotes injustice (especially where the most vulnerable will be abused) do not vote for them! No political party or candidate is perfect, but whenever a party scandalously boasts about having a policy where they will fund the termination of a person’s life – whether it be a baby in the womb, or grand-parent in a nursing-home – do not vote for them!

2. Over coffee – whether it be catching up with your girlfriends or mates, or even around the water-cooler at work, when injustice is innocently and ignorantly promoted in conversations, be prepared to offer a winsome, reasonable, correction. This might be in the form of two questions- “Do you believe the unjustified taking of an innocent human being’s life is wrong?” “Did you know that without exception, those who work in the field of Human Embryology all regard a foetus in a mother’s womb as a human being?” 

3. On your knees – those in the political and justice spheres often feel that the Christian community are not fully behind them – and often feel that many in the Church simply do not care about the big issues confronting our society. As someone who is frequently the beneficiary of other’s prayers, I well know the difference between having people praying for you and no-one praying for you. It is my desire to inspire and help many more Christ-followers into politics and law, and it is equally my desire to muster people who will pray for them to be strong in Christ and His Word, and filled with courage to do what is right.  

Can I count on you to do these three much needed things? If you are one of the few whom God has called into the sphere of Law, you are destined to play an important role in defending the rights of the vulnerable, and uphold the reasonableness of the Christian worldview. And this is a role we need more lawyers and justices who know the love of Christ to fulfil. Tell me what you think and leave your comments below.

-Andrew Corbett

1. WHAT IT’S GOING TO TAKE - REDEEMING POLITICS

1. WHAT IT’S GOING TO TAKE: 
BABIES & POLITICAL PATH-TREADERS

The eighteenth century Irish writer, philosopher and British politician, Edmund Burke, once famously said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Perhaps his words touched a young boy by the name of William who would grow up with a desire to enter politics and do something about the evils of English society some twenty years after Burke uttered these words. If Burke was alive today, and he had heard what happened in New York recently – or what is being proposed in South Australia – he might say, “I told you so.” I’m guessing, many years ago in New York, some young people, influenced by an ideology, committed their lives to changing society’s attitudes. This may have led to them embarking on a ‘political pathway’. They probably joined the Democratic Party quite young. They probably joined neighbourhood committees, sporting clubs, charity boards, and even municipal councils. I guess they would have been frequent participants at rallies and protests and maybe even helped organise them. I can imagine that they were quite active on their college campus joining fraternities and clubs to expand their social contacts. And eventually, the day came, when they had the numbers in the New York Legislature to pass a bill strangely called, New York’s Reproductive Health Act. The new law allows for an baby’s life to be terminated at any point in its mother’s pregnancy. South Australia is now proposing similar legislation.

¶ God-devotion makes a country strong;
God-avoidance leaves people weak.
Proverbs 14:34 [THE MESSAGE]

I speculate about the political pathway of New York’s Governor, Andrew Cuomo, and his political colleagues, because I believe that there are some hard lessons to be learned from it which I will soon point out and put out a call for young men and women to consider whether God is calling them on a political pathway to be ‘Esthers’ and ‘Daniels’ in an emerging generation of new political leaders of our State and nation.

New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo and Hillary Clinton

THROUGH HIM AND FOR HIM

For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him.
Colossians 1:16

I anticipate that there will be many people who will object to what I am about to propose. They will cry, “Separation of Church and State!” and assert that the Church should ‘stay out of politics’. But I’m not arguing for the Church to get into politics. I’m appealing for those followers of Christ whom God is calling to make a difference for good in our society to accept their call and get on a pathway toward it. (I might also point out that it is usually repressive regimes which have the purist forms of ‘Separation of Church and State’ and that human rights generally don’t fair well in those regimes). Australia has never adopted a ‘Separation of Church and State’ approach to societal well-being. Rather, Australia has always had a ‘Cooperation between Church and State’ approach. This is seen in many facets of our society such as education, health, and welfare. There are some problems in society that the Church is just simply better resourced than the State to deal with. (Money alone doesn’t solve every problem.)

Our goal is not to ‘Christianise’ society. Our goal is to spread the fragrance of Christ into every arena of society so that women are not viewed as objects; children are respected and protected; leaders serve; politics guards; and sex is never unhinged from commitment. We strive for the vulnerable to be cared for. We seek for the enterprising to be ethically innovative, and development to be appropriate and sustainable. We want to inspire artists and artisans and imagineers to produce beauty. We want our environment to reflect its True Creator and for those called to subdue it to improve it. Thus, our mission is far bigger, far broader, far grander than just a ‘nice weekly worship service’. As Colossians 1:16 states, every realm of society – its governments, its institutions, its authorities – have been ordained by Christ to serve Christ for the glory of Christ.

There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!
Abraham Kuyper

GOD’S SOLUTIONS TO TOMORROW’S PROBLEMS

The fruit of the righteous is like a tree producing life, and the one who wins souls is wise.
Proverbs 11:30

F.W. Boreham once famously wrote, then illustrated how, God’s answer to every problem the world has ever faced has been a baby. He showed how the people who God clearly used to bring about justice, needed reform, and great good, came to necessary maturity just as the world faced its darkest hours. And while many Christians have put their hats in the ring of politics to make a much needed difference, all too often they have virtually attempted to ‘jump the queue’ in the process. It’s time we got a bit more intentional (and savvy) about how we encourage and support the divinely called into a life of political ministry. Simply seeing the need, or being well-intentioned, is not enough to qualify someone as an electable candidate. Despite what some think, winning a political election is not just a matter of ‘luck’!

Sometimes the ‘queue’ looks like saying hello to more people than most; running for SRC at Primary School (and if unsuccessful, trying again); joining a High School sporting team; joining Rotary; getting involved in community groups (such as Neighbourhood Watch); volunteering for a local charity; serving on the board of a not-for-profit organisation; attending more functions (including friend’s parties and more formal events); joining a political party; volunteering to help an already elected member get re-elected; getting involved in a Trade Union or University fraternity or club; standing for local council (and if you fail, running again); and then once you have personally connected with a few thousand people, run for State or Federal Parliament. Of course, in the meantime, get a trade or profession and diligently apply yourself in it in order to achieve two important things: (i) a strong work ethic; and, (ii) a strong reputation as a person of upstanding character. While many people have been taught that Proverbs 11:30 is about evangelism, its context is a actually a reflection of all that I have just proposed for someone who is a potential political candidate because what King Solomon is saying is that a wise person is someone who takes the time to get to know a lot of people and wins them over.

Perhaps you were born at just the time to be God’s response to the cries of God’s people (Esther 4:14).  

¶ During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”
Exodus 2:23; 3:4

WHAT IT’S GOING TO TAKE

Of course, I’m not suggesting that Christians in politics is the sole solution to society’s woes. But I am saying that it is a necessary part of it. It is my hope that young men and women in our church who are called by God to enter politics will take advantage of all the leadership development resources we offer and equip themselves to reach their leadership potential. This is one of the reasons we have a Youth Group. It is a seed-bed for youth leadership development. In my next instalment, I want to talk to another group of young people in our church, without whom my appeal for people with a political call on their lives to step-up will be made very difficult, if not impossible.

Andrew

COMPASSION COMES IN CHAPTERS

The Governor of Tasmania, The Hon. Prof. Kate Warner, participating in the Opening of the Legal Year in St. David’s Cathedral

Today I participated in yet another Opening of the Legal Year ceremony in St. David’s Cathedral, Hobart. The Chief Justice of Tasmania, each of Tasmania’s judges, magistrates, barristers, the Head of UTas Law School, graduating law students, police, various members of the Parliament, and the Governor of Tasmania, present themselves. In addition to this honour role of eminents are various church leaders providing their prayerful participation, which is why I was present. This annual event marks the beginning of the Legal Year in our State but in many respects it marks the beginning of the church year as well. It is thus both a time to reflect back and gaze ahead.

Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
Deuteronomy 16:20

This year will mark my twenty-third year in the privileged position as pastor of Legana. There has been a lot of prayer and work sown into the church and community over these years. In many respects we are now seeing answers to many of these prayers. People are joining our church. People are coming to Christ. Those redeemed are professing their faith in Christ through the waters of baptism. People have given wonderfully to make our new facilities a reality. As I reflect upon these things, I am full of thanks to God. 

This year will mark a significant new chapter in our church. F.W. Boreham said that a pastor can never reach the peak of his effectiveness until there are those in his congregation who have never known any other pastor and cannot conceive of there ever being another. Perhaps, about now, this is true for some at Legana. Perhaps this is why there is a strong sense of synergy now between pastor and people in our church. During my recent incapacitation, I was touched by how many in our church expressed their prayers and sympathy about my difficulties. As I explained the other Sunday, perhaps this has something to do with the Lord answering my years of praying for my role as pastor that I might have greater compassion for people. The new chapter we are entering is exciting for several reasons. 

To Him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear His voice, and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out.
John 10:3

Any church stands or falls on its leadership. Any shortcomings our church has had over the years, and there have been many, can be attributable to my lack of leadership capacity. But this year we are adding capacity to our church through our restructure and new staff appointments (we’ll talk more about this on Vision2020 Sunday on February 11th). As we heard back in January from Bob McKay, a church transition consultant, if we keep doing things the way we have been doing them, we will only ever be a good church. Many churches are content to be good. But there are some churches that God calls to be more. 

I understand why some churches are content to remain good. There is some pain associated with the needed changes to grow in depth and effectiveness. It means leaders have to uncomfortably grow. It means that the level of service has to grow. It means more sacrifice. It means more confronting issues rather than avoiding them. It means that we have to let go of certain things and cheer others on as they pick them. And as we heard from Bob that January night, the one who will bear the most pain will be me because it will involve me being 'uncorked' in so many different ways so that I cannot be a bottleneck to what God wants to do. This will be painful and difficult for me – but this is what it means to follow a crucified Saviour.

It was my privilege to be asked to pray for our State to be more compassionate. This included praying for the poor, the homeless, the refugee, the imprisoned, the orphaned, and the broken. Our new chapter is already taking shape in a way that is enabling us to be more compassionate to those often not shown any. As I prayed this prayer today in front of the Chief Justice, the Governor, members of Parliament, and those in the legal profession, I reflect that many of these people are at the wrong end of what it takes to build a compassionate society and that the local church is at the front end. Yet, we need both ends of the compassion spectrum covered. Dr. John Dickson gave an excellent case for why this should be so in his address to those present. He showed that just prior to the Christ coming it was accepted by culture that not all people are equal. Women were worth less than men. In Roman times, Dr. Dickson told us, the able were more valuable than the disabled. Yet the Christian proclamation and demonstration that all people are created with the imago dei (the image of God) means despite your status, role, function, or parents, we are all equal in worth, value, and standing. The early Christians would rescue the discarded unwanted baby girls who were left outside on the rubbish dumps to be exposed to die. For this they endured the mockery and ridicule of their culture but simultaneously created a cultural shift so that by the late fourth century the Emperor decreed that infanticide was now prohibited.



In light of how Christ had changed the way the world viewed people, He had made the world a more just and compassionate place. At the end of the ceremonial proceedings, Rev. Alistair Bain, of St. John's Presbyterian Church Hobart, who was formerly practicing as a lawyer, invited members of the police and legal profession to stand and "rededicate yourselves to the ideals and principles of your profession, to preserve and maintain the integrity of your role and to uphold justice in society." This invited a formal affirmation which those present declared, "We dedicate ourselves anew to live and act with truth, justice and integrity and honour for the common good of all." 

I have the highest admiration for those in the legal and justice system. My own daughter is training to be a lawyer (2nd year ACU). But it is the Church that is at the front end of compassion and justice in a society. If those at the back-end of compassion and justice see the need to "rededicate" and "dedicate anew" to the ideals necessary for this profession to deliver this, how much more do we at the front-end need to? Our next chapter as a church is going to be one of increased effectiveness in showing and ministering this compassion to our our society which is increasingly hurting, lonely, confused, and broken. I invite you, at the start of this new church year to join with me in dedicating ourselves to being Christ's hands and feet in a broken, hurting, unjust, world. It takes more than just being good to be effective in delivering this level of compassion. It takes a church of dedicated Christ-followers who are prepared to follow the blood-stained footprints of our Master. 

Pastor Andrew.