The Hard Work Remains

Our American Martyr, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., wrote: 

“The black revolution 

is forcing America to face 

all its interrelated flaws       – 

racism, poverty, militarism, and materialism.

 It is exposing evils that 

are rooted deeply 

in the 

whole structure of our society.  

It reveals 

systemic 

rather than superficial 

flaws and 

suggests 

that 

radical reconstruction of society itself 

is the real issue to be faced. ... 

[O]nly by structural change 

can current evils be eliminated, 

because the roots are in the system 

rather than in men 

or faulty operations.”  

~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in a posthumously published essay titled “A Testament of Hope.” 

What Is Justice?

 “The clear meaning of “justice” is “what is right” or “what is normal” — the way things are supposed to be. The fairness of laws coupled with fair and equal treatment under the law are common biblical concerns. Throughout scripture, God is the defender and protector of the poor, the alien, the debtor, the widow, and the orphan. Justice can also mean “deliverance,” “victory,” “vindication,” or “prosperity” — but for all, not just a few. Justice is part of God’s purpose in redemption.

One of the clearest and most holistic words for justice is the Hebrew shalom, which means both “justice” and “peace.” Shalom includes “wholeness,” or everything that makes for people’s well being, security, and, in particular, the restoration of relationships that have been broken. Justice, therefore, is about repairing broken relationships both with other people and to structures — of courts and punishments, money and economics, land and resources, and kings and rulers.” 

Quote from Wallis,  How the Bible Understands Justice ( https://www.onfaith.co/onfaith/2014/06/06/how-the-bible-understands-justice/32339 )