Volume 6, Issue 8, April 1997

JUSTICE

Recently I had the opportunity to lead a discussion group of persons from the United and Baptist churches on the subject of justice. Justice was seen as virtue. Seven cardinal virtues were listed by early Christian writers who added to the four virtues of Plato and the Stoics (prudence, temperance, fortitude and justice), three "theological virtues" (faith, hope, and love).

The following poem was written at the conclusion of another discussion group about justice and written by Nancy Hardy.

To study justice seems a contradiction in terms,
How can we study justice?
Justice means acting, making decisions, trying to break the barriers and equalize inequity, doesn’t it?
Justice means struggling against principalities and powers.

Learning what the vision of the Realm of God is all about
Becoming a prophet as well as a politician,
Being responsible for our own actions
But also realizing that we are governed by the society in which we live,
So that we must move out and try to change that society.

In all discussion, frustration, listening, or not,
Learning and praying together
And having the hope that because we remember what God has done for us,
We can trust that the struggle is not in vain.
That peace will come
And justice will reign.

"...what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
- Micah 6:8

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"Religion NOW" is published in limited edition by the Rev. Ross E. Readhead, B.A., B.D., Certificate of Corrections, McMaster University, in the interest of furthering knowledge and participation in religion. Dialogue is invited and welcomed.