2. Justice,
Liberation,
and Shalom
• Three main spheres of justice
• Definitions of justice
• Biblical concepts of justice
• The relationship between love and justice
• The relationship between freedom nd
justice
• Who is responsible for ensuring justice
• Justice and liberation
• Justice and shalom
3. Three Main
Spheres of
Justice
• Three main spheres of justice
• Retributive: Getting what you deserve
(usually in a negative sense, such as
punishments)
• Distributive: Getting what you need
(usually in a positive sense, such as
food or income)
• Restorative: Making amends for the
harm done by crime, providing closure
and accountability
4. Definitions of
Justice
• How do we decide what someone
“deserves” or “is due”? Three main
paradigms:
• Meritorious: focus on efforts, actions,
expertise
• Egalitarian: two forms
• Equal outcomes
• Equal access
• Need-based: based upon concrete needs in a
given sphere
5. Biblical Ideas
of Justice
• What does the word “justice” mean in the
scriptures?
• What were some of the biblical teachings
on justice?
• mishpat (justice, judgment)
• tsedaqah (righteousness, justice)
• dikaiosune (justice, righteousness)
• krima (judgment, justice)
• krisis (judgment, decision, justice)
6. Love and
Justice
• What is the relationship between love
and justice?
• They are different things
• They not only different, but in tension
• They mutually supplement each other
7. Love and
Justice as
Different
• They are different because:
• Love is comprehended by faith, whereas
justice is sober and rational
• Love is always personal in nature, whereas
justice is impartial and institutional
• However, love and justice are bound
together in scripture, and justice without
love reduces justice to “a few basic rights”
8. Love and
Justice
in Tension
• They not only different, but in tension:
• Love, as part of the “unrealistic” ideal of the
ethics of Jesus, has no place in messy social
and political life
• Only justice works here, and it often stands in
tension with agape love
• However, it is a relative justice that allows far
too much latitude to “morally upright” people
to enact the demands of justice (such as
businesses and governments)
9. Love and
Justice as
Supplementary
• They mutually supplement each other:
• Recognize their biblical connections
• Recognize the way they have mutually
supported one another in history
• Supplement each other
• Love sees the immediate need, while justice
casts the eye more widely
• Justice can provide direction and even
correction to awe-inspiring ideal of love
10. Freedom and
Justice
• What is the relationship between freedom and
justice?
• Freedom is the key to justice (JS Mill)
• Yet, the demands of justice, both retributive and
distributive, often limit freedom.
• The Industrial Revolution
• Hollinger suggests a model that acknowledges the
tension between justice, freedom, and order.
11. Who provides
justice?
• Who or what is responsible for
providing or ensuring justice?
• State
• Church
• Individuals
12. Liberation
(as pioneered by
Gustavo Gutierrez)
• Three levels of liberation
• Liberation from oppressive social structures
• Liberation to profound inner freedom in face of
servitude
• Viktor Frankl
• Kunta Kinte
• This usually requires community /alternative
identity.
• Liberation to inner freedom from sin
• What are some examples of these?
13. Liberation
Theology
(from the work of Clodovis
and Leonardo Boff)
• Working within the “hermeneutical circle”
• Begin with one‘s experience
• Progress to reflection
• Progress to an altered experience
• A central question is this: How do you
“posture” yourself ”?
14. Justice and
Shalom
(from the work of
Nicholas Wolterstorff)
• Wolterstorff asks a central question: What is
our guiding vision for the kingdom of God on
earth?
• His answer is shalom – “peace intertwined
with justice.”
• “Shalom is the human being dwelling at
peace in all his or her relationships: with
God, with self, with fellows, with nature.”
15. Justice and
Shalom
• Shalom is not just the absence of violence or
hostility; nor is it merely the hard, sterile
presence of justice. Rather, it is enjoyment that
arise from being in right and holy
relationship.
• Shalom requires justice, but it also goes
beyond it.
16. Justice and
Shalom
• Shalom is exhibited in community in several
ascending levels of godly holiness (whole-ness).
• First, shalom is an ethical community. Without justice,
“shalom is wounded”.
• Second, it is a responsible community; it models
obedience to “God’s laws for the multifaceted
existence of his creatures.”
• Finally, shalom is a delighted and delightful community.
The prophet Isaiah describes shalom as “images of
harmony.”
17. Justice and
Shalom
• Thus, “development and liberation must
go hand in hand” if shalom is to be
achieved.
• “Ours is both a cultural mandate and a
liberation mandate.”
