Have you ever asked yourself what kind of government would be best for any culture? With that one there are many more other questions. How would this best government define and enforce economic justice or environmental justice? How would it define and enforce moral justice? How about education, the arts, scientific endeavors including medicine? Oh, here’s a good one: how would it define and enforce religious freedom? Every answer requires some definition of justice within these areas.
Is this hypothetical question and answer stuff unnecessary, or worse, nonsense? Consider our own culture. It appears the democrat vs republican divide is getting worse due to disagreement of political, i.e., governmental, justice in these areas. There are conflicts between, for example: a right to make decisions about our own bodies vs the right of a fetus to life; student loan bailouts pit these former students being robbed if not passed, against taxpayers being robbed if it is passed; public religious speech pits right of free speech against separation of church and state; what does “first do no harm” mean if a physician pledges to do that; sex change surgeries on minors vs doctor’s conscience against that; who, exactly is a minor; etc. Even if you don’t think much about such things, you certainly have come to your own opinions about the direction civil justice, i.e., government, should take. Consider this your worldview.
Think of this worldview as how you see reality. Almost everyone I know think children deserve an education so much so, they also believe it’s OK to tax everyone to pay for it. Within that group, there are others who believe in creation by God strongly enough, they want creation taught along side evolution in the public schools. Then there are some outside this group who pay for their own family’s education twice: both with their taxes and willingly for private education where perhaps only creation is taught. If worldview were like a pair of glasses, what tint are you looking through?
These tints, based on signs being carried in protests to some of the latest SCOTUS decisions, are different: “Discrimination based on race is unconstitutional” and “Diversity and minorities must be preferred”.
Who gets to define justice anyway? When the 13 colonies declared political independence from the King of Great Britain, renaming themselves the United States, the authors of our Declaration of Independence wrote that they appealed to the Supreme Judge of the world. No doubt they were keenly aware of Jesus Christ’s words just before he left earth in his heavenly body when he said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” [Matt. 28:18]
Thus, my goal in life is to always test and refine my worldview using Scripture. “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.” [I Cor. 13:12A] This verse tells me these things about my worldview. 1) It’s a serious look into my own will, or heart. 2) A confession I don’t have everything right or know all the answers. 3) There is a certainty of heaven where I will be face to face with God himself. And last, in part B of that verse, “Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” 4) I will know my own heart perfectly, as God himself knows me.
May Jesus Christ be lifted up not just on a cross, but also as King of kings over all the earth. I submit my will to you, Father, and ask that you make me aware and obedient to his justice. Amen.