Thursday, October 11, 2007
The Justice Creed
The Justice Creed

We believe that the living God is just
And that the true and living God loves justice.
God delights in just laws and rejoices in just people.
God sides with those who are oppressed by injustice,
And stands against oppressors.
God is grieved by unjust people and the unjust systems they create and sustain.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, and
God's kingdom belongs to those willing to be persecuted for the sake of justice.
To God, justice is a weighty thing which can never be ignored.


We believe that Jesus, the Liberating King, came to free humanity from injustice
And to display the justice of God,
In word and deed, in life, death, and resurrection.
The justice which God desires, Jesus taught, must surpass that of the hypocrites,
For the justice of God is a compassionate justice,
Rich in mercy and abounding in love
For the last, the least, the lost, and the outcast.
On his cross, Jesus drew the injustice of humanity into the light,
And there the heartless injustice of human empire met
The reconciling justice of the kingdom of God.
The resurrection of Jesus proclaims that the true justice of God,
Naked, vulnerable, and scarred by abuse, is stronger
Than the violent injustice of humanity, armed with weapons, conceit, deceit, and lies.


We believe that the Holy Spirit is here, now,
Convicting the world of sin and justice,
Warning that God's judgment will come on all that is unjust.
We believe that the Kingdom of God is justice, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Empowered by the Spirit, then, we seek first God's kingdom and God's justice,
For the world as it is has not yet become the world as God desires it to be.
And so we live, and work, and pray,
Until justice rolls down like water,
And flows strong and free like a never-failing stream.
For we believe that the living God is just
And that the true and living God loves justice.
Amen.

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posted by Mike Clawson at 5:54 PM | Permalink |


4 Comments:


At 10/11/2007 08:35:00 PM, Blogger Scot McKnight

Mike,

Is this yours?

 

At 10/11/2007 11:22:00 PM, Blogger Mike Clawson

No, sorry, it's Brian McLaren's. I provided the link to his website in the title. I guess I forgot to attribute it. :)

 

At 10/12/2007 08:20:00 AM, Blogger jazzycat

God delights in just laws and rejoices in just people.

Could you give some examples of some just people and some just laws?

 

At 10/12/2007 10:54:00 AM, Blogger Mike Clawson

I'm not sure what you mean Jazzy... obviously ever human attempt at justice will be but a flawed reflection of God's divine justice.

Though if you need specific examples or relatively just laws I'd say the Thirteenth amendment is a pretty good one.