Rev. Jason Forbes
In the modern church, justice and mercy ministries are often separated from word-based ministries. However, when justice and mercy ministries become a natural extension of word-based ministry, ministries become even more effective. When we begin to understand this, justice and mercy ministries are no longer seen as an optional extra to ministry. Rather, justice and mercy are an integral part of word-based ministry. This becomes evident when a biblical theology of ministry is developed – that is to go right through the Bible and grab some snapshots that relate to the topic.
So, let’s start at the beginning and look at Genesis.
In Gen 1 we read how the earth was unformed and unfilled, so over a process of six days, God forms the earth so it is ordered, and then fills it with life. God then creates humanity and entrusts everything he has made to humanity:
So, from the very beginning, humanity has a mandate from God to look after creation and to have authority over it. Then in chapter 2, we have a clear picture of what this authority looked like:
Just as God had brought the earth into order, humanity was to continue the work of ordering creation and bring it to a higher state of order. This was God’s intent for his creation and humanity even before the Fall (ch. 3).
So, God’s intent for humanity is to be involved in the work of creation, caring for it and protecting it. This intention for humanity can be seen to continue after the Fall in the life of God’s Old Testament people, Israel. After God gives them the Ten Commandments (Exo 20:3–17), some of the first laws to follow concern slaves (21:1–32), restitution (21:33–22:25); social justice (22:16–23:9), sabbath’s and festivals (vv. 10–19). The overall concern in these laws was justice and mercy.
Now, when we read the Old Testament law, we can get the idea that this is what people had to do to appease God – to make God happy so that he would bless them. But this is to get things all back-to-front! Israel had already experienced blessing. Remember the story of Exodus: God’s people are enslaved in Egypt, oppressed and forced into hard labour, mistreated, totally lacking and disempowered. So, God sends Moses to rescue his people from Egypt. Then, through a series of miraculous events, God reveals who he is to his people and brings them up out of Egypt into their own land. It is an incredible story of redemption. It was this blessing that Israel was to pass on to others, which is why ministries of justice and mercy were woven into their law. Remember what God promised Abraham: “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Gen 12:3). Granted, the fulfilment of that was Jesus, but the greater fulfilment that Jesus was to bring was anticipated by the nation of Israel as God’s blessing came through them.
This blessing would come not by merely going through the motions that the law required but involved something much deeper and more profound. For example, in Lev 19:14 we read:
At one level, this law is self-evident. Obviously, we wouldn’t want to compromise the well-being of anyone who has a disability, or is disadvantaged in some way. But when you think about it, this law goes much deeper. If you did curse someone who was deaf, how would they know that it was you? They can’t hear you! If you did put a stumbling block in front of a person who was blind, how would they know that it was you? They can’t see you! These are laws you could easily break and get away with. So why are they there? At another level, they speak to having a genuine concern for those who are disadvantage. Being involved in justice and mercy ministry was not a matter of ticking boxes, but it was meant to be part of the fabric of their nation. Justice and mercy were to be part of their identity – something they did even when they didn’t have to!
Unfortunately, the purpose of the law did not penetrate their hearts, and they neglected the ministry of justice and mercy. This angered God, and this is what God says about their worship:
Isaiah says something similar.
God rejects the worship of his people because they have not tended to the ministry of justice and mercy. You see, they wanted the worship without the works; the ritual without the righteousness; the celebration without having to serve. Not that I intend to preach works righteousness here. Don’t mishear me. But in Scripture, there is an integral link between the ministry of justice and mercy, and our worship of God. When we do justice and mercy, the richer, deeper, more meaningful and profound our worship of God will be. This is why God says to his people:
Again, Isaiah says something similar.
This link between worship of God and the ministry of justice and mercy is picked up by Jesus when he says:
Every time I read these words of Jesus, they send chills down my spine. As Presbyterians, we’re really good on our theology. We’re really good on our polity. But how good are we on justice and mercy? Have we truly understood how much Jesus has fed us with his words and promises? How much he has quench out thirst with his Spirit? How much he has welcomed us into his holy presence despite our sin? How much Jesus has clothed us with his righteousness? How Jesus visited us by his Spirit when we were imprisoned by sin and confined to a life of death. Have we considered the cost Jesus bore for us through his torturous death on the cross, and his victorious resurrection? If we have grasped by just a tiny amount the justice and mercy that God has given to us through his Son, Jesus, then that justice and mercy must find its expression as we pass it on to others.