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2 Reasons why Jesus’ kingdom is truly, “Liberty and Justice for all”; 10 Commandments #2

2 Reasons why Jesus’ kingdom is truly, “Liberty and Justice for all”; 10 Commandments #2

Last updated on: September 11, 2023 at 11:14 am by Rob Dalrymple

2 Reasons why Jesus’ kingdom is truly, “Liberty and Justice for all”; 10 Commandments #2 2023-09-11T11:14:12-08:00 Rob Dalrymple

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When we say “Liberty and Justice” for all, do we mean it? This is an essential feature of the kingdom of God

I grew up in the US public school system where we said the Pledge of Allegiance every day. I now wonder if we really meant it.

I noted in my last post that I did a Google search on, “Why Christians should not practice social justice” and I was deeply grieved. One of the hits this search produced was of a post that had a long list of allegedly “unanswerable” questions, which the author was posing for those who advocate doing justice.

Although some of the questions were reasonable, many were not. In fact, some were downright ridiculous. For example, the writer asked a question along the lines of, “Why didn’t Jesus ever take to the streets and protest for women’s rights?”

NB: I am not sure what this question is even supposed to prove. Does the author know that Jesus didn’t live in a democracy that valued free speech? And, how does this author know that Jesus never protested in the streets for women’s rights? Maybe Jesus was the leader of the “Protest for Women’s Rights March.”

But here is the real kicker and the question to which I would ask in reply, “Didn’t Jesus do just that when He walked down the streets of every village, including Jerusalem, with a band of disciples that included women?” That Jesus had female disciples is clear in the Gospel of Mark:

“There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome. When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem” (Mark 15:40-41).

The significance of this text is that “to follow” was Mark’s key term for indicating a disciple of Jesus (see Mark 1:18; 2:14; 3:7; 8:34; 9:38; 10:52; 11:9; 15:41).

Consequently, Jesus’ life actions were a formal protest for women’s rights.

Liberty and Justice for all

I truly believe in liberty and justice for all. But I also believe that it will only be attained when the kingdom of God comes in fullness. But by no means would I suggest that we should just sit around and wait for Christ’s return while our neighbors suffer injustice.

Sadly, however, there are many Christians who reject the idea of “doing justice.”

NB: sometimes the idea of “social justice” is rejected because the notion of “social justice” entails facets that they believe they cannot endorse.

The problem is that when someone rejects “social justice” because the “social justice” movement incorporates elements that do not correspond to their understanding of Christ and the kingdom, they often do not take the necessary steps to differentiate between the “social justice” movement and the acts of doing justice. As a result, they seemingly reject all acts of justice.

This is no better than those who reject the “Black Lives Matter” movement because at its core the BLM movement includes elements that transcend Christian values.

The fact is that saying, “Black lives matter” is unquestionably Christian. (no, this is not the place to say, “Well, of course, Black lives matter because ‘all lives matter.’” Saying this clearly demonstrates a lack of understanding as to what “Black lives matter” even means).

In the same way, denying that “justice” is a fundamental component of the Christian life because one does not want to be understood as supporting the “social justice” movement undermines the very tenets of the Christian faith.

It is my contention that the biblical story is about God’s desire to bring about His kingdom in which there is truly, “liberty and justice for all.”

I know that the kingdoms of the world use this expression, but I am more and more convinced that they use it only because it sounds good or because those in power mean something else by it. Let’s face it: those in power do not actually want, “liberty and justice for all.”

You may not like what I am about to say but there is more than 200 years of history to support it: There is no way that those in power in the US will ever willingly relinquish their stronghold on power in order to ensure “liberty and justice for all.”

To obtain Liberty and Justice some of us will need to relinquish a portion of the liberty and justice we presently enjoy

The fact is that “liberty and justice for all” can only be attained when those who have too much “liberty and justice” relinquish some.

The need to give up some of our “liberty and justice” in order that others might also have a share accords with what John the Baptist was saying when he cried out, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise” (Luke 3:11).

We Americans have too much and the only way the rest of the world can be brought to a place in which they have enough (and I mean “enough”—like enough to have food and shelter. I don’t mean “enough” so that they can have PlayStations and flatscreen TV’s) is if we have less.

This is exactly what the OT Laws were aiming to establish!

In a just society, everyone has at least what they need. This does not mean that some cannot have more than others.

NB: At this point, some will respond by noting that the poor are poor because they do drugs, commit crimes, are lazy, and are poorly educated, and that those who are incarcerated are incarcerated because they commit crimes.

I am not about to respond at this time to the blatant victim-blaming inherent in this assessment. Nor, am I about to address the profound ignorance of the statement. (though I reserve the right to address such matters in future posts).

Sure, on this side of eternity, we will never achieve a society in which there is truly liberty and justice for all.

What I am saying, and what I will continue to flush out in the posts that follow, is that a just society in which everyone has at least what they need for survival is the biblical view and it is what we, the people of God (the Church), are to work towards in the present. This is part and parcel of our Christian responsibility and a vital element of our Christian witness.

This is why the book of Revelation lays stress on the fact that the water from the River of Life is free!: “I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost” (21:6; see also 22:17). It means that in the New Creation, we will all have equal access to the things necessary to meet our basic human needs. If this is true in the New Creation, then it is what we should be striving for in the present—whether it is attainable or not.

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About Rob Dalrymple

Rob Dalrymple is married to his wife Toni and is the father of four fabulous children, and two grandchildren. He has been teaching and pastoring for over 33 years at colleges, seminaries, and the local church. He has a PhD in biblical interpretation. He is the author of four books (including Follow the Lamb: A Guide to Reading, Understanding, and Applying the Book of Revelation & Understanding the New Testament and the End Times: Why it Matters) as well as numerous articles and other publications. He is currently completing a commentary on the book of Revelation titled, “Revelation: a Love Story” (Cascade Books, pending 2024). You can read more about the author here.

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