Justice, Law, History
The Laws of Justice and Mercy
Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)
Deuteronomy 19:15-21 New International VersionWitnesses15 One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 16 If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse someone of a crime, 17 the two people involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the Lord before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time. 18 The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against a fellow Israelite,19 then do to the false witness as that witness intended to do to the other party. You must purge the evil from among you. 20 The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. 21 Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. For ReflectionHow does one survive in a culture where the truth is at best optional. Don't most of us train our children to be truthful? If so, how is it that so many adults bear false witness to all sorts of things? How is it that so many people fall victim to false claims and irrational explanations? Those who spread conspiracy theories or, based upon false assumptions, persecute others may profess to be Christians, but their actions do not seem to reflect the love of God.
And what about those of us Christians who claim the truth? Why is it that we label other Christians with whom we disagree and stand ready to make derogatory remarks about them or shun them? As James Wallis has written, Why do we Christians think that we have to give up our values, water them down or throw our convictions to have civil discourse with those with whom we disagree?
Of what are we afraid? Is it our fear that our faith will be challenged or that we might be led astray by those who profess different points of view? Why are we so plagued by the need to be right that we become what we know we don't want to be? PrayPray and let the Holy Spirit guide your life. Pray and contemplate how your actions run counter to the love of God. Pray and try to understand the meaning of loving one's enemy. Pray and find the courage to take the first step toward reconciliation. Pray, seek peace, and work lovingly toward the common good.
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