Readings for today: Psalms 89, 96, 100, 101, 107
In our current political climate, there is a tug of war between righteousness and justice. Those who lean right politically tend to focus on individual righteousness. Individual responsibility. Personal choices. The temptation is to ignore the very real impact of unjust systems and structures that often impact individual lives, limit their options, and shape how they understand the moral good. Those who lean left politically tend to focus on justice. Just systems. Just structures. Just laws. The temptation is ignore the very real impact of the unrighteous choices individuals make whether due to greed, selfishness, deceit, etc. The Bible is clear we need both to thrive.
Psalms 89:14 states, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Loyal love and faithfulness characterize your rule.” God’s Kingdom is built on a foundation that includes both righteousness and justice. You can’t have one without the other. You have to take both seriously. Human beings are sinful. The history of humanity is a testimony to this salient, Biblical fact. As such, we will naturally love unrighteousness more than righteousness. It’s why we need Jesus. Only by accepting Christ and receiving the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit will we ever learn to love righteousness. At the same time, it’s just as important to address the systems and structures we build. Because humanity is sinful, the systems we create are naturally unjust. They privilege certain classes of people over others. They reinforce prejudice and bias. They are tilted towards those with power and influence. We must consistently fight to reform these systems in order to create a more just and equitable society. Ultimately, of course, we will never reach perfection. Not in this life. Not on our own. Not without God. But the battle is worth it. The battle for every human heart. The battle for every society and nation on earth.
Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays