Richard constantly bragged about how much he and his wife had loved their son and were proud of the fact they had never disciplined or punished him. When anyone asked where his son lived, he told them that he was away for a while. I soon learned that ‘away’ meant the worst prison in our state. Among other crimes, he had worked with a criminal ring that stole the engines from cars in parking lots and parking garages. After his release, he came home and lived with his Dad. It wasn’t six months until he stole our service van and wrecked it. Somehow, his dad convinced the company not to prosecute him. His crimes never stopped, yet he somehow managed to keep one-step out of the reach of the law. Then he disappeared. A county detective shared with me that he and a couple of deputies picked him up, drove out to a rural area, had a late night talk with him, and communicated in very explicit terms he should leave the county and not return. I never saw him again. His Dad made excuses but continued boasting about having never disciplined him because he loved his son so much.
One of the most misdefined and misused words today in the English language is ‘love’. The world equates love with intense physical attractions, with sexual passions, and with whatever gives them pleasurable emotions. Worldly love also demands the acceptance of all people for who they are and that love never suggests any aspect of their beliefs, traits, or habits change. Note several examples we hear today. “It doesn’t matter that they aren’t married, they love each other; It doesn’t matter they are the same gender, they love each other;” or for young couples dating, the boy says, “If you love me you will.” The girl responds, “If you love me you will wait until we’re married,” or an elderly couple, “he helped her end her life of pain because he loved her.” People try and excuse their sin by scripture, “Didn’t Jesus teach we should love one another because God is love?” Yes, God is love (1 Jn 4:8, 16). However, what is missing from this concept of love is that God is also just (2 Thess 1:6). He has standards. Love is not love without standards.
Justice is another word often misdefined. The simple meaning of Biblical justice is God’s love bringing about what is right restoring the way things should be. Some believe love and justice are incompatible but if God is love and is just, they are one just as God is one. All God’s attributes are in harmony and interdependent with each other. The Lord demonstrated love and justice through the cross. He loved us so much He took the consequences of our sin to satisfy justice and restore those who receive the gift of salvation to the wholeness of life. However, even after committing to Christ, there are still rules and standards. These aren’t legalistic standards, but the means by which His grace maintains justice and keeps us walking in wholeness of life. Ignoring His standards has consequences. Justice for unrepentant sin brings about discipline, which is one way He implements justice. Discipline is not punishment but a means of restoring us back to the Lord.
Richard did not understand justice and that there were consequences for all actions. He believed he loved his son however it was not Biblical love. But he who loves him [his son] disciplines him diligently (Pro 13:24). God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline (Heb 12:7)? Love without justice is empty. Love without standards leaves you with only self-centered emotions. Imagine a young married couple saying they love each other but both continue having sexual relationships with other people. They believe love should have no binding standards so they can continue satisfying fleshly lust. If people base love on feelings, emotions, and pleasure, when the feelings are gone, so is the love. Little wonder that over half of marriages end in divorce.
Justice without love is revenge; it is harsh and hurtful. Without justice, wholeness of life is impossible. After writing this, I understand better some of the chaos that is taking place in our world. Biblical justice consists of fair treatment for all people, but injustice has spread like a wildfire with devastating results. You can receive more time in prison for killing a dog than for murdering a person. Many of the wealthy have a different standard of justice for which they are accountable. I guess we could write a Murphy’s Law—the punishment for a crime is inversely proportional to who you know and the size of your bank account. God neither ignores nor excuses injustice. For I, the Lord, love justice (Isaiah 61:8). The Lord loves righteousness and justice (Psalm 33:5). What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be (Rom 9:14)! Note the positive result of justice. When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous (Prov 21:15).
Love is not an emotion; Love is not synonymous with sex; Love is not self-centered but others centered.
Sustaining Word for the Week: And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness (Mic 6:8). Show someone Biblical love this week.