“Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.”
– Psalm 97:2
Christians in America often seem to view righteousness and justice as an either/or proposition. Some Christians are very focused on righteousness (holiness and right behavior aligned with God’s standard) but are largely unconcerned about seeking and promoting justice for all persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, social status, or financial standing. We zealously proclaim and pursue God’s standards for ourselves and others, while remaining blind to the plight of those around us.
Other Christians are very focused on issues of justice while neglecting to defend and pursue God’s good design for human flourishing. An admirable devotion to justice is accompanied with minimal concern for personal holiness or the proclamation of the good news of forgiveness of sin through faith in Jesus Christ. The seriousness of sin is ignored or downplayed.
Both approaches are inadequate in followers of Jesus! Righteousness AND justice are the foundation of God’s throne. He is perfectly righteous AND perfectly just and so every Christian should care deeply about both. He is absolutely committed to pure holiness AND deeply concerned for the just treatment of the most vulnerable among us.
As followers of Jesus we must learn to be zealous for both righteousness and justice. We must also prepare ourselves to be disliked and attacked by Christians and non-Christians alike if we actively pursue both in our lives and in the world. That’s okay, for we must live to serve and please only the One Who is both righteous and just