Virtues and Vices: Part 7 - 'Fair's Fair!'

This Sunday, Rob Lea brings us the talk in the latest of our EBC services. We encourage you to reflect on the bible text and join us in the prayer that follows below.
 
Here are some questions to consider:

Readings:

Deuteronomy chapter 32 verse 4

“He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice. A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.

Psalm chapter 89 verse 14

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; Love and faithfulness go before you”

Psalm chapter 82 verse 3

“Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute,”

Isaiah chapter 1 verse 17

“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless,
and plead the widow’s cause,”

Zechariah chapter 7 verses 8 - 10

“This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.  Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’

Luke chapter 11 verse 42

“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others,”



Prayer and Reflection:

Lord God, grant us a vision of your world as your love would have it: a world where the weak are protected, and none go hungry or poor; a world where the riches of creation are shared, and everyone can enjoy them; a world where different races and cultures live in harmony and mutual respect; a world where peace is built with justice, and justice is guided by love.

Help us to look to you…and your Word to remind us of what justice should look like. You know what injustice is like Lord; every sin committed is an injustice against you. Lord help us to fight injustice in the right way, your way, and may we always look to you as the foundational solution. Holy Spirit give us the inspiration and courage to seek justice, and to stand firm against injustice, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen.


Questions to Consider

1. What is your definition of justice? Try to define justice in no more than 20 words.
2. If your answer includes the word or idea of being fair or not fair, who or how do you decide exactly what is or is not fair?
3. If you are aware of the miscarriage of justice exposed in the four episodes of ITV’s drama ‘Mr Bates vs The Post Office’, what would you do to ensure justice for the postmasters/mistresses involved?
4. The bible teaches that God is both loving and forgiving, and just and righteous. Explain how God can be both.
5. Read Luke 11:42. Explain in your own words why Jesus was angry with the Pharisees and the experts of the law. What did he mean when he said, ‘You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone’?
6. How can we, the church, lead the way and pursue justice on behalf of ‘the oppressed, the widow, the orphan, and the enslaved’?
7. What injustice towards other people makes you angry? What are you, or what will you do about it? When will you do It?
8. Have you considered the paradox that whereas in the scandal at the Post Office, the innocent were found guilty, following Jesus’ atonement for our sins on the cross, the guilty have been found innocent – if we accept it by faith; amazing!