Here’s the main lesson I hope to convey in this four-part series: the concepts of justice as a moral issue and morality as a justice issue are deeply interconnected. Both create the ethical framework of how good societies function. Either one, without the other, is incomplete, flawed, and unworkable. Therefore, we cannot adequately address the orphan crisis without a balanced, Just and Moral approach.
The Unfortunate State of the Church
Error always comes in pairs of opposites. In other words, errors are rarely isolated or one-dimensional; they often exist in pairs where each error is related to its opposite. For example: Overcorrection and Under-correction, Extreme Positivity and Extreme Negativity, Rigidity and Over-flexibility. The key is to find a proper and workable balance.
With that in mind, I’ll begin with a provocative statement—one that may offend but, hopefully, also enlighten those on the far ends of the theological and political spectrum. Ready? Here we go.
The Justice-Centered Gospel of the Progressive Left is like a house full of fine furniture but with no foundation—foolish and unsustainable. The Morality-Centered Gospel of the Conservative Right is like a solid, firm foundation but without a house—empty and meaningless.
As different as they may seem from one another, both extremes tend to exhibit the same unproductive behaviors: anger, unkindness, exclusion, and intolerance of those on the other side. The sad part is that both camps claim to represent the true life and teachings of Jesus.
Now, before you get mad and stop reading, let me assure you that I’ve been on both ends of this spectrum. I once considered myself a progressive, and at another time, I identified as a fundamentalist. There are aspects of both traditions that I still value and honor.
But there’s a third way—always. And, it is usually found in the middle.
I believe the goal of every Christian is to live in the healthy middle, where justice and morality – or what the Bible calls righteousness – thrive together in perfect harmony. Some would say that means I’m a moderate, but I’m not sure that adequately describes it. Admittedly, whatever you call it, it’s a difficult place to stand, constantly pressured by the singular demands of both sides—yet it is precisely where I believe true personal transformation and social reform of any kind occur, especially in the important work of orphan prevention and care.
Unfortunately, the nature of today’s culture wars, with their “winner-take-all” political climate, pressures us to pick a side, join a team. But rather than succumbing to their demands, let’s commit to living as purposefully and consistently as possible in the tension of both truths—while rejecting the wrongs. This, I believe, is the high, biblical-middle-ground.
The Interplay Between the Two
Much of what we Christians understand about justice comes from the Old Testament, particularly from the words and works of the prophets. When they spoke of justice, they did so in a holistic way—never compartmentalizing it into “social,” “economic,” or “legal” justice. Their vision of justice was comprehensive, encompassing every aspect of life because justice itself was seen as an expression of God’s divine will, woven into every human relationship and societal structure.
The Hebrew prophets never placed a qualifier in front of the word justice. They did not separate justice into isolated categories, though they addressed its impact on different areas of human activity and behavior. For them, justice was inseparable from righteousness and deeply tied to truth, love, and divine holiness.
Consider these powerful prophetic calls to justice:
- Amos 5:24 – “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
- Micah 6:8 – “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
- Isaiah 1:17 – “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”
Justice is Rooted in God’s Character
First, we must recognize that biblical justice is not merely a human construct—it is rooted in God’s very nature. He is both truth and love, perfectly just and perfectly merciful. In the prophetic tradition, justice (tzedek) and righteousness (mishpat) are divine attributes, meaning that human justice must mirror God’s justice—universal, impartial, holy, and holistic.
As Cornel West famously observed, “Justice is what love looks like in public.” This sentiment captures the idea that justice is not merely a cold application of law but the outworking of love within human relationships.
Justice Applies to Every Level of Society
Secondly, justice is meant to permeate every aspect of life, not just individual morality or governmental policies. The prophets confronted:
- Kings and rulers → Political justice.
- Merchants and traders → Economic justice.
- Priests and religious leaders → Religious justice.
- Saints and Sinners individuals → Personal justice.
This reveals that biblical justice was not about a single issue but about a comprehensive moral order that governed both personal integrity and societal structures.
As Martin Luther King Jr. declared, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” His words challenge us to see justice not as fragmented or selective, but as a unified principle that must extend to all people in all places.
Justice is Inherently Social—But Not Limited to “Social Justice”
Additionally, while justice has clear social implications, it’s not limited to what is commonly referred to today as “social justice.” Biblical justice demands righteousness in personal morality, governance, economic fairness, and communal life—all at once. Justice is never merely an issue of policy; it is a way of life, reflecting God’s righteousness in how we treat individuals, structure our societies, and pursue truth and mercy together.
Theologian Nicholas Wolterstorff argues, “Justice is primary in human life. Without justice, love degenerates into sentimentality.” His insight reminds us that love without justice lacks the strength to reform the world.
Justice as a Total Life Ethic
The prophets saw justice as the foundation of a well-ordered society, not a special category of activism. Their message was that justice must permeate all of life, from personal behavior to national policies. By refusing to limit—or expand—its meaning with adjectives or some kind of qualifier, they preserved its totalizing moral force—justice was not a cause but a calling. Justice was to them, and should be to us, a chosen lifestyle. Justice should be an integral part of who we are and how we live.
As Dietrich Bonhoeffer once warned, “We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.”
In part two of the series, we’ll take a close look at the story of the woman caught in adultery, and how Jesus demonstrated the wise balance of both justice and righteousness, i.e. morality. I think you’ll find yourself challenged by the orphan perspective on this well-known account.
