Millions of children across the world are bought and sold as property. They are abused, exploited and denied their human rights. This doesn't just happen in other countries but in our own as well. This is wrong, isn't it? These vulnerable children should be protected not exploited. When we hear stories of the abuses boys and girls have to endure it makes our blood boil. And it should. The strong should not exploit the weak! It's just not right.
But where do we get our sense of right and wrong from? Why shouldn't the strong exploit the weak?
We have a strong sense of justice. From an early age we cry out, "It's not fair". We never lose this cry. Though we no longer stamp our feet, many do take their stand against the injustices of the world. Protests and signs call for justice and fairness and equality.
I want to ask where do we get this sense of justice from? Why do we think somethings are right and somethings are wrong? Why does our blood boil when the vulnerable are exploited by the strong?
If you remember over the last few weeks we have been thinking about four questions to ask ourselves and others. We are thinking particularly in relation to those who are indifferent to Jesus. I want to not just be responding to questions but responding when there is no questions. And i think the best way to respond to shrugging shoulders is by asking questions. The first question was about Origins (Where do we come from?), last week was Meaning/purpose (Why are we here?). This week is Morality (Where does our sense of justice come from?).
Can we explain the existence of Morality without God? Can this innate sense of Justice flow from any other explanation of the world? Is it possible to begin with a world that comes into existence through random, natural processes and arrive at our innate sense of justice? Is our belief that the strong should not exploit the weak the obvious conclusion of a evolutionary view of the world? Or do you have to rely upon another Story?
It shouldn't surprise you to hear that I believe there's a better explanation for our sense of justice. I'll quote CS Lewis again (He's just so quotable)
“My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?”
Our sense of justice is built in to us by our Creator. Being made in his image means we have some of His characteristics.
Of course they are twisted and tarnished through our turning away from Him. But there's an echo of justice and fairness and rightness that we retain. There's a yearning for a return to a better world. This yearning and echo is not perfect. It often cries out for justice for me and my kind. It can overlook or downplay my role in the unfairness of the world. It can cry out "only God can judge me" yet live like we will never have to face him. But we cannot remove it from what it means to be human.
The Historian Tom Holland (who is not a Christian) argues that it was Jesus Christ who revolutionised our thinking that the strong should not exploit the weak. Not only in what he said but in what he done.
Jesus the strong died for us the weak. His sacrifice profoundly shaped the way we see the world today. This is the Story that best explains our sense of right and wrong.
We are created in the image of God and therefore have an echo, a yearning for justice. Jesus, God's Son has shaped our thinking and moulded our world through his Sacrifice, the strong for the weak. It's the sacrifice that deals with our role in the unfairness of the world and also satisfies our cry for justice. Outside of Jesus no-one will escape his justice. The cry of those millions children will be heard and they will know justice done (check out Psalm 75:2 as one example).
But Jesus sacrifice and resurrection from the dead ultimately deals with the evil that resides in our own hearts. An evil that flows from our rebellion against God. We stand before him condemned. Our crookedness is obvious and without excuse beside him. But in Jesus' death His justice is perfectly dealt with so we can stand before him without fear.
Is there a better Story that explains our sense of justice and deals with the evil that exists in our own hearts? If there is, what is it?