In an article unpacking the meaning of true Biblical justice Marvin Olasky, Editor-in-Chief of World Magazine, makes this thesis statement:
“Biblically, the most important purpose of justice is to increase righteousness. Whatever decreases faith in God is unjust.”
We have all heard the argument defending an eternal hell based on God’s holiness and “justice.” It goes as follows, “yes, God is loving and merciful but He is also a God of justice therefore He cannot allow sin to go unpunished. He is holy and therefore cannot allow sin to be in His presence.”
But a closer look should ignite our God-given reason to action. First we are told that the Biblical definition of justice is that of DOING justice rather than the “eye for an eye” of GETTING justice (Micah 6:8). As leaders like the late Charles Colson, or Tim Keller and Marvin Olasky have highlighted, the idea of justice is actually a putting of things to rights, not “getting even.”
In this understanding we are led to a paradigm of earthly justice that must also be applied to God’s ultimate “eternal” justice. If we fail to see this we make God two and not one. It means He has two goals of justice, one that “gets even” and one that puts things to right. This projects upon Him two minds and we are left without the integrity of God. This brings about an unhealthy fear like that of children of an alcoholic father who never know which “dad” they are dealing with. All mankind must hear the good news that even if God appears to be against them He is doing it FOR them:
“Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:1-3
See also Lamentations chapter 3 (below) where Jeremiah lists just about every affliction and hellish experience you could imagine coming from the Lord yet astonishingly he concludes that his soul continues to have hope for “the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases…”
God is ONE. Therefore God is love AND God is just. His love and justice have one purpose and that is righteousness.
As we have unpacked here on this blog before, the Greek word in the Bible used for justice and for righteousness is the SAME WORD. In fact the meaning for the word righteousness is literally “right-useness.” That means that true Biblical justice entails the return of something to its intended use. Can you see the implications for this more holistic and comprehensive understanding of justice? What might that mean for the traditional teaching of an eternal hell? Could you conceive of it being that of a never-ending sentence by God to “get even” with sinners who are therefore never healed and never cured? How would God fulfill His justice if in fact most are never returned to righteousness but rather allowed to perpetuate unrighteousness …forever?
The following is an article by Dr. Marvin Olasky revealing how the argument for an eternal hell based on God’s justice can no longer be seen as valid for it conversely points to the very opposite conclusion: God is clearly in the business of DOING justice and therefore He will have all His creation put back to rights, a return to righteousness!
“He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.” Isa 42:4
Article by Marvin Olasky regarding justice as righteousness:
http://www.colsoncenter.org/the-center/columns/indepth/14032-justice-as-righteousness
Tim Keller on Biblical Justice: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/practical-faith/what-biblical-justice
Lamentations 3:1-24
1 I am the man who has seen affliction
by the rod of his wrath.
2 He has driven me away and made me walk
in darkness rather than light;
3 indeed, he has turned his hand against me
again and again, all day long.
4 He has made my skin and my flesh grow old
and has broken my bones.
5 He has besieged me and surrounded me
with bitterness and hardship.
6 He has made me dwell in darkness
like those long dead.
7 He has walled me in so I cannot escape;
he has weighed me down with chains.
8 Even when I call out or cry for help,
he shuts out my prayer.
9 He has barred my way with blocks of stone;
he has made my paths crooked.
10 Like a bear lying in wait,
like a lion in hiding,
11 he dragged me from the path and mangled me
and left me without help.
12 He drew his bow
and made me the target for his arrows.
13 He pierced my heart
with arrows from his quiver.
14 I became the laughingstock of all my people;
they mock me in song all day long.
15 He has filled me with bitter herbs
and sated me with gall.
16 He has broken my teeth with gravel;
he has trampled me in the dust.
17 I have been deprived of peace;
I have forgotten what prosperity is.
18 So I say, “My splendor is gone
and all that I had hoped from the Lord.”
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
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