“And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). This verse shares God’s heart to see His people humbly pursue mercy and justice in our world. Today, justice and mercy can have different meanings depending on who you talk to, so what exactly is biblical justice and mercy, and why is it so important to teach our young people?
Biblical Justice and Mercy
Biblical justice is about restoration and lifting up an oppressed individual or group of people. Unfortunately, the outworking of justice can often look like retribution or revenge, seeking to make things right by tearing another person down. However, that is not true justice according to God. True justice is reaching down into the pain of wrongdoing and restoring their God-given value and purpose.
Biblical mercy is not flippant forgiveness or grudge-holding ‘apologies.’ Mercy recognizes the wrong that has been done but chooses to forgive and love despite it all. True mercy is costly and calls us to action.
These two concepts come beautifully together at the cross. Jesus, seeing the sin and evil in the world, chose to give mercy by offering His life. In doing so, he reached into humanity’s despair and brought them back into right standing with God.
Importance for Teenagers
It is crucial to instruct students in biblical justice and mercy because those concepts do not come easily to us. Think about the last time someone wronged you. Was your first reaction to offer loving forgiveness or to seek retribution? Practicing the ways of God at a young age makes it easier to make those decisions later in life.
You can help your teenager engage in justice issues by serving the least of these in your community. In Matthew 25, Jesus mentions vulnerable groups that we can serve: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the unclothed, the sick, and the imprisoned. Help your students figure out the areas they are passionate about and equip them with opportunities to enact justice.
Kyle Williamson
Director of Student Leadership Development