What does it mean to Do Justice?
Doing justice seeks to bridge the gap between the world as it is and moving toward the world God desires. Biblical justice is rooted in the ancient Hebrew concept of mishpat, which is rooted in the idea of judgment. Modern Hebrew translates mishpat as “law” and, indeed, biblical mishpat referred to basic civil law. However, mishpat was more than just a list of rules. It was a foundational value in Judaism and referred to a just ordered society, one in which equity and fairness rule. It encapsulates understanding good, evil, and the consequences of each. Mishpat is the compass by which Christians navigate right and wrong in the world, seeking fairness and equity in both interpersonal forms of injustice and expansive systemic and generational harms caused by unjust actions. When we begin naming all the situations of injustice in our immediate surroundings and the world, it quickly becomes overwhelming. Unfortunately, the work of doing justice is difficult and naturally conflictual, which is why it is tempting to relegate it to a committee or ignore it altogether in the name of some false peace. But the fact that injustice exists is because some are being mistreated and others are refusing to right the wrong. We know Jesus spoke and lived a life trying to address the injustices of his time. Followers do the same.
Learn more about Do Justice
Learn more about the theological foundations for this practice.
Foundational essay |
Introduction video |
Do Justice practices
Biblical justice is rooted not only in laws and in right and wrong; it is the foundational value in a good social order, governed by equity and restoring what is imbalanced, broken, or imperfect. God’s justice is restorative, not retributive, and it emerges from a place of deep abiding love. For us to do justice, we need to not only identify the rules but also pursue systems that provide equity, healing, and harmony. We do this by consciously seeking to create and establish justice. We begin by seeing injustice, in the world and in our own actions. We examine our own hearts and feelings, expressing compassion for those suffering from injustice. We speak up, using our voices as individuals and as community members, to amplify the voices of those who are oppressed. And finally, we commit to doing the work of changing systems and practices that perpetuate and perpetrate injustice.
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Other ways to Do Justice
EVEnts
Undesign the Redline @ the Lexington Public Library
Sunday, November 12 at 12:00PM
Lexington Public Library - Central Library (downtown)
The Undesign the Redline project unearths the deep and systemic history of structural racism and inequality in the United States. This interactive exhibit explores policies like Redlining, their implications for today, and what we can do to undesign them. Join us for a private tour of this important exhibit. We'll first have lunch at the church, so please RSVP so we can plan for your participation.
Sunday, November 12 at 12:00PM
Lexington Public Library - Central Library (downtown)
The Undesign the Redline project unearths the deep and systemic history of structural racism and inequality in the United States. This interactive exhibit explores policies like Redlining, their implications for today, and what we can do to undesign them. Join us for a private tour of this important exhibit. We'll first have lunch at the church, so please RSVP so we can plan for your participation.
Sunday Supper
Sunday, November 26 at 5:45PM
Assembly Room
This month, we'll be joined by Steve Bright, a law professor at Yale and Harvard law schools and mentor to Bryan Stevenson (of Just Mercy and the Equal Justice Initiative).
Sunday, November 26 at 5:45PM
Assembly Room
This month, we'll be joined by Steve Bright, a law professor at Yale and Harvard law schools and mentor to Bryan Stevenson (of Just Mercy and the Equal Justice Initiative).
Just Lunch
Saturday, October 25
FPC Kitchen & Assembly Room
Share a meal and get to know some of our neighbors experiencing homelessness. Click the button below to email Mike Skidmore, FPC Just Lunch Coordinator, to RSVP to help out.
Saturday, October 25
FPC Kitchen & Assembly Room
Share a meal and get to know some of our neighbors experiencing homelessness. Click the button below to email Mike Skidmore, FPC Just Lunch Coordinator, to RSVP to help out.
IN WORSHIP
Here's more about how we'll explore the practice of "Do Justice" in worship this month.
November 5: See Injustice
We are challenged to look beyond following right and wrong rules to see deeper injustices at work.
November 12: Check Your Prejudice
To be Christian is to radically humanize everyone we encounter. It is a reminder to empathize.
November 19: Speak Up
Jesus spoke up against injustice; as his followers, we are called to do the same. In biblical justice, speaking out is not just shouting into the sky; rather, it is a careful and purposeful attempt to name the unspeakable parts of society that keep power structures in place.
November 26: Do the Work
The prophets remind us that justice cannot be confined to words and feelings. It is a matter of action.
November 5: See Injustice
We are challenged to look beyond following right and wrong rules to see deeper injustices at work.
November 12: Check Your Prejudice
To be Christian is to radically humanize everyone we encounter. It is a reminder to empathize.
November 19: Speak Up
Jesus spoke up against injustice; as his followers, we are called to do the same. In biblical justice, speaking out is not just shouting into the sky; rather, it is a careful and purposeful attempt to name the unspeakable parts of society that keep power structures in place.
November 26: Do the Work
The prophets remind us that justice cannot be confined to words and feelings. It is a matter of action.
ADULT FORUM
You can participate in the Adult Forum class in-person or on Zoom. More details are here.
The Power of Storytelling & Doing Justice
Utilizing her memoir titled, “ The Trauma of Sexual and Domestic Violence: Navigating My Way Through Individuals, Religion, Policing, and the Courts” and storytelling, Dr. Sharon Ellis Davis will help make connections to social issues. Often, we think of domestic violence as a personal issue between intimate partners alone and fail to understand how various social issues impacts healing when we fail to engage in both prevention and intervention.
Rev. Dr. Sharon Ellis Davis is a Womanist Practical Theologian & Ethicist and serves as the Assistant Visiting Professor of Pastoral Ethicist at Lexington Theological Seminary. Dr. Ellis Davis is a nationally recognized speaker in the field of “Sexual and Domestic Violence,” especially as it intersects with race, class, gender, and the criminal justice system.
The Power of Storytelling & Doing Justice
Utilizing her memoir titled, “ The Trauma of Sexual and Domestic Violence: Navigating My Way Through Individuals, Religion, Policing, and the Courts” and storytelling, Dr. Sharon Ellis Davis will help make connections to social issues. Often, we think of domestic violence as a personal issue between intimate partners alone and fail to understand how various social issues impacts healing when we fail to engage in both prevention and intervention.
Rev. Dr. Sharon Ellis Davis is a Womanist Practical Theologian & Ethicist and serves as the Assistant Visiting Professor of Pastoral Ethicist at Lexington Theological Seminary. Dr. Ellis Davis is a nationally recognized speaker in the field of “Sexual and Domestic Violence,” especially as it intersects with race, class, gender, and the criminal justice system.
VIDEOS
Use these videos from our "Follow Me" curriculum resources to spur your own thought, or as discussion starters in your household, small group, and beyond.
Week 1: Recognize Injustice
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Week 2: Check Your Prejudice
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Week 3: Speak Up
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Week 4: Do The Work
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Further video resources on Do Justice:
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These videos are meant especially for kids and/or their parents.
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BoOKS & OTHER RESOURCES
Books
Websites & articles
Podcasts
Children's book recommendations
- The Trauma of Sexual and Domestic Violence: Navigating My Way through Individuals, Religion, Policing, and the Courts by Sharon Ellis Davis
- The Fear of Too Much Justice: Race, Poverty, and the Persistence of Inequality in the Criminal Courts by Stephen Bright & James Kwak
- The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein
- To Do Justice: A Guide for Progressive Christians by Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty and Rebecca Todd Peters
- Jesus, Justice and the Reign of God: A Ministry of Liberation by William R. Herzog II
- Hope Is Here!: Spiritual Practices for Pursuing Justice and Beloved Community by Luther E. Smith Jr.
- Acting in the Wake: Prayers for Justice by Walter Brueggemann
- Elusive Grace: Loving Your Enemies While Striving for God's Justice by Scott Black Johnston
- Hope for the Future: Answering God's Call to Justice for Our Children by Shannon Daley-Harris
Websites & articles
- Explore the Topic: Justice from Enter the Bible
- "Promoting Restorative Justive" from Real Kids Real Faith (meant for adults with kids, but applicable to everyone!)
- Undesign the Redline (Lexington Public Library exhibit) additional books, TED Talks, and more
Podcasts
- The Bible for Normal People: Jemar Tisby - Acknowledging Racism in the Church
- The Bible for Normal People: Ally Henny – Finding Your Voice in the Face of Injustice
- The Bible for Normal People: Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg - On Repentance and Repair
- Enter the Bible: The Bible and Justice
- Everything Happens with Kate Bowler: Love Mercy with Bryan Stevenson
Children's book recommendations
- Fair Is Fair, Isn’t It? by Dr. Lindsey L. Wilson
- What If Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick
- This Is Our House by Michael Rosen
- Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem by Amanda Gorman
- Speak Up by Miranda Paul and Ebony Glenn
- Crocodile’s Crossing: A Search for Home by Yoeri Slegers
ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN
Movement Meditation for Justice
Children long to make a difference in the world around them. From their earnest commitment to fairness as preschoolers to their persistent questions about right and wrong as elementary kids, they look for ways to uphold justice. Help children explore being a force for justice with this movement meditation. Invite them to watch and imitate the motions on the video, or watch the video yourself to learn the movements and then use the script (see Related Resources) to guide children in the practice. There’s also a seated version of the meditation provided below for those who would find that format more accessible. Click here to see the video and script.
Change Sings
Amanda Gorman’s new book, Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem, can help teach kids about social change (something that can be hard to understand when they're expected to follow certain rules and norms). Through simple poetry and vibrant images, it invites children to explore social change from many angles. They can imagine themselves in the story as a young change-agent or watch what happens as the central character moves through her changing community. Either way, they will be challenged to see change in a new light: a gift and a calling rather than something to be feared. Click here to begin a conversation about change using Change Sings and one or more of these activities.
Unfair Charades
Play charades using unfair situations as prompts. When the unfairness is guessed, discuss how it makes you feel and what action could be done to change the unfair situation.
Children long to make a difference in the world around them. From their earnest commitment to fairness as preschoolers to their persistent questions about right and wrong as elementary kids, they look for ways to uphold justice. Help children explore being a force for justice with this movement meditation. Invite them to watch and imitate the motions on the video, or watch the video yourself to learn the movements and then use the script (see Related Resources) to guide children in the practice. There’s also a seated version of the meditation provided below for those who would find that format more accessible. Click here to see the video and script.
Change Sings
Amanda Gorman’s new book, Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem, can help teach kids about social change (something that can be hard to understand when they're expected to follow certain rules and norms). Through simple poetry and vibrant images, it invites children to explore social change from many angles. They can imagine themselves in the story as a young change-agent or watch what happens as the central character moves through her changing community. Either way, they will be challenged to see change in a new light: a gift and a calling rather than something to be feared. Click here to begin a conversation about change using Change Sings and one or more of these activities.
Unfair Charades
Play charades using unfair situations as prompts. When the unfairness is guessed, discuss how it makes you feel and what action could be done to change the unfair situation.
ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH
Perpetrators, Victims, Bystanders
In any injustice there are perpetrators, victims, and bystanders. With your family or with a group of friends, spend a few minutes for each person to share a time when they have been one of these three things. Then discuss: What makes it easier or harder to recognize injustice depending on the role we play as victim, bystander, or perpetrator?
Undesign the Redline
The Undesign the Redline project unearths the deep and systemic history of structural racism and inequality in the United States. This interactive exhibit at the Central Branch of the Lexington Public Library explores policies like Redlining, their implications for today, and what we can do to undesign them. Visit the exhibit, which is open through November 17. Click here to learn more about self-guided and docent-guided tours. Then discuss what you learned with those you went with. What will you take away from it?
Speak Up
Think of the inside of the circle representing groups you belong to (family, church, community groups, classmates). Write some injustices you are aware of inside the circle. Then write a few injustices you are concerned about in the world outside of the circle. Get with a family member or friend and talk about ways you speak out or disrupt injustice using the examples you wrote.
In any injustice there are perpetrators, victims, and bystanders. With your family or with a group of friends, spend a few minutes for each person to share a time when they have been one of these three things. Then discuss: What makes it easier or harder to recognize injustice depending on the role we play as victim, bystander, or perpetrator?
Undesign the Redline
The Undesign the Redline project unearths the deep and systemic history of structural racism and inequality in the United States. This interactive exhibit at the Central Branch of the Lexington Public Library explores policies like Redlining, their implications for today, and what we can do to undesign them. Visit the exhibit, which is open through November 17. Click here to learn more about self-guided and docent-guided tours. Then discuss what you learned with those you went with. What will you take away from it?
Speak Up
Think of the inside of the circle representing groups you belong to (family, church, community groups, classmates). Write some injustices you are aware of inside the circle. Then write a few injustices you are concerned about in the world outside of the circle. Get with a family member or friend and talk about ways you speak out or disrupt injustice using the examples you wrote.