Justice, Pt 5: Justice in Church History
About the Series
Justice is one of the most important themes in the Bible. What is Biblical Justice? Does our view of justice line up with our actual practice? In this series we are doing a deep dive into scripture, then (hopefully) coming back up with a new imagination for biblical justice and how it might shape our lives and speak into the social issues of our day.
Review the last practice (10 min)
Last time you were invited to spend time meditating on the Beatitudes, writing down what was surfacing and sharing with others. What did you do? How did it go? How did God speak or meet you? Share your experience.
Read the Teaching Recap (5 min)
This week we looked at how the church embodied the justice of God (or not) in history from the early church to the medieval church. We looked specifically at three issues of justice: state violence, slavery, and money and poverty. With each, the church turned out to be a mixed bag of sweet grapes and sour grapes (Isaiah 5:1-7).
State violence. In the first few hundred years of the church, Christian’s opposed state violence of every kind. They saw themselves as people following the path of Jesus, preaching the gospel of peace. As time went on, a trend began: as Christianity would convert the Roman Empire, the Roman Empire would also convert Christianity. In the 4th century, Augustine put forward just war theory, but by the 9th century it would morph into a kind of Christian “holy war” through King Charlemagne, as he was unable to differentiate between his own political ambitions and the cause of Christ.
Slavery. Again, another mixed bag of grapes. Although Christians probably had the political power to get rid of slavery by the 6th century, they wouldn’t have the willpower for another 13 centuries. Augustine didn’t oppose the system itself, though he encouraged slaves to buy their freedom. On the whole, the church followed this line of thinking. However there were exceptions. Gregory of Nyssa looked to the Bible and argued against slavery from Creation. Many churches kept funds to help slaves buy their freedom. People from Augustine’s church once raided a boat to free more than a hundred captured slaves. Though many Christians owned slaves and justified it, many opposed it and lived the truth that justice is not a feeling or a stance. It’s an action.
Money & Poverty. According to the early Roman philosopher Plotinus, if you were poor it was because you deserved it. Similar to today’s common assumption, it was based on merit. In the early and medieval church, again it was a mixed bag of grapes. But on the whole, Christians didn’t think people “deserved” their poverty and instead, they did justice. Every early church gathering included a collection for widows and orphans. Christians rescued abandoned infants. Christians like Basil the Great started the first hospitals. Saints like Odo the abbot found creative ways to alleviate poverty while preserving people’s dignity.
Christians throughout church history had the same Bible and Holy Spirit and encounters with Jesus that we have. It’s crazy and disturbing that, (1) they could be so blind about certain things—that their perspective could be warped so much by culture—and (2) that there is probably not a single Christian around us who is as generous and brave as they were when it comes to doing justice.
So, what do we do? First, and most importantly, we rest in God’s grace—it is by grace that we are saved and sustained. And second, we see the justice done in church history also as God’s grace working in people. We can let those from the past inspire us into a life of grace-full justice.
Prayer & Discussion (40 min)
Prayer. Before we begin the discussion tonight, let’s start with prayer. Take a moment of silent prayer to listen for the Holy Spirit’s voice and ask the Lord for His help. Then when ready, allow one another to give voice to what has been prayed in silence by offering a ‘popcorn-style’ prayer with something like this:
“Help me imitate Christ. Help me _____________.”
“Help me imitate Christ. Help me _____________…”
Discuss. Take some time to discuss a few of the following questions. It’s perfectly okay if you don’t get to them all. Be encouraged to take a posture of charity and compassion for one another, and for those from the past. Remember, we have the same Scriptures, the same Holy Spirit, and encounter the same Jesus.
What were some of the blind spots within the history of justice and the church?
What stood out to you within the contexts of State Violence, Slavery, and/or Money & Poverty?
What parts of American culture blind us or prevent us from the action(s) of biblical justice?
What economic interest and inertia from the past keep us from seeing justice?
Share. What was most revealing to you in this teaching? How might God be calling you to respond without losing sight of resting in God’s grace?
Closing Prayer. Offer to the Lord prayers for one another. Pray aloud together the Lord’s Prayer.
Practice of the Week (5 min)
Take some time within your week to read and sit with some of the passages from the teaching on Justice and Church History. As you read, ask the Lord what He wants to show you about His love for you and others. If possible, share this time with a companion and explore together what inspires you to live into God’s grace and the call to biblical justice.
Genesis 1:26-27
Isaiah 5:1-7
Isaiah 60:1-3
