justice

A Biblical Perspective on Justice in Leadership

Tom Ratkovich, , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

“Evil men do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.”

Proverbs 28:5 contrasts two fundamentally divergent ways of seeing our world. There is the way of the disobedient to God – those who are morally incapable of recognizing true justice because their evil, self-centered desires distort their judgment. They are not only unable to be just; they are similarly incapable of humility, mercy, compassion and love.

Conversely, those who seek God are uniquely capable of understanding His justice because they see others through a lens forged in God’s character. His word not only defines justice, but teaches how it is to be carried out.

“You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. Justice, and only justice, you shall follow…” Deuteronomy 16:19-20a

The takeaway: Justice rejects favoritism. Justice despises corruption.

“You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice.” Exodus 23:1-2

The takeaway: Truth and justice cannot be severed.

“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8

The takeaway: Justice is inseparable from gentleness, mercy and humility.

“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” Isaiah 1:17

The takeaway: Justice protects the poor, the oppressed and the vulnerable.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness.” Matthew 23:23

The takeaway: Proclamations of faith without justice is hypocrisy.

This proverb has profound implications for political leadership. One might argue, for instance, that the foremost obligation of government is to ensure justice for all. How should we assess the ability of our leaders to dispense justice in an upright and impartial manner?

Do they reject favoritism and corruption? Do they lie? Are they gentle, merciful and humble? Do they help the helpless? Do they profess faith but live in disobedience to God’s word?

Fundamentally, Proverbs 28:5 is a call to humility. Understanding justice begins not with political ideology but with obedience to the Lord—truth instead of falsehood, impartiality instead of favoritism, compassion instead of condemnation. Justice does not bend to power or personal loyalty. That standard applies equally to every political leader, every movement and every believer.

The Wrath of God vs. the Wrath of Trump

Tom Ratkovich, , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

At first blush, it would appear that Donald Trump shares at least one attribute – and many would argue that it is only one – with God: Wrath. The fact is, however, that the wrath of God and the wrath of Trump are quite different phenomena.

The Wrath of God

God’s wrath is one of the most misunderstood attributes in Scripture. Frequently, it is imagined as violent and uncontrolled. Rather, His wrath is precise, consistent and morally grounded.

God is perfectly good. He will not and cannot ignore injustice, corruption or rebellion without compromising His own nature. Thus, God’s wrath is His holy and just response to sin and evil. As expressed by the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:18 (ESV):

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”

Certainly, wrath is not His default posture. Rather, He is…

“…a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty.” Exodus 34:6-7

God’s anger reflects His opposition to everything that destroys what is good, true and just. His wrath is rooted in His holiness – His complete moral purity. Of course, none of us are pure, yet God provides a way for forgiveness. His wrath and mercy intersect in the person of Jesus Christ.

“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36

In contrast to God’s holy wrath, consider the wrath of Donald Trump.

The Wrath of Trump

Although he may occasionally insinuate otherwise, Trump is only human. Like all humans, his anger is shaped by a limited perspective, emotion and, particularly in his case, self-adoration.

  • God is “slow to anger.” His wrath builds over time and is consistently proportional. It is holy. Trump’s anger is altogether different. It is immediate and personal – driven entirely by his fragile ego and exercised against anyone – the Pope included – who does not bend the knee to his narcissism.
  • Where God’s wrath ultimately manifests in love for His creation through His mercy and grace, the wrath of Trump manifests in hate and vengeance.
  • God’s wrath is always directed toward genuine evil – toward injustice, corruption and sin. It is never about protecting His image or defending His status. Trump, on the other hand, will wield injustice, corruption and sin to seek personal pleasure, elevate his self-image, and avenge his perceived enemies. Tragically, he often does so with the endorsement of so-called “Christians.”
  • God’s wrath, even when severe, ultimately serves a redemptive purpose. It upholds justice while making restoration possible. While the primary driver of Trump’s wrath is his self-love, the ultimate consequence is the polarization of both the constituency he is pledged to serve and the Church of God.

The Imperative to Love

If God was loving but without wrath, He would tolerate evil. If He was wrathful but without love, there would be no hope for any of us. Blessedly, scripture reveals a God who fully opposes evil while seeking to redeem people from it. His wrath is perfectly just, morally pure and purposeful.

The wrath of Trump is neither just or morally pure, but it is indeed quite purposeful. That purpose is singular: the elevation of his profoundly fragile, exceedingly flawed character. He is often aided in that purpose by hypocritical Christians who enable and encourage Trump’s rage.

In this age of polarization, Christians are called to a higher purpose – to be slow to anger, to pursue truth without distortion, to seek justice for all and, above all, to love.