Over the past month, I've gotten involved with Prison Fellowship. I wanted to invite you to a six-week study to learn about the criminal justice system and the potential for reform from a Christian perspective. This is a "no homework" study, 6-7:15 pm every Wednesday evening via Zoom, starting July 15th. Each session will have a 20-minute video followed by a group discussion. I like this study because they have small, medium, large action steps after each session.
1. JUSTICE THAT RESTORES, 7/15, 6-7:15 pm
2. JUSTICE THAT RESPONDS, 7/22, 6-7:15 pm
3. JUSTICE THAT LISTENS, 7/29, 6-7:15 pm
4. JUSTICE THAT FITS, 8/5, 6-7:15 pm
5. JUSTICE THAT TRANSFORMS, 8/12, 6-7:15 pm
Memory Verse:
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. —Isaiah 42:3-4, Matthew 12:19,20-21
- I added Psalm 23:1,3 to see "Restores" within the Bible. Psalm 23 is the second most looked up Bible verse on Google (second to John 3:16-21)
Open:
Is there something you have seen in the news, or an incident that happened to you or a friend, that has made you second-guess justice in America?
- George Floyd, Breonna Taylor
Tell about a time when you felt you were unfairly punished by a parent, teacher, or boss. What happened? How did that feel?
- shocking, humiliating, thinking about it makes my heart beat faster even now.
Readings:
- But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:21-24 NIV
- “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” - Luke 4:18-19 NIV
Respond:
1. In the video, you heard the story of Marlyn, a mom who ended up in jail because she didn’t have $200 to pay a traffic ticket. How do you think a person’s economic status affects their interactions with the justice system?
- The poorer the person the greater the perception as wayward and deviant. It's not just wealth but what one does with their wealth that adds to the perception (taking the day off work, getting intoxicated, not supporting themselves).
2. In the video, Craig said that even though we’re created in the image of God and loved by God, we all fall short. The Romans 3 passage echoes this same truth. What does it mean to “fall short”? What are some ways that ordinary people often fall short?
- Falling short is missing the mark or not crossing the finish line. I thought of this as praying to God for the courage to forgive someone, then once given courage you decide it's "done" and don't give that person the forgiveness. This is because the world says forgiveness is "to no longer be angry" but the Bible says “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).
3.a) In the video, Craig said, “What we call the problems in our culture are actually our solutions. …To take a violent act against another human being is to solve for the problem of fear, jealousy, or anger. To divorce our wife, to lie or get drunk, is the solution to the problems that are within us.” In other words, we try to solve our problems by acting out. What we think is the “solution ultimately causes pain for ourselves and others.” Tell about a time when you tried to solve a problem in a way that made things worse.
- Interventions that require broader collaboration or skills I don't have. In my impatience, I try to do it alone. The end results leave property more damaged than before (or "half-done") and drifting/damaged relationships.
3.b) What does Romans 3:21-24 say about how we can attain righteousness? In other words, how can we satisfy God’s justice and be made right with Him? (Romans 3:22)
- God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ's redemption, it's the gift of God given to all who believe (trust and acknowledge God's Son). AMP Bible, "But now the righteousness of God has been clearly revealed [independently and completely] apart from the Law, though it is [actually] confirmed by the Law and the [words and writings of the] Prophets. This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s Son]. There is no distinction, since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God, and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,"
4) What does it mean to be “justified freely by grace”? (Romans 3:24)
I like the AMP version:
being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,"
MSG version:
But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity, he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.
5) Through the prophet Isaiah, God told His people that He “loves justice” but “hates wrongdoing (robbery and iniquity)” (see Isaiah 61:8, quoted at the opening of this session). God offers grace but hates wrongdoing and crime. Is this inconsistent? How do these two ideas fit together?
- Justice is the plumb line, wrongdoing is everything else. "Do Justice (Micah 6:8)", God did this (grace) for all who believe. 2 Cor 5:19: 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God
- Justice Defined: 1. The state or characteristic of being just or fair. 2. The ideal of fairness, impartiality, etc., especially with regard to the punishment of wrongdoing. 3. Judgment and punishment of a party who has allegedly wronged another.
- Wrongdoing Defined: 1. uncountable Violation of standards of behavior. 2. countable An instance of doing wrong.
Countable Example Robbery:
- Robbery Define: The offense of taking or attempting to take the property of another by force or threat of force.
Uncountable Example Iniquity
- Iniquity Defined: 1. Deviation from what is right; wickedness, gross injustice. 2. An unfair act or unconscionable deed. 3. Hostility, malevolence, lawlessness.
6) In Luke 4, Jesus is reading aloud from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, not only to define His mission, but to make it clear to His listeners that He was the Messiah. Looking at His words, what do you think He would say to the children of incarcerated parents? Or the parents of incarcerated young people?
- Jesus would say, you can have freedom with me and you can bring that freedom to your family. Jesus is one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. (Acts 10:1-11:18 shows example of this with Cornelious and Peter).
7) I've been to Lino Lakes, St. Cloud, and Mooselake visiting friends and family.
8) Jesus mentions the poor, the prisoners, the blind, and the oppressed. What does Jesus say He will do for each of these groups? How do these groups overlap? As Jesus’ followers, what are some practical ways we can continue His mission?
- Proclaim (announce, declare) good news, freedom, recovery of sight, set free, year of the Lord's favor.
- Receive and apply these messages to my heart, mind, and soul. Then find ways to speak into their lives, build relationships with them, and proclaim the truth of Jesus.
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