Respec For Justice and Respec For Justice and TruthTruth

The 7The 7thth, 8, 8thth and 10 and 10thth CommandmentsCommandments

Notes taken from text and leader Notes taken from text and leader of IJM Gary Haugenof IJM Gary Haugen

IntroductionIntroduction

We have been talking a lot about We have been talking a lot about commandments of 6 and 9 which challenge commandments of 6 and 9 which challenge our private morality, but it is equally our private morality, but it is equally important that we consider our public important that we consider our public responsibility to the poor both around us responsibility to the poor both around us and around the world.and around the world.

To not do so would be to be unbalanced in To not do so would be to be unbalanced in our Christianity and to misrepresent Christ our Christianity and to misrepresent Christ who cares just as much about the unjust who cares just as much about the unjust treatment of people as he does for our treatment of people as he does for our private lives (ex. sexual morality)private lives (ex. sexual morality)

What is Justice?What is Justice?

Hard to define, easier to define Hard to define, easier to define injusticeinjustice

Injustice is the abuse of power to Injustice is the abuse of power to take away from others those things take away from others those things that God intended for them namely, that God intended for them namely, their life, liberty, dignity & fruit of their life, liberty, dignity & fruit of their love and labour.their love and labour.

Examples of Major Global Examples of Major Global Injustices in Our World TodayInjustices in Our World Today

1.1. Sex traffickingSex trafficking

2.2. Bonded Slavery—over 27 million Bonded Slavery—over 27 million slaves today!slaves today!

3.3. Sexual violence—mostly against Sexual violence—mostly against women and childrenwomen and children

4.4. Illegal detentionIllegal detention

5.5. Police abusePolice abuse

6.6. Coercive land siezuresCoercive land siezures

God’s Thoughts on InjusticeGod’s Thoughts on Injustice

God HATES injustice and wants it to God HATES injustice and wants it to stop!!stop!!

Because He loves the victims of the Because He loves the victims of the abuseabuse

Is. 61:8 says “I the Lord love justice”Is. 61:8 says “I the Lord love justice”

The God of Justice: 3 pointsThe God of Justice: 3 points

1.1. God of CompassionGod of Compassion1.1. God understands injustice because this is God understands injustice because this is

what He experienced in Christ. Jesus wasn’t what He experienced in Christ. Jesus wasn’t starved or diseased but tortured and killedstarved or diseased but tortured and killed

2.2. God of wrath or moral clarityGod of wrath or moral clarity1.1. God is holy and burns with anger against God is holy and burns with anger against

injustice.injustice.

3.3. God of RescueGod of Rescue1.1. God desires to rescue people suffering from God desires to rescue people suffering from

injusticeinjustice2.2. This is the exciting part: His plan of rescue is This is the exciting part: His plan of rescue is

you and me!you and me!

Our ResponsibilityOur Responsibility

While God is displeased with injustice, While God is displeased with injustice, He is APPALLED that no one does He is APPALLED that no one does anything about it.anything about it.

Is. 59: 15, 16 says “The LORD looked Is. 59: 15, 16 says “The LORD looked and was… appalled that there was no and was… appalled that there was no one to intervene”one to intervene”

““Evil reigns when good men do Evil reigns when good men do nothing”nothing”

What must we do? Practice just living What must we do? Practice just living within our society (social justice)within our society (social justice)

What is Social Justice?What is Social Justice?

Social Justice applies the gospel Social Justice applies the gospel message of Jesus Christ to the message of Jesus Christ to the structures, systems, and laws of structures, systems, and laws of society…society…

It holds that each person has right to It holds that each person has right to a fair voice in the economic, political, a fair voice in the economic, political, and social institutions of societyand social institutions of society

How does Social Justice related to How does Social Justice related to the 7the 7thth and 9 and 9thth commandments? commandments?

The 7The 7thth commandment reads “You shall not commandment reads “You shall not steal”steal”

The 10The 10thth reads “You shall not envy reads “You shall not envy possessions”possessions”

We can become so selfish that we take, take, We can become so selfish that we take, take, take, leaving the poor with nothing take, leaving the poor with nothing

Consider this quote:Consider this quote: ““Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is

to steal from them and deprive them of life. to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs.”The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs.”

Four key themes of social justice:Four key themes of social justice:

1.1. Profit cannot be the only norm and sole goal of Profit cannot be the only norm and sole goal of economic activityeconomic activity

2.2. The economy exists to serve people; people do The economy exists to serve people; people do not exist to serve the economy—work is a good not exist to serve the economy—work is a good thing but is only a means to an end not an end in thing but is only a means to an end not an end in itselfitself

3.3. Richer nations must work hard for intentional Richer nations must work hard for intentional sharing of our material wealth with other poorer sharing of our material wealth with other poorer nations (solidarity)nations (solidarity)

4.4. We must imitate Jesus by having a special love We must imitate Jesus by having a special love for the poor.for the poor.

1.1. First around us—less popular student, etc.First around us—less popular student, etc.2.2. Then out of our circles—works of mercy in Regina, AfricaThen out of our circles—works of mercy in Regina, Africa

Sharing TimeSharing Time

Pictures Refugees in Kampala Pictures Refugees in Kampala Uganda where I lived…Uganda where I lived…

Letter I wrote to Gary Haugen after Letter I wrote to Gary Haugen after course I took in 2004course I took in 2004

Website on IJM (international Justice Website on IJM (international Justice Mission)Mission)

The Boys of Baraka FilmThe Boys of Baraka Film Apply 3 points on the God of Justice Apply 3 points on the God of Justice

to this filmto this film

The Boys of BarakaThe Boys of Baraka

Violations Against the 7Violations Against the 7thth Commandment: Don’t stealCommandment: Don’t steal

Keeping objects lent to usKeeping objects lent to us Paying unjust wagesPaying unjust wages Shoddy workShoddy work Expense account paddingExpense account padding Waste, environmental degradationWaste, environmental degradation Willfully damaging public and private Willfully damaging public and private

propertyproperty ““Eating without giving thanks is stealing”Eating without giving thanks is stealing”

African sayingAfrican saying Discuss Case studies on p. 253 & 259Discuss Case studies on p. 253 & 259

The Tenth Commandment:The Tenth Commandment:You shall not covet your Neigbour’s You shall not covet your Neigbour’s

GoodsGoods 77thth commandment focuses on the commandment focuses on the

external acts related to theft the 10external acts related to theft the 10thth commandment looks at the heart commandment looks at the heart which is the root of theft, robbery, which is the root of theft, robbery, stealing, etc.stealing, etc.

Much like the sex commandmentsMuch like the sex commandments Jesus’ comments on possessions on Jesus’ comments on possessions on

p. 261p. 261

Violations against the 8th Violations against the 8th Commandment: Don’t lieCommandment: Don’t lie

False witness and perjuryFalse witness and perjury Failing to respect reputation of Failing to respect reputation of

others. Rash judgmentothers. Rash judgment DetractionDetraction Encouraging others to do evil. Encouraging others to do evil.

FlatteryFlattery Boasting and braggingBoasting and bragging IronyIrony Lying—4 factorsLying—4 factors

Lying is a violation against the Lying is a violation against the truth. It’s seriousness depends on truth. It’s seriousness depends on

four factors:four factors:1.1. The nature of the truth that is distortedThe nature of the truth that is distorted

2.2. The circumstancesThe circumstances

3.3. The intentions of the one who liesThe intentions of the one who lies

4.4. The harm suffered by the victims of the The harm suffered by the victims of the lielie

Ex. Hiding Jews during WW IIEx. Hiding Jews during WW II Being discreet means speaking the Being discreet means speaking the

truth but not telling everything we knowtruth but not telling everything we know

Quote from John VianneyQuote from John Vianney

““If something unloving is said in your If something unloving is said in your presence, either speak in favour of presence, either speak in favour of the absent, or withdraw, or, if the absent, or withdraw, or, if possible, stop the conversation.”possible, stop the conversation.”

Part of being the Notre Dame Part of being the Notre Dame Woman/Man is telling the truthWoman/Man is telling the truth

Exercise on pg. 265Exercise on pg. 265 Movie clip from “The Legend of Movie clip from “The Legend of

Beggar Vance” (Remember?)Beggar Vance” (Remember?)

Song clip Bonus assignmentSong clip Bonus assignmentex. One by Creedex. One by Creed

Choose one song that relates to themes of Choose one song that relates to themes of social justice or injustice.social justice or injustice.

Print off the lyrics along with the artist and Print off the lyrics along with the artist and the name of the song.the name of the song.

Answer the following questions:Answer the following questions: What theme of injustice does the song address?What theme of injustice does the song address? What does the artist say about it?What does the artist say about it? Does the artist give a solution? If so tell me Does the artist give a solution? If so tell me

what it is or if not suggest a possible answer to what it is or if not suggest a possible answer to the named injustice.the named injustice.

Due next Wed…Due next Wed…