_______(8) Come to Consensus Corner

COME TO CONSENSUS CORNER

Week 13: ISSUE BY ISSUE ADDRESSED BY GOD’S KINGDOM: PREJUDICE & RACISM 

Acts 10:34-35: “34 At this Peter began to speak, and he said: “Now I truly understand that God is not partial, 35 but in every nation the man who reveres him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”

Leviticus 24:22 “‘One judicial decision will apply for you, whether a foreign resident or a native, because I am Jehovah your God.’”

Deuteronomy 1:16 “At that time I instructed your judges, ‘When you hear a case between your brothers, you are to judge with uprightness between a man and his brother or a foreign resident. 17 You must not be partial in judgment. You should hear the small one the same as the great one. You must not become intimidated by men, for the judgment belongs to God; and if a case is too difficult for you, you should present it to me, and I will hear it.’”

WHY A SOURCE OF DIVISION? Certainly this ranks high among the issues in history that has been a source of tension and division when God’s view of the matter is not being held or appreciated. Why is that? Humans have been made in God’s image, and we read of God at Deuteronomy 32:4: “4 The Rock, perfect is his activity, For all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness who is never unjust; Upright and righteous is he.” Therefore, if He is a God who is unswervingly fair and just, then each of us has within us at least the potential for a determined inclination to want to be treated fairly and justly, and to treat others in the same way, regardless of our gender, the color of our skin, the size of our wallet or purse, or any other such factor.

JUSTICE AND INTEGRITY. The verse just highlighted says that “all [God’s] ways are justice.” One of the Bible proverbs, found in Proverbs 11:3, says this of men: “3 The integrity of the righteous is what guides them, But the deviousness of the treacherous will destroy them.” Thus all that righteous men do is prompted by their “integrity.” What is “integrity”? It essentially involves undeviating adherence to a certain good standard or set of standards, and is closely associated with truth and honesty. The well-known man of Bible record named Job, pronounced “Jobe” as rhyming with “robe,” had such a disposition as it related to good, upright conduct and dealings with others. The Bible record describes him as “an upright man of integrity; he feared God and shunned what was bad.” (Job 1:1). He became prominent even before the time of Moses, and while he became wealthy, he was well-loved and respected for his fair and just treatment of others.

GOD’S GOODNESS. This godly justice became like clothing to him—identifying him. In Job 29, he says: “11 Whoever heard me would speak well of me, And those who saw me would testify for me.12 For I would rescue the poor who cried for help, Along with the fatherless child and anyone who had no helper.13 The one about to perish would bless me, And I made the heart of the widow rejoice.14 I put on uprightness as my clothing; My justice was like a robe and a turban.15 I became eyes to the blind And feet to the lame.16 I was a father to the poor; I would investigate the legal case of those I did not know.17 I would break the jaws of the wrongdoer And tear the prey away from his teeth.” Thus Job’s integrity guided him to uphold good, right and fair conduct in dealing compassionately with others. Job did need correction for exalting his own righteousness more than God’s, but he accepted this correction (Job 42). Thus, it is Jehovah God who ultimately moves us to do good, to save and rescue and treat others worthily, as we seek His honor, upholding His ways. Romans 8:28 says in part “We know that God makes all his works cooperate together for the good of those who love God.” With Job’s integrity being described in chapter 30, it was largely his fear of displeasing God, involving a hatred of badness and it’s resulting harm, that moved him to speak and act the way he did.

GOD’S KINGDOM RULE. Thus, this has everything to do with the rule of God’s Kingdom. This rulership, rather than ignoring God and His counsel, will actually uphold and revere, or highly regard, Him and His ways. People will be treated with the dignity that they should be, as they continue learning how to love Jehovah and live by Christian laws and standards. Jesus certainly set an example as one putting God first, giving Him due honor, upholding His word and law. Thus the king of God’s Kingdom, installed by God, will likewise, as foretold, live, speak, and act by God’s standards. A prophecy in Psalm 72, for instance, says: “72 O God, give your judgments to the king, And endow the son of the king with your uprightness. 2 May he plead the cause of your people with uprightness, And of your lowly ones with justice. 3 May the mountains bring peace to the people, And may the hills bring uprightness. 4 Let him defend the lowly among the people, Let him save the sons of the poor, And let him crush the defrauder. 5 They will revere you as long as there is a sun And as long as the moon remains, For generation after generation...12 For he will rescue the poor who cry for help, Also the lowly one and whoever has no helper.13 He will have pity on the lowly and the poor, And the lives of the poor he will save.14 From oppression and from violence he will rescue them, And their blood will be precious in his eyes.”

HAVING GOD’S VIEW. In verse 1, this one is endowed with God’s uprightness. Thus any expression of compassion is manifested in harmony with God’s elevated laws and standards—not merely human ideas. Thus God’s word would be shared freely by this one, helping many to adhere to it’s beneficial standards. (Matthew 4:4). It is therefore true loyal love that is shown, which seeks the long-term benefit of each person, in agreement with the will of God for the endless peace and happiness of humankind. Verse 2 indicates that mistreated ones would find true justice, which includes mercy where appropriate in God’s view. Verse 4 shows the poor receive salvation, whether materially destitute, or those lacking spiritually, though deeply wanting to receive spiritual nourishment. Verse 5 shows appreciative ones will loyally respond in the genuine awe of God, eternally grateful and deeply respectful of His divine guidance and law. Verse 12 reminds us of Job’s expression of integrity, as God’s chosen one likewise rescues those in need of help. And verses 13-14 show they will be saved even from oppression and violence, as God’s kingdom begins in the near future, such ones being viewed as precious in his eyes, rather than as having little to offer the king.

CONCLUSION

GOD’S FAIR RULE! Thus it should be abundantly clear that God’s Kingdom will rule based on law, in harmony with God, especially the “royal law” of true love, as made manifest in the earthly life of Jesus Christ. Rather than advantaged ones seeking favoritism, or to be treated with partiality, all persons will be favored with the joy of true love shown to one another and life experienced in line with God’s beneficial and peaceable ways. While persons will be treated fairly, we will still have a relatively free market society, but especially blessed by God, where people can make their life largely what they put into it. And of course, also rest and relaxation, engaging in hobbies and recreational activities, delighting in the company of friends of peace. Still, many will delight in making a living doing something they enjoy that benefits others in large or small ways. In time, Isaiah 14:7 will prove true, saying: "7 The whole earth has come to rest, has become free of disturbance. People have become cheerful with joyful cries." With God’s full blessing, the result will be a secure, peaceful, happy and prosperous society of God-revering persons, continuing to learn of God’s delightful ways to further bring their lives in harmony with them.