The New Testament prohibits seeking justice.
The goal of justice is punishment.
Rom 12:19
Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. NASB
The New Testament does command treating others justly, but that is not seeking justice.
Mercy sets aside punishment.
Mercy forgives.
The New Testament commands forgiving others, which is mercy or setting aside justice.
Matt 6:14-15
14: “For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15: “But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. NASB
Even the Prophet Micah in the Old Testament says the same.
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God? NKJV
To love mercy is treating others justly and forgiving them.
However, during the early days of the nation of Israel, when they were a theocracy, God
commanded the people to administer justice according to the law.
After the Theocracy, the ruling authorities exercise justice.
Today, governments are set up by God to exact justice for the purpose of keeping order in a society.
All governments fall short of perfect justice, but God will perfect all justice at the final judgment.
When the government refuses to punish lawbreakers or exercise justice, the result is violence and chaos. We see this today in cities where prosecutors refuse to punish criminals.
Christians are commanded to obey the government. Romans 13.
Judgment forms the core of all that is important in life.
All people have a strong desire for justice, having been created in the image of God. God is just.
The Apostle Paul reminds us as Christians that we will have many opportunities to forgive others and resist seeking justice.
2 Tim 3:12
And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. NASB
First Warning:
Not forgiving others is seeking justice. Seeking justice is Spiritually destructive to the soul and forfeits the grace of God.
Heb 12:14-15
14: Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. 15: See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled. NASB
Bitterness is the result of an unwillingness to forgive, thus bitterness is evidence of seeking justice.
Second Warning:
Culturally seeking justice under labels such as reforming government, environmental rights, victimhood, reparation, human rights, social justice, gay rights, woman rights, children rights, animal rights, etc. are all temporal endeavors.
BE CAREFUL!
We as Christians are called to give our lives to the eternal, which is the souls of people through the gospel and the word of God.
Matt 28:18-20
18: And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20: teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” NASB
John 8:32
and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” NASB
1 Cor 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. NASB
In summary, act justly, show mercy, and forgive.
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