Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Journey Toward Justice 13

This chapter is titled 'On the Claim that Justice is Supplanted in the New Testament'. Nick states that there are those who argue that justice is supplanted by love in the New Testament Bible. One group says that God is concerned about justice but to bring justice in the social order is not our business; God will eventually do that in his time. We just have to wait for now. Another group states that what New Testament really teaches is to love our neighbour, to be benevolent or compassionate. Nygren and Kierkegaard belong to this latter category. Nygren underscores that New Testament is all about love and we should go to all extent to seek the well-being of others. Justice is not the point. Of course, sometimes love may 'perpetrate  injustice', but fine; just love. The came Reinhold Neibuhr who says that New Testament does teach about love. But then try saying 'we love you, Hitler; no killing, please.'; It won't work. Neibuhr says that there are really bad people out there and therefore love alone will not work on this earth. Justice must also be pursued. 

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