"however seek first the kingdom of God and the righteousness of him and these things will be added to you."1
This word for righteousness is dikaiosuné, "justice, justness, righteousness." There is a paradox when it comes to righteousness and justice, we know we are obligated to such, we sense its pull, but it is often difficult to define what it is and how to implement it. And then we have the matter of the circumcision party who would encourage us to put our trust in the flesh and the letter of the law, rules and regulations. So what is righteousness and justice, how can I ensure it is taking place? The prophets of God speak, Righteousness and justice dwell together in the land.
"Thus, will be the last first and the first last..."2
I will focus on Jesus, our example, and when it comes to children of faith, to the least of these, it is of high importance. Justice surely involves treating them well. In fact how I treat them Jesus said is equivalent to how I would treat him. If I truly put him First then I will become last, such is exalting the little children in faith, and the principle of the first becoming last. Such is truly righteousness. The Kingdom of God is like little children; of honesty and innocence, of decency, not fighting over who is the greatest.
"and shall dwell justice And righteousness in the land abiding."3
Isaiah speaks that "the work of righteousness is peace and the effect of righteousness, quietness." Justice dwells in the "land" as righteousness needs justice and the work of these is peace and quite in the land. Without this justice, and a process for it to occur, light is not being proclaimed on a lamp stand, there can be no true peace within our "land" and within our organizations.
"When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers."4
Righteousness and justice dwell together. It is important to understand justice within our organizations and that there is a process for justice, often called the process for Church discipline, taken from Matthew 18. I would call it something different, the process of illumination or the process of justice.... Its core purpose is dealing with darkness and bringing it into the light. The nature of deception is that we are deceived, this process through agape Love allows for truth to be spoken in love.
"But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."5
For justice to be served this process must be followed with the mindset of edification in faith, in building up in Love. One can not manage something he doesn't measure, so there must be a process to measure. I learned this process first through counseling in the Military; you do a verbal counseling, next a written counseling with mediation, then you take extra steps, bringing it before the senior leaders etc... NASA implements a "coaching" technique where you are trying to coach someone instead of condemnation. Many people have been abused by authority that would use fear and condemnation as disciplinary means. "Learn to do right; seek justice..."6 "Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!"7
The Biblical process is simple, go to the person in private, next do mediation, next bring it before the church. Of course it also allows for mediation, for a third party to objectively introduce truth and for the beam in my own eye to be examined. This process often is not used because we do not understand how it is to be used or because of experiences of its misuse. Subordinates can subvert the process by going "over the head" of leaders to senior leaders. We can help stop this subverting by encouraging the process, by not listening without the other party present, and by having chaplains or counselors who are anonymous for the purpose of healthy "venting."
"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”7
Leaders can subvert the process for different reasons, but such causes injustice within organizations and prevents healing. They might do so based upon false teachings of authority, sacrifice, etc... Some subvert the process to cover wrong, injustice has occurred but fear, shame... these things are used against you, i.e. you are told you are coming against the authority of God, or you are told to sacrifice for the good of the organization, and when you do not you are accused of being lawless or of not having a servants heart...
"Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him."8
There is also "silo building" within organizations, people building their own power structures. There can be jealousy and dissension, "the senior leaders get all the credit," they would say. Some subvert the process because of some false sense of having "big shoulders," the need to protect the senior leaders or the organization. Others believe in this "divine right" type of authority where authority is to be protected above everything else... Then there is the gossiping leader or the counselor who would use your transparency against you. Because of these things hypocrisy and injustice occurs within the organization.
"Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause."9
Leaders can subvert the process because they seek the glory of men above God, this was King Saul's sin along with the lack of a repentive heart. These type of leaders "kiss up" to the people or to leaders, we called them something different in the Military. Often they are called "yes men," they honor the leaders but it is all for appearances, they mistreat one another and the people, there is no justice in the land. Others because they have been mistreated by authority in the past, will take all means necessary to have the appearance of not coming against authority, they will not stand for justice for the people. All these people go to great lengths to please authority, it is all about the authority, while hypocrisy and injustice is being served to the people.
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another,"10
Seek first the kingdom of God and the righteousness of him, if we only would then every thing else would be added. When the little children of faith get chewed up and spit out by injustice, the Father will have vengeance. We seek First the glory of God above that of men. This most important part of this process is justice occurring through the work of Righteousness. This work of God shining light on the hearts of men, tearing down strongholds, such is not for the tearing down of people, not a battle against flesh and blood but against spiritual authority seeking to destroy God's people, the Church. The work of Righteousness produces true peace and justice dwells with righteousness, therefore it can not be separate. It is a simple process but a difficult task, well worth it if you would love the souls of men.
This word for righteousness is dikaiosuné, "justice, justness, righteousness." There is a paradox when it comes to righteousness and justice, we know we are obligated to such, we sense its pull, but it is often difficult to define what it is and how to implement it. And then we have the matter of the circumcision party who would encourage us to put our trust in the flesh and the letter of the law, rules and regulations. So what is righteousness and justice, how can I ensure it is taking place? The prophets of God speak, Righteousness and justice dwell together in the land.
"Thus, will be the last first and the first last..."2
I will focus on Jesus, our example, and when it comes to children of faith, to the least of these, it is of high importance. Justice surely involves treating them well. In fact how I treat them Jesus said is equivalent to how I would treat him. If I truly put him First then I will become last, such is exalting the little children in faith, and the principle of the first becoming last. Such is truly righteousness. The Kingdom of God is like little children; of honesty and innocence, of decency, not fighting over who is the greatest.
"and shall dwell justice And righteousness in the land abiding."3
Isaiah speaks that "the work of righteousness is peace and the effect of righteousness, quietness." Justice dwells in the "land" as righteousness needs justice and the work of these is peace and quite in the land. Without this justice, and a process for it to occur, light is not being proclaimed on a lamp stand, there can be no true peace within our "land" and within our organizations.
"When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers."4
Righteousness and justice dwell together. It is important to understand justice within our organizations and that there is a process for justice, often called the process for Church discipline, taken from Matthew 18. I would call it something different, the process of illumination or the process of justice.... Its core purpose is dealing with darkness and bringing it into the light. The nature of deception is that we are deceived, this process through agape Love allows for truth to be spoken in love.
"But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."5
For justice to be served this process must be followed with the mindset of edification in faith, in building up in Love. One can not manage something he doesn't measure, so there must be a process to measure. I learned this process first through counseling in the Military; you do a verbal counseling, next a written counseling with mediation, then you take extra steps, bringing it before the senior leaders etc... NASA implements a "coaching" technique where you are trying to coach someone instead of condemnation. Many people have been abused by authority that would use fear and condemnation as disciplinary means. "Learn to do right; seek justice..."6 "Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!"7
The Biblical process is simple, go to the person in private, next do mediation, next bring it before the church. Of course it also allows for mediation, for a third party to objectively introduce truth and for the beam in my own eye to be examined. This process often is not used because we do not understand how it is to be used or because of experiences of its misuse. Subordinates can subvert the process by going "over the head" of leaders to senior leaders. We can help stop this subverting by encouraging the process, by not listening without the other party present, and by having chaplains or counselors who are anonymous for the purpose of healthy "venting."
"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”7
Leaders can subvert the process for different reasons, but such causes injustice within organizations and prevents healing. They might do so based upon false teachings of authority, sacrifice, etc... Some subvert the process to cover wrong, injustice has occurred but fear, shame... these things are used against you, i.e. you are told you are coming against the authority of God, or you are told to sacrifice for the good of the organization, and when you do not you are accused of being lawless or of not having a servants heart...
"Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him."8
There is also "silo building" within organizations, people building their own power structures. There can be jealousy and dissension, "the senior leaders get all the credit," they would say. Some subvert the process because of some false sense of having "big shoulders," the need to protect the senior leaders or the organization. Others believe in this "divine right" type of authority where authority is to be protected above everything else... Then there is the gossiping leader or the counselor who would use your transparency against you. Because of these things hypocrisy and injustice occurs within the organization.
"Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause."9
Leaders can subvert the process because they seek the glory of men above God, this was King Saul's sin along with the lack of a repentive heart. These type of leaders "kiss up" to the people or to leaders, we called them something different in the Military. Often they are called "yes men," they honor the leaders but it is all for appearances, they mistreat one another and the people, there is no justice in the land. Others because they have been mistreated by authority in the past, will take all means necessary to have the appearance of not coming against authority, they will not stand for justice for the people. All these people go to great lengths to please authority, it is all about the authority, while hypocrisy and injustice is being served to the people.
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another,"10
Seek first the kingdom of God and the righteousness of him, if we only would then every thing else would be added. When the little children of faith get chewed up and spit out by injustice, the Father will have vengeance. We seek First the glory of God above that of men. This most important part of this process is justice occurring through the work of Righteousness. This work of God shining light on the hearts of men, tearing down strongholds, such is not for the tearing down of people, not a battle against flesh and blood but against spiritual authority seeking to destroy God's people, the Church. The work of Righteousness produces true peace and justice dwells with righteousness, therefore it can not be separate. It is a simple process but a difficult task, well worth it if you would love the souls of men.