Justice and Mercy - what are they?

Yesterday morning, way too early I was at a breakfast where Tony Campolo and Tim Costello spoke. I was really thought-provoking and interesting, even if I did have to get up at 5am!

It was a 'discussion' rather than a presentation or speech and both men were asked:

What does 'justice' mean?

Whether acts of mercy are a band aid action?

How do Mercy and Justice meet?

They took this from the Micah 6:8 verse. Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God. A verse that is still with me after it being the theme of my first NCYC in 2001. (As Rhax says: 'Everything with me is NCYC.' So why should I disappoint him and have a post that doesn't mention NCYC?)

Anyway there were a couple of point that I though were worth writing down.

Campolo said:

• Philippians 1 says that God will complete the good work we have begun. (Need to look that up for myself when I have a minute - ie. not now!)
• Justice and mercy have come from his prayer time. (Even more indication for me that quiet reflection with God is so important!)
• Prayer has often become just a list of demands. (Big challenge for me there.)
• Our attitude should be: Not am I noble enough to serve but am I worthy. (Big challenge for me undertaking a year of service!)
• "When mercy becomes policy it becomes justice".
• "Sooner or later mercy forces you to face justice."

Costello said:

• To the Right justice is retribution, to the Left redistribution (Social Justice). Fundamentally the same: There is a God who holds us responsible.
• "Justice is giving to people what they deserve. Mercy is giving people more than they deserve." (That is my favorite or most challenging thought for the day.)
• "You can't carry out the The Great Commission without carrying out The Great Commandment."

So there is a lot of food for thought. It's really got me asking what my definitions of 'justice' and 'mercy' are. I think I really like Costello's 'what people deserve and more than what people deserve' statement. For me 'mercy' has been an emotion that has inspired an action. 'Justice' has been reorganizing situations/events/laws/whatever to make things fair (although no one ever promised life would be fair) or to make things more equal. It's been a fight or protest or struggle though not in a violent way.

Hmm, plenty to think about. Really gets me asking what does it really mean to 'act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with my God'.