“Hey! That’s not fair!”
Have you ever used these words? Maybe as a child you received an obviously smaller piece of cake that your sibling. Your cried, “Hey! That’s not fair!” Maybe it was punishment time and your sibling received a lighter sentence than you for the same offense. “Hey! That’s not fair!” As a teen, you protested that Sally’s parents let her do so-and-so. “Hey! That’s not fair!” Remember the time you were at the amusement park, waiting in line for-like-ever for your ride and someone cut the line? Something inside you screamed, “Hey! That’s not fair!”
Maybe as an adult, you were driving and stuck in a long line of cars, waiting to make the same turn, and you witness someone else pass all the waiting cars and cut the line ahead of you. “Hey! That’s not fair!” What about that person who received that promotion but you didn’t? “Hey! That’s not fair!” Maybe you’re still a single woman and you’ve cried, “She’s had multiple husbands and I can’t even get one!” “Hey! That’s not fair!” I know wives whose wombs are still barren and they plead, “Why can she have babies and I can’t?” “Hey! That’s not fair!” I know Pastors who criticize larger ministries for various reasons. “Hey! That’s not fair!” Long ago, I used to harshly blame Adam for his transgression with, “Thanks, Adam! YOUR sin has been imputed to me. And now because of YOU, I have to deal with sin!” Translation: “Hey! That’s not fair!”
I bring this up in response to the rise of community protests and demands for “social justice” and “equality” in our country. Sure, striving for justice and equality is noble and necessary, but not at the expense of God’s grace and mercy. What I want to communicate here is a warning and it requires, 1) Maturity and Discernment (Heb 5:12-14), and 2) An ear to hear. (Mt 11:15)
We’ve all experienced that “Hey! That’s not fair” feeling, but really, what’s the spirit behind that declaration? At it’s core, what am I really asking for? I submit to you that any time we cry “Hey! That’s not fair,” we’re demanding justice, we’re begging for law, and, consequently, we leave grace.
Allow me to illustrate, if I may:
“Hey! That’s not fair!” –> “I want justice!” –> “I want law!” — I frustrate grace (Gal 2:21)
Today, when people-groups (particularly blacks) cry for justice, I submit to you that to a large degree they get what they ask for — law, or more appropriately, the curse of the law. By appealing for justice, these protesters ignorantly demand law and remove themselves from God’s grace, thereby placing themselves back under the curse of the law, which is they can never sin again, they have to be perfect, and they have to perform the entire law. Justice and laws are good, but who can keep them all? Understand that this same justice and law, which is good, becomes our enemy when we find ourselves guilty and on the receiving end of its requirements for satisfaction. (Similarly, God’s law is good, but that law becomes our enemy when we sin because now instead of saving us, that same law demands satisfaction — punishment and sacrifice. See Isa 53:11 and Rom 8:1-3). I also believe that these same people-groups continue to “receive in their own persons the due penalty of their error.” (Rom 1:27) Albeit ignorantly, they remain under the self-imposed curse of the law. God has said, “Whatever a man sows, this will he also reap.” (Gal 6:7)
As I’ve lived and experienced my fallen nature (but more so God’s daily grace and mercy), I’ve come to realize a few things. First of all, I have to ask myself, “What things have I gotten away with that wasn’t fair?” Yikes! Second, simply because I believe, the righteousness of Christ have been imputed — ascribed and attributed — to me, so I get credit for His works and righteousness, yet I didn’t do a thing to deserve this. I think to myself, “Hey. That’s not fair.” Third, my sins are now imputed to Christ and He assumed the consequences and demands of justice for my sins, and He didn’t do anything to deserve that. Humbly, I have to admit, “Hey. That’s not fair.”
Sometime ago, I read:
– Justice is us getting what we deserve.
– Mercy is us not getting what we deserve.
– Grace is us getting what we don’t deserve.
We need to humble ourselves before God and acknowledge that our understanding of justice is embarrassingly small compared to God’s. (See Mt 20:1-6) Maturity and discernment says, the more we understand justice and our fallen ways, none of us should be demanding justice (fairness), because none of us want what we really deserve. Seriously, what guilty person would stand before a judge and demand justice? That’s absurd! In this instance, we don’t really want justice because we fully understand that demands for justice will bring the full brunt of the law’s punishment. Instead, we throw ourselves at the mercy of the court. Sure, seek justice and equality. Just be careful not to frustrate grace! (Read Galatians 2:16-21 in The Message.)