On Restorative Justice, Individualism, and the Church

One might ask “How can a Christian, one who believes Jesus offers forgiveness of all sins, call those who committed a sin into a punitive system?” Or, “How can an advocate for restorative justice call for someone to be tried by a flawed system?” Or, even “Why be so vocal? Aren’t you partnering with bitterness?”

The root of this sentiment is a clinging to the false concept that we function individually. We are communal creatures. We are meant for healing and relationship. When there is an injustice in our nation, it is not “one individual”. It is a collective issue. The accountability of the guilty is not to the demands of a punitive system but to the restoration of relationship. Clearly this restoration does not wipe away the injustice, but it must serve by aiding in the creation of a culture that no longer fosters injustice, that no longer partners with powers and principalities, and that honors the dead. It’s an investment.

Christians can follow the cries of the prophets and demand justice, while also maintaining the dignity of the guilty. We can be angry, and sin not. We must pursue reconciliation of relationship between communities, which cannot be reached with our eyes closed and our heads turned. 

Reconciliation is difficult not because it is a forgetting - this would not be living in the Truth - but because it is a pressing into restoration. Reconciliation is relational. Enabling a pattern of wrongdoing is enabling abuse. 

In this way, restorative justice is deeply Christian. 

Our justice system is flawed, and it will always be flawed, but Jesus didn’t say “on earth it is what it is. Settle for less until heaven or until I get back” or “the world is burning, but your individual situation is what I’m most concerned with”.

We can call for reform and abolishment - whatever it takes to resist the powers and principalities now. Wherever the Holy Spirit is calling you to resist, resist. We are called to a better Way.

We cannot sit on our hands when there is evil about. As we wait for the return of Christ, we must stand in our authority to resist the powers and principalities - racism, injustice, disunity - and partner with God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. We must maintain the dignity of the guilty, speak Truth to power, call for restorative justice and reform, honor the dead, and press against the powers and principalities that are against the Kingdom of Heaven.