Justice For All?

(a brief Lectionary reflection by Steve Orr)

"What do YOU think?" 

The question significantly ratcheted up the tension in an already uncomfortable situation.  The person from whom I was collecting testimony wanted me to provide my opinion about the matter under investigation.  That question, or one like it, comes up a lot in the course of conducting a federal investigation.  They say things like, "Don't you agree?" or "You would have done the same thing.  Right?" or any number of things intended to solicit the Investigator's opinion.  In one sense, it is natural.  People involved in a conflict want to win others to their side of the issue.  And when federal law is involved, the pressure to be right grows exponentially for some of the parties.  It's a big deal.  For some of them, if they are wrong, if they don't prevail, the price can be steep. 

Is it any wonder that the folks providing evidence or testimony want to win over the investigator?  Still, that is not allowed.  Investigators are neutral parties. They do not render judgments.  And in that vein, they do not share any opinions they have formed about the matter under investigation.  In fact, for an Investigator to do his/here job correctly, it is essential they remain neutral.  Opinions, and eventually judgments, are the province of the adjudicators, the judges who render decisions.

If I do my job correctly ---do the digging, questioning, evidence gathering, probing, analysis, etc.--- then the judges can do theirs.  So, when asked, "What do YOU think?" I reiterate my roles in the process, explaining, again, that I am neutral.  It's not ever quite that smooth, though.  They don't give up easily.  People want justice, or at least, they want what they consider to be justice; to win, to beat the charge, to not pay the piper, or to force the accused TO pay the piper.  It's all in their perspective.

However you look at it, one thing is certain.  I am not the Judge.

Federal investigators become involved in some pretty interesting matters, not least of which is being up close and personal with our justice system.  There is a lot said and written about the justice system in this country, some positive and some negative.  But for all that, it is a rare person to suggest we should do without it.  We recognize that there are times when a person with discernment must settle the conflicts between parties because, whether laws were broken or parties believe themselves wronged by another, a decision must be made or the conflict will continue; or worse, escalate. 

Ironically (and the irony here is VERY heavy), conflicts over spiritual matters are far more contentious than those over matters of this world.  We SO want to be right in our spiritual choices.  After all, literally everything is riding on it.  We have committed our very selves.  But that just does not seem to be enough.  It doesn't seem like our being right is fully satisfying; those who are different must also be wrong.  And that is truly sad.  

A few weeks ago, I asked if we could not trust God in His declaration that HE will take care of any vengeance that needs dispensing.  And now I am asking, can't we trust Him in his commandment to not judge others?  If we cannot accept the explanation in this week's Lectionary reading (Romans 14:4), can we not just trust the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount?  I realize some of us will disagree on this, and perhaps part of that is due to differences in our definitions of judging.  So, to clarify, I am not addressing situations where we need to exercise discernment or wisdom.  And I am not addressing the judicial portion of our justice system.  In fact, about the only criticisms of justice systems in scripture is when they fail to serve their function.

No.  What I'm addressing here are matters of dispute between "people of the book."  For those, I stand with the Romans passage: "Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall.  And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand." (Romans 14:4 NIV)

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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Proper 19 (24) (September 11, 2011)

Exodus 14:19-31
Psalm 114 or Exodus 15:1b-11, 20-21
Genesis 50:15-21
Psalm 103:(1-7), 8-13
Romans 14:1-12
Matthew 18:21-35

If you are in Waco Friday morning, join us.  Maybe we'll talk about what really happened at the Red Sea crossing, or perhaps the price paid by the forgiven servant who failed to subsequently extend that grace to another, or something else from this week's scriptures.  We'll be at Cafe Cappuccino (8:00 a.m., downtown on 6th Street, near the Courthouse) for breakfast and a great time kicking around this week's Lectionary passages.  We would love to have you drop in.