What Is Justice? And How Important Is It Really?
Rev. Erik Swanson
October 19, 2025
You can watch the entire sermon here.
I recently came across some statistics that really struck me. The United States has only 5% of the world’s population but consumes about 25% of its energy. One American uses 128 times more than someone in Bangladesh. We consume one-third of the world’s paper, 25% of its oil, and the top 1% of earners own over 30% of the nation’s wealth — nearly $50 trillion. Meanwhile, people of African descent make up only 13% of the U.S. population, but African American men account for 35% of local jail inmates. When I look at these numbers, I can’t help but ask: does any of that seem equitable?
These statistics reveal how profoundly unbalanced our world is, and why cries of “No justice, no peace” are not threats, but statements of truth. Without justice, peace cannot exist.
Moving Toward Fairness, Equity and Compassion
I believe we are part of a great, ongoing struggle — one that stretches back through time — to move the world toward fairness, equity, and compassion. Yet, the systems of privilege and power resist change fiercely. Today, I see new threats emerging as our democracy itself seems to be slipping toward autocracy, with power consolidating at the top. At the same time, ordinary people face growing hardship, from deportations to hospital closures caused by policies that funnel wealth to the few. These are not distant problems. They are happening now, and they reveal that the struggle for justice is not confined to the past — this is our moment to act. If we don’t engage, we risk being swept aside by forces that care little for justice or equality.
Transformation For Ourselves and Our World
To follow the way of Jesus is to enter that struggle — to confront injustice, both systemic and personal — and to seek transformation for ourselves and for our world. In today’s parable, Jesus uses the image of an unjust judge, which immediately raises questions about what true justice really means. Justice is not vengeance or payback, though that’s often how our culture portrays it. Nor is it twisting truth to fit our own comfort or political stance. True justice requires us to seek the deeper truth beneath the noise, to listen to the voices of those who are hurting, and to create balance where the scales have long been tipped.
God’s Divine Justice Is About Restoration
God’s justice, as I understand it, is not about punishment but restoration. It’s about lifting up the poor, the excluded, and the oppressed. It’s about equity, compassion, and ensuring that all people are cared for and safe. The unjust judge in Jesus’ story had no fear of God and no respect for others. Perhaps our call is the reverse — to live in awe of God and to treat every person with dignity and respect. That is the foundation of divine justice.