He who condemns the just!

Proverbs 17:15(NKJV)

15    He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just,      Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.

Here's an interesting verse.  I see a lot of this in the social justice movement of the church of which I have been a critic.  I was actually a Deacon at the previous church that I attended (a major denomination) and the social justice aspect is the main reason I left.

"He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just".  While I want to focus on the second half of the sentence I'd like to spend just a minute on the first part.

Let's look at the Occupy Wall Street et al movement for a minute.  I support anybody's right to protest.  But there is a difference between peaceful protest and outright lawlessness.  In the case of the Occupy movement we have seen violent demonstrations, vandalism, rapes, murders, protesters crapping on police cars, etc.  And yet the social justice movement is right in there supporting and encouraging the whole thing.  I think that fits "he who justifies the wicked" to a tee.

But what I really want to focus on is the second part, "and he who condemns the just".  What exactly does that mean?  Who are the just?  What does it mean to be just? 

just

adjective

1. guided by truth, reason, justice, and fairness: We hope to be just in our understanding of such difficult situations.

2. done or made according to principle; equitable; proper: a just reply.

3. based on right; rightful; lawful: a just claim.

4. in keeping with truth or fact; true; correct: a just analysis.

5. given or awarded rightly; deserved, as a sentence, punishment, or reward: a just penalty.

6. in accordance with standards or requirements; proper or right: just proportions.

7. (especially in Biblical use) righteous.

8. actual, real, or genuine.

Pasted from <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/just>

Truth, reason, justice, fairness, principle, equitable, proper, rightful, lawful, correct, deserved, and righteous.  These are the words that stand out to me here.  So if a person is described as just, these words would apply to that person. 

Let's see who the Bible described as a "just man".  Noah, Joseph, Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea,  and Cornelius-a centurion.  First I would point out that there is only one of the people on the list who was perfect so being perfect obviously isn't a requirement. 

What do they all have in common?  They all were men of faith.  So from a Biblical perspective I think it is reasonable to say that any just person would have to be a person of faith.

They came from all walks of life.  A farmer and rancher, a couple of carpenters, a wealthy man, and a soldier/guard.  Notice that being  wealthy isn't a dis qualifier.  And that is where I have a big problem with the social justice movement. 

It seems to me that in the social justice movement there is an automatic presumption that anyone that has been successful financially is unjust and evil.  The just are condemned in the sense that they are targeted for their success.  In the sense that they are targeted for additional taxes.  In the sense that they are targeted because they have achieved more than the average person. 

So my recommendation would be that as you consider the arguments of the social justice crowd, just remember what the Bible says about a just person, and then look at the claims the social justice crowd are making and ask yourself, "Do they seem to be justifying the wicked, or condemning the just?"  If so then you might want to remember the second half of this verse, "Both of them are like an abomination to God"!