A New Law for All People?
By Ruben Alarcon
My wife and I have recently been discussing the difficulty of maintaining order and restraining chaos in contemporary societies, when most current politicians lack the vision or principled insight to address this pressing need. Drawing inspiration from Psalm 119:105 ('Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path'), we have been prompted to explore age-old principles found in the Old Testament (OT) Scriptures, in ways highlighted by Jonathan Burnside in his 2010 book God, Justice and Society.[1]
Burnside's work examines the dividing line between secular law and sacred OT law and proposes a theological framework through which to view the various pieces of legislation and practices. In his book, we are called to “think relationally about justice” and I can see how the heart of society is justice. It’s a God trademark! Burnside also points out that the value of communities decreases when they have no role to play in the process of adjudicating penal outcomes. Therefore, we all play a part in building stable and just communities. There’s a biblical focus on encouraging civil society to hold their governments accountable for their actions. A powerful reminder to consider how our agency as active citizens can bring about justice.
With encouragement drawn from Romans 1:20, as Christians, we can believe that all spheres of society would be blessed by adhering to the 'Jubilee Institutional Norms' [2] that can be derived from the OT law, on the basis that we are ‘following the Maker’s instructions’, as mentioned by Burnside, even within the setting of wider society. For the OT law, which God gave previously to Israel, became applicable to all of humanity when Jesus died on the cross (Acts 17:30). This shift in perspective prompts us to consider the universal applicability of God's law and its relevance to contemporary society.
To take one example, Burnside illustrates the contemporary relevance of the OT law with regard to the day of rest, the Sabbath. This institution was established to preserve the freedom of all individuals by God. In this context, there is a close connection between welfare provision and biblical law. Currently, many are promoting the exercise of a 4-day work week. This “new” initiative encourages workers to rest while cultivating their relational network. [3]
The exploration of biblical principles in God, Justice and Society invites us to reassess our understanding of OT laws and their implications in the modern context. By bridging the gap between biblical guidance and contemporary challenges, we can embark on a more nuanced and practical comprehension of the world around us.
If you are interested in obtaining a copy of Jonathan Burnside’s book can find copies for sale here:
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/god-justice-and-society-9780199759217?cc=gb&lang=en&; https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/bible-study/god-justice-and-society/;
https://www.amazon.co.uk/God-Justice-Society-Aspects-Legality-ebook/dp/B00AFY2J1O;
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[1] Burnside, Jonathan, 2010, God, Justice and Society, Oxford University Press. A longer review can be found at: https://kirbylaingcentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/17.5EiBKynes.pdf
[2] Schluter, M., and Clements, R, 1990, ‘Jubilee Institutional Norms: A Middle Way between Creation Ethics and Kingdom Ethics as the Basis for Christian Political Action', The Evangelical Quarterly, 62:1, pp. 37-62. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62012941199c974967f9c4ad/t/63ea2148b0934a6b3180666e/1676288329341/Jubilee+Institutional+Norms.pdf
[3] https://time.com/6964101/4-day-work-week-benefits/
