When we see these obviously flawed examples of justice, we understand Proverbs 28:5, which says that the wicked do not understand justice. The biblical concept of justice has a number of associated ideas that are important to know if we are to truly understand it. The same God who designed and ordered all of creation designed man to seek the good and to avoid evil.

Deep down in every one of us is a desire for justice. The problem is that many do not know what justice is. This is because most people have the wrong theology. So in this article, our goal is to gain a proper perspective on justice, since there are many competing ideas of what justice is. Then we will be better able to live in accordance with it and pray for it.

John Rawls argued that justice is fairness. He believed that fairness could be achieved through some kind of socialism. It seems that there are many people who agree with his perspective. So what exactly is socialism?

Socialism is an approach to political economy that seeks to achieve justice by removing all economic differences between people. It does this by giving all power state, which then redistributes wealth as it sees fit. Inherent in this system is the belief that the state has ultimate authority and is capable of determining right and wrong. Consequently, the state is capable of providing the best life for its people. In other words, the state has replaced God.

Communism is the pursuit of worldwide socialism (like the Soviet Union). Fascism, in contrast to communism, is national socialism (like the Nazi party). Millions have been chained to poverty and killed by these sorts of regimes, but this does not deter their adherents who are always looking for new groups to spread their ideas.

The concept of social justice began with the civil rights movement of the 1960s to attain racial equality. Unfortunately, it has in recent times become a home for the socialist movement. Socialists have also taken over the environmental movement. The result is the call for environmental justice. In like manner, are those who call for labor or wage justice.

In contrast to socialism, is the concept of libertarianism. Rather than giving all power to the state, it argues that all power should be given to the individual. It reduces the concept of justice to merely the law. In fact, it completely separates the idea of the law from morality.

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Craig Vincent Mitchell, is professor of Christian Ethics at Soutwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth.