The System
How much faith do you have in the system?
And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? Thus, when you go with your accuser before a magistrate, on the way make an effort to settle the case, or you may be dragged before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you in prison. - Luke 12:57-58
In today's Gospel reading, Jesus lets his disciples have it. He tells them he is not here to bring peace, but division. And then he advises them to settle their differences before going before a judge.
We hear time and again that our system of justice is anything but just. It is called corrupt, racist, and institutionally biased, among other things. So, how can one trust it to bring justice when one is accused of a crime?
Settle your differences ahead of time, is the advice Jesus gives. But is that practical?
In small matters, perhaps one can go to his accuser and resolve the difference. But when the transgression is grave, the issue is often out of one's hands.
The only way I can work it out on my own is if I know who my accuser is. In a system where the accuser tells a third party what happened and that party goes out looking for the accused, anything can go wrong.
How many times have you been mistaken for somebody else? Have you ever had someone say that you look just like someone they know?
I love watching British crime dramas on Public Television. The writers have a way of convincing us that we know who perpetrated the crime, with all the evidence seemingly supporting that judgment, only to have the real criminal be someone else.
But in real life, the loose ends don't always get tied up so neatly. Sometimes a lot is left to the jury to decide, and I have to admit, having been on juries, I would rather settle out of court if I can.
It's not that I don't trust people to be good judges, but I would rather not be the test case.
So, the advise Jesus gives, to work it out among ourselves, seems valid. But it goes deeper than that.
In order to avoid the wrath of judgment by anyone, it is best to live one's life in a right and smart manner.
That may not help me avoid being falsely accused, however. But it will help me stay out of trouble that I could get myself into, and that helps.
Now, if only I could get the other guy to read this and agree, then we can avoid the conflict altogether. But that probably won't happen.
More to come...