Love is Not Enough without Justice

Do justly, love mercy….. Found in Micah 6:8 the Bible states, “…what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”

What does it mean to truly love another? We find ourselves repeating “I love you” often, but what does it mean in action? For love is an action verb, it is not simply a platitude to merely be repeated. It is not something we should simply spout off at the end of every conversation, every text, every birthday card. To truly love another means to sit in the trenches with them. To help them achieve justice when they are wronged. To offer mercy when it is needed.

Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, “… What is needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive, and that love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.” And finally, Dr. Cornel West wrote, “Justice is what love looks like in public.”

From reading the Bible and other books, it is clear to me what love is not.

Love is not looking away when someone is harmed.

Love is not telling a victim to forgive their perpetrator.

Love is not empty “thoughts and prayers.”

Love is not silence when a voice is needed.

Love is not siding with the oppressor over the oppressed.

Love is not comfort without accountability.

Love is not self-interest dressed up as charity.

Love is not ignoring the realities of systemic racism and injustice.

Love is not welcoming abusers while casting out their victims.

Love is not giving in expectation of jewels in a heavenly crown or greater attendance numbers.

Love is action.

Love is mercy.

Love is justice.

Justice is the idea that others be treated fairly – not the same, but fairly. Justice is about balance and righting wrongs. Justice is making something – someone – whole. Justice is accountability. Justice is the fair distribution of resources and burdens. Justice is equal treatment. Justice is morality. Justice is peace and genuine respect. Justice enacts healing. Justice is safety.

Justice is LOVE.

If you sit on those church pews and proclaim justice and love without following it with action, your words are hollow and your love, non-existent.

Stand beside the Black and Brown immigrants being disappeared by this United States government—because if you will not, do not be fooled: you do not love.

Stand beside sexual abuse victims instead of excusing their abusers—because if you will not, do not be fooled: you do not love.

Stand beside the LGBTQIA+ folx who face daily discrimination—because if you will not, do not be fooled: you do not love.

Stand with women making difficult choices, without judgment—because if you will not, do not be fooled: you do not love.

Stand against pastors, parishioners, family members, and neighbors who demonize and oppress—because if you will not, do not be fooled: you do not love.

Without love, faith is dead. Without love, we are nothing.

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” 1 Corinthians 13: 1-3.

So go in love and in justice.

Stand where it costs you something.

Speak when silence feels safer.

Love enough to act – because love without action is not love at all.

-Lilith Quill