Justice vs Revenge

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I think that this is an interesting comparison made by Leon F. Seltzer at Psychology Today [read more here].

1. Revenge is predominantly emotional; justice primarily rational.
2. Revenge is, by nature, personal; justice is impersonal, impartial,
   and both a social and legal phenomenon.
3. Revenge is an act of vindictiveness; justice, of vindication.
4. Revenge is about cycles; justice about closure.
5. Revenge is about retaliation; justice about restoring balance.

I think that the heart of justice is restoration and reconcilation. Consider these passages from the bible.

Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. (Isaiah 1:17)

This is what the LORD says: “Administer justice every morning; rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed.” (Jeremiah 21:12)

This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Administer true justice: show mercy and compassion to one another.” (Zechariah 7:9)

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. ( Isaiah 30:18)

I love the way that these verses paint a picture of justice that is restorative in nature.

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