The Foundry a Christian Church

A New Testament Framework for Understanding Justice

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 16:57:24 +0000

It feels like when engaging in charged cultural issues we are tip-toeing our way through a minefield. Often times, because it feels like a no-win situation, Christ-followers can feel like disengaging from the conversations entirely. But rather than stepping outside of the marketplace of ideas, can Christians speak well because they have strived to be better Biblical thinkers.
When attempting to live out a healthy framework for Biblically thinking we must consider how we might go about seeing individuals as Image-bearers of God's design, not as enemies worth dominating.

Micah 6:8 says:
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah is an Old Testament book of the Scriptures. Perhaps, in the light of the ministry and cross of Christ, we should consider a fuller Biblical/New Testament understanding of justice. What would that be? Here are six quick ideas:

1. Justice is rooted in the character of God revealed in Jesus.

In the Old Testament, justice (mishpat) and righteousness (tsedeqah) often go hand-in-hand — God’s covenantal faithfulness and moral order expressed in right relationships.
The New Testament reveals that Jesus Himself embodies that righteousness and justice:
- “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor … liberty to the captives … to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” (Luke 4:18–19, quoting Isaiah 61)
- Jesus’ ministry brings restorative justice — healing, forgiveness, inclusion, and right relationship with God and others.

2. Justice in the Kingdom of God is relational, not retributive.

The Greek word δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosynē) — often translated as righteousness — can equally mean justice.
The New Testament concept of justice is therefore relational rightness — between God, self, and others.
- “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [justice].” (Matthew 5:6)
- “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness [justice].” (Matthew 6:33)
Justice is not primarily about punishing wrongs but about restoring what sin has broken.

3. The cross is the center of divine justice.

The cross is where God’s justice and mercy meet.
- “So that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:26)
In Jesus’ death and resurrection, God both confronts sin (justice) and offers grace (mercy).
This redefines justice — it’s not retribution but redemption. Justice is fulfilled not by condemning the sinner but by absorbing the cost and reconciling.

4. Justice is the fruit of faith and the work of the Spirit.

The early church didn’t separate faith from social concern:
- The communal life of Acts 2–4 shows economic justice (sharing resources, caring for the poor).
- James 2 rebukes partiality toward the rich and insists that “faith without works is dead.”
- The Spirit produces a community of love, equality, and generosity — a living embodiment of God’s justice.

5. Justice flows from love — especially love for the marginalized.

Biblical justice in the NT is inseparable from agapē — sacrificial love.
- “Whatever you did for one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)
- “Let justice roll down like waters” (Amos 5:24) is echoed in the NT call to love not only in words but in deeds (1 John 3:17–18).
True justice seeks the flourishing of others, especially those who have been oppressed or excluded.

6. Justice anticipates the coming Kingdom.

The New Testament frames all human justice as anticipatory — pointing to the day when Christ returns to judge and renew all things.
- “He will judge the world in righteousness.” (Acts 17:31)
- “We wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13)
So believers pursue justice now as a signpost of the justice to come — a foretaste of the restoration that Jesus will complete.

In light of these ideas, we might be able to summarize that justice in light of the New Testament this way:
In the New Testament, justice is not merely a legal or social ideal — it’s the outworking of God’s righteous, redemptive love through Jesus and His people.

What do you think? What would you add?

The Spiritual Warfare of an Assassination

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 21:05:36 +0000

It's still less than a week from the tragic news of Charlie Kirk's murder on September 10th, 2025.

In the response to the assassination of Charlie Kirk — particularly in social-media circles of ministry — I have often heard this Scripture quoted:

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12)

That passage raises a question for me.

From a Kingdom-minded perspective, was Charlie Kirk’s assassination the result of demonic influence?

It’s a big question that on the surface seems simple. We see the horror of this sin and know it is evil. Evil at this level is often called demonic. Yet we don’t normally label all sinful behavior as directly caused by spiritual forces. Sometimes, as fallen and broken human beings, we willfully choose sin. Satan doesn’t always have to work overtime to trip us up.

A college friend once preached a sermon with this central line: “The devil I never knew was the evil inside of me.” I find that helpful. It reminds us that human responsibility and spiritual influence are not mutually exclusive, and that the obvious presence of evil doesn’t automatically prove demonic possession.

There is a spiritual world, it's real and it influences our physical world. And when I say demonic I am specific referencing the spiritual evil forces that exist to steal, kill and destroy what God made beautiful. And not every choice by sinful man is directly incited by these forces. Sometimes we are the cause of our own sin.

So I don’t know that you or I can say the shooter’s actions were specifically influenced by demons in the way Jesus confronted the “Legion” (the man in Mark 5 / Luke 8) or the boy who threw himself to the ground, foamed at the mouth, and gnashed his teeth (Mark 9). Those are instances of clear demonic possession described in Scripture.

What I am hearing in responses to Charlie Kirk’s assassination is language that describes the rhetoric and ideologies that supported the assassin’s motives as “demonic” in nature. Paul warns about deceptive ideas that capture people:

"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ." (Colossians 2:8)

There are clearly ideologies and philosophies in our world that are harmful: harmful to health, relationships, finances, and our relationship with Jesus. Those ideologies can also lead some people to harm others. That seems to be what the young man accused in Charlie Kirk’s murder was allegedly influenced by last week.

Those influences are different from ordinary political disagreements about tax rates or trade policy.

The reports about the suspect continue to unfold, and they suggest that despite a conservative upbringing, he was taken captive by a philosophy that led to death — the death of another and potentially his own destruction.

That pattern — a person consumed by ideas that bring death — feels demonic.

Chad Ragsdale, academic dean at Ozark Christian College, posted some thoughts on how we ought to identify, speak against and avoid being taking captive by these hollow and deceptive.

What do you think? Was the assassination of Charlie Kirk demonic?

-- Pastor Trevor Harrison ---

It should be noted that these thoughts and post are those solely of the Lead Pastor of The Foundry, Trevor Harrison, but not inherently shared by the church's leadership and members.

Attempting A Patient, Measured Response

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 19:03:13 +0000

It has been less than a week.

Last Wednesday, I received a notification from X (formerly Twitter) on my phone saying that Charlie Kirk had been shot on a college campus in Utah. At first, I dismissed it as some strange and inappropriate attempt at satire or shock. But within minutes, more voices online began repeating the story, and before long, news outlets confirmed what none of us wanted to believe: Charlie Kirk had been killed. A couple of hours later, President Trump confirmed his passing.

It has been less than a week.

I still don’t know how to fully process these events. My early sense is that this murder will echo through our culture for decades. Yet, I am still unsure of the fullness of the response I want—or even need—to make.

Here is what I don’t want:

I don’t want to manipulate this moment for church growth.
I don’t want to make sweeping statements while evidence and details are still emerging.
I don’t want to join the chorus of political commentary that risks minimizing what I believe is the greater solution to the world’s brokenness: the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the hope of His Kingdom.

Here is what I do know:

We should weep the senseless and violent murder of Charlie.
We should pray for his wife, his children, and his family.
We should grieve the culture of outrage and division that has made our disagreements increasingly toxic.
We should lament that Charlie’s assassination came on the same day as another tragedy—the school shooting at Evergreen High School in Colorado.

Charlie Kirk was a young conservative activist who built a movement of young adults on college campuses. Through Turning Point USA, he was credited with helping galvanize the youth vote in Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory, marking the first time since 2004 that a Republican candidate had won the popular vote. Despite being only 31, Charlie was already being spoken of as a future RNC leader—or even a presidential contender.

I first became aware of Charlie Kirk around 2016. At the time, he was less prominent than other conservative voices like Ben Shapiro or Steven Crowder. What stood out to me, though, was that in the middle of his political commentary and debates, Charlie often spoke openly about the salvation and lordship of Jesus. Only God knows the heart, but based on his words and fruit, I believe Charlie Kirk was a follower of Jesus—and therefore a brother in Christ.

As a pastor, I sometimes feel the pressure to comment on every breaking headline. While I hold opinions on many things (and enjoy talking them out over a meal), I also know I don’t always communicate best under pressure. Often what’s needed most is a patient, measured response.

This past weekend, one prominent pastor declared on social media that any pastor in America who didn’t directly address Charlie Kirk’s assassination from the pulpit was a coward. At our church, we did mention the news, but we didn’t devote our services to it. Instead, we preached a passage from the Gospels about a woman who met Jesus in a moment of shame and isolation. In her encounter, she discovered the Messiah—the One who saves us from sin.

We didn’t preach Charlie Kirk’s life. We didn’t enter into political debates. We didn’t spotlight cultural flashpoints. Instead, we preached Christ.

There was a prayer given in the sermon that seemed out of character for our church and made several people uncomfortable and/or angry. Something an elder spoke about with that individual. (Perhaps more on that matter down the road)

That doesn’t mean we ignore the chaos around us. The Holy Spirit leads us in these times and gives wisdom for both spontaneous responses and long-planned teaching. In fact, for months we’ve been preparing a November sermon series called 'Walking Thru the Minefields'—a series on how to process cultural and controversial conversations in a way that is both healthy and Biblical.

The Apostle Peter reminds us:

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)

For some time, I’ve also felt the need for another outlet—a place beyond sermons—where I can share reflections, supplement Sunday messages, correct myself if I’ve spoken poorly, or simply point to wise voices that challenge me. That’s why we’re launching this church blog.

This space won’t always be polished or definitive. Sometimes it will be the start of a conversation more than the end of one. My hope is that it will be a space marked by grace, patience, and truth.

There is much to grieve and consider in Charlie Kirk’s murder. We need to think not only about his life, but about the young man who chose such evil, and the many hearts wounded in the process.

Maybe, together, we can build a patient and measured response.

Further posts may not arrive daily. But I will whole-hearted attempt to be consistent. Additionally, I will attempt to keep the post shorter - which may harm clarity, but hopefully spur engagement.

-- Pastor Trevor Harrison ---

It should be noted that these thoughts and post are those solely of the Lead Pastor of The Foundry, Trevor Harrison, but not inherently shared by the church's leadership and members.