The Conflation of Kindness and Justice?

There is danger with conflation. Some concepts meant to be separate. The fact that each concept is virtuous does not dispel this notion.

While surveying the Hebrew Bible’s Prophets with a Ten Commandments’ perspective, it is apparent that the Ten Commandments- as a complete body of law- is not part of their verbiage.

Rather, many Prophets use language that includes only some of the Decalogue. Their words go far beyond it; they touch upon social needs. For example, the concerns over widows and orphans are frequently mentioned. This particular notion is outside of the Commandments. Exodus 22:22.

Sometimes, the Prophets appear to express their messages akin to Leviticus Chapter 19. Leviticus Chapter 19 is one in which both Ten Commandments’ related matters are included with a list of a variety of laws. One could debate as to whether the Prophets’ choice of language was an attempt to harmonize kindness with justice.

The Prophet Hosea’s message evidences the closeness that the two concepts have with each other: “And as for you, return by your God; observe kindness and justice.” Hosea 12:7.

Should timing matter? Hosea speaks at a time after the Israelite states had been formed. In contrast, the Ten Commandments speaks at the time of the Israelite nation’s inception; the moment that a national covenant was established to a singular country.

Just as a nation has borders, the Ten Commandments has well-established borders. The Ten Commandments, for the most part, creates separations. Rather than commanding the populace to express love and compassion, the Decalogue impresses restraint.

Adultery and not injecting oneself into a dispute by offering false testimony reflect this notion. Likewise, one is not to love their parents; rather, they are to honor them. The Commandments reflect barriers that must exist in order for there to be a just society. A justice system is foundational to a nation.

Kindness, however, is a different animal. Kindness, one can argue, is needed in a maturing nation. Kindness involves the breaking down of barriers and the opening of doors. Kindness includes provisions, such as in Leviticus 19, which require that the corners of fields and vineyards be made available to both the poor and strangers so that they may obtain food. Kindness is the loving of one’s neighbor as oneself. Kindness is the social safety net.

In present times, we are witnesses to times upon which justice and kindness have become conflated. For example, some state legislators have essentially decriminalized shoplifting.

As a result of the conflation of justice with kindness, rampant amounts of theft have caused social disturbance. As a result, frustrated citizens are beginning to take it upon themselves to stop thieves. In these instances, those with no law enforcement training or supplies are confronting thieves. The breakdown in society is to the point that they are impelled to act. This vigilante justice system is unhealthy.

Kindness, as noted above, is far from being a simple issue. A person’s perceived act of kindness in reality can be an act of cruelty. This is often seen with Human interactions with wild animals.

Habituation, in part, is the diminishing of physiological or emotional response to events. Humans nortoriously habituate wild animals. Often, well-minded individuals feed wild bears in residential areas. These bears will return to the area to seek food from residents’ homes and garbage cans. As a result, they abandon their own efforts to eat their natural food. In the end, the animals become a danger to not only humans but themselves. For humans wishing to explore nature, there are rules that should be followed to prevent harm.

While kindness and justice are both admirable, the two concepts, however, must operate independent of each other. Hosea, when he spoke the words, expressed them as two. He did not speak like a confused politician and merge them together. Justakindness anyone? Justice, we need to be reminded, is foundational.

Was the Ten Commandments crafted upon this premise?

Be well!!

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