What Is Peace and Justice?

All persons are of great worth in the sight of God. There can be no exceptions anywhere, at anytime.

The Hebrew tradition, the deep taproot of our movement illuminated further by the life of Jesus, helps us define the words peace and justice.

Defining Peace

Depart from evil, and do good;
seek peace, and pursue it.—Psalm 34:14 NRSV

The Hebrew word for peace is shalom. Shalom is rich in meaning. It is a comprehensive concept that means

wholeness, peace, joy,
freedom, reconciliation, community,
harmony of all creation--both physical and spiritual,
righteousness, truth, justice, communication,
humanity

Shalom is holistic and embraces all persons and all creation in reconciliation and harmony.  When Jesus taught about peace, he was using the word shalom in all its richness.  Jesus, when teaching the Beatitudes, really said, "Blessed are the shalom-makers." The New Testament was written in Greek and eirene was the word used to translate shalom.  Perhaps the best English word to translate shalom is not "peace" but the word "Zion."
 

Defining Justice

Justice and only justice, you shall pursue...—Deuteronomy 16:20 NRSV

One word for justice in Hebrew is  zedakah. The concept of justice in Judaism is different from Greek-Western views of this concept.  The emphasis is not on "retribution" (punishment) or "distribution" (fair shares for all).  It is more what human living should be like.  That is why the word zedakah is not only translated into English as justice but also as righteousness, which means living a just life personally.  

Also "justice" (zedakah) is consistently paired with "mercy" or "grace" (hesed) in the Hebrew scriptures.  Jesus put them together in the Beatitudes:

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.--Matthew 5:6-7 NRSV
 

In the church seal, the lamb can represent mercy and the lion justice.  The two work together for the blessing of children and bringing peace.

 

The Worth of Persons

Peace and justice making also come together and are rooted in the worth of persons:

Remember the worth of persons is great in the sight of God; for I, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore I, God, suffered the pain of all, that all might repent and come to me. 

And I, God, have risen again from the dead, that I might bring all to me on conditions of repentance.  And how great is my joy in the person that repents.  Therefore you are called to cry repentance to this people.-—Doctrine & Covenants 16: 3c-e, adapted

There Are No Exceptions

Doctrine and Covenants Section 16 was given in June 1829, about nine months before the church was organized. It is prior to and foundational to the whole Restoration movement.  For the church the worth of persons is rooted in incarnation and atonement, in God becoming human and suffering with us and for us. The worth of persons for us cannot be an option. Whatever the culture, times, or surrounding ideologies, the church must be consistently committed to the worth of all because God in Christ is. Each person can repent. Zion is a state of justice where culture, institutions, and personal relationships all honor the worth of persons and the restoration of the worth of all.