The Demands of Justice
Truth, Justice, Reconciliation & Healing
When you face such evil as my granddaughter Charlene Dobson suffered, this requires ‘deep healing’ and a Healer and, most certainly – ‘demands justice.’
Don’t be surprised if you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and if justice is being miscarried throughout the land. For every official is under orders from higher-up, and matters of justice get lost in red tape and bureaucracy.
Bible, Ecclesiastes 5:8
The Demands of Justice
I chose the logo in the top left-hand corner of the page since it was the one that spoke to me when I decided to seek justice for Charlene, her siblings, and others like her. I am holding in my right hand the scales of justice, and with the other hand, I am holding Charlene's hand, which in turn is symbolically holding her siblings' hands. They, in turn, are holding other children's hands who are "at risk," all being connected through their trauma.
I put a feather and a bow in her hair for two reasons: one, to represent the cross-cultural heritage she received as a result of my adopting her mother through 'The 60's Scoop'.
This is a true story of my journey to seek justice for my grandchildren, and hopefully, other children will benefit from it.
I am confident that after you digest the content on this website, you'll appreciate why the "demands of justice" became necessary for Charlene, her siblings and those left unprotected who require protection and, most often, healing from their trauma.
My Story
My Struggle as a Christian to Do This Lawsuit is Aptly Explained in the Following Reflections:
The waters of justice and righteousness are dangerous to those of us who have promised to follow Christ and to live in covenant with His people. God’s justice is dangerous because:
● To ignore it reveals we are not truly his;● To misunderstand it can lead to depersonalizing and compartmentalizing those made in God’s image;● To rationalize away its demands hardens our hearts to God;● To seek to live out the demands of God’s justice is risky and goes against the grain of normal behavior and cultural norms;● To pray for God’s justice calls us into involvement with those who need justice.
Are we courageous disciples? Are we brave enough to be God’s light and justice to those in the shadows? If we are to know God fully through his Son Jesus Christ, we must live justly. If the world is to know Jesus Christ through us, we must risk entering into the dangerous waters of God’s justice and righteousness. (1)
(1) - by Dr. Ruth Ann Foster. [Dr. Ruth Ann Foster is Assistant Professor of Christian Scriptures at Truett Seminary at Baylor University. She prepared this address for the 1999 annual conference of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission].