HUMAN RIGHTS AND JUSTICE IN A VIOLENT WORLD: A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14833465Keywords:
Imago Dei, justice, human rights, shalom, reconciliation, restorative, systemic sin, nonviolenceAbstract
Human Rights and Justice in a Violent World: A Christian Perspective.
This paper explores the intersection of human rights, justice, and Christian theology as a response to violence and injustice. It demonstrates how Christian theology, grounded in the imago Dei affirms human dignity and provides a transformative framework for justice that prioritizes restoration, reconciliation, and shalom. Providing a critical analysis of violence in its various forms and its root causes, and an evaluation of the limitations of existing justice mechanisms and international frameworks the paper advocates for restorative and transformative justice models rooted in biblical principles of accountability, healing, and reconciliation. It calls for Christians to center the marginalized, engage in nonviolent resistance, and critique systemic structures of oppression. The global church is positioned as a critical actor, leveraging its resources and collective voice to address local and global challenges. It challenges Christians to embody God’s character in their pursuit of justice, advocate for human rights, and contribute to systemic change. Grounded in eschatological hope, it envisions a redemptive mission where the church becomes a beacon of peace, justice, and healing in a fractured world.
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