So…a couple of days ago I had jury duty. In LA County jury duty is a one day trial set-up. Basically, you show up one day and wait around to see if you get picked to be on a jury. If you do, you serve on that jury. If you don’t, you are free from jury duty for 12 months. I didn’t get picked. I didn’t even get a chance to speak, but I wondered what I would say…
I have some reservations about serving on a jury as a Christian such as:
1. Participating too closely in the functioning of a kingdom of this world.
2. Putting myself in the place of God by playing judge.
3. The conflict of interests in, as a Christian, being called to the ministry of forgiveness and reconciliation and the state’s God-mandated duty to punish those who do harm so we don’t have to (Romans 12-13).
4. The criminal justice system provides little justice. Innocent people are found guilty, and guilty people who are punished are not rehabilitated. Our criminal justice system lacks much true justice, compassion, mercy and redemption. Should I, as a Christian, partner with such a corrupt system?
5. I am called by Jesus to live by “turn the other cheek” and no longer by “eye for eye” so the potential of me being put on a case that could lead to a death penalty charge is truly troublesome.
6. Paul told Christians they shouldn’t be taking one another to court. If there were a case of Christian vs. Christian could I participate in it?
Anyways, those were some of my reservations. I went because I believe there are a few cases that I could possibly be on a jury (a civil case where two non-Christians are present, for example).
For those of you who haven’t had to go in to jury duty it goes kind of like this: you enter a courtroom with about 50 other people, they select a bunch of you that the judge and lawyers ask questions to weed out people they don’t think will be unbiased until they pick their jury. They never got to me.
The questions we had to answer were:
1. Where do you live?
2. What is your occupation?
3. Who do you live with? Their occupations?
4. Have you ever served on a jury before?
5. Do you have any close friends or family with law enforcement experience?
6. Any concerns?
They use these questions to try and weed out people to establish a “fair and unbiased” jury. I never got a chance to answer them, but here is how I think I would have answered:
1. I live in Claremont, CA.
2. I am a program manager for a homeless shelter here in the city of Pomona, a full-time graduate student at Claremont School of Theology studying Ethics and an assistant minster at a church in South Central Los Angeles.
3. I have a wife, no children. She is in communications.
4. I have never served on a jury before.
5. My father used to be an MP in the Army, and my brother in law is a PO in Washington state.
6. As a Christian called to the ministry I must make it clear that I have been called to a ministry of forgiveness, redemption and reconciliation. I can not separate that ministry from any part of my life, including the court. Jesus called me to forgive “seventy times seven” and I try to practice this in all aspects of my life. I can not lay aside my Christian convictions as you ask me to. I believe that the model of criminal justice in this country is not reflective of the Christian belief in transfiguration, resurrection and transformation. Sending sinners away for punishment without the hope of redemption is contrary to my Christian worldview. I have also seen the horrible effects of this policy in several people I serve at the shelter I work at. I believe murdering someone for murdering is hypocritical and against the call of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. I can not support this decision. Countless people convicted of violent crimes, and who have served over 20 years, have been found innocent and set free with the advances in DNA technology (these persons are often men of color demonstrating the racist nature of our criminal justice system). I must be 100% sure that someone committed a crime before convicting because it is worse to imprison an innocent person than let a guilty one go free. Look at what they did to Jesus!
I don’t know if this would allow me to serve on a jury or not. I’m not sure if this is what I should have said or not. Any thoughts?
1. Participating too closely in the functioning of a kingdom of this world.
Jesus says to render unto Caesar…
2. Putting myself in the place of God by playing judge.
Technically you’re playing “jury,” but really… if you aren’t there, it doesn’t mean the person won’t be judged. It just means you won’t be the person doing the judging.
3. The conflict of interests in, as a Christian, being called to the ministry of forgiveness and reconciliation and the state’s God-mandated duty to punish those who do harm so we don’t have to (Romans 12-13).
So would you prefer to live in a society with no governmental laws or punishments?
4. The criminal justice system provides little justice. Innocent people are found guilty, and guilty people who are punished are not rehabilitated. Our criminal justice system lacks much true justice, compassion, mercy and redemption. Should I, as a Christian, partner with such a corrupt system?
It would seem, if you feel that way, that you would do everything you could to be on a jury so that you might make sure to not send another innocent to prison (if the person involved in your trial were innocent).
Abstaining from jury duty doesn’t really stop the innocent from being wrongly accused or sentenced.
5. I am called by Jesus to live by “turn the other cheek” and no longer by “eye for eye” so the potential of me being put on a case that could lead to a death penalty charge is truly troublesome.
Again, if you were on that jury, you could argue for setting the innocent free. Not going to jury duty doesn’t keep that person from being killed.
6. Paul told Christians they shouldn’t be taking one another to court. If there were a case of Christian vs. Christian could I participate in it?
You’re not taking that person to court. It means you shouldn’t be suing other Christians or filing grievances against them. It doesn’t mean you can’t participate in a justice system that punishes lawbreakers.
Check out Romans 13 for more details:
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
ubuntucat,
Thanks for the post. Some thoughts…
1. I’m highly certain Jesus did not have serving on a jury in his mind when he made that statement, and I think it is taking a leap to say that Caesar is entitled to me participating in convicting someone of a crime against state law.
2. That’s the point, to not be the one judging. I’m not saying the person shouldn’t be judged, I’m questioning whether Christians should be the one doing it.
3. Of course not. It’s a pretty irrelevant question though. Actually, you don’t seem to be addressing any of the points I’ve made up to this point, but reading into them what you think is there?
4. Valid point, and one I’ll think about. My question isn’t about whether I could be a positive influence, however, but about whether I should yoke myself with an unjust system.
5. Ditto.
6. I think this is one of the most misunderstood and applied passages in the NT. In the context of Romans 12 the point of chapter 13 is that the state will punish evildoers, and is God’s appointed way of doing so, and that, because of that, there is no need for Christians to do so. That is one of the reasons Christians refused to join the military or police forces for the first three centuries of Christianity.
Also, the passage, from my understanding of the Greek, tends toward God instituting governemnts in general, not necessarily specific ones. If what you are arguing is the case God instituted the governments of Adolf Hitler and Saddaam Hussein and anyone who rebelled against them brought judgment on themselves. I’m sure you don’t really believe that.
Martin Luther King reminded us that everything Hitler did was “legal” and everything those who saved Jews did “illegal.” Which do you think God will judge? Or, everything done by slaveowners in America was state sanctioned, but the abolitionists broke countless laws. Which one was doing the will of God? Remember, “We must obey God rather than men.” Jesus died as a political criminal for violating established law. That is our example.
You made me think a little in points 3&4, though. It still seems you missed, or ignored, the points I was trying to make, but thanks for giving me something to think about.
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I think I might borrow your answers if I am ever called to jury duty. That is exactly how I feel, but you as usual, articulated much better than I ever could.
I am interested that you feel like this about juries, but not about governmental service like voting.
Well…
I mentioned I think there may be some juries, though admittedly few, that I think I could serve on. A civil trial between not between Christians for example.
So, while I have reservations about voting, and jury duty, they don’t lead me to completely dismiss participating in civic life in these ways. I think there may be times where it is legitimate for a Christian to do so. For example, the last presidential election I voted for one of my professors at Pepperdine. I felt that was a legit thing for me as a Christian to do.
I don’t know if you buy that, but I think Christians should always be cautious about how close we get to participation in the Kingdoms of this world, but we can’t totally withdraw and we should discern each situation as best we can.
Any thoughts?
P.S. You really got me thinking with your voting series of posts.
This is something that I have struggled with for a while, although I currently will not vote etc. I agree that I should continue to be discerning. I dont believe in “better safe than sorry theology” on this issue I think the better choice, as far as history shows, is to come down on the side of non-participation.
One thing I can say for sure is that I dont question the heart of people like you, my wife, and others who really seek to do God’s will even when they vote, not just buying into some political rhetoric, but seriously seeking to please God.
There is a fairly interesting discussion going on over at Sharp Iron about this right now. Its on my blogroll.
Being from the coC have you had the chance to read up on folks like David Lispscomb and Tolbert Fanning? Its interesting stuff and a great to see the roots of our restoration movement heritage.
Blessings to you my friend!
Dear Brother, in your jury duty assessment I hear your heart for God, and I know you seek to honor Him. Might I respectfuly suggest that your rethink some things. While we may not be of this world, our sovereign God has placed us in it for His good purpose. Justice and mercy are not opposing concepts; they are divine and inseparable. Micah tells us that God requires that we “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.” While longsuffering, our God is a just God. And you and I are his servants. You are hiding your light under a basket by not voting and not being subject to the governing authorities which God has established. For example, in the upcoming election, one candidate believes it is OK to take the live of a pre-born baby, and is paid much money from those who do it. Another candidate believes that human life begins at conception and should be protected. Why would a Christian NOT take advantage of an opportunity to do justice to the preborn children, millions of which have been murdered over the years? When you stand before Jesus and he asks why you buried your vote in the ground instead of using it to rescue the perishing, what will you say? And by the way, the definition of murder is “the willful taking of innocent human life by another human.” Executing a murderer is not murder. You may not believe it is the right thing to do, and I respect that, but do not call it murder; it is not. Use every means at your disposal to do good: serve on a jury, vote, ENGAGE for Christ’s sake! (and I mean that with all reverence).
[...] 27, 2009 by jimmymccarty A few months ago I wrote a post entitled “Christians and Jury Duty.” Please go read it. In it I struggle with whether Christians should participate in jury duty or not [...]
wow..interesting and encouraging post.. i’ve been called in for jury duty in the morning and i needed to read this
grace to you