Is it ok to take justice into your own hands if you can't get it from authorities?

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BornInMarch

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In normal society, when someone is wronged he or she is supposed to go to civil authorities to seek justice. Taking justice into your own hands is generally frowned upon.

However, sometimes going to the authorities is not a possibility. Maybe a person lives in a failed state where the authorities are corrupt. Maybe a person lives on the frontier where there are no authorities to begin with.

When, if ever, is it acceptable to take justice into your own hands?
 
That’s how the Mafia got started. They protected the Sicilian population from the abuse of the French occupiers and meted out punishment on those the occupiers considered above the law. Seemed like a noble goal at the time, but like all actions based on anger and revenge rather than love. It went on to oppress those it originally was meant to protect. As followers of Jesus we must always strive to live by his words and he was very clear on his views about the use of violence.
 
BornInMarch said:
In normal society, when someone is wronged he or she is supposed to go to civil authorities to seek justice. Taking justice into your own hands is generally frowned upon.

However, sometimes going to the authorities is not a possibility. Maybe a person lives in a failed state where the authorities are corrupt. Maybe a person lives on the frontier where there are no authorities to begin with.

When, if ever, is it acceptable to take justice into your own hands?
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Hi BornInMarch

May I first ask what your thoughts on the subject are and what may have prompted you to ask the question?

God Bless

Thank you for reading
Josh
 
Never.

We as individuals have no right to punish. God does, and He has given that right to the civil state.

If the civil state can’t or won’t act, that doesn’t give us that right.

ICXC NIKA.
 
Here is a parallel question:

What is better, a police state (or a very corrupt one), or a state which permits duelling?
 
paziego said:
Here is a parallel question:

What is better, a police state (or a very corrupt one), or a state which permits duelling?
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Really duelling? Have you been reading “Gone With the Wind”?
 
BornInMarch said:
In normal society, when someone is wronged he or she is supposed to go to civil authorities to seek justice. Taking justice into your own hands is generally frowned upon.

However, sometimes going to the authorities is not a possibility. Maybe a person lives in a failed state where the authorities are corrupt. Maybe a person lives on the frontier where there are no authorities to begin with.

When, if ever, is it acceptable to take justice into your own hands?
Click to expand...
" Vengence is mine…
I will repay " sayeth the Lord
 
BornInMarch said:
In normal society, when someone is wronged he or she is supposed to go to civil authorities to seek justice. Taking justice into your own hands is generally frowned upon.

However, sometimes going to the authorities is not a possibility. Maybe a person lives in a failed state where the authorities are corrupt. Maybe a person lives on the frontier where there are no authorities to begin with.

When, if ever, is it acceptable to take justice into your own hands?
Click to expand...
It probably depends in which country you live…here in the US you have the right to defend yourself if you perceive an immanent threat…it’s called “stand your ground”…other countries laws may see that as “taking justice into your own hands”…as for being wronged by someone…to what degree is the wrongdoing…and does it require an immediate response…it’s a good question you ask
 
It’s hard to imagine any circumstance where “taking something into your own hands” wouldn’t be itself a crime, to say nothing of the moral issue involved. As used in the OP, the premise seems to be something very different from “self defense.”
 
" Vengence is mine…I will repay " sayeth the Lord"

Just as there are times when the Lord uses me to be an instrument of His Peace, there are times when He may wish to use me as an instrument of His Vengeance.

The reason that the Lord gave us a brain is because He wanted us to use it. When “The Authorities” are honest and competent, we should not take matters into our own hands. However, there have been times when the actions taken by “The Authorities” have been criminal and self serving. At times like this perhaps the Lord would like us to see what is happening, and give Him a hand in making matters a little more fair for everyone.

Before anyone gets all uptight about this, remember-The actions taken by the Third Reich were LEGAL. They took power LEGALLY. They had passed laws making everything that they planned to do LEGAL. There are more examples in history, but this is one that most of us will be able to recognize.

“Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.” Edmund Burke
This quote is sometime attributed to George Santayana, but is probably from Burke.

Blindly obeying “The Authorities” is not always the correct, or RIGHT thing to do.
 
It may be your intent to limit the consideration to the role of the state. But I’d point out that the state is not nor should be the only authority. For instance in the family the parents have authority. It is their job to administer justice to the children. This includes punishment for injustices like the state would use e.g. incarceration (grounding, timeout) or physical punishment (restraint, spanking). Even today the Catholic church maintains itself as a religious authority. It also administers justice in religious matters. So the question could be broader than just the state.
Origen52 said:
That’s how the Mafia got started. They protected the Sicilian population from the abuse of the French occupiers and meted out punishment on those the occupiers considered above the law.
Click to expand...
The mafia is like a state. They promise protection to people in a certain geographic area. In exchange for that protection they demand tribute. If you don’t pay the tribute they will do the things to you that they claim to protect you from.
paziego said:
What is better, a police state (or a very corrupt one), or a state which permits duelling?
Click to expand...
Duelling is interesting because it was a system for meting out justice for giving offense. That is supposed to be a primitive urge that our enlightened society has gotten past. Except we haven’t. Now the state punishes people for speech labeled hate speech.
 
exnihilo said:
It may be your intent to limit the consideration to the role of the state. But I’d point out that the state is not nor should be the only authority. For instance in the family the parents have authority. It is their job to administer justice to the children. This includes punishment for injustices like the state would use e.g. incarceration (grounding, timeout) or physical punishment (restraint, spanking). Even today the Catholic church maintains itself as a religious authority. It also administers justice in religious matters. So the question could be broader than just the state.

The mafia is like a state. They promise protection to people in a certain geographic area. In exchange for that protection they demand tribute. If you don’t pay the tribute they will do the things to you that they claim to protect you from.

Duelling is interesting because it was a system for meting out justice for giving offense. That is supposed to be a primitive urge that our enlightened society has gotten past. Except we haven’t. Now the state punishes people for speech labeled hate speech.
Click to expand...
It doesn’t necessarily have to be The State, but I believe for retribution that involves taking someone life or property away, there has to be an authority to justify it.

For example, Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg got dispensation from his Bishop to assassinate Hitler.
 
BornInMarch said:
In normal society, when someone is wronged he or she is supposed to go to civil authorities to seek justice. Taking justice into your own hands is generally frowned upon.

However, sometimes going to the authorities is not a possibility. Maybe a person lives in a failed state where the authorities are corrupt. Maybe a person lives on the frontier where there are no authorities to begin with.

When, if ever, is it acceptable to take justice into your own hands?
Click to expand...
We don’t live in a failed state, or at the frontier of some lawless territory. So the answer is “never.”

Now, of course, we may defend ourselves and our families. But if by “justice,” you mean “revenge,” the answer is still “never,” no matter where you live.
 
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