Sin, Crime, and Justice

In the Old Testament, justice and sin were both relational realities, and justice was not about upholding individual rights, but protecting the well-being of communities.…

Crime is never merely an individual breaking the law; it is always a communal transgression that fractures shalom.

God’s justice moves toward restoration, reintegration, and redemption. God’s justice is inherently connected to healing the harmed, restoring what has been lost, and reconciling those who are estranged from God and community. God’s heart and justice are inherently restorative.

-- Dominique DuBois Gilliard

Clearly sin has more relational componentry than many of our religious traditions have ended up with today, which makes it hard to disconnect from the idea of evil.  More on sin…and evil here.