In the realm of common law, a judge's role is not confined to the mere application of legal principles, but extends to the wise stewardship of these principles in the pursuit of justice. This is analogous to the apostolic injunction to “Think on These Things” (Phil 4:8), where the Laws of Adam are applicable to the wise stewardship of gifts and modalities given by the Father for the common good.
Common law, a system of law based on precedent and customs, echoes the dynamism of the Laws of Adam. It is not a static body of rules, but a living, evolving system that must be navigated and interpreted with wisdom and prudence. In this light, a judge's role is not merely to apply the law, but to steward it wisely, to navigate its complexities and nuances in a way that serves the pursuit of justice.
This stewardship involves a deep engagement with the law's principles, a commitment to understanding its foundations and its implications, and a dedication to applying it in a way that is just, fair, and equitable. It is a call to think deeply and carefully about the law, to engage with it not just as a set of rules, but as a set of principles that guide our actions and our decisions.
Furthermore, the judge's stewardship of the law is not for their own benefit, but for the common good. It is a service to the community, a way of upholding the rule of law and ensuring the fair and just treatment of all individuals. In this sense, the judge's role is a gift, a modality of service that is to be used not for personal gain, but for the benefit of the whole community.
Therefore, the judge's role in the common law system is a profound and significant one. It is a call to wise stewardship, to the thoughtful and careful navigation of the law's principles in the pursuit of justice. It is a reminder of the importance of thinking deeply and carefully about the law, of engaging with it not just as a set of rules, but as a set of principles that guide our actions and our decisions.
<aside> <img src="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/dde6c62a-efc6-4576-8945-51bdfa4d12e8/kings_college_skinny.png" alt="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/dde6c62a-efc6-4576-8945-51bdfa4d12e8/kings_college_skinny.png" width="40px" /> In the context of Blackstone's common law, the judge plays a crucial role as an expert and oracle of the law's customs, which are primarily the customs of a specific nation or people. However, the judge's role is not just to apply these customs but also to assume God’s moral precepts—those eternal and immutable principles of right and wrong found in the laws of nature and of revelation—as the final rationale behind all law. This assumption serves as a starting point for all legal and judicial thinking, ensuring that the judge is not merely a rubber stamp for the decrees of tyrants and dictators, but a key actor in the pursuit of justice.
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Blackstone-English-Common-Law-Gary-Amos.pdf
<aside> <img src="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/607ea4a7-f56e-4df3-8ad8-a0fc03795664/IMG_1438.jpeg" alt="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/607ea4a7-f56e-4df3-8ad8-a0fc03795664/IMG_1438.jpeg" width="40px" /> ThinkOffering: The Phil 4:8 Judge.MP3
ThinkOffering (The Phil 4-8 Judge).mp3
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The "Think of These Things" passage likens a judge's role in common law to the wise stewardship of the Laws of Adam for the common good, emphasizing the application of legal principles for justice. In common law, a judge's role is to wisely steward the law, serving justice by navigating its complexities and nuances. A judge's stewardship calls for a deep engagement with the law's principles, aiming for just, fair, and equitable application. A judge's stewardship, aimed at the common good, is a service to the community, upholding the rule of law and ensuring fair and just treatment for all. The judge's role in common law is a call to wise stewardship, reminding us of the importance of engaging with the law as guiding principles for our actions and decisions.
<aside> <img src="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/86cf3e6e-0d15-458d-a434-e1be4e189db6/kings_college_skinny.png" alt="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/86cf3e6e-0d15-458d-a434-e1be4e189db6/kings_college_skinny.png" width="40px" /> The proper use of the laws of Adam (ears, neck, head, heart, hands, tongue, eyes) in the apostolic injunction of Phil 4:8 connects with this morning’s torah portion about the “resets” in Moses, on the seventh day, year, jubilee, etc and other times of refreshing.
These are time-based impacts that play-out throughout our generation and over the generations of faithful stewardship since time immemorial. All belongs to God and ultimately returns back into his ownership. How we choose to use God’s gifts of ear, neck, head, heart, hand, tongue, eye (colour-coded in the graphic above) will come under scrutiny from heaven’s pov as every knee bows.
There are 3 questions we’ll need to answer: Who are we helping today? What is our purpose-driven mission? How will you execute on the seeds already planted in your heart? Write us at [email protected] or speak with @Kexin Yu or @Daphne on how you will make an impact in 2024. Hope to hear from you soon!More info: https://tinyurl.com/think-offering
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| Reference | Pattern | Archetypes | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 1 - 3 | 7 days in 1 week |
Day 1 Miracle Monday Day 2 Thankful Tuesday Day 3 Wisdom Wednesday Day 4 Talk-About Thursday Day 5 Fill-me up Friday Day 6 Set-apart Saturday Day 7 Set-free Sunday | From the perspective of John the beloved, the advent of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, marks a profound new beginning in the history of mankind. This new era is characterised by an unprecedented outpouring of God's love, a love so deep and boundless that it is manifested in the giving of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to the world. | Each day of the week can be seen as a reflection of this divine narrative, with the culmination of Jesus's sacrifice and the promise of eternal life infusing each moment with meaning and purpose. It's a continual reminder that in Him, we move from death to life, from the old to the new, and from the temporal to the eternal. | | Philippians 4:8 | 7 fixes in 1 plan
Arete / Epainos Prosphile Alethiea Euphema Semna Dikaia Hagna | Focus on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.
| These think offerings, each distinct and valuable fixes, form a moral compass to guide our thoughts and actions towards the good and the beautiful, much like course corrections required to complete an intercontinental flight plan. They are not just ideals to be admired from afar, but essential coordinates to be lived out in our daily lives, shaping our decisions, our relationships, and our character. | | 2 Peter 1:5-7 | 7 Natural Endowments ‣ ‣ ‣ ‣ ‣ ‣ ‣ | Add to your faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. | These qualities, rooted in the rich soil of faith, grow into a lush garden of moral and spiritual virtues. They are not static, but dynamic, each one building on the other in a continuous journey of growth and self-improvement. They are like the rungs of a ladder, each one lifting us higher in our moral and spiritual journey, each one a step towards the person we are called to be. | | Romans 12:6-8 | 7 Modalities PRO DEA DID PAR MET IST ELE | ‣ ‣ ‣ ‣ ‣ ‣ ‣ | We have different gifts, use them in proportion to our faith. These gifts, like seeds of potential planted within us, are meant to be nurtured and used in service to others. They are a call to action, a reminder of our unique contributions to the world, and the impact we can make when we use our gifts wisely and generously. They are not just for our own benefit, but for the common good, each one a thread in the rich tapestry of human community, each one a part of the puzzle that makes us who we are. | | Exodus 40 | 7 sacred spaces in 1 Tabernacle
Gate Altar Laver Lampstand Table Incense Ark | The pattern of 7 in the Tabernacle, shown to Moses, is a prophetic symbol of God's presence and desire to create sacred spaces and invite his people “to come together” (1 Cor 14:26). It is composed of seven items: Gate, Altar, Laver, Lampstand, Table, Incense, and Ark. | Each item has a specific prophetic significance and is associated with a particular genius or natural ability. They are not merely functional, but deeply symbolic, each one a thread in the rich tapestry of meaning that weaves together the story of God's relationship with His people. They are like the chapters of a book, each one telling a part of the story, each one revealing a facet of the divine, each one inviting us into the mystery of God's presence. | | Deuteronomy 8:8 | 7 Seeds in Israel
‣ ‣ ‣ ‣ ‣ ‣ Vine: The Tribes of Israel | The seven species of ancient Israel are: Wheat, Barley, Vine, Fig, Olive, Date-Palm, and Pomegranate. They are integral to the biblical narrative and represent the agricultural abundance of the land. | Each species holds a unique status in the pastoral life of ancient Israel. They are not just crops, but symbols of God's provision and faithfulness, a reminder of the ways in which the divine is interwoven with the everyday life of the people. They are like the stanzas of a poem, each one rich with meaning, each one a testament to the land and its people, each one a sign of the divine promise. | | Laws of Adam | 7 Parts in 1 Body
Eye Hand Ear Tongue Neck Head Heart | The Laws of Adam, given at the creation, are represented by the body parts: Eye, Hand, Ear, Tongue, Neck, Head, and Heart. These parts are seen as the faculties that educate the body to sight, touch, hearing, speech, organization, leadership, and compassion. | They are not just physical, but deeply moral, each one a call to use our human faculties in the pursuit of justice, wisdom, and compassion. They are like the instruments of an orchestra, each one playing a part in the symphony of human life, each one a call to the moral and compassionate life we are created to live. | | Revelation 2-3 | 7 Churches 1 City
‣ ‣ ‣ ‣ ‣ ‣ ‣
| These cities, each with its own unique character and challenges, are not just locations on a map, but communities of faith navigating the complexities of life in the ancient world.
City of Faith - Ephesus City of Faith - Smyrna City of Faith: Pergamon City of Faith: Thyatira City of Faith: Sardis City of Faith: Philadelphia City of Faith: Laodicea
| They are a reminder of the ways in which the message of the gospel is always lived out in particular places, among particular people, and in the midst of particular circumstances. They are like the scenes of a play, each one setting the stage for the drama of faith, each one a context for the challenges and choices of the Christian life, each one a part of the story that the gospel is telling in the world. |
