On the Government's Role in Establishing Justice for Its Citizens

A Facebook friend of mine, whom I respect and agree with on a wide variety of issues, recently posted the following comment about his position concerning the role of government:

"I'm one that puts the role of government solely in retributive justice." 

Here's my response, as I've thought through this issue. I believe that my views reflect principles concerning the differing roles government, church, and family: principles found both in Scripture and right reason. (If I thought my views did not reflect such principles, I would change them.) I hope that this may be helpful to others as well.

"I would say that the role of government includes both retribution [that is, punishing those who violate the rights of others] and regulation [placing boundaries on certain activities, when those activities lead to societal harm: for example, ordinances determining waste disposal to make sure the entire population's water source is not polluted]. "I do believe that there is a such thing as redistributive justice as well: for example, it would be unjust if a parent did not take from his own resources to provide for his child or if a church did not give charity to truly needy members (and even outsiders, if we are blessed with abundance). However, I would agree with you that the role of government is NOT meant to be involved with the redistribution of wealth (except, I would say, in the limited and local sense that if someone has wronged another citizen or broken a just regulation, then that person could have a judgment issued against them in order to right the wrong)."