Kamala Harris in her victory speech as the new attorney general of California said: “I pledge and make a pledge to work hard every day to make sure the law of this state is on the side of the people of this state.”
Now I must admit I know very little about Kamala Harris so none of my comments bear any weight in regards to her political leanings or her job as our new attorney general. I am only intrigued by her comment about the law being on the side of the people.
It looks to me as if Ms. Harris has been on the campaign trail a little too long. It’s senators and congressmen whose job it is to try and discern what the people in their jurisdiction want. The law, if it is truly acting as the law, will not be on anyone’s side. The law is on the side of the law. The law will only be on your side if you obey it.
I couldn’t help but think that this is exactly what happens when we live by the law, even in a spiritual sense. We start looking for ways to bend the law – to get the law to be a little more to our liking. The Pharisees, the religious leaders in the days of Jesus, were experts at making the law work for them. They basically rewrote it. This is why Jesus came and returned the law to its former power. The law is the teeth of the gospel. It locks us all up in sin so that Christ can release us all to him.
No, the law is not on our side, but the Son of God, who is the fulfillment of all the law, is. So when you get Jesus, you get the law, too. And Jesus understands us. He has been tempted in every way as we have and will be, and yet He said no every time. We aren’t that strong.
The law was made to break us and set us up for the grace and mercy of Jesus. And it is for that reason we wouldn’t want the law on our side, because had it been, we never would have come to know our salvation.
John Fischer The Catch 
well said!
Perhaps, Ms. Harris meant that she would insure that the law would not continue to be abused and used to marginalize and oppress certain segments of society. The Chinese Exclusion Act, Eminent Domain are a couple of great examples. Also included would be the need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. The latter issue would rank up there with The Civil Rights Act.
John, I so appreciate your work, your words and your wisdom.
Let me guess at what Kanaka Harris was trying to say.
For millenia, the law has been used as a tool for some to gain advantage over others. And when I say “the law” I don’ t mean God’s law. I mean man’s laws.
Man’s laws, as referred to by Kanaka Harris, are fallible and flawed. We should expect this. They, like all things man made, need to be honed, refined, and restored so that they are transparent and meet the purposes that meet the needs of the “Common Good” – not entrenched interests.
As Christians, we should always be in pursuit of the common good – the good that blesses and seeks healing in whatever manner possible. And even man’s laws can be bent in that direction, vs. the direction of laws that enrich and empower small minority groups with power and influence.
I don’t want to speak for Kanaka (I don’t know anything about her!), but that’s my sense of what I might have meant with a statement like having the law “on the side of the people”.
Aaron
I agree. That’s why I have no issue with her and also knew there was a context to her statement. I was using the words as a springboard to some thoughts for today.
Thank you, John. You understand the importance and the power of the Law.
Years ago you brought this home to me through your album “The New Covenant.” [I still hope that someday it will be rereleased, as it is a true representation of the Gospel message. :)]
“Do this and live, the Law commands,
but gives me neither feet nor hands.
A better way, His Grace doth bring,
He bids me fly, and gives me wings!”
May all believers come to see the Law and its purpose accurately, and so see why Jesus is indeed a sweet savor and the only Saviour of mankind.
God bless!
Thanks for reminding me of that great lyric. Still don’t know who to credit it too.
Her first name is: “Kamala” NOT “Kanaka”! LOL!
Yes, thank you. I am correcting this mistake.
I live in California and am well aquainted with Kamala Harris’ views on the law. As most of us have seen, people running for office generally come across as being one hundred percent for “the people”. It’s when they are elected that they show their true nature.
I’m thankful that God is not like that. He loves us completely. We see His true nature and it never changes
Good stuff, dude.
I’m hoping that you forwarded your “Catch” to her as well. She needs to hear your message as she has definitely been on the campaign trail too long!