Reflection: Criminal Justice with Godly Character

Micah 6:8 reads:

“He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?” (ESV)

This passage in Micah is delivered in the midst of a chaotic environment. The people of God are abusing their power through corrupt business, civil, and religious practices, and ultimately, they are using the religious structure of their society for their own personal gain instead of following Him faithfully and honestly. Micah communicates how the people of God have neglected to live in a way that honors Him. There is a gap between their spiritual and relational habits and behaviors. The Lord, through Micah, emphasizes that life with God must affect one’s day-to-day actions. If you love God, you will do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with Him. 

As a Christian institution, we have seen and experienced this message of Micah. Walking faithfully with the Lord reshapes our perspective and our desires. Not only do we desire justice and kindness because that is what the Lord requires of us, but we desire them because they are the foundation that love itself is built upon. Justice, mercy, and faithfulness are some of the primary ways that Yahweh shows love for His people. We believe in the saving power of justice, both for those who have done wrong and for those who have been wronged.  Ultimately, our goal in justice is to restore the parties involved. This is done by identifying the root causes of the harm and addressing the overarching issues that lead to injustice.

We aim for our students to care for the well-being of the people they interact with day-to-day, and for compassion to be the expectation, not the exception. Toccoa Falls College instructs its students not only in their particular area of study but also in core Bible & Theology courses that build a robust understanding of scripture and theology, aligning our spiritual and relational behaviors with the life and teachings of Christ. From this perspective, we have continued to build and improve our Criminal Justice program. Now offered fully on-campus as well as fully online, our goal is to train graduates who are intellectually capable of pursuing justice within our legal system, while also being spiritually equipped to do so with lovingkindness and a kingdom mindset. 

A degree in Criminal Justice can be the beginning of a path in a variety of people-focused career opportunities. Whether graduates are working with those facing the consequences of their criminal actions or seeking justice for victims through various avenues within our legal system, it is important for Christ-centered individuals to be present in these vulnerable environments. Graduates of this program rely on their Christian faith and Godly character to pursue truth and justice and to approach their careers with a deeper perspective.

Whether their careers take them to a courtroom, a school building, a corrections facility, or a patrol car, graduates of TFC’s Criminal Justice program will engage with those environments and the people in them, grounded in the foundation of love and compassion learned from our ultimate Creator and Redeemer. Take a moment today to pray for the students who will be in this program, that their lives with God would be present in their work, and that Toccoa Falls alumni pave a path of justice, mercy, and compassion in the fields they enter.