Pursuing Justice: A Book Review

The call to justice is a God-given whisper of what we were created for, a trace of God's true image in us that helps us believe we can be active participants in bringing about the goodness of God's kingdom.  I want to pursue justice because God is calling me, and I want to be with God.  That is the only goal to which I want to give my life away." (Wytsma 169)

 

I just recently finished the book Pursuing Justice by Ken Wytsma, the founder of the Justice Conference. {Learn more about this awesome, inspiring conference here: http://thejusticeconference.com/  I have yet to go to one of these conferences, but I really hope to in the future (when I'm living in the States again)!}  Anyway, I must admit that I was a bit hesitant about how good this book would be, as I have already read several wonderful books on justice (for example, Generous Justice by Timothy Keller - absolutely fantastic book!) and I didn't think this book would even compare to those other books.  Well, I was dead wrong. Not only is this a great book, it also challenged me and inspired me in a new & fresh way to continue to literally pursue justice in all areas of my life in order to really know God's heart and bring Him all the glory.  I heartily recommend this book and urge you to read it right away! :)

 Some of the ways that Pursuing Justice inspired me:

• Wytsma describes how he, his wife, and their family live out justice on a daily basis, in very practical ways. One of the ways they do this is by making every family vacation or special present also an equally-special gift for others.  For example, Wytsma said that one time his family renovated their yard with new landscaping.  They then bought a giftcard to a home-improvement store and gave a young couple this gift so they could also do a home-improvement project that they could not normally have afforded.  This simple way of blessing others through radical giving is something that Drew & I also want to incorporate into our family's DNA.
•   Wytsma describes several ways that he and his family try to live justly and simply, including really tracing back the origins of the products with which they consume.  It is often true that some of the products we buy and use on a daily basis promote injustices such as child labor and human trafficking.  His call to educate yourself on what you're consuming was a reminder to me to be a conscientious consumer.  He also reminds us that it's important to not get caught up in the consumer culture, and he states the benefits of getting caught up in God's ways: "The objects of consumer culture, ironically, consume us.  Conversely, in giving our lives away to God by serving others, laboring for justice, and loving sacrificially, our lives are given back to us." (280)

Some of my favorite quotes from Pursuing Justice:

• Justice is rooted in the character of God, established in the creation of God, mandated in the commands of God, present in the kingdom of God, motivated by the love of God, affirmed in the teaching of Jesus, reflected in the example of Jesus, and carried on today by all who are moved and led by the Spirit. (Wytsma)
•  Justice isn't a nice addition to God's otherwise perfect character.  If we ignore justice, like ignoring love or truth, we create a caricature rather than the divine character we meet in Scripture and in our lives.  Justice is a hallmark of God, a distinctive and pure feature of His character that defines Him and His will for the world.  Justice - a right and equitable relationship with God and with people - is truly a word worth redeeming. (Wytsma)
• Jesus calls His followers to be flourishing branches. His desire is that we become a living part of Him, extending His kingdom into the world.  We must join with God to become stewards of His creation, involved in establishing justice, because that's what God is already doing. (Wytsma 87)

As always, I'm eager to hear your thoughts about this post! Have you read Pursuing Justice or do you have another favorite book about justice?  I would love some more book recommendations. Thanks!