Generous Justice

Our team just finished reading and discussing Tim Keller's book, "Generous Justice" last night.  He does such a good job of spelling out the issues of what justice looks like and why we should be concerned about the poor.  We should not give because we feel guilty or to feel better about ourselves.  Rather, the more we see what God has done for us, both justice and mercy will flow. 

I find that Keller gives words to why we do what we do here in South Sudan. He gives the underlying motivation for why many of you in the States give and pray for those who are struggling all around the world.  As the truth is unpacked, it is exciting to see the love of Christ and the beauty he has created and desires to recreate, so I'm recommending this little book to you all.

Here are a few snippets:

One great reminder is that all people are made in his image.  "When God put his image upon us, we became beings of infinite, inestimable value."  "So we must treasure each and every human being as a way of showing due respect for the majesty of their owner and creator."

Another reason to extend ourselves for others is because Jesus has overextended Himself for us, by coming to a people who didn't deserve Him and giving us abundance.  "If you look down on the poor and stay aloof from their suffering, you have not really understood or experienced God's grace."  "The righteous...are willing to disadvantage themselves to advantage the community".  Sometimes we have a " 'middle-class spirit'.  You feel that you've earned a certain standing with God through your hard work....people who come to grasp the gospel of grace and become spiritually poor find their hearts gravitating toward the materially poor."

"Jesus, who deserved acquittal and freedom, got condemnation-so that we who deserve condemation for our sins can receive aquittal."

"The strong must disadvantage themselves for the weak, the majority for the minority, or the community frays and the fabric breaks."