Practical Justice

I as pleasantly surprised with how this book lived up to is title, helping bring into focus this abstract kingdom-concept of justice while making it surprisingly practical. Blue discussed the importance of different arenas for this kind of ministry, using the "teach a man to fish" analogy. The work set before us includes direct relief (giving fish), distributing skills (teaching to fish), and dealing with entire broken systems (fixing the pond).

"The Gospels show the Lord ministering to those in need as he taught about the kingdom of God. Ministering to those in need is not the whole gospel. Talking about the kingdom alone is equally pathetic. Scripture itself offers that the kingdom of God is not about mere talk (see 1 Corinthians 4:20). At the same time, social concern alone is an emaciated representation of what the healthy body of Christ should look like in action." (13)

"Work is part of the created order of things and God's intent for us. We were meant to work; work is not a result of the Fall. So we should be interested in promoting the dignity and full spirituality that people gain through work." (28)

"The discussion of the sabbath leads to an interesting reflection. Some of our economies and cultures actually are put together in such a way that the poor either struggle to get enough work or have no time to rest. A job that is fair allows the worker to rest a day a week. Rest would also imply sleep, since the way God initially structured life provided time for sleep and human beings were created to need to be refreshed in this way." (38)

"The practice of double-talk in regard to immigration must cease. We cannot prosecute and persecute illegal immigrants and still build an economy on their cheap labor." (83)

"There are plenty of issues, plenty of opportunities to work for justice, plenty of work to go around. We can't all do everything. The concerns are many, but we need not be overwhelmed by them. Rather, we should simply recognize that everyone cannot do everything but we should all be involved in addressing injustice. We should pray and partner with those around us as we work to build a more just nation and neighborhood. Until the kingdom of God comes in fullness, we will always have the opportunity. The poor will always be among us." (84)

"The most persistent temptation for those who seek to live a Christian life is simply to quit, because a real life of faith is difficult. It is painful. It is uncomfortable. There is real joy, peace and provision in following Jesus--these and many other blessings are part of the journey. But the real Christian life encompasses sorrow. It is a life of losing life, of giving it away in sacrificial service like the Master. And in so doing, we find the life of God strengthening us, giving us peace, joy, provision and purpose we long for." (137)