Justice and the character of God
Christians reflect the image of God, in part, by loving our neighbors. We are compelled to extend grace and mercy, because loving and giving grace are central aspects of who God is. And we are also called to do justice, because doing justice—that is, dismantling unjust systems and caring for the victims of injustice, the oppressed—is also part of the essence of God’s character. If our lives of service to God make up our worship to him, then doing justice is an act of worship.
Books and Readings
- Ron Sider, Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger: Moving from Affluence to Generosity. (1978, updated 2005).
- Richard Horsley, Covenant Economics: A Biblical Vision of Justice for All, 2009
- Richard Stearns, The Hole in Our Gospel, 2010
- Ken Wytsema, Pursuing Justice, 2013
- Jonathan Edwards, Sermon on Christian Charity, 1732
- Walter Rauschenbusch, Christianity and the Social Crisis in the 21st Century: The Classic that Woke Up the Church (100th Anniversary Edition)
Bible Study Curricula
- Gary VanderPol, Mako Nagasawa, Rachel Anderson, Lazarus at the Gate Economic Discipleship Curriculum, 2012.
- Nicholas Wolterstorff, Eugene Cho, Renee Padilla-De Borst, Ron Sider, et. al. Live Justly, 2014.
- Abraham George, Nikki Toyama-Szeto, God of Justice: The IJM Institute Global Church Curriculum, 2015.
- World Vision, The Hole in Our Gospel Study Guide, 2010.