I feel that I've been on a collision course with justice for a while now. Coming out of the evangelical tradition, the "continuing" Reformed tradition in the twentieth century, and (in some sense) the southern Presbyterian tradition, the biblical teaching on the ethics of justice is not a strong suit for me - this despite the fact that my own family history is heavily implicated in the racial issues that define the white southern experience. In short, I knew the Bible talked about justice but I didn't know much about what it said and what it meant for me, my life and vocation.
All that began to change last spring when I read two books which broke through my relative indifference: Mountains Beyond Mountains and Until Justice and Peace Embrace. The former, by Tracy Kidder, tells the story of Dr. Paul Farmer, founder of Partners in Health and advocate for health care among the poor (especially in Haiti). Until Justice is the theory, the theology, that undergirds Farmer's vision; it's a translation of the justice tradition into Reformed theological and philosophical categories by one of the best thinkers around, Nicholas Wolterstorff.
The next stage of the collision just happened; I bought Gary Haugen's Good News About Injustice last Friday and had finished it by Saturday night. This time the theology of justice and the story of its incarnation are woven together as Haugen tells about his U. N. mission to Rwanda to investigate the genocide and how it led him to found International Justice Mission in 1994.
Finally, I read the introduction and first essay in Charles Marsh's The Beloved Community about MLK in Montgomery. I was struck by his youth (25 years old!), his spiritual transformation, and, of course, his moral courage. A couple of beautiful stories: after his house was bombed, with his wife and baby inside, King showed up and single-handedly calmed and dispersed the angry crowd, exhorting them to "love their enemies." And, after their boycott victory, King and his followers instructed the blacks of Montgomery on how to board the buses with dignity, respect, and a hand towards reconciliation with their white oppressors.
The biblical theology of justice presented by Haugen and Wolterstorff, together with the stories of its application told by Haugen, Kidder, and Marsh, offer a compelling vision for the pursuit of justice in today's world. Perhaps these books will serve to awaken other "sleepy Christians" to God's call to "seek justice, correct oppression, bring justice to the fatherless, and plead the widow's cause" (Is. 1.17).
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I often think "justice" is wrong rubric here. Too often, it seems to me, folks get to talking about social justice and things quickly devolve into a really bad political program. In other words, the problem - whatever it may be - goes from being my responsibility to something the government ought to fix. Bono's "One" campaign comes to mind. Seems to me that we ought to be talking more often in terms of mercy and compassion. As I recall, Michael Novak addressed this in First Things sometime back. Lemme look . . .
Here it is: http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=2702&var_recherche=social+justice
Pat: I hear your concerns; surely the justice language can quickly get hi-jacked by whoever chooses to pick it up (and there are three dominant traditions who do so according to A. MacIntyre). But what these authors are talking about is a specifically biblical, fairly traditional understanding of justice as God making things right; pursuing justice (by fighting injustice) goes hand in hand with mercy/compassion and "walking humbly with our God." This fully-orbed view is what I'm talking about here. Will check out Novak.
Trust you to be fully-orbed. Mountains on Mountains is great stuff, and I'm planning on having the MUSC group (when I assemble said group) read it.
Frederica Mathewes-Green can be provocative on this stuff - I put some of her thoughts on my blog some while back (links to her site in the post): http://mineironheart.blogspot.com/2007/01/wisdom-of-frederica.html
Any thoughts about what you will do in response? I.e., what does it mean in the concrete for you, your life and vocation?
Jim: good question.
Still trying to process that but, immediately, it'll be through my preaching, our church's vision to support and be involved with good ministries in the city here, etc.
Jeremy,
Thanks for describing your "Collision Course." I am glad that you came across Good News About Injustice. If you're interested, the folks in our Church Mobilization department are an excellent source for resources and ways to deepen involvement in this work of justice that we find is so close to God's heart. You may also want to check our our Nashville Benefit Dinner on October 11.
A Thoner - International Justice Mission
thanks. I definitely plan to learn more about IJM and how churches can be involved in support, education, and action on the local level.
Jeremy, I too read 'Mountains' and was inspired by it. I think Kidder did a great job of capturing a flawed man (like us all) intent on sacrifice. I thought about my life differently after reading. But when I read the reports of Mother Teresa's recently published journals I couldn't help but think of Farmer, and the way Kidder so plainly exposed his obsession with maintaining the forced title of 'saint'. As a pastor I guess I somewhat know what it is like to struggle between selfishly wanting to be the savior and to point people to Him at the same time. All that to say, when I finished 'Mountains', I was both inspired and disturbed, and maybe this is why?? I certainly am not one to turn to morbid introspection, but I guess this simply prompts me more and more to be sure that it is faith that is the engine driving my car over and above all else. Just a thought.
A-men.
Tim:
Interesting take on this. I didn't really get the "forced saint persona" from reading about Farmer. The fact that he still labors among the people, sometimes trekking into the back-country to care for one person, seems to serve as counter-evidence to some aspiration for fame. But, of course, flaws aren't hard to find in any of us.
On the other hand, I very much resonate with your struggle with wanting to replace Christ in helping people.
Dan Allender has made a good case recently (Leading with a Limp) that most pastors/counselors are natural-born narcissists, who tend to put themselves at the center of life, ministry, church, helping others, etc.
Peace,
j
Having recently moved into Harlem and now starting student-teaching in the South Bronx(did I mention I'm on the last chapter of Mountains Beyond Mountains? haha) I also feel that I'm on a collision course with social justice. It was no coincidence that Deuteronomy 15 was preached on at Redeemer the first weekend I got here. God has been showing me how "hardhearted and tightfisted" I am in more ways than one, and yet each time I try to actively change, my so-called "common sense" gets the best of me. My time here so far has been humbling, grace-filled, inspiring, a little overwhelming, and of course, fun. Do tell me how you are encouraging your congregation on how to be involved.
Miss ya,
Sarah
P.S. can you post a pic of Maylon? I wanna see how the 4th is coming!
hey man, this is Jonathan Warren. I'm a good friend of Summer's and have met you a few times as well (esp. surrounding the tree incident). this is a fantastic post. i did an internship with ijm a few summers ago when i was in law school. They are a really courageous organization--esp. the investigators, who are dealing daily with some very demonic circumstances everywhere that the organization is active. i pray for your church in memphis, and for the pca everywhere. We do have a lot to repent for in our short history.
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