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Three Justice Reads

Mark Poniatowski

So it’s summer! Time for the 3 ‘R’s, right? Resting, relaxing and recuperating? Reclining, reposing and recollecting yourself? Who are we kidding? We’re Oxford students, and if there’s one thing we do well it’s reading, reading and more reading. So in addition to that humongous list which your tutor has set you and as well as the latest teary rom-com/sci-fi epic/fiction thriller, here’s three books which we at Just Love Oxford think should accompany you this summer. They’re all short, easy to pick up and dead simple to understand. So whether it’s while catching some rays by the pool, perusing the bookstall at that Christian festival, stemming the flow of boredom on a long-distance train journey or simply cramming a few chapters into your library/lab breaks, these are what you need to read…

The Theological Call to Social Justice 1) Timothy Keller – Generous Justice

My word, where do we even begin with this man? As many of us know from his serendipitous series of mission week talks in HT15, Tim Keller just has that way with words. Breaking complex biblical narratives and intricate theological treatises into easy-to-handle English is Keller’s forte, and he does not fail to deliver here. Keller puts forward that the active pursuit of justice is an essential part of the Christian life. It is simply only right that we respond to God’s incredible grace and love by taking part in seeking redemptive social justice for our world. Keller walks us, hand in hand, through the Bible, both New Testament and Old, showing how the narrative of God’s will for his people to lead lives of active justice is vigorously revealed. Keller doesn’t just leave us there, however, but reflects on how this social justice ought to be carried out by us as individuals and churches, and where the call to justice fits alongside the imperatives of evangelism and engaging with a post-modern world. It’s simply one of those books which every Christian ought to read, so if you get your hands on a copy make sure you pass it on to your family and friends. It should surely change the way you think and behave, and reassess your priorities in living a life befitting of children of God.

Practical Application 2) Eugene Cho – Overrated

So you’re sold on the idea of doing God’s justice, but how on earth are we supposed to do that today? Chill, Eugene has got you sorted. In a fantastic little book, he flips the popular view that we have to be superheroes in order to end global poverty and bring God’s justice to the poor. Instead he tells us to look at what God is already doing in our world, and the ways in which he is bringing his kingdom to earth. It’s Jesus who will finish the work, and we just have to join in with what he’s already doing! It’s a super easy book to read, and is even worth lending to your non-Christian pals! Cho gets down with the practicalities, and challenges our modern-day culture of hipster anti-poverty tweets, instead calling us toward God’s sacrificial, costly justice. He’s right up-to-date with the happenings of the here and now, so is perfectly placed to assess how we are to interact with justice minded organisations like TOMs or food banks. Against our culture of short-term emotional thinking, he calls us to persevere with long-term conviction in the fight against global injustice. This book is perfect for thinking through what God’s call to justice looks like in the world of 2015

An Inspirational Tale 3) Shane Claiborne – The Irresistible Revolution

“I know there are people out there who say, “My life was such a mess. I was drinking, partying, sleeping around… and then I met Jesus and my whole life came together.” God bless those people. But me, I had it together. I used to be cool. And then I met Jesus and he wrecked my life.”

Oh Shane! Fresh from our little skype chat last Trinity (I’m sure it was the highlight of his 2015 speaking calendar!) Shane is ripping the Western Christian world a new one. This is a profoundly challenging book about the thoughts and experiences of one ordinary human being and his friends on a quest to get to the root of Christianity. To become people who read the word of God and live like they take it seriously. Who don’t choose to highlight passages they like and conveniently leave those they don’t to one side. I use the word inspiration, but what is really ensnaring about Shane’s story is that it is just so similar to so many of ours, growing up in a comfortable Western Christendom and making excuses to stay there. By his own admission, this is a book of stories about an ordinary bunch of people doing a bunch of things which should be ordinary parts of a Jesus-centred life, but that seem dangerously radical to many outside. Of course his stories are all wrapped up in his bubbly sense of humour, which shines through. Whether he’s recalling his experiences as a student campaigner for Philadelphia’s homeless community, having his life changed forever in the slums of Calcutta, or recounting the day-to-day of living life with his friends at The Simple Way in downtown Philly, his book is a delightfully personable and easy read. Just beware if you’re reading it around others, because they’ll probably ask you what you’re chuckling at! If you’re looking for a little challenge to break out of the western life, there’s no better challenge than from Shane and his pals at The Simple Way

You’ve read all of the above? Sweet! This is just a short list of books we’d love every Christian in Oxford to read, but if you want to explore God’s call to justice a little more then please have a chat with any of us on committee or drop a quick message to the Just Love Oxford facebook page. We’re all fairly well-read so can point you in the right direction!

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Today's message of Good News for this Lent season & every day. #quest #church #lent #community #hope #message #goodnews #questchurch #eugenecho #seattle