Contribute to the TJL Fund
Support justice initiatives being lived out around the world by contributing the TJL Fund. Join our community of donors whose hearts are devoted to investing in the passions and ingenuity of dedicated Christians who are transforming both lives and societies. Your donations will support The Just Life and be connected directly with passionate daily practitioners and social entrepreneurs who advance …
Read MoreWhat is Christian Social Justice?
The two articles below serve as fitting introduction to the conversation. First, a quick clarification: The Just Life as a ministry is about more than what is commonly understood as social justice. Yes, Christians should be involved in social justice, however, “social justice” is simply not a big enough term for our God and is not an apt description of what …
Read MoreThe Just Life Quote List
We have put together a list of quotes used throughout this site and others that are particularly inspirational, thought provoking, and challenging. This is a list in progress and in no particular order; please add your own favorite quotes through commenting. You may also be interested in reading and reflecting on the Justice Scripture list, the Bible on the Poor, …
Read MoreHow I’m going to Get My Master’s Degree
What is the difference between compassion and justice through the eyes of a daily practitioner? Continue reading as Paul Luikart, a Housing Coordinator at Breakthrough Urban Ministries, enlightens us… Rather than go back to school to get a master’s degree myself, I’ve decided to hang around people who are already going to school to get master’s degrees. I will then …
Read MoreScripture List: The Bible on Wealth
We have compiled another scripture list. This time specifically on what the Bible has to say about wealth. This list is not exhaustive, and at this point no commentary is included — just scripture. Also read and reflect on the Justice Scripture list, the Bible on the Poor, and on Dying to Self. Deuteronomy 8:18 Remember the Lord your God, …
Read MoreBackwater Jesus
This Christmas let us all be reminded of the blessed dignity Christ gave to poor oppressed people in dire circumstances living in backwater parts of the world by being born to poor oppressed parents under dire circumstances living in a backwater part of the world. Let us reflect on Mary’s first words of song after she was told that she …
Read MoreScripture List: Dying to Self
Incarnate ministry, servant leadership, serving the least of these — all central to a proper understanding of Christian life and practice. Justice manifests itself through discipleship; discipleship is first about dying to self so that Christ might be glorified through us. This concept can be challenging, but it is nevertheless vital to The Just Life. Continue reading for scripture on …
Read MoreWe’re it
Ephesians 2:10: For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. “…prepared in advance…” That is a powerful and inspiring concept. Not only were we created in Christ Jesus to do good works, but the works themselves were prepared in advance. God, above and beyond time itself, …
Read MoreBiblical justice is a celebration of discipline
The Just Life is very much an approach to justice issues through spiritual development and self-giving discipleship — viewing a truly “just life” as the ultimate expression of a Christian’s engagement with the world we find ourselves in. Studying the spiritual disciplines is a great place to start your journey. One of the masters at articulating the disciplines is Richard …
Read MoreThe Cost of Discipleship
Today we celebrate the 101st anniversary of the birth of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the person who wrote the book on discipleship. Literally. His book The Cost of Discipleship has been so influential to Christianity and is so foundational for The Just Life that we thought it might be helpful to summarize some of his key ideas. Published in 1937, The Cost …
Read MoreGary Haugen on Justice
God has a passion for the world and a passion for justice. According to the Bible, injustice is the abuse of power that allows the strong to take from the weak the good things that God intended for all human beings. God calls us to fight against injustice by asking us to be obedient in giving to him what we …
Read MoreRemember, it’s a systems thing.
Revisit the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10 25-37) as a justice text. There are more players in this admonition than just the unwitting victim, the cause of the situation in the robber, and the compassionate acts of a stranger. There is also the Priest and the Levite — consider them a pastor and a church elder these days. …
Read MoreDikaiosune: and justice
Did you know that the word justice does not appear in some translations of the New Testament? That could be a bit disconcerting for those who understand biblical social justice to be central to Christianity. The reality is that God’s heart for Justice is so integrally linked to His Righteousness that the original greek word used was “dikaiosune,” which has a …
Read MoreSocial Justice as the “new monasticism?” NO!
For a while now I’ve kept this article from Christianity Today on file as an example of Christians engaged in the community development level of social justice (for better and for worse) and who exhibit the high discipleship required to live for justice. These Christian community development efforts are kin to the CCDA organization we have talked about. However, this …
Read More“Dreadful it is to fall into the hands of the living God”
Someone recently commented: “Incarnate Integration & Investment,” isn’t that the way Jesus did it? Is the example He set that hard to see?” and it made me think of this quote by the great Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855): “The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we as Christians are a bunch of scheming …
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