Listen, Lament, and Learn
In Micah 6:8 we read, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” We care about justice because God cares about justice. But what does that look like today? How do we engage when we see injustice around us, particularly racial injustice? Here are some resources that we believe can be helpful to us as we walk humbly with God through these waters.
Listen
In this moment, it is important to listen before we speak. The following resources are timely words from voices within the evangelical world. We encourage you to seek to hear the experience of our Black brothers and sisters in America.
No Justice No Peace
A recent sermon from Pastor Brandon Redic at The Bridge Church on justice, peace, and the gospel.
Grace, Justice and Mercy
A presentation by Tim Keller, Lead Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, NYC, and Bryan Stevenson, JD, Founder/Director of Equal Justice Initiative, Montgomery, AL. Presented in 2016.
Grace, Justice and Mercy Q&A
An accompanying Q&A with Tim Keller and Bryan Stevenson.
Unmuted Gospel
A reflection on recent injustices and call to action out of the book of Esther, from Cedrick Brown, a pastor in the EFCA.
Race, the Church, and the Gospel,
A candid conversation on race recorded by City Life Church featuring Pastors Brandon Redic and Morgan Burns.
George Floyd and Me
A TCG article by Christian rapper Shai Linne that cultivates both empathy with the Black community and hope in Jesus.
Lamenting Injustice
After understanding that there is a problem, scripture calls us to lament. As Pastor Josh has highlighted, we are called to lament injustice and bring it all before the Lord.
A Time for Lament
EFCA President Kevin Kompelien responds to the injustice and pain in the Twin Cities and across the country.
The Christian's Call to Lament
A prayer of lament in response to George Floyd’s murder and the racial injustice in our world. Written by Greg Strand, EFCA Executive Director of Theology and Credentialing.
Psalm 73 and Psalm 94
Excellent prayers for these times. They feature cries for justice in the face of injustice.
Justice Matters
Scripture has much to say on justice and injustice. The following are resources that can help us learn more.
Amos and Micah
These prophetic books of the Bible are clear on God’s love of justice. Amos criticizes the lack of justice on the part of God’s people. Micah emphasizes the need for God’s people to do justice.
Let Justice Roll
A sermon from Pastor Josh on Amos’ clear call to God’s people in the face of injustice. This was part of our sermon series on Amos in the fall of 2018.
Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson
By telling the stories of Stevenson's work as a lawyer with the Equal Justice Initiative, this book is an eye-opening and unforgettable look at injustice surrounding race, poverty, and the criminal justice system. There is also a movie adaptation that is free to rent this month on YouTube and other streaming services.
Generous Justice: How God’s Grace Makes Us Just, Tim Keller
This book challenges preconceived beliefs and presents the Bible as a fundamental source for promoting justice and compassion for those in need. In Generous Justice, Keller explores a life of justice empowered by an experience of grace: a generous, gracious justice.
Is Justice Possible?: The Elusive Pursuit of What is Right, Paul Nyquist
The innocent are convicted. The guilty get away. The scales tip toward the powerful, while the weak remain oppressed. If our world is so sophisticated, why is there so much injustice? What can believers do? Can we ever expect justice? Author Dr. Paul Nyquist is former president of Moody Bible Institute.
From Every People and Nation: A Biblical Theology of Race, J. Daniel Hays
This is a detailed look at how the theme of race is developed across and throughout the whole of Scripture. It is part of the New Studies in Biblical Theology series edited by D.A. Carson.
The Gospel, Compassion, and Justice
The EFCA’s 2018 Theology Conference featured thoughtful engagement on various topics relating to faith and justice. Audio presenters include: Dr. Jarvis Williams, Dr. Doug Sweeney, Dr. John Perkins, Dr. Carl Ellis Jr, Dr. Daniel Carroll, Dr. Peter Cha, and Greg Strand.
God's Very Good Idea
For your children, God’s Very Good Idea is a, “a quick trip through redemptive history to show us how everyone needs the Savior and how Jesus brings us into his family through faith, no matter our background.”
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