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Good News about Injustice: a Witness of Courage in a Hurting World
About the Book
A year 2000 Finalist in the ECPA book competition!
Accounts of injustice from our own communities and from around the world often leave us feeling outraged and helpless. We wonder what we can possibly do in response. And we wonder where is the God of justice?
Jesus, however, said, "Take heart! I have overcome the world." Gary Haugen sees the truth of Jesus' claim vindicated throughout Scripture, which portrays a God who rises up against injustice.
He also sees this truth in the lives of sometimes little-known Christians who through the years have courageously confronted evil when they saw it. Here he tells stories of these witnesses of hope in a hurting world.
The good news about injustice is that God is against it. God is in the business of using the unlikely to perform the holy, Haugen contends. And in this book he not only offers stories of courageous witnesses past and present, he also calls the body of Christ to action. He offers concrete guidance on the ways and means its members can rise up to seek justice throughout the world.
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1999
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About the author
Gary A. Haugen
8 books59 followersGary A. Haugen is founder and CEO of International Justice Mission, a human rights organization based in Washington, DC. Prior to founding IJM he worked in the civil rights division of the US Department of Justice and was director of the United Nations genocide investigation in Rwanda. He is also the author of Good News About Injustice (IVP).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
December 26, 2022
Super insightful— painful and heartbreaking but full of hope for what Haugen has been able to convey about the role of Christian disciples in such a horrific world. Favorite quote from the second half of the book: “Christians of mature faith know that love is both a deeply mystical and a profoundly practical calling.”
February 22, 2018
If I could give one book to every Christian, it would be this one.
April 26, 2011
This book is fantastic! Gary Haugen is a lawyer who worked for the United States Department of Justice. At one point, he was sent to Rwanda to lead a team gathering evidence against the perpetrators of the genocide there in 1994. It was experiences like this one that led Haugen to create International Justice Mission, whose goal is to provide legal aid and advocacy to oppressed persons throughout the world.
The first few chapters of the book set the stage. Haugen tells a bit of his own story and speaks of how Christians can engage the reality of injustice in the world by taking two steps: develop compassion for people suffering from injustice by learning about them and understanding justice by looking at scripture. Injustice in the world is an overwhelming topic, so Haugen tells the stories of three champions of justice in US history: Kate Bushnell, who fought against forced prostitution, Edgar Murphy, who spoke out for child laborers, and Jessie Daniel Ames, who formed a group of church women in the south who opposed lynching in the 1930s. The lesson is clear: Americans oppose all of these things today but there was a time when such injustices were accepted, in the same way, we can work against injustice in the wider world, and we can be successful.
The second part of the book focuses on four biblical affirmations about justice: God is a God of justice, compassion, moral clarity and rescue. In the third part, Haugen moves into the practical arena, speaking at length about what IJM does and how they do it (and how the reader can help).
I am tempted to classify this book in my "apologetics" book shelf. Haugen asks, why do injustices like genocide, forced prostitution of children and other such evils to occur? His answer is that people "choose to indulge their selfish and brutal urges to dominate the defenseless" (125). He goes on:
"If people have no respect for God, no love for their Maker, I would ask the question another way: Why not pillage, rape, persecute and murder? If it feels good, and they can get away with it, why not? If God is dead or does not exist, as these people believe, why aren't all things permitted? Why should they restrain themselves? Because it's just wrong? Because it's not the way civilized people behave? Because what goes around comes around?...Within tidy circles of properly socialized and reasonable people such appeals can seem like they actually have the power to restrain people from doing what they otherwise feel like doing. But in the real world outside the philosophy seminar room, oppressors frankly don't care that you think it's just wrong...They think, Fine, if being brutal makes you feel terrible inside, then don't do it. But it makes me feel powerful, alive, exhilarated and masterful, so quit whining - unless you want to try to stop me" (126).
Without God, Haugen says, alluding to Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov, anything is permissible. Of course, the next question is why does God allow such injustices to occur. Haugen works out an answer for that, focusing on the suffering God on the cross. His point is that Christianity offers a God who is not far off, but who has experienced real suffering.
It is people like Haugen, books like this one and organizations like International Justice Mission that offer the most powerful apologetic for Christian faith, much more than traditional books with arguments for the existence of God and what not. Suffering and injustice are problems for any belief, Christian or secular. Everyone must explain their existence somehow. But I think Haugen (without really intending it) makes a good case for how calling injustice "evil" or "wrong" or telling people not to do it is much more difficult for the secular person. In nature larger, stronger animals eat smaller ones. If humans are just natural animals, if that is all we are, the oppressor is just being a larger stronger animal.
My point: this is also an apologetics book.
I also was challenged by how Haugen described Christian ministry in three ways. He spoke of evangelism (which evangelicals have long done) and feeding the poor (mentioning groups like World Vision and Compassion). I have often spoken of those two only. Usually evangelicals are taken to task for only focusing on the spiritual side. Haugen agrees, saying it was not until the mid twentieth century that evangelicals remembered Jesus cares about a person's physical needs. But Haugen goes a step further, seeing justice work as a third ministry. The difference is that we can feed the poor, but if we do not change the system that keeps them in poverty we are working against the stream.
That is what International Justice Mission does: seeks justice for the oppressed. It is worthy, holy work and I urge people to read this book and go to their website to learn more.
The first few chapters of the book set the stage. Haugen tells a bit of his own story and speaks of how Christians can engage the reality of injustice in the world by taking two steps: develop compassion for people suffering from injustice by learning about them and understanding justice by looking at scripture. Injustice in the world is an overwhelming topic, so Haugen tells the stories of three champions of justice in US history: Kate Bushnell, who fought against forced prostitution, Edgar Murphy, who spoke out for child laborers, and Jessie Daniel Ames, who formed a group of church women in the south who opposed lynching in the 1930s. The lesson is clear: Americans oppose all of these things today but there was a time when such injustices were accepted, in the same way, we can work against injustice in the wider world, and we can be successful.
The second part of the book focuses on four biblical affirmations about justice: God is a God of justice, compassion, moral clarity and rescue. In the third part, Haugen moves into the practical arena, speaking at length about what IJM does and how they do it (and how the reader can help).
I am tempted to classify this book in my "apologetics" book shelf. Haugen asks, why do injustices like genocide, forced prostitution of children and other such evils to occur? His answer is that people "choose to indulge their selfish and brutal urges to dominate the defenseless" (125). He goes on:
"If people have no respect for God, no love for their Maker, I would ask the question another way: Why not pillage, rape, persecute and murder? If it feels good, and they can get away with it, why not? If God is dead or does not exist, as these people believe, why aren't all things permitted? Why should they restrain themselves? Because it's just wrong? Because it's not the way civilized people behave? Because what goes around comes around?...Within tidy circles of properly socialized and reasonable people such appeals can seem like they actually have the power to restrain people from doing what they otherwise feel like doing. But in the real world outside the philosophy seminar room, oppressors frankly don't care that you think it's just wrong...They think, Fine, if being brutal makes you feel terrible inside, then don't do it. But it makes me feel powerful, alive, exhilarated and masterful, so quit whining - unless you want to try to stop me" (126).
Without God, Haugen says, alluding to Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov, anything is permissible. Of course, the next question is why does God allow such injustices to occur. Haugen works out an answer for that, focusing on the suffering God on the cross. His point is that Christianity offers a God who is not far off, but who has experienced real suffering.
It is people like Haugen, books like this one and organizations like International Justice Mission that offer the most powerful apologetic for Christian faith, much more than traditional books with arguments for the existence of God and what not. Suffering and injustice are problems for any belief, Christian or secular. Everyone must explain their existence somehow. But I think Haugen (without really intending it) makes a good case for how calling injustice "evil" or "wrong" or telling people not to do it is much more difficult for the secular person. In nature larger, stronger animals eat smaller ones. If humans are just natural animals, if that is all we are, the oppressor is just being a larger stronger animal.
My point: this is also an apologetics book.
I also was challenged by how Haugen described Christian ministry in three ways. He spoke of evangelism (which evangelicals have long done) and feeding the poor (mentioning groups like World Vision and Compassion). I have often spoken of those two only. Usually evangelicals are taken to task for only focusing on the spiritual side. Haugen agrees, saying it was not until the mid twentieth century that evangelicals remembered Jesus cares about a person's physical needs. But Haugen goes a step further, seeing justice work as a third ministry. The difference is that we can feed the poor, but if we do not change the system that keeps them in poverty we are working against the stream.
That is what International Justice Mission does: seeks justice for the oppressed. It is worthy, holy work and I urge people to read this book and go to their website to learn more.
May 10, 2021
A good look at injustice into he world and how God intervenes and supports those who suffer. This is not a “social justice” book, it is a book about true injustice and how we as Christians can and should respond.
May 16, 2015
This book is in three parts. 1) Taking up the Challenge 2) Hope & Despair: God's Four Affirmations of Justice 3) Real-World Tools for Rescuing the Oppressed.
I found the first two parts to be especially powerful and moving and healing. In the first part, he tells his own story, how he was sent by the UN to assess the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide and the grief that grew and overwhelmed him out of that experience, essentially changing the course of his life. In the second part he delves into scripture to answer his questions about how God feels, what God says, what God does, and how God calls us to respond to injustice.
As someone who has personally experienced a lot of grief related to the injustices involved in international adoption, I found this incredibly helpful. It is not an emotional appeal, but an intelligent, honest, in-depth study into evil, good, God's role and our role. Social justice issues have often been ignored by modern American conservative Christians and this basically a challenge to that paradigm. Our God is a God of justice and being concerned with justice is something we are called to as his image bearers.
In essence, "the good news about injustice" is that we can do something about it. We are not called to simply chalk it up to God's sovereignty and sit in frustration that he hasn't redeemed the world yet. Neither are we on our own to battle it out. We are called to pray fight, serve, love, tell, work in faith that God works through his people.
I found the first two parts to be especially powerful and moving and healing. In the first part, he tells his own story, how he was sent by the UN to assess the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide and the grief that grew and overwhelmed him out of that experience, essentially changing the course of his life. In the second part he delves into scripture to answer his questions about how God feels, what God says, what God does, and how God calls us to respond to injustice.
As someone who has personally experienced a lot of grief related to the injustices involved in international adoption, I found this incredibly helpful. It is not an emotional appeal, but an intelligent, honest, in-depth study into evil, good, God's role and our role. Social justice issues have often been ignored by modern American conservative Christians and this basically a challenge to that paradigm. Our God is a God of justice and being concerned with justice is something we are called to as his image bearers.
In essence, "the good news about injustice" is that we can do something about it. We are not called to simply chalk it up to God's sovereignty and sit in frustration that he hasn't redeemed the world yet. Neither are we on our own to battle it out. We are called to pray fight, serve, love, tell, work in faith that God works through his people.
July 31, 2019
A well written book detailing the necessity, complexity and reality of setting the oppressed free. It very clearly outlines IJM’s practices and tells of the requirement for trained professionals in their work. Well structured and very thorough. I felt it could have been 50-100 pages shorter and still had the same effect.
May 2, 2025
It is not an exaggeration to say that this book changed my faith... and in turn, with time and life journeys, taught me more of who God was. These ideas made me cling to Jesus in the darkest season of my faith journey; they helped me see God's goodness more.
May 28, 2019
I seem to usually start a book review saying whether I enjoyed the book or not, and I can’t in all honesty say that I ‘enjoyed’ this book, but it was necessary and eye-opening and quite frankly a must-read.
So the fact that I didn’t ‘enjoy’ it should not put you off from reading – I give this book 5/5 stars and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in a Christian perspective of injustice, I would potentially go so far as to say it should be necessary reading – it really helped me to recognise that our lives as Christians are destined for the purpose of freeing people from oppression.
Recommended by our vicar as our church is now partnered with IJM (International Justice Mission – the author is the founder and CEO), I wanted to read this book to find out some more about why this partnership is so vital.
I’m not going to lie, it has taken me a couple of months to read, some parts were so brutal that I had to take a step back from reading for a little while and come back to it. And the thing that horrified me most about that was that I was just reading about it but people lived through it – everything written in this book comes from a real situtation, and situations like those we read about are still happening all over the world.
The author was sent to Rwanda by the UN in the aftermath of the genocide, and that changed the course of his life. I had of course heard of the Rwandan genocide, but I had never truly appreciated the scale and the horror of it, and quite honestly, I sat on the train crying while reading this part of the book, and many others.
I made so many highlights on my kindle as I read this book that I can’t share them all as you might as well just read the book (which I would highly recommend), but I’ll share the quotes that stood out most to me and why and hopefully that will give you a glimpse into the book and make you want to go get it for yourself.
It seems to me that sometimes the truth about what is going on in the world can paralyze us into inaction; the ‘bad’ seems so big that we think that there’s no way we can possibly stop it, so we do nothing. But as Haugen says in the book:
Just because we can’t fix everything, we can still help. Whether that is by working directly with those affected, contributing financially to those who do, or just by talking about the injustices of the world so that people are aware, there is a role we can all play in restoring justice to a broken world.
We can’t really hide from the fact our God is a God of justice and that he will use us to intervene for the opressed and set them free – “For even as we celebrate the coming of Christ into the world, in Scripture we are powerfully reminded of the kind of world into which he has come.” We know that we live in a broken and fractured world, but “from the word of God we learn that God’s plan for seeking justice in the world is to use his people to work acts of love and rescue. “
In essence, the “Good News About Injustice” is that we don’t have to just sit and wait for God to come and free the world from oppression, and neither are we on our own to fix the problems ourselves. We are called to work in partnership with God and go where he sends us to pray, give, tell, or work in the places and situations where we are needed and pursue a biblical mandate of setting the oppressed free.
Posted on: http://emmaloui.se/2019/05/24/gary-a-...
So the fact that I didn’t ‘enjoy’ it should not put you off from reading – I give this book 5/5 stars and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in a Christian perspective of injustice, I would potentially go so far as to say it should be necessary reading – it really helped me to recognise that our lives as Christians are destined for the purpose of freeing people from oppression.
Recommended by our vicar as our church is now partnered with IJM (International Justice Mission – the author is the founder and CEO), I wanted to read this book to find out some more about why this partnership is so vital.
“Because only a handful of Christians are cognizant of the crisis of modern-day slavery, little is accomplished.”
I’m not going to lie, it has taken me a couple of months to read, some parts were so brutal that I had to take a step back from reading for a little while and come back to it. And the thing that horrified me most about that was that I was just reading about it but people lived through it – everything written in this book comes from a real situtation, and situations like those we read about are still happening all over the world.
The author was sent to Rwanda by the UN in the aftermath of the genocide, and that changed the course of his life. I had of course heard of the Rwandan genocide, but I had never truly appreciated the scale and the horror of it, and quite honestly, I sat on the train crying while reading this part of the book, and many others.
I made so many highlights on my kindle as I read this book that I can’t share them all as you might as well just read the book (which I would highly recommend), but I’ll share the quotes that stood out most to me and why and hopefully that will give you a glimpse into the book and make you want to go get it for yourself.
“This is the essence of Edmund Burke’s conviction about human history: ‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing’.”
It seems to me that sometimes the truth about what is going on in the world can paralyze us into inaction; the ‘bad’ seems so big that we think that there’s no way we can possibly stop it, so we do nothing. But as Haugen says in the book:
“The good samaritan was good not because he was able to meet all of the hurting man’s needs but because he had mercy on the man and cared for him, and then referred him to someone else who could help him.”
Just because we can’t fix everything, we can still help. Whether that is by working directly with those affected, contributing financially to those who do, or just by talking about the injustices of the world so that people are aware, there is a role we can all play in restoring justice to a broken world.
“The biblical mandate to seek justice and rescue the oppressed is an integral and magnificent theme of the Christian heritage.”
…
“Moreover, we can be restored to the conviction that God is prepared to use us to ‘seek justice, rescue the opressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow‘ (Isaiah 1:17).”
We can’t really hide from the fact our God is a God of justice and that he will use us to intervene for the opressed and set them free – “For even as we celebrate the coming of Christ into the world, in Scripture we are powerfully reminded of the kind of world into which he has come.” We know that we live in a broken and fractured world, but “from the word of God we learn that God’s plan for seeking justice in the world is to use his people to work acts of love and rescue. “
In essence, the “Good News About Injustice” is that we don’t have to just sit and wait for God to come and free the world from oppression, and neither are we on our own to fix the problems ourselves. We are called to work in partnership with God and go where he sends us to pray, give, tell, or work in the places and situations where we are needed and pursue a biblical mandate of setting the oppressed free.
“If we had to see it and hear it every day like our God does, we would hate it too.”
“Hope displaces hopelessness.”
“God is in the business of using the unlikely to perform the holy.”
Posted on: http://emmaloui.se/2019/05/24/gary-a-...
August 11, 2022
This book was passed on to me because of my strong appreciation of the writings of John Stott who wrote the foreword. He strongly endorsed the book and rightly so. The author is a Christian lawyer who, after earlier work experiences, devoted his energies and expertise to challenging injustice. He writes with passion and compassion of the realities of injustice in this fallen world and the loud call of Jesus of the scriptures for us to follow him in our condemnation of it and our efforts to bring justice to perpetrator and victim. The latter will welcome it. The former should fear it.
It is a passionate but also practical book for, as well as the theology, there are clearly laid out steps that all should take. A significant challenge is addressed first to the pastor/preacher/teachers who, in general have neglected to give God's heart of justice enough 'airtime'. The predominant emphasis of preaching in western churches (and those influenced by or modelled on them) has been on personal salvation and personal morality or, as is quoted in the book a God of 'justification' but not of 'justice'. Such a gospel is a partial gospel.
To me there are such strong parallels with our evangelical tardiness in Creation Care and the parallels are even more striking when one considers that this book is on injustice that is illegal and climate change yields injustice that, while it may still be legal, is certainly unchristian and immoral!
There were a couple of features of the book that disappointed.
Firstly, I found rather tedious the continual interruptions to insert biblical references and quotations. This is a subcultural pattern that is important for many readers but slightly jars with me.
Secondly, there was an important emphasis on justice and cross-cultural mission from the West but, to me, an under-emphasis on the importance of the local church and local Christians.
It is a passionate but also practical book for, as well as the theology, there are clearly laid out steps that all should take. A significant challenge is addressed first to the pastor/preacher/teachers who, in general have neglected to give God's heart of justice enough 'airtime'. The predominant emphasis of preaching in western churches (and those influenced by or modelled on them) has been on personal salvation and personal morality or, as is quoted in the book a God of 'justification' but not of 'justice'. Such a gospel is a partial gospel.
To me there are such strong parallels with our evangelical tardiness in Creation Care and the parallels are even more striking when one considers that this book is on injustice that is illegal and climate change yields injustice that, while it may still be legal, is certainly unchristian and immoral!
There were a couple of features of the book that disappointed.
Firstly, I found rather tedious the continual interruptions to insert biblical references and quotations. This is a subcultural pattern that is important for many readers but slightly jars with me.
Secondly, there was an important emphasis on justice and cross-cultural mission from the West but, to me, an under-emphasis on the importance of the local church and local Christians.
December 1, 2017
I listened to this book in preparation for participating in Dressember, a fund-raising campaign for International Justice Mission and A21. It was incredibly inspiring, sobering, and motivational.
It was really interesting to hear about the beginnings of IJM. I appreciated Mr. Haugen's use of Scripture and reflections on God's character.
I ordered my own copy so I could highlight and make notes - that's one thing I don't like about audio reads!
It was really interesting to hear about the beginnings of IJM. I appreciated Mr. Haugen's use of Scripture and reflections on God's character.
I ordered my own copy so I could highlight and make notes - that's one thing I don't like about audio reads!
April 26, 2018
What happens when there is injustice in the world? Where is God in the matter? What can you do to help the abused widows, the orphaned children and the constant injustice plaguing our world? Haugen gives a biblical standpoint about what people around the world are doing to combat this injustice and how you can be involved in it. It reminds you that despite the injustice in the world, God still has a love for all people, and being a God of justice these things will not go unpunished.
November 13, 2018
Haugen lays out the Biblical case for Christians to care deeply about justice. He uses real world examples from work for the US Justice Department and then International Justice Mission to highlight the massive injustices happening around the world. He also lays out effective ways to fight injustice for those on the front lines as well as those who want to help from a distance. This is a great book, and Haugen's organization IJM is doing really effective work around the globe.
September 5, 2017
An eye opening book about the God of justice and the injustices around the world. We live in a hurting, vile and oppressive world that so many western evangelicals have been ignorant of. This book calls us into the battle for justice that is God's passion. I highly encourage the reading of this book.
January 7, 2019
I listened to the audiobook, which is abridged, and I didn't particularly like the reader. So my view of the book was colored by that. It is a good introduction to IJM and overview of God's call for justice and our role in that. Since I have read or heard a fair amount on this topic, it did not feel very fresh or new, but I think as an introduction and awareness bringing book, it's good!
November 16, 2023
Very raw and challenging book on the pursuit of justice, and how we balance this when living in a very comfortable middle-class United Kingdom.
Incredible and heart breaking stories of Gary’s ground work in various parts of the world, including dealing with massacres, and constantly pursuing Gods Justice with immense compassion and zeal
Incredible and heart breaking stories of Gary’s ground work in various parts of the world, including dealing with massacres, and constantly pursuing Gods Justice with immense compassion and zeal
April 25, 2024
This book offers much hope and conviction regarding injustice. Many excellent references to scripture and literature. The focus is best summed up in a quote from C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape letters, “ Despair is a greater sin than any of the sins that provoke it.” This book responds to hope and not despair.
January 16, 2025
Some insightful honest remarks from someone who’s clearly doing all he can to fight injustice. Good insight into work of IJM & God’s perspective on this marginalised sector of society and the part we can play in changing things. Great tips for anyone who wants to get involved in this area particularly as a career.
July 18, 2025
Another great read on God’s heart for justice and practical ways that Christians can do to help! Gary Haugen balanced this book so well with a robust view of biblical justice and also practical advice and anecdotes from the field. An excellent read that has stoked the fire of my heart for justice work!
March 25, 2018
This book was recommended to me, and it was very helpful to learn of different ways that Christians can confront injustice - personally and corporately. There are some quotes I want to remember, and principles I want to put into practice.
June 18, 2025
Such an eye-opening and convicting book about the depravity of our world. Haugen does a phenomenal job of incorporating bible verses and passages that challenge and equip his readers both from a spiritual AND practical standpoint. 10/10 recommend, but be prepared to be challenged!
June 20, 2017
Gripping, enlightening, educating. Excellent eye-opening book.
July 3, 2017
Everyone should read this book.
October 22, 2018
International Justice Mission is doing great things to transform not only individuals but also corruption in the world governments. They are doing the hard work that matters. A great example to us.
April 17, 2019
Haugen is excellent at framing the issues AND the action items to end human bondage.
March 24, 2020
Inspiring but practical with notable use of examples and stories combined with clearly flagged ideas and steps
August 6, 2021
Well worth the read.
Will probably reread this at some point.
Will probably reread this at some point.
October 18, 2025
Great book if I had chosen to read it. Unfortunately, I was forced to read it for school, which has negatively impacted my opinions….
December 9, 2025
Great book and one I will revisit. Just wish it went a little deeper.
March 13, 2017
Important text. Glad to have read it. The use of the Bible to argue the case for the poor and victims of injustice is really compelling for persons of faith. In general, Haugen's experience in pursuing justice for victims in especially dark places is undeniable. The book teaches a lot about what the work of public justice system reform involves.
May 30, 2011
Good News is a typical social justice book written in 1999. Breaking very little ground of its own, it seems as if it simply jumped on the social justice bandwagon making its way around the world a decade ago. It can be summarized by the main themes contained in all its brother and sister books: Bad things happen; God doesn't like it; We should do something about it.
If I were to nitpick, I could take issue with the notion that God wants to punish those who cause injustice. Though there are Bible passages which may be used to support this notion, in the context of progressive revelation about God, the case is much stronger that God does not want to punish but to redeem.
I could also take exception with the idea that God is able to fix all the world's problems but is simply waiting for God's followers to learnt o take care of each other. It is a complicated issue, and I am willing to disagree with others over this, but the idea of a God who hates injustice and is powerful enough to interview but chooses not to is revolting to me. Is it worth all the trouble in the world just to let people u have freedom and learn to love? My thinking is that perhaps we have assigned God more power and of a different kind than God has ever claimed.
I did appreciate a parable contained in the book. In it, the author recasts Jesus' feeding of the 5,000. The disciples bring the loaves and fish to Jesus, who multiplies them and gives them to the disciples. While getting buried beneath the piles of food, the disciples call out: "Thank you! Thank you for blessing us so much! But what are you going to do about the multitude without food?" It is a challenging parable with a simple call to action.
Perhaps the author's weakest spot in the book is his suggestions for our response to the injustice in the world. He states that in order to fight injustice we need to understand and expose the tools used by the perpetrators: coercion, deception and isolation. Unfortunately, his remedies range from impractical (for us everyday people) to unchristian. He suggests such things as sanctions against foreign government who allow injustices to occur to outright military intervention in certain situations.
The author is a member of the International Justice Mission, so several of his suggestions may be more plausible for those in his organization. Everyday people cannot simply perform undercover operations in foreign brothels trying to rescue sex workers.
He does suggest three possibilities for "ordinary" people: Go, send, or pray. We can either go as missionaries into the world, send missionaries or other professionals with our finances, or pray for those doing the work.
One more frustration I experienced was the author's insistence on dealing with only "Christian" professionals when possible...as if those around the world fighting injustice are not on God's side already.
For a book titled "Good News," it winds down with a rather depressing conclusion. Even though it was obviously not the intention, the book ends up giving the impression that the most we can do to fight injustice is to give money to organizations like International Justice Mission and say our prayers. Though important, these solutions have been tried for thousands of years and have yet to show any radical difference in the quality of life experienced around the world.
There may be hope for ending injustice around the world. Unfortunately, "Good News" does very little to bring that hope to the reader.
Review originally posted on my blog:
http://mrsundquist.blogspot.com/2011/...
If I were to nitpick, I could take issue with the notion that God wants to punish those who cause injustice. Though there are Bible passages which may be used to support this notion, in the context of progressive revelation about God, the case is much stronger that God does not want to punish but to redeem.
I could also take exception with the idea that God is able to fix all the world's problems but is simply waiting for God's followers to learnt o take care of each other. It is a complicated issue, and I am willing to disagree with others over this, but the idea of a God who hates injustice and is powerful enough to interview but chooses not to is revolting to me. Is it worth all the trouble in the world just to let people u have freedom and learn to love? My thinking is that perhaps we have assigned God more power and of a different kind than God has ever claimed.
I did appreciate a parable contained in the book. In it, the author recasts Jesus' feeding of the 5,000. The disciples bring the loaves and fish to Jesus, who multiplies them and gives them to the disciples. While getting buried beneath the piles of food, the disciples call out: "Thank you! Thank you for blessing us so much! But what are you going to do about the multitude without food?" It is a challenging parable with a simple call to action.
Perhaps the author's weakest spot in the book is his suggestions for our response to the injustice in the world. He states that in order to fight injustice we need to understand and expose the tools used by the perpetrators: coercion, deception and isolation. Unfortunately, his remedies range from impractical (for us everyday people) to unchristian. He suggests such things as sanctions against foreign government who allow injustices to occur to outright military intervention in certain situations.
The author is a member of the International Justice Mission, so several of his suggestions may be more plausible for those in his organization. Everyday people cannot simply perform undercover operations in foreign brothels trying to rescue sex workers.
He does suggest three possibilities for "ordinary" people: Go, send, or pray. We can either go as missionaries into the world, send missionaries or other professionals with our finances, or pray for those doing the work.
One more frustration I experienced was the author's insistence on dealing with only "Christian" professionals when possible...as if those around the world fighting injustice are not on God's side already.
For a book titled "Good News," it winds down with a rather depressing conclusion. Even though it was obviously not the intention, the book ends up giving the impression that the most we can do to fight injustice is to give money to organizations like International Justice Mission and say our prayers. Though important, these solutions have been tried for thousands of years and have yet to show any radical difference in the quality of life experienced around the world.
There may be hope for ending injustice around the world. Unfortunately, "Good News" does very little to bring that hope to the reader.
Review originally posted on my blog:
http://mrsundquist.blogspot.com/2011/...
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