Making All Things New: God's Dream for Global Justice

by R. York Moore

Often this world seems like a nightmare. Human trafficking, young girls trapped in brothels, child soldiers forced to become killers, unchecked plagues and diseases, economic injustice and the oppression of the poor. Millions around the world are trapped in this nightmare, and we may feel helpless to do anything about it.

But God has a dream. York Moore paints a vivid picture of how the dream of God is breaking into history to make all things new. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God is bringing an end to the world's nightmare of sin and death. Scripture's vision of Jesus' end-time work shows how the wrongs will be made right, and God's just judgment is good news for the world.

Unpacking how the Bible describes the last things, Moore shows how we can partner with God as he brings his dream to reality. Every time a well is dug for a community, food is provided for the hungry or sex traffickers are brought to justice, the dream begins to take hold.

This is no mere wishful thinking. The dream of God is more real than your dreams could ever imagine. It is what we were created for. So wake up from the nightmare and join in what God is doing in the world. And flourish as your own dreams are transformed by God's dream for all creation.

170 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2012

About the author

R. YORK MOORE is a speaker, revivalist, and abolitionist. He serves as National Evangelist for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA. York became a Christian from atheism while studying philosophy at the University of Michigan. He also has an MA in Global Leadership from Fuller Seminary. York is the author of several books and he lives in the Detroit area with his wife and three kids. For more information, visit www.tellthestory.net and follow him on social media channels @yorkmoore.

Reviews

[Karina Cortes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marriage. God’s dream. Revelation. Social justice. The gospel. Cambodia. Human trafficking and slavery. Intrigued? You should be!

In the book Moore uses the analogy of marriage and to describe God’s dream for the citizens of earth. He mentions his upbringing and the injustices he saw and how he came to Christ. He also talks about his second spiritual renewal when he realized that being a Christian was more than fire insurance. Using scripture from Revelation he then paints a picture of what the Church should be doing. It’s a quick read with very convicting insights. Favorite passages are quoted below.

“Ever since coming to Christ, I try to understand why religious people want a Jesus who deals with the afterlife but not with the world of systems, evil power and brokenness we experience every day. Many mistakenly believe that God’s divine mission revolves only around rescuing people from hell and judgment while having little to do with transforming us or the world around us. God is in the process, through the wonderworking power of Christ’s blood, of making all things flourish, recreating the world. One day that work will be complete because that wonderworking power.” Pg 28


“Many exploiters, however, profit off the poor’s inability to act, to defend themselves, to call and to question those who “destroy the earth.” Today, millions of the world’s poor live downstream from toxic waste dumps were wealthy and aloof corporations pump toxins not only into the earth but also into the land and drinking water, forever destroy the farmable and usable resources of our planet. Destroying the earth is a sin against God in and of itself, but it’s a double sin, for in destroying the earth, we destroy those it sustains. The poor and the marginalized are at greatest risk when it comes to environmental exploitation. But as a dream of God dawns, God announce his victory against the powerful, the exploiters, those who destroy the earth.” Page 102


***********************Trigger warning**********************






This book mentions about sex trafficking, rape, and molestation especially among minors often; which may be triggering for some readers.

[Daniel Threlfall · Rating 4 out of 5]

R. York Moore did something risky. He wrote a book about social justice. That subject matter alone is a hotbed of evangelical controversy. However, he went a step further. He mixed up his message of social justice with an exposition of the book of Revelation. Now we’re in controversial territory! He salted the mixture with doses of judgment, eternal hellfire, and instructions on straightforward evangelism. Incendiary! The result is a book unlike any book on social justice I have read, and it is one that deserves a careful and honest read.

Title:  Making All Things New:  God's Dream for Social Justice
Author:  R. York Moore
Audiobook Narrator:  R. York Moore
Pub­lisher:  IVP Books
Date:  December 1, 2012
Length:  170 pages
Audio Length:  4.5 hours

Overview of Making All Things New
The ways in which Making All Things New differs from other social justice books is apparent. In the first place, the author introduces the biblical metaphor of marriage by which to view God's love for his bride, and his subsequent effort to make her clean. In York's view, such cleansing entails justice for the enslaved and abused of the world.

Second, Moore employs the theme of judgment to argue for the importance of justice. From the book of Revelation, he demonstrates how God's judgment of the world is part of the overarching framework of God's pursuit of justice. The author doesn't shy away from a true, biblical portrayal of God — God’s anger, warrior status, and the intensity of his judgment. Moore eloquently describes the paradox in this way:

When the great eschatological realities of the Christian faith are ignored or allegorized, we lose the ability to provide a cohesive, comprehensive worldview. As a result, the Christian message itself is compromised. We can’t have the great love of God without the great wrath of God.” (Page 50)

Moore traces the arc of God's "dream" for justice from Eden to the New Jerusalem. He sees this dream for justice as an inextricable part of God's global mission to make disciples from all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). Along the way, he insists upon the centrality of gospel proclamation joined with meeting physical needs.

The book ends with a well-grounded appeal for all Christians to become part of God's dream — a dream that he will surely bring to pass. The final chapter, "Joining God in Making All Things New," is a clarion call to engage in God's grand program for justice and righteousness in the present as we look towards the future.

Thoughts on Making All Things New
Making All Things New blends motivation with argumentation. The book is full of anecdotes that provide a high-definition look at injustices around the world. These accounts are plaintive and poignant. They are themselves a form of motivation. Although there is this emotional tug, there is also theological and eschatological revelation. Moore demonstrates how justice is rooted in the character and plan of God, and why, therefore, Christians should be involved.

Throughout the book, Moore uses the term "dream" to describe God's plan and passion for justice (e.g., page 12). Without setting forth a solid definition of "dream," such terminology may seem a bit nebulous, especially at the opening of the book.

As a whole, Making All Things New provides solid footing for the pursuit of social justice in the evangelical church today. Yes, we must acknowledge the need for gospel proclamation together with acts of mercy, but we cannot neglect one for the other. The book will help you to construct a biblical framework for justice, and compel you to engage in the essential ministry of making all things new.

See the book on Amazon.

Also available on Audible and Christianaudio.

Note on the audio edition:  R. York Moore narrates the audio edition of the book. I appreciate it when the author reads their own work, since they usually bring into their reading a pathos that professional readers may lack. Moore, as an experienced public speaker, is a capable narrator.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this review copy for free as part of the christianaudio Reviewers Program of christianaudio.com. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read. York Moore provides a discussion on the book of Revelation that has practical implications for day to day Christian living. This is a marked contrast to most treatments of Revelation. Moore's thesis is more or less that Revelation tells the story of how God's dream will be realized at the climax of history with the destruction of evil and glorification of good. The job of Christians today is to work with Christ to begin the realization of this dream by seeking justice for the oppressed. While he probably could have shaved oft a chapter or two the book is highly readable and makes a solid argument. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the Christian perspective on justice.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

York Moore explores the book of Revelation in Scripture and ties it to the current understanding of Christianity. He takes the understanding of "personal salvation" and its place in the Gospel, out of the box and challenges how this is held in the Church today. He makes a compelling case that God is fully concerned about individual lives, and fully concerned about justice issues, even the ugly systemic ones. His book threads throughout a fuller explanation of the Gospel as hope for all things, ALL things to be made new.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading York's personal testimony woven throughout the book. I really appreciate York's passion for both evangelism and justice. I am inspired to find more ways to bring Gods kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven by making all things new.

[Carrie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly?
Horrible.