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We Cry Justice: Reading the Bible with the Poor People's Campaign
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible proclaims justice and abundance for the poor. Yet these powerful passages about poverty are frequently overlooked and misinterpreted. Enter the Poor People's Campaign, a movement against racism, poverty, ecological devastation, militarism, and religious nationalism. In We Cry Justice, Liz Theoharis, co-chair of the campaign, is joined by pastors, community organizers, scholars, low-wage workers, lay leaders, and people in poverty to interpret sacred stories about the poor seeking healing, equity, and freedom. In a world roiled by poverty and injustice, Scripture still speaks. Organized into fifty-two chapters, each focusing on a key Scripture passage, We Cry Justice offers comfort and challenge from the many stories of the poor taking action together. Read anew the story of the exodus that frees people from debt and slavery, the prophets who denounce the rich and ruling classes, the stories of Jesus's healing and parables about fair wages, and the early church's sharing of goods. Reflection questions and a short prayer at the end of each chapter offer the opportunity to use the book devotionally through a year. The Bible cries for justice, and we do too. It's time to act on God's persistent call to repair the breach and fight poverty, not the poor.
241 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
33 people are currently reading
251 people want to read
About the author
Liz Theoharis
10 books15 followersThe Reverend Dr. Liz Theoharis is Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival with the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II that organized the largest coordinated wave of nonviolent civil disobedience in 21st Century America and has since emerged as one of the nation’s leading social movement forces. She is the Director of the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice at Union Theological Seminary.
Liz received her BA in Urban Studies from the University of Pennsylvania; her M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary in 2004 where she was the first William Sloane Coffin Scholar; and her PhD from Union in New Testament and Christian Origins. She has been published in The New York Times, Time Magazine, CNN, The Guardian, Sojourners, The Nation, and others. In 2018, she gave the “Building a Moral Movement” TEDtalk at TEDWomen, was named one of the Politico 50 “thinkers, doers and visionaries whose ideas are driving politics”, and was also named a Women of Faith recipient by the Presbyterian Church (USA). In 2019, she was a Selma “Bridge” Award recipient and named one of 11 Women Shaping the Church by Sojourners. In 2020 she was named one of 15 Faith Leaders to Watch by the Center for American Progress.
Liz received her BA in Urban Studies from the University of Pennsylvania; her M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary in 2004 where she was the first William Sloane Coffin Scholar; and her PhD from Union in New Testament and Christian Origins. She has been published in The New York Times, Time Magazine, CNN, The Guardian, Sojourners, The Nation, and others. In 2018, she gave the “Building a Moral Movement” TEDtalk at TEDWomen, was named one of the Politico 50 “thinkers, doers and visionaries whose ideas are driving politics”, and was also named a Women of Faith recipient by the Presbyterian Church (USA). In 2019, she was a Selma “Bridge” Award recipient and named one of 11 Women Shaping the Church by Sojourners. In 2020 she was named one of 15 Faith Leaders to Watch by the Center for American Progress.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 14, 2024
Powerful testimonies. Helpful analysis and perspectives, particularly on scripture. Well worth revisiting and recommending.
December 6, 2021
CRY JUSTICE is one of the best books I've read in 2021. It's a book filled with affirmation after affirmation of God's truths about caring for the earth, caring for one another, caring for the poor, the elderly and the disabled. It affirms what I have believed since girlhood that God loves and cares for all people, and the wealthy cannot be justified in using God's provision in a way that hurts other people.
One of the amazing aspects of this book is the multitude of biblical references from both the Old and New Testaments. For those who have been long time warriors for social justice, equality and fair treatment, please read this book and be encouraged as to the rightness of your path. For those who take the opposite view—namely the Christian right, also please read this book and delve into the Scriptures so you can stop moralizing and begin to make a positive differ0e in this world, instead of judgment and condemnation of those of your neighbors you judge and refuse to love.
One of the amazing aspects of this book is the multitude of biblical references from both the Old and New Testaments. For those who have been long time warriors for social justice, equality and fair treatment, please read this book and be encouraged as to the rightness of your path. For those who take the opposite view—namely the Christian right, also please read this book and delve into the Scriptures so you can stop moralizing and begin to make a positive differ0e in this world, instead of judgment and condemnation of those of your neighbors you judge and refuse to love.
September 19, 2021
I found this book to be a real blessing and encouragement. It will be one I save and re-read. It is broken into over 50 chapters, which each combine a quote from a leader in a justice movement, two scripture readings, a devotional by someone associated with the Poor People's Campaign, and a prayer. The devotionals run the gamut of laments for corruption and the subjugation of the poor, to reflections on ecological devastation, to rallying cries for "holy disruption." I've read devotional books aimed at "social justice" movements before, but I found this one easier to engage with.
January 5, 2022
While I am not yet finished with this book, every chapter is a treasure into itself. To dig into the Bible's many references to 'justice' and examine how each interact with our concern for modern day justice is thrilling and rewarding! This book will become a forever reference book.
October 18, 2022
What is the Imago Dei? What does it mean to be “made in the image of God? Does it apply to circumstance? Does it even include the poor? That is the question asked often in this devotional, with its focus on reading the bible from the perspectives of the poor and working class.
This book focuses on the plight of the poor and on injustice in a world controlled by the powerful. It claims the promises of God as a god of the poor, the rejected, and the unwanted. This is biblical and good.
Every devotional chapter begins with a quote from a social justice leader and a biblical reference to meditate on before reading the text devoted to exposing, inspiring, informing the reader to a social need.
WCJ affirms the biblical truth of the Imago Dei, affirms the right to life of all humans, poor, the lower classes, disabled, and in fact all the earth. It disputes the popular notion of the “protestant work ethic” with its assumption that the poor are lazy, handout seeking, and undeserving of support. Instead, it challenges that view head on, chastising this abusive, myopic idea and pointing out that so many of the poor work hard for so little.
Rather it is not the poor who have sinned with a lack of effort but the rich in their unfaithful hoarding of resources. It does not take more than a cursory glance at our world to attest to this abuse of resources.
Traditionally conservative christians will not like this book. Some will complain about the style of exegesis. Some will decry it with the scarlet brand of “wokeness.” The more diplomatic will refer to it as liberation theology promoting a social justice gospel. In response I would challenge my brothers and sisters in Christ to ask, “and what is wrong with that?” If you cannot test and examine the substance of your faith, then this faith was never yours at all.
From a structure and literature standpoint, WCJ was not that book I was expecting. While it won’t be my favorite book on racial justice, it might be the one that stays with me the longest. Like any good devotional, it forces me to examine my faith for holes, blind spots, and unfaithfulness. What do we do with “the least of these?” Who truly are “my sheep?” How can you face yourself once the scales of abuse, corruption, and injustice are removed from your eyes. It is not “woke” as the far right likes to echo over and over in a vainglorious grasp of culture conquest. Enlightenment to the plight of the poor, the disparaged, the ignored, are more akin to biblical revelation. American Christianity would do well to heed the cry of the “least of these,” to yield to the shared responsibility of the Imago Dei before it is confronted on it’s own road to Damascus.
Devotionals and texts like these compel me to continue to repent of my willful ignorance of my privilege as a white skinned middle class Latine. My family raised me aware of our precarious social position, and afraid to protect it, encouraged me and my cousins to assimilate as deeply as possible. However, over time I have learned this ignores those below me in my privilege, often through no fault of their own. Whether through poverty, race, or disability, too many have never received the smallest hold in the social hierarchy of this country. Because of this need for change, we must cry justice together.
This book focuses on the plight of the poor and on injustice in a world controlled by the powerful. It claims the promises of God as a god of the poor, the rejected, and the unwanted. This is biblical and good.
Every devotional chapter begins with a quote from a social justice leader and a biblical reference to meditate on before reading the text devoted to exposing, inspiring, informing the reader to a social need.
WCJ affirms the biblical truth of the Imago Dei, affirms the right to life of all humans, poor, the lower classes, disabled, and in fact all the earth. It disputes the popular notion of the “protestant work ethic” with its assumption that the poor are lazy, handout seeking, and undeserving of support. Instead, it challenges that view head on, chastising this abusive, myopic idea and pointing out that so many of the poor work hard for so little.
Rather it is not the poor who have sinned with a lack of effort but the rich in their unfaithful hoarding of resources. It does not take more than a cursory glance at our world to attest to this abuse of resources.
Traditionally conservative christians will not like this book. Some will complain about the style of exegesis. Some will decry it with the scarlet brand of “wokeness.” The more diplomatic will refer to it as liberation theology promoting a social justice gospel. In response I would challenge my brothers and sisters in Christ to ask, “and what is wrong with that?” If you cannot test and examine the substance of your faith, then this faith was never yours at all.
From a structure and literature standpoint, WCJ was not that book I was expecting. While it won’t be my favorite book on racial justice, it might be the one that stays with me the longest. Like any good devotional, it forces me to examine my faith for holes, blind spots, and unfaithfulness. What do we do with “the least of these?” Who truly are “my sheep?” How can you face yourself once the scales of abuse, corruption, and injustice are removed from your eyes. It is not “woke” as the far right likes to echo over and over in a vainglorious grasp of culture conquest. Enlightenment to the plight of the poor, the disparaged, the ignored, are more akin to biblical revelation. American Christianity would do well to heed the cry of the “least of these,” to yield to the shared responsibility of the Imago Dei before it is confronted on it’s own road to Damascus.
Devotionals and texts like these compel me to continue to repent of my willful ignorance of my privilege as a white skinned middle class Latine. My family raised me aware of our precarious social position, and afraid to protect it, encouraged me and my cousins to assimilate as deeply as possible. However, over time I have learned this ignores those below me in my privilege, often through no fault of their own. Whether through poverty, race, or disability, too many have never received the smallest hold in the social hierarchy of this country. Because of this need for change, we must cry justice together.
December 23, 2025
Did Jesus come to validate those who are respectable, connected, and comfortable -- or to bring some kind of good news to the poor and outcast? Did Jesus only want to collect their souls, as if they are some kind of abstract trophy, or did he minister to people's practical needs of food and medical and spiritual/emotional care? And, crucially, how and how far are we willing to follow Jesus's way?
This book guides us to explore these questions in order to apply Christianity to the world we find ourselves in today. Format is intended to serve as a one-year weekly Bible study guide. Each weekly chapter has a compelling social justice message backed up by scripture, questions for reflection and discussion, and a helpful prayer. The depth and quality of all chapters is consistently high.
Strongly recommended as an inspiring (and challenging) church group activity!
This book guides us to explore these questions in order to apply Christianity to the world we find ourselves in today. Format is intended to serve as a one-year weekly Bible study guide. Each weekly chapter has a compelling social justice message backed up by scripture, questions for reflection and discussion, and a helpful prayer. The depth and quality of all chapters is consistently high.
Strongly recommended as an inspiring (and challenging) church group activity!
Read
June 12, 2022There are no words I could write that would do this book justice. Just trust me and go read it. It’s not a long book at all; it consists of 53 essays dealing with social justice from a Biblical perspective. There are reflections, Biblical verses, and prayers for each essay. I only read 2 or 3 essays a day, so it took me over 2 weeks to read. Part of me really wants to drop everything and go join the Poor People’s Campaign right now, this minute. I will do whatever I can from where I am, though. Read this book! It might change your life. It will certainly make you think.
January 14, 2025
This cathartic reclaiming of Old and New Testament—as mandates of revolutionary action through the commandments of a People’s God, and the teachings of an oppressed, Jewish-Palestinian man advocating for the poor and dispossessed—has re-opened a door to Faith that I thought forever shut.
The guide is filled with reflections, prayers, bible verses, and passages that expose the wrongful co-optation of Christianity by oppressive forces while reaffirming the fight for liberation as mandated by God.
The guide is filled with reflections, prayers, bible verses, and passages that expose the wrongful co-optation of Christianity by oppressive forces while reaffirming the fight for liberation as mandated by God.
May 23, 2022
No Justice No Peace and why the Bible tells us so, is a good way to sum up this Bible study guide, or to use another pertinent slogan Fight Poverty Not the Poor. Thirty-four theologians, scholars, and poor people, all activists in the Poor People's Campaign present fifty-four meditations on Bible passages that underscore the need to take action to combat poverty, racism, nationalism, and climate change.
June 19, 2023
I thought one of the largest injustices of the last half century was totally omitted from this book. And that injustice is the murdering of unborn babies. And many of those innocents come from the poorest parts of our country. Margaret Sanger was a vile, racist, hating person and the injustice of her scheme was not even passively mentioned in this book.
August 19, 2022
Always hard to know how to review the books I read for classes, and harder still when the book is a collection of brief essays by multiple authors. So I'll leave it here: This is an important book for those who care about, and work for, social justice to read in whole or in part.
March 18, 2022
This is the book we need now.
Want to read
December 30, 2024SM
June 2, 2025
I want church to be like this
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews