Pursuing Justice (and a giveaway)

Pursuing Justice by Ken Wytsma

I don’t know about you, but when I see statistics like “27 million trapped in slavery” and “884 million without access to clean water”, I feel so overwhelmed that I just want to close my eyes, stick my fingers in my ears, and pretend like I never heard anything about it.  I can’t fix the world, so what’s the point?

I walk around, living life by the golden rule, and that seems like enough.  Only, as Ken Wytsma points out in Pursuing Justice, I’m not living by the golden rule at all.  I’m living by something much less, the silver rule.  See, the golden rule tells us to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  But what am I doing?  

There’s a crucial difference between “doing good” and “not doing bad”.  By being a nice person, taking care of my family, and not intentionally harming others, I am living the silver rule.  I am living in apathy.

And here’s the thing.  It’s so easy to become apathetic.  Justice has become trendy.  There are thousands of great causes, and through social media, we are constantly bombarded by the latest and greatest way to help.  We develop what is called compassion fatigue.  I know I’ve been there.  And I’ve probably driven some of you there at certain times (hopefully not all the time).

On the other end of the spectrum, many times we hear about a certain cause and are hit with the “fierce urgency of now.”  We learn about a certain injustice and have to do something, anything, NOW.  Without the proper education or training however, sometimes we make an even bigger mess of the situation, or of ourselves.

What if we could find a proper course of action?  Something more than inaction, something better than foolish action?

Pursuing Justice by Ken Wytsma

To do that, we have to redeem and energize the concept of justice.  Take it back from “fad” status.  Start from a solid foundation.  Learn that we are uniquely designed to make a difference.  That’s what this book, Pursuing Justice is all about.

It means that God, who is perfectly just, and who desires justice for all of His creation, can ask us to use our unique talents and passions and experiences to pursue justice.  Wherever we find ourselves, we can make a difference — and that difference starts with understanding more about what justice really is.

Apathy is tiring, fierce urgency is exhausting.  I’m ready to pursue true justice.  And to raise my kids by the golden, not the silver rule.

If you feel the same way, I would urge you to get this book.  It will light a fire in you that is much more than a trendy spark that will soon die out.  By the time you’re finished reading, there will be a fire burning in your heart that will move you out of apathy and into pure joy.

Pursuing Justice | Book Trailer from The Justice Conference on Vimeo.

 

This giveaway has ended.

 

Disclosure: I was provided a free copy of this book to review.  All opinions are my own.

  • Mike Zins February 28, 2013 at 8:39 am

    Great post! Thanks for sharing. That book looks great!

  • Laura @ Unpunctuated Life February 28, 2013 at 8:47 am

    I work at a non-profit, and sometimes it’s easy to not do anything else because my day job is “enough.” I was watching Half the Sky the other night and was just appalled at the awful stories so many girls and women have faced. I would love to read more about pursuing justice in our imperfect world.

  • Shelah Phillipsen February 28, 2013 at 9:28 am

    I just sent this link to all my ladies in my bible study woman’s group..we are finishing up the one we are on now and I really want to be the champion to have this be our next path we take together. You comment “What if we could find a proper course of action? Something more than inaction, something better than foolish action?” is what hit home for me.

    Thanks so much for posting this and the review. It is always nice to have someones opinion on good reads and I may never have been exposed to this book with out your review.

  • Jeeun February 28, 2013 at 10:13 am

    Wow!

  • Tina Brown February 28, 2013 at 10:19 am

    This book seems like it will address and help move my family forward in the direction that God has been laying on our hearts for the last few years…I hope! My husband asked me if I was “content” the other night and I embarrassingly had to answer “no”. I can’t call it contentment when I’m smack in the middle of passion-filled-though-seemingly-inactionable (based on life/kid circumstances) conviction. Something in our lives needs to change, in a life-defining, Lord-pleasing, crazy-love sort of way…that makes our time on earth well spent, not selfishly wasted—doing it together with our kids. I’m excited to see what perspectives this book has to offer—thank you for the wonderful review!! 🙂

  • Kimberly February 28, 2013 at 10:48 am

    Thank you for sharing this! The words spoken in the video brought me to tears. “What if certain things were never meant to be fully understood, but forever pursued.” That is where my mind’s eye has focused.
    Again, thank you for sharing! I look forward to reading this book!

  • Matt Large February 28, 2013 at 11:18 am

    Looking forward to reading the book.

  • Bekah S February 28, 2013 at 12:27 pm

    This book looks like it will be the next When Helping Hurts…
    hopefully, prayerfully, it will

  • Bethany Turner February 28, 2013 at 12:41 pm

    I love your review of this book. It has been on my list to read, and this review just convinces me even more.

  • Janeanna February 28, 2013 at 1:37 pm

    The part that you mentioned about people trying to act too quickly and making a bigger mess rings so true with me. I have been going on mission trips for years and hearing about and seeing how problems were made worse by people who thought they were helping. The book sounds great!

  • Laura February 28, 2013 at 1:53 pm

    I would love to read it! Thanks for sharing.

    • inspiredrd March 4, 2013 at 4:20 pm

      WINNER!!!

  • Karlie Pickett February 28, 2013 at 4:08 pm

    I would love a copy! Thanks for the opportunity!

  • Aurora stenulson February 28, 2013 at 5:42 pm

    Looks incredible!! Can’t wait to get my hands on a copy!!

  • Meredith February 28, 2013 at 6:19 pm

    The books sounds amazing and eye-opening. Would definitely love to live the golden rule- instead of the silver. Beautiful post- thank you.

  • Jessie Green February 28, 2013 at 9:40 pm

    Well said, friend.

  • Mark A Scott March 1, 2013 at 6:43 am

    Sounds like it will be worth reading

  • Holly March 1, 2013 at 12:59 pm

    I’m becoming more and more aware of social justice issues. I think this would be a great book to add to my repitoire. Thanks!

  • Susan Woodford March 1, 2013 at 1:45 pm

    Wow. “What if certain things were never meant to be fully understood, but forever pursued.” Think I’ll have to read this book.

  • Joenanna March 1, 2013 at 7:04 pm

    Sounds a lot like a chapter out of John Piper’s “Don’t Waste Your Life” book. Even if you’re just one person your actions can have a ripple effect.

  • Stephanie March 3, 2013 at 8:34 am

    I read about this book over at Simple Mom too. Looks like an important read. I’d love to add it to my nightstand.