What Is Biblical Justice?

• Sermons: Presence Precedes Justice and The Road to Justice, by Rich Villodas of New Life Fellowship Church in New York City, explore the rich, relational nature of biblical justice.
• Video: Biblical Justice (6-min.) by The Bible Project gives an excellent overview of justice in the biblical story. The Bible Project also offers a 3-day Bible-reading plan on biblical justice.
• Article: “What Is Biblical Justice?” by Paul Louis Metzger on ChristianityToday.com shows how the theology of justice flows from the heart of God.
• Book: Generous Justice by Tim Keller (see book list below for description)

CRC Justice Resources

Check out a list of Top Justice Resources from the Thrive. You’ll also find many issue-specific resources on the following websites:

• Centre for Public Dialogue (Canada)
• Thrive: Disability Access 
• Indigenous Ministry (Canada)
• Thrive:Justice
• Thrive: Racial Justice
• Thrive: Safer Churches
• World Renew

Podcasts

• Do Justice podcast from the Office of Social Justice
• The Antioch Podcast: Conversations about Biblical Antiracism from Madison Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Books to Discuss

• In Be the Bridge: Pursuing God's Heart for Racial Reconciliation, Latasha Morrison examines the historical complexities of racism and expertly applies biblical principles, such as lamentation, confession, and forgiveness, to lay the framework for restoration. Be the Bridge won Christianity Today’s 2020 award for the best book in the Christian Living/Discipleship category.
• In The Beautiful Community, Irwyn Ince boldly unpacks the reasons for our divisions while gently guiding us toward our true hope for wholeness and reconciliation. The gospel imperative to pursue the beautiful community—unity in diversity across lines of difference—is rooted in reflecting the beautiful community of our triune God. This book calls us into and provides tools for that pursuit.
• In Joy Unspeakable, Barbara Holmes takes a close look at the contemplative practices of the black church throughout its history. This book is a foundational resource for exploring contemplative practices that are oriented toward justice. From the publisher: "A groundbreaking work in its original edition, Joy Unspeakable now appears in a new, revised edition to address the effects of this contemplative tradition on activism and politics and to speak to a new generation of readers and scholars."
• Generous Justice by Timothy Keller explores a life of justice empowered by an experience of grace. This book offers readers a new understanding of modern justice and human rights that will resonate with both the faithful and the skeptical.
• Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson is an unforgettable account of an idealistic, gifted young lawyer’s coming of age, a moving window into the lives of the people he has defended, and an inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of true justice. The film inspired by this book is also an excellent discussion-starter.

Workshops

• The Understanding Racism workshop facilitated by Communities Organizing for Racial Equity (CORE) is now available online. The goals of this training are
  • to help participants see and learn about racism in new and redemptive ways.
  • to gain insights into systemic racism through the eyes of faith and Scripture.
  • to see more of the connections between history and contemporary race relations.
  • to identify organizing opportunities to “eliminate racism, both causes and effects, within the body of believers and throughout the world.”
• Immigration Is Our Story. The Christian Reformed Church in North America has an immigration story that we sometimes forget about and need to remember as we encounter our immigrant neighbors today. To hear one another’s immigration stories and learn about immigration in the U.S. both yesterday and today, engage your congregation in the Immigration Is Our Story workshop created by the CRC’s Office of Social Justice and Faith Formation Ministries.