New Book Teaches How to Live Justly

Stories, essays, Bible verses,  prayers, hands-on exercises, topics for discussion and links to videos are contained in Live Justly, a new book published by World Renew and the Micah Challenge.

Especially geared for small-group studies, the 124-page book takes a broad look at “What is Biblical Justice?” and at the same time offers readers a guide to living justly according to God’s design for creation.

“A highlight of this book is that it doesn't put justice in a box. It envisions, on a very practical level, how doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God are all linked together,” says Kris Van Engen, congregational mobilizer for the CRC’s Office of Social Justice, who served as assistant editor on the project.

“The teaching is pretty in-depth, but instead of moving groups towards longer and longer definitions and discussions, it moves towards action.”

Specifically, the book focuses on helping people live justly in six key areas: advocacy, prayer, consumption, generosity, creation care and relationships, says Van Engen.

The resource, he adds, draws on learning from World Renew’s 50-plus years of justice work. It is also an outgrowth of the work World Renew has been doing over the last decade with Micah Challenge USA to mobilize  North American Christians in advocating for justice, at home and abroad.

The Micah Challenge is a church-based movement committed to ending extreme poverty through advocacy, prayer, and living justly. Its focus is broad, seeking to bring about justice in all areas of life.

“To truly see justice done, we must become competent and committed to a holistic lifestyle of justice that includes charity and advocacy,” writes Jason Fileta, director of the Micah Challenge USA, in the book.

“We must not choose one over the other but rather recognize what our unique calling is while still embracing the other things that God calls us to in the lifestyle of justice.”

The book also offers commentary from such social-justice advocates as Eugene Cho, lead pastor of the Quest Church in Seattle, Wash.; evangelical author Ronald Sider, and Kimberly McOwen Yim, founder of a group of women committed to raising awareness of issues surrounding human trafficking.

Along with the various essays, the book tells several stories of World Renew’s work around the world, ranging from the agency’s collaborative work in bringing assistance to refugees in South Sudan to the tale of how World Renew joined with others to help unveil the role the illegal diamond trade played in conflicts and grinding poverty in parts of Africa.

“While designed especially for small groups the book could also be useful for family devotions, personal reading, or sermon writing,” said Van Engen. 

Arranged in 10 sessions, topics addressed in the book include “Integral Mission,” which is defined as “the means designed by God to carry out, throughout history, his purpose of love and justice revealed in Jesus Christ through the Church and in the power of the Spirit.”

Other topics are “Justice, Charity and Advocacy,” “Justice and Consumption,” “Justice and Relationships,” and “Justice and Creation Care.”

The last session is on “Living Justly.” In an essay contained in this section, Eugene Cho discusses the overarching significance of bringing justice, and acting on it, into one’s life.

“We need to pursue justice not just because the world is broken but because we’re broken, too,” he writes. “Pursuing justice and living a just life every day helps us put our lives in order.

“Perhaps this is what God intended — that, in doing his work serving others, we discover more of his character and are changed ourselves.”