Exploring Justice // 10 Resources I Have Found Helpful

I've spent the last 6 or so months digging into the idea of justice. What does it look like? What does the Bible have to say about it? How are others living it out in their daily lives? What can I do about the things I am passionate about?

As I've been reading and talking and researching, I've discovered some pretty great books, blog posts, articles, etc. And just in case anybody else is as interested in this topic as much as I am right now, I figured I'd share some of them with you.

First, start here. These are my basics right now.
1. She Reads Truth Justice Study
This 13 day study has been proving helpful as it has provided me with tons of scripture, as well as thoughts from some of the leaders of social justice today. This is a great place to start to get a Biblical understanding of justice and be encouraged along the way.

2. 4 Ways to Overcome Compassion Fatigue
I just read this article by Relevant Magazine this morning and found it very encouraging and practical! It's easy to be passionate about a certain (or many!) issue(s), but sometimes it can get overwhelming. It reminds me about when I wrote about starting with a little.

3. When Helping Hurts
I'm only a couple chapters in (and yes, this book is technically aimed at poverty, which isn't the only justice issue) but I have really appreciated the solid foundation that it is giving me in terms of helping others in healthy ways. This book is pretty academic in nature, but I have loved the charts and illustrations, along with the real-life scenarios provided. Definitely a must-read for if you are wanting to get a deeper, research-driven, best practice approach to helping others.

And here are 3 books all on different topics... all amazing, all a quick read, all a different take on living out justice.
4. Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker // Poverty, homelessness, local, church
5. Rhinestone Jesus by Kristen Welch// Kenya, teen moms, abuse,
6. Fallen by Annie Lobert// Sex Trafficking, prostitution, redemption

And last, but not least, 4 blog posts for you to get you thinking.
7. Dear World: Let's Stop Giving Our Crap to the Poor
8. # Blessed
9. On Being "Healed of Being a Big Deal"
10. Rich and Poor | The Question That Wrecked Us Both

Bonus: Books I plan on reading once I get the chance.
Generous Justice by Tim Keller
Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Paul Tripp
Girls Like Us by Rachel Lloyd

So I'm curious—do you have anything you'd add to this list?

Start With a Little [& FREE Printable]

Lately there's been a lot of thinkin' and dreamin' and talkin' around our place about how God has uniquely designed and gifted us along with what we are passionate about and how all that can come together to best serve Him and His Kingdom. 

Human trafficking has specifically been on our hearts the last couple months [years, for me], and it is such a huge problem that sometimes we don't even know where to start or how we can make a dent. But when I found this quote, I was so struck by the truth in it and inspired that I just had to make something pretty for our house to remind us... worse than barely making a dent, is not doing anything at all. 

//download it here

So we're starting by doing a little. Last weekend we went to an all day Anti-Trafficking event where we received training on how to be civilian first responders. Last month we bought merchandise that was made by women at risk all over the world and 100% of the proceeds went to them. I've been reading books like Interrupted, Rhinestone Jesus, and When Helping Hurts is up next. We're starting with little, tiny, baby steps and praying and asking God for more opportunities. 

I was talking with a friend of mine about this yesterday and she's passionate about the environment and feels that God has laid it on her heart to take care of the planet. Which is such a huge, insurmountable task! But she's starting small, with her and her husband. They've stopped using plastic bags, and have joined a co-op, and are getting food fresh from farms, and all kinds of other small steps, but they are doing something! And I am so proud of them for that. 

So what is it today that seems overwhelming, but you can do just a little bit? What's that one thing that you're really passionate about, but you know you'll never be able to change the world? Why not start with a little? Then ask God for bigger opportunities, and watch Him work.

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. (Theodore Roosevelt)

Interrupted

I recently finished reading Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker [and forcing it into Loverboy's hands/ears every couple chapters or so] and it is kinda bad-good. I got the book a few years back for free and it has sat on my bookshelf ever since. It's moved with me from place to place, been shuffled around, but always just sitting on my bookshelf. Staring at me. Because I knew what it was about, and I didn't want to read it. I knew it was going to challenge and convict me and I guess I just haven't been in a place where I want to be smacked upside the head until recently. 

So about a couple months ago I picked it up and put it on the desk. Then on the coffee table. Then in my purse. One step closer to me actually reading it. Then I actually started reading it. Then I finished it. And it's just what I expected. A good smack upside the head.

//via

But I'm not really sure what else to say about it. Except that we've been doing a lot of thinking and dreaming and talking and planning around here. And that the above quote decently describes the book and our thoughts.

Here's what one reviewer on Amazon said about the book. [I'm about to quote somebody who quotes somebody. Get ready.]

I feel sometimes like we are all just "playing church", and that can be a suffocating place at times (just being honest) because... well, here's the way Jen put it: "Why did I spend all my time blessing blessed people who should be on the giving side of the equation by now?" (p. 21) Answer: because its safe and because its comfortable. 

YES. Safe and comfortable. I am way too obsessed with being both of those things. But really, I'm tired of feeding the obese, clothing the fashionistas, giving medicine to the perfectly healthy, "blessing the blessed," as Jen puts it. 

I want to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, help heal the sick. I want to do the things that Jesus tells us to do. I want to rid myself of this obsession with safety and comfort. 

But it starts one small baby step at a time, I think. It starts with giving to the homeless Native American man who waves at me from the corner on my way to and from work. It starts with doing things I wouldn't normally do, with people I wouldn't normally do them with. It starts with noticing those who I don't usually notice. It starts small, but I know where my Jesus has called me. I know what He has asked of me.

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?  And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’  And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ —Matthew 25:35–40

Also, a few articles that have been wrecking lately, that I mentioned in my A Year in Blogging post: 

Dear World: Let's Stop Giving Our Crap to the Poor
# Blessed
Rich and Poor | The Question That Wrecked Us Both