Jason Forbes
Disability Advocate
Generous Justice: How God’s Grace Makes Us Just
Tim Keller. New York: Dutton, 2010.
Justice and fairness are only figments of the imagination until Jesus returns. That was the conclusion I had come to as someone who has seen people with disabilities struggle to fit in to an able-bodied society. I have also seen reports of people with disabilities been abused and neglected by the systems that are meant to protect and care for them. Can any sense of justice be obtained in this life, and if so, would it be fair?
In his book, Generous Justice: How God’s Grace Make Us Just? Timothy Keller is much more considered, and helpful, than my response to the injustice I’ve seen. Keller seeks to answer four main questions: what is justice? For whom is justice? Why should Christians engage in acts of justice? And perhaps most crucially, how should we do acts of justice?
Keller begins by observing that acts of justice is caring for the vulnerable, and this is to share God’s concern (Mic 6:8). This is not to deny that those who aren’t as vulnerable are not victims of injustice. But it is to acknowledge that it is the vulnerable who experience injustice more often. Keller states the poor and vulnerable today include refugees, migrant workers, single parents, and elderly people. To this list, people with disabilities may also be added.
Acts of justice is a lot more than punishing the wrongdoer. Justice means living in a right relationship to everyone else, including God. Since justice entails relationships, justice needs also to be generous if it is to reflect the character of God. In connection to this, Keller considers the causes of poverty. Liberals may attribute poverty to social and economic prejudices while conservatives tend to attribute poverty to the breakdown of family and the absence of character qualities such as self-control and discipline. Keller perceives the Bible attributes poverty to oppression, calamity, and personal moral failure. Therefore, acts of justice require a multi-faceted approach.
Inasmuch acts of justice involves caring for the vulnerable, we can expect that doing acts of justice will take us out of our comfort zones and contravene societal norms. Jesus’ Parable of the Great Banquet represented a radical departure from cultural norms. Keller observe that banquets were hosted to advance one’s business and political interests. However, the point of Jesus’ parable is to suggest that far more should be spent on the poor and vulnerable than on one’s own interest. Jesus’ teaching takes a cultural practice that reinforces social classes to dismantle those social structures and restore relationships. Ultimately, the Christian faith not only addresses a person’s sin, but also oppressive social structures that excludes others.
Keller also turns his attention to what should motivate our generosity. He identifies the fact that every person bears God’s image, God’s ownership of everything, and, perhaps most importantly, responding to his grace. Because every person bears God’s image, we should be motivated to do acts of justice regardless of one’s background, race, economic demographic, ability, or potential. Because God owns everything, we should be motivated to be generous with what we have. Because God has been gracious to us, we should be motivated to be gracious to others.
How we do justice is also a key consideration. Justice may not simply involve addressing individuals but reforming social systems. Keller recounts a 14 year old girl who was attending Bible study, but faced huge pressure from a gang to go into prostitution. While the girl resisted the gang, she gave in to their demands. Addressing the issues at an individual level wasn’t enough. The social and political structures in the community needed to be addressed as well. Keller states, “Doing justice in poor communities includes direct relief, individual development, community development, racial reconciliation, and social reform’.
Keller’s book offers a challenging but practical approach to justice. Challenging because it calls us to go beyond our comfort zones. Practical because Keller provides down-to-earth models of how acts of justice may be achievable and effective. Perhaps by following Keller’s model, justice and fairness may not be only figments of the imagination, but a powerful witness to the grace of God.
To read more of Jason’s thoughts, or to book Jason in for a visit to your church, go to jerichoroad.org.au/disability-advocacy/.