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When I read the works of the Indian Christian Vishal Mangalwadi, it got me thinking about the relation of the Church and matters of justice in a big way. I tried to synthesize a lot of my thoughts in the parts I and II of my series “How Jesus becomes King in man: what role does the church have in building good nations?”
Today, at Concordia University St. Paul, we had a visitor from the International Justice Mission who talked about this Christian organization’s efforts and successes in fighting poverty and injustice. As always, there was theological nuance I wanted to add or share (again see my posts above), but as a whole, I thought the presentation was very helpful and challenging. It will certainly drive me to prayer.
Gary A. Haugen is the president of the organization, and after writing several books about justice from a biblical perspective, has just released a new book written for a broader audience. On this page devoted to the book, one will find ringing endorsements from a rather wide range of persons, from Bill Clinton to Pastors Lou Giglio and Tim Keller.
Here are some of the images from the media page devoted to the book:
FACT: In India, statistics indicate if you hold someone in slavery you are more likely to be struck by lightning than ever being sent to prison.
FACT: If a man sexually assaults a poor child in Bolivia, he is more likely to die slipping in the shower or bathtub than going to jail for the crime.
4 billion people in the world live outside of the protection of the law.
I rejoice that Gary A. Haugen has this calling and that he is bringing the insight that he has as a Christian to bear on this issue for the wider world.
Ephesians 5:8-14:
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
