What is “Social Justice” to Christians? If I google “Social Justice in Christianity”, the ChatGPT explains it as a vital or even central value to Christianity. However, if I google simply “Social Justice”, the ChatGPT connects it to the LGBTQ+ rights. Thus, as much as Christian values and identity insist in a biblical standpoint, “Social Justice” has been mocked with a different meaning and implications. Additionally, in an environment of vast divided political and economic disparity, the classification of being liberal or conservative, left or right brings sensitivity and controversy to this topic. This book allows us to take a refreshed look back to what “Social Justice” means to all Christians or even non-believers. Should we as Christians give it away to political agenda?
The book confirmed with the Scripture that clearly it is God’s will that the world (all people, not just the believers) reflects His concern for justice for the weak and vulnerable caused by oppression, calamity, and personal moral failure. Throughout the Old Testament we see God’s love is shown not only for the entire nation of Israel, but also to
individuals–the widows, orphans, and the needy and the vulnerable. He commanded His people to show
mercy and bring justice to the poor and the needy. In the NT, the same love was unfolded in Jesus’ life. In
Generous Justice: How God’s Grace Makes Us Just, Tim Keller, shares examples from the lives of believers
around him to explore how when grace is granted by God upon the Christians, they seek justice and
manifest to the world what God’s mercy is and thus create impact and hope to people around them.

• Experiencing God's generosity (His saving grace and mercy upon all Nations) fuels our own to
practice justice generously.
• Considerations and approaches in acting out social justice should be on the recipient’s long-term improvement of independence for a dignified life, which requires a macro-solution and not a micro-giving.
• The acts of generous justice and mercy should be done out of love, not as a way to the goal of
evangelism. Though doing justice is the best way for Christians to lay a foundation for evangelism.
Thus, it’s key to balance between God’s Word and acts of helping.
• Finally, after we are done reading the book, we discern what the differences are between the
‘generous justice’ as encouraged by the author, and the socialism and even communism. We
discern if the viewpoints offered by the author are consistent with the essence and the teachings
in the bible. Accordingly, we reflect on what our position should be on social justice and how to live
out a Christian life that is pleasing to the Lord.

Book Review by Minister Margaret Liu

June 2025