Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Generous Justice: How God's Grace Makes Us Just” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Generous Justice: How God's Grace Makes Us Just

by Timothy J. Keller

4.24 · Rating Details · 3,689 Ratings · 292 Reviews

Author of the New York Times bestseller The Reason for God and nationally renowned pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church Timothy Keller with his most provocative and illuminating message yet.

It is commonly thought in secular society that the Bible is one of the greatest hindrances to doing justice. Isn't it full of regressive views? Didn't it condone slavery? Why look to ...more

Hardcover, 256 pages

Published November 2nd 2010 by Viking (first published January 1st 2010)

More Details... edit details

Get a copy:

Or buy for

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Generous Justice, please sign up.

Recent Questions

is there a companion study guide?

See 1 question about Generous Justice…

Lists with This Book

The Christian Intellect

696 books — 593 voters

The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy J. Keller

Favourite Timothy Keller Books

33 books — 15 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30)

filter | sort: default (?) | Rating Details

Aug 01, 2011 Kurt rated it it was amazing

A few months ago, I was invited to preach at my church, and I decided to talk about social justice because I was a Christian who worked as a public defender. I tried awkwardly to highlight the problems with the "we should help poor people with material goods but never talk about Jesus" extreme and the "poor people are kind of scary - we should pray for them to meet Jesus, maybe preach from a safe distance, but not get physically involved" extreme, and I hoped to describe a view of social justice ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

May 06, 2012 Tina rated it really liked it

I found this short book about caring for the poor and fighting for justice profound. Being interested in social justice, I thought the book was sort of preaching to the choir at first, but then Keller, a minister in NYC, began to make me a little uneasy with my own comfortable views of social justice. For instance, he questions whether most Americans are "middle class in spirit" rather than "poor in spirit." Do I somehow feel that I have earned my place in society? Do I think my own hard work ha ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Mar 31, 2014 Marie rated it liked it

Shelves: nonfic, christian

The opening to the synopsis on Goodreads is "Author... Timothy Keller with his most provocative and illuminating message yet."

Hmm.

Maybe it's just me and the church I attend... but I didn't find this message to be provocative or illuminating. Not that's it's a bad message or anything... but none of it felt "new" or illuminating to me. In fact, the book itself felt a tad repetitive.

An upside: this book would be good to hand to someone who thinks that all Christians are uber Conservatives who hate ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Jan 01, 2011 Mike E. rated it it was amazing

Shelves: justice-issues-poverty

In this book Keller calls Christians, but especially Christ-centered, Bible-saturated evangelicals, to care for the "quartet of the vulnerable"--widows, orphans, immigrants, and the poor. The biblical foundation for caring for the poor is Genesis 1:27--every human being is created in and a shareholder of the image of God. We help the poor not because they are deserving but because humans are made in a unique way like God. We help to glorify Him by helping them.

The call that Keller puts forth is ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 06, 2014 Chuck rated it it was amazing

Among the most helpful books I've read. A great balance between the priority ministry of the church to introduce Christ and the role of believers in the search for social justice. Philosophical and practical, in addition to being strongly Biblical. Lots of helpful direction, textual reflection, and personal illustration.

A must read for those whose eyes and heart are ready to see a broken world and do something about it.

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 21, 2011 Emilee rated it it was amazing

This book is amazing. So powerful and eye-opening to the purpose of the church and what we are to do about the social/poverty issues surrounding us in a Biblical manner.

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Sep 01, 2015 Alan Alexandrino rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Destaque para a interpretação da parábola do Bom Samaritano, no capítulo 4.

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 29, 2012 Brian rated it really liked it

Shelves: theology, ethics

Generous Justice: How God's Grace Makes Us Just by Timothy Keller (author of the best-selling The Reason for God, and senior pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City) is a clear, convicting, and compelling case for the assertion that "there is a direct relationship between a person's grasp and experience of God's grace, and his or her heart for justice and the poor." (p. xiii). In his Introduction, Keller says that he wrote this book for four groups of people: (1) young Christian Generous Justice: How God's Grace Makes Us Just by Timothy Keller (author of the best-selling The Reason for God, and senior pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City) is a clear, convicting, and compelling case for the assertion that "there is a direct relationship between a person's grasp and experience of God's grace, and his or her heart for justice and the poor." (p. xiii). In his Introduction, Keller says that he wrote this book for four groups of people: (1) young Christian believers who are concerned for social justice, but often fail to let social concern affect how they spend money, conduct their careers, and choose which neighborhoods to live in; (2) orthodox Christians who approach the subject of "doing justice" with suspicion; (3) younger evangelicals who embrace social justice but jettison the traditional evangelical doctrines substitutionary atonement and justification by faith alone; and (4) unbelievers who may suspect, along with Christopher Hitchens, that "religion poisons everything" and view Christianity as one of the primary forces promoting injustice and violence. With this variety of target audiences in mind, Keller unfolds his argument for grace-driven justice in eight chapters.

Chapter one asks "what is doing justice?" and answers with an accessible study of the concepts of justice and righteousness in Scripture. While never getting overly technical, Keller shows that the Hebrew word for justice has to do with both the punishment of wrongdoing and giving people their rights (p. 3). Justice is, essentially, "to treat people equitably" - to give them their due. Such justice, which over and again in Scripture is concerned with widows, orphans, immigrants, and the poor ("the quartet of the vulnerable"), is rooted in the character of God and wedded to "righteousness." Since the biblical word for "righteous" refers to a life of right relationships, Keller says that "Biblical righteousness is inevitably 'social,' because it is about relationships" (p. 10). In fact, Keller argues that when these two words, justice and righteousness, are tied together in Scripture, "the English expression that best conveys the meaning is 'social justice'" (p. 14). Though this terminology is sometimes nothing more than a slogan used to recruit people to some political ideology or another, Keller says that "if you are trying to live a life in accordance with the bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable" (p. 18).

Chapters two and three build the case for doing justice from the Old and New Testaments respectively. Keller carefully nuances his arguments from the Old Testament, showing that commands in the Old Testament reflect clear principles that are binding on Christians today, while granting that Scripture does not tell us exactly how to carry these principles out today. Especially helpful in this second chapter is how Keller deals with the causes of poverty, showing that Scripture doesn't neatly fit into the schemas of either liberal or conservative theorists. Rather, "the causes of poverty as put forth in the Bible are remarkably balanced" (p. 33) including oppression, natural disaster, and personal moral failures. However, Keller says, "having surveyed the Bible on these texts numerous times, I have concluded that the emphasis is usually on the larger structural factors" (p. 38). Chapter three focuses on the teaching of Jesus about justice and tackles some of the lesser known (and lesser obeyed) words of Jesus, such as those found in Luke 14:12-13 (pgs. 46-49) and Matthew 25:31-46 (pgs. 52-54).

Chapter four uses the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10) to build the case that Christians have the responsibility to show mercy and do justice not only for those inside the church, but for anyone in need, "regardless of race, politics, class, and religion" - that is, for anyone who is your "neighbor" (see p. 67). This chapter, drawing heavily on the work of eighteenth-century theologian Jonathan Edwards, includes a very helpful series of answers to common objections that religious people often make when faced with the call of justice and mercy.

Chapters five asks "Why should we do justice?" "Our problem in society today" Keller says, "is not that people don't know they should share with others and help the poor. Most people do know and believe this. The real problem is that, while knowing, they are insufficiently motivated to actually do it" (p. 79). So how does the Bible motivate us? First, with "joyful awe before the goodness of God's creation" and, second, with "the experience of God's grace in redemption" (p. 82). Keller's discussion of creation focuses mainly on how human dignity (and therefore human rights) is actually rooted in the Scripture's teaching that human beings are created in the image of God. In an excellent discussion of civil rights on pages 85-88, Keller illustrates the point through interaction with the writings of Aristotle, Martin Luther King, Jr., and C. S. Lewis.

But "as important as the doctrine of creation is, the most frequently cited Biblical motivation for doing justice is the grace of God in redemption" (p. 92), a point Keller makes from both the Old and New Testaments. This is really the heart of the book, out of which everything else flows. With eloquent reason, Keller drives this truth home: "If a person has grasped the meaning of Gods' grace in his heart, he will do justice" (p. 93); "People changed by grace should go, as it were, on a permanent fast. Self-indulgence and materialism should be given up and replaced by a sacrificial lifestyle of giving to those in need" (p. 95-96); "A life poured out in deeds of service to the poor is the inevitable sign of any real, true, justifying, gospel-faith. Grace makes you just. If you are not just, you've not truly been justified by faith" (p. 99).

If chapter five addresses motivation, chapter six takes on the practical question of "how should we do justice?" In this wise and practical chapter, Keller is simple, but not simplistic, discussing how "vulnerable people need multiple levels of help" including "relief, development, and social reform" (p. 113) then providing examples of and principles for doing each. This chapter delves into issues such as the needs of poor communities, racial reconciliation, and reforming unjust social structures. Drawing on Abraham Kuyper's concepts of "sphere sovereignty," he discusses both the responsibilities of Christians in the institutional church and as the organic church. And he tackles the relationship between social justice and evangelism, arguing that "they should exist in an asymmetrical, inseparable relationship" with evangelism being "the most basic and radical ministry possible to a human being . . . not because the spiritual is more important than the physical, but because the eternal is more important than the temporal" (p. 139). But Keller will not agree that justice is simply a means to the end of evangelism OR that doing justice IS evangelism. There is a distinction between the two. Deeds of justice and mercy are not identical to gospel proclamation. To say so, is "fatal confusion." Yet BOTH are necessary. Chapter seven carries the practical questions a step further, with a judicious exploration of "Doing Justice in the Public Square."

The final chapter, "Peace, Beauty, and Justice", relates the concerns of this book to "shalom" or the reweaving the fabric of human relationships into "harmonious peace." This is God's overall intention for human beings and doing justice means "to live in a way that generates a strong community where human beings can flourish" (p. 177). But how do we do that? In one of my favorite paragraphs in the book, Keller answers: "The only way to reweave and strengthen the fabric is by weaving yourself into it. Human beings are like those threads thrown together onto a table. If we keep our money, time, and power to ourselves, instead of sending them out into our neighbors' lives, then we may be literally on top of one another, but we are not interwoven socially, relationally, financially, and emotionally. Reweaving shalom means to sacrificially thread, lace, and press your time, goods, power, and resources into the lives and needs of others" (p. 177).

The length of my review shows my enthusiasm for this book, which is a significant contribution to Christian theology and ethics. Keller's clear and accessible style makes this book appropriate for any thoughtful believer, seeker, or skeptic. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who is concerned with issues of justice in society, faithfulness to the teaching of Scripture on justice, and/or the implications of the Christian gospel for living a life of justice in our world today. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 26, 2011 Keren Threlfall rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2011-reading

Keller draws from a broad overview of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, teachings of church history (most frequently referring to Jonathan Edwards’ teachings), and specific teachings of Jesus as he lays out the beautiful picture of the righteousness/justice of God, showing God’s heart and identification (particularly through Christ’s incarnation) with the vulnerable and helpless of society. Throughout the book, he also draws out the beauty of the Gospel, and the amazing grace that God has sh ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 23, 2010 Tom Bazan rated it really liked it

Shelves: christian

Generous Justice, as the title would imply, is about justice. Keller argues that Christians must be just--it is ingrained in the grace that God gives; it is the response to the person of Christ. He does not argue that justice and a passion for helping those who need it is solely a Christian endeavor, but he does argue that all of that passion is from God (through grace common to everyone). Further, he says that if we are going to follow God for who he is--not as some manifestation or some image Generous Justice, as the title would imply, is about justice. Keller argues that Christians must be just--it is ingrained in the grace that God gives; it is the response to the person of Christ. He does not argue that justice and a passion for helping those who need it is solely a Christian endeavor, but he does argue that all of that passion is from God (through grace common to everyone). Further, he says that if we are going to follow God for who he is--not as some manifestation or some image that we create--we must do justice out of merciful love. (3)

The question, then, is what constitutes justice. He uses two Hebrew words to point to different aspects of justice; both can be translated justice, but one is also translated righteousness. Through them, he points to the ideas of primary justice and rectifying justice. Rectifying justice is the more traditional idea of punishing wrongdoers and putting things back as best we can. Primary justice, on the other hand, is behavior that, if it were prevalent in the world, would render rectifying justice unnecessary. (10-11) In other words, making things right in the first place. Thus, he argues, justice must include charity; it is not just a negative response, but a positive action to improve our community or society.

But if we were really going to get at the cause of injustice and all of its effects, it would be important to know what the cause was, right? Well, Keller wades into that, but not too deeply. He says that your opinions on the causes of injustice, poverty, etc. will be based on your perspective. And, he points out, scripture can support many different perspectives. Poverty can be caused by (a) oppression; (b) calamity; and (c) personal moral failures. (38) But he goes back to the source of the problem, a social disconnect with God. And that does not mean American society, but humanity.

Our response, then, is clear:

[O]ur problem in society today is not that people don't know they should share with others and help the poor. Most people do know and believe this. The real problem is that, while knowing it, they are insufficiently motivated to actually do it. (79)

The answer is that we should be motivated to do it out of (a) joyful awe before the goodness of God's creation and (b) the experience of God's grace in redemption. In other words, we do it out of a love for God, rather than as a requirement that we must or should obey. When we keep everything in perspective--and see God as closely as we can to who he truly is--then we can't help but be merciful, gracious, loving, etc. In other words, just.

The final question, then, is how we do this. He has three layers of help: relief, redevelopment, and social reform. In this, we see both rectifying (immediate relief) and primary (redevelopment and social reform) justice. He goes into some detail about aspects of each of these, and has some examples of how others have pursued this; but he notes that there are no straightforward answers. Different people are called to different places; we have different means and abilities, and will therefore have different missions. The key, he says, is to keep the mission of the church as a church: to preach the gospel. But the people of the church have no choice but to pursue justice in response to God, but not as a means of forcing the gospel on someone.

His position on the role of the church seems to waffle at times. But I find myself not disagreeing with him. He notes that social justice is not the mission of the church; rather, the mission of the church is evangelism and bringing the message that God is reconciling the world to himself through God the Son. But, Christians cannot ignore the plight of those in need of justice. So, while it is not the mission of the church, it is at least part of the mission of Christians (and will therefore spill over into activities of the church).

And how do Christians interact with a world that has common grace but no willingness to hear the morality of Christians? He makes the point that it is impossible to talk about social justice without talking about morals. Regardless of how secular an idea becomes, it all has to revolve around the value of a human life, which comes from some moral framework. It is all about what religious or moral framework we use. So, while having discussions about justice and not talking about morality and religion and partnering with groups that have the same surface goals as we have might get things accomplished, we will never get at the root of the problem. Instead, he recommends a strategy of humble cooperation and respectful provocation.

It's a good primer on biblical social justice. The reader has to engage to follow what he is saying, but it doesn't feel like it has to go over everyone's heads. In other words, it can be useful. And, if nothing else, it is a good reminder--like a prod--that we can't be inactive; we have to live out the grace that we have been given. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 16, 2016 Jeff rated it liked it

In the introduction to this book, Keller identifies the his audience: young people interested in social concern but live lives separated from their Ã¢â‚¬Å“volunteerÃ¢â‚¬Â interest, those who see the churchÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s involvement I social justice as being in conflict with the gospel message, those involved in social justice and see it as separated from the churchÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s message of salvation, and those critical of Christianity in general and see it as a poison. In a good Reformed theological persp In the introduction to this book, Keller identifies the his audience: young people interested in social concern but live lives separated from their Ã¢â‚¬Å“volunteerÃ¢â‚¬Â interest, those who see the churchÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s involvement I social justice as being in conflict with the gospel message, those involved in social justice and see it as separated from the churchÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s message of salvation, and those critical of Christianity in general and see it as a poison. In a good Reformed theological perspective, Keller links our Christian call to justice with salvation. God doesnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t just want to save us for heaven; God expects that weÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll be making a difference in lives here on earth. The gospel is not just to be proclaimed, Keller argues, Ã¢â‚¬Å“but embodied in the communityÃ¢â‚¬Â (106).

Keller strives to walk a balance between many issues that divide those who call themselves conservative and those who call themselves liberal in America today. For him, helping the poor doesnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t just include deeds of charity, but also involves the removal of structural barriers that keep people poor. This necessitates political involvement. He notes that in our society, where you are born and which schools are available often determines oneÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s destiny in life and whether or not a person will remain in poverty. Instead of falling back on that quote from Jesus that is so overused itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s become a clichÃƒÂ© (the poor will always be with you), he notes that God doesnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t want people to suffer and to be poor but to enjoy the fruits of the earth, and because it is GodÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s intention, it should also be oursÃ¢â‚¬Â¦ Using the Reformed Theological concept of Common Grace, he makes the case for Christians working with non-Christians in areas of common concern to strive for justice in the world.

I found this book refreshing for a personal reason. Keller is a pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America. My general view of those in the Presbyterian Church in America (a conservative denomination) has been colored by my experiences in the South. I always felt that many who went into the PCA had racist agendas and were strong supporters of a doctrine known as the Ã¢â‚¬Å“Spirituality of the Church.Ã¢â‚¬Â This doctrine, developed in the 19th Century, strove to keep the church from involving itself in political issues (slavery in the 19th Century and Civil Rights in the 20th). From my reading of his book, I canÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t see Keller espousing such a doctrine. He calls for Christians to get involved, and not just on social issues, but on issues that affect the vulnerable in society.

Keller doesnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t give us pat answers for how a Christian or a church should be helping the poor. Instead, he calls for us to wrestle the need to be involved. For congregations, he presents five questions to be considered: 1. How much should we help? 2. Whom should we help? 3. Under what conditions does your help proceed or end? 4. In what way to do we help? 5. From where should we help? (136-8)

This book should be read by Christians. It would make a good study for a small group.

A few quotes:

Ã¢â‚¬Å“In the Scripture, gifts to the poor are called Ã¢â‚¬Ëœacts of righteousness.Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Not giving generously then, is not stinginess, but unrighteousness, a violation of GodÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s law.Ã¢â‚¬Â (15)

Ã¢â‚¬Å“At first glance, no two things can seem more opposed than grace and justice.
Grace is giving benefits that are not deserved, while justice is giving people exactly what they deserve. In Christ we receive grace, unmerited favor. Nevertheless, in the mind of the Old Testament prophets as well as the teaching of Jesus, an encounter of grace inevitably leads to a life of justice.Ã¢â‚¬Â (49)

Ã¢â‚¬Å“If you have money, power, and status today, it is due to the century and place in which you were born, to your talents and capacities and health, none of which you earned. In short, all your resources are in the end the gift of God.Ã¢â‚¬Â (89)

Ã¢â‚¬Å“But in the New Testament this is changed. Christians now do not constitute a theocratic kingdom-state, but exist as an international community of local assemblies living in every nation and culture, under many different governments to whom they give great respect but never absolute allegiance.Ã¢â‚¬Â (21)

Jewish Mishnah: Ã¢â‚¬Å“Why did God create only one human being? So no one can say to a fellow human being: My father was better than yours.Ã¢â‚¬Â (121)

Ã¢â‚¬Å“At Pentecost the first gospel preaching was in every language, showing that no one culture is the Ã¢â‚¬ËœrightÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ culture, and that in the Spirit we can have a unity that transcends all national, linguistic, and cultural barriers.Ã¢â‚¬Â (122)
...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 11, 2011 Ryan rated it liked it

Shelves: non-fiction, religion-theology

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Keller's book on how the Bible explains justice and how we should approach justice-related issues in our Christian life.

***"In Western society these sets of concerns have often been split off from one another. In fact, each of America's two main political parties has built its platform on one of these sets of ethical prescriptions to the near exclusion of the other. Conservatism stresses the importance of personal morality, especially the importance of traditional sexual mores and hard work, an Keller's book on how the Bible explains justice and how we should approach justice-related issues in our Christian life.

***"In Western society these sets of concerns have often been split off from one another. In fact, each of America's two main political parties has built its platform on one of these sets of ethical prescriptions to the near exclusion of the other. Conservatism stresses the importance of personal morality, especially the importance of traditional sexual mores and hard work, and feels that liberal charges of racism and social injustice are overblown. On the other hand, liberalism stresses social justice, and considers conservative emphases on moral virtue to be prudish and psychologically harmful. Each side, of course, thinks the other side is smug and self-righteous.
It is not only the political parties that fail to reflect this "whole cloth" Biblical agenda. The churches of America are often more controlled by the surrounding political culture than by the spirit of Jesus and the prophets. Conservative churches tend to concentrate on one set of sins, while liberal ones concentrate on another set. Jesus, like the Old Testament prophets, does not see two categories of morality. In Amos 2:37, we read, "they trample the heads of the poor; father and son go in to the same girl." The prophet condemns social injustice and sexual licentiousness in virtually the same breath (cf. Isaiah 5:8ff). Such denunciations cut across all current conventional political agendas. The Biblical perspectives sees sexual immorality and material selfishness as both flowing from self-centeredness rather than God-centeredness." p.54-55.

*** "Many people who are evidently genuine Christians do not demonstrate much concern for the poor. How do we account for that? I would like to believe that a heart for the poor "sleeps" down in a Christian's soul until it is awakened. I think the reason that this sensibility has not been more aroused in the Christian world is due to the failure of my own class - pastors and Christian leaders. We tend to try to develop a social conscience in Christians the same way the world does - through guilt. We tell them that they have so much and don't they see that they need to share with those who have so little. That doesn't work, because we have built-in defense mechanisms against such appeals. Almost no one really feels all that wealthy. Even the well-off don't feel rich compared to the others with whom they live and work. I believe, however, when justice for the poor is connected not to guilt but to grace and to the gospel, this “pushes the button” down deep in believers’ souls, and they begin to wake up. Here is an example of the kind of argument that accomplishes this. It comes from a sermon by a young Scottish minister early in the nineteenth century, preaching on the text “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35): Now, dear Christians, some of you pray night and day to be branches of the true Vine; you pray to be made all over in the image of Christ. If so, you must be like him in giving … “Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor”… Objection 1. “My money is my own.” Answer: Christ might have said, “My blood is my own, my life is my own” … then where should be have been? Objection 2. “the poor are undeserving.” Answer: Christ might have said, “they are wicked rebels … shall I lay down my life for these? I will give to the good angels.” But no, he left the ninety-nine, and came after the lost. He gave his blood for the undeserving. Objection 3. “the poor may abuse it.” Answer: Christ might have said the same; yea, with far greater truth. Christ knew that thousands would trample his blood under their feet; that most would despise it; that many would make it an excuse for sinning more; yet he gave his own blood. Oh my dear Christians! If you would be like Christ, give much, give often, given freely, to the vile and poor, the thankless and the undeserving. Christ is glorious and happy and so will you be. It is not your money I want, but your happiness. Remember his own word, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” P.107-108.

On p119 Keller references a Mark Gornik who writes about how important it is for the leaders and people making the change in a community to be from the community. If they are not the primary agents of action it is unlikely for any positive changes to remain in effect.

*** One of the problems Keller cautions against is issue of churches trying to do to much by themselves. He cites Kuyper when he mentions that community development organizations can be used to serve the community so that pastors and leaders in the church can concentrate on building up the church through evangelism. If churches take on too much themselves, it can lead to the compromise of the true purpose of the church - preaching the gospel. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 13, 2011 Jelinas rated it it was amazing

A few months ago, the elders of my church read this book. They almost immediately decided to appoint deacons to facilitate mercy ministries (social justice; taking care of orphans and widows and the poor) in our church. According to Acts 6, the church chooses from amongst themselves, so our elders asked us to nominate people that we thought were already actively ministering mercy to others.

In my mind, I was a little dismissive of the process. I thought to myself (and said aloud to a few friends) ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 23, 2010 Rick Davis rated it it was amazing

Shelves: bible-theology

Generous Justice: How God’s Grace Makes Us Just is an overwhelming book by Pastor Timothy Keller. “Overwhelming in what way?” you might ask. Overwhelming in the sense that there is so much to take in that I’m not exactly sure where to begin. The book is also overwhelmingly Biblical, putting forth the case that social justice is not only the realm of liberal Christians, but a concept and duty that are at the very heart of the gospel itself.

Pastor Keller begins by showing that the words our Englis Generous Justice: How God’s Grace Makes Us Just is an overwhelming book by Pastor Timothy Keller. “Overwhelming in what way?” you might ask. Overwhelming in the sense that there is so much to take in that I’m not exactly sure where to begin. The book is also overwhelmingly Biblical, putting forth the case that social justice is not only the realm of liberal Christians, but a concept and duty that are at the very heart of the gospel itself.

Pastor Keller begins by showing that the words our English Bibles translate as “justice” in the Old Testament, chesedh and mishpat, reflect a merciful attitude toward the widow, orphan, and poor as well as an action that must be taken on behalf of these groups. Throughout the Old Testament, cultures and societies are called righteous or unrighteous based on how they treat the stranger, the widow, the orphan, and the poor. This is because mercy toward the poor and helpless is a reflection of God’s character and person. Whereas the gods of other nations favored the rich who could offer better sacrifices, Yahweh favored the oppressed and destitute. This does not stop with the Old Testament, but continues into the New as well in the teachings of Jesus and the practice of the early Church. Keller shows that the Bible doesn’t fall into a simplistic diagnosis of poverty. It never assumes that poor people are automatically righteous. Nor does it assume that poor people are where they are by their own fault. However, it does assume that the righteous who have been blessed financially ought to help the poor no matter how they became poor and regardless of whether they are “deserving.”

He follows up with a discussion of why we should do justice for the poor. He says that almost all Christians know that they should be helping the poor, and yet they are not. I have to admit that I myself am guilty of this very thing. I have read about, thought about, and blogged about helping the poor, but haven’t honestly sought out opportunities to do so. So why is there this disconnect. Keller says that part of the problem is Christians are often guilted in to helping, and guilt is never a good motivator for charity. Rather, he explains how the atonement of Christ and the doctrine of justification by faith provide the best basis for kindness to the poor. We must truly believe that the Lord of Glory stooped to aid us destitute sinners, undeserving, ungrateful, and openly hostile to our benefactor. Only then can we look at the poor and see ourselves in their place.

Next, Pastor Keller lays out a plan for doing justice. I found this a most interesting part of the book. He outlines three levels of help that can be given to the poor: relief, development, and social reform. Relief simply means giving money and resources. It is the first level of help for the poor. Development means training a person in life skills and financial management so that they can break the cycle of dependency and assume control of their own welfare. Finally social reform means transforming entire communities by creating jobs, co-ops, health care centers, schools, and other programs that will keep money in a poor community from quickly migrating away to more wealthy areas of town. He says that the Church often has a large role in relief and development, but social reform can only occur when Christians willingly move into these poor areas and begin to make connections with the people there, forming organizations that will help them fulfill their goals.

The book is helped greatly by the fact that Pastor Keller is not coming at the issue with a political perspective. We don’t get a rah-rah-Republican, free-market book, but we also don’t get a moralistic, welfare-minded Democrat book either. Keller does a wonderful job being strictly Biblical in his advice and application and simply not caring whether he sounds like a liberal or conservative. This may trouble some readers, but I found it refreshing. A second thing that makes this book so powerful is the personal experience that lies behind it. Keller has been in the trenches practicing what he preaches for twenty years. He doesn’t suggest that all Christians should move to an inner city neighborhood like he did, but his experiences there can be applied everywhere. This book is going to take a lot more thought and some good discussion to organize racing thoughts and make practical application. And if the book does nothing more for someone than to make them think and see the poor around them differently, then the first step will have been taken. I believe that this is a book which all American Christians ought to read.

5/5 stars

...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 26, 2015 Jasonlylescampbell rated it really liked it

Leslie Newbigin begins one of his books describing what it was like when he first visited India. He entered a sacred temple that was full of various idols and as he was wandering around, he noticed that in the midst of these, among them, was a statue of Jesus. Hmm, he thought, they really didn't understand the Bible. They had taken in Jesus and placed him alongside all these other gods, not realizing that this was not possible since Jesus taught us there was only One God. Then Newbigin describes Leslie Newbigin begins one of his books describing what it was like when he first visited India. He entered a sacred temple that was full of various idols and as he was wandering around, he noticed that in the midst of these, among them, was a statue of Jesus. Hmm, he thought, they really didn't understand the Bible. They had taken in Jesus and placed him alongside all these other gods, not realizing that this was not possible since Jesus taught us there was only One God. Then Newbigin describes what it was like to return to his birthplace, England, many years later and to find there ... the same assimilation ... Jesus among and alongside the values of Western culture.

I think that is what Tim Keller does a good job of challenging in this book. In the bible God identifies with the powerless as the defender of widows and father to the fatherless (Ps 68). He describes the bible's continual mention of the "quartet of the vulnerable - widows, orphans, immigrants and the poor." Over and over the Bible combines two things that our society separates and even breaks into two parties ... social morality and private morality. The Democratic party tends to hold up its openness in questions of morality, while actively working to address social evils; the Republican party tends to hold up its conservative values in questions of private morality, while embracing rugged individualism and almost social darwinian views of public goods (survival of the fittest).

Keller says that when we approach the poor and aid to the poor we often ask questions like "But what if they squander the money?" or "What if they don't learn to do better?" and Keller turns it around saying what if those were the things Jesus said to himself instead imparting grace through his death. He says that being "poor in spirit" helps in this way --"When you come upon those economically poor, you cannot say to them 'Pull yourself up by your bootstraps!' because you certainly did not do that spiritually." (103)

He even goes a little ways in to the practical wisdom of aiding the vulnerable. He says there are three ways we can help or take part: Relief, Development and Social Reform. All three are important and it misses the bigger picture to think our society doesn't need all three. Relief is temporary shelter, food, clothes, foster care, etc. Development is what people need to move beyond dependency. And Social reform is the work it takes when you want to move an entire neighborhood to self sufficiency. (114-115)

Another roadblock inside of churches and with church people to being more interested in Social Justice ... to really seeing it as part of our duty is that church people get hung up on evangelism. What I mean is that they think churches should only concern themselves with souls ... not bodies. Often they don't say it in quite this gross a fashion (thought sometimes they do!), but the push back on all this as something the government should do (and even that is hollow because often those same people are part of the political party who wants to decrease government spending on welfare). Then of course there is a big section of the church that sees social justice as evangelism.

Keller says they are two different things, both important and connected, but not the same. He says that the problem with the first view (the one that says the church should only concern itself with teaching and preaching) is that it creates a credibility issue for the church. It is "God loves you" and "Jesus saves" when the deeds say ... even if we, the church, don't and won't. Deeds can contradict words or substantiate them. (138-143) With this is an idea that human beings are integrated wholes (body and soul). "When we say that caring for physical needs will detract from evangelism" we must be thinking only of doing evangelism among people who are comfortable and well off." (142)

At the very end he tackles a very interesting topic of how society can even talk about justice without religious language. There is an opening for the church to be part of a much bigger and needed conversation if it will embrace the Bibles concern for the vulnerable.
...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 18, 2017 Jenna rated it liked it

Read this book with my small group: one chapter every two weeks, which means this book took about 4 months to finish. I think reading it over such a long time weakened the content a bit, it was hard to link back to what I had read two or three months ago. But on the whole this is a challenging and convicting look at justice in the Church and the wider culture. I will likely read it again, faster, in future, and recommend it to anybody willing to challenge themselves about the way they think abou ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 04, 2016 Glenn Crouch rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I very much enjoyed reading this book on Justice by Tim Keller. I think the Author correctly examines many of the different approaches Society / Political Systems / Churches take when it comes to dealing with poverty and social justice - and I liked that he pointed out strengths as well as weaknesses. Whilst the Author is American, I think this book works well for most of us in the Western World and perhaps even further. Also whilst the Author is Evangelical, he points out the strengths in Liber ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 09, 2012 Marcus rated it really liked it

Recommended. Thought-provoking at the least. Potentially action-provoking, we'll see. Chapter 7 (Doing Justice In the Public Square) was particulary well written and enlightening with respect to why we are often in the USA unable to conduct meaningful discussions of flashpoint political issues. The short discussion on common grace and cultural engagement (in art, music, philosophy, film-making, journalism, etc.) hidden away in note 152 at the end of the book is also quite useful - citing argumen ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 11, 2011 Kristin rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: all Christians

Recommended to Kristin by: Tim Keller, John Wood

Shelves: christian, non-fiction, own-it, social-justice

This was a wonderful read and not too cerebral. Keller didn't borrow as heavily from other authors (*coughCSLewiscough*)as he did in Reason for God. He gave great info for pushing farther with our justice and generosity, and realizing that people who have lived their entire lives in certain ways ren't going to just 'get it' and start living in a more sustainable way immediately. He gave great examples, and encourages giving people multiple chances, while rethinking how we live all aspects of our ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 17, 2011 Jeff rated it it was amazing

An excellent look at what the Bible says about justice - what it is, what it isn't, practical ideas on how the church should approach doing justice and even a look at bridging the gap between the Biblical idea of justice and the world's views. Keller does an excellent job of bringing together the different views on justice held by conservatives, liberals and utilitarians and showing how each on its own is deficient.

If you're interested in social justice (which is the primary focus), you should d ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 05, 2013 Rodrigo Rosa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Uma importante reflexão de como a doutrina cristã não precisa ser deixada de lado para a ação social. O autor conta da própria experiência na área e em como a igreja em que é pastor lida com isso. Diferente de outras vertentes como a Teologia da Libertação, que mistura teologia e política marxista, o livro mostra como a doutrina clássica conduz o cristão a enxergar a necessidade da justiça social. Um livro para ler e mudar a mente sobre a nossa ação para com os pobres e necessitados.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 24, 2011 Vaughn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

"Generous Justice" is a defense of the Gospel, showing how powerful it is, and how it is the grounds for "doing justice." It is also a challenge to those on all sides, whether Democrat or Republican, evangelist or social worker, to live a life of faith, based in God's mercy and shown through active justice.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 12, 2013 Amy rated it it was ok

I have mixed feelings about this book, but it gave me a lot to think about. I found I received the ideas coming from a pastor using Biblical support so much more readily than through ex-exceptional anecdotes or statistics that other books have used.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 16, 2011 Barnabas Piper rated it really liked it

Keller does it again in this book as in his previous ones. He makes scholarly research and assertions accessible while expounding pointed biblical truths to resonate with the reader's heart. This is a rich and enormously helpful book as well as convicting.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 29, 2015 Adam rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Clear, incisive, and gospel-rich. Basically, another outstanding Tim Keller book.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 07, 2015 Chin Ai rated it really liked it

Thought-provoking and challenges the norm. Are you ready to be called to do justice, and be generous with it?

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 02, 2014 Jason rated it it was amazing

Very good book. Keller has a way of challenging me to think outside my box. I appreciate his passion for the poor and underprivileged.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 12, 2011 Jim Belcher added it

In Keller's normal clear and concise style he lays out the big issues concerning justice and paints a wonderful picture of what Biblical justice looks like.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 12, 2015 Nathan Brewer rated it it was amazing

Game. Changer.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 25, 2012 Eric Chappell rated it really liked it

Summary: Helpful. I find Keller's writing engaging, convincingly argued, humbly expressed, and biblically-thoughtful. This book is no exception. Keller writes to 4 groups:

Those Who are Concerned with Social Justice.

Those Who are Skeptical of Social Justice.

Those Who have incorporated Social Justice to the Neglect of Traditional Doctrine.

Those Who Believe that Religion (esp Christianity) Promotes Injustice.

Notes:

Book is for believers and non-believers (xx)

What is Doing Justice? Justice is Care fo ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend It | Stats | Recent Status Updates

Readers Also Enjoyed

Genres

Christian

107 users

Religion > Theology

93 users

Religion > Christianity

52 users

Nonfiction

46 users

Religion > Faith

28 users

See top shelves…

About Timothy J. Keller

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Timothy Keller is the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, which he started in 1989 with his wife, Kathy, and three young sons. For over twenty years he has led a diverse congregation of young professionals that has grown to a weekly attendance of over 5,000.

He is also Chairman of Redeem ...more

More about Timothy J. Keller...

Books by Timothy J. Keller

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith

The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God

Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters

More…

Share This Book

+ Share on your website

Trivia About Generous Justice:...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from Generous Justice:...

“We instinctively tend to limit for whom we exert ourselves. We do it for people like us, and for people whom we like. Jesus will have none of that. By depicting a Samaritan helping a Jew, Jesus could not have found a more forceful way to say that anyone at all in need - regardless of race, politics, class, and religion - is your neighbour. Not everyone is your brother or sister in faith, but everyone is your neighbour, and you must love your neighbour.” — 30 likes

“If a person has grasped the meaning of God's grace in his heart, he will do justice. If he doesn't live justly, then he may say with his lips that he is grateful for God's grace, but in his heart he is far from him. If he doesn't care about the poor, it reveals that at best he doesn't understand the grace he has experienced, and at worst he has not really encountered the saving mercy of God. Grace should make you just.” — 25 likes

More quotes…

title link	preview: Generous Justice: How God's Grace Makes Us Just
avg rating	preview: Generous Justice: How God's Grace Makes Us Just Goodreads rating: 4.24 (3689 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8414177-generous-justice?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1429978534l/8414177.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8414177-generous-justice?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Generous Justice: How God's Grace Makes Us Just by Timothy J. Keller[/url]

See a Problem?

Preview — Generous Justice by Timothy J. Keller

Generous Justice: How God's Grace Makes Us Just

Friend Reviews

Reader Q&A

Recent Questions

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

Readers Also Enjoyed

Genres

About Timothy J. Keller

Books by Timothy J. Keller

Share This Book

Share on your website

Trivia About Generous Justice:...

Quotes from Generous Justice:...