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 biblical, provocative, uncommon, radical--and almost universally NOT lived out in the lives of American Christians. Since coming to Christ in 1987, I have never seen a family that lives out the vision of this book, including myself. Keller points the reader to Luke 14:12-14 and ends up saying this:



"To put this in a more modern context--he is saying that we should spend _far_ more of our own money and wealth on the poor than we do on our own entertainment, or on vacations, or on eating out and socializing with important peers (47-48)."



Keller argues that Christians should live in such a way that our relationships and care for the poor should eclipse our investment in relating to friends of our own socio-economic status. I can honestly say that I have never seen a family that invests more of its resources toward the lives of the poor than toward themselves and friends. If one really thinks through the implications of what Keller says then a family vacation to Hawaii or Disneyland should pale in comparison to that family's personal and financial investment to the lives of the poor. Has anyone ever seen a family live like this? I am sure Mother Theresa lived this kind of life as well as others who have been called to celibacy. But how does an American family live out Luke 12:12-14? I would have liked more specific application from Keller on this.



Another minor weakness of the book is the use of endnotes rather than footnotes. Keller masterfully and seamlessly interweaves a breadth and depth of research and works cited into this little book. It is important to cumbersomely flip to the endnotes to understand nuance, historical influences, and theological foundations. The reader is pointed to many excellent resources in his endnotes.



In short, Keller claims that those who are touched by God's grace, will not merely have a heart for the poor but will be making regular sacrifices on a personal and financial level to love them and care for them. Unlike many who write prophetically about caring for the poor, Keller does not diminish the priority and centrality of the gospel message. Evangelism is central for Keller. He also goes out of his way to show that the believer is accountable--not only to care for the poor in his/her church--but the poor in the community without Christ as well.



Keller quotes:



If believers in God don’t honor the cries and claims of the poor, we don’t honor him, whatever we profess, because we hide his beauty from the eyes of the world (9).



So this is a call to create a believing community in which the well-off and middle class are sacrificially giving their resources away and deeply, personally involved in the lives of the many weak and vulnerable in their midst (201).





Anyone who has truly been touched by the grace of God will be vigorous in helping the poor (54).





If you had been born on a mountaintop in Tibet in the thirteenth century, instead of a Western country in the twentieth century, then no matter how hard you worked, you wouldn’t have had much to show for it. If you have money, power, and status today, it is due to the century and place in which you were born, not to your talents and capacities and health, none of which you earned (89).

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Notable quote:



One would almost think that Luke 14:12-14 was not considered part of God’s Word, nor has any part of Jesus’ teaching been more neglected by His own people. I do not think it is unlawful to entertain our friends; but if these words do not teach us that it is in some respects our duty to give a preference to the poor, I am at a loss to understand them.



John Newton

The Works of John Newton



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Study Guide
Introduction:
1. Does the Bible teach that a genuine Christian will seek justice in the world? If yes, where does the Bible teach this? If yes, what does this look like in your life?


2. What is your gut response to “doing justice” for the poor, oppressed, disadvantaged?

3. For what reasons might white church-folk have thought MLK Jr. was “a threat to society?”

4. What is the relationship between a person’s grasp and experience of God’s grace and his heart for justice and the poor? Can a person have a deep understanding and experience of grace and little concern for the poor and marginalized?

5. In what way is the typical Wheaton College student similar to the newest generation of evangelicals? (Cf. note 6, p. 192)



6. Have you known “Jeffreys” in your life? (Cf. note 9, p. 192) If so, who? When?

7. What biblical doctrine was foundational to MLK Jr. as well as to Keller’s thesis in GJ? (Cf. note 11, p. 193) How does this doctrine have relevance to your life?

Chapter 4

1. What question does Jesus answer with a question in Luke 10:25-37? Why?

2. In Mark Valeri’s introduction to Edwards’ sermon “The Duty of Charity to the Poor” he writes, "Giving to the poor is a duty, as necessary to religious practice as worship, and as important for salvation as prayer.” (369) A) Do you agree? B) What is the relationship between justification by faith alone and the necessity of loving one’s neighbor?

To read this introduction and/or “The Duty of Charity to the Poor” go to:

http://edwards.yale.edu/archive

3. Do you love God with every fiber of your being every minute of the day? In light of this reality, where does a person find comfort and peace?

4. How does Keller answer the question, “What does it mean to love your neighbor?” Do you agree? Explain.

5. What is the problem with looking for poor people to help who came into poverty through no fault of their own?

6. Does Luke 10:25-37 teach that a Christian should sacrifice to love his neighbor? To what degree? What is an example of your own sacrifice in loving a neighbor?

7. Where does God want you to go from here in loving your neighbor?

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CHAPTER 8
1. Is the biblical creation account similar to other ancient accounts? In what way does the OT creation account differ (171)?

2. Define shalom.

3. What did George Bailey bring to his community, Bedford Falls? What is/are your community/communities? What do you bring to it/them?

4. For many, the concepts of beauty and justice are disparate. How would you explain the importance of “beauty” as it relates to justice?

5. What common theme runs through Jesus’ donkey, bedroom, and tomb? Why does Keller point this out?

6. Many find it implausible that God suffered and died as an executed criminal. John Stott, however, says he could never believe in God without Christ’s execution on the cross. Why? How might this help in overcoming the problem of evil as an obstacle to faith?

7. In summary, do you agree with the theology and applications set forth in the book? If not, why not? If so, now what?