No Justice, No Renewal?

Church leaders often find that one of the hardest parts of church renewal is engaging the congregation in the work of justice. Because justice is often perceived as unrelated to renewal, it can get pushed to the margins.

• But can there really be renewal without justice? Scripture says no. God has made it clear that when there is no justice, there can be no true worship (see “Did Your Congregation Worship Yesterday?”). When a church ignores justice, every other renewal effort is diminished, because God’s whole mission is not being pursued.
• Part of being renewed is pursuing God’s mission of justice in the world. As the contemporary testimony, Our World Belongs to God, states, “Restored in Christ’s presence, shaped by his life, this new community lives out the ongoing story of God’s reconciling love, announces the new creation, and works for a world of justice and peace.”

How can leaders graciously and wisely guide their congregation to embrace justice as an essential part of renewal? Here are a few ideas.

Five Ways To Engage justice in Church Renewal

1.  Infuse the church’s prayers with themes of justice

• Shape the church’s prayers of confession, lament, adoration, and more in a way that reflects God’s heart for justice. For example, you could replace a prayer of confession in worship with a prayer of lament over a recent injustice. Connect your prayers to biblical passages that speak about justice (see especially the Psalms and Isaiah).

2. Practice “safe Justice” First

• “Safe justice” is an area of justice that the large majority of your congregation can agree on. For instance, you could focus on the need for justice for persecuted Christians or the international slave trade. Find reputable sources of information around the issue and take care to push aside conspiracy theories.

3. Talk about justice

• Justice is a sensitive topic in the U.S. today (less so in Canada), causing many churches to avoid it altogether. But because justice is close to God’s heart and central to how God’s people are called to bless the world (Genesis 12:1-3; 18:19). We must talk about it. This can be as simple as using “safe” illustrations of injustice in sermons, hosting a book or movie discussion, or leading a Bible study focused on biblical justice.

4. Move from mercy to justice

• Most churches excel at mercy ministries like feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, and sponsoring refugee families. The challenge is to move the congregation from loving mercy to doing justice. One way this happens is when we not only engage in acts of mercy but also tie ourselves to those we are showing mercy to. As we get to know their stories, we begin asking deeper questions: Why do they remain in need? What systems are keeping them there? As these questions poke at our hearts, leaders can guide conversations about justice in the lives of those we serve through mercy ministries.

5. Partner with an organization that is pursing justice

• Many Christian organizations are working for justice. Your church can partner with one of them to learn more about a specific issue, engage in practical action, and bring what you learn back into the life of your congregation.

When congregations engage justice as part of their renewal journey, they move closer to the heart of God. Renewal without justice isn’t renewal at all. It is only partial obedience. But renewal with justice becomes a living witness to God’s kingdom breaking into the world.

• Andy Crouch said, “Ultimately the reason for both the work of evangelism and the work of justice is not simply the relief of suffering, whether present or eternal. It is the restoration of God’s true image in the world, made known in the one true Image and Icon, Jesus Christ, and refracted and reflected in fruitful, multiplying image bearers set free by his death and resurrection to reclaim their true calling.”