Review of "Justice In The Burbs"

Today I finished Justice In The Burbs by Will & Lisa Samson. This is an important book and a great follow up for someone like me who recently read The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne. I loved Claiborne and was deeply inspired but there were times I wanted to ask more specifically how this super activist would translate his work for "the rest of us" who may not end up making our own shoes or fueling our cars with left over cooking oil.  I felt like Will and Lisa's characters, Matt and Christine, represents the rest of us quite well.

In similar fashion to McLaren's, A New Kind of Christian, the Samson's communicate their heart and soul for social justice issues through the allegorical tale of a suburban family who begin sensing the call of Christ to intentionally and holistically fight for social justice. I thought it to be a very well written book but thats not why I believe it to be an important read. This book provides a gentle yet clear introduction to the importance of fighting for social justice amidst a culture held captive to consumerism. As Will states on page 43,

"...the stuff of this normal life so dominates our time and attention that we fail to see issues greater that ourselves. If we are never interrupted, and if we do not intentionally strive to raise people to value the stranger and the needy in the ways God does, everyday activities will crowd out God's call on our lives."

While reading this book, I began sensing a holy annoyance asking me to take a closer look at where I buy my clothes and even my groceries. How might those purchases effect individuals or the environment involved in the production process? And do I sincerely value my relationships over my stuff?

"How is it that the disciples of a great caregiver came to care so little for those in need? If we are to be making disciples in the model of Jesus, those disciples should want to care for those at the margins, just the way Jesus did." (p173)

Will and Lisa direct the reader back to the powerful words of Micah 6:8 which is what you see on my banner, to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.

"When we focus too much on thinking right, we can forget to do right in ways that follow after God's heart. This can manifest itself in busyness of conversation, multiple Bible studies a week, and feeling so secure in our rightness that we don't naturally seek areas where we might be lacking." (p79)

The book does a wonderful job of communicating the reality that submerging in issues of social justice runs contrary to most church growth/seeker sensitive marketing strategies. Investing in social justice which can be done in one's own neighborhood is typically inconvenient and potentially frustrating but it is the calling of a church who seeks to follow Jesus.

I am thankful for Justice In The Burbs and again for Irresistible Revolution, two of my powerful summer reads that have been shaking, haunting, and calling me back to reading, studying, and most importantly doing the life of Christ.