cover image Pursuing Justice: The Call to Live and Die for Bigger Things

Pursuing Justice: The Call to Live and Die for Bigger Things

Ken Wytsma with D.R. Jacobsen. Thomas Nelson, $19.99 (344p) ISBN 978-0-8499-6466-4

First-time author Wytsma (with an assist from Jacobsen) is one of the new breed of evangelical Christians returning to scripture to redeem justice as a central tenet of faith. President of Kilns College, where he teaches philosophy, and founder of the Justice Conference, which drew nearly 4,000 young evangelicals in 2012, Wytsma infuses his writing with fresh experiences from working with the millennial generation, especially its frustration with apathy and intolerance of hypocrisy. “Apathy tells us that it’s perfectly acceptable to live with illusions of our own justice,” he writes, neatly linking those concerns. This accessible guide provides trustworthy scriptural analysis, examples of contemporary justice issues (such as conflict minerals in Congo, gender inequity, race in America, and creation care), and a solid philosophy for understanding the role of justice in today’s society and in modern Christianity. “Justice cannot be divorced from God’s heart and purposes,” he writes. “It permeates them.” Wytsma’s authorial voice is engaging, encouraging, and invitational. His humor helps the reader recognize her own humanity and transformative potential within the unfolding moral arc of the universe. Agent: Don Jacobson (Feb.)