Review: Generous Justice by Timothy Keller

“Oh, my dear Christians! If you would be like Christ, give much, give often, give freely, to the vile and poor, the thankless and the undeserving.”

-Robert Murray M’Cheyne

A Call to Abundant Life

For anyone who’s ever wondered what it looks like to “do justice” or “take up your cross” or “love your neighbor as yourself”, Generous Justice by Timothy Keller offers a concise yet theologically deep overview of the model for sacrificial love God lays out for us in the Bible.

Diving into both the Old and New Testaments, Keller makes a powerful case that the high calling of justice we see in the Bible is something that we need to be practicing even today as faithful followers of Christ.

As deeply as the oppressed need us to live justly, so too do our own hearts. While this is certainly a call to sacrifice and serve, it is simultaneously part of the “life in abundance” (John 10:10) that Christ calls us to.

What the Old Testament Says

In Chapter 1, Keller lays the foundation for the rest of the book with some good ol’ Biblical Hebrew. Referencing Micah 6:8, Keller notes that Christians ought to practice justice, or “mishpat” (מִשְׁפָּט֙) out of merciful love, “chesedh” (חֶ֔סֶד). 

In the next chapter, Keller writes that though the Old Testament law has been fulfilled in Christ, there is so much in the Old Testament that is still valid and important for us as Christians today.

Using examples from Leviticus and Deuteronomy primarily, Keller gives many examples of what God considered a just society to look like: impartial justice, care for the needy, love for neighbor, etc. 

Just as these characteristics were to mark God’s people, Israel, as set apart, so too should Christians today live as a “community of justice.” By aiming at the justice God calls us to, we can work towards the type of community He desires where there is no needy among us (echoed by Paul later in 2 Corinthians).

Jesus and Justice

Keller begins the section in Generous Justice about Jesus’ words on just living by quoting Luke 14:12-14, where He calls on His followers to invite the poor and the needy when they hold a banquet.

He goes on to explain that in Jesus’ time, many relationships were and events were tied to a patronage system, where people tried to seek their personal benefit, something that would not involve second-class citizens of this time.

Jesus flips this system on its head by calling on His disciples to give to those who cannot pay them back and even to do so in secret, essentially discarding the patronage model for one that was aimed at justice for justice’ sake, especially on behalf of the downtrodden.

Keller further explains how Jesus echoes the words of Old Testament prophets, who considered acting justly as a sort of “heart-analysis” to help show God’s people whether or not they were following Him faithfully.

One of these passages Keller quotes is Isaiah 58:6-7: “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter…?”

In Jesus’ critiques of the Pharisees, something He addresses is the way that their religion was performative and dealt unjustly with the vulnerable while appearing to be “lawful”. Keller argues that Jesus sees lack of concern for the poor as something “seriously wrong with one’s spiritual compass, the heart” (Keller, 51).

What the New Testament Says

Apart from the words of Jesus, Keller goes on to expound how the New Testament as a whole is a book that teaches us to live lives marked by justice and love rooted in deep gratitude for the free gift of salvation.

In Acts, for example, we see the community of believers having “all things in common” and willingly selling their belongings to meet the needs of fellow believers.

One thing that strikes a chord in this description of the early Church is the impact their generous, communal living had: “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47b).

Keller goes on to note numerous other New Testament texts apart from Acts, including 1 John, James, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, and 1 Timothy as he builds the case that we Christians are to meet the needs of our brothers and sisters in the faith, and also those outside the faith.

Going back to the words of Jesus, Keller jumps back to the parable of the Good Samaritan to build the case for loving our neighbor in ways that are sacrificial and even risky. He ties the importance of this story to our own spiritual need - that we ourselves have been saved by grace by the Great Samaritan: Jesus Christ.

Practical Application and Final Thoughts

The remaining 110 pages or so give us practical insights for how to apply this message of generous justice to our walks of faith, including more Biblical backing for the why and the how of living justly.

In Generous Justice, Keller lays out two primary motivations to doing justice: joyful awe and gratefulness.

He begins this section at the beginning—Genesis—where humans are made in God’s image. From this very premise comes the basis for human value. Each and every one of us is a creation made by God, and as such worthy of respect and dignity.

Keller also calls us to see ALL of creation as God’s handiwork and belonging, thus the resources we have our not really ours, but Gods. It follows then that we are only stewards of that which has never really belonged to us, called to give out of all that has been given to us.

In what I believe to be one of the most powerful and convicting passages in the book, Keller calls Christians to a “permanent fast”: “Self indulgence and materialism should be given up and replaced by a sacrificial lifestyle of giving to those in need” (Keller, 96).

What a difficult call to the Church in prosperous nations!

Gratefulness at the free gift of grace is the other reason Keller writes that our hearts ought to be motivated towards cheerful giving. 

In recognizing our own sinfulness and deep need for our Savior, we can begin to see those we might otherwise judge as if looking in a mirror, thus eliminating any sense of superiority or apathy. We are seeing ourselves when we see those in need.

Keller spends the rest of the book laying our practical images of how we can apply justice to our life as Christians, offering helpful insight for those working in evangelism or social/community development or justice work. Both groups will likely find ways to improve their impact while ensuring it is tied to what truly matters most: the Good News.

While I liked his use of outside sources, I wish he’d presented more of his own thoughts on some of the arguments he made. That said, Generous Justice is a quick read that is simultaneously theologically rich and hard to put down.

The book ends with these words by Timothy Keller. Whether you agree with them or not, they certainly merit contemplation: “A life poured out in doing justice for the poor is the inevitable sign of any real, true gospel faith” (Keller, 189)

Overall, I’d give Generous Justice by Tim Keller a 4.5/5.