Black Wall Street

Black Wall Street: From Riot to Renaissance in Tulsa's Historic Greenwood District by Hannibal B. Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book recounts the story of Tulsa's prosperous Greenwood district - an African American community booming with small businesses and opportunity. The area was completely destroyed by the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921. This book recounts the story of the riot, the utter destruction and the horrific violence that occured, and even more amazing, the sheer determination and resiliency of the people involved to rebuild and thrive against all odds.

This book is a disturbing read, an eye-opening look at the bitter racism in one of the worst parts of our history as a country. As I read the accounts, the horrific acts of commission and omission, I was both angry and ashamed at what man can do, even worse what he can do under the guise of morality. This book tells that story, but thankfully doesn't end there. Ultimately, it is a story of hope in the midst of despair, forgiveness in the midst of hate, and integrity in the midst of hypocrisy. The character demonstrated by the Greenwood survivors speaks volumes of the indestructible human spirit and our interdependence on each other.

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The Cross and the Lynching Tree

The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James H. Cone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was a powerful read. White Christians everywhere can learn much from this book about the power of the Gospel and the meaning of the cross for the African American community. I have a deeper understanding of who Christ is and the depth of His redeeming work on the cross through the ways He has revealed Himself as the suffering servant, the wrongly accused, the One who was not defeated by the hatred and animosity of others. It also gives us profound hope in the midst of despair and hopelessness, hope that cannot be defeated by death and hope that points us toward the eternal.

Cone masterfully weaves scripture and theology with cultural reflections and historical commentary. His work ultimately opens our eyes to view the cross through a different lens, one that confronts us with the racial terrors of lynching and our collective past, while guiding us to a deeper understanding of the Gospel and the ministry of reconciliation that we are called to in Christ.

"God's loving solidarity can transform ugliness - whether Jesus on the cross or a lynched black victim - into beauty, into God's liberating presence."

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Bookworms: Generous Justice

Generous Justice: How God's Grace Makes Us Just by Timothy J. Keller

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book is a powerful reminder into God's heart for generous justice - justice and mercy and grace. It is a call to live as Christians with a compassionate and generous spirit. Keller draws comparisons between the Israelite culture of the Old Testament and our culture, noting how the theocratic government incorporated provision for the poor and marginalized into their economic & social systems. How would our businesses be different if we made similar provision for the poor today?

Keller also skillfully avoids the political traps of polarized politics. He book is one that is centered in Biblical truth, not political views. He does not let liberals off the hook for morality & personal responsibility, and he doesn't let conservatives off the hook for grace and compassion. This is one of the best books I've read recently in terms of balancing those, and his words are challenging to all of us, regardless of what our political leanings are.

Keller also explores the role of the Christian in the marketplace, as a citizen and as an advocate on behalf of justice - giving tangible advice for working with those that come from different faith perspectives or secular philosophies and outlining a model for speaking up in the marketplace.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will probably quote it often in the future when talking to others about the Christian call to generous justice.



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Bookworms is a series of reflections on books that have encouraged me, challenged me, made me think differently. I love books that make me think and ones I can get lost in, ones that have captivating stories or ones of captivating importance. You can browse my bookshelf at the bottom of my blog to see my eclectic collection of recent reads. In this series, I'll share some reflections on some of the ones that have been especially meaningful to me. Enjoy!

Word Search - Justice

From time to time, God lays a particular theme on my mind, and I dig into scripture with word searches, seeking out what God has to say on the topic throughout His word.

In commemoration of Martin Luther King day yesterday, I thought it would be appropriate to visit some scripture passages on justice. Sometimes, as Christians we can forget that justice was at the core of Jesus’ message and His ministry, something near and dear to God’s heart and His plan for us.

God’s heart
“It is unthinkable to think that God would do wrong, that the almighty would pervert justice.” – Job 34:12, NIV

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” – Luke 4:18-19, NIV

His plan
“Praise be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne as king to rule for the Lord your God for Israel and His desire to uphold them forever, he has made you king over them to maintain justice and righteousness.” – 2 Chronicles 9:8, NIV

“And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of trans-Euphrates – all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them.” – Ezra 7:25, NIV

Our role
“…Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” – Isaiah 1:16b-17, NIV

“He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8, NIV

“Woe to you, Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue, and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.” – Luke 11:42, NIV

His promise
“And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you that He will see that they get justice and quickly.” – Luke 18:7-8a, NIV

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him.” – Isaiah 30:18, NIV

What are your thoughts? Why do you think we neglect justice? How can we, as Christians, share God's heart for the poor and oppressed? How can we share the GOOD news?

Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.- Martin Luther King, Jr.