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

Ken Wytsma has thought boldly about justice that is rooted in Gods own will for the world. He turns the theme in many directions, not unlike a kaleidoscope. Every turn will cause the reader to think in fresh ways, to see new reality, and to find courage for the work of justice that is now so urgent among us.

W ALTER B RUEGGEMANN , C OLUMBIA

T HEOLOGICAL S EMINARY

Let me be honest: Pursuing Justice is not a feel good book. The truth is that everyone loves the idea of justice... until theres a personal cost or sacrifice. The thing is theres always a cost to justice. This is an important book because its honest, raw, blunt, and most importantly, points us to Christwhich needs to inform and transform our understanding of justice. Its a reminder of our calling to both live and die; a reminder of the importance to count the cost and still do the messy, laborious, and important work of justice. Thank you, Ken, for reminding us that we cant just be aware of injustice, we have to pursue justice.

E UGENE C HO , P ASTOR OF Q UEST C HURCH ,

V ISIONARY FOR O NE D AY S W AGES

This book is solid. It is a beautiful, biblical, balanced view of justice. Not popular justice. Not trendy justice. Not clich justice. Not American justice. But justice as it is clearly taught by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in all its wholeness and fullness. Ken, who I consider a good friend and champion for the gospel, has set forth a challenge for all followers of Jesus.

K EVIN P ALAU , P RESIDENT OF

L UIS P ALAU A SSOCIATION

Kens book will serve as an important guide as the global justice movement matures from sensation-driven reactions into transformational pursuit. Ken has woven a beautiful, intricate tapestry that beckons the reader to lean in closer with every page, and in doing so, be drawn nearer to the heart of justice, which, as Ken so carefully instructs, is the very heart of God. What a gift!

B ETHANY H. H OANG , D IRECTOR OF THE

I NTERNATIONAL J USTICE M ISSION S (IJM)

I NSTITUTE FOR B IBLICAL J USTICE

Pursuing Justice is an expansive, brilliant book. Deeply grounded in theology, history, and philosophy, it will help shape and orient our generations vital pursuit of justice as we co-labor with Christ in anticipation of the coming fullness of His Kingdoms Shalom.

M IKE Y ANKOSKI , A UTHOR OF

U NDER THE O VERPASS

Ken has the gift of sharing why his heart beats, and then compelling the rest of us to check for a pulse of our own. Justice should be a concern for every one of us that follow Christfrom the megachurch leaders and the global missionaries, to the stay-at-home moms and soccer dads in the suburbs. God is passionate about making right what is wrong, so we are to be too. Thank you, Ken, for that reminder.

T SH O XENREIDER , A UTHOR OF O NE B ITE

AT A T IME , B LOGGER, AND C REATIVE

D IRECTOR OF S IMPLE L IVING M EDIA.COM

Justice has become trendy. Ken Wytsmas Pursuing Justice avoids all the pitfalls of trendiness. It exhibits a deep and accurate understanding of the nature of justice and is a passionate call to obey and imitate God by pursuing justice. It is deeply informed by scripture, rich in personal experience, engagingly written, and not shy of acknowledging that the pursuit of justice may be personally costly, though joyful nonetheless. I have no doubt that for many it will prove to be an eyeopener.

N ICHOLAS W OLTERSTORFF , N OAH P ORTER P ROFESSOR

E MERITUS OF P HILOSOPHICAL T HEOLOGY , Y ALE

U NIVERSITY , S ENIOR R ESEARCH F ELLOW , I NSTITUTE FOR

A DVANCED S TUDIES IN C ULTURE , U NIVERSITY OF V IRGINIA

Ken helped me draw nearer to Gods heart and the people He loves. This isnt a book about doing more justice; its a book about being just. Ken refuses to indulge the debates that ask the wrong questionsdebates that force either/or positions on justification and justice, atonement and action, faith and works. Ken doesnt waste time lifting up cause celebrities or dictating Gods pet issues for your time and place. Pursuing Justice is, at its heart, about right relationships. Kens stories will thrill your heart and break your pride. And if you take this book seriously, it might just change your life!

J EREMY C OURTNEY , F OUNDER

AND E XECUTIVE D IRECTOR OF

P REEMPTIVE L OVE C OALITION

Ken Wytsmas courageous quest to understand the world around him through a deep commitment to Gods ways shines through each page of this personal and thoughtful book. That world is both complicated and deeply unjust, so his writing calls us to face uncomfortable questions about our lives, and to reexamine the part we play in the different communities to which we all belong. It is my prayer that Kens work will be rewarded by a true renewal of our love of mercy, of our doing justice, and of our walking humbly with God.

P ETER H ARRIS , C O -F OUNDER

AND P RESIDENT , A R OCHA

I NTERNATIONAL

In this Kairos moment, the Holy Spirit is creating a wave of interest in justice throughout the church, including churches which have ignored it for many years. However, the wave often breaks on the shore of superficial concepts that neither result in changed lives nor changed communities. Thank you, Ken Wytsma, for taking the risk of telling the whole, rich, and deep truth about Gods call to justice. I hope and trust that this book will fulfill its divine purposeawakening and equipping the body of Christ to change the world.

A LEXIA S ALVATIERRA , D IRECTOR OF

J USTICE M INISTRIES , S OUTHWEST

C ALIFORNIA S YNOD , E VANGELICAL

L UTHERAN C HURCH IN A MERICA

In Pursuing Justice, Ken is at the cutting edge of where Gods heart is. This book is timely and needs to be read by everyone in the church.

J OHN M. P ERKINS , C IVIL R IGHTS L EADER ,

F OUNDER OF THE C HRISTIAN C OMMUNITY

D EVELOPMENT A SSOCIATION (CCDA), AND

F OUNDER OF T HE J OHN P ERKINS F OUNDATION

FOR R ECONCILIATION AND D EVELOPMENT

As a pastor, educator, entrepreneur, visionary, and father, Ken Wytsma brings a voice to the conversation on justice that is thoroughly and distinctly his own. A voice with the passion to captivate your heart, and the intellect to engage your mind. Pursuing Justice is a must-read for anyone desiring to live a life of purpose.

M ELISSA M C C REERY , V ICE P RESIDENT

OF D EVELOPMENT , K ILNS C OLLEGE

Im grateful Ken Wytsma is helping shape the conversation about justice. Kens multiple callingsteacher, pastor, strategic advisor, entrepreneur, thought leaderhave situated him perfectly to refine and clarify biblical justice for a variety of audiences. He is a fresh voice of balance, humility, and collaboration. His enthusiasm is contagious and his challenge to the church to not only do justice, but to learn to do it well, is commendable. This book will bless, challenge, and stimulate your thinking.

K EITH W RIGHT , I NTERNATIONAL

P RESIDENT OF F OOD FOR THE

H UNGRY

No matter what faith tradition you subscribe toor reject altogetherKen Wytsmas Pursuing Justice will rattle you. Not since C. S. Lewis put down his pen have readers been so provoked to think. Read Pursuing Justice with caution because it will change the way you approach others.

K AREN S PEARS Z ACHARIAS , A UTHOR

OF A S ILENCE OF M OCKINGBIRDS AND

W ILL J ESUS B UY M E A D OUBLE -W IDE ?

For those of us stumbling to follow Jesus from the traditions of white evangelicalism, no question is more important today than how to pursue justice. Ken Wytsma is an honest, earnest disciple who has given himself to this pursuit without reservation. Like a first century Peter, hes engaged in a no-holds-barred pursuit of Jesus AND justice. Witnessing his passion, I can almost hear Jesus saying again, On this rock Ill build my church.