WHY SHOULD CHRISTIANS CARE ABOUT JUSTICE?

The work of ASJ is rooted in our belief that Christians are called to bravely pursue justice. We find this calling throughout the Bible – from its earliest books, to the courageous prophets that challenged their country’s failure, to respond to the needs of the poor, and into Jesus’ New Testament teachings and the apostles’ writing. We therefore take seriously Micah’s call “to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God,” (6:8) and Isaiah’s command to “seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, [and] plead the widow’s cause” (1:17).

What is Justice?

But what is justice? Justice looks at the systemic barriers to thriving, at the misuse of power that exploits people’s lives, labor, and dignity. This means that justice is intricately tied to power and seeks to repair harm and inequities. Powerful people (that often includes all of us!) command society’s political and economic resources, and utilize them to maintain power. In this way, they violate the basic rights of others that are essential to justice and cultivate a disordered, violent society, as is the case in Honduras. Justice differs from charity and development as it challenges powerful people and structures that perpetuate cycles of corruption and violence and disenfranchise the poor. This work is essential to lasting development and true human flourishing.

Justice impacts our daily lives and access to education, health, employment, and safety, both in Honduras and the United States.



For 20 years, ASJ has committed to justice in Honduras, and we believe that the work of justice needs to happen everywhere, including in the U.S. Our efforts, no matter how small, build on each other as we long for the day when God’s will is completely fulfilled on Earth.

So every day, our actions paint a vivid and beautiful image of a more just world – where anyone can access quality, low-cost medical care, where indigenous land can pass on to the next generation, and where children enter the classroom feeling safe and with access to all the materials they need to learn and grow. We long for the vision ultimately depicted in Zechariah 8:4-8:

We invite you to embrace this lifelong journey with us.