Book Review & Recommendation: Just Courage, by Gary A Haugen

Friends,

I finished reading Just Courage this week. This book was written by Gary A Haugen, whose work with the International Justice Mission I have written of here at Advance Signs. This is a short review of the short book (150 pages, hardback, two appendices, study guide) published by IVP this year.

I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book even if at times it seemed like little more than an advertisement for IJM. That’s OK. I think the work being done through IJM and its worldwide affiliates and offices is important enough to warrant an overlooking of the literary value of this book. I don’t think Haugen is going to win a Pulitzer any time soon, but to be honest with you, I am confident that is not event remotely on his mind. The book should be read by anyone interested in the work of IJM in particular and the work for justice in this world in general.

Some are going to be turned off by Haugen’s quotation and association with Dallas Willard. I’m not And I don’t think anyone should be for that matter. I mention it simply because Willard frequently comes under fire from certain bloggers who know more than enough about who we should and should not follow.

Haugen draws on his personal life to illustrate points at times, but even more impressive are his anecdotes from the work of IJM around the world. He tells of the violence often faced by those who are working for justice and compassion. Haugen also takes time to exegete several passages of Scripture in the course of making his case. He handles Scripture faithfully and at times makes rather brilliant applications such as this comment on Matthew 16:18:

Moreover, in the work of building his kingdom, Jesus promises that ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18 KJV). In other words, God, not the forces of evil, is on the offensive. And according to Jesus, hell is decisively on the losing side. Listening to some Christians, though, we would think that hell is the aggressor and that we need to defend ourselves. But of course, gates are never on the offensive. Gates don’t move out–they keep out. (107)

This is an excellent point and one, I suspect, that motivates Haugen day after day as he and his associates brave the darkness of the sex trade, slavery, and other disturbing injustices that comfortable suburbanite American Christians would rather not think about–at all. Haugen’s stories are shocking, but he sufficiently makes his point: There is a dark world around us that needs to be dealt with by Christians. This will take courage. This Haugen also brings out pointedly:

In one of the most starkly sad moments recorded in Scripture, the earnest young man, presented with the chance to truly follow the Maker and Redeemer of the world, finds he has too much to lose. He walks away grieving. Why? Because he wants to follow Jesus. But he can’t because he is afraid of what it will cost him. (128)

I suspect this is a large part of the problem with the church in this world: Most Christians never counted the cost before becoming disciples; the rest refuse to pay it once they are. I like this book for a couple of reasons. First, it is a relatively easy read. This is for readers of all levels–I think a sophisticated junior higher could read it with no problem. Second, Haugen really opens the eyes of the reader to the realities of darkness. It makes one wonder, at times, who are the people who perpetuate sex-trade houses where children are being abused and raped? Worse, it makes me confront myself and say: What am I doing to bring these people to justice and, following Jesus, ’set these captives free’?

Finally, I appreciated that Haugen writes from a solid, orthodox Christian point of view. He makes no bones about the fact that Christians have, by and large, not done enough. There is much to be done and each day is a day to get it done. Courage is required. Christians need to move out of the safety of safety and into the world where they might get dirty, or hurt, or run out of town. Christians must not be content to sit around and wait for government agencies to do anything. Christians must be advocates for the weak and oppressed.

15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,
       I will hide my eyes from you;
       even if you offer many prayers,
       I will not listen.
       Your hands are full of blood;

 16 wash and make yourselves clean.
       Take your evil deeds
       out of my sight!
       Stop doing wrong,

 17 learn to do right!
       Seek justice,
       encourage the oppressed. 
       Defend the cause of the fatherless,
       plead the case of the widow.

At the end of the book, Haugen has listed on-line resources where one can pursue further the courage he has written of. I am providing those links here for any who might wish to pursue this courageous work.

• Amnesty International
• Anti-Slavery International (UK)
• Freedom House
• HumanTrafficking.org
• Human Rights First
• Human Rights Watch
• International Labour Organization
• UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund)
• UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women)
• US Department of Justice
• US Department of Health & Human Services (The Campaign to Rescue & Restore Victims of Human Trafficking)
• US Department of State (Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons)
• World Health Organization
• International Justice Mission

I am thankful this book has been written. I believe it is a good place for anyone to begin–to get their feet wet, to take their first step of courage that might just see a life set free.

jerry