Editor's Note

Several months ago, within the span of about two weeks, I received two separate emails that were so disturbing they made me feel physically ill. Both depicted atrocities—one against an African man; the other against a litter of puppies.

As I watched both videos, I kept thinking about the saying, "Ignorance is bliss." I realized there is truth to that saying! But I also realized that God doesn't call his followers to be ignorant of what's going on in the world. Instead, he calls us to go out of our comfort zones and move into the world with eyes wide open.

If we're to be genuine in our faith, then we must heed and act on God's words to us in Micah 6:8: "What does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

As Christ-followers, we have powerful weapons to change the world. You and I have a lot more influence and muscle than we realize. But we have to start using them.

So we want to help you get started. This issue of Kyria looks at the spiritual discipline of justice. We realize injustice can be overwhelming. Just listening to the news each night can throw me into a paralyzed state. Not sure where even to begin.

And although this topic is too big to cover comprehensively in one issue, we've tried to help you sort through questions such as, What does it mean to live a life of justice? How is it different from compassion? And does what each of us do really make a difference if we, say, live in the suburbs? Do we have to all move to an oppressed country or neighborhood?

And then after you've grappled with those questions, we'll help you start taking some first steps toward living out what it means to act justly.

When at the end of our lives God asks each of us, "Did you live justly? Did you do everything in your power to fight against injustice and oppression, obediently rising to the call to make a difference in the lives of the oppressed and hurting?" May you and I be able to look at God and answer truthfully, "Yes, Lord. Yes."

Read more articles that highlight writing by Christian women at ChristianityToday.com/Women