Ross Lanmead Professor of Missiology, Whitley College, Parkville, Australia told this story last year:

Someone asked me recently why justice-seeking figured so strongly in my approach to mission. I think they meant "as distinct from evangelism". We were talking about asylum seekers.

I said something about the integration of the word (evangelism) and deed (loving our neighbour). I quoted Matthew 25, saying that for me one of the best ways to love God is to defend the voiceless. I left the conversation stunned that a Christian should wonder why I keep talking about justice. But then I realized that ever since the time of the prophets we’ve needed to spell out for each generation the call to justice.

So, here are my ten top overlapping reasons for being passionate about a gospel where justice is close to the centre. I reckon I could double the list without trying:

• The Bible’s full of it

• We’re all equal before God

• It’s part of shalom

• God is a God of justice

• It’s part of God’s Commonwealth

• It’s part of the Good News

• Righteousness flows into justice

• Evangelism flows into social action

• Justice is structural love

• No peace without justice