Thinking About Law at Jubilee '08

More later on the fantastic Jubilee Conference happening now in Pittsburgh. But just a quick note on two workshops I presented today.

The first workshop was a discussion about despair-- how to avoid it in the face of the sin-twisted state of "the system." We may be tempted to become discouraged in light of the favoritism, racism, corruption, and gamesmanship we run into now and again in our legal institutions. Can true justice prevail in the American legal system? It’s easy to become disheartened by the evil and corruption we see around us, especially when it manifests itself in institutions and individuals entrusted with a ministry of justice.

About 60 college students discussed these challenges. My contribution was to challenge students to avoid the deadly sin of sloth-- acedia-- spiritual apathy caused in part by our failure to cheerfully embrace our callings as human beings created in God's image.

My second workshop was more practical: we discussed the idea of law as a call to Christian service, and then brainstormed specifics. How can ordinary law practice have redeeming value in God’s kingdom, and, in what ways does he “call” us to the legal profession?

I'll post more on some of these ideas and some things I learned from these bright college students.

And I can't say enough about the Coalition for Christian Outreach and their great work at Jubilee and beyond.