Book Review - Red Letter Revolution by Shane Claiborne and Tony Campolo

Red Letter Christians are Christians who embrace evangelical theology, while striving to reflect what Jesus said (hence, “red letter”).  Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne had frequent discussions about what being a Red Letter Christian entails.  The book Red Letter Revolution: What If Jesus Really Meant What He Said? highlights these discussions.  Asking what it looks like when Christians start to be intentional about following Jesus will undoubtedly cause conflict.  The authors hope that Red Letter Christians will be a “positive irritant” that will grow in number and naturally become advocates for social justice and illustrators of spiritual disciplines. 

Book Review - Power and Poverty by Dewi Hughes

Poverty is, generally, unnecessary.  It rarely comes from a lack of natural resources or a human inability to use these resources.  Instead, argues Dewi Hughes in Power and Poverty: Divine and Human Rule in a World of Need, poverty is what happens when people misuse the power with which God entrusted us.  Understanding how poverty and power relate requires understanding who we are.  The linkage of poverty with the misuse of power means that in addition to being a social, political, and economic issue, poverty is a spiritual issue.  Hughes’ book has had more impact on how I think than any other book of theology or biblical studies.

Book Review - God Has a Dream by Desmond Tutu

Desmond Tutu’s God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time is a short and compelling blend of theology and spirituality with politics.  Tutu wrote the book to demonstrate that God does not ignore suffering.  God’s response to suffering is transformation and His agents of transformation are people.  Tutu describes himself as a “realist” and bases his thoughts on the reality he witnessed through the Bible, history, and living during apartheid in South Africa   

Book Review - Jesus and Politics by Alan Storkey

Alan Storkey contributes to the conversation about Christian interaction with politics in his book Jesus and Politics: Confronting the Powers.  He argues that Jesus must be central to the relationship between Christians and politics.  It is the responsibility of Christians to understand how Jesus factors into political history, if for no other reason than because church history is full of examples poor relationships with politics.

Book Review - The Scandal of Evangelical Polics by Ronald J. Sider

In The Scandal of Evangelical Politics: Why Are Christians Missing the Chance to Really Change the World?, Ronald J. Sider suggests that evangelicals have not given enough thought about how to approach politics as a biblical people.  This is unfortunate, partly because evangelicals are a political entity large enough to either hurt or help wider society.  In light of this, Sider proposes a method for Christians to use in approaching politics.  His method is to integrate social studies and a biblical base.  Sider hopes that this will help Christians form a wise political philosophy.

Book Review - Who Are We? by Jean Bethke Elshtain

In Who Are We? Critical Reflections and Hopeful Possibilities, Jean Bethke Elshtain suggests a way for Christians to interact with culture.  She identifies two mistakes people make when answering, “Who are we?”  First, people use the word “prophetic” as a rhetorical device.  Elshtain instead proposes that being prophetic means asking where current conditions and values may lead.  Second, people do not ask enough questions.  Liberals too often focus on possible good from social reform without considering potential pitfalls.  Conservatives look at the pitfalls without considering potential good.  Elshtain is critical of both mistakes because they indicate an unwillingness to be faithful to anything except self.  She is hopeful that it is still possible to be faithful to something more.  Such faithfulness means that we see cultures as ethical entities.

Book Review - The Cube and the Cathedral by George Weigel

In The Cube and the Cathedral: Europe, America, and Politics Without God, George Weigel describes two worldviews.  The first – represented by the Great Arch, or, “the cube” – is a secular society.  The second – represented by Cathedral Notre-Dame, or, “the cathedral” – is Christian teaching.  Which of these two worldviews can better protect European democracy?  According to Weigel, the latter is at the root of Europe’s existence.  Weigel argues that Europe faces a demographic decline that comes from the values of a European culture that now embraces secularism.  He uses a religious perspective to reflect on this change. 

Book Review - Red Letter Christians by Tony Campolo

In Red Letter Christians: A Citizen’s Guide to Faith & Politics, Tony Campolo introduces what it is to be a “Red Letter Christian.”  Red Letter Christians guides Christians who want to see their faith influence their politics, while challenging the Christians as Republican stereotype.  Campolo argues that Jesus does not fit into a particular political ideology and that attempting to make him do so creates division.  Instead, Christians should vote about social issues based on their best judgement of what God’s will is.  Addressing social need requires political action, rather than only relying on the good work of volunteers.  Simply put, it is sinful to pretend that there is no need for legislative responses to oppression and poverty.  

Book Review - A Public Faith by Miroslav Volf

In A Public Faith: How Followers of Christ Should Serve the Common Good, Miroslav Volf argues that religious people should be able to bring their views about what makes a “good life” to the public forum.  This does not mean that Christians (Volf writes from a Christian perspective and predominantly to a Christian audience) serve the common good through theocracy, but instead serve it by being one of a plurality of voices discussing what makes a healthy society.  The Christian contribution to this discussion should be rooted in the life and words of Jesus instead of ideology.  Volf’s argument has two parts.  In Part One, Volf acknowledges that Christianity “malfunctions”.  Highlighting where Christians have erred in their approach to the good life allows Volf to suggest a corrected vision.  In Part Two, Volf discusses how to present the corrected vision in a religiously and politically pluralistic culture.

New series coming tomorrow

I will begin a new series of weekly book reviews tomorrow.  The books reviewed will surround the general topic of Christianity and politics.  As my last essay series indicated, I believe that each has a role in social justice and I plan to continue exploring this idea through this series.  Usually, the books reviewed in this series will not have been major sources for my last essay series, but there will be a bit of overlap. 

Normally book reviews contain both a summary and an evaluation of the book.  Instead of sticking to this format, my reviews will contain a summary and then answer the question, "What does this book teach me about social justice?"  Assume that if I post a book review, the book was more useful than not and that I'd recommend reading it (although I may not agree with it). 

I hope that these reviews will be helpful as I consider some ideas for a new essay series to begin in the summer.  Broadly, I hope to answer the question "How does my faith impact my politics, how do my politics impact my faith, and what does this have to do with social justice?"  Obviously, I will need a pithier title for the series.

Although the purpose for these reviews is somewhat selfish, I hope that readers can find value in what I write and that the possibility for debate exists within the series.  I covet your imput as I think about faith and justice.

I expect to post reviews on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.

Please check back tomorrow for the first review: A Public Faith: How Followers of Christ Should Serve the Common Good by Miroslav Volf.