Book Description
From Elaine Pagels’s Beyond Belief to Jim Wallis’s God's Politics, investigations into the relationship between the historical foundations of Christianity and the role of religion in today’s world have risen to the top of bestseller lists. Obery Hendricks, Jr., who was Pagels’s first graduate student at Princeton University, adds an important new voice to the ongoing discussion in THE POLITICS OF JESUS. Filled with riveting, original insights, it confirms Cornel West’s declaration that “Obery Hendricks is not just on the cutting edge, he’s the knife.”
Focusing on a powerful but little-examined aspect of the Gospels, Hendricks portrays Jesus as a political revolutionary whose teachings are meant to lead the way to freedom from the tyranny of principalities and unjust rulers in high—and low—places. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus employs various tactics to address the social, economic, and political conditions of his day and exposes the terrible effects of oppression and poverty on the mind, body, and soul.
In an in-depth examination of Christianity’s history, from its foundation through the time of Paul to the reign of Constantine to the present day, Hendricks traces how the church became a hierarchical structure, protective of the powerful and intent on maintaining the status quo. THE POLITICS OF JESUS recaptures the revolutionary implications of Christianity, and calls on Christians to embrace anew the core values of Jesus’ message and restore his fight to alleviate the suffering of underprivileged and abused peoples.
Customer Reviews:
Powerful - A Must Read.......2007-07-24
Reading Obrey Hendricks, Jr's book, the Politics of Jesus, is like sitting at the feet of a contemporary griott, and having the story of a hero told in a fashion that makes that hero larger than life. Given that the hero, Jesus Christ, is already larger than life, the story becomes all the more enriching because of the many historical interpretations of today. Hendricks' portrayal of Jesus actions, emotions and intentions are no less than radical as his political agenda is analyzed. The meek, mild Jesus of our childhood is exchanged for a radical portrayal of a man who fought for justice, defied authority, and challenged the status quo with fiery temerity.
Hendricks describes the political climate in which Jesus was born and lived in vivid detail, providing historical support for his contention that today's King James' Version of the bible was interpreted in favor of the whims of a Roman political leader by the name of Constantine. Hendricks speaks out against ministers who embrace Constantine's transformation of their roles as they accept privileged treatment and exalted status. Hendricks maintains that the story of an exorcism described in Mark 5:1-10 can actually be interpreted as an allegorical tale, in which the demon-possessed man represents the country of Israel, and the legion which possesses it represents the Roman army. Hendricks states " So though on one level Mark 5:1-13 is an account of an exorcism, on another level it is a radical political parable in the guise of a healing story, a parable that tell the people of Jesus that it is not God's displeasure that has bedeviled them, but the misdeeds of those who lord it over them (147). Additionally, The "Politics of Jesus" is a clarion call to leaders everywhere to "treat the needs of the people as holy". It reminds us that "There must only be servant leaders, just as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve" (332).
Alicia Latimer
Sisters Sippin' Tea Literary Group - Tulsa Chapter
A True Revolutionary.......2007-06-02
This book will blow your mind. You will see and understand Jesus in away that you have never done before. This book is a quick read, so don't let the thickness scare you. This book is also awesome for bible study and discussion.
Speaking Truth to Power.......2007-05-11
The politics of Jesus is must read for anyone who is on a journey of liberation. This book came into my hands as a gift from Santita Jackson the daughter of Jesse Jackson. When I got the book I could not put it down. It began to wake up some of the Liberation Theology that I was exposed to in some of Dr. James Cone lectures. Obery M. Hendricks Jr. brings us to a place where we see Jesus as the political revolutionary. He points out that Jesus message is not only called to change the individual heart but also to demand sweeping and comprehensive change in the political, social, and economic structures in our lives today as it was in the days of Jesus walk here on earth.
This book will also cause you to see the work of Jesus and make you take a deep look within yourself to see where we as the church have failed in the mission here on planet earth. Hendricks, points out that Christians understand that his message has a political dimension but they reject the notion that Jesus was a political revolutionary. He did not only address issues in people heart but he advocated revolutionary changes in a political order that militated against the happiness and wholeness of the people he came to serve. Jesus actively opposed the oppressive system of his day.
Hendricks shows us that Jesus makes a reference to the year of Jubilee in Leviticus where at the end of a fifty year cycle everything was restored that was taken away unjustly. This is the release of the captives which was unjustly imprisoned. Exodus is a liberation moment that is very political. Where God hears the cries of the oppress He raises up a liberator to bring them out of bondage. The author brings us to a term in the book called Hebrews which means literally he crossed over. The sense of outsider class status comes with this understanding of the term Hebrew. Now the author tells us that the Exodus liberation experience is also the root event of Jesus faith and his message. This is revealed by Jesus evoking the memory of the Exodus often in the Gospel by repeatedly invoking Moses' name.
The author makes a bold statement to those that are called to the prophetic. He tells us "Their unwillingness to speak truth to power or to empower others to do so represents a refusal to prophesy for justice and a betrayal of their sacred calling. Moreover, ministers who are cozy with those in power run the abiding risk of becoming servants of Baal, the god of the privileged few. That is why a conservative prophet, a prophet aligned with the ruling class, in reality is no prophet at all." Wow this is much to consume because now we see that the work of the prophet is to comfort the afflicted and now they have a calling to afflict the comfortable. In this work we come to this point that we have a responsibility to give a voice to the voiceless. This is a powerful strategy for political change. This book tells us that we come to a place of speaking truth to power.
Hendricks lay out a strategy and one of the strategies is to call the demon by name. In Mark chapter 5 we see the exorcism of a man gone wild with self-destruction. The author tells us to call the demons out by and name and the names are some of the forces that are oppressing the downtrodden of our day. A great work and a must read for those that are ready to understand the politics of Jesus.
Social Gospel.......2007-04-27
The author freely reinterprets scripture to suit his agenda, without any convincing logic to support his assumptions. I was unable to endure much of this book in spite of my desire to really understand an apposing view. In my opinion, it's just another attempt to invent a social gospel rather than to accept the gospel of salvation.
He's a scholar?.......2007-03-14
Anytime you read the words "Rediscovering" or "True" in the subtitle, be prepared to have history rewritten! Hendricks is masterful at it. I have often said that anyone can prove anything from the Bible if they put their mind to it. Hendricks is the best. The way he can spin and twist the Bible to fit his own preconceived notions is an amazing thing to see. I think I could write a book five times the size of his just taking it page by page and exposing the lies and half-truths he creates. I will admit, there was one section, pages 56-61, where he talks about the Priests where I couldn't find specific misrepresentations of the truth. But then I realized that he was describing his liberal friends, so it all made sense. (An example of his distortion of the Bible: page 54. Read what the Bible says "Legion" means in ALL of Mark 5:9 - you don't even need a commentary - vs. what Hendricks says. If he can't be honest in the little things, why would you trust him with the big?)
This book is extremely tedious to read. His own self-serving purpose in writing it is obvious and he is repetitive beyond belief. I don't know if anyone has written anything like it in the past, but I hope no one EVER does again in the future. Don't waste your money!
Book Description
"As we look at the world-class cities around our planet, we face five new urban realities: a crack cocaine epidemic, assault weapons, massive numbers of homeless children, HIV/AIDS and (in the U.S.) what
Time magazine has called `the browning of America.' The needs of the urban population are greater than ever. . . . As our cities swell with immigrants, I'm reminded that Jesus was born in a borrowed barn in Asia and became an African refugee in Egypt, so the Christmas story is about an international migrant. Furthermore, a whole village full of baby boys died for Jesus before he had the opportunity to die for them on the cross. Surely this Jesus understands the pain of children who die for the sins of adults in our cities."How does God see the city? What does Scripture have to say about urban ministry? These are the questions Ray Bakke has systematically addressed, beginning with Genesis and continuing through to Revelation. Here is a biblical theology that will constantly surprise and challenge as you get a glimpse of how big God's view of the city really is.
Customer Reviews:
Read it and have your view changed.......2007-05-19
Ray Bakke writes with passion and gives insight into how we should reach our cities. His personal experience of being a Pastor in the city shapes his Theology and gives us an insight on how we should minister and reach the cities for God. Read it and you will be both challenged and hopefully enthusiastic about being a Pastor in the city.
Great resource for the Urban Worker.......2007-02-25
This book is a great tool to add to the reading selection of any Urban worker. It gives time and thought to the issues of reconciling theology to inner city life. It wrestles with the American church health and wealth theology verses the realities of the inner city church. Good for missionaries as well.
A Warm-Hearted, Refreshing Book.......2006-06-30
Following his graduation from Moody Bible Institute, Ray Bakke found himself propelled from "rural Washington to inner-city Chicago". This book traces his journey, and combines his experience of the city -- Chicago in particular -- with his own theological reflection. The end product is an unusual mix -- yet it works. Being an inner-city minister myself, I felt that Bakke deeply understands ministry in the city.
The city, considers Bakke, is no bad place. It is not the case that "all cities are evil". Rather, a city might be described as a "magnificent ruin'". It is a ruin on account of its being "sin-scarred", yet it is magnificent for the reason that, in the city, "there have been ministries of such splendor and significance". This having been said, city ministry is not merely about human activity, as so many theologies would seem to imply. Above all, it is about "our God as One who engages in external-world activity". The city is the story of "God's surprising interventions".
"I acknowledge Scripture to be the final test", writes Bakke. With this in mind, he considers that there are two distinct "spiritualities" in the Bible -- both evangelism and social engagement. Therefore "what God has brought together, let no one put asunder". The righteous, he writes, "are called to be both salt and light . . . the twin vocations of the Christian". He broadly surveys the theology of Scripture, its example, and the example of Church history, to make what would seem to be a strong case for the Christian's twofold calling. He considers that this is, on the whole, "beneficial to the security and salvation of individual persons".
A modern city, writes Bakke, will typically contain many ethnicities. He approaches the subject from the point of view that God makes loving and providential use of ethnicity to proclaim salvation to the world. One need only think of Pentecost, or the prophets and teachers at Antioch (Acts 13:1). He suggests modern examples, and further welcomes the influx to Western cities of many who belong to "the Orthodox family of Churches". He comments: "Isn't it amazingly gracious of our God to bring our ancient Christian leaders to be side by side with us in Western cities . . . ?" We can be greatly enriched through them.
"Over 50% of people on the planet", notes Bakke, will by now live in cities. For this reason, it is crucial to develop an appropriate attitude towards ministry in the city. In this, I feel that he succeeded. This was a warm-hearted and refreshing book. My sentiment on completing it is: "Thank God for Ray Bakke." He has surely done city ministry a great service. My only question is why this book should not yet have reached a Second Edition.
A Theology for Urban Missions and Ministry.......2003-04-24
The church must learn to minister in an increasingly urban world. Recruitment and motivation for this task involves theologically based worldview change. Bakke renders an important contribution in contextualizing biblical theology to the urban context. His is not a literalist biblical hermeneutic; instead Bakke models theological reflection, bringing to the text questions raised by his own unique traditions and social context (Bakke 1997:29). Insofar as this context is an urban one largely abandoned by much of the Evangelical community and insufficiently explored theologically, he renders a great service. The Trinity doctrine forms the proper foundation for urban ministry: "God lives in community and works in partnership for both the creation and the redemption of the world."
Modern cities are marked by economic classism and social stratification which are the same injustices for which ancient Sodom was judged. Yet because "God's hands are in the mud" and actively involved with both redemption and re-creation even the most corrupt of cities is eminently redeemable. Bakke believes a principle from Nehemiah, the relocation of a "tithe" of godly people into the urban context would have a profound preservative and regenerative effect on cities. Even the weak, imprisoned and powerless faithful in remarkably small numbers have often transformed entire cities. The task of urban ministry must be viewed soberly yet hopefully. Bakke provides an important antidote to the predominant causes of attrition among urban workers: burnout and compassion fatigue.
Proclamation remains at the center of urban evangelism but the gospel's social implications must be fulfilled. Bakke gently and insightfully exposes the inconsistency of a well-meaning suburbanite's criticism of a "social gospel" on the basis that primarily social criteria had been the grounds upon which the suburbs were chosen as his neighborhood. The city's urbanizing influence cannot be avoided by living extramurally. Moreover, the physical presence of godly people within a city is essential for confronting its strongholds.
Bakke demonstrates that mission has been brought near to us through urbanization but urges readers to take the final incarnational step of engaging urban contexts theologically and diaconally. In response, missiology must increasingly support cross-cultural ministries in the pluralistic urban context. The church must increasingly adapt its forms in response to 24/7 urban pluralism. Our hermeneutic historically has reflected a rural, agrarian or even anti-urban bias (Bakke 1997:14) but now theology must grapple with an increasingly urban world context. An urban theology should take into account God's concern for places as well as people. Bakke will motivate many suburbanite and rural Christian readers to emulate the Christ of Philippians 2, by practicing "downward social mobility" (Bakke 1997:46) as they establish a righteous witness in an often corrupt urban community. If urban ministry is better caught than taught, reading this book makes one susceptible to a virulent strain!
Cities througout Scripture.......2003-04-24
As part of an Urban Missions course at a university, I read Bakke's A Theology as Big as the City. In this book, Bakke offers his interpretations of biblical pictures of the city in combination with personal experiences, church life, and history/tradition. Claiming that the primary challenge for urban ministry is theological, Bakke hopes to lay a solid biblical foundation for urban ministry. Throughout the book, he supports his claim that God cares about the cities, and He has called Christian men and women to give their lives to the service of ministry in these places. While his approach is a bit scattered, Bakke does look at many biblical pictures of the city and God's relationship to it. He finds a considerable amount of references in the Old Testament concerning the city. He is even able to show that one can go to the Old Testament for examples of confronting street gangs, distributing public welfare, directing religious education, and the power of multiple gifts in holistic urban ministry. He finds that cities are a major theme in the prophets, that Jesus spent much of his time in the city, and that Paul's ministry spread through cities. While all of the proofs are clearly recorded in scripture, the reader senses that Bakke is working through a list of every time "city" appears in scripture to show a running theme of God's interaction with it. He tends to stretch scriptural references to show how every mention of the city is ultimately calling for urban ministry. Yet, he does convincingly demonstrate that urban settings are important in scripture and should be important to Christians today. His experience offers great credibility, wisdom, and insight, and he offers new lenses through which a Christian can view the city. Ultimately, I simply found the title to be misleading. I was expecting a study on God, and how he interacts with humanity, especially the condensed humanity of the city. Rather, I found a study on the city and how it is important in the Bible. If this were a theology book, it should have begun with God as a missionary God, but the book begins and ends with the city. A more appropriate title might have been God and Cities through Scripture. Under this title, I could say that this is a worthwhile read.
Book Description
Robert Bank's widely read Paul's Idea of Community: The Early House Churches in their Cultural Setting is once again available to laypeole, pastors and scholars alike. In this extensively revised edition Banks has rewritten chapters for clarity, taken into account recent scholarship on Paul's writings, updated and expanded the bibliography, and added an index. This new edition retains, however, all the freshness and vitality of the original.
"The book draws fully upon the wealth of recent scholarly analysis of the New Testament churches, but in such a skilled way that the picture is not buried in learning, but brought to life for present-day readers. . . . People will be startled to find how much of modern church life has departed form the New Testament spirit. And yet the modern communities still possess in the New Testament, as illuminated through a book like this, the sources from which church life can be reawakened to the community consequences of accepting the Pauline gospel."
—Edwin A. Judge, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
"It is good news that Robert Banks's Paul's Idea of Community is once more available, now in a thoroughly revised, expanded edition. Convinced that Paul's distinctive contribution to Christianity is his idea of community, Banks demonstrates how this notion informs Paul's instruction to his churches. . . . [I]t is striking how naturally discussions of such topics as Paul's teaching on freedom and on eschatology fall within the purview of this stimulating book."
—Abraham J. Malherbe, Yale University
Customer Reviews:
Paul's House Church Model.......2007-01-31
Banks' book does away with all arguments for the existence of the institutional church. Although this is not his stated aim... his work nevertheless communicates this truth.
I enjoyed Banks' investigation of other communal groups and his comparison of Judaism and the cults to what Paul was doing with the ekklesia. Banks' book reveals that Paul's idea of community was unique to anything in his day. Paul was intentional in his planting of house churches.
For those who desire to learn about the primitive church in the book of Acts. This book is for you. Banks covers many aspects of early church practice. He discusses the freedom of the Holy Spirit, the church as oikos (family), the gifts and ministry, the headship of Christ vs. the hierarchal leadership of man, and the role of the woman and slave within the community of believers. He discusses Paul's distinct use of words to describe the kind of community Christ desires for his Body.
I highly recommend this book.
I also suggest reading:
* Going to the Root: Nine Proposals for Radical Church Renewal
The Centrality of Jesus Christ (Works of T. Austin-Sparks)
Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community
Pagan Christianity: The Origins of Our Modern Church Practices
Very good book.......2006-08-22
This review applies to the revised edition of Banks' book.
Banks is convinced that Paul, though not the first to formulate the concept of "community," was a major contributor to the idea as it applied to the church. Paul's global concept of church/community of believers includes (but is not limited to)the following ideas, each of which are discussed by Banks: (a) church as a household gathering; (b) church as a group characterized by a 'radical new freedom' (independence, dependence, and interdependence--all Banks' words); (c) church as a loving family; (d) church as a functional body; (e) church as a diverse group (in terms of role and function), yet characterized by unity.
The book is very lucidly written and amazingly accessible for an 'academic' work. The way Banks writes makes obvious that he understands the minds and lives of lay people (he's a professor of Ministry and Laity). This book could even be used as a study in a small group setting, but there is no study guide, so discussion leaders would need to provide their own questions.
I recommend this book.
Good, Not Great.......2004-05-18
Banks provides useful historical context in constructing Paul's understanding of community and early Christian interaction. The sum of his writing is a fairly concise vision of the early church presented with considerable breadth and above average clarity. If nothing else, Banks provides a readable summary of the issues at hand in the field. Sometimes, his conclusions tend to be unambitious: they do not seem to contribute much to the current field and many of the arguments and discussions he engages in are self-evident.
He does, however, prove to have some shortcomings. Primarily, I was offput by the complete lack of notes and extratextual explanations. Paul is complex and hundreds of years of commentary on the subject deserve more than (sometimes paltry) primary text citations and a by-chapter bibliography. The careful reader needs more to unlock the specifics of the theories presented and the definitions of problematic terms.
Other smaller issues also were apparent while reading. Acts was used to fill in the holes left by the spotty nature of the letters. That attitude, without explicity questioning the historicity of such a jump, is dangerous and presumptuous. More explanation of such evidence or the simple exclusion of it would have been helpful and more concise.
The last primary issue I had was that Banks, I think, does not extend his ideas far enough and reach into the motivating factors of Paul's actions. Why these types of communities? What motivated him? Why was it this way? These questions are not answered or distinctly addressed. Without that, we are left with a nonapocalyptic, watered-down version of the historical Paul that, while interesting, is not as rich or deep as it could be.
Excellent Book on House Churches.......2001-12-01
I am a youth pastor in a local church. I have often struggled with the current model we have of the American church. The traditions we hold so dear are so often not based on clear New Testament teachings. I have longed for a church where "one another" passages are lived out, where accountability is strong, where the pastor is not a CEO but a servant, where leaders are biblically chosen and where the Church is not divided on various theological camps. The only place to usually find this, sadly to say, is in cults (where the gospel is not preached in its power or truth).
Banks will offer you hope if you are like me and you are burned out on "church as usual." He will challange you to examine Scripture with fresh insights into house churches in their historical context. He will challange your notion of "Church" in our westernized thinking and will lead you to a biblical and fresh restoration of the true Church of Jesus Christ. We must move away from the Institutionalized church and return to the New Testament pattern that Banks gives in detail in this book.
Crossing the interpritive bridge to the meaning of "Church".......2000-11-28
Robert Banks interpritation of the Apostal Pauls view of the Church is enlightening to the modern reader of the New Testament. Banks presents a contextual historical account of St. Paul's understanding of the Church of his day, which in return spurs the thoughts of the reader to contemplate the state of the Church in this day and age. This is an excelent book for those interested in understanding the historical beginings of the Church as well as what Paul understood the church to be. I recommend this book to all who are contemplating what the Church is called to be in this day and age, by looking at what it originaly was.
Book Description
This book enters a lively discussion about religious faith and higher education in America that has been going on for a decade or more. During this time many scholars have joined the debate about how best to understand the role of faith in the academy at large and in the special arena of church-related Christian higher education. The notion of faith-informed scholarship has, of course, figured prominently in this conversation. But, argue Douglas and Rhonda Jacobsen, the idea of Christian scholarship itself has been remarkably under-discussed. Most of the literature has assumed a definition of Christian scholarship that is Reformed and evangelical in orientation: a model associated with the phrase "the integration of faith and learning." The authors offer a new definition and analysis of Christian scholarship that respects the insights of different Christian traditions (e.g., Catholic, Lutheran, Anabaptist, Wesleyan, Pentecostal) and that applies to the arts and to professional studies as much as it does to the humanities and the natural and social sciences. The book itself is organized as a conversation. Five chapters by the Jacobsens alternate with four contributed essays that sharpen, illustrate, or complicate the material in the preceding chapters. The goal is both to map the complex terrain of Christian scholarship as it actually exists and to help foster better connections between Christian scholars of differing persuasions and between Christians and the academy as a whole.
Customer Reviews:
Making Scholarship Relevant.......2006-07-13
This book is a collaborative effort of some faculty and administration from Messiah College. The wife and husband team, the Jacobsens, complied this book, which includes some of their work and the contributions of several others. The structure of the book centers around five chapters written by the Jacobsens. The first four of these chapters have accompanying essays written by others of the group to help illustrate each chapter's theme. Likewise, the prologue and epilogue are from other contributors.
The book's overall goal is to widen the perception of Christian scholarship. The Jacobsens are reacting to the evangelical definition of Christian scholarship, which sees its goal to be the "integration of faith and learning." Our authors seek to educate their readers to the reality that Christian scholarship is anything but monolithic or well defined. Instead, one will find a diverse concept that includes many different traditions and goals.
On the whole, Christian scholarship (as is all scholarship) is limited in scope and effectiveness. It is impossible to know everything about anything and thus scholarship should be a communal effort, both in terms of dialoguing with others in the Christian community as well as those outside this tradition. For the authors of this book, Christian scholarship is a calling, a vocation. Several different definitions are offered but a common understanding of Christian scholarship is it serves the world as one offers to God their gifts of analyzing, applying and empathizing in the pursuit of truth.
Those who are part of a church-related college or university will find this book timely. It does a good job of portraying the many components of Christian scholarship and how one should not seek to limit its scope and appeal with too narrow of an understanding. The need to be informed by others, as well as the goal to reach out and communicate to a vast audience is a suitable corrective to any concept that can seal itself off from our pluralistic society. However, the book does not really deal with the flipside: how does one become a respected voice in our society today and still remain faithful to the gospel message? The point of the book is that Christian schools should not be dogmatic, but if readers are looking for a clear call to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, then this book will somewhat disappoint them. There is never the implication to refrain from sharing one's belief but there is never an explicit call to make Christian scholarship primarily a vehicle for spreading the good news.
This book will present a different view than evangelicals are used to; such an argument will profit those who do read it.
Great book to read through at a weekly faculty-lunch.......2004-12-24
The authors are challenging the narrow definition of "integration of faith and learning" as being too reformed-ish. They intend to "enlarge the conversation" and broaden the definition. They want to include things like integration of "faith and hope" or "faith and love" not just integrating sterile faith and the sterile disciplines. They want to add the hands and heart to the head stuff the integrationists talk about. Written by a wife-and-husband team (Psychology and Church historian) they are provoking a stir in the reformed dominated educational cartel. It is probably good these writers are from an Anabaptist heritage where they are accustomed to being persecuted-I bet the wonderfully brilliant Calvinists who are given to "the life of the mind" will burn Rhonda and Jake Jacobsen at the academic stake! Hint to speed-readers: 80% of the book's contribution is in the first Chapter and 10% is in the epilogue. Great book to read through with other faculty at a book-lunch, that's how I did it. Raises great issues. Now it is time for the non-reformed people to do the heavy lifting of outlining is detail their (our) alternative approach... this book is (like Arminianism) not a true alternative approach--but a complaint against the accepted (reformed) approach. --Keith Drury, Associate Professor of Religion, Indiana Wesleyan University.
Positive & insightful.......2004-05-08
A lot of books have been written about Christianity and higher education in the past decade and this is the most positive book by far. The authors manage to be optimistic, insightful, critical, and creative all at the same time without ever moaning about how much the academy is prejudiced against religion. That is totally refreshing, and Martin Marty underscores that point in his foreword. However, this book delivers much more than that. The authors/editors have a chapter on different kinds of scholarship in general (they call these analytic, strategic, and empathic) which have nothing directly to do with faith, but which will be helpful to anyone involved in college or university life. People who might not be interested in reading other books dealing with religion and scholarship should read this one.
Book Description
Both captivating in its revealing acknowledgement of spiritual warfare and readily accessible as a resource for churches, this book provides the biblical theology of the city and offers direction and support for urban missions.
Customer Reviews:
City of God and Man: Where an urban theology is needed.......2007-05-04
"We enter the city equipped with an urban sociology and urban tools for ministry, but we carry with us the baggage of a theology designed in rural Europe." This is a fantastic analysis of urban culture and the theology necessary to adequately meet the spiritual climate of megacities. Many Christian workers come from rural or small town backgrounds, and find themselvers ill-equipped to deal with the cultural differences in the cities.
Not only theory, but also very practical in its approach, this book lays out a strategy for praying through the ways that God is working in a city, and how the follower of Jesus can join in. An example: "Spend time in silence and in an open, prayerful spirit before that map [of your city]. Ask God to reveal to you seven sites in the city that are particularly precious to Him. Wait for God to show you those places. Those seven sites might come in one sitting; it may take several days. But wait on God with openness and receptivity. When the seven places have been given to you, you are ready for the most exciting part of this spiritual exercise. Visit every one of those sites."
And, ""Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper" (Jer. 29:7). The English words "peace," "prosperity," and "prosper" are all translations of the same Hebrew word, shalom. Shalom is a comprehensive word not easily translated into English, because our word peace is inadequate. The idea encompasses the manifold relationships of daily life, symbolizing Israel's ideal quality of life under the Law. Shalom is a state of wholeness and completeness, possessed by a person or a group that includes good health, prosperity, security, justice, and deep spiritual contentment."
This book is highly recommended for followers of Jesus who live in, work in, or have influence in the cities.
A Biblical view of the city.......2006-06-29
Robert Linthicum has a heart for urban ministry and it shines through in each chapter in this book which is organized in three parts. The first part focuses on the city. The second part focuses on the church's role in the city, and the last part focuses on the role of the individual Christian in the city. Linthicum believes that the Bible is an urban book and in many of the chapters the author exposits a particular book of the Bible such as Jeremiah, Jonah, Nehemiah or Ephesians. Linthicum will then explain the urban context of the Scripture finding applications to that culture as well as contemporary culture.
The city of God and the city of Satan are symbolized in the Scriptures as the cities of Jerusalem and the city of Babylon. Jerusalem was supposed to be the city of God, yet due to the disobedience of the people it became the city of Satan at times.
Linthicum advocates a holistic approach to urban ministry. He talks about the systems in the city that become so easily corrupted by the enemy. This creates a systemic evil in a city that needs to be approached spiritually, economically and politically. The author spends considerable time teaching from the Old Testament regarding the responsibility of the people of God in the city. The exiles who were taken into captivity were told by Jeremiah to "seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper (Jeremiah 29:7)." The word "exile" in the original language can also mean "sent." Many involved in urban ministry feel exiled when in reality they have been sent by God to bear his witness in a particular community.
Robert Linthicum challenges the church regarding urban ministry showing the compassion of God for the city and at times showing the inability of the church to deal with urban problems. One of the most powerful image or thoughts in the book comes in the very last paragraph of chapter five. "For our Lord was not crucified in a gothic cathedral on a golden cross placed upon a marble altar between two silver candlesticks. He was crucified on a rugged cross between two thieves, on the city's garbage heap, at the kind of place where cynics talk smut and thieves curse and soldiers gamble. That is where Christ died." The reader is challenged to take Christ to those who need Christ.
The Textbook of Urban Ministry.......2001-11-27
This book should be a must read for every person interested in urban ministry. The title of the book comes from the author's premise that every city includes elements of "Babylon"--"a city totally given over to evil and to the Evil One" and "Jerusalem"--"an idealized city...belonging to God,--a city of peace." What impressed me most about the book is that Bob has spent an hour a day for the past 20+ years studying the city in the Bible. Of the 20-25 books I have read on urban ministry, this work is certainly the most thorough. (Imagine the level of the granularity that one would come to after studying the same topic for over 20 years!) It is the dynamic equivilent of Strong's Concordance. In this 300 page work, Robert addresses the role of prayer, presence and proclamation of the church in the city. He also gives visible signposts that the city is being transformed by the church. It is the epic work of urban ministry.
Book Description
Through Scripture,Tradition, world events, and living examples of heroism and holiness ranging from the simple to the extraordinary, Living Justice develops your understanding of Catholic social teaching and inspires you for service.
Customer Reviews:
Written by an excellent teacher with real heart and goodness.......2005-04-29
I love this little book. I would not only fully echo what others have said below about this being an unusually readable, accessible introduction to Catholic Social Teaching, I would add that it's just lovely. The author, I feel, radiates, a palpable human goodness that was very moving for me.
I think its treatment of the evolving history of Catholic Social Thinking, the way it pinpoints the core themes and documents, and its insights into the future are particularly excellent. But the whole book is really wonderful. Massaro is simply a very good teacher who can orient people to the basics in a particularly constructive way.
Deserves to be widely read and is so approachable that I wish it could find its way into the hands of non-Catholics. Even many non-religious people, I suspect, would find it very helpful in clarifying their ethical and social thinking - and might well be surprised by the rigorous, painstaking thought the Catholic Church has done over the last century or so regarding many social evils and how to address them in human way.
I am also impressed by the way Massaro's writing lacks the angry polemic that characterises some writing on these themes - either towards the Church's purported failures or that of the world's. Polemic helps no one - the kind of abundant charity, conscience and clarity here is far more effective. So - bravo, Father Massoro! Yes, as our world threatens to tilt into an increasingly brutal capitalism, yours is voice of very needed, very human compassion and clarity.
Great Text for Learning About Catholic Social Teaching.......2001-04-24
In a very clear and easy to read style, Thomas Massaro gives a summary and explanation of the major principles of Catholic social teaching. This would make an excellent text in an introduction to Catholic social ethics course, or in a parish study group. One of the strengths of the book is his use of examples to illustrate how the various principles can help people think through what is the just response, both personally and in terms of the larger society, to a variety of social issues.
Excellent overview of the Church's role in a secular society.......2000-04-28
In the preface, Thomas Massaro says that this book is intended to fill a gap. As a seminary professor, he could find no single book that provides an adequate overview of the Roman Catholic Church's teachings on how its members should interact with the larger secular society around them. This is what he means by the Church's "social teaching."
Sheed & Ward's "Come & See" series is aimed at general readers who want succinct, plain-English synopses of Catholic doctrine. They tapped Massaro not only as a subject matter expert, but as a top-notch homilist and writer who can reach a general audience with clarity, humor and insight. We now have the handy summary that he was looking for all these years.
The book explores the underpinnings of Catholic social thought (the influence of scripture, tradition, reason and experience), its evolution over the centuries (he places particular emphasis on papal encyclicals and other key documents since the late 19th century) and the major issues being grappled with today. He does a particularly fine job in discussing one age-old question: whether believers should withdraw from the larger society to escape its corrupting influences (as some groups such as the Amish do), or whether they should be engaged with it, attempting to reform it (but with the added issue of how they should compromise with people who have differing sets of beliefs). Throughout, he does a masterful job of pointing out ambiguities and contrasting viewpoints.
For the sake of full disclosure (the only ethical course), I must inform you that the author had asked me to review his first draft with an eye towards how easy they were for the general reader to follow. So, I may be a bit prejudiced in my opinion. Nonetheless, trust me when I say that the pages issued forth from his keyboard pretty much as a finished product. He writes that well.
Excellent overview of the Church's role in a secular society.......2000-04-28
In the preface, Thomas Massaro says that this book is intended to fill a gap. As a seminary professor, he could find no single book that provides an adequate overview of the Roman Catholic Church's teachings on how its members should interact with the larger secular society around them. This is what he means by the Church's "social teaching."
Sheed & Ward's "Come & See" series is aimed at general readers who want succinct, plain-English synopses of Catholic doctrine. They tapped Massaro not only as a subject matter expert, but as a top-notch homilist and writer who can reach a general audience with clarity, humor and insight. We now have the handy summary that he was looking for all these years.
The book explores the underpinnings of Catholic social thought (the influence of scripture, tradition, reason and experience), its evolution over the centuries (he places particular emphasis on papal encyclicals and other key documents since the late 19th century) and the major issues being grappled with today. He does a particularly fine job in discussing one age-old question: whether believers should withdraw from the larger society to escape its corrupting influences (as some groups such as the Amish do), or whether they should be engaged with it, attempting to reform it (but with the added issue of how they should compromise with people who have differing sets of beliefs). Throughout, he does a masterful job of pointing out ambiguities and contrasting viewpoints.
For the sake of full disclosure (the only ethical course), I must inform you that the author had asked me to review his first draft. So, I may be a bit prejudiced in my opinion. Nonetheless, trust me when I say that the pages issued forth from his keyboard pretty much as a finished product. He writes that well.
Book Description
A Timely Resource for Understanding, Teaching, and Implementing Catholic Social Teaching As parishes and schools intensify efforts to promote Catholic social teaching, here is a welcome distillations of scoial principles presented in both papal encylicals and pastoral letters developed by American bishops. Following the structure of the U.S. bishops document Sharing Catholic Social Teaching, the book speaks to seven significant themes:
Life and the Dignity of the Human Person
Call to Family, Community, and Participation
Rights and Responsibilities
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
Solidarity
Care for God's Creation Each chapter includes reflection questions ideal for individual or group usage, and an appendix offers biographical information about popes who have issued social encyclicals, suggested homily themes and a Reconciliation Service for Justice and Peace. Sure to become an invaluable resource for all pastoral ministers, A CONCISE GUIDE TO CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING is also suitable for parish adult study groups, and high school and college classes on Catholic social teaching.
REVIEWS Father Kevin McKenna's Concise Guide to Catholic Social Teaching is a real gem which offers both the Church professional and the person in the pew an insightful and understandable presentation of this rich treasure of the Church's heritage and practical suggestions for its implementation.
-- Howard J. Hubbard
Bishop of Albany A Concise Guide to Catholic Social Teaching is an invaluable resource for parish and community groups. It provides solid grounding in the Church's social teachings as the basis for initiatives undertaken in promoting the gospel of justice. It is "user-friendly" and practical.
-- Anne Curtis, RSM
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby Fr. McKenna provides a useful introduction to the social writings of the popes and U.S. bishops by grouping these writings around Catholic social teaching's seven major themes. The pastoral tools included are readily adapted for various settings.
-- Msgr. Kevin Sullivan, Ph.D.
Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of New York Father McKenna has provided a thematic compendium of some of the marvelous insights present in Catholic social teaching. His summary of various Church documents will be helpful to supplement any discussion of the historical and political implications of "perplexing social issues" and to develop an appreciation for the Church's willingness to struggle with these issues over time.
-- Helen Marie Burns, RSM
Vice President, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
Customer Reviews:
Almost as "Concise as Love Your Neighbor".......2003-12-15
This Book, Father McKenna's third, shows how wonderful a teacher he is. For this tome he has taken on the huge job of explaining Catholic Social Teaching. He does it well. The title says "Concise" but the more apt word may be "Uncomplicated". He takes the teaching, adds scripture references and papal encyclicals, all made easy in his fine way of exploring the topics such as economic justice, labor rights and responsibilities, and peace on earth. His references are truly excellent, but the treasure trove of this book are the "Reflection Questions" which follow every chapter. They draw you in to the issues and make you make intellectual choices necessary to understand and hopefully live your life according to your choices. As usual in Father McKenna's books, there are indexes, and a comprehensive glossary, and, biographies of the Popes who figured most prominently in the development of Catholic Social Teaching as we have it today. This book is a good solid, read, on a subject that should not be more complicated than love your neighbor. Add this book to your library, and you will value it for a very long time to come.
Customer Reviews:
Phenomenal Book.......2007-09-26
I am blessed with a wonderful husband of 12 yrs., six children and a Master's of Theology degree from University of Dallas. Even so, I remain amazed and personally challenged by the spiritual and intellectual clarity found in West's book. Seriously, it is a must-read for anyone old enough to approach the topic of sex.
To the point.......2007-09-26
Well written and to the point. Author does not shy away from answering pointed questions with the truth no matter how difficult it might be to hear.
Great reading even for Protestants.......2007-09-09
Let me begin by saying I am Protestant, reformed baptist to be exact. Beginning the book was mainly out of curiosity for what was the Catholic understanding (which I did not think I would be sympathetic to). I was however, very wrong. While there is a fair amount Catholic beliefs that have to be waded through, this book has revolutionized my understanding. It gives the best biblical description and basis for sex and the best practical applications for having redeemed sex that I've read (which as a single young man who is more than a bit obsessive concerning sex, is a fair amount). This book has become the wedding gift I will give to married couples, and the book that any girl I seriously considered marrying would have to read, understand and accept before I would become one flesh with.
Sex, how God intended it to be........2007-08-10
Mr. West does an awesome job of explaining Pope John Paul The Great's Theology of the Body in this Q & A format. Everyone, whether Catholic or Protestant, Muslim or Jew, would benefit from reading it and discovering just what God's plan is for us in the beautiful realm of sexuality. It should be obvious to us...doesn't God always know best? He INVENTED sex after all didn't He?
Great for anyone!.......2007-05-13
This book is a great guide for anyone looking to find happiness in their relationship. For Catholics it's a well laid out interpretation of Catholic teachings that will help guide you on the right path and it's especially helpful on answering questions for significant others who may have difficulty understanding why these teachings are so important to their Catholic spouses. This book will challenge your relationship, but through those challenges lies the key to having a long and happy relationship.
Average customer rating:
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Catholic Social Teaching; Learning and Living Justice
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ASIN: 0877936986 |
Customer Reviews:
Read this........2006-11-02
This a great book to learn about the Social Justice of the Catholic faith. It is well written.
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