Discipleship As Political Responsibility [Paperback]

John Howard Yoder (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2003

Both of the essays in this book originated in 1957. The first concerns the state in the New Testament. The second deals with following Christ as a form of political responsibility. Paperback,72 pages.

Editorial Reviews

Review

John Howard Yoder (1927-1997), the most influential Anabaptist voice in theolog and ethics prior to his death, continues to have impact.

In his preface to Discipleship as Political Responsibility, Stanley Hauerwas describes Yoder as forcing us to think differently by retraining the way we speak and write. If Hauerwas is right about this, (and I think he is), this book will force us to think differently about what it means for Christians to take up political responsibility. The two essays included here, The state in the New Testament, and Following Christ as a Form of Political Responsibility, show Yoder working out the material that later became part of his Christian Witness to the State and The Politics of Jesus. --Mennonite Brethren Herald

About the Author

John Howard Yoder (1927-1997) taught ethics and theology as a professor at Notre Dame University and Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. He received his doctorate from the University of Basel, Switzerland, and was a member of the Mennonite Church in Elkhart, Indiana.

Product Details

• Paperback: 72 pages
• Publisher: Herald Pr (June 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0836192559
• ISBN-13: 978-0836192551
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #554,321 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Insightful Call to Faithful Politics, July 13, 2004

By 

wdr "wdr" (Miami, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Discipleship As Political Responsibility (Paperback)

These incisive essays provide a much-needed antidote to the dominant reformed view of the state which has blinded the church to much of the evil done in the name of states. If one begins with the notion that the state is inherently good, much of their evil is justified in the eyes of the citizenry, and Jesus teaching on enemies, violence and the cross must be deemed irrelevant. Such a view, compared with the more biblical interpretation offered by Yoder, falls miserably short of what Christ calls us to do and be. Christians indeed must be political, but in a way which is faithful to Christ. John Howard Yoder shows us such a way.

For those familiar with Yoder's other works, this book might be described as "The Christian Witness to the State - Lite", though that should not be taken to mean that these essays are in any way "lite" in substance. Highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Incredibly Provocative Essay, February 19, 2010

By 

Benjamin A. Simpson (De Soto, KS) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Discipleship As Political Responsibility (Paperback)

If you are familiar with Yoder, you will know that a common theme within his writings is the relationship of the church to the world. Yoder's reading of the New Testament and his understanding of Jesus and his cross are deeply challenging and subversive for those particularly in the West, and this book is no exception. These two essays are filled with valuable insight.

Within these essays, Yoder argues that the mandate of the church (the body politic through which evil is overcome in Christ's cross) is superior to the mandate of the state, which is to keep evil in check. Therefore, the mandate of the state finds its meaning within the mandate of the church. Yoder states, "State-sponsored religions everywhere have viewed religion as a support --an educating, morality-teaching, consecrating power. The Christian faith inverted this relationship and viewed the world-embracing empire as merely a support system, subservient to the real work God is accomplishing in the world"(23).

Those familiar with Yoder will know that his writing is quite remarkable, expressing complex ideas in an accessible and logically clear way. His arguments thoroughly engage with the biblical text, center on the cross, and make substantial claims concerning the Christian commitment to nonviolence that are anything but romantic. In addition, it is most refreshing to read, and perhaps most startling to grasp, Yoder's outright claim that the Christian is a political person. Discipleship to Jesus requires participation in a community that presents a radical alternative to the world, most notably in its commitment to the way of Jesus's cross. Such a way is costly. The consideration of such a claim is why this essay is important, for not only does it challenge many preconceived notions those in Christendom hold concerning the power of the state, but it also contains many challenges to many prevailing conceptions of what it means to be the people called church. Clearly, this is a book I recommend.