Customer Reviews

The Fear of Beggars: Stewardship and Poverty in Christian Ethics (Ekklesia Project)

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I know of very few books that attempt to frame not only the charitable obligation of the Christian to the beggar, but the very status of all Christians as beggars before God. Johnson performs an excellent service to both the church and the academy by taking seriously Jesus' approach (especially in light of the prophets) to the poor, beggars, and to money in general. She argues that begging itself has a long sacramental history within Christianity that also provides the non-beggar the opportunity to participate in God's forthcoming heavenly banquet. By refusing to be fearful of beggars, our eyes are opened to the kind of kingdom Jesus inaugurated. This book will challenge most, if not all, of "Christian" America's presumptions about money and those who are completely without it. It is a must-read.

This is a great book, but be forewarned that its intended audience includes the academy. Much of this book delves into pertinent elements of church history, the development of capitalism in the west, and even some economic theory. If you are able to handle a dose of these other disciplines, you should enjoy the book; if you cannot, then this book may not be for you. The last chapter is definitely the best in the book, but the preceding chapters are relevant and necessary to fully appreciate the final chapter.

The author claims at the beginning that she does not seek to answer all the questions raised by begging. However, this book will challenge you -- if you're a Christian -- to ponder how God is calling you to live a faithful life that is entirely reliant upon him.