Left, Right & Christ [Hardcover]

Lisa Sharon Harper (Author), D.C. Innes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 6, 2011

Does God stay out of politics?

Should we?

Can a Democrat be a Christian?

Should the government take care of the sick?

Do legalized abortions increase the number of abortions?

Is the definition of marriage universal for all?

Does a free country mean that everyone is free to live here?

Does defending our nation mean we should kill our enemies?

Is the earth so fragile that the government should step in to protect it?

Are we willing to have an open mind or will we keep the party line?

As a nation, we are ensnarled in divisive political debates. We cannot afford to ignore the issues as they shape our nation and our lives. But the status quo is not helping either.

In Left, Right and Christ, Harper and Innes provide thought-provoking clarity and give us all the opportunity to understand the world of politics from a distinctly Christian perspective. The stimulating dialogue will empower you to review the issues of the day and make your own decision.

Discerning properly between what the parties have in common and where they differ, we will be able to open our minds to both political sides while learning what the Bible has to say for our contemporary world.

Jesus called us to live beyond ourselves and to love our neighbors and our enemies.

This conversation can help us to break the political divide and come to conclusions that are both for the good of our nation and for the good of all.

Editorial Reviews

Review

If this isn't a conversation starter for Christians, then nothing else will be.

--Marvin Olasky
Editor in Chief, World

Lisa Sharon Harper and D.C. Innes engage in a far ranging dialogue about many issues of public policy¦ You will find the discussion quite stimulating --- which is clearly the purpose of the book. --
Jim Wallis
President and CEO of Sojourners
New York Times bestselling author
God's Politics --Russell Media

We live in an age of partisanship and incivility where simple issues have become battlefields for fierce division. In such a moment, American Christians on the left and right must relearn the art of graceful and winsome dialogue.

In Left, Right and Christ, Lisa Sharon Harper and D.C. Innes attempt to build bridges of understanding across the divides on our sharpest disagreements. Read this book, and decide for yourself!

Jonathan Merritt
Author of A Faith of Our Own: Following Jesus Beyond the Culture Wars --Russell Media

About the Author

Lisa Sharon Harper is Director of Mobilizing at Sojourners. Ms. Harper was the founding executive director of New York Faith & Justice, an organization at the hub of a new ecumenical movement to end poverty in New York City. Her writing has been featured in The National Civic Review, God s Politics blog, The Huffington Post, Urban Faith, Prism, and Slant33 where she has written extensively on tax reform, comprehensive immigration reform, health care reform, poverty, racial justice, and transformational civic engagement.

D.C. Innes is Associate Professor of Politics, The King s College, New York City. He has published articles, chapters and columns in Interpretation, Worldmag.com, The Washington Times, Piety and Humanity, and Civil Religion in Political Thought. He is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and on the Board of Directors for Evangelical Political Scholars Association.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Russell Media (October 6, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0982930089
• ISBN-13: 978-0982930083
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #794,987 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Table of Contents and review November 17, 2011

By calvinlives44

Format:Hardcover

What makes Innes and Harper's project successful is that, rather than forcing a reader to sift through potentially dozens of books on both sides of the political aisle and from a myriad of theological views, they focus right down to practical issues in today's policy debates and hit them on the head. Most spoken or written debates like this are "two ships passing at night" where the interloculors pass each other with their arguments and never really conflict. Not so with Innes and Harper; their arguments smack into each other head-on--often with fireworks!--and fulfill object of letting reader see what the Bible and reason have to say on political topics of the day. Will the book change minds? Probably not. But it gives a look into how two influential groups within Christendom think and interact. This book should stimulate discussion and critical thinking amoung evangelicals, non-evangelicals, and non-Christians alike. Anyone interested in Christian policy debates in America must read this book.

Table of Contents

Foreword: Marvin Olasky and Jim Wallis

Part 1: Introductions
Our Separate Journeys
Our Common Ground

Part 2: Foundations
Liberty and Justice: On the Role of Government
Capitalism and Poverty: On the Role of Business

Part 3: Conversations
My Brother's Keeper: On Health Care
In The Beginning: On Abortion
The Two Shall Be One: On Same-Sex Marriage
The Stranger Within Your Gates: On Immigration
The Way Of Peace: On War and Terrorism
Dominions Over the Earth: On the Environment

Endnotes
Further Reading
Acknowledgments
About the Authors

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprised by how much I liked this book! December 4, 2011

By Kathy Mucher

Format:Hardcover

Thought-provoking, informative and positive. I just read Left, Right and Christ by Lisa Harper and D.C. Innes. I was surprised by how really good it is! The preface of this book states "The beauty of Left, Right and Christ is that unlike televised debates where both sides can interrupt and break up thought processes, in a book, the authors have an allotted space to really make their case...We need a safe conversation space for these topics and this book is that space." I agree. I enjoyed reading the book and I now have a much better understanding of political positions and their Biblical basis. I liked both authors and appreciated what they had to say. Glad I bought it and I'm eager to read it again.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking October 19, 2011

By Jeff Russell

Format:Hardcover

Loved the format of this book and the provoking back and forth. It made me realize I agreed with aspects of both authors arguments. They both clearly have a respect for the Bible and truly are following Christ. Just a great idea to have the discussion side by side. Loved it!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Glad to see Left & Right working together December 28, 2011

By E-Squire

Format:Hardcover

I am a Christian who is also a Conservative. I often feel like my brothers and sisters on the Left see me as a bad person for holding views that differ from theirs. Harper & Innes give us a wonderful example of how people can disagree, agreeably.

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging look at how we differ, and how we are alike November 3, 2011

By Mad4roses

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm a progressive Matthew 25 Christian. I voted for President Obama, empathize with OWS, strongly support universal health care, and workers rights. I see these views in keeping with Christ. When I make political and ethical decisions, I first ask myself, "What would Christ do?" I've always wondered how Christians on the right are able to justify their views, while also professing a belief in Christ. This book provides a window to right wing thinking, and I believe the reverse is true. Thank you to Lisa and David, for providing this window, and for the opportunity to read views that may contradict our own perceptions and observations. There is, however, one issue I'm seeking clarification about. If, as David Innes writes, God sees the role of government as an instrument to reward good and punish evil, who gets to decide what is good and evil? Aren't disease and sickness evil? Or are they neither good, nor evil? Certainly someone in the throes of cancer, or the last stages of AIDS, will confirm that what they are experiencing is evil. Physical pain, and a horrible death is evil. Lack of access to early, and respectful, medical treatment, is certainly evil. Lacking insurance, and resources, shouldn't mean that a human being loses health, life, limb, mobility. I don't believe Christ supports that. I know that those on the right consider life to begin at conception, and that abortion is evil, however what about that life after conception?. Isn't it evil to deny life, health, and medical care to a born life, as well as an unborn? These are some of the issues this book ponders and explores. I recommend it highly, to anyone seeking deeper answers to these questions, and willing to engage in civil discourse to gain greater understanding.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Helpful February 25, 2012

By Weber

Format:Hardcover

As a Libertarian Christian, I am often baffled by both the Liberals and Conservatives on various issues. This book was particularly helpful in understanding how each side is able to conceive of their political views as consistent with Christianity, and especially in seeing how each side justifies bringing their Christian morals into legislation. While I don't want a government to force Christian morals on anyone, it's easier for me to understand now how each side picked certain areas of Christianity to try to put into law.