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The Original Revolution: Essays on Christian Pacifism (Christian Peace Shelf Series)

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John Howard Yoder's collection of essays in "The Original Revolution" approaches the topic of religious pacifism on many fronts. It is a disjointed grouping, a fact which Yoder readily admits in his introduction, but it thereby allows for a fuller treatment of his convictions.

OVERVIEW: The book is divided into two sections. The first deals with Biblical perspectives of war and peace. From the political options which the inauguration of Jesus' kingdom might have taken to Yoder's discussion of the continuity of the Bible's teachings on war from the Old Testament to the New, this section remains firmly rooted in the Biblical witness and delves deeply into the world of the text.
The second section then deals with the ramifications of the first. Once the church has accepted a nonresistant Jesus, what will she do with him? Yoder suggests that we should proudly claim the position of Jesus, not because it is efficacious, but because it is obedient to Jesus' witness. The claim that "Jesus is Lord" is also the claim that "we are not." As such, it is no longer our place to see that history works out in the way we see fit (the self-conception of Christianity since Constantine), but rather simple obedience to Jesus, and thereby, a forceful proclamation of his gospel, his revolution.

"The Original Revolution" provides a vision of Yoder's view on pacifism, from its origin to its manifestation. It challenged my traditional views on war and led to greater reflection on the claim not only of Jesus' teaching, but also of his life.

This is the book that helped me try to start following Jesus again, helped me to believe in God again, and helped give me the courage and inspiration to suggest the idea of a Pentecostal Charismatic Peace Fellowship.

I can without doubt say that this book has tremendously influenced my life and I am grateful for the biblical, theological, and Jesus centered approach that Yoder provides.