From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Sider, author of
Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, offers the most balanced and thoughtful example of the recent spate of books on evangelicals in politics. Rather than telling evangelicals how to vote, he teaches them how to think, using biblical and historical examples as well as contemporary findings to persuade his readers. When evangelicals entered political life in great numbers in the 1970s and '80s, he says, they did so without careful judgment; their approach was Ready. Fire. Aim. This book can be seen as a kind of remedial course, exploring when and why political action is important for Christians. It offers a methodology of ethical discernment rather than a laundry list of hot-button issues, though Sider does tackle tough questions such as abortion, same-sex marriage, environmentalism and what constitutes a just war. While he supports democracy and a free market economy as the two best devices for promoting fundamental human rights for the greatest numbers of people, he argues that Christians need to concern themselves more with the least of these—the poor and disabled who often get trampled when materialism is unchecked. Powerful, well-researched and timely, Sider's book has the potential to shape a new generation of evangelical activists.
(Feb.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From the Back Cover
"Christian political activity today is a disaster."So begins Ron Sider's analysis of contemporary evangelical political engagement. Christians have failed along all points of the political spectrum to subject their inherited political perspectives to the lordship of Christ via thoughtful, biblical critique. The result is infighting, lack of effective political influence, and worst of all, harm to our gospel witness.
Evangelicals have the opportunity to promote the well-being of all through a uniquely Christian political vision. Combining biblical principles with societal analysis, Sider helps develop an irenic approach for doing politics in a wise, biblically grounded way that honors Christ and acknowledges his lordship over all areas of life.
"Sider is one of our most important public theologians."--Jim Wallis, president, Sojourners; author,
God's Politics"Sider serves up his most compelling statement ever on how Christians can and should influence American government."--John J. DiIulio Jr., first director, White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives; author,
Godly Republic"This book should be a guidebook for Christians who want to be a voice for Jesus in shaping social policy."--Joel C. Hunter, senior pastor, Northland, A Church Distributed; executive committee member, National Association of Evangelicals
"A mature, balanced, well-informed, richly biblical Christian political ethic for a broad audience."--David P. Gushee, Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics, Mercer University; president, Evangelicals for Human Rights; author,
The Future of Faith in American Politics"Sider's work has undoubtedly helped usher in an era in which fewer believers rush to embrace the secular ideologies of either Left or Right--and even less the rancorous behavior associated with them--and instead embrace a deeper biblical ethic as a guide to political positions as well as public conduct."--Don Eberly, author; White House aide to presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush
"American evangelicals should read and discuss this book and think hard about the kind of organizing that will be needed to fulfill genuine political responsibility."--James W. Skillen, president, Center for Public Justice
"Sider provides a road map, a guide to help Christians of all political persuasions to develop a relevant and just political philosophy."--Tony Hall, United States ambassador, United Nations, Rome
