thank goodness for one version of christianity i can resonate with. inspiring, just like shane's first book (the irresistible revolution)--only i actually finished this one. love the various drawings and illustrations. probably most relevant to people who already come from christian backgrounds, with at least a cursory knowledge of the biblical story... but regardless, an interesting read for anyone. ( )

Disappointingly dull. Claiborne is better in person. ( )

If you spend any time searching internet discussion boards for opinions about this book, you'll realize it's struck a chord. People either love it, believing it's the answer to the malaise facing the 21st Century church, or they'll hate it, believing it twists and distorts scripture to promote a pacifist, communist, anti-american agenda. Like a Rorschach test, reactions to this book probably say as much about the reader as they do the content of the book itself.

I should begin by saying the book isn't saying anything all that original. In other words, Claiborne and Haw aren't promoting anything they've discovered for themselves. Instead, they have ingested the work of people like Wendell Berry, Gregory Boyd, John Howard Yoder, Marva Dawn, and Walter Wink, they have listened carefully to the anabaptist voice within Christianity, they have synthesized the work of those thinkers and writers and theologians and peacemakers, and they have published a manifesto to the 21st Century Church - a call to the church to return to its roots as an alternative community, a seperate, holy people, called apart from the kingdoms of earth to live as the Kingdom of God on earth.

Two quick strenghts of the book:
1) This is biblical theology as opposed to systematic theology. In other words, the book focuses on the broad sweep of Judeo-Christian history, beginning in the garden and carrying on through Abraham, Israel, Jesus, the Church, up to the images of victory in Revelation. They then take the large sweep of biblical history to paint the full picture of rebellion and redemption in which we find ourselves. Thus, rather than nit-picking what "this verse over here" means up against "that verse over there," they instead ask "what has been God's plan all along?" This, to me, is the healthiest way to let the Scriptures speak into our lives.
2) It's a beautiful book. Literally. Shane and Chris employed the work of artists to craft a book that is fascinating to look at. Every page is a painting, a photo, a stitch-work, a challenge, a delight. Thus, the book challenges not just the intellectual side, but the artistic side, as well. Sometimes the pictures, the questions, the images speak even louder than the text on the page. This is obviously a labor of love for the authors.

My take on the book: For the most part, I think Shane and Chris are dead-on. Their critique of the 21st-Century American Church nails us all. They rightfully see the ways in which The Church has sold out to a culture of shopping, a culture of idolatry, a culture of power-play, and how the church has abandoned the call to "take up our cross" and follow Christ. At the same time, they don't stop at critique. In fact, most of the book is given to suggestions on how to move forward, and examples of communities of faith who come close to reflecting Christ in their lives. So they challenge the Church, but they challenge the individual Christian as well. How, exactly, do we follow in the pattern of Christ who had no home when we spend massive amounts of money on plasma televisions and name-brand sneakers? How exactly do we claim to follow the Prince of Peace when we so enjoy violence, when we so quickly call for retribution upon our enemies? How do we show love to our brothers and sisters when we participate in an economy that is so unequitable? How do we worship both the Father of All Nations and at the same time worship the country in which we live?

To read this book is to read a call to live a different kind of life. It challenges, it exhorts, it pushes on some tight spots. But I think it's a necessary read by any who would claim Jesus as Lord. So go read it. Then let's talk some more. ( )

For the past couple of years I have been following the Emergent (or Emerging) Church. Without a big book-buying budget I have been fortunate that many of their most vocal leaders are also committed bloggers.

A conversation with a friend (and the timely receipt of an Amazon.com gift certificate) were what it took to buy Shane Claiborne's Jesus for President. While Claiborne would probably reject the label of "emergent" his theology and thought processes are quite similar to those of Emergent leaders like Doug Pagitt and Tony Jones. Claiborne perhaps represents the "radical left" of the Emergent movement.

There is one thing that all who talk about Shane Claiborne--his detractors as well as his admirers--agree on: he makes a very sincere and noble effort to practice what he preaches. Many of the projects of his The Simple Way community are outstanding and a genuine contribution to society and honor to the name of Christ.

In discussing this book I would like to take a look at what is right about it, and then get down to some of it's more serious flaws.

What is Right

The author (or authors, I should mention that Jesus for President was co-authored by Chris Haw) are very concerned that American Christianity has become too greatly identified with American nationalism.

They are correct.

The fact that I was born in America takes a back seat (like, back-of-the-bus seat) to the fact that I am a citizen of Heaven (Phil. 3:20). If we are to be the church Christ wants us to be, then we need to stop acting like American citizens (or Brazilian citizens, or whatever) and start acting like citizens of Heaven.

Another excellent point that Claiborn hammers on throughout the book is the failure of the church to imitate Christ in ministering to those who are the most marginalized of our societies. Once again, his analysis is spot on, to the shame of many who call themselves Christians.

What is Wrong

In order to make his points, Shane Claiborne relies on some very shoddy theology. It is no surprise, then, that the conclusions he comes to are often wrong-headed and unbalanced.

First, the theology. Starting with creation and the fall, Claiborn weaves a narrative (good emergent word) of God calling his people to live separately from "empire". The empires (be they Egypt, Rome or America--especially America) are corrupt, oppressive, and violent. God did not want his people to have anything to do with any of them.

Of course it must be agreed that God did not work through the great empires. He called his people Israel out of Ur, then out of Egypt. The Church was founded apart from Rome. This is true.

But to make that THE story of the Bible cheapens the message of Scripture. Redemption from sin is the overarching message, the common thread that unifies the Bible--not resistence to empire.

The great paradox of this book is that, while decrying the materialism of modern Christianity (and there is much to decry), Claiborne is guilty of reducing the Gospel to a materialistic "quality of life" issue.

Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in his treatment of Hell. On page 290, at the beginning of a section called "The Gates of Hell" he states: "There is a lot of bad theology out there." Then, as if to illustrate that point, he treats us to four pages of REALLY bad theology. He confuses Christ's references to gehenna with his reference to hades, completely ignores other parts of Scripture which talk about God's judgment, and then sums it up with this doozy:

"Hell is not just something that comes after death, but something that many are living in this very moment: 1.2 billion people groan for a drop of water each day; more than thirty thousand kids starve to death each day; and thirty-eight million folks are dying of AIDS. It seems ludicrous to think of preaching to them about Hell when we would do better sitting at the well asking them for a little water."

I in no way want to belittle the suffering of billions of people around the globe. I see it every day on the streets here in Brazil. But the fact remains, when Christ spoke of Hell (translated from Gehenna) he was referring to a place where the eternal judgment of God was poured out on evildoers. If people think the problems they are going through now are bad (and they are), wait until they have to face the eternal wrath of a holy God!

Another problem with Claiborne's theology is that it is very colored by his leftist (although he most certainly would reject that label) ideology. So that even though he hates everything about the Empire, he is still thinks it is a good idea for the government to redistribute the wealth via welfare programs. He vociferously protests against the carnage of war (he REALLY HATES the Iraq war), yet when it comes to the abortion industry that daily slaughters thousands of babies for profit the best he can do is insinuate that you cannot be anti-abortion if you do not adopt. In fact, he refers to pro-lifers as "those who would like to see abortion grow rarer and become non-existent", presumably excluding himself from that number. (page 235) His pacifist views cause him to ignore whole swaths of Scripture that must be addressed in order to consistently preach total non-violence. And his treatment of the homosexual question is limited to a sarcastic letter (pages 50-51) and the talking point about divorce destroying marriage, not homosexuals who want to get married. There is no hope offered for those who are in that lifestyle...just a fatalistic acceptance.

There are many other things that could be said, both pro and con, about Jesus for President. Time and space do not allow.

Let me say this in conclusion: You do yourself a great disservice if you use Claiborne's bad theology as an excuse to ignore the very good points he makes. You do the Church a great disservice if you allow the good points he makes to excuse his bad theology.

www.comingstobrazil.com

In Jesus for President, Shane Claiborne starts at the beginning of the Bible to demonstrate the roots of Christian social justice. The area of social justice is weak point for most Christian writers. I appreciate the challenge to step up to the plate and tackle the whole message of Jesus, not just the right wing hot button issues. ( )