Compassion (&) Conviction

For some time I have followed the And Campaign via Twitter, so I jumped at the opportunity to review the book Compassion (&) Conviction.

Throughout Compassion (&) Conviction, a key theme is that Christians have a responsibility to be engaged in politics and that political engagement is one way in which we can show love to our neighbors and live out Micah 6:8. While emphasizing that Christians should be politically engaged, the authors also emphasize that winning political points must not detract from our Christian witness which is our higher priority. The authors also remind Christians that working with others who might not share the same religious views is a good thing and an opportunity to be "salt and light."

One of the items readers will notice right away is that with their emphasis on and, the authors do an amazing job of treating multiple sides of issues equally. Instead of upholding one political party or side and demonizing the other, careful attention is given to treating each equally. After discussing the positives of a progressive viewpoint, the same attention is given to the positives of a conservative viewpoint before looking at negatives associated with each. Readers are also encouraged that it is important to critique your own political party and reminded that political party must never be placed higher than our allegiance to Christ.

While particularly timely given the current election season, Compassion (&) Conviction is highly recommended for Christians who want to know more about how to be politically engaged in a Christ-honoring way. I particularly enjoy the discussion questions at the end of each chapter and the calls to not just read about politics but to actively engage in the topic with others. These resources make Compassion (&) Conviction an excellent resource for a small group study or as a supplemental text in a college level U.S. Government class.

I received a complementary copy from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley. I was not required to provide a positive review.

More than Social Media Posts

Beyond Hashtag Activism: Comprehensive Justice in a Complicated Age is a very comprehensive and well-researched book, yet is also very readable and practical. Author, Mae Elise Cannon, is no stranger to social justice topics, having written numerous books since publishing The Social Justice Handbook in 2009 and serves as Executive Director of the Churches for Middle East Peace. Cannon begins by outlining why social justice should be important to Christians and that salvation and justice are both necessary components of the Gospel of Christ. Reading this section brought to mind James 2:16 and reminds readers that you can't preach the Gospel if people are cold, hungry, impoverished, or oppressed. Specifically Christians needs to be involved in "prophetic advocacy" and set aside the "need to be right" in order to build bridges with others. After setting this foundation, Cannon goes on to provide details about specific justice issues include poverty, race, gender, and twenty-first century divides. Within each chapter, a multitude of references are provided as well as numerous stories of first hand experiences with these topics. However, Cannon does not simply inform the reader but goes on to provide information on specific opportunities to get involved fighting against these issues and suggested readings to learn more. Each chapter also ends with discussion questions which make this a perfect book for a small group study.

While reading Beyond Hashtag Activism, I frequently found myself sitting in prayer and lament over the gross injustices and tragedies described. Then to see these issue being played out on a national stage and to be reminded of the privileged position I have in society was sobering. To think how unknowingly my purchasing habits may contribute to global poverty and then be reminded that so much of "the good we do" such as providing food to the poor is only a temporary fix rather than a sustainable long-term solution. I was also reminded that even though many individuals say people are made in the image of God, too often we sure don't act like it. Page after page provided food for thought and steps to take. As such this is a book that readers will want to own and refer to often. Readers may not agree with all of Cannon's suggestions, but each chapter is a springboard to learning more about a topic.

Beyond Hashtag Activism is highly recommended for anyone whose heart is torn regarding the current events of our country and our world and wonders what they can possibly do to help. I highly encourage individuals to find a group of people to read and discuss this important book together.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Beyond Hashtag Activism from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Running for Our Lives

When election time rolls around, do you ever think about running for office? Often individuals wonder if they couldn't do as good a job or better than the incumbent candidates or anyone else who is running. Running for Our Lives by Robb Ryerse is the story of how he decided to challenge his congressman in the primary. Ryerse peels back the curtains so everyone can see the challenges the ordinary person on the street faces in running for election.

In order to effectively tell his story and why he decided to take the plunge to run for Congress, Ryerse spends some time filling in his backstory of his previous experiences, education, employment, and family background. This information is important in understanding his motivation for running for office. Beyond this backstory, Ryerse spends the majority of the book describing his experiences running a campaign. Ryerse also elaborates on his beliefs and his political platform. As a progressive Republican, in a solidly red district, he did not march in lock step with the party platform but instead emphasized he would represent the people.

While being a somewhat politically aware individual, I learned so much from reading Running for Our Lives. While knowing that running for political office is expensive and that PACS provide a vast amount of political funding, reading his experiences and the actual cost of running for office was eye-opening. In particular the breakdown of how much Ryerse spent on his campaign versus how much his opponent spent and how much that was per vote was both shocking and sickening. It definitely made me a campaign finance reform advocate. In addition to running for Congress, Ryerse also is a bivocational minister. As such, throughout the book he references how his Christian beliefs are the basis of his political beliefs. Several sections of the book, especially an eloquent section on Philippians 2, almost read like a devotional and were very impactful in considering how I think about political issues and my vote.

Running for Our Lives is a marvelous book for anyone who is interested in politics and the process of running for office. As we head into another election year, this is a great book to add to your reading list.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Running for Our Lives from Westminster John Knox via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Learning to Engage in Civil Discourse

In the current politically charged climate, discussing any issue is difficult and can sometimes feel dangerous. The lack of civil discourse in society is concerning. In the book I Think You're Wrong (But I'm Listening): A Guide to Grace-Filled Conversations, Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth A. Silvers tackle this issue and provide readers with skills and resources to discuss issues in a productive manner. The authors not only write about how to discuss issues productively but also live out these concepts in their podcast Pantsuit Politics.

The two co-authors both identify as people of faith but are on opposite sides of the political spectrum. However, they do not let that stop them from fruitfully discussing a variety of issues. Throughout their book, Holland and Silvers emphasize researching and discussing actual issues and to engage in nuanced conversation. They encourage individuals to focus on what we can agree on and to look at the larger picture instead of just taking sides. Readers will enjoy the introduction to civil discourse but also the civics refresher.

I particularly enjoyed how Holland and Silvers remind readers that you can't make knee-jerk assumptions about anyone's beliefs or viewpoints simply because of their political persuasion or their view on one issue. We have bought into a strict two-party political system where individuals are strait-jacketed into one slate of opinions and not allowed to express opinions that may fall "in-between." While reading I Think You're Wrong, I found myself cheering and agreeing with the authors frequently and yearning for the opportunity to engage in civil discourse with others. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is civic-minded and cares about our country no matter your political persuasion. Book clubs would enjoy reading and discussing this book and then engaging in practical application of the content.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received I Think You're Wrong (But I'm Listening) via NetGalley from Thomas Nelson Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.