Book Review to be published in Preach Magazine
Jesus and Justice: Stories of radical Christian Living.
Produced by Red Letter Christians & edited by Simon Jones
ISBN 9798873935086 https://redletterchristians.org.uk/jesus-justice-stories-of-radical-christian-living-in-the-uk-book-release-feb-2024/
This edited collection brings together 26 authors from across the UK, writing about their lived experience of seeking Jesus and justice in their communities. Some of the contributors are well known, such as Steve Chalke, Anthony Reddie, Shane Claiborne and Stephen Timms MP, while others are grass roots disciples of Jesus, living and working in deprived and overlooked communities across the country. I have known lots of them and some of their contexts personally for many years and consider them co-conspirators for the upside down Kingdom (or as some prefer Kindom or Commonwealth) of God.
The stories and the structure of the volume is based around verses from the beautiful vision of Shalom in Isaiah 65:17-23. They explore eco-justice, poverty and placemaking, housing, migration, racial justice, economics, youth deprivation and criminal justice. The hope of the authors is that "Our book will inspire you with what is possible when a Jesus-centred faith is at the heart of activism.' I think that for the most part the book succeeds in this, and would recommend it to anyone who seeks to "act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God".
The writing style is accessible, with fascinating personal stories, testimonies and reflections, including a number of panel discussions about different themes. The theological issues are important and deep, but not buried in academic jargon. The doctrinal stances of authors are varied; and some chapters may be "too inclusive" for some evangelical readers. Yet all of them clearly love Jesus and the Bible. I think it is inevitable, and indeed right, that when Christians are living and working in a context where there are real world injustices impacting them and the people and churches they love, we interpret Scripture with new eyes, as verses and stories leap out from the text and make connections with the world we inhabit. Our faith is far more than mere head knowledge as taught in Bible College or from the pulpit, and is no longer confined to worship events and prayer meetings. Rather as the book argues it is about following and living with Jesus in a messed up world.
Reviewed by Greg Smith https://gregsmith.synthasite.com/
Greg Smith has worked for over forty years in urban mission, community development and social research in London and Preston. He is a senior research fellow of the William Temple Foundation and has published extensively on religion in the inner city, faith involvement in urban regeneration, and urban theology. He is a lay leader in an inner city parish and a volunteer in work with asylum seekers and refugees.
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