A theology for the whole gospel
I got the idea for this blog from a few of you, who suggested I host a book discussion club online by choosing a book that we’ll read together and then I’ll blog about it, since reading and writing are two of the things I happen to be able to do with a certain degree of regularity (arithmetic not being a third one). Once I have read the chapter and have composed some of my ideas, any and all of you can respond, multiple times if you want, and we can all learn and grow together.
The hope is that if I do my part, it will be beneficial for all of us as we seek to become more fully the kinds of people God wants us to be for the sake of his Kingdom in the world. No pressure or anything!
So with that said, the book I propose we start with is Good News and Good Works: A Theology for the Whole Gospel by Ron Sider. I have not yet read it, but if Sider’s other work is any indication, this one will give us plenty to work with, both in terms of discussion and practical application in our particular context. He is the president of Evangelicals for Social Action, which may sound scary if you have been raised on the idea that social action is “liberal” and therefore bad, but I assure you, he loves Jesus like we do, and probably more so.
You may find it tough to put Sider in a box because he bucks the trends. There are those who do a great job with evangelism and those who do a great job with social justice, but even today, very few who seem to do them both as well as Sider. Read the text of his speech I’m Not A Social Activist and you will see what I mean.
So, who wants to read, discuss, and act upon this book together?
Hmm kinda odd that no one else has commented yet?
I read over that text you linked to, and he definitely seems to be the kind of person we should be listening to…the whole thing had a certain feel to it that reminds me of some of the stuff that was focused on during Urbana 03…(and probably 06 as well but I wasn’t there! hehe)