Politics, women in leadership, and America’s racism are three topics I choose not to discuss with certain family members. Ironically, these are also three topics of the books for this week\u2019s assignment. Below are the main ideas in these books and questions I would like to ask the authors.<\/p>\n
God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It<\/em> by Jim Wallis<\/strong><\/p>\n If Jim Wallis\u2019 book had only been titled God\u2019s Politics, <\/em>I would have struggled to open it. I am tired of Christians Biblicizing[1]<\/a> politics. I grew up on in the conservative religious right side of politics. I still embrace many of those base values. Social justice, specifically global poverty, has been my platform for my work in Africa while I also incorporate the Hope of the Gospel. Politically, I find myself in the middle. I agree with the liberal left on social issues such as poverty and racism, but I share values with the religious right on things such as the sanctity of human rights. Sometimes I feel like a political ping pong ball defending the other side to the opponent. Wallis\u2019 book addresses some of these issues in God\u2019s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It <\/em>addresses these issues. The book’s central thesis is: \u201c[to] explore how people concerned about social change and hungry for spiritual values can actually combine those two quests.\u201d[2]<\/a> Wallis challenges readers to a new way of looking at political issues. Rather than over-spiritualizing politics as the right does or ignoring it all together as the left, we can come together to address spiritual issues and social challenges with shared values.<\/p>\n Questions for Jim Wallis:<\/p>\n Dreaming in Black and White<\/em> by Brett Fuller<\/strong><\/p>\n In Dreaming in Black and White<\/em>, Brett Fuller calls American Christians to be the change agents that heal racial discrimination in the United States. The book addresses the historical journey of racism in the US and how that has shaped the current racial divides between Whites and African Americans. He addresses the profound cultural implications of racism that have shaped our society throughout the centuries. The pivotal theme throughout the book is the hope that racial reconciliation can happen. Fuller acknowledges that this deep, culturally interspersed situation will need the prayers and humility of Christians and the help of God. The book gives practical examples and ways to bring about change in society. In his chapter addressing the majority culture of America, of which I am a part, he gives three statements to help start bridging the gap of reconciliation and healing of racism. He encourages those of the White majority culture to say these things to our African American friends:<\/p>\n \u201cI feel your pain.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow can I help?\u201d[3]<\/a><\/p>\n I most appreciated this book’s practical application. Fuller addresses people on all sides of the issue, believing that we can all help to bring change and reconciliation.<\/p>\n Questions for Brett Fuller:<\/p>\n High Ceilings: Women in Leadership by Brett Fuller <\/strong><\/p>\n Brett Fuller addresses another controversial topic in his book High Ceilings: Women in Leadership<\/em>. This short book addresses the topic of women in leadership from a Biblical perspective. The overarching argument is that the Bible supports that women can have full leadership capacity within their personal spiritual gifts, mission, and abilities.[4]<\/a> Fuller challenges traditional cultural interpretations and perspectives on the Biblical roles of women. \u00a0He distinguishes the role of a wife under a husband from roles independent of the home in leadership positions over men.[5]<\/a> He believes the Bible is distinct about these differences. He supports the idea that the husband is over the wife in a marriage relationship, but this does not transfer to all male-women relationships.[6]<\/a> Fuller examines familiar passages in the Bible that have been used to support the position that women should not be allowed to have leadership over men. He shares why the traditional interpretation does not apply to all circumstances. The Biblical cultural context of these passages is also examined. Fuller recognizes and acknowledges the long-standing cultural bias that women are inferior to men.[7]<\/a> He concludes the book with a clear statement that women can lead in his understanding of Scripture.[8]<\/a> I appreciate Fuller\u2019s perspective and interpretation of these Biblical passages, but please do not tell my dad. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n Questions for the author:<\/p>\n \n [1]<\/a> Biblicizing is when Christians take Biblical concepts and passages out of context to justify their perspective with Scripture.<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Jim Wallis, God\u2019s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn\u2019t Get It<\/em>, Kindle ed. (New York, NY: HarperSanFrancisco, 2008).<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> Brett Fuller, Dreaming in Black and White<\/em>, Kindle ed. (United States: BookBaby, 2021), 142.<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> Brett Fuller, High Ceilings: Women in Leadership<\/em>, Kindle ed. (United States: Self-published, Brett Fuller, 2021), 42.<\/p>\n [5]<\/a> Fuller, High Ceilings, <\/em>14.<\/p>\n [6]<\/a> Fuller, High Ceilings, <\/em>37.<\/p>\n\n
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