Book Reviews

I was turned on to Ben Witherington's review of Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rhett Smith and am finding the work incredibly helpful in my own review of the book. Witherington rightly says:

"In the first major chapter of the book, the authors turn to Exodus and isolate a particular key motif. If we ask what it is that gets the ball rolling, the juices flowing, and more to the point what sets God into motion and into action, it is the cry of the oppressed."

There are many others blogging about the book. Here is one that doesn't seem to be as happy about the book (I agree with him about the annoying syntax). Here as well is an interview with Bell on the subject of the book. Here is a more positive one from another reviewer.

There is an interesting progression found where first God sees, then hears, and then comes down (p. 22). We would be wise to think of this as a good model for the Christian. First we see. We can see from far away, but we cannot necessarily hear. If we move closer to the oppressed, we begin to gain ears to hear the cries of the oppressed. If we wish to really "know" the oppressed, however, we must "come down" from our pedestals and be with the oppressed. The chapter raises an important question for Christians:

...what do we do about Abel's blood which cries out from the ground after he is unjustly killed by his brother?

Because, as the authors note, "When we're on top, when the system works for us, when we are capable of managing our lives, what is there for God to do?" So often in America as rich Christians, we are oblivious to the empire all around us. This is what Rob Bell and Don Golden are attempting to make us aware of. The Egypt in the Bible is really US. This obviously has serious political implications and raises serious controversy among some who believe America to be the world's messiah.



The authors spend the time talking about the idea of systemic evil in our society. In a manner reminiscent of modern TV shows like The Wire, the authors attempt to show how evil moves its way up the chain because everyone is simply doing what their master tells them to do. At the top of it all is pharaoh--unjustly asking people to do something for nothing.

...so what do we do about the blood calling out? What do we do about the fact that WE might be Egypt today? These are important questions that I would like to discuss here and that I think make the book definitely worth reading.