book response: Red Letter Revolution by Campolo and Claiborne (2012)

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Now that the holiday break is over, I don't have the time to read a book every couple days. This one was a gift, something I was happy to receive. These guys are politically progressive and see the words of Jesus, printed in red letters in some Bible editions, supportive of those left of center positions. I'm a regular reader of their blog, Red Letter Christians, and enjoy most of the posts there as well. I don't think there is anything heretical or upsetting to Christians who aren't fundamentalists. After a while, about midway through the book, I got bored. I enjoyed the conversational style between Campolo and Claiborne, in fact, according to the afterword, the book is mostly transcribed conversations. The tone in the book retains its conversational tone throughout. This book is a political platform, which makes it a reference book, not a narrative, no matter how hard it tries to do that. In that light, this book is a good reference for understanding how conservative evangelical Christians derive politically progressive positions from the gospels. However, I want, in the same book, a contrast with those believers, who derive conservative positions from the same material. That would be a great book for my enjoyment.

This book is a good witness to those who believe that American evangelicals have a monolithic political theory. It's also a challenge to those evangelicals who can't imagine supporting any party other than the Republicans. I do hope there are many who are willing to have their assumptions and prejudices questioned.
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