The Great Awakening by Jim Wallis

Jim Wallis wrote this book in 2007 to articulate a prophetic call to Christians in America to become more nuanced and intentional about issues that touch everyone alive today. He challenges the one-issue politics that characterize the religious right's typical stances. He talks about Kingdom values. Quoting Brian McLaren, Wallis defines kingdom values as community, fellowship, and mission. I like that. He reflects on the controversy that ensued after he wrote: "The United States of America was established as a white society, founded upon the genocide of another race and then the enslavement of yet another." Perhaps I noticed this poignant observation more because I'm getting ready to go to Haiti to teach at a pastor's conference there. The same statement applies to that nation, albeit with a twist due to the successful slave uprising there at the end of the 18th century. Wallis becomes provocative when he juxtaposes the phrases "authentic faith" (my heart's cry) against "aggressive religion" (what I eschew). He comments on scandals in the church and in politics - when I saw this morning's conversation between NBC's Matt Lauer and former New York governor, Eliot Spitzer it reminded me of Wallis' grieving comments about Ted Haggard's recent moral demise. In conclusion he encourages leaders this way: "Anyone who wants to be a leader in the twenty-first century needs to sustain values, nurture community, and clarify our common mission...In the end, leaders lead by behavior and not just by skill." Amen to that. Finally, his aim is to issue a strong prophetic imperative: "It is absolutely vital to make the connection between spirituality and social justice. In affluent societies, the quest for spirituality can easily lead to narcissism, with spiritual well-being just another commodity to consume...That's why I believe the path to genuine spirituality, especially in wealthy nations, must be disciplined by the struggle for justice." I like the verb, "disciplined" in that statement. I also know what he means by the word "narcissism". The point is that right now when the global economy is being shaken and even today, when 65 miles away from Rome towns have crumbled due to a massive earthquake, those of us who claim citizenship in God's Kingdom must be alert to the cultural, economic, and governmental transitions that must come before the whole earth can be filled with His Glory. Wallis could have posed the question in New Testament terms this way: "What is the Spirit of God speaking to the churches?" The key to hearing is to "open" our ears to what He is saying.

Wallis, Jim. The Great Awakening: Seven Ways to Change the World - Reviving Faith & Politics. Harper One. 2007