A Manifesto is a public declaration of intent, a call to arms. The most well known manifesto is of course Marx and Engels Communist Manifesto, but there have been several manifestos published by evangelical Christians. Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola published the Jesus Manifesto(2010), a good if apolitical book arguing that we recover our Christian focus. The New Christian Manifesto(2008) by Bob Ekblad laid out a liberationist/charismatic critique on nationalism (particularily the confusion USAmericans have between church and state). An Emergent Manifesto of Hope(2007) edited by Tony Jones and Doug Paggit provided an overview of the varying views of emergent church leaders. But the grand daddy of them all was Francis Schaeffer’s A Christian Manifesto(1982) which in many ways set the trajectory of the Religious Right, especially in championing the rights of the unborn.
The work of the New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good (NEP) exists to ‘advance human well being as an expression of our love for Jesus Christ, which is itself a grateful response to his love for us and for a Good but suffering world. In A Evangelical Manifesto: A Kingdom Vision for the Common Good, David Gushee edits together their work and touches on a range of issues which cry out for a robust Christian engagement. This is a collection of essays from Christian spokespersons, scholars, ethicists and activists. They do not agree with each other
The essays in this book are divided into three sections. In part one, the agenda for a new kind of evangelicalism is laid out and the alliance between the old Religious Right with Conservative Hegemony is strongly critiqued. The opening chapter of this section is by Brian Mclaren, surverying the landscape and the diversity of the contemporary evangelical movementSteven Martin critiques the Christian relationship with the state, providing examples from history where German Church leaders willingly were complicit with the agenda of National Socialism. Cheryl Bridges Johns critiques the older propositional approach to Scripture but warns that we must move beyond a post-foundationalist to hear these word of the Bible as Holy Scripture again. Richard Cizik’s chapter is a personal recounting of his being asked to resign from his position with the National Association of Evangelicals when he admitted on a radio broadcast that his views of same-sex marriage and civil unions were changing. Paul Markham, Glenn Harold Stassen, and Steven Martin (again) each analyze where the evangelical movement is, the new expressions that are coming about and call us into faithfulness, ‘thick discipleship’, and to form communities which love our enemies.
In the second section of this book are collected essays about loving those on the margins. There are chapters here on an evangelical response to sex trafficking, those suffering preventable diseases, loving our Muslim neighbors, racism, sexism, our inclusion (and protection) of children, our response to the dying and the global poor. Contributors to this section include Jennifer Crumpton, Thomas Sullivan, Rick Love, Lisa Sharon Harper, Laura Rector, Scott Clayborn, and Adam Phillips.
In section three the essays center around the Christian approaches to public life and addresses specific issues of debate and urges Christians to take a stand on these issues. Timothy Floyd critiques the death penalty and the unjust way it has been implemented. Paul Alexander urges us to work for peace in a world which loves war. Tyler Wigg-Stevenson argues for a Christian stand against nuclear armament. Jim Ball calls us to take seriously global warming and creation care. Charlie Camosy urges us to work for reducing the number of abortions and David Gushee calls us to stand fast against torture (or enhanced interrogation techniques).
With the exception of Brian Mclaren’s chapter, I found each of these essays challenging (not that McLaren’s essay was bad, it is just too similar to everything he’s written for the past fifteen years to really excite my interest). I am sure that the contributors would have disagreements with one another, if each addressed every topic covered here, but there is a remarkable cohesiveness to the vision they cast. The NEP calls us to a faithful witness to Jesus and an embrace of the Kingdom of God which doesn’t reduce Christian witness to a few issues (like abortion, and same-sex unions) but seeks to think comprehensively about the total Christian witness. Are there blind spots? Sure. Do I agree with everything written here? hardly. But in a world where Evangelical is sometimes understood as denoting one’s political affiliation, this collection opens up new possibilities.
I think this book provides a nice introduction to the NEP and issues a good challenge to all of us who care about the Bible and holistic mission.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR,Part 255.
thoughts, prayers & songs: 
Sounds interesting. I’d like to borrow this one at some point.
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