Those of you who know me know that I've spent about the last 10 years or so of my academic life studying John Howard Yoder, one of the most important theologians of the last century. So I'm excited to alert you to a new collection of Yoder essays that will serve as a great introduction to Yoder's thought.
Why did we bring these essays together? Here's an excerpt from the introduction to the book (co-edited by John Nugent, Andy Alexis-Baker, and me):
"Although Yoder's voice continues to resonate across the landscape of academic Christianity, his challenge to the church seldom falls within earshot of today's average Christian. This is partly because most of his published works were directed toward scholars. Yet on many occasions Yoder addressed ordinary Christians, whether in local congregations, college chapels, or retreat centers. Unfortunately, most of this material has not been published or was published in magazines that were not read widely beyond Mennonites. As editors of this series, we have collected, transcribed, and published this material because we believe Yoder's challenge to follow Jesus in all things still needs to be heard outside academia."
This volume is Vol. 1 of a three-part series called "Yoder's Challenge to the Church." Vol. 2, Revolutionary Christian Citizenship, will be published in 2013. Vol. 3, Real Christian Fellowship, will be published in 2014.
Why did we bring these essays together? Here's an excerpt from the introduction to the book (co-edited by John Nugent, Andy Alexis-Baker, and me):
"Although Yoder's voice continues to resonate across the landscape of academic Christianity, his challenge to the church seldom falls within earshot of today's average Christian. This is partly because most of his published works were directed toward scholars. Yet on many occasions Yoder addressed ordinary Christians, whether in local congregations, college chapels, or retreat centers. Unfortunately, most of this material has not been published or was published in magazines that were not read widely beyond Mennonites. As editors of this series, we have collected, transcribed, and published this material because we believe Yoder's challenge to follow Jesus in all things still needs to be heard outside academia."
This volume is Vol. 1 of a three-part series called "Yoder's Challenge to the Church." Vol. 2, Revolutionary Christian Citizenship, will be published in 2013. Vol. 3, Real Christian Fellowship, will be published in 2014.
Who is this book for?
This is, essentially, "Yoder for everyone." The topics are perennial issues for Christians, such as time management, money, individualism, legalism, missions, truthfulness, and suffering. In other words, issues that are crucial for Christian discipleship.
The chapters in the book are short (around 6-10 pages on average), to the point, and very readable. The book would serve as a great resource for Bible studies and small groups. To see a study guide with questions for small group leaders, click here.
To read the Introduction and the first chapter, "A Choice of Slaveries," click here. To buy the book from the publisher at a discount (through today, Nov. 12), click here. To buy it on Amazon, click here. Or, if you're in the Grand Rapids area, you can buy the book straight from me at a discounted rate. Just contact me (bparler@kuyper.edu) if you're interested.
I'll be following up with a post that includes some of my favorite quotes from this book a little later in the week.
The chapters in the book are short (around 6-10 pages on average), to the point, and very readable. The book would serve as a great resource for Bible studies and small groups. To see a study guide with questions for small group leaders, click here.
To read the Introduction and the first chapter, "A Choice of Slaveries," click here. To buy the book from the publisher at a discount (through today, Nov. 12), click here. To buy it on Amazon, click here. Or, if you're in the Grand Rapids area, you can buy the book straight from me at a discounted rate. Just contact me (bparler@kuyper.edu) if you're interested.
I'll be following up with a post that includes some of my favorite quotes from this book a little later in the week.
From the Foreword by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
Those of you familiar with the movement known as new monasticism will recognize the name of Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove. Here's a brief excerpt of what Jonathan has to say in the Foreword to Radical Christian Discipleship:
"The great gift of [this] collection...is that they present Yoder's vision in some of the most accessible language I have ever read. They do so because they assume an audience who were very much like me when I first read The Politics of Jesus--eager to understand but not well versed in the precise vocabularies of the academy. So, while these essays are every bit as smart as anything he ever wrote, they are popular in the truest sense: they seek to communicate as clearly as possible to everyday people the news that they report.
This news is gospel--good news in its truest and deepest sense. It is the hope that breaks in with power at just the moment when we realize that all our ways of finding health and wholeness in this world as we know it are dead ends. 'The kingdom of God is at hand,' Jesus announced. And, as Yoder says so well, it's not like a taxi whose departure depends on you hailing it. It's like a train of the old spirituals--that freedom train that's a-comin' whether we want it to or not. But it's comin' to save us. It's comin' to set us free. Once you've heard that song and seen its truth, you know that the only thing to do is get on board."
"The great gift of [this] collection...is that they present Yoder's vision in some of the most accessible language I have ever read. They do so because they assume an audience who were very much like me when I first read The Politics of Jesus--eager to understand but not well versed in the precise vocabularies of the academy. So, while these essays are every bit as smart as anything he ever wrote, they are popular in the truest sense: they seek to communicate as clearly as possible to everyday people the news that they report.
This news is gospel--good news in its truest and deepest sense. It is the hope that breaks in with power at just the moment when we realize that all our ways of finding health and wholeness in this world as we know it are dead ends. 'The kingdom of God is at hand,' Jesus announced. And, as Yoder says so well, it's not like a taxi whose departure depends on you hailing it. It's like a train of the old spirituals--that freedom train that's a-comin' whether we want it to or not. But it's comin' to save us. It's comin' to set us free. Once you've heard that song and seen its truth, you know that the only thing to do is get on board."
Endorsements
"A good introduction to Yoder for those who have not yet encountered, or have felt intimidated by, The Politics of Jesus."
- Scot McKnight, Professor of New Testament, Northern Seminary
"How desperately we need to hear and internalize the insights of this spiritual master!"
- Greg Boyd, pastor, Woodland Hills Church, St. Paul, Minnesota
"This important collection bears extraordinary witness to a life-giving gospel, summoning us to our own subversive witness against the powers."
- Debra Dean Murphy, author of Teaching That Transforms: Worship as the Heart of Christian
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