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Title: Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way (Facets)
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Manufacturer: Augsburg Fortress Publishers
List Price: $7.00
Our Price: $3.27
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| Customer Reviews: |
| Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way (Facets) by Augsburg Fortress Publishers Awsome little book! | | This book was first introduced to me through a Wilmington College (Ohio) class on Quakerism and the Peace Testimony. It affirmed my beliefs that we have no right to kill other people, no matter what. Jesus was a radical, and understanding the context of his teachings help to make them clearer to our culture today. As a Christian (and now following the Quaker testimonies), I don't understand how someone who believes Jesus is Christ can kill another human being, when he states that we are to "love (respect) our enemies." This little book shows how nonviolent revolutions solve political problems in the long run, much more often than violent ones do, yet people still believe that nonviolence in passive and cowardly. This is a book that every Christian should read. | | Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way (Facets) by Augsburg Fortress Publishers third way--a viable option | This book was used in an Episcopal adult Sunday school Class. Discussed, and rediscussed, argued, pried apart from many more than 3 sides.
Content was complete, literate, challenging. This book is still causing
discussions, with the third way emerging from obscurity to reality. | | Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way (Facets) by Augsburg Fortress Publishers Wink Falls Short | I come away from Wink's book asking myself the question, "Did Jesus have social and political change in mind when he commanded his followers to love their enemies?" I hardly think so. At least not in the way Wink proposes.
Wink makes many good statements concerning the Christian's love and nonviolence. I enjoyed his interpretations of Jesus' examples (go two miles, turn the other cheek, etc.) However, I feel that his application is off the mark of Jesus' intended meaning. As Christians, we are not to concern ourselves with improving on the injustices of the day by beating them (worldly kingdoms) at their own game. Jesus would not, because he did not, ever shame someone into repentance. His motivation was strictly love of God and man. At times Jesus' actions toward an individual may have resulted in shame, but this was NOT his motivation.
I strongly disagree with Wink's use of "submission." He speaks of submission as if it is a weak thing to be despised. The Apostles Paul and Peter did not seem to think so. I don't believe his understanding of "submission" is New Testament. It seems that Wink is more concerned about causing social and political change through pacifism than he is to simply 'love your enemies' as evidence that we are the disciples of Christ who manifest the Gospel by our lives (Jn. 13:34-35).
Wink uses an unbelieving Ghandi and a promiscious civil rights activist like King to reveal something of Jesus' Third Way. He also uses Bonhoeffer (of whom I am a big fan)as an example of Jesus' resistance. Bonhoeffer's writings are phenomonal... yet he compromised his faith and justified his actions of armed resistance. This should alert the reader to a misunderstanding of the Biblical text.
Love's aim is not at temporarily changing the political oppressive systems in government by peaceful means, but at changing the heart of man for all eternity and bringing glory to God. Was Jesus motivation and purpose geared toward politcal upheaval and bringing down the evil men by love so that he might have partisan power!? I think not!
Do we want peace on earth? Yes, but we recognize peace on earth is a very temporal thing and will never fully be Christ's peace. The "already/not yet" aspect of the Kingdom of God teaches us this.
I disagree with Wink that we should follow Jesus "as best we can." The problems are resolved when we recognize that Christ's life is in us... we must learn to walk in his Spirit and not in our flesh. We can do nothing. Our best is no good.
I believe Wink's attempt at presenting "Jesus' Third Way" falls short of the true way Jesus presented. If we dare say that unregenerated man can mimic the love of Christ... we pollute the Gospel's presentation and form it to fit something we can achieve in our flesh. This kind of love is no longer supernatural... just nice... natural... and self-serving.
I recommend reading Mere Discipleship: Radical Christianity in a Rebellious World by Lee C. Camp after you have read Wink and see that his clever thinking only reflects one more sly attempt at getting a grip on the worldly kingdoms.
If you are looking for a book to carry around with you and one that you can share with people all over the world... try the New Testament. I would like to suggest you not use the patriotic version or some man's interpretation of it. Read the words of Jesus for yourself and let the Holy Spirit discern for you the motivation behind loving your enemies. Does the love of Christ manifested by the Holy Spirit lead you to shame your enemy so you might get your way? Let the Holy Spirit guide and counsel you to the meaning of Christ's nonsense love. | | Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way (Facets) by Augsburg Fortress Publishers One of The Best of Walter Wink | | This short book is a very good introduction to Analytic/Historic Christianity, that movement which considers the life of first-century, Roman-dominated faithfuls, their language and its often-flawed translation[s]. In other works Wink may seem obscure, but not here. His language is precise, his ideas very clear, his logic as compelling as always; it is just enough. This book is a very good investment. | | Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way (Facets) by Augsburg Fortress Publishers Something to think about | This book gives good examples of how nonviolence has worked in the past to peacefully resolve issues involving government/people relations, etc. I am also pleased that this book makes a case for Jesus' strength, and shows the folly of being or claiming it is virtuous to be a "doormat for Jesus." This book also, every now and then, emphasizes that violence is preferable to cowardice...though afterwards firmly re-states that nonviolence practiced with a spirit of courageous nonviolence is the best way.
However, I have to give this book a mere two stars because it does not confront true evil very well. It did not address Hitler, and though it mentions terrorism, it does so only vaguely, and also in the context of nonviolent reaction, namely, not striking back with physical force. Given the state of things during the time this book was published (2003), this vagueness is not good enough.
This book certainly gives one something to think about, but it does not even touch the foundation from which we must approach the world as it is today. This book addresses stubbornness, and even evil to some degree, but it does not address pure, unadulterated hatred, or the humans who obviously have degenerated so far that they are unredeemable. It is in subtly denying the depth to which man will fall if he is brainwashed (such as a suicide bomber, for instance) that I believe Mr. Wink does a disservice to his country and his readers.
Then again, perhaps he is more enlightened than most people, in which case he just believes that you may act peaceably towards someone like Osama bin Laden, even if he is a degenerate...it seems to me that this would be a form of insanity. With the end goal of peace, do you think that standing defenseless and brave before bin Laden and being butchered would help towards that end? Do you think it would even help Osama's soul? Do you think he would feel sorry for you and change? Could it not possibly be a sacrifice for nothing?
| | Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way (Facets) by Augsburg Fortress Publishers Product Description | | In this small book Walter Wink offers a précis of his whole thinking about this issue, including the relation of Jesus and his message to politics and nonviolence, the history of nonviolent efforts, and how nonviolence can win the day when others don't hesitate to resort to violence or terror to achieve their aims. |
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