Seven Ways To Change The World: Reviving Faith And Politics In the USA this book sells under the title of The Great Awakening
Jim Wallis is the author of the best selling God’s Politics and Editor-in-Chief of Sojourners and blogs at www.godspolitics.com.
John Wessel has this to say about the book:
This is the title of a book written by Jim Wallis – it is worth a read. The following are his concepts. This could be a very good direction for the modern church to adopt.
Two of the great concepts in our world today are the hunger for spirituality and the hunger for social justice. Those on the religious Right did it wrong, allowing their religion to become too partisan, too narrow and too ideological. The answer to this bad religion is for the church of today to become prophetic rather than partisan, broad, deep and inclusive instead of narrow and it should be based on values as opposed to ideology.
What then are the basic principles for all religions (and in our case, Christianity)? Wallis suggests that there are seven basic areas of engagement that need to be addressed. They are as follows.
1. Justice
Christians should take a very strong stand in favour of the weak and disadvantaged. This stance is seen clearly in the life of Jesus.
2. The Kingdom of God is a new order.
In Matthews Gospel are these words, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” Jesus presents us with an announcement of a new order of life that is intended to change everything about the world, and us with it. His was an invitation to a whole new way of living.
3. The Church is an alternative community.
Gandhi summed it up when he said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” This is a great challenge for the modern church.
4. The Kingdom of God transforms the world by addressing the specifics of injustice.
5. The church should be the conscience of the State, holding it accountable for upholding justice and restraining it from injustice.
Jesus said that the peacemakers, not the war-makers, are the ones who will be blessed.
6. Take a global perspective.
We are to be Christian first and citizens of our country second. That is, if the State is bringing harm to the disadvantaged the Church must make the State accountable.
7. Seek the common good.
The Hebrew word shalom is often translated as “peace” but it has a far deeper meaning. It involves completeness, soundness, welfare, health, safety, peace and right relationships. We need to start building and commit ourselves to this kind of Common Good- making sure that no one is left behind irrespective of who they are.John D. Wessel September 2013
Another review is available at: Huffington Post