Thank you. The only book that I’ve ever read by him was “God’s Politics.” As the word “screed” started to come to my mind, I put it down and never could finish it. I would like to believe in this man and your review encourages me to do just that.

Scot, glad you posted this review. I have heard good things about Wallis for many years. What you say in this post reaffirms what I have heard. What you found in this book is more like what I was hopping to find in his last book.
I look forward to reading it.

This is the perfect time for such a book. Right now “cutting back” is the in thing, even for those not directly suffering from the economic climate.
If we can, as a society, or at least as the Western church, decide not to fulfill our every desire and live off credit, perhaps we can change the shape of our world.

I was a long time subscriber to Wallis’ Soujourners magazine until recently. Although I lean in his direction politically, one of the reasons I stopped subscribing is that some of what he has been promoting on “Wall Street ethics” post-economic crisis was too simplistic, and demonstrated a lack of understanding of how things work (e.g., along the lines of the concerns raised in Michael Kruse’s posts on this blog). There were clearly moral issues at the center of the crisis, but I haven’t come across a religious leader that really understands them, or that has been able to address them in a practical way that could help business leaders going forward. It is one thing to encourage individuals and faith communities as Wallis does. But it takes a greater depth of understanding of the issues to address the interface between an individual and the larger business culture, and the questions that arise. Has anyone come across someone who can effectively address these issues?

Many years ago I also subscribed to Sojourners magazine, but got fed up with a consistent political viewpoint. Ironically, I heard him at a conference one time talking about putting principle over politics. Just the opposite, I see Wallis with a consistent political viewpoint from the Left, and in bed with the Democratic Party. Wallis also seems to love the limelight, as he has cozied up to the Obama administration. Question: Why is it that Ron Sider doesn’t get more attention with books like Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, and more recently, The Scandal of Evangelical Politics? Methinks it’s because Sider dares to cross the political divide and sign things like the Manhattan Declaration — a big Religious Left no-no; but he’s also able to work with many on the Religious Left on issues such as poverty, creation care and racial reconciliation. It’s too bad more Christian leaders can’t hold a consistently pro-life and traditional marriage viewpoint while also working on the other pet issues

Call to Conversion was outstanding, as was Agenda for Biblical People. Both of these books shaped my early years as a disciple. This quote from the latter..
“Thus, the renewal of the church will come not through a recovery of personal experience or straight doctrine, nor through innovative projects of evangelism or social action, nor in creative techniques or liturgical worship, nor in the gift of tongues, nor in new budgets, new buildings, and new members. The renewal of the church will come about through the work of the Spirit in restoring and reconstituting the church as a local community whose common life bears the marks of radical obedience to the lordship of Jesus Christ.” (101)