Abstract
Given our human inclination to fashion “Gospel” as a kind of self-justification formula that gives us free license to behave badly, Al Tizon’s book is a much-needed reminder that following Jesus entails much more than “inviting Jesus into our hearts.” Indeed, if one takes the teaching of Jesus seriously in Matthew 25—where sheep and goats are separated on the basis of their kindness to strangers in bringing others on the fringes of society into the warmth and security of their own group, and where nary a question is raised about the formulaic aspects of one’s faith—then this book is needed as never before in the country where God-mandated philoxenia (love of strangers, i.e., hospitality) has been savagely attacked by its sinister antithesis xenophobia (dread of strangers) in the politics and thinking of some of those whose fractured faith permits them to loudly proclaim Jesus as Lord, even while making sure that outsiders don’t cross the border.
Tizon, who is executive minister of Serve Globally (the international arm of the Evangelical Covenant Church) and affiliate associate professor of missional and global leadership at North Park Theological Seminary (Chicago), divides this simple but profound little book into four somewhat self-explanatory sections: Whole World, Whole Gospel, Whole Church, and Whole Mission. Particularly helpful is the author’s stress on reconciliation as the primary and ultimate goal of the Gospel: reconciliation of all things (Gospel of the kingdom), reconciliation of whole persons (beginning with me), and reconciliation as our work on earth (peacemaking as mission).
Each chapter is worthy of careful attention and concludes with useful questions to prime discussion. Extensive footnotes enhance the value of the book for those who want to do further reading.
The book would be a splendid basis for an adult or young adult Sunday School class, but it would also serve well in the context of seminary and Christian college classrooms. The book includes a thoughtful foreword by Ruth Padilla DeBorst and an enthusiastic afterword endorsement by Ron Sider.