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Living with Purpose in a Polarizing World: Guidance from Biblical Narratives
How should Christians navigate an increasingly polarized post-Christian world? There is strong evidence of the cultural shift away from Christianity in the United States, which has already happened in other parts of the world. Compounding the shift is the division among Christians in how this is handled. The authors have observed four basic (1) assimilation and acceptance of new cultural norms, (2) withdrawal from cultural engagement, (3) anger directed toward society (and toward other Christians who don't seethe issues as they do), and (4) seeking power to “take back society.” This creates two separate walking with Christ in the midst of cultural shifts and representing Christ as one church before the watching world.
Scripture speaks into this dilemma in important ways. First, how do we navigate these societal challenges? Micah calls us to “seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.” Jesus calls us to be salt and light while knowing that “in the world you will have trouble.” Second, Scripture is filled with narratives of God’s people living out their faith in the face of a world hostile toward their God. We can learn from them. Third, Jesus calls us to represent him with oneness before the watching world.
In this book, the authors take us through eight examples of Old Testament biblical narratives and modern examples and ask, “And who knows whether for just a time like this you have come to this position in your life?”
Scripture speaks into this dilemma in important ways. First, how do we navigate these societal challenges? Micah calls us to “seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.” Jesus calls us to be salt and light while knowing that “in the world you will have trouble.” Second, Scripture is filled with narratives of God’s people living out their faith in the face of a world hostile toward their God. We can learn from them. Third, Jesus calls us to represent him with oneness before the watching world.
In this book, the authors take us through eight examples of Old Testament biblical narratives and modern examples and ask, “And who knows whether for just a time like this you have come to this position in your life?”
256 pages, Paperback
Published June 4, 2024
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September 8, 2024
Summary: How twelve people in the Bible seek the world’s good and cooperate with God’s redemptive purposes.
Despite great freedoms to worship and to practice one’s faith in the United States, many Christians adopt a defensive posture as embattled. They join the larger, contentious public discourse, framed in terms of “us versus them.” In Living with Purpose in a Polarizing World, a retired Boeing executive from the Seattle area and a city attorney from southern Mississippi join together to propose a better way. They note five ways many Christians have responded: resignation and assimilation, withdrawal and retrenchment, fear, seeking power, and anger. However, the believe God’s people through history have practiced another and better way through seeking the world’s good and cooperate with God’s redemptive purposes. To underscore this thesis, they consider twelve “case studies” of people in the Bible who do this.
We meet Abraham, who offers his nephew Lot a choice of land, choosing relational peace over self-interest. Later, he acts with financial integrity in the purchase of a burial ground for Sarah. Throughout it all, Abraham trusts God, “for a purpose: to be blessed and to bless”. Or consider Joseph, sold into Egyptian slavery and then wrongly accused and imprisoned. He recognizes the hand of God in his life and how God meant this for the good of Egypt, the nations, and his own family. Then there is the story of Ruth, a foreigner who availed herself through hard work of the economic provision of gleaning that God provided for those on the margins. Boaz, the landowner, complements her efforts by affording her protection and provision beyond the law’s requirements. Consequently, the faithfulness of both provides for the widow Naomi and results in kingly line extending from David to Jesus.
In addition to these, the authors profile nine others: Moses, Joshua, David, Esther, Job, Daniel, Peter, Paul, and Jesus. For example, they observe the courage and respect in which Esther approaches the king, respecting the king’s authority and initiative. They note the qualities of Paul as a bridgebuilder between Jews and Gentiles. Finally, their study of Jesus contrasts his life with the five ways Christians have negatively responded to the culture.
Throughout, Erisman and Pope weave in stories from their own professional lives and of others in the workplace. These illustrate the qualities of the Biblical figures they profile. Illustrating the integrity of Job, they tell the story of Steve Bell, CEO of Bellmont Cabinets. When starting out, he secured a $100,000 contract to build cabinetry for a dentist opening a string of clinics. Subsequently, the dentist was arrested for drug smuggling and money laundering. Bell was advised to file for bankruptcy to protect his assets. Instead, he went to each of his creditors and worked out a plan to repay them with interest what he owed. It took him seven years to pay them all off but today he employs over 300 and works with many of the vendors he formerly owed money.
The authors conclude the book describing how they handled disagreements that arose in the writing of the book. They write of strong disagreements on content at several points and the importance of the trust relationship between them. Thus, they determined not to allow disagreements to derail them from the purpose of the book nor the trust they’d built. And they found their disagreements sharpened their argument and refined the material in the book. An unusual confession from co-authors but illustrative of the thesis of the book.
The book begins with a marvelous Malcolm Guite poem, “A Tale of Two Gardens,” tracing the redemptive arc of God from Eden to the empty tomb. The twelve profiles lend themselves well to an Adult Education program over a quarter. In addition, the workplace illustrations make this ideal for use in a workplace luncheon group. Helpfully and hopefully, Erisman and Pope move the conversation from embattlement to constructive engagement. If you are tired of being trapped in polarized conversations, this book offers another way.
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
Despite great freedoms to worship and to practice one’s faith in the United States, many Christians adopt a defensive posture as embattled. They join the larger, contentious public discourse, framed in terms of “us versus them.” In Living with Purpose in a Polarizing World, a retired Boeing executive from the Seattle area and a city attorney from southern Mississippi join together to propose a better way. They note five ways many Christians have responded: resignation and assimilation, withdrawal and retrenchment, fear, seeking power, and anger. However, the believe God’s people through history have practiced another and better way through seeking the world’s good and cooperate with God’s redemptive purposes. To underscore this thesis, they consider twelve “case studies” of people in the Bible who do this.
We meet Abraham, who offers his nephew Lot a choice of land, choosing relational peace over self-interest. Later, he acts with financial integrity in the purchase of a burial ground for Sarah. Throughout it all, Abraham trusts God, “for a purpose: to be blessed and to bless”. Or consider Joseph, sold into Egyptian slavery and then wrongly accused and imprisoned. He recognizes the hand of God in his life and how God meant this for the good of Egypt, the nations, and his own family. Then there is the story of Ruth, a foreigner who availed herself through hard work of the economic provision of gleaning that God provided for those on the margins. Boaz, the landowner, complements her efforts by affording her protection and provision beyond the law’s requirements. Consequently, the faithfulness of both provides for the widow Naomi and results in kingly line extending from David to Jesus.
In addition to these, the authors profile nine others: Moses, Joshua, David, Esther, Job, Daniel, Peter, Paul, and Jesus. For example, they observe the courage and respect in which Esther approaches the king, respecting the king’s authority and initiative. They note the qualities of Paul as a bridgebuilder between Jews and Gentiles. Finally, their study of Jesus contrasts his life with the five ways Christians have negatively responded to the culture.
Throughout, Erisman and Pope weave in stories from their own professional lives and of others in the workplace. These illustrate the qualities of the Biblical figures they profile. Illustrating the integrity of Job, they tell the story of Steve Bell, CEO of Bellmont Cabinets. When starting out, he secured a $100,000 contract to build cabinetry for a dentist opening a string of clinics. Subsequently, the dentist was arrested for drug smuggling and money laundering. Bell was advised to file for bankruptcy to protect his assets. Instead, he went to each of his creditors and worked out a plan to repay them with interest what he owed. It took him seven years to pay them all off but today he employs over 300 and works with many of the vendors he formerly owed money.
The authors conclude the book describing how they handled disagreements that arose in the writing of the book. They write of strong disagreements on content at several points and the importance of the trust relationship between them. Thus, they determined not to allow disagreements to derail them from the purpose of the book nor the trust they’d built. And they found their disagreements sharpened their argument and refined the material in the book. An unusual confession from co-authors but illustrative of the thesis of the book.
The book begins with a marvelous Malcolm Guite poem, “A Tale of Two Gardens,” tracing the redemptive arc of God from Eden to the empty tomb. The twelve profiles lend themselves well to an Adult Education program over a quarter. In addition, the workplace illustrations make this ideal for use in a workplace luncheon group. Helpfully and hopefully, Erisman and Pope move the conversation from embattlement to constructive engagement. If you are tired of being trapped in polarized conversations, this book offers another way.
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
January 12, 2025
My brother sent this to me as a gift and it was just the right thing to help me reflect on my current circumstances. This book is a very thoughtful analysis of how to handle life situations, even though it uses bible characters you don't need to be a Christian to gain insight into the methods used to navigate life successfully. I highly recommend this book, entertaining and insightful.
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