Fighting the Good Fight: America's "Minister of Defense" Stands Firm on What It Takes to Win God's Way

by Reggie White, Andrew Peyton Thomas

Reggie White's Fighting the Good Fight is back in print!

Genres: Christian

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1998 White said and wrote some things that were not all that popular; however, his observations about our society and many of the issues faced by our nation were on target. He calls for a return to spiritual roots, and for a cooperation between the races...a cooperation that would find solutions to the issues that divide rather than the way the powers that be seen to be fanning the flames of racial tension.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though it was written twenty-one years ago, I would say it is even more relevant for today. It was written after a speech he gave before the Wisconsin Assembly was taken out of context by members of the media, and in it he expounds further upon what he discussed during his speech. He discusses the issues he sees as dividing America as well as what he believes to be viable solutions to those issues (based upon his own experience working with different segments of society). He shares his faith in the process in a fashion that did not come across as "aggressive" or "offensive" to me (but I'm also a Christian, so there is that).

One thing that sticks out to me that he points out is that if Christians are going to continue to be "pro-life," then we need to support those single women who decide not to have an abortion but will need help rearing and supporting their child afterwards. We cannot just abandon these women after they "make the right choice" and have their baby.

He also talks a bit about how we no longer call sin "sin." We have politer names for it, or names that excuse and justify such behavior while not wanting to deal with or admit that there are consequences for sinning. That especially seems truer today than it did back in 1999 (or even the 90s).

He also talks about how important fathers are in the lives of their children and how parents are not ready to be parents when they have their children. He also talked at length about how the government should not be interfering as much as it does when it comes to rearing children and disciplining children. I remember overhearing children threatening to call CPS on their parents if the child did not get his or her own way; it's crazy! He does talk briefly about the difference between "punishing" and "disciplining," and I wish I had understood that difference better myself with my children. I also wish I had been "more aggressive" in reading materials about parenting so that I could have been a better parent with my children; I know there are some things I could have handled differently/better than I did, when looking back.

I thought what he said about the different gifts each race has was interesting to read. I have heard others say the same thing; he points out that when the races come together with their different giftings, it reveals a greater image of God because of the mosaic it creates. He freely admitted he could have "put it better" than he did during his speech, but I did not see anything he said about differences between the races and what "each of us" can bring to the table as being offensive at all.

Probably what I took the most from the book is that we Christians need be more aggressive about expressing God's love to those around us, to be better about being "about our Father's business." We need to stop indulging and excusing our own "pet sins," our own selfishness and start looking at that which is eternal, because only that which is eternal is what matters. And people are eternal - our families, our friends, our neighbors and co-workers and people from other races, other nations.

On a side note, I did enjoy his anecdotes and sharing of his own life, his own experiences, what shaped him over time, scattered throughout the book. They were interesting, at times, and amusing, and they helped highlight what he was talking about. I felt it helped "enhance" the book in that he was able to show how different things he tried either worked or didn't work such as trying to start his own private music label to help new artists get started. He cites numerous facts and statistics, and provides "citations" of the sources he used in the back of the book.

I thought it was a powerful book, an excellent book, and just as relevant for today as it was when it was written. It is not "just" his opinions; he also backs up what he says with sources and citations, and he quotes Scripture throughout, so it is not "just" "his" thoughts that he is sharing. He did an excellent job of balancing "facts" with Scripture and his own experiences. It has given me something to ponder about, and I hope I do not forget what I learned from reading this book. I am glad I took a chance on picking it up and reading it.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this dated book about reggie white and his beliefs. I found it interesting and a quick read because he really put what he believe out there and it gave me a lot to think about. I enjoyed this book, but also think that reggie may have stepped on some toes because he really put it out there. I'll always like Reggie white.

[Kristen Lester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Cover:I really like this book cover. There was a nice color contrast and I love the picture of the person who's writing the book to be on the front of it. *STAR*

Author: Reggie White was a talented author who wrote with a passion because he believed in the message he was trying to deliver. *STAR*

Story: This book was inspired after Reggie White gave a controversial speech. In this story Reggie White goes further into detail about the things he ment in his speech and how people took them. He talks about how the media slanders him and twists his word, make up stuff, etc. *STAR*

Characters/Relationships: Reggie White was a character of faith. He was passionate at everything he put his heart into. *STAR*

SLV (Sex Language Violence): There was no SLV used in this book. *STAR*

Overall Review: This was intense read on today's issues and problems in America and around the world. Reggie White goes into depth about his view on certain topics. This is a thought provoking book that really makes you step book and realize what you believe or don't believe. I felt that the beginning of the book was a little slow for my taste and it took me a little while to really get into it but the further I read the more it picked up and by time I got to the end I was rather sad to put it down. I would recommend this book to anybody who wants to read about a man who was a role model to so many and a man after God's own heart.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick, powerful read.

[Erick · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's scripture based from a blue collar minister. He speaks as if he was a concerned friend rather than a theologian. It is very easy reading and well researched.

[James Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful spirit was shown throughout this book, and he did an excellent job exhibiting his faith in a non-threatening fashion.