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Between a Rock and a Hard Place
You are a United States Senator. You hold strong faith in Jesus Christ and his gospel.
What do you do when you see your country’s actions running counter to the teaching of that faith?
How can you justify your country’s idolatry of power and condone the use of violence in light of Jesus Christ’s example of loving servanthood?
How do you feel when fellow Christians say your political stand—on war, foreign policy, social concerns both domestic and world-wide—makes them doubt the sincerity of your faith?
Is it really possible to follow a career in politics and be faithfully committed to Christ as the same time?
In Between a Rock and a Hard Place Senator Mark Hatfield shares his deepest feelings on these questions and others equally crucial. He describes vividly some of the agonies and frustrations of his career. The decision (as Governor of Oregon in 1958) whether to commute or carry out a death sentence of a condemned criminal. The truth—and often, absurdity—of who has influence and power over our nation’s policies. The dangers and evils of a civil religion which sees America as “God’s chosen nation.” The reaction to his 1973 National Prayer Breakfast remarks calling the Vietnam War “a sin.” The disillusionment with “all the pompous pretension, the dehumanizing relationships, the prestige-seeking social life, and the seeming impotence, frustration and emptiness of political endeavor.”
Impelled to find direction for his life, Senator Hatfield combed Old and New Testaments as well as early church history for what they had to say of the Christian’s relation to the state: the priorities of allegiance, “just” wars, civil disobedience, hunger and poverty, environmental stewardship.
What he found in that study took him from dilemma to decision. “My entire concept of leadership and power underwent a drastic revision,” says Senator Hatfield. “Radical allegiance to Jesus Christ transforms one’s entire perspective on political reality. Priorities become totally changed; a whole new understanding of what is truly important bursts forth. There is an uncompromised identification with the needs of the poor and the oppressed. One is placed in fundamental opposition to structures of injustice and forms of national idolatry. Further, there is a commitment to the power of love as the only means to the end.
“Our call is to faithfulness, not to efficacy; it is servanthood rather than power. We know that the most decisive action that we can take to shape history is to follow the way of Christ, to give ourselves to the building of the Body, and to pour out ourselves as he did in love.”
What do you do when you see your country’s actions running counter to the teaching of that faith?
How can you justify your country’s idolatry of power and condone the use of violence in light of Jesus Christ’s example of loving servanthood?
How do you feel when fellow Christians say your political stand—on war, foreign policy, social concerns both domestic and world-wide—makes them doubt the sincerity of your faith?
Is it really possible to follow a career in politics and be faithfully committed to Christ as the same time?
In Between a Rock and a Hard Place Senator Mark Hatfield shares his deepest feelings on these questions and others equally crucial. He describes vividly some of the agonies and frustrations of his career. The decision (as Governor of Oregon in 1958) whether to commute or carry out a death sentence of a condemned criminal. The truth—and often, absurdity—of who has influence and power over our nation’s policies. The dangers and evils of a civil religion which sees America as “God’s chosen nation.” The reaction to his 1973 National Prayer Breakfast remarks calling the Vietnam War “a sin.” The disillusionment with “all the pompous pretension, the dehumanizing relationships, the prestige-seeking social life, and the seeming impotence, frustration and emptiness of political endeavor.”
Impelled to find direction for his life, Senator Hatfield combed Old and New Testaments as well as early church history for what they had to say of the Christian’s relation to the state: the priorities of allegiance, “just” wars, civil disobedience, hunger and poverty, environmental stewardship.
What he found in that study took him from dilemma to decision. “My entire concept of leadership and power underwent a drastic revision,” says Senator Hatfield. “Radical allegiance to Jesus Christ transforms one’s entire perspective on political reality. Priorities become totally changed; a whole new understanding of what is truly important bursts forth. There is an uncompromised identification with the needs of the poor and the oppressed. One is placed in fundamental opposition to structures of injustice and forms of national idolatry. Further, there is a commitment to the power of love as the only means to the end.
“Our call is to faithfulness, not to efficacy; it is servanthood rather than power. We know that the most decisive action that we can take to shape history is to follow the way of Christ, to give ourselves to the building of the Body, and to pour out ourselves as he did in love.”
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1976
3 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 6, 2020
This book was nothing like I expected it would be. In a good way.
Surprise number one was that despite being published by a US senator in 1976, every topic presented in the book is still relevant today. As long as humans continue to be humans, it will never stop being relevant.
Surprise number two was that despite being written and published by a US senator, the book is not intended to further the author’s political career. He writes about topics I would expect no politician to address in a meaningful way, and he is clear that he will not compromise his values simply to remain in politics. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, Hatfield went on to serve as a US senator for another 20 years, never losing an election in his 46 years of elected office.
Hatfield writes honestly and candidly about the role Christianity plays in his own political life, but this is not mainstream Christianity. It’s the from-the-words-of-Jesus Christianity you might expect to see from someone like Shane Claiborne.
The conclusions Hatfield reaches have clearly been formed through experience, extensive research and deep consideration. He does not hold back in his assessment of the American political system or the importance of the values held by those who participate in the system. He writes:
And,
He examines politics and power systems. Christian political history. Violence, pacifism, and the just war theory. Stewardship of the Earth and its inhabitants. How our consumption patterns are working against humanity. How our own values make the world what it is.
The chapters in this book are:
1. Politics and Pretension
2. Power as Servanthood
3. Prophetic Faithfulness
4. The Politics of the Cross
5. Challenging the Powers
6. The Constantinian Legacy
7. Civil Religion and Biblical Faith
8. Faith and Violence
9. The Purist and the Apologist
10. “To See the Earth As It Truly Is”
11. A Liberating Revolution
12. Stewards of Creation
13. Bones and Bounty
These are not the buzzword topics with easy party lines you might expect to see from anyone in politics. The topics are hard. Every chapter is a challenge to every reader to consider the moral implications of their ideals, and further, to look to themselves first for solutions to the many problems they see in the world.
This book is written from a Christian perspective, however, you do not need to call yourself a Christian to benefit from considering the ideas and principles presented in this book.
If you are curious about power in politics, the American political system, early Christianity, war, peace, the environment, poverty, hunger and how your own values shape these things, read this book.
Surprise number one was that despite being published by a US senator in 1976, every topic presented in the book is still relevant today. As long as humans continue to be humans, it will never stop being relevant.
Surprise number two was that despite being written and published by a US senator, the book is not intended to further the author’s political career. He writes about topics I would expect no politician to address in a meaningful way, and he is clear that he will not compromise his values simply to remain in politics. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, Hatfield went on to serve as a US senator for another 20 years, never losing an election in his 46 years of elected office.
Hatfield writes honestly and candidly about the role Christianity plays in his own political life, but this is not mainstream Christianity. It’s the from-the-words-of-Jesus Christianity you might expect to see from someone like Shane Claiborne.
The conclusions Hatfield reaches have clearly been formed through experience, extensive research and deep consideration. He does not hold back in his assessment of the American political system or the importance of the values held by those who participate in the system. He writes:
A façade of statesmanlike idealism conceals a brothel of egomania and lust for power which prostitute those in political life for often nothing more than personal vainglory.
And,
[I]n some ways, our political system does adequately represent the people of America as it works its will; the problem is not the system, but rather, the people themselves, and their values.
He examines politics and power systems. Christian political history. Violence, pacifism, and the just war theory. Stewardship of the Earth and its inhabitants. How our consumption patterns are working against humanity. How our own values make the world what it is.
The chapters in this book are:
1. Politics and Pretension
2. Power as Servanthood
3. Prophetic Faithfulness
4. The Politics of the Cross
5. Challenging the Powers
6. The Constantinian Legacy
7. Civil Religion and Biblical Faith
8. Faith and Violence
9. The Purist and the Apologist
10. “To See the Earth As It Truly Is”
11. A Liberating Revolution
12. Stewards of Creation
13. Bones and Bounty
These are not the buzzword topics with easy party lines you might expect to see from anyone in politics. The topics are hard. Every chapter is a challenge to every reader to consider the moral implications of their ideals, and further, to look to themselves first for solutions to the many problems they see in the world.
This book is written from a Christian perspective, however, you do not need to call yourself a Christian to benefit from considering the ideas and principles presented in this book.
If you are curious about power in politics, the American political system, early Christianity, war, peace, the environment, poverty, hunger and how your own values shape these things, read this book.
July 9, 2023
This is one of the best books I have read in a very long time. It is about Mark Hatfield's journey as a Christian and as a politician, and how we walked that line and stayed true to his faith.
September 25, 2024
I chose to read this book after learning Mark Hatfield was one of the politicians Gloria Brown worked with during her time in leadership of the US Forest Service (Black Woman in Green: Gloria Brown and the Unmarked Trail to Forest Service Leadership). As a US Senator, Mark Hatfield struggled with the internal conflicts he felt between serving as a politician, his strong spiritual beliefs and commitment to non-violence. The questions Hatfield asked of himself (and of us) in this book remain relevant today. "Can humanity engage in politics without violence?" Can we live a spiritual life in a world that is addicted to power, where governments condone war, and have us turning our backs on the suffering of others?
August 8, 2013
A deep, honest and personal reflection on being a Christian elected official in America. Sen. Hatfield examines the history of the church's relationship to government over time, from Biblical times to the 1970s, as well as the philosophy of government in America, to outline a Christian approach to service. Particular emphasis is placed on war and violence, but he also touches on issues like the environment, poverty and hunger. Hatfield's background as a college professor is evident. Despite being written in the early 70s, it holds up very well and contains important ideas for Christians today.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews