What do you think?
Rate this book
Beyond Guilt: Christian Response to Suffering
As an African saying goes, "When a person is hungry, tomorrow is a long way away." George Johnson wants us to know the world's suffering with new depth. And then he wants us to find hope. His rich book, filled with stories, insights and quotations, is a valuable tool. Join the conversation, and believe in the power of a Christian response to suffering.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
9 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 13, 2020
Although the book essentially is about ways to move beyond guilt to scripturally informed, effective social and political action, the insights and techniques are highly applicable to anyone's life as an individual, too. Altogether this is a wonderful resource for almost any kind of church - or synagogue - study group, social action, mission, stewardship or evangelism committee! An individual or group could spend a year or more praying, thinking and working through the two dozen chapters or they could focus on an emphasis that matched their particular interests and needs and run with it for a month or so. Beyond Guilt also would be a wonderful community resource for involving people who don't necessarily identify with a faith tradition but are concerned about the environment and would like to help make changes in effective and lasting ways.
Each chapter - both title and content - represents a continuum of attitudes and behaviors that aren't necessarily mutually exclusive such as (chapter 3) From Silence to Speech; (chapter 7) From Charity to Justice; (chapter 16), From Certainty to Ambiguity; (chapter 23) From Peace to Peacemaker. George's own reflections open each chapter followed by "Other Voices" from well-known and not so famous people; each Other Voices concludes with a scripture quote sandwiched between concluding ideas for Reflection and Action. I especially appreciate how they range from reading suggestions, group activities and possible political actions. The outstanding bibliography includes about 100 items, mostly books.
On pages 42 - 43 - 44, in chapter 7, "From Charity to Justice", among the commonly understood causes of "poverty, hunger and oppression" Pastor George includes "neo-colonialism, militarism, transnational corporations and especially in the church factors include ten "neglect of" items such as neglect of scriptures, neglect of community, neglect of the prophetic, of economics and neglect of the poor.
On page 68 from chapter 12, "From Caring for Humans to Caring for Creation," there's another truly essential list of mainly misconceptions and untruths that have happened as a result of human(!) anthropocentrism; some examples are imagining natural resources as limitless; the lie that greater "material abundance" improves the quality of life and the idiocy that humans are supposed to use and control nature rather than live as stewards.
Chapter 14, "From Wealth to Partnership" on page 79, says we can begin with the scriptures, but given that we always bring with us our own situation, attitudes, experiences and traditions, why not start with those, because "it will make a difference in the questions we ask as we study the Bible.
As Pastor George reminds us, the early Christians of Acts 2 did not have a Book of Order or a Small Catechism. I'll add they didn't *even* have the Definition of Chalcedon, the Articles of Faith or the Belhar Confession--not to mention, no Canons of Dort whatsoever! What did the early Christians possess? Memories of Jesus and experiences of God's action and presence in their lives and in the world around them possessed them and drove them to faithful action.
In chapter 15, on page 85, a fabulous list of 7 Hope Is possibilities include:
Hope is found in the willingness to embrace pain and to express it.
Hope is rooted in community and grows as we are present to one another.
Hope is found in remaining close to nature and celebrating God's creation.
Hope is nurtured through music and the arts.
Amen? Amen!!!
I especially love Pastor George's emphasis on the integrity and redemption of all creation. In the sovereignty of heaven to be faithful means to keep covenant, which means non-exploitive, "I-Thou" relationships with all creation.
Legal note - Disclosure of Material Connection - in accordance with Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255: I received this book free from publisher, author, or agent, and was not required to write a positive review.
Originally reviewed in March 2010
Each chapter - both title and content - represents a continuum of attitudes and behaviors that aren't necessarily mutually exclusive such as (chapter 3) From Silence to Speech; (chapter 7) From Charity to Justice; (chapter 16), From Certainty to Ambiguity; (chapter 23) From Peace to Peacemaker. George's own reflections open each chapter followed by "Other Voices" from well-known and not so famous people; each Other Voices concludes with a scripture quote sandwiched between concluding ideas for Reflection and Action. I especially appreciate how they range from reading suggestions, group activities and possible political actions. The outstanding bibliography includes about 100 items, mostly books.
On pages 42 - 43 - 44, in chapter 7, "From Charity to Justice", among the commonly understood causes of "poverty, hunger and oppression" Pastor George includes "neo-colonialism, militarism, transnational corporations and especially in the church factors include ten "neglect of" items such as neglect of scriptures, neglect of community, neglect of the prophetic, of economics and neglect of the poor.
On page 68 from chapter 12, "From Caring for Humans to Caring for Creation," there's another truly essential list of mainly misconceptions and untruths that have happened as a result of human(!) anthropocentrism; some examples are imagining natural resources as limitless; the lie that greater "material abundance" improves the quality of life and the idiocy that humans are supposed to use and control nature rather than live as stewards.
Chapter 14, "From Wealth to Partnership" on page 79, says we can begin with the scriptures, but given that we always bring with us our own situation, attitudes, experiences and traditions, why not start with those, because "it will make a difference in the questions we ask as we study the Bible.
As Pastor George reminds us, the early Christians of Acts 2 did not have a Book of Order or a Small Catechism. I'll add they didn't *even* have the Definition of Chalcedon, the Articles of Faith or the Belhar Confession--not to mention, no Canons of Dort whatsoever! What did the early Christians possess? Memories of Jesus and experiences of God's action and presence in their lives and in the world around them possessed them and drove them to faithful action.
In chapter 15, on page 85, a fabulous list of 7 Hope Is possibilities include:
Hope is found in the willingness to embrace pain and to express it.
Hope is rooted in community and grows as we are present to one another.
Hope is found in remaining close to nature and celebrating God's creation.
Hope is nurtured through music and the arts.
Amen? Amen!!!
I especially love Pastor George's emphasis on the integrity and redemption of all creation. In the sovereignty of heaven to be faithful means to keep covenant, which means non-exploitive, "I-Thou" relationships with all creation.
Legal note - Disclosure of Material Connection - in accordance with Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255: I received this book free from publisher, author, or agent, and was not required to write a positive review.
Originally reviewed in March 2010
Read
January 21, 2010read this in one sitting. this would be a great book for an adult ed class or small group study. getting at the quesion of justice through theology and Scripture, Johnson touches on some wonderful questions for discussion at the end of each chapter. Johnson also includes a wonderful biograophy for those interested in questions of getting beyond charity toward justice.
December 27, 2014
outstanding brief intro to challenging world hunger -- great for group reading and discussion
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews