Blue Collar Resistance and the Politics of Jesus: Doing Ministry with Working Class Whites

by Tex Sample

To be faithful to the gospel, all ministry must be indigenous ; it must participate in the distinctive practices and perspectives of the people among whom ministry is taking place. Because our society tends to ignore or deny the reality of class divisions and prejudice, too many congregational leaders know too little about the world of working class whites. Continuing his groundbreaking work on class and American religion, Sample opens up the lives and lifestyles of working class whites in order to engage with them in authentic and transformational ministry.

From the Circuit Rider "Tex Sample has written one of the most fun books to read on ministry that you will ever come across. Weaving philosophy, theology, country western lyrics, and stories throughout the book Sample at once delights and provokes us to think about the way in which we live out church in this day and age." (Click here to read the whole review.)

Genres: Theology

138 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2006

About the author

Is a specialist in church and society, a storyteller, author.

Reviews

[DB Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Resistance and revitalization

Sample’s book is a great study of the practices of social inequality as it pertains to church ministry. If the subtitle appears a bit off-putting, Sample’s admitted “hunch is that people who do not care about lower-class whites probably do not care about any kind of people who are poor.” This is played out in a great over view of culture. A great read for any one trying to grasp layers of Christian ministry among a non-educated working class group.

[anna faith adair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sample explores how to do transformative ministry within the blue collar community. Very insightful!

[Alan Stucky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for any social-justice-y christian who has written off working class whites as part of the problem. This book just rocked my world. After two years working as a pastor in a small rural town in Kansas, it instantly brought numerous situations, issues and people into focus. At the very least, every Mennonite pastor coming out of seminary needs to read this book.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm still processing my thoughts on this book. I admire Sample's brazen honesty in pointing out classism within progressive and liberal circles but found his characterization of working class people perhaps a bit too simplistic. But, I'm trying to stay open to what this book has to teach me.