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The Call to Conversion: Recovering the Gospel for These Times
A leading voice at the crossroads of faith and politics offers a prophetic appeal for our faced with a growing gap between the rich and poor, bombarded by national security alerts that ratchet up our stress levels, taxed by a government that spends billions of dollars on war -- where do we find hope? In this revised and updated edition of his classic, Jim Wallis insightfully critiques contemporary culture and politics, inspiring us with stories to convert our way of thinking and point to a solution to our current social and political dilemmas.
190 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
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About the author
Jim Wallis
89 books205 followersJIM WALLIS is a globally respected writer, teacher, preacher, justice advocate, regular international commentator on ethics and public life, and mentor for a new generation. He is a New York Times bestselling author of twelve books, including Christ in Crisis, America's Original Sin, God's Politics and The Great Awakening. Wallis is the Founder of Sojourners. He served on President Obama's White House Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and has taught faith and public life courses at Harvard and Georgetown University. "Coach Jim" also served for 22 seasons as a Little League coach for his two baseball playing sons.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 4, 2018
This is a damning indictment of the fact that many Christians are not adequately converted to Christ. We have many false gods and ideologies that get in the way. The author at times seems almost despondent and speaks of the entire church being dead (cf. "The church has lost any vision for its life together." p. 123), though he still finds ways to encourage the church to recapture the vision of being fully and totally dependent upon Christ.
One failure of this book is its inability address both sides of the political landscape. While he rightly condemns 'conservative' Christian ideology as being non-Christian (and one wonders how much more evidence he would have in 2018!), both sides have failure; the refusal of those who are more 'liberal' to stand against sexual immorality and lifestyles that denigrate the family are equally at fault for the failure of the witness of the church. Yes, he is writing in a culture in which most religion is 'conservative', but this does not change the fact that both ideological poles distract us from following Christ fully.
One failure of this book is its inability address both sides of the political landscape. While he rightly condemns 'conservative' Christian ideology as being non-Christian (and one wonders how much more evidence he would have in 2018!), both sides have failure; the refusal of those who are more 'liberal' to stand against sexual immorality and lifestyles that denigrate the family are equally at fault for the failure of the witness of the church. Yes, he is writing in a culture in which most religion is 'conservative', but this does not change the fact that both ideological poles distract us from following Christ fully.
August 28, 2018
Powerful book with a timeless message. Do justly, love mercy and walk humbly.
May 13, 2013
I didn't finish this books. Jim Wallis (founder of Sojourners, pastor, author, and activist) is well known for comments like the following:
Why is the United States the richest nation on earth? The answer is neither to Yankee ingenuity nor to God's special blessing. It is starkly material. As our nation grew, resources were always cheap. We built our country on land taken from Native Americans and the labor of black slaves and later ethnic immigrants. (page 44).
Not much else to say about this book.
Why is the United States the richest nation on earth? The answer is neither to Yankee ingenuity nor to God's special blessing. It is starkly material. As our nation grew, resources were always cheap. We built our country on land taken from Native Americans and the labor of black slaves and later ethnic immigrants. (page 44).
Not much else to say about this book.
May 24, 2012
I am reading the 1981 edition which is slightly shorter than the revised one.
Also, he spends a lot of time critiquing the evangelist church of the early 1980's.
Another drawback to the 1st edition is that he comments on the issue of Nuclear War from the standpoint of the USA/USSR which would not apply currently. I would be interested in reading the newer version but this one still is worthwhile.
Also, he spends a lot of time critiquing the evangelist church of the early 1980's.
Another drawback to the 1st edition is that he comments on the issue of Nuclear War from the standpoint of the USA/USSR which would not apply currently. I would be interested in reading the newer version but this one still is worthwhile.
September 14, 2007
Wallis is pretty good at making you feel uncomfortable for the things which you choose to make you feel comfortable. Jim really wants his readers to take life seriously as called out by Jesus in the Gospels. I think he has an excellent point/theory throughout this text to be intentional with the ways of life...politics, religion, relationships, etc...
November 18, 2009
All of Jim Wallis' books are wonderful, as is this.
July 31, 2012
A classic
October 14, 2012
Not as good as God's Politics, but decent read that made me think about mainstream Christianity and what it professes to believe vs. practices
January 21, 2009
A bit less than two years on and I can hardly recall a single detail.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews