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Running for Our Lives: A Story of Faith, Politics, and the Common Good
Empowered by the Brand New Congress initiative in 2018, evangelical pastor and progressive Republican Robb Ryerse embarked on a long-shot, grassroots congressional campaign against Steve Womack, one of the most powerful Republican incumbents in Washington, DC. After he ultimately lost his race, Ryerse worked with the Vote Common Good campaign, traveling across the United States to help turn Congress blue.
Throughout his political journey, Ryerse gained new insights on the relationship between religion and politics in America today, the dynamics of our deep partisan divide, and the power of faithful people working for the common good. Running for Our Lives is the honest and authentic story of how one pastor tried to make a difference. Through all the joys and struggles of daring to make a stand, Ryerse shares what he's learned about how our political identities shape us, what the role of government has in helping to meet people's needs, and how others can get involved in politics as an expression of progressive faith.
Throughout his political journey, Ryerse gained new insights on the relationship between religion and politics in America today, the dynamics of our deep partisan divide, and the power of faithful people working for the common good. Running for Our Lives is the honest and authentic story of how one pastor tried to make a difference. Through all the joys and struggles of daring to make a stand, Ryerse shares what he's learned about how our political identities shape us, what the role of government has in helping to meet people's needs, and how others can get involved in politics as an expression of progressive faith.
- GenresPoliticsNonfiction
180 pages, Paperback
First published February 18, 2020
2 people are currently reading
667 people want to read
About the author
Robb Ryerse
5 books18 followersRobb is the copastor of Vintage Fellowship, a progressive evangelical church in Fayetteville Arkansas. He serves as the Executive Director of Brand New Congress and the Political Director of Vote Common Good. In 2018, Robb ran for United State Congress in the Republican primary in Arkansas’ 3rd Congressional District.
He lives in Northwest Arkansas with his wife Vanessa and four children.
Robb is a graduate of Missio Seminary in Philadelphia PA and Clarks Summit University in Clarks Summit PA.
He is the author of Running For Our Lives: A Story of Faith, Politics and the Common Good and Fundamorphosis: How I Left Fundamentalism But Didn’t Lose My Faith.
He lives in Northwest Arkansas with his wife Vanessa and four children.
Robb is a graduate of Missio Seminary in Philadelphia PA and Clarks Summit University in Clarks Summit PA.
He is the author of Running For Our Lives: A Story of Faith, Politics and the Common Good and Fundamorphosis: How I Left Fundamentalism But Didn’t Lose My Faith.
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March 13, 2020
Summary: A northwest Arkansas pastor decides to run in a primary against one of the most powerful Republican representatives in a grassroots campaign to restore a say in government to ordinary citizens.
Robb Ryerse was a political junkie. He was also a pastor whose developing ministry led him to political views at variance with many of his fundamentalist counterparts. It led him eventually to launch a counter-cultural and inclusive church in northwest Arkansas. It led to weeping when the nominee of his party was elected president in 2016 and joining others who were concerned about the way our political process was going.
All this led to Ryerse being recruited by Brand New Congress to run a grassroots campaign oriented around the common good of the everyday American. He went to a "Congress Camp" with a number of candidates from both parties including Antonia Ocasio-Cortez. What is striking is that Ryerse went as a Republican running against a Republican incumbent. He finds himself at variance with his party, not with the philosophy of governance, but rather with positions on healthcare, climate change, and immigration that have become immigration. He discovered that for all their disagreements, he could find common ground by focusing on the common good with those at Congress Camp who did not share his party affiliation--something they all wanted to take to Washington.
One of the key issues he explores is the issue of campaign finance. He argues that you will only have a Congress responsive to everyday citizens when they, and not big donors fund the campaigns, something Antonia Ocasio-Cortes was able to do. The challenge: this will probably take a constitutional amendment unless Americans refuse to support candidates funded by big money interests.
He traces the high and low points, the latter including a party dinner in a remote part of the district where his name was mispronounced and no one would talk to him. On the other hand were voters dissatisfied with the direction of the party who listened. A documentary crew follows his run from when he pays the $15,000 entry fee set by the party, his early high hopes and his increasing realization that he just didn't have the votes. He ended winning 15 percent of the vote.
He ended the race a changed person. He reached a position on gun control that focused not only on the right to bear arms, but the "well-regulated" character of a citizenry who did so as a basis for gun legislation that did not take weapons away, but did govern how they could be obtained as part of a package of common sense gun legislation. Most of all, he became even more convinced of the need for a movement that focused on the electing of everyday people by everyday people committed to the common good. So when the invitation to become executive director of Brand New Congress to continue this movement, he said yes.
I suspect a number of people who read this review would not agree with all of Ryerse positions. I don't. But what strikes me is that Ryerse argues for the kind of politician that I think we need to change the character of our legislative branch -- people committed to seeking the common good of our citizens. What Ryerse does not answer is what it takes for such candidates to unseat a heavily funded incumbent on a shoe string. His support from everyday people, which he prided himself on, only amounted to $30,000, a paltry amount compared to his opponent. He can pride himself that he ran a principled race all he wants, but the truth is, he didn't even come close to being elected. Nor did he generate enough of a movement of "everyday people" to even make the race competitive. Does that say something?
________________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Robb Ryerse was a political junkie. He was also a pastor whose developing ministry led him to political views at variance with many of his fundamentalist counterparts. It led him eventually to launch a counter-cultural and inclusive church in northwest Arkansas. It led to weeping when the nominee of his party was elected president in 2016 and joining others who were concerned about the way our political process was going.
All this led to Ryerse being recruited by Brand New Congress to run a grassroots campaign oriented around the common good of the everyday American. He went to a "Congress Camp" with a number of candidates from both parties including Antonia Ocasio-Cortez. What is striking is that Ryerse went as a Republican running against a Republican incumbent. He finds himself at variance with his party, not with the philosophy of governance, but rather with positions on healthcare, climate change, and immigration that have become immigration. He discovered that for all their disagreements, he could find common ground by focusing on the common good with those at Congress Camp who did not share his party affiliation--something they all wanted to take to Washington.
One of the key issues he explores is the issue of campaign finance. He argues that you will only have a Congress responsive to everyday citizens when they, and not big donors fund the campaigns, something Antonia Ocasio-Cortes was able to do. The challenge: this will probably take a constitutional amendment unless Americans refuse to support candidates funded by big money interests.
He traces the high and low points, the latter including a party dinner in a remote part of the district where his name was mispronounced and no one would talk to him. On the other hand were voters dissatisfied with the direction of the party who listened. A documentary crew follows his run from when he pays the $15,000 entry fee set by the party, his early high hopes and his increasing realization that he just didn't have the votes. He ended winning 15 percent of the vote.
He ended the race a changed person. He reached a position on gun control that focused not only on the right to bear arms, but the "well-regulated" character of a citizenry who did so as a basis for gun legislation that did not take weapons away, but did govern how they could be obtained as part of a package of common sense gun legislation. Most of all, he became even more convinced of the need for a movement that focused on the electing of everyday people by everyday people committed to the common good. So when the invitation to become executive director of Brand New Congress to continue this movement, he said yes.
I suspect a number of people who read this review would not agree with all of Ryerse positions. I don't. But what strikes me is that Ryerse argues for the kind of politician that I think we need to change the character of our legislative branch -- people committed to seeking the common good of our citizens. What Ryerse does not answer is what it takes for such candidates to unseat a heavily funded incumbent on a shoe string. His support from everyday people, which he prided himself on, only amounted to $30,000, a paltry amount compared to his opponent. He can pride himself that he ran a principled race all he wants, but the truth is, he didn't even come close to being elected. Nor did he generate enough of a movement of "everyday people" to even make the race competitive. Does that say something?
________________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
January 29, 2020
I am not overly thrilled with everything in this book. I agree with another review that says the title is misleading. There are good stories, many moving moments, and a lot to think about. It gets 'preachy' in several places about how you should view politics. I disagree with him on several things. That's a personal view not a reflection of the story.
I enjoyed the way he takes you through his journey. I learned a lot about what it takes to run for Congress. There's a personal part regarding one of his kids that was powerful. I am thankful he chose to share it.
I think this book is worth the read. It may change your mind about some things and may also help you to stick with what you believe. I have to admit that I sat down and read it all the way through. Even though I don't agree with everything in this book, it's still engaging.
I enjoyed the way he takes you through his journey. I learned a lot about what it takes to run for Congress. There's a personal part regarding one of his kids that was powerful. I am thankful he chose to share it.
I think this book is worth the read. It may change your mind about some things and may also help you to stick with what you believe. I have to admit that I sat down and read it all the way through. Even though I don't agree with everything in this book, it's still engaging.
April 16, 2020
When I saw this title on NetGalley, I was sure it was something I wanted to read. What I didn’t know was if it would infuriate me, give me hope, or change my views. But after finally deciding to request it, I’m happy to report that it did all three. I’m a strong believer in a solid wall between church and state. The state shouldn’t be telling religious institutions how to worship and religious institutions shouldn’t be trying to tell the American people how to live. I didn’t know anything about author, Robb Ryerse, before starting this book, but I soon learned he’s a pastor in Arkansas who ran to unseat the incumbent congressman from his district. I wasn’t sure if he was going to try to convert me to his way of thinking regarding the intersection of politics and faith, but I went into it with an open mind. No one is going to convert me to their religious beliefs at this point in my life, but I was willing to entertain different ideas on how elected officials and the faithful can best serve their country without sacrificing their beliefs.
RUNNING FOR OUR LIVES is about a lot of things. It’s about how politics work in America (hint, it’s seriously broken), how many of the American faithful have embraced an immoral president in the name of Jesus, and how people of faith can put their beliefs in action without trampling on the rights of others to believe something differently. I found this book refreshing. Having been raised Catholic, Robb and I have had very different religious upbringings, and yet we oddly have similar ideas when it comes to the teachings of Jesus. Nowhere does Jesus say that we should blame the poor for their circumstances. Nor did he ever say to turn a blind eye to the suffering of others if it mean less financial security for you. Yet I see these ideas being shared by Christians. That, “If only those people would do what I did, they wouldn’t be poor.” Or “We can’t help everyone.” I get it. We can’t necessarily help everyone, but we also shouldn’t, as a nation, make life harder for people in their own countries with our policies. But that is exactly what happens when our president rails about trade deficits with countries like Mexico. Mexico has a population of less than half of the United States and a GDP per capita of just $9,670 vs. our $62,794. It is unconscionable to expect a nation of impoverished citizens to buy the same amount of US products as we do from them. It is also very unchristian. Nowhere will you find Jesus demanding the poor buy more of your products in order for you to buy more of theirs. That is not how Christianity works.
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Robb is my kind of Christian. Someone who really gets that Christianity is not about getting rich, or even ensuring your are comfortable enough before you help the less fortunate. I also completely understand the argument that Jesus wasn’t talking about government. He was talking about people. But people have let down the poor over and over and over again. When that happens, governments have the duty to ensure no one falls through the cracks as part of ensuring the common good. If people would step up and do what’s right, government wouldn’t need to. To ignore the crisis at our southern border because they aren’t Americans is a grievous sin in my opinion.
Once I realized Robb saw human suffering the same way I did, I was even more willing to really hear what he had to say. I highlighted more passages in his book than any other I’ve ever read. The following are some of my favorites:
Could we as potential candidates for Congress demonstrate that people are more important than party?
I’m so tired of both major political parties putting their party loyalty above their duty to their constituents, those who elected them to office in the first place. But we see it time and time again. It’s one of the biggest reasons people hate government. We feel as if government works for itself, but not for us. What is surprising about this is that most people think their own particular elected officials are generally doing a good job, but it’s those “other” guys who are messing it up. Which is why incumbents have such a high rate of reelection. I loved that Robb really got it and that he was determined to do whatever little part he could to right that enormous wrong.
Those who are cynical about American politics are convinced that the tribalism of the two-party system can’t be overcome. They frequently complain that their elected officials won’t cross the aisle to compromise. But how can we expect our leaders to put people ahead of party if we’re unwilling to do it first?
This is another paragraph that really stuck with me. I’ve been guilty as much of anyone of believing that I’m right. Because if I didn’t think I was right about an issue, I would be searching for what WAS right. And even if I think I’m right, I also know that nothing good ever comes from forcing my opinions onto others. We ping pong back and forth between liberal and conservative policies, depending on who is in the White House, giving the country whiplash. But if we stopped trying to make everyone bend to our will and realize that compromise is a beautiful word, not a curse, everyone could get a little of what they wanted, but no one would get everything they want. It means our country will change gradually, even if a big overhaul is what many of us believe is needed. But these gradual changes are more likely to be lasting changes that can be built upon over time.
The twenty-four hour news cycle means that each and every minute of airtime has to be filled in a way that drives ratings among people who already know the news. For this reason, sensationalized stories that feed the public’s appetite for entertainment and draw the largest audience get more play than substantive stories.
He precedes this statement by mentioning that everyone walks around with a handheld computer in their pocket, pushing news headlines constantly to our attention. So if we read that Bernie Sanders suspended his campaign in five different news stories on our phones, when we tune into the news later, we don’t want to see what we already know. So the cable news channels look for that angle, the something different they think will appeal to their viewers. For Fox News it may be how the DNC orchestrated once again, a scenario to allow the establishment candidate to win the nomination. But CNN may start speculating on who Biden’s running mate may be, and MSNBC may run with the ideas that Bernie brought to the table and how they changed the conversation within the Democratic party. All of which leads to Americans, understandably so, believing the cable new stations are biased. I think it’s far less about the stations being biased and more that their viewers are biased and they know it. They want to appeal to their viewers, even if it means slanting a story a certain way. In most cases, the media gets the facts right. Not always, but more often than not. Where bias comes in is how they present those facts, and of course, the salacious punditry, speculating on everything and anything when additional facts are not available.
I started to refer to myself as an “Eisenhower Republican,” because I wanted people to recognize that I was not trying to do something that had never been done. I was trying to stand on the shoulders of other Republican leaders who fought for progressive ideas.
Robb ran as a “progressive” republican. Many people on the campaign trail asked him why he was running as a republican, if he was a progressive, and not as a democrat. He had to explain time and again that his ideas were the same ideas of republican presidents of the past. The party has shifted from what it once was, but that doesn’t mean Robb wants to abandon the party of Eisenhower and Reagan. Rather, he wants to bring the party back to what it once was. I found that refreshing, particularly with so many republicans allowing their party to be hijacked by nationalism and protectionist policies.
Blaming social media and cable news networks for this division is easy, but assigning blame doesn’t help us move beyond it.
He’s so right. We often look at how divided this nation is right now and point to Twitter and Facebook, which have made it easy to spread false information and to attack people for holding views different from ours from the safety of our keyboards. These platforms allow us to shut off our phone if we don’t like the ugliness we started with our harsh words. But saying that the cable news channels who pander to their viewers’ beliefs or the internet for making it easy for us to find our echo chambers, doesn’t help us do anything about it, unless we’re ready to give up cable news and computers. Instead, he offers his own thoughts on how to move ahead as a more civil society. His background as a pastor provides him with a different worldview than mine and gave me a lot to think about.
Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God and others as we love ourselves. This is not two commandments, but one, a unified vision of love. It is recognizing that when we love others, we love God. When we feed the hungry, visit the incarcerated, welcome the stranger, and care for the sick, we are serving not just other people but Jesus himself. … In fact, maybe the most loving thing I can do when I enter the voting booth is to cast my ballot not for my own interests but for the common good.
This may have be the single most powerful few paragraphs in the book. Here is where he really breaks down his views on how religion and politics should mix. How faith can influence our vote, but not in the way I’ve always assumed. I always thought that Christians voted for other Christians, assuming they would bring about Christian policies. But it goes much deeper than that in Robb’s view and I found myself nodding throughout this chapter.
Until our campaign finance system is revamped, the best–and I believe only–hope we have for significant and needed change in Washington is working Americans supporting grassroots candidates with acupunctural interventions of small-dollar donations.
This is where the book infuriated me. Robb talks about how campaign financing works and how much it costs JUST to get your name on ballot to run. He also explains how, with big money donors, once elected, incumbents are tasked with making fundraising calls by their respective parties, eating up large chunks of their day. Time they are not spending working for the people who elected them. I know money in politics is a problem, but Robb’s inside information on the workings of elected officials in congress was mind-numbingly maddening. This is not what we send them to Washington to do. Also, if they need this money to get re-elected, where do their loyalties lie? Ryerse provides concrete examples of how this plays out, and trust me, none of it is good for average Americans.
This was an incredibly fast and engrossing read and I highly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in understanding politics in this country. You do not need to be a republican to appreciate it. You do not need to be a progressive of any party to understand what’s at stake. And you do not need to be a Christian to find something deeply satisfying to take away from this book.
Bottom Line
An eye-opening, stunning look at American politics from an outsider’s point of view.
Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
RUNNING FOR OUR LIVES is about a lot of things. It’s about how politics work in America (hint, it’s seriously broken), how many of the American faithful have embraced an immoral president in the name of Jesus, and how people of faith can put their beliefs in action without trampling on the rights of others to believe something differently. I found this book refreshing. Having been raised Catholic, Robb and I have had very different religious upbringings, and yet we oddly have similar ideas when it comes to the teachings of Jesus. Nowhere does Jesus say that we should blame the poor for their circumstances. Nor did he ever say to turn a blind eye to the suffering of others if it mean less financial security for you. Yet I see these ideas being shared by Christians. That, “If only those people would do what I did, they wouldn’t be poor.” Or “We can’t help everyone.” I get it. We can’t necessarily help everyone, but we also shouldn’t, as a nation, make life harder for people in their own countries with our policies. But that is exactly what happens when our president rails about trade deficits with countries like Mexico. Mexico has a population of less than half of the United States and a GDP per capita of just $9,670 vs. our $62,794. It is unconscionable to expect a nation of impoverished citizens to buy the same amount of US products as we do from them. It is also very unchristian. Nowhere will you find Jesus demanding the poor buy more of your products in order for you to buy more of theirs. That is not how Christianity works.
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Robb is my kind of Christian. Someone who really gets that Christianity is not about getting rich, or even ensuring your are comfortable enough before you help the less fortunate. I also completely understand the argument that Jesus wasn’t talking about government. He was talking about people. But people have let down the poor over and over and over again. When that happens, governments have the duty to ensure no one falls through the cracks as part of ensuring the common good. If people would step up and do what’s right, government wouldn’t need to. To ignore the crisis at our southern border because they aren’t Americans is a grievous sin in my opinion.
Once I realized Robb saw human suffering the same way I did, I was even more willing to really hear what he had to say. I highlighted more passages in his book than any other I’ve ever read. The following are some of my favorites:
Could we as potential candidates for Congress demonstrate that people are more important than party?
I’m so tired of both major political parties putting their party loyalty above their duty to their constituents, those who elected them to office in the first place. But we see it time and time again. It’s one of the biggest reasons people hate government. We feel as if government works for itself, but not for us. What is surprising about this is that most people think their own particular elected officials are generally doing a good job, but it’s those “other” guys who are messing it up. Which is why incumbents have such a high rate of reelection. I loved that Robb really got it and that he was determined to do whatever little part he could to right that enormous wrong.
Those who are cynical about American politics are convinced that the tribalism of the two-party system can’t be overcome. They frequently complain that their elected officials won’t cross the aisle to compromise. But how can we expect our leaders to put people ahead of party if we’re unwilling to do it first?
This is another paragraph that really stuck with me. I’ve been guilty as much of anyone of believing that I’m right. Because if I didn’t think I was right about an issue, I would be searching for what WAS right. And even if I think I’m right, I also know that nothing good ever comes from forcing my opinions onto others. We ping pong back and forth between liberal and conservative policies, depending on who is in the White House, giving the country whiplash. But if we stopped trying to make everyone bend to our will and realize that compromise is a beautiful word, not a curse, everyone could get a little of what they wanted, but no one would get everything they want. It means our country will change gradually, even if a big overhaul is what many of us believe is needed. But these gradual changes are more likely to be lasting changes that can be built upon over time.
The twenty-four hour news cycle means that each and every minute of airtime has to be filled in a way that drives ratings among people who already know the news. For this reason, sensationalized stories that feed the public’s appetite for entertainment and draw the largest audience get more play than substantive stories.
He precedes this statement by mentioning that everyone walks around with a handheld computer in their pocket, pushing news headlines constantly to our attention. So if we read that Bernie Sanders suspended his campaign in five different news stories on our phones, when we tune into the news later, we don’t want to see what we already know. So the cable news channels look for that angle, the something different they think will appeal to their viewers. For Fox News it may be how the DNC orchestrated once again, a scenario to allow the establishment candidate to win the nomination. But CNN may start speculating on who Biden’s running mate may be, and MSNBC may run with the ideas that Bernie brought to the table and how they changed the conversation within the Democratic party. All of which leads to Americans, understandably so, believing the cable new stations are biased. I think it’s far less about the stations being biased and more that their viewers are biased and they know it. They want to appeal to their viewers, even if it means slanting a story a certain way. In most cases, the media gets the facts right. Not always, but more often than not. Where bias comes in is how they present those facts, and of course, the salacious punditry, speculating on everything and anything when additional facts are not available.
I started to refer to myself as an “Eisenhower Republican,” because I wanted people to recognize that I was not trying to do something that had never been done. I was trying to stand on the shoulders of other Republican leaders who fought for progressive ideas.
Robb ran as a “progressive” republican. Many people on the campaign trail asked him why he was running as a republican, if he was a progressive, and not as a democrat. He had to explain time and again that his ideas were the same ideas of republican presidents of the past. The party has shifted from what it once was, but that doesn’t mean Robb wants to abandon the party of Eisenhower and Reagan. Rather, he wants to bring the party back to what it once was. I found that refreshing, particularly with so many republicans allowing their party to be hijacked by nationalism and protectionist policies.
Blaming social media and cable news networks for this division is easy, but assigning blame doesn’t help us move beyond it.
He’s so right. We often look at how divided this nation is right now and point to Twitter and Facebook, which have made it easy to spread false information and to attack people for holding views different from ours from the safety of our keyboards. These platforms allow us to shut off our phone if we don’t like the ugliness we started with our harsh words. But saying that the cable news channels who pander to their viewers’ beliefs or the internet for making it easy for us to find our echo chambers, doesn’t help us do anything about it, unless we’re ready to give up cable news and computers. Instead, he offers his own thoughts on how to move ahead as a more civil society. His background as a pastor provides him with a different worldview than mine and gave me a lot to think about.
Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God and others as we love ourselves. This is not two commandments, but one, a unified vision of love. It is recognizing that when we love others, we love God. When we feed the hungry, visit the incarcerated, welcome the stranger, and care for the sick, we are serving not just other people but Jesus himself. … In fact, maybe the most loving thing I can do when I enter the voting booth is to cast my ballot not for my own interests but for the common good.
This may have be the single most powerful few paragraphs in the book. Here is where he really breaks down his views on how religion and politics should mix. How faith can influence our vote, but not in the way I’ve always assumed. I always thought that Christians voted for other Christians, assuming they would bring about Christian policies. But it goes much deeper than that in Robb’s view and I found myself nodding throughout this chapter.
Until our campaign finance system is revamped, the best–and I believe only–hope we have for significant and needed change in Washington is working Americans supporting grassroots candidates with acupunctural interventions of small-dollar donations.
This is where the book infuriated me. Robb talks about how campaign financing works and how much it costs JUST to get your name on ballot to run. He also explains how, with big money donors, once elected, incumbents are tasked with making fundraising calls by their respective parties, eating up large chunks of their day. Time they are not spending working for the people who elected them. I know money in politics is a problem, but Robb’s inside information on the workings of elected officials in congress was mind-numbingly maddening. This is not what we send them to Washington to do. Also, if they need this money to get re-elected, where do their loyalties lie? Ryerse provides concrete examples of how this plays out, and trust me, none of it is good for average Americans.
This was an incredibly fast and engrossing read and I highly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in understanding politics in this country. You do not need to be a republican to appreciate it. You do not need to be a progressive of any party to understand what’s at stake. And you do not need to be a Christian to find something deeply satisfying to take away from this book.
Bottom Line
An eye-opening, stunning look at American politics from an outsider’s point of view.
Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 6, 2020
How do faith and politics come together? The answer is, it's complicated. In theory, church and state are separate entities, but that doesn't mean the public square is empty of religious elements. There is a de facto civil religion that has roots in Protestant Christianity, and Christianity, especially Protestantism has played a significant role in public life in the United States. Sometimes that's been good. Other times it's not been good.
Sometimes pastors run for public office, which in itself is complicated. How do you separate the two roles? In "Running for Our Lives," Robb Ryerse, a pastor from Arkansas got recruited to run as a primary challenger to a Republican congressional incumbent, tells the story of his attraction to politics, his call to ministry, and his recruitment and campaign for Congress in 2018. Ryerse was the founding pastor of Vintage Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and currently serves as co-pastor of his congregation with his wife Vanessa, and as Executive Director of Brand New Congress.
According to the story, which is part memoir, from a young age Ryerse was interested in politics. He began his Christian life as a fundamentalist Christian and was a committed conservative Republican. Over time he got connected with the Emergent Church movement, of which Doug Pagitt was a key leader. He has led an Emergent style congregation for several years when in part due to his opposition to Donald Trump, once again became interested in politics. That led to his recruitment by the organization he now leads, Brand New Congress, to primary the Republican incumbent who was a staunch Trump supporter.
In the book, we learn about his race for Congress, but also his involvement by Brand New Congress. This is an organization that recruited candidates to primary establishment members of Congress. Most appear to have been progressive Democrats, like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Most of these candidates appear to be aligned with Bernie Sanders. Ryerse, interestingly, ran as a progressive Republican. He advocated for Medicare for All, which he claims a majority of Republicans support, as well as Climate Change, and many other policies that seem more aligned with liberal Democrats than with the Republicans. Throughout the book, Ryerse claims he is, in fact, a Republican, though I could never quite see where he fit within the Republican Party as it currently stands. Once upon a time, back when I was growing up, there was a significant liberal wing of the Republican Party. In my home state of Oregon, Republicans like Tom McCall and Mark Hatfield were strong environmentalists and Hatfield had a fairly strong anti-war record of voting. There aren't many Hatfields left in the Republican party, which is why I long ago switched to the Democratic Party.
It's an intriguing book in that it lays out for us what could be the future of American politics. It's possible there will be political realignments in the future. Perhaps progressive Republicans will reemerge. It's hard to say.
This might be a spoiler, but Ryerse didn't win. Then again, it appears that the only person in this group who did win was Ocasio-Cortez. I was left wondering whether Ryerse, having lost the first time out, might try it again. This time, maybe he would run as a Democrat. I figure the Democrats have a hard time recruiting candidates to run against conservative Republicans in deep-red state regions like Ryerse's district.
In the end, the book has value, less as a primer on getting elected to Congress as an anti-establishment type and more as a reflection on the impact of faith on political views. We can watch as Ryerse tried to be a pastor and a politician. Apparently, he continues to try to thread that needle. So, we can consider how that can occur.
Sometimes pastors run for public office, which in itself is complicated. How do you separate the two roles? In "Running for Our Lives," Robb Ryerse, a pastor from Arkansas got recruited to run as a primary challenger to a Republican congressional incumbent, tells the story of his attraction to politics, his call to ministry, and his recruitment and campaign for Congress in 2018. Ryerse was the founding pastor of Vintage Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and currently serves as co-pastor of his congregation with his wife Vanessa, and as Executive Director of Brand New Congress.
According to the story, which is part memoir, from a young age Ryerse was interested in politics. He began his Christian life as a fundamentalist Christian and was a committed conservative Republican. Over time he got connected with the Emergent Church movement, of which Doug Pagitt was a key leader. He has led an Emergent style congregation for several years when in part due to his opposition to Donald Trump, once again became interested in politics. That led to his recruitment by the organization he now leads, Brand New Congress, to primary the Republican incumbent who was a staunch Trump supporter.
In the book, we learn about his race for Congress, but also his involvement by Brand New Congress. This is an organization that recruited candidates to primary establishment members of Congress. Most appear to have been progressive Democrats, like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Most of these candidates appear to be aligned with Bernie Sanders. Ryerse, interestingly, ran as a progressive Republican. He advocated for Medicare for All, which he claims a majority of Republicans support, as well as Climate Change, and many other policies that seem more aligned with liberal Democrats than with the Republicans. Throughout the book, Ryerse claims he is, in fact, a Republican, though I could never quite see where he fit within the Republican Party as it currently stands. Once upon a time, back when I was growing up, there was a significant liberal wing of the Republican Party. In my home state of Oregon, Republicans like Tom McCall and Mark Hatfield were strong environmentalists and Hatfield had a fairly strong anti-war record of voting. There aren't many Hatfields left in the Republican party, which is why I long ago switched to the Democratic Party.
It's an intriguing book in that it lays out for us what could be the future of American politics. It's possible there will be political realignments in the future. Perhaps progressive Republicans will reemerge. It's hard to say.
This might be a spoiler, but Ryerse didn't win. Then again, it appears that the only person in this group who did win was Ocasio-Cortez. I was left wondering whether Ryerse, having lost the first time out, might try it again. This time, maybe he would run as a Democrat. I figure the Democrats have a hard time recruiting candidates to run against conservative Republicans in deep-red state regions like Ryerse's district.
In the end, the book has value, less as a primer on getting elected to Congress as an anti-establishment type and more as a reflection on the impact of faith on political views. We can watch as Ryerse tried to be a pastor and a politician. Apparently, he continues to try to thread that needle. So, we can consider how that can occur.
February 25, 2020
When election time rolls around, do you ever think about running for office? Often individuals wonder if they couldn't do as good a job or better than the incumbent candidates or anyone else who is running. Running for Our Lives by Robb Ryerse is the story of how he decided to challenge his congressman in the primary. Ryerse peels back the curtains so everyone can see the challenges the ordinary person on the street faces in running for election.
In order to effectively tell his story and why he decided to take the plunge to run for Congress, Ryerse spends some time filling in his backstory of his previous experiences, education, employment, and family background. This information is important in understanding his motivation for running for office. Beyond this backstory, Ryerse spends the majority of the book describing his experiences running a campaign. Ryerse also elaborates on his beliefs and his political platform. As a progressive Republican, in a solidly red district, he did not march in lock step with the party platform but instead emphasized he would represent the people.
While being a somewhat politically aware individual, I learned so much from reading Running for Our Lives. While knowing that running for political office is expensive and that PACS provide a vast amount of political funding, reading his experiences and the actual cost of running for office was eye-opening. In particular the breakdown of how much Ryerse spent on his campaign versus how much his opponent spent and how much that was per vote was both shocking and sickening. It definitely made me a campaign finance reform advocate. In addition to running for Congress, Ryerse also is a bivocational minister. As such, throughout the book he references how his Christian beliefs are the basis of his political beliefs. Several sections of the book, especially an eloquent section on Philippians 2, almost read like a devotional and were very impactful in considering how I think about political issues and my vote.
Running for Our Lives is a marvelous book for anyone who is interested in politics and the process of running for office. As we head into another election year, this is a great book to add to your reading list.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Running for Our Lives from Westminster John Knox via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
In order to effectively tell his story and why he decided to take the plunge to run for Congress, Ryerse spends some time filling in his backstory of his previous experiences, education, employment, and family background. This information is important in understanding his motivation for running for office. Beyond this backstory, Ryerse spends the majority of the book describing his experiences running a campaign. Ryerse also elaborates on his beliefs and his political platform. As a progressive Republican, in a solidly red district, he did not march in lock step with the party platform but instead emphasized he would represent the people.
While being a somewhat politically aware individual, I learned so much from reading Running for Our Lives. While knowing that running for political office is expensive and that PACS provide a vast amount of political funding, reading his experiences and the actual cost of running for office was eye-opening. In particular the breakdown of how much Ryerse spent on his campaign versus how much his opponent spent and how much that was per vote was both shocking and sickening. It definitely made me a campaign finance reform advocate. In addition to running for Congress, Ryerse also is a bivocational minister. As such, throughout the book he references how his Christian beliefs are the basis of his political beliefs. Several sections of the book, especially an eloquent section on Philippians 2, almost read like a devotional and were very impactful in considering how I think about political issues and my vote.
Running for Our Lives is a marvelous book for anyone who is interested in politics and the process of running for office. As we head into another election year, this is a great book to add to your reading list.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Running for Our Lives from Westminster John Knox via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
February 9, 2020
Let’s all agree, we need to be reminded of some things time and time again. This is especially so for us believers, for we’re likened to sheep, and if you’ve ever interacted with sheep like I, you do know that indeed they’ve got a small memory capacity. As the Pundit of Ecclesiastes says, “of making many books, there’s no end”, that’s why books are published week after week, even of topics which I believe have already been well argued. With that being in mind, when I saw this book on relation of Christians and politics, it made me curious, and thanks to Net Galley, I decided to request to go through it in advance before its release, and I really appreciate the publisher for approving my request.
As Christians, you’re well aware that a Biblical worldview should encompass every aspect of our lives, Sunday to Saturday, 168 hours a week, and this include politics. As I began going through it, first thing is the forward section, I got suspicious about the person that endorsed it, his name is Brian McLaren, and if you know that person, he was amongst the leaders of the heretical emergent church movement. Furthermore, other endorsers are of that same tradition, including raves for apostate Rob Bell. These question marks made me sceptical of the book from onset, however, like a true scholar, I encouraged to continue reading it. With due time, I saw that the author, Robb Ryerse, has already repudiated the faith once delivered for all, and his sliding away from Theological orthodoxy also coloured his worldview. As an emergent, the same surreptitiousness methods they used to attack the church with errors, it appears is the same furtiveness he is applying in his political outlook. He calls himself as a conservative, uses conservative lingua such as Christian, prolife, liberty, et al, whilst in every sense he is far left in his outlook as he’s views are totally a 180° of what he says, but holding. He is accusing Christians of having a particular outlook of politics, and instead he’s propagating that they should be voting for issues that are contrary to their values. This man truly is a devil incarnate masquerading as angel of light whilst being filled with all forms of error. In short, this book is a reminder of effects of bad theology. My prayer to Robb is that instead of trying to focus on political office, he should examine himself according to Scriptures so that he may be able to see God’s Glory, his own sin, stop being a ‘pastor’, close his ‘church, see judgment that is due to unrepentant, believe in the Gospel of Christ, so that peradventure he might be saved.
As Christians, you’re well aware that a Biblical worldview should encompass every aspect of our lives, Sunday to Saturday, 168 hours a week, and this include politics. As I began going through it, first thing is the forward section, I got suspicious about the person that endorsed it, his name is Brian McLaren, and if you know that person, he was amongst the leaders of the heretical emergent church movement. Furthermore, other endorsers are of that same tradition, including raves for apostate Rob Bell. These question marks made me sceptical of the book from onset, however, like a true scholar, I encouraged to continue reading it. With due time, I saw that the author, Robb Ryerse, has already repudiated the faith once delivered for all, and his sliding away from Theological orthodoxy also coloured his worldview. As an emergent, the same surreptitiousness methods they used to attack the church with errors, it appears is the same furtiveness he is applying in his political outlook. He calls himself as a conservative, uses conservative lingua such as Christian, prolife, liberty, et al, whilst in every sense he is far left in his outlook as he’s views are totally a 180° of what he says, but holding. He is accusing Christians of having a particular outlook of politics, and instead he’s propagating that they should be voting for issues that are contrary to their values. This man truly is a devil incarnate masquerading as angel of light whilst being filled with all forms of error. In short, this book is a reminder of effects of bad theology. My prayer to Robb is that instead of trying to focus on political office, he should examine himself according to Scriptures so that he may be able to see God’s Glory, his own sin, stop being a ‘pastor’, close his ‘church, see judgment that is due to unrepentant, believe in the Gospel of Christ, so that peradventure he might be saved.
February 17, 2020
I truly enjoyed reading Robb Ryerse's tale of running for the government. Ryerse is a progressive Republican who saw how his district in Arkansas could benefit from gun safety and health care. When his wife suggests he run as part of Brand New Congress, an effort at taking out career politicians by bringing in everyday people who understand what the laws do on a practical level. Ryerse a co-pastor a local church knew this would be a hard competition and something he had to do.
Ryerse walks you though running for House of Representatives and how hard it for normal everyday people. The set up of campaign finances is cost-prohibitive to many and the way money is used from special interest keeps those down. He also discusses other issues that come up during campaigning and how it's not as easy as the people on TV make it look.
The best part though is that Ryerse uses his faith to guide him and he speaks out against the Religious Right that blindly follows the current administration. These people are often one-issue voters and Reyrse tries to explain during his campaign, as well as in this book why Christian faith is about people. That we have to take care of our neighbor and these "progressive' views are doing just that.
I would recommend this to anyone who wants to see politics from the inside; how things really work. To see Republicans as progressive allies and to see that the Evangelicals aren't always looking after the common good.
I received an ARC through NetGalley; all opinions are my own.
Ryerse walks you though running for House of Representatives and how hard it for normal everyday people. The set up of campaign finances is cost-prohibitive to many and the way money is used from special interest keeps those down. He also discusses other issues that come up during campaigning and how it's not as easy as the people on TV make it look.
The best part though is that Ryerse uses his faith to guide him and he speaks out against the Religious Right that blindly follows the current administration. These people are often one-issue voters and Reyrse tries to explain during his campaign, as well as in this book why Christian faith is about people. That we have to take care of our neighbor and these "progressive' views are doing just that.
I would recommend this to anyone who wants to see politics from the inside; how things really work. To see Republicans as progressive allies and to see that the Evangelicals aren't always looking after the common good.
I received an ARC through NetGalley; all opinions are my own.
February 9, 2020
After the 2016 presidential election, pastor Robb Ryverse and his wife Vanessa decided to do something to change the country. Empowered by the Brand New Congress, Robb ran as a Republican in 2018 against one of the most powerful incumbents in Washington.
While he ultimately lost the race, Robb's campaign revealed many insights into the political machine and partisanship that runs the nation. He shares those insights in "Running For Our Lives."
Reading this book challenged me in many ways. I am a Republican, too, but Robb embraces progressive views that can be troublesome for party loyalists. However, he also shares the reasons for his views.
I was challenged on almost every page to reconsider my views. While I don't have to embrace Robb's opinions, I can consider that it's time to revisit my opinions and beliefs. Ultimately, I want to elevate love as I vote, rather than remain true to the views I've held all my life because of indoctrination or party loyalty. For example, healthcare for all can reduce pressure on small business owners and ultimately help the economy while ensuring all Americans can get the healthcare they need. Also, a solid core foundation of education, community support and healthcare can reduce abortions and support pro life better than outlawing this action.
"Running For Our Lives" is a book that challenges why we vote the way we do. It's a thoughtful book that helps readers become more informed citizens, voters, Christians, and Americans.
While he ultimately lost the race, Robb's campaign revealed many insights into the political machine and partisanship that runs the nation. He shares those insights in "Running For Our Lives."
Reading this book challenged me in many ways. I am a Republican, too, but Robb embraces progressive views that can be troublesome for party loyalists. However, he also shares the reasons for his views.
I was challenged on almost every page to reconsider my views. While I don't have to embrace Robb's opinions, I can consider that it's time to revisit my opinions and beliefs. Ultimately, I want to elevate love as I vote, rather than remain true to the views I've held all my life because of indoctrination or party loyalty. For example, healthcare for all can reduce pressure on small business owners and ultimately help the economy while ensuring all Americans can get the healthcare they need. Also, a solid core foundation of education, community support and healthcare can reduce abortions and support pro life better than outlawing this action.
"Running For Our Lives" is a book that challenges why we vote the way we do. It's a thoughtful book that helps readers become more informed citizens, voters, Christians, and Americans.
February 15, 2020
A Progressive Republican Runs for Congress
Dissatisfied with the election of President Trump, pastor Robb Ryverse and his wife Vanessa wanted to do something to express their beliefs and change the country. They decided that one way to make a difference was to run for Congress. He ran against Steve Womack, a powerful incumbent, and lost the election, but in the process learned a great deal about politics and the relationship of politics to religion.
I can’t say that I agree with Robb’s politics or many of his religious beliefs, but his motivation was good. If people want their views known and taken seriously, more people will have to run for office. It’s tough, as Robb points, out, but worth the effort. This is a personal story and there are moving parts.
I suspect that many people will disagree with both his politics and his religious beliefs, but as a story, it’s worth reading.
I received this book from Net Galley for this review.
Dissatisfied with the election of President Trump, pastor Robb Ryverse and his wife Vanessa wanted to do something to express their beliefs and change the country. They decided that one way to make a difference was to run for Congress. He ran against Steve Womack, a powerful incumbent, and lost the election, but in the process learned a great deal about politics and the relationship of politics to religion.
I can’t say that I agree with Robb’s politics or many of his religious beliefs, but his motivation was good. If people want their views known and taken seriously, more people will have to run for office. It’s tough, as Robb points, out, but worth the effort. This is a personal story and there are moving parts.
I suspect that many people will disagree with both his politics and his religious beliefs, but as a story, it’s worth reading.
I received this book from Net Galley for this review.
July 31, 2020
This book is a look at running for national office. It begins with the idea of running through to election day. It shows the difficulty average citizens have in gaining the funding to run for office.
For anyone who is thinking of running for office or who wants to understand how the election process works this is a book for you.
I received this book from #goodreads for an honest review.
For anyone who is thinking of running for office or who wants to understand how the election process works this is a book for you.
I received this book from #goodreads for an honest review.
February 12, 2020
A must read for anyone in politics, whether running for a certain seat or volunteering and even for every single voter.
February 18, 2020
Everyone should read this book. Robb Ryerse tells it like it is. His take on politics is refreshing and accurate. He knows what the ordinary person needs because he is an ordinary person himself.
February 29, 2020
Thank you, NetGalley, for a complimentary copy of this book! This review reflects my own personal opinion!
I would give this book 3.5 of 5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars! This book is definitely controversial, but then again, when are religion and politics not controversial. This book combines both subjects and that makes for explosive content. First off, I tip my hat to Robb Ryerse for trying to run against the establishment in an election. I absolutely agree with him that money rules the world, eeemm, I mean the U.S. of A. I admire him for running despite the odds, despite the setbacks, despite not having the financial means that other candidates have. I admire him for not accepting corporate PAC money. I admire him for listening to the people with an open mind and an open heart.
Now here comes a list of things that either confused me, that I didn't quite agree with, or that made me wonder if I would have voted for him:
Robb Ryerse says that he is a Progressive Republican. Well, so am I! I did agree with his opinion on many issues. However, I believe that he is definitely within a grey zone--i.e., he does a balancing act between conservatism (and his religious beliefs) and clearly leftist ideas. While I believe that this is what confused a lot of voters and made them not really have confidence in him, I think that his motive was to put the common good above the traditional bipartisan values of the two big parties. I think he should have ran as an Independent. I think Arkansas (and a lot of other states in the U.S.) are not ready for Progressive Republican leadership. It will take a lot more footwork and campaigning to make those grassroots voters see that you can be a Republican without falling into the so-called "libtard" category (which he mentions in his book by the way).
Another issue that I could not quite agree with is his approach to combining religion and politics. I do believe that it is possible to be a devoted follower of Christ and be in politics. However, (1) that doesn't mean the politician should bend the Gospel to please. The Gospel is meant to change the sinner, not for the sinner to change the Gospel to suit their sins. Robb Ryers says that he wants to make everyone feel comfortable. But that is exactly what has lead to "worldly" churches nowadays. Scripture--if applied right--feels very uncomfortable a lot of the time. It's the reward you get for enduring the temporarily discomfort that we should keep our eyes on.
What I do very much agree with is his stance on how to change the political/electoral system in the United States!!! I loved reading about his experience behind the scene. I more or less thought that the voting system in our country needs major changes, I just had no idea what exactly it was that we need to change. Now I do!
This was a great book to read during this time of primaries and the presidential election campaigns.
I would give this book 3.5 of 5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars! This book is definitely controversial, but then again, when are religion and politics not controversial. This book combines both subjects and that makes for explosive content. First off, I tip my hat to Robb Ryerse for trying to run against the establishment in an election. I absolutely agree with him that money rules the world, eeemm, I mean the U.S. of A. I admire him for running despite the odds, despite the setbacks, despite not having the financial means that other candidates have. I admire him for not accepting corporate PAC money. I admire him for listening to the people with an open mind and an open heart.
Now here comes a list of things that either confused me, that I didn't quite agree with, or that made me wonder if I would have voted for him:
Robb Ryerse says that he is a Progressive Republican. Well, so am I! I did agree with his opinion on many issues. However, I believe that he is definitely within a grey zone--i.e., he does a balancing act between conservatism (and his religious beliefs) and clearly leftist ideas. While I believe that this is what confused a lot of voters and made them not really have confidence in him, I think that his motive was to put the common good above the traditional bipartisan values of the two big parties. I think he should have ran as an Independent. I think Arkansas (and a lot of other states in the U.S.) are not ready for Progressive Republican leadership. It will take a lot more footwork and campaigning to make those grassroots voters see that you can be a Republican without falling into the so-called "libtard" category (which he mentions in his book by the way).
Another issue that I could not quite agree with is his approach to combining religion and politics. I do believe that it is possible to be a devoted follower of Christ and be in politics. However, (1) that doesn't mean the politician should bend the Gospel to please. The Gospel is meant to change the sinner, not for the sinner to change the Gospel to suit their sins. Robb Ryers says that he wants to make everyone feel comfortable. But that is exactly what has lead to "worldly" churches nowadays. Scripture--if applied right--feels very uncomfortable a lot of the time. It's the reward you get for enduring the temporarily discomfort that we should keep our eyes on.
What I do very much agree with is his stance on how to change the political/electoral system in the United States!!! I loved reading about his experience behind the scene. I more or less thought that the voting system in our country needs major changes, I just had no idea what exactly it was that we need to change. Now I do!
This was a great book to read during this time of primaries and the presidential election campaigns.
May 18, 2020
Should politics and religion intersect? Whatever you believe about that question, the fact remains that 80% of white evangelical Christians voted for Donald Trump.
When the author, Robb Ryerse, watched the historic election of 2016 and saw Donald Trump was indeed elected, he was devastated. How could this happen? Why did this happen? Rather than sitting on the fence, arguing with people on social media, Ryerse turned his frustration into action. He believed he had a greater responsibility to his country. He would run for Congress to oppose the Trump administration.
What makes his story interesting is that Ryerse is a Republican. How and why would a Republican oppose the leader of his party? The author carefully articulates his political positions on controversial topics, such as gun control, climate change, abortion, and immigration reform. Even though his views seem oddly aligned to the Democratic party, he calls himself a "progressive Republican."
Through several coincidental circumstances, Ryerse was recruited to join an organization called Brand New Congress. This organization, founded by former Bernie Sanders operatives, believed they needed to form a revolution across both aisles to upturn Congress completely. They were looking for like-minded progressives who would work for Americans; refuse corporate, PAC, and CPAC dollars, which unfairly influence the election process.
A small group of individuals was trained together at a weekend boot camp, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D- NY). Of the five individuals who made up this new cohort of Brand New Congress, Ocasio-Cortez would become the only one to achieve victory in the House of Representatives.
This book is written as a memoir, sharing his personal experience of running the US Representative in Arkansas. The author constructs a David and Goliath type narrative. Ryerse, described as a small-town pastor of an evangelical church, works several jobs trying to keep things afloat. Goliath comes in the form of Steve Womac, a seasoned politician with an enormous election treasure chest. Ryerse sprinkles stories about his campaign that illustrate the monumental challenge of facing a powerful incumbent. His stories are candid and self-deprecating, which easily presents him as a likable character.
The book also serves another purpose. Ryerse can explain his position on political issues, which serves as an ideological manifesto, of sorts. His style is personal and authentic, rather than combative or dictatorial.
For the average citizen who watches politics from Sunday television shows, the author gives the reader incredible insight. Chapter 8, "Follow the Money," exposes the severe and debilitating issue with campaign finance reform. It is incredibly eye-opening how expensive an election is and how difficult it is to outspend an incumbent; who has already received massive amounts of dollars from corporations and super PACs. These are issues we commonly hear people talking about on television, but the author is especially adept at explaining how the system works from personal experience.
Most importantly, this book is a primer for Christians who want to assume their role in politics. As an evangelical Christian pastor, the author addresses some of the major social issues from the lens of the Gospel. He argues that if we were to live like Jesus, our politics might shift from party lines to caring for humanity, even if that means our own interests come in second.
You may not be surprised to learn that the author ends up losing the election. As the book comes to the pinnacle point of election night, the reader wonders what is next? He concludes with a final chapter, where he joins a 30-day bus tour to help raise interest for Democrats in the 2018 mid-elections. He concludes that 75% of white evangelical voters cast their ballot for Republicans, six percentage points lower than 2016 for Trump. He seems to be content with this shift. The book ends rather abruptly. Ryerse concludes in the final paragraphs, like an optimistic politician. Perhaps the reader will be inspired by these ideas of social change, seeded with spiritual undertones. "We need you," he chides. "We need you now."
**Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.
When the author, Robb Ryerse, watched the historic election of 2016 and saw Donald Trump was indeed elected, he was devastated. How could this happen? Why did this happen? Rather than sitting on the fence, arguing with people on social media, Ryerse turned his frustration into action. He believed he had a greater responsibility to his country. He would run for Congress to oppose the Trump administration.
What makes his story interesting is that Ryerse is a Republican. How and why would a Republican oppose the leader of his party? The author carefully articulates his political positions on controversial topics, such as gun control, climate change, abortion, and immigration reform. Even though his views seem oddly aligned to the Democratic party, he calls himself a "progressive Republican."
Through several coincidental circumstances, Ryerse was recruited to join an organization called Brand New Congress. This organization, founded by former Bernie Sanders operatives, believed they needed to form a revolution across both aisles to upturn Congress completely. They were looking for like-minded progressives who would work for Americans; refuse corporate, PAC, and CPAC dollars, which unfairly influence the election process.
A small group of individuals was trained together at a weekend boot camp, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D- NY). Of the five individuals who made up this new cohort of Brand New Congress, Ocasio-Cortez would become the only one to achieve victory in the House of Representatives.
This book is written as a memoir, sharing his personal experience of running the US Representative in Arkansas. The author constructs a David and Goliath type narrative. Ryerse, described as a small-town pastor of an evangelical church, works several jobs trying to keep things afloat. Goliath comes in the form of Steve Womac, a seasoned politician with an enormous election treasure chest. Ryerse sprinkles stories about his campaign that illustrate the monumental challenge of facing a powerful incumbent. His stories are candid and self-deprecating, which easily presents him as a likable character.
The book also serves another purpose. Ryerse can explain his position on political issues, which serves as an ideological manifesto, of sorts. His style is personal and authentic, rather than combative or dictatorial.
For the average citizen who watches politics from Sunday television shows, the author gives the reader incredible insight. Chapter 8, "Follow the Money," exposes the severe and debilitating issue with campaign finance reform. It is incredibly eye-opening how expensive an election is and how difficult it is to outspend an incumbent; who has already received massive amounts of dollars from corporations and super PACs. These are issues we commonly hear people talking about on television, but the author is especially adept at explaining how the system works from personal experience.
Most importantly, this book is a primer for Christians who want to assume their role in politics. As an evangelical Christian pastor, the author addresses some of the major social issues from the lens of the Gospel. He argues that if we were to live like Jesus, our politics might shift from party lines to caring for humanity, even if that means our own interests come in second.
You may not be surprised to learn that the author ends up losing the election. As the book comes to the pinnacle point of election night, the reader wonders what is next? He concludes with a final chapter, where he joins a 30-day bus tour to help raise interest for Democrats in the 2018 mid-elections. He concludes that 75% of white evangelical voters cast their ballot for Republicans, six percentage points lower than 2016 for Trump. He seems to be content with this shift. The book ends rather abruptly. Ryerse concludes in the final paragraphs, like an optimistic politician. Perhaps the reader will be inspired by these ideas of social change, seeded with spiritual undertones. "We need you," he chides. "We need you now."
**Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.
May 31, 2020
During this tumultuous and hope-stagnant time, 'Running For Our Lives' provided a much needed fresh and hopeful perspective. It is deeply personal, vulnerable, and refreshing. It is non-partisan, in the two-party sense, but completely partisan to the politics of Jesus Christ. This is a book that all Christians, especially white Christians, need to read!
When I first received this book to review, I presumed it was going to be a heady treatise on the need for faith-driven politics. While this is definitely part of the text, it is primarily a personal 'call' story of author Robb Ryerse from the ministry setting of a parish into the ministry setting of politics. I think that this approach accomplishes the same goals of a heady treatise, but in a much more accessible and engaging way. I personally think the title should be: 'Running For Our Lives: A Personal Journey of Faith, Politics, and the Common Good' to clarify the content!
This book details the personal discernment journey of Pastor Robb Ryerse from being a Pastor to running a congressional campaign in Arkansas. It is also a personal discernment of Pastor Robb Ryerse from being a partisan right-wing Republican evangelical to becoming a non-partisan progressive Republican evangelical rooted in the 'Common Good' platform of Jesus Christ. This is truly a refreshing, vulnerable, and much needed narrative in the toxic and divisive reality that we live within.
I really appreciate how the chapters in the book are broken up into specific time-frames along Robb's two discernment journeys. Having a linear narrative helps root the more abstract and heady concepts in a easily digestible story-line. I truly think Robb Ryerse has successfully created a text that not only conveys his non-partisan, gospel driven politic, but also conveys it in a non-partisan, gospel focused narrative format. This is truly a gift to the reader and makes it more accessible to a wider audience of people.
Another accomplishment of this book is that it educates the readers on so many complex political/historical issue related to our current political environment. One of Robb Ryerse's primary focuses in politics is addressing campaign finance. He brilliantly explains, without over complicating, how 'Big Business/Money' controls so much of our current political climate: from who is able to run for office to what legislation is even able to see the light of day. And he shows how this is a problem across the board: Republican and Democrat.
That is what led him into politics through the Brand New Congress initiative, a grassroots organization with the goal of identifying and training non-career politicians, who are community leaders, to run for political office. As a progressive Republican, Robb Ryerse found himself at the same 'boot-camp' with Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. And at this camp, they both discovered how they could, and should, work as a team in Congress for the 'Common Good' of all people, especially those who are on the margins and suffer from our current oppressive systems.
This narrative is presented alongside Robb Ryerse's personal journey with his friends and family, grappling with the everyday struggles of life. Ministry is not confined to the parish or Church walls. Ministry is what we are called to as Christians in ALL areas of our life: Personal, Religious, and Political. Robb Ryerse effectively communicates this essential point in a clear, concise, engaging, hopeful, and engaging way.
In this time of division and violence, Robb Ryerse brings a vital message of 'Common Good' politics based on the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. And within this, Robb Ryerse calls White Evangelicals and White Mainline Christians to name "how our privilege has made life more difficult for others, how we've been overwhelmingly selfish and ambitious, and how out of sync we've been with our expressed values. [We] need to repent and then begin to vote accordingly" (131).
May white folks truly follow Christ's lead and see that "maybe the most loving thing that [we] can do when [we] enter the voting booth is to cast [our] ballot not for [our] own interests but for the common good" (134).
Thank you for the blessings of this book, Robb Ryerse, and may Christians [especially white folks] of the United States truly listen, repent, and act for the benefit of the 'Common Good' as Jesus Christ taught us. Amen.
When I first received this book to review, I presumed it was going to be a heady treatise on the need for faith-driven politics. While this is definitely part of the text, it is primarily a personal 'call' story of author Robb Ryerse from the ministry setting of a parish into the ministry setting of politics. I think that this approach accomplishes the same goals of a heady treatise, but in a much more accessible and engaging way. I personally think the title should be: 'Running For Our Lives: A Personal Journey of Faith, Politics, and the Common Good' to clarify the content!
This book details the personal discernment journey of Pastor Robb Ryerse from being a Pastor to running a congressional campaign in Arkansas. It is also a personal discernment of Pastor Robb Ryerse from being a partisan right-wing Republican evangelical to becoming a non-partisan progressive Republican evangelical rooted in the 'Common Good' platform of Jesus Christ. This is truly a refreshing, vulnerable, and much needed narrative in the toxic and divisive reality that we live within.
I really appreciate how the chapters in the book are broken up into specific time-frames along Robb's two discernment journeys. Having a linear narrative helps root the more abstract and heady concepts in a easily digestible story-line. I truly think Robb Ryerse has successfully created a text that not only conveys his non-partisan, gospel driven politic, but also conveys it in a non-partisan, gospel focused narrative format. This is truly a gift to the reader and makes it more accessible to a wider audience of people.
Another accomplishment of this book is that it educates the readers on so many complex political/historical issue related to our current political environment. One of Robb Ryerse's primary focuses in politics is addressing campaign finance. He brilliantly explains, without over complicating, how 'Big Business/Money' controls so much of our current political climate: from who is able to run for office to what legislation is even able to see the light of day. And he shows how this is a problem across the board: Republican and Democrat.
That is what led him into politics through the Brand New Congress initiative, a grassroots organization with the goal of identifying and training non-career politicians, who are community leaders, to run for political office. As a progressive Republican, Robb Ryerse found himself at the same 'boot-camp' with Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. And at this camp, they both discovered how they could, and should, work as a team in Congress for the 'Common Good' of all people, especially those who are on the margins and suffer from our current oppressive systems.
This narrative is presented alongside Robb Ryerse's personal journey with his friends and family, grappling with the everyday struggles of life. Ministry is not confined to the parish or Church walls. Ministry is what we are called to as Christians in ALL areas of our life: Personal, Religious, and Political. Robb Ryerse effectively communicates this essential point in a clear, concise, engaging, hopeful, and engaging way.
In this time of division and violence, Robb Ryerse brings a vital message of 'Common Good' politics based on the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. And within this, Robb Ryerse calls White Evangelicals and White Mainline Christians to name "how our privilege has made life more difficult for others, how we've been overwhelmingly selfish and ambitious, and how out of sync we've been with our expressed values. [We] need to repent and then begin to vote accordingly" (131).
May white folks truly follow Christ's lead and see that "maybe the most loving thing that [we] can do when [we] enter the voting booth is to cast [our] ballot not for [our] own interests but for the common good" (134).
Thank you for the blessings of this book, Robb Ryerse, and may Christians [especially white folks] of the United States truly listen, repent, and act for the benefit of the 'Common Good' as Jesus Christ taught us. Amen.
May 3, 2020
This book chronicles the journey of Robb Ryerse and his run for the US Congress as a progressive-leaning Republican underdog against a well-funded incumbent in a very red state. Discouraged, yet motivated by the outcome of the 2016 Presidential election, Ryerse decided that the best way for him to affect the kind of political change he wished to see in the country was to run for congress. Ryerse takes the reader through every step on his journey to try to make it to the US Congress—from his discernment process, to his formally filing to run (at a cost of $15,000), to all of his various experiences along the campaign trail. His story is engaging—he provides a lot of insight about his own political beliefs, as well as the ups-and-downs of what it is like for a “regular” person to run for Congress. Ryerse also shares some of his prescriptions for making the political process more equitable for everyone, with a strong emphasis on campaign finance reform. At times, I wish the author had gone a bit deeper—some of his recommendations seemed a bit superficial and idealistic to me. His strongest chapter was the one where he shared his theology of politics—how he integrated his Christian faith practice with his political convictions. I wish he had gone a bit deeper here too, however. All in all, this was an engaging story told with a lot of heart and humor along the way. And it just might inspire someone to run for office!
Disclosure: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. My review is an honest, unbiased review reflecting my own opinion of the work. I was not required to write a positive review of this work.
#RunningForOurLives
Disclosure: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. My review is an honest, unbiased review reflecting my own opinion of the work. I was not required to write a positive review of this work.
#RunningForOurLives
May 23, 2020
I don't love political books. You can look though my shelves and see for yourself! But I do like books about faith, and I was interested to hear about Ryerse's campaign from that perspective.
My husband usually styles himself as a bit left of libertarian, and I usually style myself as a bit right of socialist, but we both agreed with so much of what Ryerse had to say. Politics here in the US are divisive, and too much of political posturing is about shooting down the "opposite team" and "winning." When really, as a country, we need to come together to find common ground solutions for the problems we face. And if we call ourselves Christians, those solutions should be based in the values taught by Jesus.
I'm not sure who I need to pass my copy of this book on to. But I definitely need to pass it on.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book through the Speakeasy book review network in exchange for my honest review. #RunningForOurLives
My husband usually styles himself as a bit left of libertarian, and I usually style myself as a bit right of socialist, but we both agreed with so much of what Ryerse had to say. Politics here in the US are divisive, and too much of political posturing is about shooting down the "opposite team" and "winning." When really, as a country, we need to come together to find common ground solutions for the problems we face. And if we call ourselves Christians, those solutions should be based in the values taught by Jesus.
I'm not sure who I need to pass my copy of this book on to. But I definitely need to pass it on.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book through the Speakeasy book review network in exchange for my honest review. #RunningForOurLives
April 17, 2020
This is an amazing story of the author's run for Congress. What is inspiring is that he ran on his beliefs in a world where so many candidates rely on opinion polls or political parties to determine their stands on issues. The author ran as a progressive Republican. As a pastor, he believed in the words of Jesus "Love thy neighbor as thyself." This translated into his stands on climate change, healthcare, and a whole host of other issues. What was so impressive to me is that he took on the Republicans who voted for Trump and let them know their issues were not Christian values. While he didn't win his race, he continues to make change happen one small step at a time. Excellent book for anyone, from any party, who is living in this political climate.
October 12, 2020
SO refreshing. Ryerse doesn't want to complain about politics without doing something about it. He decides to run for congress. A long, long shot. He writes about the journey, the inside scoop on how hard it is to upset an incumbent, and his (logical!) opinions on current topics. For those of us ejp struggle to identify with either major party, Ryerse offers a middle way. Some might say it greatly resembles the narrow way.
June 29, 2020
Have you ever thought of running for a political office? Then this book is a must read! An honest look at what it take to run for office, in this case Arkansas 3rd Congressional District against incumbent Steve Womack. A progressive Republican running in conservative district finds good in an impossible situation. He is a pastor who has undergone a conversion in his own life and point of view.
August 11, 2020
An honest and unique look at one progressive Republican pastor who took a chance to run against an established Congressman for his district. A helpful reflection for Christians and non-Christians alike about what the role of government/politics should be and how faith can and should engage that, not be at odds with it.
May 16, 2020
Heard about Brand New Congress on the RobCast and followed this guy's run for office. Very inspirational!
July 9, 2020
I could not put this book down!
I just had to read it. A book about religion and politics. Now there are two things I felt should never be mixed. A book written by a Republican evangelical? Oh, this one will be great to rip apart! Instead, I have come to realize how much I generalize, don't listen, and I don't really know much about American politics. I am so glad I read this book because it gives me a better understanding of the issues and how we've gotten stuck with career politicians instead of public servants. I understand now why it's so important for me, a Christian, to get involved with politics at every level. It gives me hope that there are people out there in America who want the same things I do no matter what party we belong to. I have a lot more to learn and read about but this book was a great story about how one man's faith and compassion drove him to run against one of the most powerful incumbents in Washington.
I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
In the past, I have often said, keep your politics out of my church and my church out of your politics. Robb Reyerse tells us why we need to get involved and how we can make a change in our neighborhoods and, ultimately, our country. This is a story of courage, faith, and one man's attempt to make a difference. I found that I had more in common with this progressive Republican and fellow Christian than I could have ever imagined when I began reading this book.
When discussing this book with friends, we all say how we hope that we can make a difference for the good in the world and that our life mattered. This book will give you hope and make you want to get involved and do something for the good of this country. I have a feeling, that's about to change.
I just had to read it. A book about religion and politics. Now there are two things I felt should never be mixed. A book written by a Republican evangelical? Oh, this one will be great to rip apart! Instead, I have come to realize how much I generalize, don't listen, and I don't really know much about American politics. I am so glad I read this book because it gives me a better understanding of the issues and how we've gotten stuck with career politicians instead of public servants. I understand now why it's so important for me, a Christian, to get involved with politics at every level. It gives me hope that there are people out there in America who want the same things I do no matter what party we belong to. I have a lot more to learn and read about but this book was a great story about how one man's faith and compassion drove him to run against one of the most powerful incumbents in Washington.
I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
In the past, I have often said, keep your politics out of my church and my church out of your politics. Robb Reyerse tells us why we need to get involved and how we can make a change in our neighborhoods and, ultimately, our country. This is a story of courage, faith, and one man's attempt to make a difference. I found that I had more in common with this progressive Republican and fellow Christian than I could have ever imagined when I began reading this book.
When discussing this book with friends, we all say how we hope that we can make a difference for the good in the world and that our life mattered. This book will give you hope and make you want to get involved and do something for the good of this country. I have a feeling, that's about to change.
December 20, 2020
The description of this book is mostly correct, but not entirely forthcoming. It is the story of Robb running for Congress, and his experiences on the campaign trail. He does not go in-depth about the reason for his beliefs or the reasons he has left the more conservative church. He also doesn't explain why he is no longer a Republican who is trying to change the party from within, as opposed to just jumping to the blue side.
I think I expected more information about how to help engage people in being less partisan, and not just the story of his election campaign, with a few good blurbs toward the middle about the types of Republican voters, and then his experience with Vote Common Good at the end.
So while this book was entertaining and somewhat informative, I was left wishing it had more of what to do for action, and more of why voting Democratic would be the solution to a disillusioned Republican who does not love Trump but is still worried about what Democrats would do to the country.
I think I expected more information about how to help engage people in being less partisan, and not just the story of his election campaign, with a few good blurbs toward the middle about the types of Republican voters, and then his experience with Vote Common Good at the end.
So while this book was entertaining and somewhat informative, I was left wishing it had more of what to do for action, and more of why voting Democratic would be the solution to a disillusioned Republican who does not love Trump but is still worried about what Democrats would do to the country.
March 22, 2020
The book is intriguing but at times feels like it is mixing purpose. I don't know if this is supposed to be a manifesto of how our theology should be engaged or simply a autobiographical account with some Scripture thrown in for a positive framing. Don't have issues with the authors take, but not really sure what audience is best suited for.
January 10, 2020
An interesting perspective on Progressive Christianity and how big money always wins. You can fight the system, but you may not win. I disagree with a lot of Robb's opinions, especially about white privilege. I am on disability and trust me, I'm not winning just because I'm white. It's a daily struggle to survive. I was not surprised that Arkansas was not ready for a Progressive Republican. Why not go for Independent?
March 25, 2021
This book was a wonderfully odd experience considering my personal relationship to the events in the book. I really loved reading this and would like some of my friends to read it too.
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