| Title | : | Us for Them: Seeking Higher Ground in the Cultural Holy Wars |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1666773867 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781666773866 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 160 |
| Publication | : | Published April 10, 2024 |
The conservative versus progressive cultural holy war over social justice, reconciliation, unity, and politics is the most recent version of the story, and our lives are increasingly defined by it. Which side are you on? Do you want justice or friendship? Diversity or unity? Victory or communion?
But what if this alleged holy war is better understood as an opportunity for a humble and creative collaboration? What if conservatives and progressives tell a better story together? What if we seek higher ground instead of partisan or middle ground? What if God doesn’t want to pull us to the right or to the left or to the middle? What if God wants to pull us up?
Us for Them suggests that instead of hunkering down into ideological trench warfare, Christians can ascend into the elevation of the kingdom by practicing God’s fierce but friendly justice in an unfriendly and unjust world. Because Christianity is a faith of justice and friendship—not one or the other.
Us for Them: Seeking Higher Ground in the Cultural Holy Wars Reviews
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"Not all tensions make noise; some make music." Austin's latest book is a fantastic exploration of how Christians should navigate the "cultural wars" with grace and wisdom. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I can't recommend it enough. Austin combines intellectual reflections, humor, and personal experiences, guiding you through the complexities of our cultural moment and discourse. With so many of us experiencing polarization and division, it is so refreshing and challenging to read Austin's perspective, which invites you to transcend divides and strive for a deeper love for our neighbor.
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Part of me wanted to rate this a 5, but at times the writing style lost me…so I compromised at a 4.
With that said though, this is a short, profoundly challenging book for ALL of us. It’s a book that will challenge and convict you as it did me - even if you fall on the complete opposite ideological, theological (and all the other -ogical) spectrum. My heart for justice for the hurting can quickly bring me to a prideful place toward those who don’t seem to care, blinding me to the arrogance and self-righteous anger in my heart. This book humbled me and I pray the challenges it offered will remain with me always. It’s definitely worth the read.
The ending quote left me choked up, yet hopeful…
“How do we pursue God’s justice without usurping God’s office of judge? The question is ancient, but resurfacing with holy menace in our time. We should welcome it. It’s a sacred question. In the end, it is not a question that can be settled, but only lived more or less faithfully. And to that end, a proposal that presents itself is modest but firm: you’ve been commanded to be FOR them, even when standing against them, which is tough to do when believing you’re better than them.
Justice + Friendship.
Communion > Victory.
Aufhenbung > Schadenfreude.
Left or Right or Middle? Up.
Us (not Versus) but FOR Them!” -
Having hopefully learned something, I'll start by saying "Us For Them" is a book *I* deeply needed before claiming how much *everyone else* could benefit from reading.
In someways it's a grand treatise for the "both/and" approach or what Fischer names as the tension within Christianity between justice and friendship.
As someone that doesn't feel particularly at home in progressive or conservative circles, Austin rightly (by way of MLK Jr. and black theology) nudges me to not fall for the centrist/moderate position. Instead, he advocates for a transcendent alternative that seeks to recognize the need for fidelity (conservatism) and change (progressivism) or reverence (right-ism) and rebellion (left-ism).
It's a helpful book, particularly in a world that seems to forget how complicated things can be and seldomly patient for nuanced discussions. Fischer finds ways to mobilize us toward solutions, but not in a large way such as voting into office the person that will fix the planet. Rather, real change comes in small increments through local communities over conversations with strangers becoming friends. The application can and will be critiqued by people desperate for an "immediate deed," but Fischer makes a compelling case for why this doesn't work.
In the chapter about Melissa Florer-Bixler and Wendell Berry, I longed for more details about the strengths that Florer-Bixler brought or the shortcomings of Berry. Although present, I felt that more of this would have strengthened the overall thesis of conservative AND progressive - are better together than we are apart. To my ears, it felt like we got more, "Where Melissa falls short, Wendell helps."
On a different note, Fischer's words about being blessed and cursed with one another were powerful. As a Methodist, given our situation - there's a lot to process here for which I'm grateful.
All in all, it's a fantastic book that I highly recommend. There is plenty to engage with, much to learn, and worth the read - probably even more worth it to discuss with others.
