Jesus Takes a Side: Embracing the Political Demands of the Gospel

Anabaptist pastor Rashid looks to Jesus for guidance on political engagement in this urgent debut. “I propose that we find our political commitments from our fidelity to God, the one who sides with and liberates the oppressed,” Rashid writes, arguing that Jesus’s dedication to helping the poor and marginalized compels Christians to take up political progressivism. The author argues that “third way” thinking is untenable because, when human dignity is involved, “any compromise is fundamentally dehumanizing.” To illustrate, Rashid offers a cautionary tale about how his church’s reluctance to commit to a stance on accepting LGBTQ individuals caused members of those communities to stay away because they felt unwelcome. The author suggests readers instead follow the example of Jesus when he sided with the Pharisees over rival sect the Sadducees and radicalized them, choosing morals over moderation. The parallels Rashid draws between the gospels and contemporary American politics are original and persuasive, making accessible for today’s Christians the moral implications of ancient political conflicts. The result is a bold reappraisal of what it means to follow Jesus in the current political climate. (May)