The whole idea is that we have no worth outside of what God places in us. So for Claiborne to “pretend that poverty can be eliminated without the return of Christ” is….how very odd…him “living out His will on earth, as it is in Heaven”. Huh. Isn’t that funny.

Additionally, to flip it around, if we all decided that poverty cannot be eliminated, should we just give up? What exactly is Walker’s point? I see no other way about this. 3 choices: 1. Think/Decide nothing can be done/Don’t care(lottta people *raises own hand* confession of being a hypocrite, and in need of His help) 2. Decide that nothing can be done, but try anyways, because lots of people are suffering. 3. Live like the God who is saving you cares for everyone, and try to emulate His love.

Jesus points out that we will do even great things than he has done. He never said we wouldn’t fail repeatedly in trying, that we would succeed in parts we think aren’t useful or relevant, and that we’d think His ways of getting us to where He wants would make sense.

Jenette writes that “I felt like the book was incomplete” and that “If everyone lived as Mr. Claiborne […] who would send them money?”. But Claiborne says in the very beginning of his book (In “A little note”) that “[t]he point is not to give you all the answers but to stir up some of the questions.”. He never claims that everyone should live as he does, that it’s wrong to make money or that he has all the answers. In fact, I’d say he sais just the opposite. His book is not about finding the answers as much as it is about asking the questions.

Walker shatters the respect I had for his review in his last two paragraphs. I find Walker’s comment that “Claiborne pretends that […] poverty can be eliminated without the return of Christ” extremely disturbing. Since when was it a christian value to put success in front of doing what’s right?

I find Claibornes book to be extremely motivating and inspiring. It gives me hope of a church that is alive, and confirms my longing for Jesus to have a greater impact on how I live my life is something real, and not just a hollow dream.

Thanks for the review.

I felt like the book was incomplete. Maybe a good start to some good questions, other questions were loaded. Unlike you I thought it was pretty cutsie. For a good review (better than mine) I suggest looking up “humble resistance”, but first read The Irresistible Revolution; it is definitely worth a read, it’s just not stunningly profound.