Blogging "The Irresistible Revolution": Author's Note

Claiborne announces his purpose simply and directly in his author's note, but first he says that writing a book was not easy given "the tension between living authentically small and evangelically large." This is a bit of a false dichotomy, as I think can be demonstrated later, but on his point I will say that living small is practically always the right choice. It is the apostles' counsel to Christians (1 Thess 4:11), and I think God only calls a very few to a life and ministry of notoriety (of the apostles, only Peter, John, Paul, and James had any fame).

He then says that that his point "is not to give you all of the answers but to stir up some of the right questions." We will see if he is more inquisitive or provocative rather than didactic. He states his goal "is to speak the truth in love." From what I've read so far, the tone is irenic (with a side of sardonic). He makes some other important notes but closes his note by noting that he's giving away all of the proceeds from the book "as the only thing that makes sense to me." Given some of what I've read later in the book, I am positive he is telling the truth. He says he mentions this "for the sake of transparency." He then says, "This book has emerged from a movement of communities of faith and struggle, inspired by local revolutions and ordinary radicals, anchored in life among the poor and marginalized. So it is not only a responsibility but a joy and honor to share the profits with all of them." The first sentence is particularly valuable; it provides the context of the book.

Let us carry on then with the book, and hopefully I will be regular in posting.