Timothy Keller, renowned author of numerous bestselling books about Christianity, and John Inazu, a lawyer and teacher, join forces to wrestle with the question of “how Christians can engage with those around us, while both respecting people whose beliefs differ from our own and maintaining our gospel confidence.”
Keller and Inazu invited 10 Christians to join their endeavour and write about how they were living out their faith in their cultural engagement in the United States. The result is a rich tapestry of biblical insights, personal stories of facing and overcoming racial injustice, conversion narratives, and visions for nurturing healing in a time of great cultural dissonance and turmoil.
When Keller and Inazu asked writer Tish Harrison Warren, songwriter Sara Groves, storyteller Lecrae, entrepreneur Rudy Carrasco, and six others—a theologian, adventurer, bridge builder, caregiver, reconciler, and peacemaker—to share their insights, they didn’t know how their guest writers would respond. However, one theme emerged, that of the need to be a faithful Christian presence in society. Keller and Inazu spell out what that could actually look like in practice: “First, Christians shouldn’t over-identify with any particular political party or platform. Second, Christians should approach the community around them through a posture of love and service. Third, Christians should recognize that the gospel subverts rival stories and accounts of reality. The fourth practice ... is that Christians should reach out to others with humility, patience, and tolerance.”
Timely and perceptive, Uncommon Ground offers readers much to ponder, always pointing to the hope of the gospel and the reality that God is making all things new according to his timing and purposes. (Thomas Nelson)
About the Author
Sonya VanderVeen Feddema is a freelance writer and a member of Covenant CRC in St. Catharines, Ontario.