For many Christians (and others) the Golden Rule is nothing more than a nice platitude. In this book, Labberton forces the reader to think about its true meaning. One is immediately confronted by the fact that we don’t see the world clearly — we don’t see as we are supposed to see. Labberton skillfully reminds us that we see from a certain perspective, one shaped by many cultural influences that we cannot avoid. We see only from the place where we live. Weaving his own personal narrative and the stories of others into the text, Labberton draws a beautiful portrait around the Apostle Paul’s statement, “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
Challenging the reader to learn to see as God sees, Labberton engages readers in reflecting on the names we attach to others. Drawing upon the sociological concept of labeling theory, he shows how the names we give to other people and groups have a profound impact on the way we relate to them. Before challenging the reader to think about changing the names we give others as a form of justice, he reminds us of the power of names and how some names have much greater power in our lives. One example he gives is the superior power of the brand name “Nike” compared to the term “sweatshops.” The name “Nike” holds great influence and power over our lives while the “sweatshop” is distant and removed from us.
Once we have gained greater understanding of our biases and been asked to rethink them, Labberton invites us into the place where we are able to respond and act in an appropriate manner to the world around us. While being honest enough to note that inertia often gets in the way of action for us, Labberton encourages the reader to reach out with God’s grace and justice to those around us, culminating in a worship of God that sees the world rightly.
Labberton brings a distinguished ministerial and pedagogical background to the task of coaching readers to shed warped perspectives and see as God intends us to see. Now the director of the Lloyd John Ogilvie Institute for Preaching at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., he has served in ministry for more than 30 years and was for 16 years pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, Calif.
Labberton also co-founded the Christian International Scholarship Foundation, which funds advanced theological education for Christian leaders, including executives of relief organizations, college and seminary faculty and denominational presidents. He has served on the foundation’s board for 17 years.
Labberton has brought all this experience to bear in writing a book that should be read and studied by everyone who is serious about seeing the world as God sees it and becoming a person who lives the transforming power of God’s justice in the world.
NEIL CRAIGAN is pastor of First Church, White Bear Lake, Minn.
