Drew G.I. Hart
Herald Press, 276 pages
Reviewed by Neil Craigan
Drew Hart states, “An important aspect of this book is an invitation to the church to experience the delivering presence of God, and to join in with that holy vocation in the pursuit of justice.” What follows is a deep breath of fresh, Spirit-filled air that offers to bring life to a suffocating American church. This is a book that deserves to be read carefully, allowing it to wash over your life and penetrate to the deep places where we struggle to allow the light of Christ to shine.
Hart provides a solid critique of the church and American culture as he challenges the reader to make sure they are not “worshipping Jesus to the exclusion of a life committed to following him.” This action-oriented vision of discipleship challenges the reader to reflect on what it means to be a faithful Christian. Utilizing careful biblical exegesis, history, social science and personal narrative, Hart presents a rugged, robust, practical and ultimately hopeful vision for Christian discipleship.
The first two chapters primarily focus on biblical exegesis. The first chapter examines the events surrounding Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem through the lens of Mark 11. This exposition of Scripture reveals the depth of the political and economic issues Jesus addressed in his ministry. While the second chapter compares Jesus and Barabbas, exploring the type of liberator the people looked for and how, “Barabbas’ presence in the story leaves us wrestling with the sociopolitical implications of Jesus’ messiahship.” Anyone who has ever wondered why the crowd chose Barabbas over Jesus will appreciate Hart’s analysis.
Moving from Scripture to history, Hart traces the demise of authentic Christian discipleship in the church. From Constantine to Columbus and on to American exceptionalism, he draws on numerous sources to challenge the reader, especially the white reader, to take a careful look at how we read our history and culture and to see where it fails to align with the teaching of Jesus. Hart’s prose in these chapters reflects thoughtful and carefully crafted discussion on some aspects of history that the church has often ignored or pushed to the side.
Hart then challenges the church to be faithful in proclaiming the whole gospel, calling the church to be a “counter-witness” in the world. This includes an examination of the power structures at work in the church. Hart calls the church to have a prophetic voice as it pursues justice and seeks to care for the vulnerable, reminding the reader that “comfortable mainstream religion is primed to support the status quo.”
In the final chapters, Hart helps the reader wrestle with issues of economic disparity, active peacemaking and a call to love. Acknowledging that Jesus and the early church had nothing to say about living in a democratic republic, Hart works to provide a solid framework from which Christians can work for justice in the world as Hart reminds us that “as Christians, we must affirm the dignity, sacredness and value of each and every life.”
“Who Will Be A Witness?” challenged me to think in new ways about injustice and racism, to speak up and not be silent even if there is a cost to pay, and work toward the church being an ever more faithful representation of God’s presence in this world.
Neil Craigan is pastor of First Presbyterian Church in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and the author of “Human Again: Life in the Image of God.”
