Böcker av Mae Elise Cannon

Mother Teresa's practice of silence compelled her to service.Dietrich Bonhoeffer's prayer life equipped his discipleship.Martin Luther King Jr.'s beloved community empowered his proclamation.Oscar Romero's discipline of submission prepared him to face martyrdom.

Many people have become angry and frustrated with organized religion and evangelical Christianity, in particular. Too often the church has proven to be a source of pain rather than a place of hope. Forgive Us acknowledges the legitimacy of much of the anger toward the church. In truth, Christianity in America has significant brokenness in its history that demands recognition and repentance. Only by this path can the church move forward with its message of forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace.Forgive Us is thus a call to confession. From Psalm 51 to the teachings of Jesus to the prayers of Nehemiah, confession is the proper biblical response when God's people have injured others and turned their backs on God's ways. In the book of Nehemiah, the author confesses not only his own sins, but also the sins of his ancestors. The history of the American church demands a Nehemiah-style confession both for our deeds and the deeds of those who came before us.In each chapter of Forgive Us two pastors who are also academically trained historians provide accurate and compelling histories of some of the American church's greatest shortcomings. Theologian Soong-Chan Rah and justice leader Lisa Sharon Harper then share theological reflections along with appropriate words of confession and repentance.Passionate and purposeful, Forgive Us will challenge evangelical readers and issue a heart-felt request to the surrounding culture for forgiveness and a new beginning.

Despite the current evangelical focus on justice work, evangelical theologians have not adequately developed a theological foundation for this activism. In this insightful resource, evangelical academics, activists, and pastors come together to survey the history and outlines of liberation theology, opening a conversation for developing a specifically evangelical view of liberation that speaks to the critical justice issues of our time.

Cannon provides a comprehensive resource for Christians committed to social justice. She presents biblical rationale and explains a variety of approaches. The wide-ranging catalog of topics and issues gives background information about justice issues at home and abroad.