A New Christian Manifesto: Pledging Allegiance to the Kingdom of God
This book is a powerful rereading of the Lord's Prayer and a call for
the church to reject existing power structures by pledging allegiance
to the kingdom of God and proclaiming the gospel for all, especially
those cast outside the mainstream of society. Bob Ekblad delivers a
radical new reading of the Lord's Prayer by arguing that there are
earthly power structures and allegiances that prevent God's kingdom to
come on earth as in heaven. Drawing upon his experiences in ministry
with marginalized people and his understanding of the Bible, Ekblad
calls the church to follow Jesus by seeking its own deliverance from
these structures, and to recognize people on the margins as being the
most open and available to be agents of transformation. A New Christian
Manifesto urges Christians to break down barriers to join Jesus in a
movement that includes recruiting, healing, empowering, and sending out
to achieve an ultimate victory of the cross.
"In this book Bob Ekblad takes on the immense task of trying to articulate a biblical and theological understanding of the coming of the kingdom of God. As he acknowledges, there are varied and very diverse positions on this subject. But as he also acknowledges, for those of us committed to God's project of liberation and abundant life for those on the margins of today's world, we cannot give up on struggling to find a way of reconciling and integrating 'psycho-spiritual' liberation and life and 'socio-political' liberation and life. This is particularly so when our starting point is 'from below', as is Bob Ekblad's, for those on the margins yearn for wholeness and healing in all dimensions of their fragile lives."
--Gerald O. West, Professor in the School of Theology, University of Natal,South Africa
--
"A New Christian Manifesto: Pledging Allegiance
to the Kingdom of God" may
change the way you think. Some of the powerful and captivating stories
caused me to weep with joy at the greatness of God's transforming power for
those others would not have hope for. The stories in this book will
change your life if you let them."
--Heidi Gayle Baker, Ph.D., Founding Director of Iris Ministries, Mozambique, Africa
--
"I don't think most Christians have ever
recognized that their primary
commitment seems to be to their culture, nation, and ethnic group, and
not to "another" kingdom. Until this is made clear,
Christianity will
continue to have little effect in the waves of history and in personal
lives. Bob Ekblad makes this both clear and compelling."
--Richard Rohr, O.F.M., Center for Action and Contemplation, Albuquerque, NM
--
"In this world, where it seems the race is on
between humanity¹s awakening
to a new and deeper understanding of how to hold each other in respect and
love, and our dark urges to self-destruct, Bob Ekblad¹s voice is a beacon
drawing us toward hope. His experience of divine contact is of the kind we
can and must all open ourselves to. He is a truth-teller."
--Bruce Cockburn, O.C.
--
"Ekblad offers a gripping account of the state of Christianity in today's globalized world. He forges new pathways for seriously considering the ways in which Christians must respond to the urgent cries of the destitute and suffering humanity of our time. He introduces a courageous and prophetic paradigm for Christian unity grounded in the pursuit of justice. Through his stories of faith and service and a critical analysis of the current state of Christianity, Ekblad issues a prophetic summons to Christian renewal for all believers. The book gives us new ways to understand the radical and transformative power of the Christian narrative for our time and many years to come."
--Johnny Hill, Assistant Professor of Theology,
Louisville Presbyterian
Theological Seminary