Michael L. Budde

Beyond the Parameters

Ethics, Culture & Social Issues

“Richard Irwin shows us that one doesn’t need mind-numbing jargon to write a powerful, challenging, and compelling book on following Jesus in our chaotic and hazardous world. It is many things braided together: a sustained engagement with Jeremiah, a series of sermons and pastoral reflections, and profound personal testimony. As a veteran pastor and a serious student of Scripture and the world, Irwin does so much of importance in relatively few pages. Be good to yourself and your friends and take time to sit with Irwin’s humble-yet-courageous gift to the church.”

Chosen Nation

Ethics, Culture & Social Issues

“This is a creative and challenging exploration of the issues, controversies, and challenges that surround questions of Christianity and nationalism. Braden Anderson makes an original and important contribution to debates on whether and how 'being a Christian' affects other identities, loyalties and priorities. His exploration of Scripture, political theology and contemporary issues makes this a rewarding book for scholars, pastors, and lay leaders.”

Christianity and Politics

Ethics, Culture & Social Issues

“If it is true that 'youth is wasted on the young,' then to restrict this so-called primer only to beginning learners or students would be wasteful in the extreme. This is a first-rate book, a serious and fascinating work on theology and politics that masquerades as a gateway resource. Yet it also succeeds as an outstanding introduction--readable without being simplistic, engaging key voices and eras in the long interaction between Christianity and politics. I can't wait to use this book with students, both to give them a solid grounding in key ideas and sources, as well as whetting their appetites for joining in these crucial conversations and debates. Anyone with an interest in the church and politics will benefit from this book.”

Constantine Revisited

History & Biography

“This is what an academic dispute should look like--passionate, wide-ranging, respectful, and surprising. John Roth and his contributors help all of us--in churches, the academy, and in larger society--see what's at stake in how Christians understand their relationship with the paradoxical figure and era of Constantine. Far from being a stale debate about times and issues long gone, this is a vital and important exploration of crucial importance to contemporary concerns and viewpoints on all sides of the many issues involved. This is an easy book to recommend with enthusiasm.”

Electing Not to Vote

Ethics, Culture & Social Issues

“Half the electorate typically stays home on election day, and not an eyebrow is raised. But if one suggests that people shouldn't vote for religious reasons, be prepared to run for cover--you're guaranteed a firestorm of outrage and indignation. The 'sacred right to vote' still generates powerful emotions, even among those who don't make it to the shrine on a regular basis. And that's why the Christian community owes a debt to Ted Lewis and his contributors for raising the uncomfortable question of whether voting may be incompatible with the practice of Christian discipleship. Electing Not to Vote is a provocative but respectful collection that deserves serious attention from Christians of all sorts.”

For the Sake of the World

Theology

“A book like this--exploring areas of fruitful interaction between a radical discipleship ecclesiology and a onetime state church in western Europe--would have been inconceivable a generation ago. It is a testimony to the depth and power of William Cavanaugh's scholarship that his work now engages scholars and church leaders worldwide. This is a useful book for persons interested in the vision of the church that Cavanaugh puts before us, as well as for students of contemporary European religion, politics, and culture.”

Living on Hope While Living in Babylon

Ethics, Culture & Social Issues

“York performs an important service in illuminating the anarchist sensibilities of Christian scriptures and discipleship, an area surely meriting further scholarly and pastoral exploration. His introduction to three crucial voices in twentieth century Christianity--the Catholic Worker movement, Clarence Jordan, and the Berrigan brothers--leaves readers eager to learn more about and from these exemplars of a Christianity lived free of imperial patronage and constraint.”

Naming Neoliberalism

Ethics, Culture & Social Issues

“Rodney Clapp has provided another gift to the church - its pastors, leaders and members - in this book. Naming Neoliberalism is a guidebook for navigating the contemporary political economy and its effects on culture, society, politics and ethics; it looks back to the past in order to provide a wide-ranging yet understandable picture of the present. But do not be misled: as capable an introduction to contemporary capitalism as this book is, it is even more so a theological exploration of creation and covenant, human nature and sociability, and an example of Christian ethics done well. Crucially, he joins a richly layered picture of the church - a future-oriented community serving God's goal of creation and humanity fully restored and flourishing - to a sober description of the world made by unchecked capitalism and religious nationalism.”

Priestly Presence

Church Leadership & Ministry

“It isn't often that a deeply theological book, rooted in scriptural expertise and imagination, is as accessible and pastoral as is Priestly Presence: A Church for the World's Sake. Even as he wades deeply into complex and controversial topics, John Nugent repeatedly makes things understandable to readers at all levels: he breaks things down into practical applications, easy-to-follow categories, and helpful definitions and illustrations. But don't be fooled by its readability-- Priestly Presence offers a loving but unflinching critique of defective understandings of the church and its mission that permeate nearly all branches of mainstream Christianity. Even more important, Nugent offers a path forward toward a more adequate understanding of the church and its connection to God's kingdom--a map of sorts from which Christians across the traditional divides (e.g., Protestant and Catholic, Reformed and Anabaptist, evangelical and Pentecostal, mainline and marginal) can discern roads worth traveling as they seek to follow The Way of the risen Lord. Priestly Presence offers generous amounts of critique and remedy, to the benefit of readers and the entire Christian movement.”

Redeeming the Broken Body

Ethics, Culture & Social Issues

“This book offers an original study-disasters and the church-state interactions that follow them-which sheds light on the big questions of civil religion and the use of theological language for political ends. Crises of various sorts have become catalysts in redrawing-or erasing-the lines between church and state, civic and sacred, citizen and believer. Not only does he offer a masterful account of how and why this happens, Gabriel Santos also provides a nuanced theological assessment on why this is harmful to the church and its mission. This is a well-written example of interdisciplinary scholarship done well. This timely and provocative book deserves broad reception and discussion.”

The Fullness of Time in a Flat World

Ethics, Culture & Social Issues

“Scott Waalkes has delivered an integrated analysis of global politics, economics, and the church--timely in its descriptions, analyses, and recommendations. He moves smoothly from global abstractions to the particularities of his--and our--everyday, local church life. This book aims to teach and encourage and succeeds admirably at both.”

The Goodness of God

Theology

“'The goodness of God'--such a simple phrase, such a profound (and maybe even disruptive) concept if we dare explore its implications. Not only does Steve Long lead us skillfully and smoothly through potentially difficult matters of theology and philosophy, he also brings home how our lives might be different if we really took the goodness of God to heart. "From the matters of violence and economics to sexuality and family, Long takes his readers through a thicket of competing ideas, and leads them out the other side into greater clarity of vision, unity of purpose, and passion for God's good kingdom. Seminaries and Sunday schools alike will benefit from this scholarly but accessible volume.”

The Limits of Liberal Democracy

Ethics, Culture & Social Issues

“This is a timely and challenging exploration of political liberty and obligation viewed through the eyes of the church--at least when the church has its eyes open to the ways of the modern world. Equally at home with political philosophy as with scriptural interpretation, Moore offers a balanced yet forthright examination of how and why Christians might revisit their largely uncritical embrace of political liberalism as being good for the gospel. This is a book of value to Christians across denominational and ideological divides, and it has things to say to non-Christians interested in the intersection of Scripture, theology and contemporary political thought.”

Theologies of Failure

Theology

“Given the almost-irresistible temptation to which the Church regularly succumbs—to imitate the world’s obsession with glory and national greatness, success stories, triumphalism, celebration of the powerful and winners and denigration of losers—this book is a timely and perhaps timeless resource for resistance and renewal . . . It’s not clear what it means to construct a ‘successful’ book concerned with Christianity and failure, but Sirvent and Reyburn have done it.”

Working with Words

Theology

“Whether preaching or teaching, writing or conversing, Stanley Hauerwas serves the Word with words--careful words, bold words, nuanced words, provocative words. . . . Reading Working with Words is its own reward, as are the insights one receives upon its completion.”