Description
Book SynopsisAn economic justice toolkit for Christians
The church is positioned to be an ally of the poor and laborers in their search for social justice and equality, but only if it actively chooses to be. Numerous passages in Scripture convey God’s strong disapproval of inequality point toward a religious imperative to speak out. What are the most effective ways to frame and facilitate discussions about poverty, and how can pastors and activists add to their own understandings of the theological and religious history of labor and work?
By critically examining biblical texts, Church history, and present-day events and experiences, Eric Atcheson offers pastors, activists, and concerned citizens a faith-based toolkit for understanding and addressing the economic disparities present in their communities, as well as ways to initiate hopeful conversations. On Earth as It Is in Heaven is a powerful resource for any of the faithful interested in building a more just and equitable kingdom in the face of increasingly powerful opposition.
Trade Review"This firm but generous book is a tremendous resource for all pastors, activists, and laypeople looking to better engage questions of race, poverty, and justice in their theological context.”
—Laura Jean Truman, writer, preacher, and chaplain
Table of ContentsPreface: For More than Ashes
Chapter 1
A Modern-Day Famine: Wealth and Inequality in the Twenty-First Century
Chapter 2
The Divine Economy in the Law and the Prophets
Chapter 3
The Divine Economy in the Gospels, the Epistles, and Acts of the Apostles
Chapter 4
The Divine Economy throughout the History of Western Christianity
Chapter 5
How We Got Here: Christianity’s Pursuit of Wealth in the United States
Chapter 6
The Dispossession of Children and Elders: Wealth and Generational Status
Chapter 7
Questions of Color: Chattel Slavery, Violent Removal, and Reparations
Epilogue: Rest on the Seventh Day
Acknowledgments
Discussion Questions
