If you need the support to continue living in a way that seems completely counter cultural - this book can be a best friend. It can feel downright impossible to stay compassionate and understanding. You can feel like an idiot and complete fool. You can be ridiculed, vilified and take advantage of - all of which may make you question why and what you are doing. This can help remind you and give you the perspective to keep going even when it seems the world is against you.

I’m not sure when I first came across John Pavlovitz…and although I’m not proud to admit this, I suspect it may have been online, specifically on Facebook. He is described as an author, pastor, activist, and storyteller, and his book “Worth Fighting For” is described as “Christian Nonfiction.” Since I am not a Christian, most books in this genre don’t appeal to me, but since I have enjoyed many of his writings, I was pleased to receive a copy of this book from Westminster John Knox Books and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

If you haven’t noticed, the U.S. is deeply divided, and (in my opinion) largely due to having a hateful, misogynistic, racist President from 2017-2021, it has become common to have people spewing hateful things to each other, whether in print, verbally, online, or wherever people feel free to speak out. It is incredibly unsettling and has made many of us fearful.

Pavlovitz’s position is that we not only SHOULD not give up hope, but that we CAN NOT give it up! This book is designed to inspire the readers to keep fighting for justice, and to maintain their compassion. Although it seems there are many for whom this is clearly not possible (ahem, the aforementioned former President), the book deserves a wide audience. I appreciate that Pavlovitz’s words are reaching more and more people, and I only hope we can turn the corner on what the country has been moving toward and regain some of the compassion for which we USED to be known around the world.

My only issue with this book is that I could only seem to read it using the NetGalley shelf app, rather than having it on my handy little Kindle, which made it less than ideal – for ME. A small issue, for sure. Five stars.

I don't recall how I initially came across John Pavlovitz's writing, but I'm certainly glad I did. I first read "If God Is Love, Don't Be A Jerk" in 2022--a five star read for me. I followed it up with purchasing his Lenten devotional guide. Both texts were immensely helpful in dissecting and interrogating the faith and traditions I was raised in after placing spirituality on the backburner, and viewing my faith through the "god of love" lens.

Here, Pavlovitz tackles many timely subjects from the past several years, including the rise of anti-semitism, the rollback of human rights, the effects of the Trump president, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the individualistic and polar society we find ourselves in 2024. There are many gems in here and I will likely revisit when I need reminding of the power of hope and the activist heart of Jesus.

My only critique is this reads like blog posts and I think a different structure would have been beneficial.

"Love has never won because it's gone unopposed. It's won because it is a persistent, stubborn son of a bitch that believes that people are worth fighting for, bleeding for, waiting for, sacrificing for."

I am grateful for the free ARC PDF copy that was provided to me by NetGalley and Westminster John Knox Press. All opinions are my own.

Brilliant! He took many topics with which I’ve struggled and put them into a quiet and common sense narrative. I am distressed at how much hatred is vocalized in our country these days. I am especially troubled by people who I know and I’ve loved for years, but who now parrot talking points of hatred and intolerance. This book helped, and I appreciate that. It was a quick and comforting read.

Wow! Loved this book. Thank you John Pavlovitz for getting in my head. Our country is in a dark place and the author is willing to "go there" to address the hatred consuming many Americans. So many nuggets of wisdom in every chapter. This may be my latest highly underlined and highlighted book. I'm ready to move forward to work toward the beloved community that Dr. King invisioned.

This collection of Pavlovitz’s writings (with a few new essays) from the past few years are well written and well-conceived. In my case, he was preaching to the choir. I pray, though, that this book can reach those who have a chance of being converted by his logic and by the truth he speaks.
These essays are both timely and they address important issues, as well. In the current fraught political climate, Pavlovitz addresses ways to remain true to the Christian faith while reminding us of what is worth fighting for—the very future of the world we hope to live in.

Yes...and no. And it probably doesn't matter what I say next, as the author has made it very clear that anyone who disagrees with him on any issue he deems fundamental is a brain-washed, hate-filled, wrong-hearted, MAGA-loving cause of the problems we all face. But I will continue anyway.

I am an apolitical individual. I participate in politics, but without allegiances. I enjoy politics as a spectator sport, somewhere in the middle with a decent bowl of popcorn. Mostly because I believe that the left is right about some things and the right is right about other things, so for me, it's not about party. But for the author, it is. And for whatever reason, he doesn't seem to understand that the venom he spews from the left is just as deadly as the venom he condemns from the right.

He does, at times, acknowledge at least an intellectual understanding that those who disagree with him are not mal-intentioned, but honestly believe they are right just as much as he does, but the more he talks (or writes), the clearer it is that he doesn't really believe this with any meaningfulness in his heart.

For example, he tells the story of some kind of retreat or event they had that brought together persons from very diverse walks of life, and he applauds the way they were all gathered around an enlarged table by the end of it, enjoying being together and celebrating the shared space. What a victory! Except...he also says that the person who spoke up with traditional conservative beliefs was made so uncomfortable by the way the other attendees responded that she left early. So his "bigger table" doesn't include the traditional conservative, and his "diversity" doesn't actually have room for everyone. You can't celebrate a win for diversity and inclusion when even one person has been forced by social pressure to leave your gathering, no matter how wrong or backward you think they are. And this theme continues throughout the book. It's not so hard for us to embrace diversity, he says over and over again, and "anyone" is welcome...but for the traditional conservative, they are welcome only insofar as they are willing to lay down the beliefs his consciousness finds distasteful. Otherwise, their "hate" is not welcome.

So I wonder if the author understands the irony of his position - that he rails against persons on the other side of the political aisle because he is angry at them for setting parameters around humanity and welcome and drawing lines about how one must be willing to behave or believe or think in order to be welcome while he, at the very same time, sets the same parameters and draws the same lines around humanity and welcome. "You aren't allowed to tell someone else they can't be who they are in your presence...and because you think you can, you can't be who you are in my presence."

As with all things, the real answer is somewhere in the middle, and it's messier and harder than even this author claims. It's also possible, but it takes a lot more than trying to claim the moral high ground from one another. It takes a humble kind of love, not an activist one. (Again, on either side.)

The theology is troubling at a lot of points. For example, it's easy to say that Jesus was for social justice, but it's harder to say that He would be present at the kind of riots that we've seen in recent years. In fact, the one time there was a riot in the Gospels, Jesus was there (at the center of it, really), and He told Peter to put away His sword, then reached out and healed the rioter. And that's really what our country, our churches, our world, our souls need - that kind of divine healing. Not more spats in the streets. The author cites Martin Luther King, Jr. but we have to confess that today's tactics are far different from King's, and I'm not convinced that King would endorse them, no matter how much he might stand for the causes themselves. So it's a bad attribution.

The center of the troubling theology, though, can be captured in one statement written fairly late in the text. The author claims that the "greatest commandment" is that we "love one another as yourself." But that's not what the Bible says, and it's not what Jesus says. Both are clear - the GREATEST commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. "The SECOND is like it"...but it's not the greatest. (For what it's worth, I do not doubt that the author loves God, as do many others with whom I both agree and disagree.)

It just seems to me as though for its noble efforts in wanting to be a rallying cry, this book is just as guilty of division as the very things he's trying to stand against. In that regard, it's counterproductive. It increases the distance between us, and the only way through any time in our history is to draw closer to one another.

In WORTH FIGHTING FOR: Finding Courage and Compassion When Cruelty Is Trending, author pastor speaker John Pavlovitz comes out blazing in his indictment of a Christianity that has lost sight of Jesus’ compassion and concern for the marginalized, the wounded, the displaced, disabled, the non-gender conforming not-white guys.

Ideally, he writes to reach anyone who is searching for a better way to live a life of faith and to relate respectfully with each other, but I suspect his main audience will be those who already agree with him. For these readers, he truly does express “what oft was thought” and by book’s end, he manages to create an encouraging sense that there are many such like-minded people.

Pavlovitz does not avoid direct criticism of the 45th President and the evangelical community that continues to enable him. In short punchy chapters, he encourages readers to remain hopeful, to keep talking, to stay loving. I did not expect to like this book as much as I did and would recommend it to anyone who is sad and struggling in the belief that religion is colluding with some of the worst societal impulses to create our current national breakdown.

With thanks to Westminster John Knox Press and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is an uplifting reminder that you are truly braver than you will ever feel. Like a rally cry to the broken.

I received this book free from Netgalley in return for an honest review. I had to force myself to continue reading it after the first chapter or so. The author’s own words contradict his obvious thoughts and feelings. He started with a blatant political bias and distorted facts throughout to preach a superficial “love your neighbor” message that actually was a thinly-disguised “approve and affirm every attitude and action in the name of love” doctrine, which is contradictory to Biblical teaching. I find it hard to imagine that any thinking person can draw some of the conclusions he drew from actions of people he was obviously predisposed to dislike and find fault with. In terms of writing skill and structural accuracy, the book is acceptable.

Worth Fighting For is the first book I read by John Pavlovitz. He has some good points and his heart is in the right place. I think his anger towards the world is not all Republicans or Trumps fault though. I think it is on both sides of the aisle. This country has become a "If you don't agree with me you are wrong and should be blacklisted" type of mentality. Everyone should have their own opinions but no one should be hated for those opinions or even worse killed.

His book does give us hope. Hope that whether you are Republican, Democrat, gay, straight, black, white, we can all work together in harmony to make this country as great as it once was. Hope that, even though we all have differing opinions, we can still coexist as a nation and treat people with respect and love. It will take us all to overcome what is happening in this world. The question is, are we going to step up or just read a book and write a review about it.

Thank you NetGalley and John Pavlovitz for giving me the opportunity to have HOPE.

Many people may feel overwhelmed and defeated by the current situation. Pavlovitz reminds us there is much worth fighting for. Each of us still has great agency in the decisions we make and the way we use our time and resources.

Pavlovitz is not shy in his opinions. He'll irritate evangelical Christians I am sure with his view that the GOP is unwell and our leaders in the U.S. are really unwell. He is sickened by this thing called Christianity and says Jesus would be horrified by it. (73) Pavlovitz is more concerned with people being loved and getting the help they need than he is about right doctrine. The way you treat others, he says, is the only meaningful expression of your belief system. (62) “[Love] is still the antidote to all that afflicts us.” (61) He encourages us to do the difficult work of loving the people we dislike. (44)

I appreciate this collection of short essays Pavlovitz has written on a variety of subjects. While I do not agree with all he says, I found his writings thought provoking and a wake up call to those of us calling ourselves Christians. He encourages us to be Christlike, being the best people we can possibly be. This is a book offering hope to those who feel hopeless.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

I've followed John Pavlovitz for ages on social media and through his blog posts. I agree with so much of what he says and was excited to see his book available here on NetGalley. I was not disappointed. He is an excellent writer and speaks from his heart. I enjoyed this book and I'm thankful to have had the opportunity to read it.

John Pavolvitz is as exhausted by the current culture as the next guy. However, he remains hopeful and encouraging that society can become less dark and that there is still compassion and love and connection in the world. A good read for all the downtrodden among us.

Note: Thank you to NetGalley, Westminster John Knox Press, and John Pavlovitz for the advanced reader copy of the book. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.

I’ve followed John Pavlovitz for many years on social media, and read a few of his books. In many ways, he is a breath of fresh air in the religious landscape. As a progressive Christian, I’ve struggled over the years with the version of Christianity the media pushes to the forefront. It does not represent what I believe. It does not represent the Church I knew growing up. Worth Fighting For is a book for those of us who are among the faithful who have felt the disillusionment of organized religion over the years, especially in the last eight years or so. I highly recommend it to people who are struggling with their faith and feel that there is no place for them in the church in this country.

I immediately felt heard in this book. Having been active politically since I was young, I have felt tired and burned out over the last decade. Pavlovitz gets to the heart of that feeling. He tells me it’s okay to feel that way and it’s okay to need a rest from all of the hatred that seems to permeate our lives these days.

I have often said that we have stopped appreciating the concept of rest. We take vacations where we have to be doing something all the time, instead of giving our bodies and brains a chance to rest.

I’ve seen this on social media where people who claim to be Christian verbally assault those who need support, instead of showing compassion. Isn’t Jesus all about compassion? Doesn’t he even plead for his Father to show compassion to those who crucified him? That is what we are called to do. It’s not easy. I find myself having a hard time with it at times. That’s why reading a book where the author confronts those feelings head-on is so important.

Pavlovitz has no problem pointing out the hypocrisy of these Christians as they advocate shooting immigrants all the while claiming to be “pro-life.” He gets to the heart of what causes problems for so many people of faith who truly do believe “all lives matter” in this current climate.

He brings up important points I hadn’t thought of. If we truly believe “God is in control” then who are we to question how people see themselves? Aren’t they the best authority on their existence as a child of God?

The book is a series of essays that conveys the current climate exceptionally well. He touches on the divisions between family and neighbors and how it’s important to try to still have a dialogue with people when it’s possible. He sets ground rules for that, which might be a problem for many. It’s hard to invite someone to the table when they devalue someone’s humanity. He acknowledges that having the dialogue means people have to be open and affirm everyone’s humanity.

I loved Worth Fighting For. It was exactly what I needed to read. It is affirming for Progressive Christians and for other marginalized people in the current political climate. Pavlovitz reinforces many of my own beliefs and gives me plenty more to think about, while at the same time pointing out that we need to see each others’ humanity, even those we see as the enemy.

I thought this book was very hypocritical. Trying to send a message about hate being wrong by turning around and blaming republicans and Trump for all the supposed bad in the world was just disgusting.

This is the first book I've read by John Pavlovitz, but after reading the synopsis, I felt like it was just the thing I needed, and I wasn't wrong. For anybody who is alarmed at the direction politics are taking in the US, with the enmity and divisiveness and the attacks on the rights of women, minorities and LGBTQ+ people, this is the book for you, too. While acknowledging all of that, and more, the message John Pavlovitz gets across is that there is still hope, and that kindness and faith will go a long way towards learning how to look at things in a more positive light. It's not a saccharine message, but is more encouraging, and this book, told in small essays, helps you figure out where to start, and how to approach different situations in a kinder, more accepting way. Does it tell you how to change people's opinions and personal beliefs? No. But it does give you advice on how to avoid the pitfalls and negativity that strong opinions sometimes stir up. I, personally, have become so skeptical of anything labeled "Christian" that I feel like I immediately go on the defensive when confronted with it, and this author has given me ways to stop doing that, to know which battles and situations are worth it, and which are best avoided, without preaching at the reader (pardon the pun).

This was a very quick read at only 176 pages, and definitely worth your time if you want to take a step back, ditch the stress, and just breathe.

5/5 stars.

*** I would like to thank NetGalley, Westminster John Knox Press, and John Pavlovitz for the opportunity to read and review Worth Fighting For.

Those who follow Pavlovitz's blog or twitter posts or who have read his previous books will not be surprised at this collection of essays that decry the meanspiritedness and spite that seem to have taken over much of our popular culture and social media.

He has harsh words for those who use Christianity to bludgeon marginalized groups and questions the value of current organized Christianity. Pavlovitz observes that we are sick as a country, a condition that is fueled by opportunistic politicians. He expresses dismay at the loss of our rights and argues that righteous anger, as modeled by Jesus, is to be valued and used to fuel change.

Pavlovitz speaks for many of in our society who have watched with alarm the deterioration of American discourse, as cruelty has replaced compassion, and who aspire to social justice.

A strong read for those open to its message, which is ultimately hopeful.

Full Disclosure--NetGalley and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

Thanks to #NetGally and #Westminster John Knox. press for an ARC ebook.

What is not to like about this book? Thought provoking, engaging, hopeful and pure common sense.
The way the world is today with all the hate and fear mongering, one’s emotions can spiral out of control. Reading John’s book can help bring you back to center.

Are you looking for a way to get your positive outlook back in this time of super hate and diversion? Well, if you, then you should pick this book up. I found it helpful and encouraging. We need to get back to the talk to your neighbors and respect each other way of life. This book, can help you rest your mind and be the one who starts it.