Reckoning with Power

Why the Church Fails When It's on the Wrong Side of Power

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Pub Date Jan 30 2024 | Archive Date Feb 23 2024

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Description

History is clear: Whenever the church has aligned itself with worldly, coercive power, it ends up on the wrong side of important justice issues.

But when the church cooperates with God's power through his presence among the least powerful, its witness for Jesus transforms the world into a better place.

In Reckoning with Power, David Fitch unpacks the difference between worldly power, or power over others, and God's power, which engages not in coercion but in love, reconciliation, grace, forgiveness, and healing.

In a world where we can see the abuses of power everywhere--in our homes, schools, governments, and churches--Fitch teaches readers how to discern power and avoid its abuses and traumas. By learning from the church's historical pitfalls, Fitch empowers Christians to relinquish worldly power and make space for God to disrupt and transform our culture for his kingdom.

History is clear: Whenever the church has aligned itself with worldly, coercive power, it ends up on the wrong side of important justice issues.

But when the church cooperates with God's power through...


Advance Praise

“From that moment in the fourth century when Christians were first offered a seat at Caesar’s table, the seductive lure of coercive power has ever been the bane of the church. A return to the dynamic countercultural Christianity that turned the world upside down before the Constantinian catastrophe is possible, but only if we are willing to heed the summons of the Spirit to radically rethink our relationship with worldly power. In response to this summons, David Fitch’s Reckoning with Power is the critical reassessment the church needs—particularly the church in North America. As he writes, ‘This cultural moment begs for a reckoning with power.’ I could not agree more! I urge those who hope for a better Christianity to read this book.”—Brian Zahnd, author of The Wood Between the Worlds

“We all need power to be able to negotiate the challenges of our collective life. The question is whether the power we actually use is in fact theologically legitimate or not. In this prophetic book on what is clearly a pressing issue in our time, David Fitch criticizes the American church’s latent cultural Christianity for its ties to ungodly forms of power. A much-needed corrective.”—Alan Hirsch, author and founder of Movement Leaders Collective, Forge Mission Training Network, and the 5Q Collective

“In a time when American evangelicalism is being held hostage to political and cultural power, David Fitch offers another, more kingdom-oriented, way. Reckoning with Power should be required reading for Christian leaders and influencers. It is the best Christian introduction to the subject I have read.”—John Fea, author of Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump; distinguished professor of American history, Messiah University

“From that moment in the fourth century when Christians were first offered a seat at Caesar’s table, the seductive lure of coercive power has ever been the bane of the church. A return to the dynamic...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781587434150
PRICE $19.99 (USD)
PAGES 224

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