Review 61: Irresistible Revolution (Shane Clairborne)

This book is to be commended for resisting materialism and for taking Jesus' most challenging words seriously; beyond that, it is awfully self-indulgent-- a surprise, perhaps, for a book espousing asceticism, and new monasticism. This book proves it is possible to be self-indulgent while being a monk (ie. to be overly focused on self). This is why we must always remember the reformation principle that righteousness from God is the only hope for righteousness in life. When we seek to establish our own righteousness the result is pretty much what we have here, a monasticism that cleaves life into the sacred/secular. Furthermore, it is a mistake to turn absolute pacifism into a Christian value, as Claiborne does (see Carson's Love In Hard Places for a more biblical view on War). There is such a thing as a just war. I hope readers resist the revolution espoused in these pages because it represents a liberal Christianity (ala Tony Campolo), and the spirit of the age (environmentalism). The last, and most disturbing point: This book is not specifically Christian, though it uses Christian lingo. This is the danger of elevating extra-biblical values (environmentalism, pacifism) above the priority of scripture (Faith in Jesus Christ).