Jesus For President
May 26, 2008 
Shane Claiborne is one of the founders of "The Simple Way" - and a long-time partner in The Potter Street Community, an intentional community in Philadelphia that seeks to live in ways that are redemptive and beautiful. His burgeoning influence among North American Christians is largely the result of his ability to enunciate a growing sense that the gospel - as understood in contemporary American Christian culture - has been usurped by specialized interests, not the least of which is the church. His continuing articulation of that sense has resulted in a a collaboration with Chris Haw and Zondervan to produce the provocatively titled "Jesus for President".
Jesus for President, then, offers nothing less than a completely new interpretation of the scripture, from Genesis to Revelation; a re-interpretation so dramatically other than that of the rational, individual, me-centered gospel of our day that it is simply stunning. Drawing his understanding of the Kingdom of God from Narrative Theology, Claiborne divides the book into four sections offering a re-examination of the the Old Testament, the birth of Christ, the growth of the church and its eventual co-operation with (and absorption into) the Empire (Roman and American), and finally, stories of redemption living and acts of non-conformity intended to inspire and motivate change.
Claiborne and Haw's writing is alluring in many ways and SharpSeven's graphic design is constantly intriguing - it has the look and feel of something home-made; a journal, scrapbook or zine, perhaps. The focus of their interpretation of scripture is consistently oriented towards community and justice; to live out the Kingdom of God is to engage in redemptive living, even if it means getting arrested so as to stand with the homeless. To Claiborne and Haw, Christ's re-iteration of Isaiah's call to preach the gospel to the poor, to set the captives free and proclaim the year of Jubilee is meant to be understood literally. The Kingdom of God, they tell us, is not merely different from the world but is diametrically opposed to the empire of materialism, commercialism, democracy and war. The authors show no hesitation in presenting America as a Neo-Roman empire, and understand the gospel as a message that subverts that empire and, if truly embraced by Christians now (as in the earliest days of the church) presents a clear and present danger to the empire's longevity.
As a non-American reader, however, I experienced no small amount of disconnect in reading Jesus for President. It is, first and foremost, targeted quite specifically at American Christians. In Canada we have scant militaristic fervor and lack the history of imperial jingoism that has so brutally defined America to the world. Nor did everyone - as the opening pages ask us to recollect - grew up in a nuclear family, attend childhood Sunday School or pledge allegiance to the flag (a uniquely American affectation). Perhaps the authors fail to grasp the fact that America may be the only nation in the world in which religious, patriotic and militaristic zeal are hopelessly confused, but the notable alternative - that they have written this book for American readers to the exclusion of all others inspires far less, though splitting hairs is not an unreasonable description of this particular concern. What does nag in the back of my mind, however, is that nowhere do the authors talk about the need for a deep and personally sustaining relationship with God. My experience at the Mission has been that one simply cannot give without possessing that which needs to be given; nothing less than the presence of Christ is the empowerment for serving others. Perhaps there is much to life in an intentional community that I don't understand, but the absence of any discussion related to an intimate and individual knowing of Christ is puzzling, if not alarming. The authors may assume their audience will read the text as if a personal, knowing experience of God is unstated but understood yet, barring that assumption (and the subsequent decoding of the text it requires), Christ appears to be reduced to a political, economic, and religious figurehead. As Claiborne and Haw recast the Advent story Christ's divinity is only obliquely mentioned - once:
As Israel continued to break the covenant and failed to be distinctive, God came to show us in one person all that Isreael was meant to be. (Page 65)
That's it - the sum total aknowledgement of Christ's divinity. I have also read pages 107-108 a dozen times over and still don't understand what their re-interpretation of 'born again' means, much less how one becomes 'born again', a significant failing (perhaps on my part) when one considers an Evangelical Christian audience, for whom the term holds an almighty heft. The book's singular focus on community and social justice, particularly in this regard, seems sorely lacking in but one element; that being a divine, loving, personally active God who cares for the individual amidst the community and the community through the individual, to which the 'fruit of the Spirit' attest. Without this, Claiborne's social justice, community-based gospel may become yet another gospel subverted; a gospel wherein the pharisaical righteousness of legalism is replaced by the pharisaical righteousness of community: one program driven church being replaced by another. God's love can never be understood in light of God's desire for justice. God's love can only be understood through the experience of God's love, personally and individually. Without this we have nothing to offer our community, nothing to offer our world.
These concerns, however, are more of caution than alarm. What Jesus for President does offer is nothing less than a staggeringly vast re-interpretation of the bible, of the life of Christ and what all of it means for us. Claiborne and Haw give us a compelling vision for translating the life of Christ into the language of our every day activities, but the panoramic scope of it leaves me struggling to contain it's enormity. Yet by constantly returning to the values of community and the ability of individual actions to effect meaningful change, and by doing so in a tone that is consistently winsome, coy and playful, Claiborne and Haw give me a sense that I can make a difference - really and truly make a difference - in the world, right here, today, in my own neighbourhood. That's what I loved most about this book - and why I recommend it so highly to every Christ follower: Jesus for President gives me hope.
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Reader Comments (12)
"Perhaps the authors fail to grasp the fact that America may be the only nation in the world in which religious, patriotic and militaristic zeal are hopelessly confused."
Not sure where you get your daily news or where you read your history ;), but America stands right in the very middle of a very broad stream of nation-states and tribes who have synthesized these 3 elements throughout history (I'm thinking USSR, France, England for God's sake, tribal warfare, and thousands more). The US just happens to be the modern icon of this mess. But no, America is not the only nation doing this. And I'm certainly not pro-America, but I think it's a tad bit silly to think that this book is uniquely American in that sense. The Christ I read constantly calls all of us to reconsider our allegiances, whether overt or covert.
Also, while I appreciate your notion that "community gospel" could just be another hijacking of the gospel, most of these intentional communities (most of which I have visited / spent time with / have relationships with) have a deep sense of mission and commitment to the gospel that calls all allegiances into question. Few of them are merely focussed on community as an end.
Anyway, hoping not to come off as harsh, but just wanted to pass these notes along.
Throughout history God and King have always been the rallying cry for war. But I doubt - I seriously doubt - if any nation or empire in all of world history has as much blood on it's boots in the name of God as America. There's no way they have any competition whatsoever for that title, and to do it they have confused God and country to an astounding extent.
And I do admit that there's a lot I don't know about living in an intentional community. Having never lived in an intentional community or having a relationship with one (as you have) puts me at a disadvantage in evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. So I went back and read what you said again. Forgive me if this seems argumentative - I just want to ask about when you said most intentional communties, "have a deep sense of mission and commitment to the gospel that calls all allegiances into question. Few of them are merely focussed on community as an end." Maybe there's a whole 'nother language I have to learn, but once again, Christ isn't mentioned. Community is, allegiances are, mission is, the gospel is... but a considerable ammount of assumptions about what the presence, purpose, power and passion of Christ are is built into that statement. Namely, I have to assume that Christ is at the centre of what you're talking about simply because he isn't mentioned. And I'm surprised at how rarely he was mentioned in J.F.P. also. I'm left guessing where Christ, the cross and the resurrection are in all of this, what they mean in the context of community and mission. I get the whole thing about subverting the empire and like it very much, but if living out the gospel has become the gospel, well, I'm not sure what that means.
I hope this ridiculously long response doesn't sound argumentative or harsh - it isn't meant to be at all but I can be very clumsy sometimes. Let me know what you think. Quite possibly I'm just not ready (or able) to get my head around all of this yet. Claiborne and Haw might be just moving way to fast for me.
One last question - I don't know where you're at, but are their any intentional communites in Ontario that you know of? I would rather like to explore this a bit more - more than reading books, that is.
He really has a way of hammering home the kingdom, here, now. Rick McKinley is another one of my favorites.
the books seem to lead shane to more speaking engagements. an interestng way to make a living. it sounds like some people enjoy hearing him speak. i wonder what part chris playes in the writing and speaking.
i am finding that the "relationship" with God in Jesus through the Holy Spirit is the link that i was missing in my understanding of being a Christian. for me, since that was understood, i realize that it is necessary to continually practice this along with the awarness of the Love of God that is to be received and shared. one can become a Christian by belief and faith, and then one must "continue to be" a Christian by living out the belief in faith. i must say that faith in Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit and communication with God... priceless gifts...are not to be seen as side benefits, they are the main thing.
i am learning again and again that what we do may not look like much to anyone else...but it might be just fine with God.
it may be in a suburb in america, in a homeless shelter, in a community like shane's, in canada, in london, paris, or koro toro. God can work there.
i was thinking recently that i was not doing enough for God...well maybe not, or maybe so. but, i believe that i can do it no matter where i live. and i can't do it with out a personal daily relationship with God in Jesus, and learning and seeking what that looks like...and in living and in relationship with other people with the Love of God and seeking what that should be and how that should look.
and i think what we do for God and what He does through us will change when He wants it to change.
and i would venture to say that a lot of the change He wants to take place, is in our own hearts and minds.
also...
this thing about different places and different ways of doing things...
God has got it all down
it is all realated
everything is related
seen and used by God
don't fool your self to think that
we humans have control over what gets done in God's name, and what kings and presidents can do, or any one can do
God knows all and sees all
and we are just little humans trying to
figure it all out
the best we can do is to humbly worship
and obey our God and have the relationship
with Him that is so desired by Him that he
sent His Son to die so that we might have it.
well, this morning was the read again moment, and it was wonderful.
the post...Blessed Are the Peacemakers.
i am always amazed at your way with words.
how the words just easily dance around me to a complex yet simply beautiful tune.
and later i am caught humming the tune and thinking about the words.
they are not always easy words to hear. but it is like the tune and the dance make it easier to hear. and always there is something to relate to...even if i have not ever had the experience, there is something in the way you write that leaves a place within the experience that is familiar.
i am so glad that you write about your life and your faith. it is indeed a blessing to me.
(just sayin' is all...)
Also, Nacny, I'm not sure if Shane is necessarily "making a living" on his speaking engagements. When he came to my school (Anderson University) for a week and spoke several times, he did it for free.
isaac