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Dare We Be Christians?
This book is a facsimile reprint and may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages.
Paperback
First published October 1, 1993
About the author
Walter Rauschenbusch
46 books6 followersWalter Rauschenbusch was an American theologian and Baptist pastor who taught at the Rochester Theological Seminary.
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May 25, 2013
"[Christianity] clearly needs active personal agents who will incarnate its vitalities, propagate its principles, liberate its undeveloped forces, purify its doctrine and extend the sway of its faith in love over new realms of social life. Dare we be such men? Dare we be Christians?" (58)
While nearly one hundred years old since its publication, this text by Baptist preacher Walter Rauschenbusch presents a stark challenge to the church to this day. Based on his understanding of the concept of Love as developed in First Corinthians 13, Rauschenbusch presents the challenge for the American church to be the very Christians worthy of bearing the love presented by God to humanity. This love, he attests is a love presented not simply to one another, but also in the church's awareness of the struggles of the world and their necessity to be concerned for those affected. In fact, he challenges that without the involvement of Christians in the society, the loveless nature of the world will continue to survive:
"If love is really as important to God and humanity as we have said, this social antagonism becomes a very serious thing to a religious mind. Must we permanently live in a loveless industrial world, or do we dare to be Christians?" (42-3)
Thus, in Rauschenbusch's perspective, the travesties which occur in society should be a stark pain upon the very heart of those who profess themselves to be Christian. If Christians do not have any concern for such travesties which occur within society, she then has become a hypocrite of her namesake. Only by taking hold of the challenge to become God's love to the world do Christians truly live the life meant to be called Christian.
Rauschenbusch's premise is truly inspiring in its simplicity. The call to Christianity is a call to be concerned not simply for the salvation of individual but also of the concerns of the world. His message mirrors that of James in his speaking to the people of Jerusalem: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world" (James 1:27). Thus, believers can truly become Christians as they bridge the gap between the physical needs for the individual and bringing the Gospel to touch their spiritual needs.
While nearly one hundred years old since its publication, this text by Baptist preacher Walter Rauschenbusch presents a stark challenge to the church to this day. Based on his understanding of the concept of Love as developed in First Corinthians 13, Rauschenbusch presents the challenge for the American church to be the very Christians worthy of bearing the love presented by God to humanity. This love, he attests is a love presented not simply to one another, but also in the church's awareness of the struggles of the world and their necessity to be concerned for those affected. In fact, he challenges that without the involvement of Christians in the society, the loveless nature of the world will continue to survive:
"If love is really as important to God and humanity as we have said, this social antagonism becomes a very serious thing to a religious mind. Must we permanently live in a loveless industrial world, or do we dare to be Christians?" (42-3)
Thus, in Rauschenbusch's perspective, the travesties which occur in society should be a stark pain upon the very heart of those who profess themselves to be Christian. If Christians do not have any concern for such travesties which occur within society, she then has become a hypocrite of her namesake. Only by taking hold of the challenge to become God's love to the world do Christians truly live the life meant to be called Christian.
Rauschenbusch's premise is truly inspiring in its simplicity. The call to Christianity is a call to be concerned not simply for the salvation of individual but also of the concerns of the world. His message mirrors that of James in his speaking to the people of Jerusalem: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world" (James 1:27). Thus, believers can truly become Christians as they bridge the gap between the physical needs for the individual and bringing the Gospel to touch their spiritual needs.
Displaying 1 of 1 review