One

by Deidra Riggs

Jesus didn't say that the world would know we are his followers by our biting rhetoric, our political leanings, our charity work, or even by our knowledge of Scripture. He said the world would know us by our love for one another. Yet it's so easy to put others at arm's length, to lash out, to put up walls. Deidra Riggs wants us to put our focus on self-preservation aside and, like Jesus, make the first move toward reconciliation.

In One , Riggs shows readers that when Jesus offered himself up in our place, he was not only purchasing our salvation but also setting an example for us to follow. She helps readers understand that they are secure in God's inexhaustible love, making them free to love others lavishly--not just in what they do but in what they say, what they don't say, what they will endure, and what they will forgive.

Anyone who longs for unity in the church, in their family, and in their community will find in this book both inspiring examples of loving done well and encouragement to begin the often unnoticed hard work of building bridges with those around them.

Genres: Christian, Religion, Faith, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Social Justice

208 pages, Paperback

Published April 4, 2017

Reviews

[Cynthia Thomeer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book after hearing the author interviewed on a podcast. I very much liked what she had to say about the great need for unity among all of us and her work of reconciliation. Shortly after buying the book, a friend asked to start meeting with me regularly to read through a book together and ONE was a logical choice. At about chapter 3, we added two other ladies to our group and dubbed ourselves All4ONE; we decided that we were very clever. The book sparked a lot of good and productive discussion between us that, of course, led us on many a tangent (although, it was always connected in some way to the need for unity and the temptation to remain divided). We began to grapple with the issue of how racial reconciliation relates to the gospel. There is a common belief that they can and should be separated, but we disagreed with that and faced some pushback from the leadership in our church. This book helped firm up for me the foundational belief that God is sovereign over all and nothing in this world is truly secular. It is all spiritual and everything relates to the gospel. In fact, racial reconciliation is a huge part of the gospel, as Christ's death on the cross broke down the wall that separated Jews and Gentiles. I appreciate Diedra's work and hope to hear her speak in person one day. Each chapter includes questions and this is an excellent book to use in a group.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world has felt so intensely divided lately. How are we supposed to get along? As a Christian, am I allowing my affinity for causes to overcome Christ's command to love my enemies? This book started out a little slow for me, but about a third of the way through it really picked up for me and Deidra Riggs was kicking my butt. Much of what she says isn't anything new, but it is a helpful reminder of what the church is called to. She manages to not take sides as she challenges us to avoid drawing lines that can inadvertently build walls between us. Actually applying what she says will be the real challenge, but I feel like she's offered a way forward.

[Caity Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Deidra is humble and knows how to graciously challenge all of us. I think every Jesus follower should read this book. So good.

[Hallie (Hallie Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Cara Meredith]

Riggs is a wise voice in conversations of unity. While I would have liked more specific examples (and felt like she leaned toward meeting the need of every kind of reader), her words served a purpose in me, and I'm more desirous of oneness than ever before.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I value the work that the author of this book does, and the overall premise of the book, but I struggled a bit with reading it. It took me a while to read, which might have been part of the issue. However, even when I was reading a chapter per day, I felt a bit like the chapters were more essays on a related theme than building on each other, so I sometimes felt like I was making a bit of a leap from one chapter to the next and didn’t quite know why content was being covered in that order. I also struggled a tad to know exactly what audience she had in mind when writing the book. The last chapter made me think that perhaps it was other people also doing reconciliation work, which would make sense. There were some other points where I felt like perhaps the audience was very broad and I wasn’t quite sure where I fit in it. There were a number of really good insights that I highlighted and appreciated, though.

[Michele Morin · Rating 5 out of 5]

God Bless the Whole World -- No Exceptions

I started listening to NPR a few years ago because I had entered a season of needing to hear a different voice, of wanting to listen to viewpoints and encounter opinions that I did not share. In these days of challenging conversations around politics and race, it’s important for me to remember that I am called to love, to trade my litmus tests for conversations with real people. In navigating the deep divides within the church on everything from immigration and the role of women to worship style and the definition of family, more than ever the body of Christ must be the force that passes through our differences all the way to grace. Deidra Riggs reminds me in ONE that Unity in a Divided World must be an intentional thing, something that we pray for and work toward. Jesus modeled this focused attention in His prayer recorded in John’s Gospel:

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
This begs the question for this middle-aged, stodgy, and opinionated soul: Can I love my neighbor “without being concerned about whether [my] neighbor is right?” King Solomon and Parker J. Palmer invite me into a Third Way in which my soul hears well and is, therefore, enabled to choose the God-honoring, others-serving path that may go against the grain.

Ambassadors of Unity

Deidra traces the path of reconciliation that leads to oneness, urging readers:

to ask challenging questions about our motives for living toward the homogeneous and the “safe”;
to offer and to seek forgiveness;
to continually remind one another that we are one.
The Two Chairs

Whenever people come together, there are two chairs in the room. One is the seat of justice, and the other is the seat of mercy. “Only God has the credentials to sit in both of those seats and perfectly administer both justice and mercy,” (64) and while we may crave justice, it is critical to recall that God “does not ignore our broken hearts” when He invites us to sit in the seat of mercy and to view life from the perspective of someone who has wronged us. (75)

When Jesus prayed for his followers (present and future), He would not have been blindsided by the fact that an outcome of His magnificent creativity would be uniqueness — manifested in differences of opinions. It would be alarming if we all walked in lockstep on every issue.

“Oneness is not about conforming.
Oneness is about transforming.” (97)
The oneness that Jesus prayed for us is bigger than our position on an issue or our political affiliation. The challenge is to love well — especially if disagreements make love an unlikely thing, for then the radical love of God is put on display.

Going to Ferguson

Because her heart was broken, and because she needed to see the fallout from the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, Deidra boarded a plane and spent three days in the sweltering heat, living in the midst of the tragedy and joining in the lament. Two years later, when Alton Sterling was killed, she used the internet as a virtual gathering place in which the “Prayers of the People” became an invitation to come together around shared grief. Looking squarely at tragedy, acknowledging together that we live in the space between what is and what will be can be the starting place for God-initiated transformation leading to oneness in heart and in mind.

Spiritual Integrity

Like Deidra, I am the bologna in a generational sandwich. Mine comprises an elderly mother on one side, and on the other, a range of adult and teen sons. Add to this a quest for a vibrant marriage, ministry, blogging, and the occasional cup of tea with a friend, and the tendency is to fragment, bringing only part of the self to each aspect of life. Unity in a divided world requires personal and internal oneness which brings a screeching halt to the sacred/secular dichotomy and nullifies the “requirement” that I be all things to all people. Only Jesus can do that, and it turns out that His prayer in John 17 is a prayer for integrity, a heart’s cry from the Son to the Father against the “massive fault line that runs through the center of my soul.” (156)

The unity that Jesus prayed for among those who believingly follow Him is a product of the “oneness within each follower.” (157) Spiritual integrity de-emphasizes lines of division, assuring our hearts that all of life is sacred. We care for and respect our one-and-only heart through radical practices of grace, going home to our roots for restoration, and recalibrating our perspective through regular observance of Sabbath (which Eugene Peterson defines this way: “Take nothing for granted. And do it every week.”)

Gathered under God’s loving wings, may we look around us at all those within His vast circumference and find, to our great surprise, that this is what it means to be One; that this shared protection and provision is proof that God loves the whole world and delights in each one of us — no exceptions.

//

This book was provided by Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for my review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

We humans have always needed unity. It’s nothing new. We’ve resisted unity with our fellow man at least since Cain and Abel, if not before. Jesus saw how we needed it and prayed we might be one. Millennia after that prayer, divisions persist in the world and in the Church. It can feel hopeless. But Deidra Riggs holds out hope that unity in a divided world is possible. In her book ONE, she looks to Jesus to bring us together—and points us to seek Him and His power. She knows we can’t do it on our own, so for us to be part of bringing change, she calls us to be open to being changed by God.

To that end, she invites us to bring our whole selves to the book. “Bring your body, your mind, your heart, and your soul,” she writes in the introduction. “Bring your biases and your prejudices. Bring your hopes and your dreams. And bring your fears. Bring what makes you angry, along with the experiences that heal you” (21).

On the pages of ONE, she speaks with compassion and understanding as she calls us to a bold new way of viewing every person we encounter. And she challenges us to view every human being, no matter how different they are from us, as made in the image of God. To truly serve and love and offer compassion to our fellow man, we need to truly see them.

To believe unity is possible in the Church feels naive these days. Idealistic. But it can happen, if we open our minds and hearts. “The road to unity in the Church begins in the heart of each person who claims Jesus as Lord and Savior. Your heart is where the revolution begins” (50).

Maybe Deidra Riggs is an idealist. Or maybe she has faith in Christ Jesus our Lord to do more than we ask or imagine. “Oneness, in the body of Christ,” she writes, “celebrates the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us and in the world, making all things new” (183). Despite the news headlines and Twitter feed, the strife in churches across the nation and the sin among us, I was able to read this book and reflect on the Scriptures she cites and hang on every word of the stories she tells, and begin to believe it is possible...I believe that maybe we really can be one.

After finishing ONE, maybe I’ve become as idealistic as Deidra Riggs. And maybe that’s exactly what Jesus wants for me and for you. “Oneness is God’s desire for us,” Riggs writes. “Unity is what Jesus prayed for us. The odds are definitely in our favor” (21).

[Carolina Hinojosa-Cisneros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riggs asks, “How do we love God in a culture and context filled with people with whom we disagree?” One challenges us to understand the role we play as Christians in a political climate that is in desperate need of hope and unity.

“If we desire to emulate the ways of Jesus, we’ve got to make sure everyone is part of our vocabulary when we engage the world.”

I was especially drawn to the section on lament. Riggs breaks down the language and context where lament unfolds by using her visit to Ferguson as an example. This is where she tried to understand the plight of the people as everyone tried to make sense of the shooting.

Riggs was not afraid to tell us what it looks like to lament. This particular section washed me over with tears. For a Christian woman to write candidly about her experience in Ferguson and what it means to say Black Lives Matter burst forth some hope that we can come together somehow. Because lament looks like all of it, we must let people grieve and not tell them how they must grieve. God loves all of us. He even loves the people we do not agree with.

Although One is an important conversation for Christians to have, I feel the book played it safe. It didn’t dive too deeply into things that perhaps would cause people to feel uncomfortable.
“What more can be said of racism?”

One should be read by people deep in their Christian walk. If you are new to Christianity and would like an account of how to proceed with unity, this should not be the only book you pick up, but it should be one of them.

I enjoyed this book. I didn’t have any sudden revelations. I think the questions at the end are dire. The dialogue must ensue and One is a great conversation starter. It serves as a complimentary piece to many available resources on the history of racism and systemic oppression inherent in the founding of our nation.

[Michael Watt · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a world that is consistently drawing more and more lines of division in the sand, it is more important now than ever for Christians to talk openly and honestly about the reconciliation that Christ brings and should seek to model this oneness within the body of Christ.

As one who is involved in a gospel-centered multi-cultural church plant, this book really drew me in. Many would acknowledge that we are still in many ways divided by race and culture in our society and even still within the church, and there are many different theories and suggestions on how to address this segregation. What made Deidra so refreshing was that this book was simply her sharing her heart as she recalls various episodes in her own life while meditating on Scriptural principles.

If I had to boil what I liked about this book down to one thing, it would be how Deidra takes the two greatest commandments of loving God and loving neighbor and calls the reader to simply listen and love. Although Deidra does share some practical tips on pursuing reconciliation, she does not lay out a detailed step by step process but simply calls us to listen to and empathize with each other. Deidra strives to go to the heart of the issue before getting to the solution. As I finished reading, I could not help but think that when our hearts are truly transformed by the amazing grace of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:13-18), the solution may not be far behind. May God grant us to see gospel-centered unity in a divided world beginning with the local church.

Note: I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.

[Diane Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

“One” by Deidra Riggs is a great book on unity and on building more bridges rather than walls with each other. Deidra goes in depth on how to do this. She focuses on how we need to show love and grace to each other rather than segrate ourselves from each other. I love what she wrote about reconciliation: “Reconciliation invites everyone to the table. All of us, even those we wouldn’t have necessarily chosen to invite. And isn’t that the point? We are not in charge of the guest list. We are guests along with everyone else.” I love this! This really made me look at reconciliation in a different light. We are all the same! There were so many thought provoking statements in this book. Deidra writes in a very easy to read style. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

I received this book from Baker Books for my honest opinion.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the first half of the book was really strong, and I took away a number of good ideas. The last few chapters didn't resonate as much with me, but might be just what other readers need. Definitely worth the read.

A few key points for me:
If we can remove our identity from the result of a discussion or argument, we're more likely to achieve the harmony we desire.

If some people feel they have to code-switch and others do not, it would be wise to explore why.

We can choose to sit in the justice seat or the mercy seat. Choosing the mercy seat does not ignore justice but acknowledges that only God can administer justice perfectly.

Pre-emptive justice - moving through the world doing our best to limit the possibility of offense(Rom 12:18).

[Jeannine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great book that I think I'll be processing for a while. Some quotes that stood out to me:

"The goal for each of us is to grow in love, not judging whether someone else is loving right or well enough."
"When the people on the other side of our argument become our enemies, and we identify them as such, we have let our argument become our idol."

There were lots of others that challenged me and how I relate to others, particularly in the church, who I know see things/issues differently from me. A challenge to keep my eyes open to those differences, appreciate them, and not hold my opinions, beliefs and values so tightly that I forget the importance of loving one another.

[Jennifer Franz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so timely, given our current culture of polarization and disunity. It’s filled with wisdom, and it really challenged me to expand both my heart and thinking. Having also recently finished Austin Channing Brown’s “I’m Still Here”, I found this to be a perfect companion book alongside it. I highly recommend this book.

[Renee Davis Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had read this with a book club, I want to TALK about this book, I need to discuss it before I can review it. Bottom line: I loved it, it gave me so much to think about, I am grateful for Deidra's wisdom, perspective, and faith. You should read it and then we can talk about it. 😀

[Larry Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Voice needs to be heard.

Deidre writes about what we all need to hear and follow. My prayer is for individuals, churches and communities find ways to turn her voice into action. Our church will be using this book to guide us.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

We were created for oneness - not for division. To live in oneness with one another, we must stop putting up walls. We must keep hanging with one another even when we don't agree. This is a wonderfully challenging and hopeful book about what we could be if we tried.

[Dara Tinius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Convicting and prophetic

[Heidi price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read this book! Wonderful! Hopeful! Inspiring!

[Unna · Rating 1 out of 5]

TBR

[Steffanie Kamper Culp · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know it's a good book when you argue, get angry and get thoroughly uncomfortable reading it. And also recognize the author is right. Very timely for personal reasons and OUCH.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Challenging. Chapter 2 spoke to me. I listened to the audiobook, but bought a copy for for further reflection. So much work to do, but this is a great place to start.

[Mona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book! Riggs reminds us of the power of reconciliation and loving others as Christ taught us to love…our path to unity.

[Cara Dobrev · Rating 5 out of 5]

This shouldn't have been an earth shattering book, yet it shook me. Nothing the author said was outside of what I already believed, but she challenged me to follow those beliefs down the path to true Unity. My path is much rockier than I had noticed, and now that I am paying attention seeking unity is hard work.

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Deidra Riggs' One: Unity in a Divided World is fresh air and offers useful steps toward peace in a time where people are being polarized by the simplest details. She shares how she has learned to not hold onto every emotion and search for the greater reward. Forgiveness, reconciliation, acceptance and peace lead to the high narrow road to follow. There are insightful treasures about people, churches, and how to live in the world today. I learned why the church is still a divided place and found new hope. I highly recommend this book.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deidra Riggs sets the tone for relationships across racial and political lines from a Christian perspective. That last part, "a Christian perspective," is the key for appreciating Riggs's work. The market is being flooded with excellent literature on race relations. Riggs' book is extremely important because she writes first and foremost as a follower of Christ. That above everything else defines her and sets the tone for her work. This is as it should be for a disciple of Jesus interested in racial justice work and reconciliation. Jesus defines how we understand justice. Too many Christian writers insist that our sense of justice defines our view of Christianity. It's supposed to be the other way around and Deidra Riggs demonstrates this beautifully.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot recommend this book highly enough! It is a much needed perspective for navigating the world today. I not only highlighted parts of the book, it has stars, hearts, exclamation points, and a couple of "ouch"es.

The writing is clear, thoughtful, and non-repetitive while still continually addressing the theme. I'm putting her other book on my "to read" list.

[Rachel Schmoyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like Ann VosKamp or the writing style of (in)courage.me than you will love this book.

If you are still torn up inside by the division in our nation after last year's election or because of the police/Black Lives Matter issues, then you will feel refreshed by this book.

Neither of the above is true for me. This is not the type of book that I would normally be drawn to, but on the back cover, there was a sentence about how too often we keep each other at arm's length. That grabbed my attention.

This book let the idea of unity and oneness simmer in my brain and convicted me of some places in my life that I was letting my opinions become part of my identity instead of allowing my identity to rest solely in Jesus Christ.

The book also revealed how to react to other's positions when they differ from your own. Namely, when we don't get our positions confused with our identity, then we can respect other people's opinions as part of their journey rather than dismissing the person's worth along with their differing opinion.

[Mary Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deidre Riggs’ prayer in writing Oneness, Unity in a Divided World, is that the book will help people “face the hard truths about ourselves…[and] surrender to the process of first being reconciled to God, and then to ourselves so we may finally be fully reconciled to others – even those we now call our ‘enemy’” (One, Unity in a Divided World by Deidra Riggs, Baker Books, 2017, p.21). She has built her life around the Biblical conviction that “Unity is what Jesus prayed for us.” She is forthright in discussing the “thermal shock to our souls and hearts” that accompany our journey toward oneness and unity as our hearts can get broken by others, (p. 132) why people polarize into opposing camps in their convictions and identity, what factors fuel racism, why segregated churches are the norm, etc. Her own journey as an African-American substantiates the pain behind those issues. Yet she is consistent in pointing people to ways God can create unity in a divided world. She cites scriptures to show God’s promises of a future of peace and unity, and brain science’s research that “desiring good” for the other person actually shrinks the amygdala in the brain and creates new brain patterns that “help us deescalate from divisiveness” and practice kindness and compassion (p.138). In explaining principles, like moving in one’s mind from the seat of judgement to the seat of mercy in viewing others, she gives a practical example of how such a switch works. So the book is neither utopian theory nor vindictive criticism. It is well grounded in experience, but laced with exhortations and fueled with her vision of the journey toward oneness that “passes through and celebrates one another’s differences, practices compassion, exercises grace, confesses as well as forgives, desires love over being right, laments and gives space for the lament of others… and understands our connectedness to one another and our position in Christ who, through the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us and in the world can make all things new” (pp. 182-183). In this way Riggs’s book provides a map of hope and healing so the people can take that journey with confidence. 5 stars. M.L. Codman-Wilson, Ph.D., 4/27/17

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first glance, One: Unity In A Divided World by Deidra Riggs seems to be a book about racial separation, particularly within the church and Christian community. While this may, in fact, be the core message at the roots of this book, Deidra expands on the notion of unity beyond just those racial lines and into areas that tend to blur the vision of most Christian churches today.

She explains that not only are we called to love fellow Christians, but also those whom we view as different from us, those who go against the grain of our personal identity.

"I have to be just as willing to lay down my life for the terrorist, the sex offender, the drug trafficker, and the rogue politician as I am for the terrorized, the trafficked, the marginalized, and the disenfranchised." (page 163)

With this profound concept, comes the realization that the purpose of our time here on earth is to bring unity and love to others so they may experience a relationship with God through us. We can't do that if we're not sharing God's love with every person whose life we touch. Every person.

"We have one true enemy, and it is not one another. If we get distracted from that, we do the enemy's work for him. If we look at other human beings, no matter how much we may disagree with them, and label them as "evil" or the "enemy," then we have missed the point. We have fallen into a trap." (page 188)

Deidra invites us to cross the lines that keep us from loving one another. It doesn't mean to forget those things we don't agree with, but it means to see each person as the person God sees them as - a child of God - His son or daughter - our brothers and sisters. They may be lost. They may have wandered from His path. But it becomes our job to light their path so they can find their way home.

I love that Deidra writes from her heart and personal experiences. She shows us her faults and asks us to love her anyway. One is a great book for anyone looking to expand their understanding of God's desires for us in relation to one another. It's written in an easy-to-read format, even for those new to this path. Includes a study guide in the back with questions for each chapter. 4/5 stars.

*Disclaimer: I received a free print copy of this book from Baker Books, for the purpose of this honest review. All opinions are my own.*