The God of Intimacy and Action: Reconnecting Ancient Spiritual Practices, Evangelism, and Justice

by Tony Campolo, Mary Albert Darling

Praise for The God of Intimacy and Action "Tony Campolo...and Mary Darling...are like gunpowder and a spark. The result is a dynamite book that many have been waiting a long time for."
— Relevant Magazine "In 25 years, when we look back as journalists chronicling this era of religious reawakening—this book likely will turn up as a classic....This book is both a manifesto—and a sturdy guidebook—for the journey of reclaiming much that has been lost."
—David Crumm, founder of Read the Spirit "Tony Campolo and Mary Darling...are two first rate minds grappling with classical and contemporary theology, and then adding to that a set of concrete practices...The Network of Spiritual Progressives (including those of us who are not Christian) can draw much wisdom and guidance from this book."
— Tikkun Magazine "I know both Tony and Mary personally and can testify to the genuineness of their search for spiritual wholeness. It is a search that always holds in creative tension a profound intimacy with God through Christ with a vigorous engagement in the social realities of our day."
—Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline "Darling and Campolo sift through the dirt of Christendom and uncover the precious treasures of our faith."
—Shane Claiborne, founding member of The Simple Way community; author of The Irresistible Revolution ; and recovering sinner

Genres: Christian, Justice, Spirituality, Christianity, Social Justice, Prayer, Discipleship

256 pages, Hardcover

First published July 9, 2007

About the author

Anthony Campolo was an American sociologist, Baptist pastor, author, public speaker, and spiritual advisor to U.S. President Bill Clinton. Campolo was known as one of the most influential leaders in the evangelical left and was a major proponent of progressive thought and reform within the evangelical community. He also became a leader of the Red-Letter Christian movement, which aims to put emphasis on the teachings of Jesus. Campolo was a popular commentator on religious, political, and social issues, and had been a guest on programs such as The Colbert Report, The Charlie Rose Show, Larry King Live, Nightline, Crossfire, Politically Incorrect and The Hour.

Reviews

[David Meldrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're both a teenager and a Christian, it's likely that there are some far-off Christians who have a big impact on you. They may be speakers, writers, singers or something else ... but these are the people whose very existence convinces you that there's something in this, that it's going to be worth sticking with it. American preacher (and, I discovered later, sociologist - even though for a while I didn't know what one of those was) Tony Campolo was one of these. He wrote a handful of books aimed at young Christians which were funny, to the point and world shaking. His books invited you to imagine and way of following Jesus which was both fun as well as challenging and changing the world in which you lived. It was quite some time later - when I reached a semblance of adulthood - that I finally heard him speak. I was delighted to discover that he was even better in person - funnier, even more intelligent, even more intent on actually doing something about the problems of the world, and remarkably self-effacing. When I met Bev, whom I would later marry, in the course of jobs at hostel for young people who found themselves homeless in London, I discovered she'd first felt the stirring of a call to this type of work on hearing Tony Campolo speak about the rather alarming parable of the sheep and the goats.

We've been married nearly 14 years now, and Tony Camplo is still going strong. The more Christians I meet with a concern for social justice, the more I find his fingerprints are all over the souls of Jesus' people labouring hard in the trenches. People who live and work in these draining contexts can often burn out. That burn-out can take any number of forms ... be it physical, emotional, spiritual, psychological, theological or some combination thereof. This book, written by Campolo alongside spiritual director and Communications professor Mary Darling, is the sort of lifeline which which will provide a way to stop such burn-out from occurring.

The book seeks to connect ancient spiritual disciplines - such as the prayer of examen, 'divine reading' and centering (meditative) prayer - with social action and evangelism. I read it in a season of personal tiredness. I lead a church in a country which is not the country of my birth; I'm surrounded both by the need which most pastors find around them in every church, as well as the immense social need of a country and a local context with severe social problems. I needed fresh energy; I needed a shot of hope. This book helped me find it.

It's structured simply and well, and is aimed at anyone who wants a deeper Christian faith - and/or one which actually enables them to make a difference in the world around. It establishes what the sometimes scary sounding Christian mysticism is and isn't, the link between this and both evangelism and justice and the need for an understanding of the gospel which can truly be called holistic. There then follows a journey which seeks to take us closer to God, to deepening our understanding and experience of His love for us; and how that then fuels our evangelism and work for justice; concluding with three simpel approaches to deepening our walk with God and examples of how these have been expressed by other Christians in today's world.

There's no shortage of books about the practice of Christian spirituality - especially where that concerns people like St Francis of Assisi, Ignatius of Loyola and Catherine of Siena. Such books are usually ends in themselves. Which is not a bad thing - but it can inadvertently encourage a spirituality which spins continually in on itself. This book is one of the very few I've come across to seek to link the classic spiritual practices with the service of the last and the least. It put me in mind of writers like Shane Claiborne and Richard Foster - whose work I was unsurprised to find referenced in this book's conclusion. It's a book which is not excessively long, and neither is it hard to read. Not is it shallow. It's started me on a journey; as I continue, I shall revisit its pages and wish there were more of them.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. It inspired me deeply by putting words around how I want to live the rest of my life. I read this once a year.

[Beth Peninger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dear friend is getting her Master's in Spiritual Formation (or something really close to that) and her reading list is extensive. Recently she was sharing with me about all the books she has to read and how she wished there was someone outside of her class she could talk to about them. I just looked at her. *lightbulb*
Campolo and Darling team up to write a book about the life of faith. There are a million (that might not be an exaggeration) books out there about faith and life intersecting so what makes this one different? Campolo and Darling look to the ancient spiritual practices for today's formation of faith. Most evangelical churches have kicked the ancient practices to the curb with noses turned up in the air. Priding themselves in curriculums and catchy sermon series that mirror culture catch phrases etc the evangelical church today has become a shallow shell of its former self. (By the way, Campolo and Darling aren't saying that - I am.) Campolo and Darling propose a revival of mysticism in faith. *GASP* Yeah, it's not what you've been taught it is or think it is. In fact, your guy Wesley followed many mystics back in the day - so did a bunch of other people you like to quote alongside the Bible. Just remember - and breathe while you do - that God is the author of all thought, all ideas, all methods, etc and it is humanity that has altered any of those or twisted any of those to make them what the author did not intend. Cool? Cool.
So this title is Campolo and Darling setting us straight on what mysticism really is and then introducing us to three specific holy habits to practice. Interwoven into all this is their case for a faith that includes evangelism and justice, not one or the other. Drawing examples from several people like St. Francis of Assisi, Teresa of Avila, Thomas Merton, and Henri Nouwen - and so many in between - Campolo and Darling show us how an intimate life with Christ leads us to an urgency about both evangelism and justice. As Darling says in chapter 9, "When we are developing intimacy with Christ through spiritual practices our ideas about ourselves, others, and the world change. We find we are no longer satisfied with the way things are in the world. Promptings from the Holy Spirit begin to lead us to new, more loving, compassionate, and just ways to do what we are already doing, or even to lead us to life-changing directions and decisions involving more intentional personal, interpersonal, and world change."
In this title Campolo and Darling challenge us to intentionally enter into a state of holy discontent in order that we might be compelled to action.

[A.J. Mendoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone involved in spiritual formation, whether as a means of personal discipleship or direction for others, this book is a must add to the repertoire of tools for spiritual development. The thesis of this book would attract the attention (and interest) of a Protestant who wishes to better share their faith, a Catholic who wishes to be more involved with the injustices of this world and a Charismatic who wishes to increase their intimacy with Jesus our Lord. The combinations of those major themes into one thesis gives the reader a means to encounter a Gospel that holistically transforms his/her inner and outer world. The idea of going through this group with a small group seems very beneficial, for the reading level and the concepts described are attainable for the layperson while still offering challenges to one's norm.

[Paul Birch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good advice on three areas of spiritual formation. Practical steps help you engage with the areas of Examen, lectio divina and centering prayer. I thought centering prayer was handled wisely considering the concerns some have. The content and writing style opened the subject up in a way that was accessible and appealing. You felt that you could actually do this, with small 10-15min structured devotionals you could make headway, that this wasn't just for the lofty mystics. Some good point in the justice and social action sections but nothing you cannot find in other places. The bulk of the book on Spiritual Practices is worth the price alone and five stars.

[Kit · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book because of Tony Campolo, so I suppose it's not surprising that I was a little disappointed, since he only wrote small parts (the first 36 pages and a little bit at the end). The book is intended to be an explanation of how traditional spiritual practices can inform justice work in the world and vice versa. The explanations of the spiritual practices (centering prayer, lectio divina, and the prayer of examen) are clear if boring. But for a book that's supposed to connect spiritual practices to evangelism, there's very little connecting the two sections of the book.

Tony Campolo's sections are easy to read, if light on the kind of great stories that are his trademark. I had a much tougher time with Dowling's sections, which were heavy on specialized evangelical vocabulary and warnings about things like being sure we only meditate in a Christian way, rather than in any other (read: bad) way. I ended up feeling that, as interested in the subject as I am, I was not at all the target audience for this book.

[Deanna Nickels]

This book was assigned reading for a conference-wide event with Jim Winkler, General Secretary of the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Churxh. It's not 'fun reading' but was excellent preparation for this action-related event. It connected spirituality with acting for justice ... so United Methodist! John Wesley was surely proud!

[Lzarr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great apologetic on why social justice is important - not something I needed an apologetic for, but it was encouraging to read an articulate and thoughtful explication on a topic of such personal interest.

[Lisa Greer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is good to see Campolo writing from a different angle. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think adding some contemplation/stillness/silence into one's day is good for anybody.

[Francine Apollo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerful book...don't remember how I came across it but it came into my life at just the right time. It deserves a second reading just to campture more of it.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

learned a lot about historical christian practices of studying, meditating on God's word and prayer.

[Justin Gaynor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insights and helpful in my prayer life as I learn to be always in prayer.

[Alynna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the second part of this book to be particularly enlightening as it talks about ancient spiritual practices by the old saints. Definitely a book every Christian should read with an open mind.