Freedom, Justice and Hope (Toward a Strategy for the Poor and Oppresed

by Herbert Schlossberg

In a world plaqued by disease, oppression, and chronic poverty, Christians want to reach out to the suffering. But what can we really do to help? In 1987 a group of forty evangelical Christians from around the world gathered at Villars, Switzerland, to address this question. From that consultation came this book. Some Christians may be surprised to learn that the evangelical relief agencies they support finanacially are failing to give the gospel. Instead these organizations try to change Third World countries through Marxist ideas. Frredom, Justice and Hope shows the conflict between Christianity and leftist liberation theology and presents a Biblical framework for helping the poor. Because poerty is both a physical and a spiritual problem, the authors contend that relief work must also stress conversion and discipleship.. They bring up several other important Why are people poor? Who are the oppressed, according to the Bible? Is it wrong to link aid to United States foreign policy? Beyond exposing the tragic failure of social engineering and utopian ideology, Freedom, Justice, and Hope points to solutions that will change lives and cultures at the deepest level through the transforming power of the gospel and give practical assistance to those in need.

Genres: Theology

171 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1988

About the author

B.A. Bethel College
M.A. Univ. of Missouri
M.P.A. American Univ.
Ph.D. Univ. of Minnesota (European intellectual history)

Reviews

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the good side of good.

[Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although written in the late 80s, this is surprisingly relevant to our own cultural challenges. I believe it shows two things: (1) how insightful and prescient the authors were, (2) how the Church hasn't learned much since then. Although there has been progress (thinking here of the good work done by the Chalmers Center for Economic Development), too many Christians are still oblivious to the realities of economic development, and the theological and philosophical underpinnings of most social movements today.