Credo

Rating:
Summary: Clarification to a previous review...
Review: I was surfing the web not too long ago and saw my name and a reference to the review that I wrote of this book. I have now added this addition to the original review which I made on March 13, 2004 entitled, "Lots of Wisdom and Social Aid; Missing the Gospel". I had to remove the original review in order to post this one. Amazon only allows one review per reviewer per item. This is the original review:
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The Left-Leaning Christian message of the book is very helpful. Christians and Conservative tend to be synonyms in society today. This is often for very good reason, but sometimes Christians get their faith mixed up with the conservatism and end up being reactionaries to liberalism and paganism. They ignore the Gospel--the Good News that Jesus, God, came to earth to take the punishment that mankind deserves for our sin so that eternal life with Him can be offered to those whose only hope is His death--for the sake of conservatism. Unfortunately, the message of Credo is the opposite reaction. Seeing the social justice and aid to the helpless (See James 1:27), the left-leaning wing of Christianity tends to embrace social activism and morality at the expense of what is truly eternally helpful, the Cross of Jesus Christ. So for Christians the message of the religious right and the religious left must be tempered with the Gospel. If you choose to read this book, do not forget what the Christian message really is.
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The title of the blog post to which I am referring was "The Cross vs The Social Gospel" on "The Cat's Cradle" found on TypePad blog ends with the following quote:
"I have a feeling God's question to me isn't going to be 'Did you believe in the cross?' but rather 'What did you do for your brothers and sisters?'"
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To that I post the following reply, which I think may clarify and bring light to the terse comments which I made. I beg that you read them as--not the imperfect, hastily but thoughtfully written words--the truth behind them will quite possibly be the most important thing that you ever hear. Please ponder this message:

I am the Jacob Hantla whom you reference in this post. I can see how the excerpt that you took from my review--and even the terseness of my review in general--could lead to the errant conclusion that you made of my position. For that, I apologize.

Let me expound on how a true and Spirit-led focus on Christ and what he did at the cross (Give His own life to those who certainly were undeserving of it in order that we may know a God we have rejected, enjoy him forever, and with renewed hearts be gracious with everybody with whom we come into contact) will lead a Christian to even greater "social justice" than would otherwise be possible. The weight of grace, a grace that has forgiven a debt that could not be repaid in 10,000 lifetimes (see Matthew 18:23-35), must sit heavy upon one who truly believes. This is the mark of faith that James is looking for. A mark of a true Christian, one with true faith, is when belief in the enormous, infinite debt to sin which we have been forgiven compels that individual to not deal with others as they deserve.

A true Christian looks out on the social injustice and sees it as, in fact, social justice. It is certain that any suffering that we or any other person experiences is far less than we deserve for our wholesale rejection of God and what He made us for, and any joy which we have is far more than we deserve. We have asked, as the human race and each man or woman individually in his or her heart, to be without God. If he gives us what we ask for, what we deserve, our torment will be far worse than the worst "injustice seen". This must make us look at the grace that we have received, both common grace to have possessions here on the earth and for the Christian, much more the grace of which I wrote earlier. That was all accomplished at the cross. A correct view of the cross will shove in our faces the grace which we have received at the expense of the Son of God and will eliminate any pretense for selfishness. Therefore, I as a sinner saved by grace can never look at anybody and deem them unworthy of my help, nor can I look at myself and my blessings and deem myself worthy to have them. I must give them away; like the unforgiving servant in the parable I referenced in Matthew 18:23-35, that would reveal an utter lack of faith.

Unfortunately, Christians who claim to have their faith in the cross have generally (not all, but some and I think those are the ones whom you are referencing in this post) not lived out this ideal. Indeed, I have often been guilty of not living out this ideal. However, the solution will not be to abandon the cross, the only hope which we have for our present and our future, the only means by which we can truly live out "good works" in this world to the glory of God (Ephesians 2:10). The solution is to preach the message of the cross to ourselves each and every day. I would encourage you to read "The Cross-Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney." In that very small, very helpful book you will see what I am talking about.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I pray that you will take the time to consider the grace which is being offered you now if you put your hope in Christ. All the good works that you could ever do will not be able to undo your sin. It doesn't have to. Christ died, so that God could be just and righteous by judging sin and at the same time be gracious by extending undeserved forgiveness to you and me. This is the most important news that you could ever hear; this is the Good News, the Gospel.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Get It
Review: I'm not sure what I'm supposed to get out of this book. Usually after I read a Christian book I either walk away inspired to follow, or challenged to change, or urged to obey, or something like that. I walk away from this book thinking "Coffin really thought he was clever." In fact, though, there's not much take home value to the book.

Rating:
Summary: Lot's of Wisdom and Social Aid; Missing the Gospel
Review: The Left-Leaning Christian message of the book is very helpful. Christians and Conservative tend to be synonyms in society today. This is often for very good reason, but sometimes Christians get their faith mixed up with the conservatism and end up being reactionaries to liberalism and paganism. They ignore the Gospel--the Good News that Jesus, God, came to earth to take the punishment that mankind deserves for our sin so that eternal life with Him can be offered to those whose only hope is His death--for the sake of conservatism. Unfortunately, the message of Credo is the opposite reaction. Seeing the social justice and aid to the helpless (See James 1:27), the left-leaning wing of Christianity tends to embrace social activism and morality at the expense of what is truly eternally helpful, the Cross of Jesus Christ. So for Christians the message of the religious right and the religious left must be tempered with the Gospel. If you choose to read this book, do not forget what the Christian message really is.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful collection of his contributions to us all
Review: This is one of those books that you never want to be without. When life gets the best of you, you want to grab it and read Coffin's words of wisdom. His clarity of life and focus is so refreshing and inspiring. He truly is an american hero who has impacted my life by just learning about his book and enjoying every word. He is a remarkable man who put justice and humanity above everything else. James Carroll's foreword is like chocolate, it just melts in my mind and makes me want more.