Subversive Jesus: An Adventure in Justice, Mercy, and Faithfulness in a Broken World

When Jesus left the most exclusive gated community in the universe to come live with the people he loved and gave his life for, he turned everything we know and believe about life on its head. Jesus said that he came to bring good news to the poor, but most Western Christians remain disconnected and isolated from the poor and their contexts of injustice. Even our churches echo society's pressure to isolate ourselves from the margins (e.g. by moving to a better suburb) and instead teach us how to be “nice people” who worship a “nice Jesus” and don't disrupt the status quo.

*

Convinced that Jesus places love for the poor and the pursuit of justice central, Craig Greenfield has sought to follow in Christ's footsteps by living among people at the edges of society for the last fourteen years. His quest to follow this Subversive Jesus has taken Craig and his young family from the slums of Asia to inner city Canada and back again.

*

This is the story of how Jesus led them to the margins: initiating the Pirates of Justice flash mobs, sharing their home with detoxing crackheads, welcoming homeless panhandlers and prostitutes to the dinner table, and ultimately sparking a movement to reach the world's most vulnerable children.

*

This book is a strong and potentially controversial critique of the status quo too often found in our churches, but it offers an inspirational and hopeful vision of another way. While readers may not relocate to a slum, they will certainly come to view their lives and ministry through a fresh lens-reconsidering how they are uniquely called by Jesus to subversively love the poor and break down systems of injustice in their sphere of influence.

1123643647
Subversive Jesus: An Adventure in Justice, Mercy, and Faithfulness in a Broken World

When Jesus left the most exclusive gated community in the universe to come live with the people he loved and gave his life for, he turned everything we know and believe about life on its head. Jesus said that he came to bring good news to the poor, but most Western Christians remain disconnected and isolated from the poor and their contexts of injustice. Even our churches echo society's pressure to isolate ourselves from the margins (e.g. by moving to a better suburb) and instead teach us how to be “nice people” who worship a “nice Jesus” and don't disrupt the status quo.

*

Convinced that Jesus places love for the poor and the pursuit of justice central, Craig Greenfield has sought to follow in Christ's footsteps by living among people at the edges of society for the last fourteen years. His quest to follow this Subversive Jesus has taken Craig and his young family from the slums of Asia to inner city Canada and back again.

*

This is the story of how Jesus led them to the margins: initiating the Pirates of Justice flash mobs, sharing their home with detoxing crackheads, welcoming homeless panhandlers and prostitutes to the dinner table, and ultimately sparking a movement to reach the world's most vulnerable children.

*

This book is a strong and potentially controversial critique of the status quo too often found in our churches, but it offers an inspirational and hopeful vision of another way. While readers may not relocate to a slum, they will certainly come to view their lives and ministry through a fresh lens-reconsidering how they are uniquely called by Jesus to subversively love the poor and break down systems of injustice in their sphere of influence.

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Subversive Jesus: An Adventure in Justice, Mercy, and Faithfulness in a Broken World

Subversive Jesus: An Adventure in Justice, Mercy, and Faithfulness in a Broken World

by Craig Warren Greenfield

Narrated by Alan Irving

Unabridged — 5 hours, 0 minutes

Subversive Jesus: An Adventure in Justice, Mercy, and Faithfulness in a Broken World

Subversive Jesus: An Adventure in Justice, Mercy, and Faithfulness in a Broken World

by Craig Warren Greenfield

Narrated by Alan Irving

Unabridged — 5 hours, 0 minutes

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Overview

When Jesus left the most exclusive gated community in the universe to come live with the people he loved and gave his life for, he turned everything we know and believe about life on its head. Jesus said that he came to bring good news to the poor, but most Western Christians remain disconnected and isolated from the poor and their contexts of injustice. Even our churches echo society's pressure to isolate ourselves from the margins (e.g. by moving to a better suburb) and instead teach us how to be “nice people” who worship a “nice Jesus” and don't disrupt the status quo.

*

Convinced that Jesus places love for the poor and the pursuit of justice central, Craig Greenfield has sought to follow in Christ's footsteps by living among people at the edges of society for the last fourteen years. His quest to follow this Subversive Jesus has taken Craig and his young family from the slums of Asia to inner city Canada and back again.

*

This is the story of how Jesus led them to the margins: initiating the Pirates of Justice flash mobs, sharing their home with detoxing crackheads, welcoming homeless panhandlers and prostitutes to the dinner table, and ultimately sparking a movement to reach the world's most vulnerable children.

*

This book is a strong and potentially controversial critique of the status quo too often found in our churches, but it offers an inspirational and hopeful vision of another way. While readers may not relocate to a slum, they will certainly come to view their lives and ministry through a fresh lens-reconsidering how they are uniquely called by Jesus to subversively love the poor and break down systems of injustice in their sphere of influence.


Editorial Reviews

Bob Ekblad

You will find deep practical wisdom in these pages born of vast, hands-on experience that speaks to the breadth of human life—from what hospitality and child-raising looks like among the homeless to how to challenge injustice on cruise ships. This must-read refreshes and inspires, reintroducing Jesus as the life-giving, subversive, troublemaking friend of sinners that he was and still is. Read and you will want to join Jesus in experiencing “on earth as it is in heaven” here and now.

Shane Claiborne

From the manger to the cross, Jesus announced the ultimate subversion of power—the last will be first, the first will be last; the mighty will be cast from their thrones, and the lowly will be lifted up. This book is about that Jesus—the holy troublemaker, the revolutionary Messiah. Craig dares you to join Jesus in the trenches and to reorient your life around the upside-down kingdom of God. What you have here is nothing short of an invitation to join the revolution of the subversive Savior who was born a refugee in the manger and executed as a rebel on the cross.

Scott Bessenecker

It’s time to embrace a grown-up picture of Jesus. For many of us, the Sunday school picture of “passive Jesus” needs to be retired. So does the adolescent picture of my “private personal Jesus.” It is time to meet “subversive Jesus,” the Jesus who draws the ire of the elite by standing with and drawing attention to those who have been cast to the margins of empire. Craig introduces us to the Christ of the Scriptures, whose words and actions bring a corrective to the Darwinian society we have become. This book challenges us to love the prophets more than we love the profits and to hear with new ears how Jesus subverts the status quo of empire.

Fr. Richard Rohr

This book is a wonderful example of the more honest reading and following of Jesus that is invading all of our churches today. It seems many have come to recognize that the “churchified” and pious Jesus many of us grew up with had little to do with the man and ministry revealed in the Gospels.

Ken Shigematsu

Craig is a modern-day St. Francis of Assisi. Whether in one of North America’s poorest zip codes or in the slums of Cambodia, Craig preaches the gospel through his life, not just his words. This is Craig’s story, but as you read it, you may discover God’s new call on your life. User warning: don’t read this book unless you want to be challenged and your life changed. Do read it if you want to be inspired to walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

Michael Frost

After a lifetime of living among and working alongside some of the poorest people in the world, Craig knows a thing or two about the upside-down nature of the kingdom of God. Subversive Jesus comes riding a donkey, carrying a towel, welcoming children, feeding the hungry, and serving the least. And Craig knows him—really knows him.

Christopher L. Heuertz

Craig is a prophet of hope calling for an urgent return to embody the subversive memory of Jesus. Craig writes with a keen eye for the substance behind our religious rhetoric, showing us the way to live and love in a world of wounds. When too many authors write about ideals that we all aim to embody, Craig flips that script and reflects on the gifts of what his embodied ideals have meant in his life, inviting us to join him in bearing witness to hope.

From the Publisher

After a lifetime of living among and working alongside some of the poorest people in the world, Craig knows a thing or two about the upside-down nature of the kingdom of God. Subversive Jesus comes riding a donkey, carrying a towel, welcoming children, feeding the hungry, and serving the least. And Craig knows him---really knows him.----Michael Frost, author, Jesus the Fool

Craig is a modern-day St. Francis of Assisi. Whether in one of North America's poorest zip codes or in the slums of Cambodia, Craig preaches the gospel through his life, not just his words. This is Craig's story, but as you read it, you may discover God's new call on your life. User warning: don't read this book unless you want to be challenged and your life changed. Do read it if you want to be inspired to walk in the footsteps of Jesus.---- Ken Shigematsu, pastor, Tenth Church, Vancouver; author, international bestseller God in My Everything

Craig is a prophet of hope calling for an urgent return to embody the subversive memory of Jesus. Craig writes with a keen eye for the substance behind our religious rhetoric, showing us the way to live and love in a world of wounds. When too many authors write about ideals that we all aim to embody, Craig flips that script and reflects on the gifts of what his embodied ideals have meant in his life, inviting us to join him in bearing witness to hope.---- Christopher L. Heuertz, founding partner of Gravity, a Center for Contemplative Activism; author, Unexpected Gifts: Discovering the Way of Community

From the manger to the cross, Jesus announced the ultimate subversion of power---the last will be first, the first will be last; the mighty will be cast from their thrones, and the lowly will be lifted up. This book is about that Jesus---the holy troublemaker, the revolutionary Messiah. Craig dares you to join Jesus in the trenches and to reorient your life around the upside-down kingdom of God. What you have here is nothing short of an invitation to join the revolution of the subversive Savior who was born a refugee in the manger and executed as a rebel on the cross.----Shane Claiborne, author, Irresistible Revolution and Executing Grace

It's time to embrace a grown-up picture of Jesus. For many of us, the Sunday school picture of "passive Jesus" needs to be retired. So does the adolescent picture of my "private personal Jesus." It is time to meet "subversive Jesus," the Jesus who draws the ire of the elite by standing with and drawing attention to those who have been cast to the margins of empire. Craig introduces us to the Christ of the Scriptures, whose words and actions bring a corrective to the Darwinian society we have become. This book challenges us to love the prophets more than we love the profits and to hear with new ears how Jesus subverts the status quo of empire.----Scott Bessenecker, associate director of missions, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship

This book is a wonderful example of the more honest reading and following of Jesus that is invading all of our churches today. It seems many have come to recognize that the "churchified" and pious Jesus many of us grew up with had little to do with the man and ministry revealed in the Gospels.----Fr. Richard Rohr, O.F.M., Center for Action and Contemplation, Albuquerque, NM

You will find deep practical wisdom in these pages born of vast, hands-on experience that speaks to the breadth of human life---from what hospitality and child-raising looks like among the homeless to how to challenge injustice on cruise ships. This must-read refreshes and inspires, reintroducing Jesus as the life-giving, subversive, troublemaking friend of sinners that he was and still is. Read and you will want to join Jesus in experiencing "on earth as it is in heaven" here and now.---- Bob Ekblad, founder/general director, Tierra Nueva and The People's Seminary; author, Reading the Bible with the Damned and A New Christian Manifesto

Product Details

BN ID: 2940174825864
Publisher: Zondervan
Publication date: 12/06/2022
Edition description: Unabridged
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