For most of us, if we are to
approach a collection of essays our Western inclination is putting on our
binary lens where we either agree or disagree with each essay. Then at the end, again in our binary mode, we
will do the math for those that we agree with and those that we disagree with
and that will determine our opinion, good or bad (again binary) of what we have
just read.
In Evangelical Theologies of
Liberation and Justice the Peshat is
found in its title with “liberation” and “justice,” both overarching Biblical themes
that Mae Cannon and Andrea Smith, the book’s co-editors, are passionate about. Despite the narrow focus of the book, liberation
and justice in an Evangelical context, the diversity of the voices is
remarkable. Given this, perhaps the
Remez and Derash for Smith and Cannon is “If we can get you to forego a few of
your binaries, our job is complete.”
In light of this dualism it is worth
highlighting this story about Cannon that took place over several days in
2014. Cannon who is an executive
director of an NGO working toward a secure and just resolution to the
Israeli/Palestinian conflict, was at the Israeli Embassy in DC in 2014 where
she was advocating for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas during the Gaza War. After this meeting an active-duty Israeli
Army serviceman said to her, “I know you mean well…but, even without intending
it, you are inadvertently serving as a handmaiden for Hamas.” Then a few days later meeting with a
Palestinian NGO in Jerusalem, she heard this from a Palestinian leader, “I know
you mean well…but you are inadvertently supporting the bombing of innocent
Palestinian children.” This demonstrates
Cannon’s ability to stand in the tension of binaries. This tension is further displayed in the
diversity of essays both through the authors themselves as well as their theological
positions pertaining to liberation and justice.
Therefore, if the reader is able to
embrace Remez and Derash, that is, to step into the tension that it is perhaps
more paramount to wrestle with what it is that they do not agree with rather
than immediately going to a place of needing to debunk it, then they will
discover a treasure in Evangelical Theologies.
Jonathan Wilson Hartgrove, in his
recent Reconstructingthe Gospel shared a story of being asked the following question, “Where
does a middle-class white person like me find a role…?” Hartgrove’s answer is, “almost always, not
out front.” This idea from Hartgrove is
embodied with Cannon and Evangelical Theologies. Moreover, it is the second
book in succession where Cannon has decided to lift the voices of others, with A
Land Full of God being the other. Most books are written through the
exclusive lens of one author. We need
more books like Evangelical Theologies that lift the voices of those that are
often not given a platform.
I have already recommended Evangelical
Theologies to friends and will continue to do so.
