Faith & Politics: Three book recommendations for Election Day

Compassion & Conviction: The AND Campaign’s Guide to Faithful Civic Engagement

First of all, what is The AND Campaign? This non-profit organization promotes biblical values and social justice by encouraging Christians to engage in changing culture “in a manner that reflects the truth (&) love of Jesus Christ.” Their movement combines classic values—timeless and irreplaceable moral codes and beliefs transferred through religious teaching, family, culture, and community—with redemptive justice, which has its ends in reconciliation, peace, and flourishing for all parties. Written by Justin Giboney, cofounder of the AND Campaign, Michael Wear (formerly on President Obama’s staff), and Chicago Peace Campaign founder Chris Butler, Compassion & Conviction is their election-year attempt to communicate the organization’s raison d’etre and advance its perspective into the national conversation.

The book is relatively short, just 160 pages. Publishers Weekly says: “The authors urge Christians to think holistically and consistently about issues that drive their voting and civic involvement. . . they cover such topics as how Christians should evaluate partnerships across religious lines, how to recognize and combat extremist speech, and why knowing America’s racist history is necessary in order to have honest political conversation. By engaging in politics to pursue love and justice, they assert, Christians can magnify God’s name—not their own.”

Look for this “punchy manifesto” (PW) on July 21. Preorder here.