Raised Right: How I Untangled My Faith from Politics (Review)

When I ordered this book to review, I had pretty big expectations. I had read reviews on Raised Right before ordering it, and, to me, the story Alisa Harris had to tell sounded quite similar to my own. Alisa's memoir begins with the riveting remembrance of a childhood dominated by abortion clinic picketing and Republican campaigning followed by a young-adulthood of questions. Questions we all should ask:
If war involves killing, how can it be moral?
Is an economy based on self-reliance or community-dependence more biblical?
Is Women's Rights possible within a Pro-Life society?
What should a Christian's response be toward the Gay-Rights movement?

Though still surrounded by an overwhelmingly conservative setting, she refused to seek answers in traditions or politics. Rather, Alisa writes of how she searched Scripture and experience from human relationships for her answers. She doesn't impose her conclusions on the reader; however, she does write in the attitude of a cry for a biblical response toward these questions. She cries for Christians to quit buying into the worldly proposal that answers are found in politics.

"Our primary job as Christians is to love people, and we can't love from behind a barricade. But we have other God-given responsibilities too--to fight against those who make unjust decrees, rob the needy, and deprive the poor of their rights. . . . Sin and pain are spiritual--we treat them in a spiritual way. Pray for the sinner. Speak to the sinner. . . . But when injustice, robbery, and inequity are not just individual but institutional, it's time to take a political stand. The government can't sure sin or heal pain; it can stop robbery and create laws that treat the poor justly. And it's our to demand that our leaders do so." (p.210)

This book is convicting. It's real. It's raw. It's refreshing. And it's a much needed cry for revolution in Christianity's response toward the heavy-hitting questions of today's American culture.

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I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Here We Go Again . . .

I've kept journals before. I've also had a blog before. But never have I kept a journal on a blog. So, I've decided to try it out. If you're reading this, it's probably at least a couple weeks old. I'm still in that awkward "I want to write stuff, but I don't want anyone to read what I'm writing" phase, but it should pass soon. 'Cause deep down, I do want you to read this blog. I want your accountability so I stay consistent with my writing. I also want your accountability so I stay consistent in my walk with God.  I'm gonna do my best to be real on here. To truly tell you what is going on in my life as I pursue true Joy in my sacrificial service to God. I need this accountability. So hopefully my dumb pride will fade quickly, so I can get the word out about my blog.

I hope the potential encouragement that I can see occurring through this site is the real deal. That's my goal in this endeavor. I want you to be encouraged by my honesty and raw portrayal of how I live my life for God. But I also want you to read and comment on my posts. This will encourage me more than you know. So as you read, comment and start a discussion on what I'm writing. (Trust me, some of my content is sure to be debatable.)

So take what I write for what it's worth and tell me what you think. In this, we can strive to push each other to better love and serve our Lord, Jesus Christ.

It's all for His glory. That's how it works when He is my Lord, and I am His slave.

An Excited Servant of God,
Cameron Francis