Power and Poverty: Divine and Human Rule in a World of Need - Softcover

Hughes, Dewi

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1844743128 ISBN 13: 9781844743124

Publisher: IVP, 2008

Synopsis

Dewi Hughes' conviction is that the suffering through poverty of such a vast number of people in our day is overwhelmingly the result of the misuse of power by others. Hence, the underlying theme of this wide-ranging, challenging study is that poverty has to do with the way in which we human beings use and abuse the power God gave us when he created us.
Part 1 starts with the Book of Origins, Genesis, to find the roots of poverty, then examines God's covenant with Abraham, divinely ordained government in the Old Testament, and the glory - and inadequacy - of the Mosaic covenant.

Part 2 turns to Jesus, the supreme Ruler, and the final revelation of divine government. What did Jesus do and teach? What is he doing through the work of the Holy Spirit? What is he going to do in final judgment?

Part 3 focuses on the Christian church, God's governed society, as a gathered and gathering community, a people joyful in the power of Christ's resurrection who speak the word of God, reflecting Christ's exaltation. The church gathers from the world to pray, and scatters into the world to prophesy. 'This is how a foretaste of the just government where there is no sorrow or poverty, that will be manifested when Jesus returns in glory, can be enjoyed today in our broken world.'

An Epilogue asks 'which story are we in?'

About this title

Product Description:

Poverty

Review:

"Power and Poverty is challenging, inspiring and compelling. In fact, Dewi Hughes has produced a 'substantial theological work' of prophetic hopefulness. Courageously tackling the possibility of a world without poverty, Hughes doesn't sound like a utopian idealist but a biblical realist motivated by a deep and rich faith. The book is an important sign and symbol of where current sociological, philosophical and theological trends must locate themselves as thoughtful Christians engage power, poverty and the kingdom of God."--Christopher L. Heuertz, international director, Word Made Flesh, and author of Simple Spirituality: Learning to See God in a Broken World

"The world is dying from bad theology--bling-bling prosperity preachers and bomb-blessing patriotic pastors. Folks like Dewi Hughes are theological paramedics trying to rescue us all from the sort of theology that gets people killed and leads to fragile systems where markets collapse. Hughes offers another, ancient vision of what the world could look like--where the poor, not just the middle class, are blessed and where the peacemakers, not the peacekeeper missiles, are close to the heart of God."--Shane Claiborne, author, activist and recovering sinner (thesimpleway.org)

"I . . . highly recommend Power and Poverty, as it provides yet another valuable contribution to the ongoing efforts to further explore the relationship between biblical theology, ethics, and economic development."--Nicholas R. Brown, Biblical Theology Bulletin, Volume 40

"An intriguing read about the roots of power and faith."--James A. Cox, Library Bookwatch, July 2009

"As one who has spent time working biblically and practically on poverty issues, I have longed for a significant resource like Hughes has here provided. It will serve as a refernce and guide for a good time to come."--Mark L. Russell, Evangelical Missions Quarterly, October 2009

"The world is dying from bad theology bling-bling prosperity preachers and bomb-blessing patriotic pastors. Folks like Dewi Hughes are theological paramedics trying to rescue us all from the sort of theology that gets people killed and leads to fragile systems where markets collapse. Hughes offers another, ancient vision of what the world could look like where the poor, not just the middle class, are blessed and where the peacemakers, not the peacekeeper missiles, are close to the heart of God."--Shane Claiborne, author, activist and recovering sinner (thesimpleway.org)"

"Poverty is an endemic problem, unnecessary in a world where there are sufficient resources to satisfy everyone's needs, though not everyone's greed. In Power and Poverty: Divine and Human Rule in a World of Need, Dewi Hughes has succeeded in showing that if there are people who are poor, that is because there are people who are able to use power to oppress them. In other words, the root of poverty is the misuse of power. At the same time, the author has convincingly argued that the best antidote to poverty is provided in terms of the biblical narrative that begins in Genesis and culminates in Jesus Christ. I can hardly think of a call more urgently needed today than the call he makes to Christians to express their faith in God by doing what is right and just and by letting the Spirit of God use them to overcome poverty. I wholeheartedly recommend this book!"--C. Rene Padilla, President Emeritus, Kairos Foundation, Buenos Aires, Argentina"

"This is a unique and powerful book. It's only secondarily a book about poverty primarily it offers a rich biblical theology focused on God's rule and how God's people must respond to that rule in an unjust world. This book is a great example of today's Christian leaders going back to the very core of our faith, equipped by cutting-edge biblical research and theological reflection, in order to respond to the horrendous suffering all around us. Its integrity is only enhanced by knowing that its author, Dewi Hughes, and the organization he serves, Tearfund, are busy each day serving the poor. This book is an indispensable contribution to the life of the global church. Highly recommended."--David P. Gushee, Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics, Mercer University, and president, Evangelicals for Human Rights"

About this edition

• Publisher: IVP
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1844743128
• ISBN 13: 9781844743124
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256