Agents of Grace
How to Bridge Divides and Love as Jesus Loved
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
Political division. Racial tension. Vaccine wars. In Agents of Grace, award-winning writer, journalist, and podcast host Daniel Darling equips us to discern what's worth fighting for, how to move beyond our profound disagreements, and how to live as agents of Jesus's love.
When Daniel Darling was fired as spokesperson for the National Religious Broadcasters Association, it wasn't his exit that made national news--it was the way he handled it. Daniel's charitable response to those he had worked with was so radical that it made headlines. But why has kindness among Christians become so startling?
In Agents of Grace, Daniel explores practical ways we can follow the Bible's command to "strive actively for peace" even in a painfully divided church, country, and world. On a very personal level, he helps us climb out of cynicism about how the people of God treat each other, especially when we are trying to heal from such pain in our own lives.
Beautifully written, Agents of Grace draws on modern-day examples and biblical truths to address:
Divisions that keep us from obeying Jesus's command to love one anotherVirtues that will lead us to a peace-filled lifeThe theological differences that are worth fighting for, and those that are notHow to avoid apathy and heal from past hurt, even amid hypocrisy and corruptionThe difference between forgiveness, reconciliation, and trust
In this hope-filled book, Daniel issues a clarion call to live as bridgebuilders in a divided country, healers in a hurting church, and countercultural Jesus-followers in a world that needs to know God's love.
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In this earnest entry, pastor Darling (Spiritual Gifts) issues a "plea from one Christian to another" to surmount social divisions and "cling to what unites us": Jesus's command to love one another. After he was fired from a ministry position for endorsing the Covid-19 vaccine, Darling reassessed the political and religious forces that polarize believers, concluding that Christian "spiritual unity" was more essential than ever. The goal of broader Christian harmony isn't "plain vanilla sameness" he stresses, and it's especially important to accept those of all denominations in order to celebrate "the rich diversity of the body of Christ." To build bridges, he urges readers to practice forgiveness; steer clear of "raw ambition," which erodes humility; and avoid cynicism, which can blind believers to the "work the Spirit of God is doing" in the world. He discusses why it's important to wade into "worthy fights," namely that political discussions can be valuable because they bring up ethical questions—but only to a point, as Christians should remember their foremost allegiance is to Jesus, not a political party. While Darling's insights about cultural division aren't new, his practical advice—respect differences rather than ignoring them, know when to engage and when to hold back—is sensible and delivered with optimism. Those looking for common ground with other believers will find this a useful place to start.
