The Gospel of Peace in a Violent World - Christian Nonviolence for Communal Flourishing

"All of creation groans in desperate longing for God's peace. As our planet awaits ultimate redemption, we have the prophetic voices collected in The Gospel of Peace in a Violent World to help us imagine what peace can feel like in the current time. Marlena Graves and Shawn Graves have gathered a cross section of experts who work in a variety of settings to help guide us in the way of peace that the Lord Jesus Christ both demonstrated and proclaimed." -- Dennis R. Edwards, associate professor of New Testament at North Park Theological Seminary
"This is an excellent book. The authors challenge us to consider the many ways in which the gospel of God's kingdom, the gospel of peace, confronts the violence, injustice, and threats to shalom present in our world. At a time of great division, where we do violence not only through war but also through our words, deeds, and institutions, this book does more than merely show us a better way. It gives practical advice on how to live it out." -- Michael W. Austin, author of God and Guns in America
"As a faith-rooted community activist and organizer, I have lamented how little the church has done to educate Christians in either their rich theology of biblical justice and shalom or to equip them to appropriately engage deep injustices in our world. In The Gospel of Peace in a Violent World, the Graveses have assembled a diverse team of relevant, scholarly contributors who speak to this missing theology and praxis of Christian discipleship. With no-stone-left-unturned vigor, this important and essential resource grounds foundational and formational theological truth with timeless and recent historical application, practically compelling Christians toward seeking a more just and peaceful world." -- Michelle Ferrigno Warren, activist and author of The Power of Proximity: Moving Beyond Awareness to Action
"Nonviolence is often wrongly equated with passivity and inaction. As demonstrated by this diverse and provocative collection of essays, just peacemaking and nonviolent direct action are part of a rich Christian social justice tradition that is now more important than ever." -- Robert Chao Romero, associate professor in the departments of Chicana/o studies and Asian American studies at the University of California at Los Angeles, author of Brown Church
"We have all been through so much lately that despair can feel like the logical and natural next step. Thank God that Marlena and Shawn Graves have gathered voices who remind us that morning's joy comes through the praxis of our shared work in Christ and its impact in this world. This book is for theologians and nontheologians seeking to invigorate the work we are called to pursue." -- Ange-Marie Hancock Alfaro, Dean's Professor of Gender & Sexuality Studies and Chair of the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Southern California
"Peacemaking is not as simple as it sounds. Marlena and Shawn Graves's convicting new volume reveals how our lives are entangled in all kinds of everyday violence. Thankfully, it doesn't leave us there. This book will not only open eyes but also spark imaginations, helping us to discern how a peaceable world-one more faithful to the gospel-might come to be." -- Heath W. Carter, Princeton Theological Seminary
"Bringing together the diverse voices of stalwart Christian writers, academics, activists, and leaders, The Gospel of Peace in a Violent World is a book for this moment in history-and a call to conscience to consider what Christian faith practically requires in today's world. From practices of nonviolence and peacemaking to earnest and unflinching discussions on equity, disability, immigration, environmental justice, and racial trauma, this compendium of essays pushes readers not only to contemplation but to action." -- Meighan Stone, former president of the Malala Fund and board member of the Faith and Politics Institute