Compassion (&) Conviction - by Justin Giboney & Michael Wear & Chris Butler (Hardcover)

About the Book

Have you ever felt too progressive for conservatives, but too conservative for progressives? It's easy for faithful Christians to grow disillusioned with civic engagement or fall into tribal extremes. Representing the AND Campaign, the authors of this book lay out the biblical case for political engagement and help Christians navigate the complex world of politics with integrity.

Book Synopsis

Christian Book Award(R) program
Outreach Resource of the Year

Have you ever felt too progressive for conservatives, but too conservative for progressives?

Too often, political questions are framed in impossible ways for the faithful Christian: we're forced to choose between social justice and biblical values, between supporting women and opposing abortion. As a result, it's easy for Christians to grow disillusioned with civic engagement or fall back into tribal extremes. This state of affairs has damaged Christian public witness and divided the church.

The authors of this book represent the AND Campaign, which exists to educate and organize Christians for faithful civic and cultural engagement. They insist that not only are we called to love our neighbors through the political process but also that doing so requires us to transcend the binary way the debates are usually framed. In simple, understandable language, they lay out the biblical case for political engagement and help Christians navigate the complex world of politics with integrity, from political messaging and the politics of race to protests, advocacy, and more. The book includes a study guide for classroom use and group discussion.

When we understand our civic engagement as a way to obey Christ's call to love our neighbor, we see that it is possible to engage the political process with both love and truth--compassion and conviction.

Review Quotes

"Compassion (&) Conviction is an outstanding tool in sharing the consistent, courageous, and faith-filled message of the AND Campaign. At a time when too many Christians let their politics shape their faith, this book is an example of faith shaping politics. You don't have to agree with every word in this book, but we should be grateful for the biblical principles and moral analysis that make this resource so timely and challenging. Justin Giboney, Michael Wear, and Chris Butler offer a path to faithful citizenship in tough times."--John Carr, director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University

"Compassion (&) Conviction provides a reconciliatory prescription for a political environment infected by discord, animus, and extremism. This book stands as a clarion call for a movement founded on the principle that every human being carries the image of God and driven by a passion to do justice and change the world. This is not just a must-read, this is a must-do!"--Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, lead pastor of New Season Christian Worship Center, Sacramento, California

"I love the (&) Campaign because they are trying to raise the voice of Jesus in a world that is often us versus them, red versus blue, elephant versus donkey. In a time marked by division, this timely book raises an urgent question, What does the Bible say? I believe that faith can and should impact our cultural and civic engagement. I pray that you are informed and challenged by the thoughts and exercises in Compassion (&) Conviction. We need this message now more than ever."--Nick Hall, founder and chief communicator for PULSE, author of Reset

"The authors urge Christians to think holistically and consistently about issues that drive their voting and civic involvement. . . . By engaging in politics to pursue love and justice, they assert, Christians can magnify God's name--not their own. Politically minded Christians will want to take a look at this punchy manifesto."--Publishers Weekly Review, May 2020

"The book, Compassion (&) Conviction: The AND Campaign's Guide to Faithful Civic Engagement is a much-needed text that skillfully guides believers on how to exercise their civic duties without compromise. The authors assert that people of faith have a moral obligation to demonstrate love for our neighbors by weighing in on political matters, yet we should also respect and work constructively with nonbelievers. If ever there was a time for people of faith to love others while standing up for what is right, that time is now. This book offers a framework and guidance on how to civically live out your faith."--John K. Jenkins Sr., pastor of First Baptist Church of Glenarden, Maryland

About the Author

Justin Giboney is cofounder of the AND Campaign, an attorney, and a political strategist in Atlanta, Georgia. He has served as a delegate for the Democratic National Convention and as the cochair of Obama for America's Gen44-Atlanta initiative.

Chris Butler is the senior leader of the Chicago Embassy Church Network and has been involved in several efforts to improve educational equity in Chicago. He serves as the founder and executive director of Parent Power Chicago as well as the founder of the Chicago Peace Campaign, which organizes churches and other faith-based institutions to build peacemaking networks in local communities.

Michael Wear is chief strategist of the AND Campaign and founder of Public Square Strategies LLC. He is the author of Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House About the Future of Faith in America.