Costly Grace - by Rob Schenck (Paperback)

About the Book

"The author recalls his life as a controversial Washington, D.C. evangelical minister and spiritual advisor to America's political class. He begins with his conversion from Judaism to born-again Christianity, and then finding his calling in public ministry. He chronicles his years as an activist leader of the most extreme wing of the anti-abortion movement, brazenly mixing ministry with Republican political activism. Finally he reflects on his unconscious abandonment of Christian principles in the face of fame and influence, and ultimately his return to the lessons Jesus imparted. Today Schenck works to liberate the evangelical community from a politicized gospel, urging partisan conservatives to move beyond social battles and forsake the politics of hate, fear, and violence."--

Book Synopsis

"Schenck, an evangelical minister widely known for his outspoken pro-life views, tells the personal story of his three religious conversion experiences in this revealing memoir. Schenck's superb self-critical writing draws readers in....Addressing libertarian evangelical ideologies, this powerful book is a universal call for a change of heart in both the political and sacred realms."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

From the Back Cover

A leading evangelical minister and spiritual advisor to America's political class recounts his journey from the religious right back to the simple message of the generously loving Jesus seen in the gospels

Rob Schenck has been at the intersection of evangelical Christianity and conservative politics for his entire career. Attacked by partisans on both sides of the aisle, he has been called a "right-wing hate monger," the "ultimate D.C. power-broker," a "traitor," and a "turncoat."

As a teenager in the 1970s, Schenck converted from nominal Judaism to born-again Christianity and found his calling in public ministry. In the 1980s, he became an activist leader of the most extreme wing of the anti-abortion movement and entered the political mainstream inside the Beltway's religious right, brazenly mixing ministry with Republican political activism to advance his movement's crusade in the culture wars.

But after a deep reckoning with the texts of both Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Bible itself, revisiting the lessons Jesus imparted and regaining an understanding of the essence of the gospel, Schenck had an epiphany: he realized that he had strayed from his deepest convictions--that all are worthy of love, acceptance, and forgiveness, and should be free to live outside human judgment and exclusion. Reaffirming his core spiritual beliefs, Schenck today works to liberate the evangelical community from a politicized gospel, and to urge partisan conservatives to move beyond social battles and forsake the politics of hate, fear, and violence.

In this moving and inspiring memoir, Schenck reflects on his path to God, his unconscious abandonment of Christian principles in the face of fame and influence, and, ultimately, his return to the abiding beliefs that guide him in his work and ministry in Washington today. Costly Grace is a fascinating, sometimes shocking, and redemptive account of one man's life in faith and politics.

Review Quotes

"A meditation on the thorny relationship between religious leaders and politicians, and the dangers that lie in getting too close to the sun." - Mother Jones

"Schenck, an evangelical minister widely known for his outspoken pro-life views, tells the personal story of his three religious conversion experiences in this revealing memoir. Schenck's superb self-critical writing draws readers in....Addressing libertarian evangelical ideologies, this powerful book is a universal call for a change of heart in both the political and sacred realms." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Informative....Schenck provides a provocative autobiography centered on the evolution of his life as a person of faith." - Kirkus Reviews