Just Spirituality - by Mae Elise Cannon (Paperback)

About the Book

Mae Elise Cannon opens the annals of activist history to see if there is a correlation between great acts of compassion and advocacy and great depths of prayer. Looking at the lives of Mother Teresa, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther King Jr. and others, Cannon finds a depth of spiritual practice at the root of courageous social action.

Book Synopsis

Throughout history, Christians have been called by God to active engagement in society on behalf of the poor and oppressed. Christian leaders have been instrumental in caring for people who are poor, fighting injustice and advocating for social change. But they have never done so on their own power. Their energy and zeal were fueled by inner spiritual practices that propelled them forward into the world.Activist and historian Mae Elise Cannon explores the direct connection between Christians' personal relationship with God and outward actions of kindness, mercy, compassion and advocacy. She looks at how notable Christian leaders were able to face societal challenges because of the rich depths of their spiritual practices. For example:

• Mother Teresa's practice of silence compelled her to service.
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer's prayer life equipped his discipleship.
• Martin Luther King Jr.'s beloved community empowered his proclamation.
• Oscar Romero's discipline of submission prepared him to face martyrdom.

Biographical profiles of these and other key figures from around the world give us concrete examples of how activism and advocacy can be sustained over the long haul. Cannon also describes modern-day activists who embody the synergy of faith and action, with practical lessons for our own lives.Find yourself spiritually transformed by these examples, and follow in their footsteps in just service to the world.

Review Quotes

"Just Spirituality is a compelling call to a living faith that brings together Christian spirituality and social activism. Mae Cannon uses biographical narratives of Christian leaders to introduce and connect us to spiritual disciplines that anchor our lives as people working for justice. This book is an important read for activists seeking spiritual balance and contemplatives seeking a worldly vocation."

--Curtiss Paul DeYoung, professor of reconciliation studies at Bethel University and author of Living Faith: How Faith Inspires Social Justice

"Just Spirituality is an interesting read for those wishing to review the lives of social activists with an eye on the spiritual disciplines they practiced. The reflections are encouraging in that they help show how leaders of historic justice movements were ordinary people who also struggled with spiritual disciplines. The bottom line is that these disciplines lead us into closer relationship with God, a relationship that should prompt us to work for restoration and justice in our communities and around the world."

--Jared Klassen, MB Herald, June 1, 2013

"Just Spirituality: How Faith Practices Fuel Social Action is a much-needed bridge between doing and being, between justice and spiritual formation, between faith and practice. Cannon's book is rooted in the lived experience of activists such as Mother Teresa, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Watchman Nee and others who worked to bring the shalom and justice of God into their world. Cannon explores how their inward spiritual practices fueled their outward actions. At a time when people focus on either inner work or outer work, it is lovely to find a book that sees the genius of the both/and."

--Adele Calhoun, copastor of Redeemer Community Church, Needham/Wellesley, Mass., and author of Invitations from God and Spiritual Disciplines Handbook

"A book that theologically integrates spirituality and mission is compelling enough. But when it also lifts up faith heroes--both historical and contemporary--who have exemplified this integration, it goes from worth reading to must reading. Mae Cannon's Just Spirituality is such a book, as it puts names and faces to faith-inspired activism. As I met these people throughout the book, I kept saying to myself, I want to be like them. And fortunately, Cannon had people like me in mind, as she has provided guidelines to practice the disciplines in a way that releases us for mission. It's all here: theology, biography, missiology and spirituality. Let this book change the way we pray, meditate, worship and study the Scriptures, not just for our edification, but also for the transformation of the world."

--F. Albert Tizon, Ph.D., associate professor of holistic ministry, Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University, and director of Word Deed Network, Evangelicals for Social Action

"Biblical justice requires a healthy spirituality. Christian spirituality demands a life of justice. Using powerful and relevant historical and contemporary examples, Mae Cannon offers the possibility of a deeply spiritual faith transforming and shaping our Christian mission. Mae Cannon's Just Spirituality is now the essential text that integrates justice and spirituality and empowers evangelicals for justice."

--Soong-Chan Rah, author of The Next Evangelicalism and Milton B. Engebretson Associate Professor of Church Growth and Evangelism, North Park Theological Seminary

"Cannon has presented a timely and well-written book on how spirituality can fuel social action. Her decision to show this process through the lives of seven Christian leaders helps make the book more effective. The Christian church has wrestled with the interplay of spirituality and mission from the start. Cannon helpfully adds to this discussion with a clear call that, when it comes to spirituality and mission, it is not a case of either/or but both/and."

--Steve L. Porter, Journal of Spiritual Formation Soul Care, Fall 2013

"I comment Cannon for lifting up the examples of these historic Christian individuals and thereby challenging contemporary Christians working for social justice to attend to their inner lives. I applaud her for remind us that there is an inviolable connection between a disciplined spiritual life and a commitment to social justice."

--Drick Boyd, PRISM, Fall 2013

About the Author

Mae Elise Cannon is the senior director of advocacy and outreach in the Middle East for World Vision USA. She is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church and a doctoral candidate at the University of California--Davis. She is also the author of Social Justice Handbook.