Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger: Moving from Affluence to Generosity Audiobook

" Sider does an excellent analysis of social injustice and poverty. "

" What a challenging book. It will make you question your actions and lifestyles. "

" Whether or not you fully agree with Sider's conclusions, this is material that cannot be ignored. Sider does an excellent job of attempting to diagnose the problem of poverty and offer solutions. Very close to a must-read for any Christian. "

" A passionate plea for social justice, this book, first published in 1967 but regularly revised and updated, still stirs the conscience. Is still powerful. Unfortunately it can longer be read with the degree of hope that originally greeted it, with the hope that all Christians could unite in changing society - that the hungry would be fed, the wounded healed, the oppressed freed. Reading it today is depressing because it describes a road not taken. The intervening years have destroyed any hope that evangelicals, the "moral majority", the fundamentalist churches, would be convinced by Sider's Biblical arguments and would become a force for social justice. And it is in them that Sider placed his hope. To them, he addressed his argument. Based it completely on the Bible. Filled his book with "proof texts" (at tedious length) to convince them. Used the words of the Old Testament prophets, the words of Christ, to argue that Christianity must be about more than interior spirituality, that there must be a balance in emphasis between personal transformation and the transformation of society - that the faith must be about creating a Christian community of brotherly love, creating a just society for all, creating God's reign on earth. However, the response to Sider's trumpet call has been meager - only a few evangelicals answered it (e.g., Jim Wallis and his Sojourner Group). The majority have not. Have taken a different path. Some are expecting an imminent rapture when they, the elect, will be lifted up into heaven and escape the "time of tribulations" - viewing the suffering of others, at that time as well as now, as inevitable and deserved. Others, not so apocalyptic, are satisfied with current social and economic arrangements, and regard the capitalistic market forces as the invisible hand of God, see economic Darwinism as part of God's inscrutable providence, and believe their own and their nation's wealth and power to be a divine blessing, a reward for their righteousness. Any interest these folks have in changing society is to make it as "righteous" as they are - in improving it only by forcing a general conformity to their own beliefs and practices. None of these folks are ever going to accept Sider's argument, no matter how Biblical it is. They are not going to answer his call for structural change. And so, sadly, Sider's argument is "useless" - "a chasing after the wind" - but although "useless", it is still persuasive. Striving for justice, feeding the hungry, caring for the sick is an integral part of what it means to follow Jesus. It is the narrow path. "

" Great eye-opener to our effect as Christians; as Americans on the world...and our duty as Christians to take care of our neighbors. "

" Great read, convicting..at times a bit too "dramatic" or "editorialized" in his arguments "

" I thought this book was a good check for Western Christians when it comes to the way we live our lives and handle money. Not only does Sider confront the issues of materialism and complacency, he also provides suggestions for how to move into a more sacrificial lifestyle. "

" This book will rock the world of middle-class Americans who seek to follow Christ in a manner consistent with biblical truth. Of course, it will rock the world of upper-class ones even more. It would be hard for a Christian to read this book and not be affected. "

" a good book for affluent believers, which includes most everyone in America except me "

" I've been slowly reading this for over half a year now and finally finished it. It was actually nice to read through it slow because it allowed me to be reminded constantly. It's an awesome book. It seemed like the conclusion was about a hundred pages too long, but other than that, I loved it. "

" Should be required reading in churches. Well researched, well written, astonishingly convicting and insightful. "

" Must read for followers of Jesus in the United States. Have read it several times and will read it again because it reminds me of how I want to live and I always learn something new. "

" This read could possibly transform the materialistic, consumeristic Evangelical church! At least give them something to lead them to repentance. "

" I read this in college & it was life-changing. I would like to read it again to refresh my memory of the book. "

" A really, really great book. Most american people who call themselves Christians ought to read this. And frankly, the gist of his message is such that I'd like everyone to read it, even if they skipped the theological parts. "

" This book is a Christian classic updated and revised for the 21st century. A clear refreshing work vitally applicable to both world mission and social justice. A book every Bible believing Christian should read. Sider challenges us boldly but graciously to put the poor ahead of our self interest. "

" A bit dated, but an interesting take on the inequities of the world's wealth and solutions to the problem. "

" This is one of my all time favorite books. Asks American Christians to consider their affluent lifestyles in view of the gospel and the poverty most of the world experiences. Very biblical and convicting. I reread it often. "

" I thought this book was a good check for Western Christians when it comes to the way we live our lives and handle money. Not only does Sider confront the issues of materialism and complacency, he also provides suggestions for how to move into a more sacrificial lifestyle. "

" A very good book and challenge for Christians, yet could use some balancing. "

" Recently revisited Sider's book for insight in an exegetical paper of Psalm 49 with an attempt to gain some contemporary pre-understanding. "

" This book will rock the world of middle-class Americans who seek to follow Christ in a manner consistent with biblical truth. Of course, it will rock the world of upper-class ones even more. It would be hard for a Christian to read this book and not be affected. "

" This book moved me from merely thinking and talking about changing my life to changing it. It brought me to real conviction and real hope "

" Great read, convicting..at times a bit too "dramatic" or "editorialized" in his arguments "

" A must read; but be prepared, you will not come out the other side with the same heart. This is one of those books that needs to be read twice or more to fully digest. "