Resisting Babel

“In an era in which Libertarians have discovered David Lipscomb, it is critical that those who entertain Lipscomb’s religious commitments probe in detail and in-depth the nuances of his ‘political’ theology. Hicks, Hughes, Goode, Jeffery, and Camp in this book have done just that in an exemplary fashion. They have copiously documented Lipscomb’s outlooks on the kingdom of God, government, and race and their relationships, situating them in their twentieth century milieu. They have likewise meticulously surveyed the appropriate scholarship of the past fifty years. Their book provides much food for thought in the environment in which we now find ourselves. These scholars relentlessly challenge us to work out how we Christians should relate to the government and live in community and globally with other races.” —Thomas H. Olbricht, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Religion, Pepperdine University “Though little known outside the Stone-Campbell churches of North America, David Lipscomb has exerted profound influence on millions of Christians around the world. This set of essays by a first-rate assemblage of scholars seeks to help us understand an underappreciated aspect of his life, thought, and writings—his political theology, which was prophetic and profound—and apply it critically to our own day and age. It deserves a wide reading, and Lipscomb himself deserves far more attention from students of American religion and public life.” —Douglas A. Sweeney, dean and professor of Divinity, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University “It’s hard to believe that Churches of Christ were once the largest peace churches in America. This was in part due to the rich theological legacy of David Lipscomb. Resisting Babel provides a concise introduction to his social and political legacy that is both sympathetic and critical. In so doing, it provides valuable resources for all disciples aspiring to bear faithful witness to the inescapably political gospel of Jesus Christ. Campbellites of all stripes have forgotten why and how to resist the Babels of our day, and if we don’t snap out of such amnesia, we’ll have little resources for resisting the declining relevance of our churches.” —John C. Nugent, author of Endangered Gospel, The Politics of Yahweh, and Genesis 1-11 and cohost of the After Class Podcast. “This scrupulously honest book demonstrates in the life of David Lipscomb both the revolutionary social vision of the gospel combined with the example of the early church—and the power of American culture to subvert this vision. Don’t just read it and weep. Read it and take stock and then take heed.” —Shirley Showalter, author, speaker, and former professor of English and president of Goshen College.. “At a time when many American Christians unquestioningly affirm patriotism, nationalism, and partisan politics as spiritual values, David Lipscomb’s voice rings out as one crying in the desert. His radical views on the relationship between Christians and civic government find renewed relevance in today’s society, both for members of Churches of Christ and those from other fellowships. Within the pages of Resisting Babel, scholars who have dedicated much of their careers to studying the American Restoration movement present this message to a new generation, with analysis, praise, and critique. These writers have done a great service to the modern church, better preparing her to engage the current American political system.” —Timothy Archer, director of International Ministry, Herald of Truth, Abilene, Texas. “David Lipscomb was radical before radical was cool. His life shows us that one can be deeply political without being partisan, that one can work for liberation and abhor violence. Lipscomb stood for and with the poor against their rich oppressors, and demanded of Christians that they not kill one another. The writers here show that rather than move with the confusing whims of Babel, Lipscomb stood firm on the Rock of Ages, not building a tower to heaven but bearing witness to the reign of heaven on earth.” —Justin Bronson Barringer, editor of A Faith Not Worth Fighting For “This timely book offers an unprecedented historical and theological exploration of the ‘apocalyptic’ tradition in Churches of Christ—its origins in Barton Stone, its contours in David Lipscomb's thought, its influence on Lipscomb's race relations, its comparison to competing political theologies, its waning in the twentieth century among Churches of Christ, and its usefulness for Christian thought and practice today. We are indebted to these authors for illuminating how Christians might critically appropriate David Lipscomb’s rich political theology in 2020 to bear faithful witness to the kingdom of God.” —James L. Gorman, associate professor of History, Johnson University.