Worth Fighting For by John Pavlovitz Book Review

About the Book:

John Pavlovitz has inspired millions to keep boldly loving both neighbors and strangers throughout the years of Trump’s hate-mongering campaign and presidency and continues to be a voice of sanity and urgency when so much is still at stake.

It’s a scary time for America, with rights for women and transgender people being rolled back, the truth about Black history and experience being silenced, and unrestricted gun violence on the rise. People who value inclusion, compassion, and the common good are understandably anxious and angry—but we can’t give up hope. We need motivation to keep fighting for justice.

This inspiring volume features Pavlovitz’s most important writing from the past several years alongside brand-new essays to provide the encouragement, stamina, and direction we need to keep going, even when things feel bleak.

Access free resources, including sermon series prompts and a group discussion guide, at www.wjkbooks.com/WorthFightingFor to expand the use of this book to communal and worship settings.

My Review:

Many people may feel overwhelmed and defeated by the current situation. Pavlovitz reminds us there is much worth fighting for. Each of us still has great agency in the decisions we make and the way we use our time and resources.

Pavlovitz is not shy in his opinions. He'll irritate evangelical Christians I am sure with his view that the GOP is unwell and our leaders in the U.S. are really unwell. He is sickened by this thing called Christianity and says Jesus would be horrified by it. (73) Pavlovitz is more concerned with people being loved and getting the help they need than he is about right doctrine. The way you treat others, he says, is the only meaningful expression of your belief system. (62) “[Love] is still the antidote to all that afflicts us.” (61) He encourages us to do the difficult work of loving the people we dislike. (44)

I appreciate this collection of short essays Pavlovitz has written on a variety of subjects. While I do not agree with all he says, I found his writings thought provoking and a wake up call to those of us calling ourselves Christians. He encourages us to be Christlike, being the best people we can possibly be. This is a book offering hope to those who feel hopeless.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

John Pavlovitz is a writer, pastor, activist, and storyteller from Wake Forest, North Carolina. Over the past decade, his thought-provoking blog, Stuff That Needs to Be Said, has reached a diverse worldwide audience with over one hundred million views. A twenty-five-year veteran in the trenches of local church ministry, Pavlovitz is committed to equality, diversity, and justice-both inside and outside faith communities. His books include A Bigger Table, Stuff That Needs to Be Said, and If God Is Love, Don't Be a Jerk. He currently directs Empathetic People Network, a vibrant online community that connects people from all over the world who want to create a more compassionate planet.

Westminster John Knox Press, 168 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)