Compassion, Justice and the Christian Life: Rethinking Ministry to the Poor,
by Robert Lupton.
Reviewed by Eric Lange
As a young person just beginning to think about serve to others, I always welcome the opportunity to learn from people who have spent their lives in ministry. Their deeper perspective cultivated through years of experiences – both good and bad – provides me with lessons that I need to hear. Dr. Robert Lupton is one of those people.
Lupton has spent almost 40 years working in Atlanta with FCS Ministries. Under Lupton’s leadership, a small program for delinquent urban youth grew into a community development organization that now targets specific neighborhoods with an overarching strategy that includes a variety of programs and opportunities that engage the entire community’s capacity for growth. He is a board member of the Christian Community Development Association, and he speaks with leaders across the country about the best ways to engage in urban ministry.
Lupton brings an important perspective to the discussion about the best ways to engage in community development. He acknowledges that his philosophy stems from “years of pragmatic trial and error, a modicum of common sense, and intuition jaded just a bit by hearing too many deceptions and half-truths. And, oh yes, a calling to the poor that had been the orienting compass needle in my life.” It is encouraging to have the perspective of someone who has had missteps along the way – and Lupton is quite candid about his failures – yet remains committed and still feels called to working to create stronger futures for communities in Atlanta.
Compassion, Justice and the Christian Life is not a history of FCS Ministries or an autobiographical account of life lessons learned. Although its pages are filled with anecdotes and stories of past programs, the book is primarily an attempt to recast a vision of how of urban ministries should work. The book suggests how churches and ministries in urban locations can best use their energy and resources to build community. Unfortunately, in many instances programs and services – and at times, even churches themselves – have been the most significant barriers to neighborhoods growing into healthier, safer, and more vibrant communities.
Lupton describes many of the approaches that do little to build a better future for a community: programs that promote dependency, services that tear deprive human beings of their innate dignity, approaches that engage individuals while ignoring the environment in which they are raised. Although he recognizes that services and programs are often needed in communities, the most significant transformations that occur in communities can only come about if the community itself invests their time, energy, and resources to create a new future that they themselves own:
“Initiatives owned by residents are likely to be more effective, personal, accountable and cost-effective than those funded and managed by outside professionals.”
Lupton is more of a practitioner than a philosopher, Compassion, Justice and the Christian Life focuses on the best technical strategies rather than delving into deep theological truths. The book will not focus on the nature of God, the story and example of Christ, ad it does not try to motivate people to devote their time and energy in service. His work is best suited to those who have already made a commitment to urban ministry but need to recognize how their work should be shaped to build healthier communities.
At just over 130 pages, and full of compelling stories of prior events, this book is easy to read. Sections are divided into short chapters a few pages long, and it is possible to read the entire book in one sitting. However, the ideas and materials of the book have far-reaching implications. Its structure and subject matter suggest that this book is to be read in discussions with other people. Lupton moves quickly through a variety of topics and issues, and the deeper significance in his observations may only arise through discussions about their impact.
Perhaps the book’s greatest significance will be for ministry practitioners, because they will be able to connect Lupton’s observations to specific challenges and possibilities for their own ministries. This book provides great “food for thought” to reevaluate and rethink how their ministries can reach new levels of long-term impact and growth within their communities.
Posted by tabministries 
