Liberating The Nations

The Bible teaches, and history confirms, that to the degree that nations have applied the principles of the Bible in all spheres of life is the degree to which they have prospered, been free, and acted justly. Learn biblical principles as they apply to various spheres of life. Examine the role of the church, the family, the media, and civil government in a nation, and learn what you can do to bring Godly reform.

“This book is to supplement all the good material that is available that addresses personal evangelism and prayer in changing men and nations. The principles of the Bible affect all of life, including families, education, churches, the media, government, economics, and business. In this book Liberating the Nations we attempt to provide principles from the Bible that apply to these areas. Our Goal is by no means to be exhaustive, but merely introduce in a general way to the citizens of nations a framework for building their societies in accordance with a Biblical view of Life. This book represents our attempt, in a small way, to equip people to “go … and make disciples of all the nations,” by “teaching them to observe all that {He} commanded” (Mathew 28:19). It is given with the prayer that the kingdoms of this world will become, in their actions and acknowledgements, the Kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ”. -Stephen McDowell & Mark Beliles.

This important book provides a sampling of liberation theology's use of biblical texts, relating it to the "standard" methods of interpretation in Europe and America. Divided into four sections, the book sets out contemporary readings of the parable of Jesus influenced by a liberationist perspective; identifies the biblical and theoretical foundations of liberation theology, comparing them with the dominant exegetical paradigm in the first world; explores the way in which liberation exegesis affects reading the canonical accounts of Jesus; and argues that liberation theology cannot be seen solely as a third-world phenomenon.

After World War I, the League of Nations assigned management of the German colony of Namibia to Britain, which passed control to South Africa as a "trophy" for the country's support during the war. The League mandated that South Africa prepare the country for independence, but South Africa showed no sign of working toward that goal. The clash over interpretation of the League's mandate led to 70 years of complicated diplomacy to solve the dispute. This incisive volume offers an in-depth analysis of the political and diplomatic efforts undertaken by representatives of the United Nations, Namibia, and South Africa--with the assistance of the international community, the Organization of African Unity, and Western powers--during the struggle for self-rule in Namibia from 1920 to 1990. This classic example of conflict resolution technique in global and African studies provides a useful template for conflict negotiation around the world.

A compelling account of the diplomatic and military actions that led to Kosovo's independence and their implications for future U.S. and UN interventions. Kosovo, after its incorporation into the Serbian Republic of Yugoslavia, became increasingly restive during the 1990s as Yugoslavia plunged into internal war and Kosovo's ethnic Albanian residents (Kosovars) sought autonomy. In March 1999, NATO forces began airstrikes against targets in Kosovo and Serbia in an effort to protect Kosovars against persecution. The bombing campaign ended in June 1999, and Kosovo was placed under transitional UN administration while negotiations on its status ensued. Kosovo eventually declared independence in 2008. Despite internal political tension and economic problems, the new nation has been recognized by many other countries and most of its inhabitants welcome its separation from Serbia. In Liberating Kosovo, David Phillips offers a compelling account of the negotiations and military actions that culminated in Kosovo's independence. Drawing on his own participation in the diplomatic process and interviews with leading participants, Phillips chronicles Slobodan Milosevic's rise to power, the sufferings of the Kosovars, and the events that led to the disintegration of Yugoslavia. He analyzes how NATO, the United Nations, and the United States employed diplomacy, aerial bombing, and peacekeeping forces to set in motion the process that led to independence for Kosovo. He also offers important insights into a critical issue in contemporary international politics: how and when the United States, other nations, and NGOs should act to prevent ethnic cleansing and severe human-rights abuses.

How can the church move forward in unity amid such political strife and cultural contention? As Christians, we’ve felt pushed to the outskirts of national public life, yet even within our congregations we are divided about how to respond. Some want to strengthen the evangelical voting bloc. Others focus on social justice causes, and still others would abandon the public square altogether. What do we do when brothers and sisters in Christ sit next to each other in the pews but feel divided and angry? Is there a way forward? In How the Nations Rage, political theology scholar and pastor Jonathan Leeman challenges Christians from across the spectrum to hit the restart button by shifting our focus from redeeming the nation to living as a nation already redeemed rejecting the false allure of building heaven on earth while living faithfully as citizens of a heavenly kingdom letting Jesus’ teaching shape our public engagement as we love our neighbors and seek justice When we identify with Christ more than a political party or social grouping, we can return to the church’s unchanging political task: to become the salt and light Jesus calls us to be and offer the hope of his kingdom to the nations.