I have many heroes, but John Perkins and Shane Claiborne stand tall as examples of social activism, two modern-day prophets. Active in the civil-rights movement, John later founded the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA). Shane has been described as a contemporary John the Baptist—right down to the scraggly hair, home-made clothes, and radical lifestyle. Both men, following the great Biblical prophets, call people to repent, love the poor, and embrace a life of simplicity. Their faith isn’t merely an interior piety, but is embodied through compassionate, radical lifestyles.
John and Shane have dialogued about leadership and social justice over the years, and this eventually led to the publication of “Follow Me to Freedom” (Regal Books, 214 pages, paperback). Social justice and leadership are the book’s main themes, but the content isn’t somber as those subjects may seem. Reading John and Shane’s dialogues shuttle you to a front porch conversation between two close friends, rather than to a lecture in a sterile classroom. The informal tone–with jokes cracked throughout–helps balance the book’s difficult message.
Encouragement to “love as Jesus loves” often leads to guilt, but Shane and John avoid condemnation. Instead of decrying your current lifestyle, they present an alluring vision for what it could be. In their discussions they guide you toward a radical lifestyle through fascination.
The dialogue in “Follow Me to Freedom” is mainly practical, although there is some theology and history scattered throughout. John and Shane don’t just tell you how to live; they show you through their stories. Like any good conversation, this book is filled with anecdotes describing the ups and downs of each man’s journey. From arrests for civil disobedience, to living in intentional community, John and Shane describe many wild tales.
“Follow Me to Freedom” is split into eighteen conversations, each conversation revolving around a particular topic. Two of my favorite discussions deal with the lure of power and the necessity of humility. Even a leader pursuing a good cause can succumb to power’s allure, so humility is a necessity. John and Shane explain how leading and following as an ordinary radical aren’t the means toward glory, but the result of humble obedience toward God.
I also appreciated the book’s advice aimed at younger social justice leaders. A half-century after Moses-like leaders arose during the civil-rights struggles of the 1960’s, John notes the need for “new Moses’s” to rise up from within the young-adult generation to lead a “new Exodus” against comfortability and apathy.
While this particular advice resonated within me, it also contains my one misgiving of the book. “Follow Me to Freedom” is aimed at such a small, distinct audience. 20-and-30-something Christians already passionate about social justice will love this book, but I question whether others will find it as rich. The book is written as encouragement to someone who has already taken a few steps down this road. If the pursuit of Christian justice is new to you—or something that you don’t feel particularly drawn to—I don’t think “Follow Me to Freedom” is a good introduction. For a more introductory guide to a justice-filled life, I recommend any of Shane’s earlier books, especially “Irresistible Revolution”.
If you want to lead in the battles against modern injustice, pick up this book and join in the conversation. May “Follow Me to Freedom” ignite the prophet within.
(I met Shane a couple of months back, and he is as humble and authentic as he writes. Below is a picture of an encouraging note he wrote to me.)
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” – Acts 2:17