Overview

Listening intently to what the poor have to say is Laurie Green’s way into a new study of Jesus’ most famous Beatitude – Blessed are the Poor. Combining years of pavement level experience with informed biblical analysis he sets out for us how the perspective of the poor opens us up to new biblical and theological insights. These issue in a radical rethink about mission and what it means to be Church in a post-secular society. The book introduces us to Britain’s poorest housing estates and uses the radical edge of contextual theology to present a prophetic challenge to each one of us, and to a Church which is reluctant to respond seriously to the challenges of the Beatitudes.

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9780334053651

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Reviews

You have in your hands a rare and special document. Here unearthed for you are deep stories of hope and possibility as well as stories of hardship and dismay.These stories belong to the often forgotten residents of Britain's housing estates. Laurie Green bears witness to how God is very present and how theology and church can become alive because of the mysterious part that those who are marginalised often play in the purposes of God. -- Ann Morisy Bishop Laurie Green gives us a power pack of experience, with fresh insights into Jesus' declaration Blessed are you who are poor by breaking open space for the poor to speak for themselves from within their communities. Based on a life-long immersion in the lives of the poor, it is a Gospel-centric account saturated with fresh Gospel insights from the perspectives of the world of the poor, to enable us authentically to challenge the present ordering of society and Church. A reflection-action work book challenging us all as Christians and Church to really be with the poor, who are full of inspiring stories from the underside of our society. -- John Battle This carefully researched but highly readable book combines detailed reflection on biblical resources with historical and sociological perspectives on housing estates and issues of urban poverty and, most significantly, the experience and stories of poor people themselves. Rejecting platitudes and romanticism, it is a powerful demonstration of the practice of contextual theology and offers a persuasive and provocative interpretation of what Jesus meant when he pronounced the poor 'blessed'. -- Stuart Murray Williams

You have in your hands a rare and special document. Here unearthed for you are deep stories of hope and possibility as well as stories of hardship and dismay.These stories belong to the often forgotten residents of Britain's housing estates. Laurie Green bears witness to how God is very present and how theology and church can become alive because of the mysterious part that those who are marginalised often play in the purposes of God. -- Ann Morisy Bishop Laurie Green gives us a power pack of experience, with fresh insights into Jesus' declaration Blessed are you who are poor by breaking open space for the poor to speak for themselves from within their communities. Based on a life-long immersion in the lives of the poor, it is a Gospel-centric account saturated with fresh Gospel insights from the perspectives of the world of the poor, to enable us authentically to challenge the present ordering of society and Church. A reflection-action work book challenging us all as Christians and Church to really be with the poor, who are full of inspiring stories from the underside of our society. -- John Battle This carefully researched but highly readable book combines detailed reflection on biblical resources with historical and sociological perspectives on housing estates and issues of urban poverty and, most significantly, the experience and stories of poor people themselves. Rejecting platitudes and romanticism, it is a powerful demonstration of the practice of contextual theology and offers a persuasive and provocative interpretation of what Jesus meant when he pronounced the poor 'blessed'. -- Stuart Murray Williams

Author Information

Laurie Green was born and bred in East London, taught theology and ministered in urban parishes before becoming a bishop in Essex. Two of his books were acclaimed as ‘books of the year’ by the Church Times and his Let’s Do Theology remains a classic of contextual theology.

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