Radical Grace: Justice for the Poor and MarginalizedCharles Wesleys Views for the Twenty-First Century
S. T. Kimbrough has provided serious Christians with yet another practical and useful work grounded in the Wesleyan heritage. In this readable book, he uses his expert grasp of Charles Wesley's poetry to explain and illustrate how the Wesleyan hymns demonstrate in a worshipful but explicit manner a central feature of the Christian life--that the poor and marginalized can bring the experience of radical grace into the daily lives of all of us through our exercise of God's presence and power. Historically grounded, theologically sound, and poetically illustrated, this study fits solidly into the current attempts to apply careful interpretations of the Wesleyan tradition to contemporary life.--Richard P. HeitzenraterThe Divinity School, Duke UniversityS T Kimbrough, Jr. has introduced us to Charles Wesley the great lyrical theologian. In this wonderful book,Radical Grace, he introduces us to Wesley the prophetic, poetic friend of the poor and the dispossessed. Here, in the genius of Wesley, we see poetry in service to a just and loving God. This book sings, and the song it sings is justice for the poor!--Bishop William Willimon,United Methodist ChurchDr. Kimbrough's thorough and unique study of Charles Wesley's neglected hymns and perspectives on justice for the poor and marginalized also includes practical ways (contemporary musical settings and liturgies) for their teaching and use in the church and elsewhere.--Carlton R. YoungEditor, The United Methodist HymnalIf Methodism, as I think is true for all mainstream churches, can regain an empowering vision of the future through intimacy with the poor, this book will be a valuable map of the Wesleyan devotion to what God is doing among the poor. Kimbrough artfully brings to light Charles Wesley's poetry, a poetry suffused by just the biblical and theological signposts we need to rediscover in a church looking for new directions.--M. Douglas MeeksVanderbilt University Divinity School --Wipf and Stock Publishers