Overcoming Evil God's Way
Subtitle: The Biblical and Historical Case for Nonresistance
Publisher: Faith Builders Resource Group
Published: May 30, 2008
Place of publication: Guys Mills, Pennsylvania
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 320
ISBN-13: 9780981656908
First sentence: Because of an invitation by a friend, I was able to spend my sabbatical for writing this book in Israel.
Description: From the back cover:
We live in a world wracked with violence and despair. Does that mean that every act of violence must be met with an equal or greater counterblow? Overcoming Evil God’s Way asserts that the biblical message offers hope of repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation in place of hatred, vengeance, and fear. This book looks at both the historical and the biblical evidence for the nonresistant lifesytle of the Christian. Some of the themes the book deals with:
Why do Christians disagree among themselves about war?
What is the overarching narrative of the Bible, and what does it have to say about peace?
What is the Christian’s right and just battle?
What is the biblical model for the Christian life?
How have platonism and Islamic thought weakened the church’s grasp on nonresistance?
What place does the gospel of peace have in winning Muslims and others who have discounted the Christian message, life, and community?

It is with heartfelt appreciation for this book that I recommend it for an in-depth study on the nonresistant lifestyle taught by Jesus Christ. This book reflects a careful study by the author.
It is easy reading through his personal journey to nonresistance, through the Old and New Testaments, and an enlightening study of church history. The study begins with creation, moves on to the birth of the church and across history into applications for today’s believers. This is a helpful contribution to the person who wants to truly follow Christ’s way of peace through a violent world. Simon Schrock, President, Choice Books of Northern Virginia.

This book presents a fresh and comprehensive look at Jesus’ revolutionary methods of dealing with the evil we find both within us and in the world around us. Contrary to many approaches to the biblical story, in clear-eyed fashion it unifies the God of both the Old and New Testaments. Prepare to be challenged to see the Bible as one story by one unchanging God with an unchanging love for His creation. I applaud my trusted friend’s timely call to radical faithfulness in following Jesus Christ. Donnavon Graber, Carpenter.

I have been privileged to read the pre-published text of Overcoming Evil God’s Way. But even more, I have been privileged to know Stephen as a personal friend and co-teacher. I can readily attest that writing this book has not been merely an academic exercise for Stephen; he passionately pursues the love and peace of Jesus as his way of life. (From the Foreword) John Coblentz, Faith Builders Campus Pastor.

Stephen Russell is an instructor at Faith Builders Educational Programs– a small two-year biblical training institute in the Anabaptist heritage that prepares teachers for conservative Mennonite schools and also offers a biblical worldview program. He received a degree in European Studies from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and a master’s degree in church history and theology from Wheaton Graduate School in Illinois. He can be reached at stephenrussell@fbep.org.
Notes: Overcoming Evil God’s Way asserts that the biblical message offers hope of repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation in place of hatred, vengeance, and fear. This book looks at both the historical and the biblical evidence for the nonresistant lifesytle of the Christian.
Table of contents: value: Dedication, Foreword, Author's Preface; value: Section 1: GETTING STARTED; value: 1 Definitions; value: 2 Why I Wrote This Book; value: 3 The Theme of the Bible; value: Section 2: NONRESISTANCE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT; value: 4 Restraint of Man's Evil Inclinations; value: 5 Uplift Through Covenant; value: 6 God Directs History; value: Section 3: NONRESISTANCE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT; value: 7 Church and State; value: 8 The Christian's Fight; value: 9 Excommunication; value: Section 4: NONRESISTANCE IN CHURCH HISTORY; value: 10 The Early Church; value: 11 The Constantinian Synthesis and the Middle Ages; value: 12 The Reformation and the Modern Church; value: Section 5: THE MODERN NEED FOR THIS WITNESS; value: 13 The Great Temptation; value: 14 Commitment; value: 15 Objections and Problems; value: Section 6: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE; value: 16 Summary; value: 17 How to Move Ahead; value: Study Guide; value: Selected Bibliography