Peace on the shelf

​​Jason Boone, coordinating minister for the Peace and Justice Support Network, a joint ministry by Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Mission Network.

I get quite a few requests from folks looking for book recommendations for books about peace. That’s a tough one to narrow down. I’ve got a 3-page single-spaced list I usually draw from, depending on the specific need. But sometimes the request is “Just give me your best three!”

I don’t know about “best” but here are three books that have been important for my own understanding of peace. 

  • The Politics of Jesus by John Howard Yoder. It’s a classic. A little dense at places, but worth the effort.  A friend recommended this to me at a time when I was asking questions like, “How come we don’t take all of Jesus’ teachings seriously?” I found out some people do and started a meandering road toward becoming Mennonite. (I didn’t know then what I know now, that Yoder was a brilliant theologian who engaged in deeply harmful behavior. I’m grateful the Discernment group of Mennonite Church USA is working to help us find ways to hold the theological contribution of Yoder while acknowledging the pain he caused.
  • The Journey Toward Reconciliation by John Paul Lederach – Biblical reflections and peacemaking stories from years of working for peace in multiple conflict settings around the world.  Soon to be re-released!  
  • The Powers that Be by Walter Wink – Wink explores how Jesus challenges the domination system.  The chapter on “turning the other cheek” helped me see peacemaking as active engagement for right relationship and justice rather than non-resistant passivity.  

Ask me tomorrow and I might mention a different three, but these make a pretty good base for understanding Jesus-centered peace.

What about you? What are the books that have most help you understand peace? Email me at jasonb@mennoniteusa.org. I’ll compile your responses and share in a future blog.​