Reviewed by: Grace Brown

Privilege can be misunderstood, but "Subversive Witness" makes clear that privilege must be understood and stewarded faithfully to empower us to bear witness to God's love in new and sacrificial ways. This book left me with an unforgettable impression for two reasons.

First, the author takes Bible stories I thought I knew well—Moses, Zacchaeus, Esther, and others—and completely flips them upside down in ways I still can't believe I've never seen before. Second, this book prompted deep self-reflection of my own privilege. I ended the book feeling restless, seeing places where my own unchecked privilege is now exposed for repentance and new growth.

What was a new thought or a key takeaway?

Naming privilege requires spiritual maturity. As the author writes, "by candidly addressing privilege, we create a unique opportunity for the body of Christ to…reorient ourselves toward God and neighbor through the spiritual disciplines of remembrance of confession, lament, and repentance."

What action will you take as a result of reading this book?

What am I supposed to do with the privilege I have? Before I read this book, I was confused by the difference between abandoning privilege and leveraging privilege. This book helped me see the ways in which Jesus modelled both abandoning and levering privilege to see, interact, and affirm the image of God in all our neighbors. For me, I will start by simply "checking" my privilege and not letting it go unchecked. And then, I will thoughtfully consider the ways in which I am called to abandon and/or leverage my privilege in the daily decisions of my life and carry that through, understanding my stewardship responsibilities.

Is there anything else you'd like to share about this book?

This book is life-changing because of the seriously hard truths in it. "Faithfully following Jesus requires us to ask, is the gospel still good new when it costs me something? Moreover, is the gospel of Jesus Christ still good news when it costs me everything?"