Sacred Rebel: Fierce Love in a Fearful World (Jerry Zehr) - Review
It has been said that peace in this
world depends, in part, on peace among the religions. There is much truth to
this, especially when we think historically. Despite differences of
understanding when it comes to our belief systems, however, when we dive deeply
into the heart of most major faith traditions, we will find a strong commitment
to the common good. On the wall above my desk in my study is a framed poster created
by a group of students at the University of California at Santa Barbara that features
different versions of the Golden Rule, ranging from Baha'i to Zoroastrianism.
Unfortunately, too often we humans have ignored our versions of the Golden
Rule, such that we would commit ourselves to do to others what we would want
them to do to us, by weaponizing our faith traditions, thereby undermining the
possibility of experiencing peace. While religion has been weaponized through
the centuries, religion has also been the foundation for the pursuit of the common
good, including by reaching across religious lines to achieve the common good. This is something I have attempted to do
throughout my years of ministry. The same is true of Jerry Zehr, the author of
a new book titled Sacred Rebel: Fierce Love in a Fearful World.
Like me, Jerry Zehr is a retired Disciples
of Christ minister, interfaith leader, and author. I reviewed his previous
book— The Peacemaker's Path: Multifaith Reflections to Deepen Your
Spirituality (Broadleaf Books, 2021). This book spoke of ways to respect and
learn from other faith traditions without losing the distinctives of one’s own
faith tradition. Sacred Rebel is a worthy follow-up to that book. While Zehr
is retired from full-time parish ministry, he remains committed to his calling
to pursue the common good by engaging in interfaith ministry. This is a calling
we both share, so it is a pleasure to read, review, and recommend his latest
book. Zehr provided me with an advanced reader’s copy of the book for this
purpose.
The title Zehr chose for this book,
Sacred Rebel, is important because it highlights the need to push
against religious boundaries if we're to work together to overcome the fear
that seems to drive life in this world. In his view, this interfaith work
requires "fierce love," a love that is willing to stand its ground
while not hardening its heart. This act of fierce love is an act of sacred
rebellion, such that "Sacred Rebels move with courage, compassion,
clarity, and creative resistance. They heal, they tell the truth, they disrupt
quietly but persistently. They refuse to let the world stay broken" (p.
10). In the course of this book, Zehr lays out what this means when put into
action.
Zehr divides Sacred Rebel
into nine chapters, to which he adds a lengthy appendix that provides a brief
overview of the World's Major Religions. The point of the inclusion of the
appendix is his desire to initiate a conversation about different faith
traditions so that those who feel called to be sacred rebels will have a better
sense of the lay of the land, especially if a person's engagement with other
faith traditions is limited.
Zehr begins in Chapter 1, titled
"Awakening the Sacred Rebel Within," by giving an account of his own
awakening and sense of call to interfaith ministry. He offers his own story as
an example for others who may feel the same calling. Part of this process
involves breaking free from cultural and societal norms that create barriers to
engagement with others, especially those whose religions differ from one's own.
This requires being willing to ask questions about one’s own faith as well as
other traditions. He also lets the reader know that becoming a sacred rebel can
come with a cost. Moving forward from this introduction to what it means to be
a sacred rebel, in Chapter 2, titled "Roots of Division, Seeds of
Healing," Zehr acknowledges that the seeds of division are often rooted in
fear, which is instilled in us from different sources, including politicians,
who understand that fear can be a powerful political tool since fear and anger
work when it comes to politics. But division carries its own set of costs. The
path forward out of fear will not be easy and often involves more than dialogue
but addressing the roots of division is necessary if the world is to experience
wholeness.
The book’s subtitle emphasizes the
need for fierce love. With that in mind, chapter 3 explores what fierce love
looks like. Zehr titles this chapter "Fierce Love: The Heart of Sacred
Rebellion." He begins the chapter by recounting a community meeting held
at his church in Indiana that focused on questions about establishing a mosque
in the city. Sacred rebellion involves standing in the gap in difficult
situations, especially when it involves religious traditions that people have
come to fear. He speaks of fierce love being resilient and bold. It is also
very personal. Moving on to chapter 4, which is titled "The Sacred Outcry:
Speaking Truth with Compassion and Conviction," Zehr uses his own
awakening to the LGBTQ community’s need for allies. With this example as a
starting point, Zehr speaks to the cost of silence and the need for courage in
order to speak out on behalf of those society marginalizes. In discerning when
and how to speak, Zehr offers guidelines starting with an examination of
motives, and then assessing the impact of speaking out, testing one’s
complicity in a situation, seeking guidance, and finally starting small. This
process will also require a person to examine any fears that lead to silence. He
recognizes that we have different gifts and calling that need to be taken into
consideration.
Being a Sacred Rebel is challenging.
One of the challenges that faces people who engage in this kind of work is burnout.
This is especially true if a person takes the load totally upon themselves,
believing that if they do not act, the cause will fail. Too often, those who
feel called to be sacred rebels end up burned out because they go it alone. I
think this is something clergy often face as they seek to lead congregations
into social justice action. Fortunately, Zehr, who faced his own burnout,
suggests that there are ways sacred rebels can experience renewal. With that in
mind, Zehr devotes Chapter 5 to "Rising from Burnout: A Sacred Rebel's
Guide to Renewal." He identifies the reasons why burnout occurs, including
having poor boundaries, while addressing the problem of feeling shame about
burnout. After addressing the causes of burnout, he offers a series of
practical steps to recovery, starting with the need for rest, along with
setting boundaries, and reconnecting to one’s spiritual center. He notes that “across
the wisdom of the world’s spiritual traditions, we find the reminder that rest,
renewal, and alignment with purpose are not weaknesses; they are sacred acts of
courage” (p. 87). Because being a sacred rebel can be draining, there is a need
for joy, which is the subject of Chapter 6: "Joy as Rebellion: Reclaiming
Joy as an Act of Resistance." He writes that "Joy transforms
weariness into steadfastness, despair into perspective, fear into courage. It
reminds us why we continue" (p. 107). It is worth noting that Paul wrote
about the power of joy in his Philippian letter while sitting in a jail cell.
The calling to be Sacred Rebels
starts with the recognition that the world is divided. Thus, Chapter 7
addresses this division with a chapter titled "Forgiveness as Freedom:
Healing the Wounds of Division." We all know that forgiveness is not easy.
Yet healing of division requires it. Thus, Chapter 7 offers a helpful
discussion of how to get to forgiveness without giving in to injustice.
Accompanying forgiveness is the need for "The Strength in Surrender:
Letting Go to Grow" (Chapter 8). Letting go responds to a need to be in
control, even if control is an illusion. Thus, the path forward requires the
willingness to surrender.
The final chapter is fitting for a
Disciple pastor since our faith tradition centers itself around the communion
table. Zehr titles Chapter 9: "Called to the Table: Building Peace Across
Divides." This chapter brings the conversation to a fitting close,
reminding us of our calling to build peace across divides. He begins the
chapter with a story about a dinner party he hosted that included the local
rabbi, a leader of the local Baha'i community, and the local imam, along with
their wives. That dinner proved to be the starting place for the development of
an interfaith effort in his community. Faith communities often have different
dietary requirements, so sitting for a meal might be challenging. Yet it proved
to be foundational to the creation of an interfaith effort to bring his
community together. But that is not the end point, because such efforts to
build bridges locally can expand one’s vision globally. As Zehr has experienced
global relationships, he points out that such relationships can change us by
challenging us to see the humanity of others. Thus, “they remind us that our well-being
is tied to others’ well-being and that the Divine is present in every culture,
every community, and every act of connection” (p. 147).
I opened this review by affirming
the adage that peace in the world will start with peace among the religions. The
path to peace requires information about other religious traditions beyond our
own. However, information is not sufficient. Bridge-building also requires relationships.
In some communities, that is easier to accomplish than in others. I live in a
highly diverse community with many Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs, as well as Jews
and Christians, and people from other faith traditions or none at all. I consider
myself fortunate to count among my closest friends people who are members of
these faith traditions. Does that make me a Sacred Rebel? Perhaps. What
Jerry Zehr does in his latest book is to invite us to consider being a Sacred Rebel by stepping out from what is comfortable, perhaps letting go of fears
and stereotypes that have embedded themselves in us, and entering worlds that
might be very different but, in doing so, joining in the work of creating the
common good. I think I can speak for Jerry Zehr because we've had similar
interfaith experiences; taking that step will lead to great blessings. It will
also be a step toward overcoming the fear that divides. There is joy to be had
in doing so. So, I invite readers to take up Sacred Rebel: Fierce Love in a Fearful World and discover the path toward a different kind of world.
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