On Earth as It Is in Heaven by Eric Atcheson, published by Church Publishing, equips clergy and laypeople with a faith-based toolkit for economic justice and offers a resource to examine the economic disparities in our communities.
The title is a familiar phrase to those who recite the Lord’s Prayer as preached by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. What does it mean to become more heavenly on earth? Atcheson addresses this vision by examining what prohibits earth from flourishing in problems such as systemic poverty, racism, and climate change.
As a concerned Christian, I found each chapter shedding light on questions of inequality from a theological and spiritual perspective. I appreciated the author’s understanding as a pastor and the sharing of his own personal journey. The book navigates us through biblical references, religious history, and sociological and political backgrounds for the purpose of helping us discern the need for change. The reader will learn about the “divine economy” in the time of the Hebrew prophets, New Testament, Western Christianity, and beginnings of American Christianity. The last chapters point to the distribution of wealth through the generations and how it affects students, elderly, women, and people of color.
The final section of the book provides discussion questions on each chapter that would be beneficial for an adult church group to initiate dialogue on this pressing issue of social justice. The toolkit becomes practical as individuals express their own experiences, beliefs, and values. In turn, the next step is directing this energy into action as a faith community to alleviate human inequity.
I write this book review in the midst of a pandemic. The country is in an economic crisis causing millions to slip into poverty. The working-class struggle with their rent, putting food on the table for their families, and maintaining healthcare. On Earth as It Is in Heaven is relevant today as it gives a framework to face this crisis of great suffering. With prayer and God’s guidance, faith communities are called to reach out and build a better world in accordance with the Gospel.
A PDF review copy of this book was provided by the publisher, Church Publishing, Inc.
