Book Review: Doing Good Without Giving Up by Ben Lowe

Ben Lowe’s book, Doing Good Without Giving Up, is a welcome, invigorating breath of fresh air for anyone weary from the fight to bring the light of the gospel into this sin-darkened world. Between the agonizing slowness of change to opposition from both sides of the ideological spectrum, from the difficulty of balancing social action and evangelism to the challenge of setting godly priorities and tone, persevering in Christ-centered social action is profoundly challenging. Lowe offers some fantastic, practical tips for enduring.

With over a decade of experience addressing some of the most challenging social issues from a Christian perspective, Lowe brings a breadth of knowledge that few can manage. Most congregations today, if they are active in any social action, focus on one or two hot-button topics that are largely driven by political rhetoric. Lowe challenges believers to expand the scope of their concern to include myriad issues which adversely affect the lives of men and women in our own communities and around the world.

Reading Lowe’s book, one realizes that this experience is hard-won. That is, he has contended with the overwhelming magnitude of the task, been accosted by the opponents, and run headlong into the burnout. He has wrestled with the things that make people raise the white flag, and he has carried on.

To say that this book was an encouragement to me, personally, would be an understatement. My involvement with social action over the last 15 years has been a result of getting involved with the people in my church and community. I have seen the racism and poverty, heard the stories of violence, witnessed the effects of PTSD, grappled with the unfathomably broken immigration system, wrestled with the sinkhole that is a lack of adequate education, and more. It is overwhelming, consuming, and progress is almost always three steps forward and two steps back. I have flirted more than once with the notion of giving up.

Lowe’s words have more than encouraged me. They have reminded me what I must do to ensure that I can continue the battle for the long haul. Highly recommend.