Worth Fighting For
Finding Courage and Compassion When Cruelty Is Trending
John Pavlovitz’s Worth Fighting For is a stirring playbook for Christians who strive to ensure that kindness triumphs over toxicity.
Pavlovitz has an uncomfortable truth to break: God will not swoop in to solve the world’s problems. Those committed to seeing justice defeat bigotry must work for it via the very systems whose brokenness he decries. “Human beings fighting like hell together for the common good” is his proposed strategy.
Starting with one’s own mental health is important, Pavlovitz acknowledges. He gives a brief rundown of issues he’s surmounted, including burnout and a brain tumor. Unexpected choices could be required: “you may have to love the church enough to leave it,” he challenges.
From a “Step into the Ring” introduction to the “Overtime” theme of the final chapter, the book employs the fitting imagery of a boxing match amid its punchy prose, instances of anaphora, and use of “we.” It simulates a motivational speech, stressing solidarity and the power of collective outrage. Bold statements like “Nice is not the goal” and “Jesus was ‘woke’” stud the narrative, which is full of relatable sentiments and stimulating discussion points.
Forthright and encouraging, Worth Fighting For envisions a grassroots revolution of love led by a “compassionate coalition of those who give a damn.”
Reviewed by
Rebecca Foster
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
