Author Jim Wallis to speak at EMU

Evangelical speaker, author, and activist Jim Wallis will visit EMU for a public presentation to be held in Lehman Auditorium.

Wallis released the New York Times bestseller God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It last January. In his book, Wallis asks the questions, "Since when did believing in God and having moral values make you pro-war, pro-rich, and pro-Republican? And since when did promoting and pursuing a progressive social agenda with a concern for economic security, health care, and educational opportunity mean you had to put faith in God aside?"

These questions sound remarkably as though they belong in a Sunday morning sermon given to a Mennonite church. Wallis is known for his messages of social justice and peacemaking, causing some controversy with the religious right, but running hand-in-hand with the tenets of the Mennonite Church.

Wallis gained national attention for an appearance on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" hosted by comedian Jon Stewart. On the January 18 episode of the humorous, fake-news program, Wallis was booked to promote "God's Politics." He ended up impressing many viewers, who were fed up with "the religious right," with a fresh voice that was able to draw on strengths from both political parties and find commonalities in a time of such deep separation.

The organization Sojourners: Christians for Peace and Justice, formed in 1971, and Call To Renewal: People of Faith Overcoming Poverty were both spearheaded by Wallis. The mission of Sojourners is to "proclaim and practice the biblical call to integrate spiritual renewal and social justice." Call To Renewal is more direct in its mission to bring Christians from all walks of life together to overcome poverty in this country. These two 501c3 organizations are separate from each other but Wallis leads both.

Wallis consistently quotes the Sermon on the Mount and the book of Matthew when asked what fuels his passions. He describes Matthew 25 as his "conversion passage." In it, Jesus tells of Judgment Day when the world ends. People will be separated into two groups by the King and one is credited with feeding him when he was hungry, clothing him when he was naked and befriending him when he was lonely. The group asks when they did such things and Jesus responds with "whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

This is the passage of scripture Wallis has chosen to focus on and present to the "Daily Show" audience as well as to places where the message is typically not told. He has refused to keep religion out of politics and has gained a wide following because of it.

Wallis' presentation, a Student Lecture Series event, will be Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. A $5 donation is suggested.