While others will undoubtedly dissect the work for what they consider it’s political import, the rest of this review will focus how Mansfield’s work raises issues of importance to the experience of Evangelicals in the Mainline Renewal movement.

What can Evangelicals in the Mainline Renewal learn from The Faith of Barack Obama? First, Mansfield’s work is an excellent case study in Christian charity. He is fair and courteous to a fault in presenting both Mr. Obama and Trinity United Church of Christ, despite his admitted differences. Secondly, we must realize that in the effort to be fair, there may actually be some things about our opponents that require our grudging respect, if we are honest. Certainly Mansfield came away from examining Mr. Obama’s faith and Trinity United Church of Christ with many positive impressions, in addition to noting serious failings in each. Mansfield’s looking for the good wherever possible becomes apparent and challenges us to always strive to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). Of course, Mansfield’s true love requires noting problems, contradictions and deficiencies in those we debate, and he catalogs his share along the way.

Before going further, we must note that Mr. Obama is no longer a member of Trinity United Church of Christ or the UCC. He made this move to insulate himself and his candidacy from attacks based on the comments and demeanor of his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright. There is no denying, however,  the UCC’s affinity for Mr. Obama’s message. Obama’s speech, after all, was arguably the most notable feature of the UCC’s last General Assembly.

What could Evangelicals wish others in the Mainline might learn from this book? The question for the United Church of Christ as new leadership is to be elected – and for the mainline leadership in the PCUSA, UMC, and ELCA itself – is whether the leadership of the mainline denominations will make as much effort in reaching out to Evangelicals within their midst as Mr. Obama has done? And then, will they go farther than Mr. Obama has arguably done to transform such rhetoric into action? 

Evangelicals would hope that nominees for mainline leadership positions might take some lessons on what constitutes a genuine effort to explain why the left leaning theology of the Mainline still bothers considering itself “Biblical” or “Christian”. Mansfield offers many clues as to how this might be done.  For example, Mansfield does a far better job explaining to evangelicals and Americans in general why some of Jeremiah Wright’s inflammatory rhetoric might have some plausible basis in fact. Mansfield’s arguments in that regard come across as much more believable than the UCC’s wholesale whitewashing of Rev. Wright’s failings by sweeping them under the rug as ”prophetic” and expecting us to accept every outrageous thing the man may say or do as inspired behavior!

Second, aspiring mainline readers may find Mansfield’s presentation of the concerns of the “Religious Right” rather different than they have been lead to believe. These concerns, as Mansfield shows, date back to the New Testament era and the Early Church where complete acceptance was offered if Christians would merely accept Jesus the Lord as “one among many gods”. There has been a stubborn reluctance on the part of Evangelicals to do that ever since. Perhaps Mansfield’s retelling of Evangelical concerns will help our Mainline leadership move beyond the belief that Evangelical conviction is, in the words of a certain Presidential candidate, attributable to “bitterness” or “antipathy to people who aren’t like [us]… to explain [our] frustrations.”

There are failings in the book to be sure. Due to its short length, one feels many topics were overlooked that might have proven fruitful for examination. Part of the space used to profile the “faith” of other Presidential contenders might have been better used for more indepth analysis of Mr. Obama’s faith. Nevertheless, for the virtues recounted here, Mr. Mansfield’s book still makes a positive contribution to the overall discussion surrounding Mr. Obama. Mansfield’s example of providing thoughtful analysis while obviously demonstrating Christian charity should not be lost on aspiring Christian writers and journalists. 

In their respective confessions, both groups acknowledged the right of children born to Christian parents to be brought to the baptismal font thanks to their understanding of the sacrament.

This has lead to much misunderstanding by the crowds today whose doctrine of holy baptism begins in the Gospel of Matthew instead of the Book of Genesis! Sadly, many within the United Church of Christ have forgotten why we baptize infants as well! We are too ready to buy into what the Anabaptists of our own day have to say regarding this sacrament. As a result we tend to err on one of two sides – we assume all is well with our children’s souls because of a naive belief in their innate goodness or due to the presumption that their baptism somehow magically means they are spiritually “safe”. Or, at the other extreme, we leave off the practice of infant baptism assuming it has no meaning. Some seek to comfort their own consciences by provoking “quick decisions for Christ” and may do more harm than good to their children Dr. Beeke notes.

If we are to regain a uniquely Reformed and Biblical perspective on caring for the souls of our children and the benefits that result thereby, one useful resource will prove to be a free online “ebook”. It’s titled Bringing the Gospel to Covenant Children In Dependency on the Spirit by Rev. Dr. Joel Beeke.

In it, Dr. Joel Beeke

1. Defines what he means by “covenant children”

2. Examines the need for evangelizing them

3. Discusses the content of the evangelistic message

4. Discusses the proper methods for such evangelism

Beeke writes:

Some Reformed churches depreciate the covenant relation of children, not by rejecting infant baptism and the covenant relation altogether, but by reducing the sacrament to mere form and
custom without insisting on what it should mean for the lives both of the parents and their baptized children. In such circles, the church has no eye for the promises of God in baptism, no heart for pleading those promises in prayer, and no clear understanding of how God earnestly calls covenant children to a lifestyle consecrated to Himself and separated from the world….

Baptism affirms that the baptized child is placed under covenant privileges and responsibilities, but does not make the child a partaker of the saving, internal essence of the covenant. The external covenant relationship can be broken when a child grows to adulthood and abandons God’s Word and the corporate worship of His people. Baptized children must be linked to the internal, unbreakable essence of the covenant through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit ( John 3:3-7). Only then shall they be
given persevering grace for the rest of their lives….

Baptized children must be directed to Jesus Christ and His sacrifice as the only way of salvation. Christ’s cleansing blood, symbolized by the cleansing water of baptism, is the only way by which our children may be saved…

Baptism teaches that God, in and through the Second Adam, Jesus Christ, is able and willing to be the Redeemer and Father of our children….

Knowing such things should encourage us more to evangelize our children and to plead for their salvation, never giving God rest until they are all brought safely into His fold. Then, too, we must teach our covenant children and young people to plead with our covenant God on the basis of His promises to baptize them with the Spirit of grace and to grant them regeneration, repentance, and faith.

Hopefully these brief quotes will provide a taste of the devotional quality of Dr. Beeke’s book and that we will be lead to renew our zeal for our children and grandchildren! They ARE the “heritage of the Lord” and His special possession.

As we seek to renew ourselves and renew our congregations in light of God’s Word, part of that renewal comes as we return to the Reformed doctrine of infant baptism and rescue it from our neglect of it’s proper understanding.

The lead, Eduardo Verastegui, a former “Boy Band” member popular throughout Latin America and a “soap opera” star in Mexico changed his career path thanks to a fresh recommitment to the Christian faith of his youth. His desire was to make films his younger sisters would be able to watch in good conscience. No wonder the production company goes by the Greek word for repentance – Metanoia.

If that first theme seems unnecessary in the land of the “melting pot” (even though it’s badly needed), be thankful for it because that may be the theme that allows Bella to spread its positive pro-life, pro-adoption message past those who’d otherwise dismiss the life-affirming aspect of Bella‘s storyline.

Inside a story that shows the best elements to which Latino culture aspires, the message of agape love shines through on many levels. I’d tell you more about that and how the message shines through, but you need to see the movie and don’t need a review to spoil the artistry for you.

So what are you waiting for? See it for yourself!

Like most great movies, Bella is an opportunity for outreach and ministry as well as entertainment. A number of young women had the courage, after watching Bella, to spare their unborn children. Undoubtedly other women who have had abortions might see the picture and be moved to seek help before the long term effects of abortion play their havoc. As longitudinal studies show, women having one or more abortions are at great risk of deadly psychological and physical harm. Having a targeted outreach for women that likewise makes resources available to deal with issues surrounding abortion could be a most helpful Christian service to provide. Churches, associations or organizations wishing to sponsor a showing of Bella in their area can get the details at HelpBella.com … at $3,000 minimum it’s a stretch, but not impossible for a number of small churches to gather the people required. For larger churches, this amount is very manageable. Opportunities like this show the need for local congregations to on the lookout for opportunities to reach outside themselves and the need to be networked in advance for mission with other congregations in order to make significant things happen on short notice.

Of course, we need to be on the lookout for things that let us start talking about what matters most in the world, so just ordinary conversations prompted by Bella but which lead to discussing our precious Lord Jesus Christ will probably be even better!

It’s also a great way to open up lines of communication with your neighbors in the Latino community. While the general Anglo populace may not have heard about the movie, the Latino community is in many instances already abuzz with discussions about the movie and will readily enter into a friendly conversation about the movie. The star after all – is legendary in Mexico and Latin America.