The Micah Mandate: What Does the Lord Require of You? to ACT Justly and to Love Mercy and to Walk Humbly with Your God.

Dr. Grant's 'Micah Mandate' is surely a must read for all Christians seeking spiritual balance. For me, this book falls into the category of purpose dirven life and other popular books. This may not have the popularity, but the read is a good one. I have given this book out to dozens of friends who have benefitted in the way of lasting change. It is delightfully written. It is scholastic, yet entertaining.

I'm not sure what genre to put this book into. I come to it as part of a directed study on the issue of "mercy ministries in the Christian Church", as such it is an important book, worthwhile to read and think about. But that doesn't answer the question of what kind of book is it? It bears lots of the marks i associate with devotional literature: short vignettes of holy people, aimed at the encouragement of right feelings, motivational, short chapters, easy general reader aimed. It's aimed at understanding a single verse in Micah "He has shown you, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you: to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God". 6:8 Parts of it look like either sermons or verbal presentations, it is personal, the author talks of his first meeting with F. Schaeffer, fondly and with humor. But it is not simply devotional literature accessible to those who already believe as the author does. It isn't difficult theology but it hints at the difficulty that lies underneath much of the analysis. It is a call to repentance and a new better obedience on the reader's part, based on a deeper and better understanding of the issues. So i'm going to call it layman's theology of current issues with a devotional edge or slant. The author is conservative, not just theologically but political as well, chapter 10 "where the action is", is perhaps the most political of the book. Where he asks the question: "what is the greatest threat to American culture?" and poses the potential answers of: ACLU, Planned Parenthood, NEA, ACT UP, GreenPeace, Tikkun, in that order. To his credit he answers "none of the above" and goes on to explain that the problem is the Church and it's failure to be salt and change the world via a committment to the Micah Mandate, but the seeds of rightwing Evangelical conservativism are apparent. But it isn't too strong to read on through it. The structure of the book is not clear, it is not systematic in the sense of strong linear progression, but rather is the gentle explain, prod, push, inspire, offer outlet that forms the heart of good motivational literature. Explain the problem, involve the audience to motivate concern and change, propose a solution. The problem is the stark division of piety and activism in the modern American Christian Church, pg xiii. The hook is that history and the Bible require justice, mercy and walking with God, the solution is balance based on this Micah mandate. The first chapter is a short historical look at balance, chapter two is a proposal of both/and solution, the balanced worldview. Chapter 3 is the word justice, an analysis based on the distinction between the poles of legalism and lawlessness. Chapter 4 is anti-pluralism based on the existence of hell. These chapters end the discussion of justice in the Micah Mandate, part 3, chapters 5 and 6 are on mercy, part 4 is on walking with God which he calls Humility: To Do Well, chapters 7 and 8, with the prescription of bal

I was blessed to receive a signed copy of this book as an ordination gift from one of our elders. It has been quite a treat to read.In this popular work, Grant's purpose is for the Christian community to import true, Biblical balance into the life of the church. Some Christians are most concerned with social issues; others are most concerned with spiritual issues. Grant's thesis is that both of these positions are unbiblical because they lack the balance of the Micah mandate. The true Christian will seek to "do justice [and] love mercy [and] walk humbly with your God." Grant develops each part of the Micah mandate (justice, mercy, and humility before God), imparting his vision for how the church might usher in the next reformation. Along the way, he provides wonderful, short biographies of "heroes of the city of God" who display the vaunted characteristics. P.s. - if you enjoy reading George Grant, I also recommend his website: www.kingsmeadow.com.

George Grant is one of the smartest guys on earth, and this writing is dead-on. If only there were more like him...This book offers an excellent analysis of the balance between faith and good works. It's well-written, very in-depth, and I HIGHLY recommend it!

This book is well written, though it is a cheallenge to read. It is written above the average persons head at times. But keep working at it, it will help you understand where we, as Christians, have failed to follow God's direction and left His path.