Readers won't find a particular theology here, because Blumhardt is a prophet who talks less about God and more speaking on behalf of the God we know in Jesus Christ. And his message is this: The Risen Christ draws all of humanity to himself. Regardless of the distinctives we use to distinguish ourselves over-against others, Jesus breaks down those walls. To confess the Risen Christ, Blumhardt insists, is to proclaim the good news to all the world. Distinctions are obliterated. That's why the book begins with a quote on the flyleaf from Paul: "Here, there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and in all" (Colossians 3.11).
Make no doubt about it, Everyone Belongs to God is a prophetic book. Though the text of the book is a collection of essays and sermons from over a century ago, this book's message is as new as today's newspaper. In a world where we Christians attempt to separate ourselves in Christian enclaves, Blumhardt insists that God is at work in Jesus Christ in and through the Church, but even sometimes beyond it. Blumhardt challenges us -- as good prophets challenge God's people -- to see the world as God sees the world. Friendship and forgiveness name that process of seeing -- even when such friendship and forgiveness is with our enemies. That's because the Risen Christ is already at work in the world -- to those who have those eyes to see.
The Church's work isn't simply caring or evangelism. The Church's work is the continued work of Jesus Christ in the world, by incarnating the Risen One in love. And trusting that the Risen One will accomplish far more for the world than we might, in our own puny visions, dare to dream of imagine.
So ultimately, Everyone Belongs to God is a challenge to read. Because in the reading of it, the scales fell from my own eyes, in order to see the world as God in Jesus Christ sees the world.
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I received a free copy of this book from Plough Publishing in exchange for my honest review here.