Balancing Acts

American congregations are more divided than ever over a broad range of theological and social issues ? and this book outlines an innovative way to understand and address these difficult conflicts. Balancing Acts introduces readers to the two major spiritual themes that animate life in America today ? obligation and liberation ? and discusses how most Christians align themselves with one of these attitudes. One group focuses on the obligations of religious life and seeks moral clarity, while the other tends to see religion as a liberation movement and stresses God's love for the oppressed of the earth. The ability to strike a balance between these competing camps is the key to managing tension in the church and in the larger community ? and Balancing Acts not only demonstrates how people of faith can find common ground, but also provides readers with the tools to find and nurture Christian unity in the face of political, cultural, and theological diversity.