Clarence Jordan's work showcases his unique blend of wit, deep spiritual insight, and a passionate commitment to authentic faith. The book explores key themes such as Incarnational Evangelism and the God Movement, while also addressing the challenges posed by materialism. Compiled by Dallas Lee, this collection captures Jordan's powerful messages delivered throughout his career in various settings, revealing his ability to engage listeners with profound truths and a call to genuine belief.
On 440 depleted acres in Sumter County, Georgia, a young Baptist preacher and farmer named Clarence Jordan gathered a few families and set out to show that Jesus intended more than spiritual fellowship. Like the first Christians, they would share their land, money, and possessions. Working together to rejuvenate the soil and the local economy, they would demonstrate racial and social justice with their lives. Black and white community members eating together at the same table scandalized local Christians, drew the ire of the KKK, and led to drive-by shootings, a firebombing, and an economic boycott. This bold experiment in nonviolence, economic justice, and sustainable agriculture was deeply rooted in Clarence Jordan's understanding of the person and teachings of Jesus, which stood in stark contrast to the hypocrisy of churches that blessed wars, justified wealth disparity, and enforced racial segregation. This selection from his talks and writings introduces Clarence Jordan's radically biblical vision to a new generation of peacemakers, community builders, social justice warriors, and antiracist activists.
Clarence Jordan reinterprets Jesus' parables through the lens of Southern culture, aiming to immerse modern readers in the first-century context. By using relatable narratives, he reveals the transformative power of these stories, encouraging liberation from societal constraints such as religion, wealth, and prejudice. The Cotton Patch stories serve as a dynamic retelling that challenges contemporary beliefs and invites readers to explore the essence of the kingdom of God.
Anxiety, insecurity, military power, racial prejudice, and heavy taxes—all these problems of contemporary life were also faced by those who first heard the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Author Clarence Jordan points out that this sermon presents many of the major features of the kingdom of God on earth that Jesus was proposing. Not only has the author done a masterful job of interpreting Jesus’ words; he has also demonstrated their meaning through his work at Koinonia Farm in Americus, Georgia.
