In the spirit and style of Paul Tillich,theologian and ethicist James M. ChildsJr. argues that, for Christians, peaceposes particular problems because ofthe permanence of conflict and violenceamid the assurance that God and Christare at work creating peace. Uncertainty,ambiguity, struggle, debate, andtragedy are not avoidable. Christiandiscipleship and peacemaking, Childsargues, are to be lived in and notdespite these realities.

Exploring such topics as the church aspeacemaker and justice as a way oflife, his insightful, accessible, honestscoping of the complex way of peacefor Christians brings a welcome viewof the personal imperative and socialprospects that lie within the grittyredemption wrought by the cross andresurrection.