This book presents a vision of Christian activism that goes beyond "the old categories of left and right, liberal and conservative." The editor of Sojourners magazine has spearheaded the creation of a new Christian coalition of evangelicals, mainline Protestants, Catholics, and African Americans who want to empower the poor, explore community-based political and economic solutions, and "build bridges between our society's warring factions."

For example, something must be done about corporate welfarism. While poor women and their children are forced to scramble to avoid homelessness, the U.S. government continues to subsidize McDonalds as they advertise Chicken McNuggets in Europe. Something must be done to close the gap between the incredibly rich and the terribly poor. Wallis points out that Michael Jordan has been paid more money in one year by Nike than all the workers in all the factories who make Nike shoes in Indonesia — all of them combined. And as the O.J. Simpson trial and the Million Man March point out, racial polarization in America is worse than ever.

Wallis's call for a spiritual politics based on compassion, community, and civility is worth heeding. Instead of the fear-based politics of the religious right, he calls for a vision of renewal based on the image of God in all citizens. Who Speaks for God? is the most important political book you can read in an election year.