The Very Good Gospel: How Everything Wrong Can Be Made Right [Paperback]

“On these pages, the Garden of Eden meets the world we live in.”
– Shane Claiborne, activist and author
 
God once declared everything in the world “very good.”
Can you imagine it?

Through careful exploration of the biblical text, particularly the first three chapters of Genesis, Lisa Sharon Harper shows us what “very good” can look like today—in real time.
Shalom is what God declared. Shalom is what the Kingdom of God looks like. Shalom is when all people are treated equitably and have enough. It’s when families are healed. It’s when churches, schools, and public policies protect human dignity.
Shalomis when the image of God is recognized, protected, and cultivated in every single human. It is the vision God set forth in the Garden and the restoration God desires for every broken relationship.Shalomis the “very good” in the gospel.
Because despite our anxious minds, despite divisions, and despite threats of violence, God’s vision remains: wholeness for a fragmented world. Peace for a hurting soul.Shalom.Praise for The Very Good Gospel

“Lisa Sharon Harper is so smart and interesting—she’s a wonderful leader. I respect her immensely and am passionate about the message of this book.”
-Jen Hatmaker, speaker and best-selling author ofFor the Love

“For anyone who has ever wondered if we were meant for more, Lisa Sharon Harper’sThe Very Good Gospelprovides a resounding ‘yes’ revealing God’s eternal vision ofshalomfor all creation—people, families, genders, races, and the nations. Our gospel has long been presented in a shallow way—and unattractive in its narrowness.The Very Good Gospeldeclares the breadth of God’s Word, reconciling social justice and personal lÓà