God’s Province: Evangelical Christianity, Political Thought, and Conservatism in Alberta

By Clark Banack

McGill-Queen’s
University Press, 2016. 296 pages. $35

(e-book $17)

DESPITE NUMEROUS studies exploring the “individualistic, populist, and antistatist sentiment” unique to Alberta, most fail to properly acknowledge the part religious convictions played in Alberta’s development, according to Clark Banack, a political science professor at York University.

Drawing extensively from primary sources, interviews with Albertan MPs and MLAs, and interacting with significant studies of this same period, Banack seeks to redress the imbalance. In doing so, he has produced a fascinating look into the political roots of Alberta through the lives of four of its influential leaders – Henry Wise Wood, William “Bible Bill” Aberhart, Ernest and Preston Manning. All four were shaped by evangelical Protestant convictions Banack sees as rooted in the United States.

Wood, an American immigrant and postmillennialist Christian (the belief that following Christ’s teaching would bring God’s Kingdom to earth), influenced Albertans through his leadership in the United Farmers of Alberta (1916–

1931), an organization of voluntary local groups co-operating for the common good.

William Aberhart and Ernest Manning, premillennialist Evangelicals, conducted a gospel radio ministry while leading Alberta from 1935–1968. Believing humanity was created with free will and finding salvation through faith in Christ was paramount, they promoted limited government and a free market economy to allow citizens maximum freedom to pursue that relationship with God.

Preston Manning, Ernest’s son, also an Evangelical, carried the uniquely Albertan populist, limited government and free market message to Ottawa via the Reform Party.

Banack’s treatment is evenhand-ed and convincing. He demonstrates your religious beliefs can clearly influence leadership decisions without necessarily leading to the tired accusation that Christian politicians are bent on foisting their religion on others. It’s a reminder that religious views have a legitimate voice in the public square. –DAVID DANIELS

Seed Falling on Good Soil

By Gordon W. King Cascade Books/ Wipf & Stock, 2016. 198 pages. $25 (e-book $9.99)

MAKING USE of recent work in
sociology, the historical Jesus and
careful gospel study, this book
illuminates both the world of Jesus
and His contemporaries, and our
world, challenging the systems that
reduce so many to peasantry or
virtual slavery.

Author Gordon King writes from his own life experience in mission and development work in the world’s neglected parts that suffer from poverty, malnutrition and exploitation. He shows great empathy for those who have been oppressed.

The book begins by addressing the strangeness of Jesus’ parables as “stories from foreign lands” (ch. 1), followed by “entering the world of the poor” (ch. 2). Then King looks at Luke’s treatment of the sower, seed and soil (ch. 3), the rich man and Lazarus (ch. 4), the great banquet (ch. 5), the man left to die on the Jericho road (ch. 6), stories about slaves (ch. 7), the orders of a king (ch. 8), and the widow who demands justice (ch. 9).

The book closes with a moving appeal to be “good soil” producing “good fruit.” It is a masterpiece of careful exposition, searching analysis of contemporary needs in the Third World, and the relevance of the Bible to address those needs.

King intertwines a fine understanding of the concerns of Jesus and the ancient Roman world with a perceptive analysis of the enslaving conditions so many endure in our own time. In a word, it is a moving testimony to the power of the gospel and a summons to repentance and discipleship. –ALLISON TRI TES

…religious beliefs can clearly influence leadership decisions without leading to the tired accusation that Christian politicians are bent on foisting their religion on others.

BOOKS & CULTURE

REVIEWS

THIS NEW RELEASE by Winnipeg songbird Jaylene Johnson is a beautiful collection of original Christian folk-pop. It consists of

12 personal and reflective songs
written after what she refers to
as a long “desert time” of being
sidelined by a series of personal
losses and tragedies. She was
left asking if God even cared. But
through a series of events and
connections, God led her out of
that desert.
This new recording captures
a spiritual maturity – a humility
and insight that comes only
from experience. Johnson’s
rich, sweet voice carries both
the tender ache of longing and
vulnerability as well as a tone
of pure joy and peace found
in God’s provision. The lyrics
and melodies seem to pour out
from a wounded heart that has
known profound healing.
Supported and encouraged
by her church family and musical
friends, she recorded the project
in Steve Bell’s Signpost studio
under the masterful production
of Murray Pulver. Most of the
songs are carried by a simple
piano or guitar part with just the
right instrumental embellish-
ments and harmonies to create
a rich and warm sonic palette.
It has been on repeat in my
home for the last month. It
might just become your new
favourite too! Available through
JalyleneJohnson.com Parasource.
com, SignpostMusic.com and
iTunes. – ALI MAT THE WS