Book Review: UH-OH! The Evangelical 'Left-Right' Dilemma by Joe Noland
Book Review: UH-OH! The Evangelical 'Left-Right' Dilemma by Joe Noland
13 December 2022
Commissioner Joe Noland boldly challenges us to be more like Christ than a political leaning in his new book, recounting his own experiences to show his growth and struggles.
Retired Salvation Army officer Commissioner Joe Noland has taken on a monumental task in his latest book – seeking to bridge the divide between the left and right in the Church. And in an age where political allegiance can be as intrinsic to humanity as our spirituality, this is no easy, or tidy, venture.
Retired Commissioners Doris and Joe Noland have been in ministry for more than 60 years. Joe was once the Chief Secretary and Doris the Territorial Secretary for Women’s Organisations of the former Australia Eastern Territory.
Written 20 years ago and completed in the wake of the violence division after the 2020 US presidential election, this book couldn’t be timelier. And while Joe’s point of view may grate more conservative Salvationists, his biblical teaching and ability to connect ‘story’ with the heart of God make this valuable reading for everyone.
Growing up in the liberal areas of California (think a left-leaning, more progressive culture), Joe was raised with a bias to the left. So, when he became a Christian and then a Salvation Army officer, this naturally formed part of his value system. But as he tells us, when he married his wife, a devout, conservative Canadian, they had to learn to blend and do life together. And through his own lived experience, having family members with differing views of homosexuality, he has been forced to assess what following Jesus looks like in word and deed. Is a Christian meant to be politically right? Or is a Christian meant to be politically left?
Rather than pledging allegiance to a party, Joe suggests that Jesus models a lifestyle of “think right, lean left”. That is, holding to the sacred law of God found in the Bible but loving people compassionately, without judgment and with no exclusions. And in moments of doubt, to always choose love and grace. He cites examples of Jesus refusing to throw the first stone at the woman caught in adultery and the Samaritan woman at the well. And after navigating his own homophobia, he suggests that perhaps the Church treats members of the LGBTQ+ community as lepers and that we are meant to encounter people of all backgrounds rather than demonising them.
Through this, Joe shifts our gaze back to the plumb line of Jesus. If we are going to truly follow him, are we willing to lay down our biases, judgements and comfort to truly love others as God intended?
I appreciate Joe’s boldness in writing this book. Holding a middle ground politically in a society where the Church is so divided will never be popular. His intention is to teach, share stories with compassion and encourage growth. There are, however, a few cultural faux pars that society has become aware of in the past decade that need to be addressed in the text. Initially, he suggests that he had to convert from the “left to the right” and calls this conversion therapy. While meaning this in wit, this could be offensive and triggering to trans members of our community. There are also a couple of instances where he discusses the sin of women – not an overarching gender trait, but in specific stories. However, the fact that he doesn’t balance this with stories about sin in men can cultivate a sense that Satan can prey upon women more easily than men.
He also suggests at one point that females are more affected by trauma, which is incorrect. It is important to note that he also views sexuality as binary and marriage as between man and women – points that are non-negotiable for some readers but could be triggering or offensive to members of the Christian LGBTQ+ community who have been oppressed or shamed for their identity.
I address these faux pars and points of view, knowing that Joe has written his book with a great level of sensitivity and that, as a millennial, I may be more aware of how they present in young members of society in 2022. This does not discredit his incredible lived experience or his commitment to loving in truth and deed and is perhaps a picture of how more progressive-leaning Christians (myself included) have learned from younger members of minorities in the last few years.
UH-OH is a challenging and essential book, empowering us to live uncomfortably for the cause of Christ. Never finding our home in a political allegiance or party, but always returning to the feet of Jesus – the God who held truth and compassion in both hands, embodying how we are to do the same.
UH-OH! The Evangelical ‘Left-Right’ Dilemma is available online in paperback and as an ebook on Amazon here.
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