The Steward: A Biblical Symbol Come of Age

The biblical image of the steward is highly provocative and even revolutionary. In recent years environmentalists and peace marchers have been discovering the radical potential of the stewardship motif while the church sadly has muffled this symbols power in ecclesiastical wrappings. So writes Douglas John Hall in the first edition of The Steward (1982). This provocative book has been so much in demand all over the world that Hall has completely rewritten revised and expanded his work adding new material and deleting dated references. Yet Hall has kept his original books basic format the same in this new and improved edition. In short Hall aims to recapture the most basic meaning of the biblical metaphor of the steward and to apply that meaning to our social context one in which human beings are confused and ambivalent about their place and vocation in a threatened world. Working from numerous angles - biblical historical sociological theological and ecclesiastical - Hall explores the rich meaning and implications of stewardship. Scripture portrays the steward as a caretaker and servant. Hall compares scriptural teaching on stewardship - concentrated in Jesus parables - with the role of stewardship in the churchs history maintaining that ever since the fourth century the churchs understanding and practice of stewardship have been distorted by its alliance with institutional power. Hall also puts forth apocalyptic warnings about the fate of the earth unless we heed the call to be stewards of the creation work for world peace and justice and nurture life in its many forms. The church around the world says Hall urgently needs to live as steward - it is a matter of death and life.