The Bethlehem Story
Mission and Justice in the Margins of the World
Foreword by Jack Sara
Afterword by David Devenish
Imprint: Resource Publications
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but why Bethlehem? Why should God purpose to become man somewhere so marginal, so insignificant? This book follows the unfolding story of Bethlehem through the Bible, from the death of Rachel to the birth of Jesus, uniquely combining four perspectives: a) the Bible as one developing story, b) the Bible as a Middle Eastern book, c) insights from contemporary Palestinians from Bethlehem, and d) what this means for mission.
Suffering Rachel, refugee Rahab, vulnerable Ruth, overlooked David all have a connection with Bethlehem. If Bethlehem shelters refugees, then so must we. If Bethlehem welcomes strangers, so must we. If Bethlehem weeps at injustice, and takes a stand against empire, so must we. What we see in Bethlehem's story, we apply to our own stories. We enter into Bethlehem's story with as much cultural and geographical colour and flavour as we can muster in order to feel the crises, taste the dust, hear the lambs bleating on the hillside. And there we find the Christ-child, son of David, the Good Shepherd, Lion of Judah, Bread of Life, Lamb of God, fulfilling all the recurring themes, taking his inevitable place as rightful king.
Andy McCullough is teaching pastor at Reading Family Church, UK. He has an MTh in Contextual Theology with Mission and is the author of Global Humility: Attitudes for Mission (2017).
“A thoughtful, provocative, and sometimes beautiful study of Bethlehem in the Scriptures, in which missional, practical, and biblical theology come together in fruitful and often challenging ways.”
—Andrew Wilson, teaching pastor, King’s Church London
“Writing with an insight built on deep knowledge of the Bible and the Middle East, Andy McCullough has shown us a new way of reading the story of salvation. Time and again, God chooses to work in the people of an in-between place, a marginal and hospitable place—a ‘little town,’ rather than the centers of power. Andy reminds us that God undermines the expectations of empire, surprising the world with inclusive and self-giving grace.”
—Sue Barclay, lecturer and tutor, All Nations Christian College, Easneye, UK
“In this well-thought-out book, McCullough takes the role of a pilot and flies us to places that portray the locations, characters, and history in a sensible and originative way. The integration of both historical and biblical facts alongside theology makes it a distinctive and one-of-a-kind book. I highly recommend it!”
—Rajai Samawi, pastor, Upper Nazareth Baptist Church, Israel
“In this excellent book, Andy McCullough shows us that the Bethlehem of the Bible reflects the heart of the kingdom of God—a place in the margins where the stranger is welcomed, shame is removed, injustice is confronted—and God’s redemption plan for mankind is unveiled.”
—Steve Tibbert, senior pastor, King’s Church London
“Andy McCullough’s tour guide for Bethlehem has a time machine. You will visit the Bethlehem of Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, and many surprising others. You will learn God’s preference for Bethlehem over Jerusalem, the ordinary over the impressive. How God uses the marginalised to bring about his purposes. Let this experienced missionary show you how Bethlehem threads through Scripture and has much to teach us today about God’s ways.”
—E. Randolph Richards, provost and professor, Palm Beach Atlantic University
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