Refreshing yet practical, Jim Wallis's timely book Rediscovering Values: On Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street provides a strong argument and solution for the current state of nation. Both readable and challenging to the reader's inner psyche, Wallis eliminates all the extra jargon and maintains a blunt voice throughout the book. As a courageous spokesperson for liberal Christians who blend faith with public and political life, Wallis has inspired many spiritually minded people to break free from the dichotomy between religion and state. Wallis explores the connection between the teachings of Jesus and a balanced but holistic approach to money, morality, and happiness, while exposing the ritual of consumption and the idol we have made of the market. His thesis is that we must exchange such lifestyles for the practice of conscious citizenship. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay At first, the economic crisis of 2008-2009 seemed to be a devastating turning point for most Americans. Yet Wallis reveals the hidden gift in the problem: the opportunity to reclaim our values, as individuals, as families and as a society. Perhaps even more important than economic restoration is our moral restoration. Wallis provides a metaphor about the current state of our nation in the form of a three-legged stool. The three components consist of the market sector such as Wall Street, the public sector such as the government, and the civil sector such as churches. Wallis points out that America – like much of the globe – has allowed the market sector to wield too much power and influence. As a result, that particular leg of the stool has become excessively long, resulting in an unbalanced system that will soon collapse. Rather than simply presenting an ethical and confident diatribe against the ruthless narcissism of Wall Street, Wallis instead focuses much of his energy on pointing out the unwise choices made by ordinary citizens, particularly in how they view and manage their money. Furthermore, it highlights the Church's embarrassing and shameful display of perhaps the most obvious vice of American greed, as well as the billion-dollar annual income of Wal-Mart's CEO. Wallis more than adequately portrays the lack of morals and values ​​on the part of the heads of countless businesses, as well as the dilemma of lost wages and income inequality. He examines the corrupt method of redistribution practiced among the rich even as unemployment and wage loss continue to increase: “Yet today, if anyone questions whether these bonuses are actually deserved and whether we, as the taxpayers who financed all of this, should be able to share in any profit they are accused of being socialists, communists or worse” (Wallis 222). Expresses a strong belief against the dishonest methods of the rich and the manipulation of public perception. Wallis also explores what he calls "the Big Lie," which is a widespread cultural belief that many citizens adhere to without even realizing it. It is the belief that states that “those who are rich are rich because they are responsible and just, and those who are poor must be irresponsible or even immoral […] It is the belief that great physical riches indicate that God must be pleased with your actions and that poverty suggests God's disfavor and even punishment” (Wallis 90). This is where morality becomes frighteningly distorted and those who are most in need of love, mercy and attention are discarded as people who have fallen out of favor withGod because of unpleasant actions. Here he continues to shed light on aspects of reality that often go unnoticed. Wallis proposes a more generous view, which considers every citizen important and deserving of dignity. Yet readers on the right, while agreeing that perhaps generosity should be exercised more regularly, can also argue that this should not be forced or required. Although conservatives and right-wing individuals may have difficulty adjusting to Wallis' overtly left-wing views, Wallis also offers understanding and direction to the group of liberal Christians seeking to intersect their spiritual faith with their political beliefs and concerns. Gay rights, environmental awareness and benevolence towards the poor are all components of the left-wing mentality, often derided by the rigid right. While indeed extremely liberal in his political belief, any individual with an open mind can appreciate the intent of this devout Christian and leader of a spiritual movement. For some, the simplistic and often repetitive nature of the book may be a source of dissatisfaction. Wallis's arguments about the error and the cause of the recession are not revolutionary and are found in the writings of many other authors. The book's conclusion may also have suffered from a lack of effectiveness due to the accumulation of previous chapters. Yet its apparent simplicity may actually be its greatest asset. No reader can abandon the book, claiming that it is inaccessible. Furthermore, while it might be easy to ignore the common sense nature of the book, this also supports Wallis' thesis, as it highlights the dire state of our nation and its deluded pursuit of external happiness. He reminds us that “simplification is not a commitment to the most abject poverty, but a choice to live more fully” (Wallis 115). It opens the reader's eyes to aspects of his or her modern existence that may have been ignored or gone unnoticed. The institutionalized greed, unchecked narcissism, and flagrant consumerism that appear to be invisible pillars in America's pursuit of happiness are fully exposed in this book. This feature alone makes the book necessary to read if one wants to bring to light the reasons for their spiritual discomfort and dissatisfaction despite the abundance of material objects and worldly achievements. The reverend alludes to countless biblical messages and stories in his argument for the moral restoration of the nation. The miracle in which Jesus fed a multitude of five thousand people with “seven loaves and a few small fish” reminded me on a deep spiritual level of the lasting power of a generous and trusting heart (Matthew 15:34, NLT). Wallis explains how an individual had to give up his meager food supply so that Jesus could do his work. This gently invites the reader to examine their own relationship with possessions, and even necessities like food, and the hoarding nature with which we selfishly hold on to ours. In many cases, especially if we only have enough for ourselves, we will keep portions feeling like we are better serving ourselves in the process. What Wallis is alluding to here without even saying it, is that fulfillment, both physical and spiritual, comes to us when we are able to let go of what we think we need. This requires faith and belief in something much bigger than ourselves. Even the most cursory reading of this story can remind us all that this is an area we need to work on. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Customize essayIn his persuasive discussion of size..