Soong-Chan Rah’s work “Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times” is a work that is steeped in biblical insight and depth, as well as cultural and societal understanding. In the midst of a harsh reality, Rah points to the oft-forgotten or overlooked book of Lamentations. In its 5 chapters, the ancient book of Lamentations offers a lament in the midst of great suffering. Rah views the theology of suffering and lament in Lamentations as being relevant and needed today, as America grapples with many injustices and sufferings of its own.

To put it simply, Rah seeks to correct the American triumphalism that he sees in many evangelical churches around the country, by offering in tandem with a theology of celebration, one of suffering and lament. As he writes in his Conclusion, “To counter these trends [of triumphalism and exceptionalism], the practice of lament must be purposely reintroduced to the church” (p. 198). It is because of an overemphasis on celebration and triumphant narratives—predominantly espoused by those in power in America—that many problems of injustice still remain, some which as strong as ever before.

Rah views lament as a way of adequately responding to suffering; rather than viewing it simply as a speed bump on the way to victory, he offers that lament be allowed to run its due course, and that it would actually allow us to view injustice and the “other” differently. As someone who has firsthand experience in urban ministry and urban church planting, Rah has seen many good efforts fail, and even end in more harm than good, because of a mindset of triumphalism in those planting churches in urban centers. Rather than seeing individuals in urban areas as a co-laborers for the kingdom of God or as brothers and sisters in Christ, it is very easy for us to slip into a mindset of coming in as the heroes and saviors of these people. Rah even speaks bluntly as a man of color himself when he says, “Just reach a hand across. Let’s be equals and partners. I don’t need you to rescue me.... My rescuer is a Jewish carpenter. I want to be a colaborer in Christ with you, not your reclamation project” (p. 196).

Amid many other helpful and impactful points that Rah makes, he adequately shows the importance of lament in our worship, our ecclesiology, and in our incarnational living with others. At this stage in history, the church in America has done a poor job at lamenting, primarily because suffering for many of us has been pushed to the margins; let us actively bring lament back into our churches, in an attempt to join with those who are suffering, and to help us out of our sin and and our shortcomings.