How would Jesus address critical issues of today?

I am reading Brian McLaren's new book Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crisis, and a Revolution of Hope. In it he invites us to journey with him as he imagines what would happen:

• if people of faith moved beyond political polarization and a few hot-button issues to the deeper questions nobody is asking.
• if the world's leading nations spent less on weapons and more on peace-making, poverty-alleviation, and creation-care.
• if a renewed understanding of Jesus and his message sparked a profound spiritual awakening in a global movement of faith, hope, and love.
• if we believed that God's will really could be done on earth and not just in heaven.

McLaren sets forth a new agenda for being a person of faith. One is left to wonder if the vision that he believes Jesus is directing us to engage in the issues really possible? Are we ready to move past old disagreements theologically or politically and look at deeper, more difficult questions? How can we move toward peace and engagement in tough social issues facing us? What will be the catalyst toward the spiritual awakening he writes about? What do you think about all this? Are books like this necessary? More about this book to come in future posts.