I can not get this book out of my head and it’s a good thing. It’s difficult to describe what it’s about. But I would say it is a theology book that begins at Creation, describes the Jewish history through Christ. He talks a lot about Egypt and Solomon and America. He talks a lot about the poor, the needy, widows and children. He hits at the core of what has always been close to my heart…we need to be Jesus to people. Christianity isn’t about pushing religion down people’s throat. It isn’t about making sure you’re right. It’s not about committees and classes and agendas. It’s about doing good (I wrote a post about this and I can NOT find it). Helping, giving.
There are a few quotes that I’m not sure will transfer out of context but they help me remember.
A priest shows you what his or her god is like.
The answer leads us to a universal truth: God needs a body.
Exile is when you fail to convert your blessings into blessings for others.
When the goal of a church is to get people into church services and then teach them how to invite people to come to church services, so that they in turn will bring others to more church services – that’s attendance at church services….Church is people. People who live in a certain way in the world. People who have authority in the world, but authority that comes from breaking themselves open and pouring themselves out so that the world will be healed.
A church is an organization that exists for the benefit of nonmembers. If our church was taken away – from our city, our neighborhood, our region – who would protest?
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a dozen times, God has blessed me and my family. Right now I’m trying to figure out how to convert it into blessings for others. And yes, Scott and I give a lot…time and money. But somewhere deep down I’ve done it because I want to but also because somewhere down there I KNOW that exile will happen if I don’t. God doesn’t bless for you to hoard. I’m so scared of wandering in the desert. Of Babylon. Of America. Of me.
And I’m scared for so many churches out there who would be missed by no one but their members. We’re not doing church right. Most of us aren’t doing Christianity right.
And just as I’m writing this, this song came on iTunes and it seems like a good way to close this one.
‘Cause we are not okay, we’re not alright, and we need to pray for help
Forgive us for our pride, Oh God, Oh God, please save us from ourselves
Something’s Got To Change:
AMEN!!
You are absolutely correct.
Something’s got to change… speaking of which, have you heard David Phelps do that song? Awesome.