is the author of a couple really good books. i was looking through his book 'searching for god knows what' the other night, and realised lots of things were marked in it. both my own markings and one of a friend who had also read my copy of the book. it's interesting to look back on what i marked and what he marked in my book, since it's been years since i've read it- it's just another way i can tangibly see how much i've changed.
some quotes from the book that i really enjoy today:
"Is Jesus sitting in the lifeboat with us, stroking our backs and telling us we are the ones who are right and one day these other infidels are going to pay, that we are the ones who are going to survive and the others are going to be thrown over because we are Calvinists, Armenians, Baptists, Methodists, Catholics; because we are Republicans, Democrats, conservatives, or liberals; because we attend a big church, a small church, an ethnically diverse church, a house church, or is Jesus acting in our hearts to reach out to the person who isn't like us- the oppressed, the poor, the unchurched- and to humble ourselves, give of our money, build our communities in love, give our time, our creativity, get on our knees before our enemies in humility, treating them as Scripture says, as people who are more important than we are? The latter is the Jesus of Scripture; the former, which is infinitely more popular in evangelical culture, is a myth sharing a genre with unicorns."
"Imagine how much a man's life would be changed if he trusted that he was loved by God?"
"The hijacking of the concept of morality began, of course, when we reduced Scripture to a formula and a love story to theology and finally morality to rules. It is a very different thing to break a rule than it is to cheat on a lover. A person's mind can do all sorts of things his heart would never let him do. If we think of God's grace as a technicality, a theological precept, we can disobey without the slightest feeling of guilt, but if we think of God's grace as a relational invitation, an outreach of love, we are pretty much jerks for belittling the gesture."
some quotes from the book that i really enjoy today:
"Is Jesus sitting in the lifeboat with us, stroking our backs and telling us we are the ones who are right and one day these other infidels are going to pay, that we are the ones who are going to survive and the others are going to be thrown over because we are Calvinists, Armenians, Baptists, Methodists, Catholics; because we are Republicans, Democrats, conservatives, or liberals; because we attend a big church, a small church, an ethnically diverse church, a house church, or is Jesus acting in our hearts to reach out to the person who isn't like us- the oppressed, the poor, the unchurched- and to humble ourselves, give of our money, build our communities in love, give our time, our creativity, get on our knees before our enemies in humility, treating them as Scripture says, as people who are more important than we are? The latter is the Jesus of Scripture; the former, which is infinitely more popular in evangelical culture, is a myth sharing a genre with unicorns."
"Imagine how much a man's life would be changed if he trusted that he was loved by God?"
"The hijacking of the concept of morality began, of course, when we reduced Scripture to a formula and a love story to theology and finally morality to rules. It is a very different thing to break a rule than it is to cheat on a lover. A person's mind can do all sorts of things his heart would never let him do. If we think of God's grace as a technicality, a theological precept, we can disobey without the slightest feeling of guilt, but if we think of God's grace as a relational invitation, an outreach of love, we are pretty much jerks for belittling the gesture."
Comments
I love how your blogging has become such a blessing to me since you began a few years ago. I love how it gives me insight into your heart. Thanks for blessing me!
I LOVE YOU!
Ruthie