Comments on: Barbarians

By: Barbarians… « Life in the Vine

Barbarians… « Life in the Vine — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 19:48:46 +0000

[...] blog, you may recognize the title.Â I’ll actually refer you to the post he wrote here.Â When there are guys like Mike around, little squirts like me don’t really have a chance in [...]

By: Royce Ogle

Royce Ogle — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 23:15:19 +0000

Ah, those committies!

The beloved N.C. Baptist evangelist, the late Vance Havner once said,

“A committie is the unfit, appointed by the unwilling, to do the unecessary”

Grace to you,
Royce Ogle

By: Tina

Tina — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 01:44:00 +0000

AARGH!!! While I mostly enjoy deep discussion . . . and I understand that there are things in Scripture that are difficult to understand (Peter said so himself in either I or II Peter) . . . and I know it is good to exercise our brains . . .

DOES CHRISTIANITY HAVE TO BE SO BLOODY COMPLICATED???

I honestly don’t think so. I don’t think Jesus meant for us to be sitting around trying to memorize Greek grammar and parse sentences. Doesn’t he want us to be doing something about what He’s said?

Sorry for my rantings; I’m just a totally confused Christian at heart!

By: Deb

Deb — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 07:38:54 +0000

Fiddlesticks!

Does this mean no more Bundt cakes or casseroles? No more church potlucks?!? More dribbling over the drumsticks! So, who needs deodorant? And NO MORE LEG SHAVING! One less role for women in the churchâ€¦

OOPS, Iâ€™m running behind â€¦ itâ€™s time to go burn a village for Jesusâ€¦Honey,will you grab that torch?

By: Joe James

Joe James — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 16:47:15 +0000

Sadly, this fire-insurance theology that McManus is combating has some churches (and some entire denominations) by the throat. The call to discipleship is seemingly non-existant in some places. To me, that’s why Lee Camp’s work, Dallas Willard’s work, and Brennan Mannings work are so timely and all important right now!

We need more prophetic voices calling us back to the “calling” — more prophets calling on us to stop using Jesus to “pay our sin bills” and start walking with Him – allowing him to change us inside out – radically transforming us in every way. Lord, send more of these!

By: Adam G.

Adam G. — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 16:15:35 +0000

It strikes me as very odd to label this “barbaric,” but the points you shared are excellent. It is SO HARD to have a congregation that doesn’t fall into the “come and listen” mindset. This is further complicated by the fact that no one seems to agree on exactly what a “go and tell” church would look like in practical terms.

By: Beverly

Beverly — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 14:14:51 +0000

Let’s hear it for the deviants!

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:35:32 +0000

This sounds like a fascinating and timely book. American Christians, now more than ever, need to be reminded that Jesus never promised a life of comfort or safety. Thanks for giving me something to add to my reading list.

By: Troy

Troy — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 23:27:07 +0000

Mike- Now you’re talking! I mean reading. Oh, whatever.

I love the line, “we need to raise them (children) in such a way that they understand that to walk away from Jesus is to walk away from a life of faith, risk, and adventure, and to choose a life that is boring, mundane, and ordinary. We all need to keep this thought in the forefront of our minds.

Keep bringing the good stuff!

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:05:51 +0000

Thanks, Craig. I wanted to put the whole story, but it was too long. He still likes to undermine the cliche because of what it implies in popular Christian culture. But he knows there is an eschatological sense in which it is true. Wish that’s what people usually meant!

By: Alan

Alan — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:05:33 +0000

I’ve been trying to read Uprising by McManus for more than a month. His writing is dfficult for me. (Not difficult like The Illiad) Kinda meaty. I have to read a chapter and then chew for a few days. Is that weird?

By: Craig Copeland

Craig Copeland — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:02:29 +0000

“For years I have made it my mission to destroy the influence of the Christian cliche â€˜The safest place to be is in the center of the will of God.â€™”

He follows this up with his wife cluing him into the fact that it was Corrie ten Boom who coined this phrase while in the most insecure place possible. In fact, it was this very commitment to Christ that sustained Corrie and her sister Betsie, and ultimately lead to Betsie’s death at the hand of their tormentors.

Safe in the “ultimate” sense. Context, context, context. Let’s not lose it again.

By: annie

annie — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 15:58:33 +0000

Wish I could read as fast as you guys do! I’m way behind, but this sounds like another one to add to my stack by the bed.

By: Matthew Morine

Matthew Morine — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 14:23:50 +0000

Saw the book recently at the Book Store, and thought about buying it, now with the quotes I am motived to purchase a copy. Thanks.

http://www.matthewsblog.waynesborochurchofchrist.org

By: Keith

Keith — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 14:07:16 +0000

I’m about a third of the way through the book presently. Very challenging read. We need more present day John the Baptists blazing trails and making inroads for the Good News to be shared; starting with me I suppose.