God Work
You’re going to want to get your hands on a copy of Randy Harris’s new book, “GOD WORK: Confessions of a Standup Theologian.” It’s a collection of some of the material Randy has presented all across the country. One of the delights of reading it is that you feel like you’re listening to Randy. You’ll smile as you read it, hearing his voice:
“My friend Augustine died in 430 (most of my friends have been dead for several hundred years; I’ve found that makes the friendship much easier).”
“Here’s the theme of the book of Revelation: God’s team wins. Pick a team. Don’t be stupid.”
“My friends refer to me as the Dead Sea of e-mail. I receive and I receive but I do not give.”
It’s worth the price of the book for the chapter called “The Card Game of Life,” which is an insightful look at the question, How is God working in the world? In a later chapter he writes:
“I’m not a Calvinist. I do not think that everything happens in the world directly because God has caused it or desired it. I’m tempted to suggest that that makes God a monster. Nor am I a deist. I’m not one of those who think God wound up the world and hasn’t done much of anything since the closing of the last book of the Bible. What I am instead is a panentheist, which is one who believes that in all things God is working — in death as well as life, in sickness as well as health, in disaster as well as rescue.”
It’s also worth the price just for his prophetic words in the final chapter, “America or Christianity?”
“Loyalty to country, loyalty to family, loyalty to friends — all of those strike me as commendable things. The problem is when patriotism becomes nationalism. Now this is a different matter. Nationalism is always evil because it is idolatry. It is the point where we confuse the nation with God, where our primary loyalties become aimed at the nation instead of God. This is always bad news. And nationalism is often lurking just under the surface of much of what we do.”
He follows with a seven-question “test” to see whether one is following the values of the kingdom of the values of America. I can’t say I passed with flying colors, unfortunately.
I was asked to write something for the back cover. I’m putting it here as a tribute to my friend:
I first heard Randy Harris speak in 1982 when we were graduate students in Memphis. I’d known him for five years (in both undergraduate and graduate schools), and, frankly, I was surprised he was speaking in chapel. He was the library guy — likely the brightest guy around — but not someone you expected to get in front of an audience to speak.
Ha! I still remember today just what he said that day. His words were humorous, relevant, gospel-formed.
Now for many years our lives have been intertwined — teaching Bible together at Abilene Christian University, speaking together at conferences, attending both the same church and the same small covenant group, and eating our weight in Mexican food over lunch. He’s part of our family.
I’ve seen him in front of thousands. No one is better: no one articulates deep, rich, Christ-centered words any better. But I’ve also witnessed him with one or two students: laughing, praying, encouraging, challenging, befriending.
Randy is one of the few people about whom I can say, paraphrasing Paul, “Follow his example, as he follows the example of Christ.”
Where can Randy’s book be found? Thanks.
God Work is available now at http://www.leafwoodpublishers.com
Wonderful!
I know people who read books, but after College I have not read any books save Henri Nouwen. I have now just ordered my first book (other than how to books) on line. Leave it to the Man in Black to peak my interest. We will see if he can keep it.
I’m assuming they have this at the Campus Store? I’m going to have to pick one up next weekened when I’m there for graduation. I’m particularly interested in the “America or Christianity” section with everything that’s going on right now in American politics.
Jennifer, your assumption is correct. We were in there Friday and there was a stack of them on a table toward the back of the store, where they have many of the ACU press books. The new one-volume commentary was there also. It will double as a free weight for your exercise program–a lot of paper (& thought) in that book!
Looks like a good read! Am sorry I am not in the generation of students at ACU to have had Randy (or you, Mike!) as a teacher. However, I was there when Richard Hughes was teaching.
The subject of Kingdom values VS values in America has been a compelling theme for quite some time, but seems to be quite the trend in the US lately as the spiritual landscape in America is experiencing upheaval. Expats who live overseas will be familiar with this as it is a frequent topic of discussion by those in our midst confused over the decades by what America says and what America does.
Richard Hughes also has a new book coming out, Christian America and the Kingdom of God (not yet released):
http://www.amazon.com/Christian-America-Kingdom-Richard-Hughes/dp/0252032853
Another of his earlier books is worth a good look as well: Myths America Lives By
http://www.amazon.com/Myths-America-Lives-Richard-Hughes/dp/0252072200/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241027581&sr=1-4
For another view on this subject from the perspective of an outsider, read Michele Goldberg’s Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism
http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?isbn=9780393060942&atch=h&ymal=pp
Now, if Amazon.com would just deliver to my country, perhaps I can add Randy’s jump in the water on this subject before another year goes by. (It won’t be on offer here.)
Mike:
One of the joys of my academic life and Christian walk was teaching BIBM 696, “Integration of Psychology and Theology,” with Randy every summer. I will miss his intentional way of engaging MFT students in the text, ideas about the Biblical text, and principles to live by, even in the therapy room. My head and heart are full of the richness that he brought year after year to that class.
He was and is an amazing student of the Holy One of Israel, and a gifted student of human nature and relationships.
One of the most interesting experiences was toward the end of the class when a brave student would volunteer to serve as the “client,” and I’d do the therapy thing and Randy would follow that up with the spiritual direction thing. It was always rich and always interesting. Those things I’ll miss about this amazing man.
“I’m not a Calvinist. I do not think that everything happens in the world directly because God has caused it or desired it. I’m tempted to suggest that that makes God a monster.”
So….I guess the writer would consider the God of the Old Testament to be a monster, what with Noah’s Ark, Sodom and Gomorah, etc., since God directly caused those things to happen.
So, Clint, I’ll be watching for a book report. Maybe I’ll get a copy too and we can talk books next time we see each other. (Or should I say “book”?)
reJoyce, that would be fun; I could go to your blog and know what you were talking about, possibly. Maybe happy could get the book too, nah he is to busy with his bride to be.
I’m so buying this book! Love Randy – he has the rare gift of making a very serious point all the while his audience is doubled over with laughter. He has many rare gifts, come to think of it…
I don’t know if there’s a preacher/teacher in the Churches of Christ who’s had more impact on college students and young ministers than Randy Harris. As great as he is in front of the masses, he works hard to minister behind the scenes with the same kind of passions.
For those who’ve read Tony Hendra’s “Father Joe” . . . Randy is serving as a “Father Joe” to many of us young preachers who are in the process of finding our voice in preaching, writing, and serving.
I can’t wait to read this.
Hi Mike! I bought the book already and can’t wait to read it! Looks really good. I love listening to Randy preach! So engaging and thought provoking! Love it!
Good luck and God bless you as you preach and teach at the Pepperdine lectures next week! I know you’ll do great! I’ve personally heard you speak one or twice and read a book or two that you wrote. I’ve learned a lot from you. Keep up the good work your doing Mike! God bless. Grace and Peace.
I first went to Amazon.com and searched for Randy Harris, and found the following……”Nonclassical Physics: Beyond Newton’s View” by Randy Harris. Randy is nonclassical, but somehow I am thinking this is a different professor. I will try at the publisher’s website.
Because of the CD’s I want to buy of each key-note and each class….and the many wonderful books that are available, my credit card balance always SOARS from having been at Pepperdine. This year I know what the FIRST book I purchase is going to be!
Randy has blessed my life in SO many ways, more than I’m sure he is even aware of. I count it a blessing to call him a friend and brother!
DU
P.S. And I look forward to hearing you BOTH next week!
My copy arrived via UPS yesterday!
Reading it is just like sitting in a class/lecture listening to Randy. I fully expected to look up from the book and see him in the room – ha! I know I will read and reread portions of this book for a long time to come.
Gotta love Randy. Does he pull out his really dark suit for funerals?
Cannot wait to read this book. Jimmy told me just now he ordered it. Yea!!
reJoyce/ Clint -may I invite myself to a readers/talkers trio?
What a treasure that would be for me!! 
Kathy, I don’t think we could stop you, nor would we want to.
Cannot wait to get this book – I fell in love with Randy at the Tulsa Workshop years ago, and really, really wish he’d do a blog!!
Now Clint, ‘splain yourself there, guy! Are you referring to talk, read, interject myself or all three?
Miss you, dear friend, and that sweet wife of yours too! Time you ‘interjected’ yourselves into Abilene for a visit, like NOW!!!
I have heard Randy speak a number of times and I have always been very favorably impressed. He is one of my favorite CofC speakers. But what is it with the CofC that is apparently determined to misrepresent Calvinism? I’m certain there are some that really do understand the concept that God is sovereign over everything that is w/o being directly responsible for it. The following quote is from above:
“I’m not a Calvinist. I do not think that everything happens in the world directly because God has caused it or desired it. I’m tempted to suggest that that makes God a monster.
It is my understanding that Calvinists believe God has decreed all things; and that includes the fall of both Satan and Adam, but he is NOT the direct cause of their fall. He has apparently decreed that evil would exist but he is NOT the direct cause of evil. I do not understand why intelligent, well educated, Godly men misrepresent the views of others. It saddens me, and especially so when it is attributed to one of my heroes.
Kathy,
The more the merrier, I say. Who would have ever thought there’d be a book club type meeting that Clint would be interested in?
Geezer: Most in the CofC don’t have a clue what Calvinism is. Randy can say it and the masses will follow without doing a lick of research. To deny God’s role in all things is denying Scripture that tells us there isn’t a sparrow that falls to the ground beyond the will of the Father. (Matthew 10:29)
To say God is a monster if we believe in the Scriptures like Calvin did (and like Jesus taught) is simply self righteousness. Anything beyond our control; anything we don’t understand; must be wrong. Our need to know and be in control seems to trump the Glory and Sovereignty of God. This is an obvious foundation which brings us the teachings that you can lose your salvation then get it back again and the incomprehensible interpretations of predestination that is most often taught (oh the scriptural gymnastics these teachers do with Ephesians 1). Man is in control – God is but a reactionary tool to our decisions.
The CofC has very little in the concept of the Sovereignty of God. Change is coming, however. There are more and more young folks falling in love with the God of the Bible and the teachings of Jesus and thus adopting Reformed theology.
Harris does not believe that the church is God’s kingdom on earth. “We say that (the church) is not the kingdom of God” (p. 144). Strangely, Jesus spoke of the church as his kingdom (Matt. 16:18).
“I am a postmodern, mystic, panentheist.” (p. 95). Panentheism is “the enlightened mystic theology of transcendence and immanence, beyond theism.” Panentheists believe that “Everything is pervaded by divinity.” This includes trees, rocks, rivers, animal, human, and insect life. “In panentheism, God is not necessarily viewed as the creator or demiurge, but the eternal animating force behind the universe.” They like to say, “The whole is God.” Panentheism is common in Hinduism, Baha’i, in many North American tribal religions, and in the Unitarian-Universalist church. Panentheism is a pagan belief about God and cosmos. So this is found in scripture…..where?
“I am learning to make peace with a loss of certainty.” (p. 73) In contrast, Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth” (John 8:32).
Troubling to say the least.