Mini Darth . . . One.Life
I just finished writing a blurb for Scot McKnight’s newest book, One.Life: Jesus Calls, We Follow
While I would recommend the whole book, I thought the two greatest strengths were its fleshing out the meaning of “kingdom” and its insight into what a parable is.
“Christianity that saves my soul, Christianity that makes my inner filament glow, and Christianity that is personal spirituality is not the full kingdom Jesus announced. Christianity that is only about me and for me and concerns me—and in which I spend my time assessing how I am growing in my personal relationship with God—lacks the central society-focus of Jesus. that form of Christianity is not kingdom.”
About the parables he says (at the end of a brilliant chapter entitled “Imagined.Life”): “The parables of Jesus are his sleight-of-hand trick. You begin thinking about very ordinary things, like fields and farmers and workers and women baking and men picking wheat and wounded people, and suddenly you find yourself transported into a brand new world and a brand new way of thinking. This vision of Jesus will take a conversion of our imagination; or, better yet, the parables convert our imaginations from self-centeredness to love.”
The book is asking a central question: What does it mean to be a Christian? McKnight says that formerly he would answer that critical question by saying, “A Christian is someone who has accepted Jesus, and the Christian life focuses on personal practices of piety.” But now he unequivocally strips the answer down to this: “A Christian is someone who follows Jesus.” In these 14 chapters, he helps us understand just what that implies!
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My favorite commercial in a long time:
Mike – What was the name of McKnight’s book on Bible study that you mentioned one time? I can’t tell by looking at his titles in Amazon.
Here it is: The Blue Parakeet.
I don’t intend to shift the attention from the serious topic in the first portion of your post — but I completely agree about “The Force” commercial — great stuff.
The wonder of childhood — I wish we could all keep that perspective.
David – I also love the playful way the mother and father endorse his Force-filled fantasies. To say nothing of the dog’s longsuffering nature!
Mike,
I read the book and was impressed by it (like his other books). He comes from a church culture very much like ours and he makes very plain that institutional loyalty is not being a Christian. Like you I recomment it very highly.
Blessings,
Van Robarts
I just finished reading that book last week. Not only did I really enjoy it but I think it would make great for a book-club discussion with a small group in one’s church.
Grace and Peace,
Rex
Hey, Mike. Didn’t know where to send you a message here. You may like to add http://www.jimmcguiggan.com to your list of sites on your sidebar
Good stuff
Thanks, Doug. When I was 23 my wife banned me from listening to Jim McGuiggan sermons because I was developing an Irish brogue. I was—and am—a big fan.
Still voting for the Budweiser Western where they sing “Tiny Dancer” !
DU
Jan had me quit listening to your tapes because I started saying “Ma-zoor-a” for Missouri.
Yes, Christianity means following Jesus. Absolutely. But before I knew Jesus I was a lost man. I had not heard the gospel. I hadn’t heard of that blood shed for the salvation of my soul. But by His grace I did. And He saved me. And am so grateful for the cross and the power of the resurrection of Christ in my life.
And no, it’s not all about me. And I realize that we can get so hung up in knowing Christ more that we can become self-centered. I’ve done that too often. Still do at times.
And yet…my experience has been that those I know who have a deep passion for knowing Jesus more invariably have a much bigger impact on others. Like the brother I had lunch with recently who told me, “Jim, I asked the Lord several years ago that whatever He has for me, I want it.” And then he told me how God has answered that prayer.
That may sound like a self-centered prayer. However, in these past few years this God-hungering man has become a powerful lay leader in his church, impacting men especially. And when I joined hundreds of others recently at a conference, hearing this brother speak twice where he told his story of God’s redeeming work in his life, his story gave me a passion to let God’s Spirit work more in my life…in following Jesus.
Jim Clark