At the Margins

So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore

Rating: 4 out of 5

Author: Jake Colsen

Year: 2006

Publisher: Bodylife Publications

ISBN: 0964729229

The writing in this book is frankly quite bad, however the content is amazing and inspired. It offers a strong challenge to the institutional church and paints a radical transforming picture of the Church.  Even better, you don’t have to by it.  It’s available for free download.

I’m speaking with Brandy about my difficulty in loving some people. I’m someone who loves almost everyone. I find it quite easy to love the large majority of people. There are a few people I don’t and I believe that those are the people I should particularly be seeking to love. Still I fail.

Yet the Bible calls Christians to an even higher standard. One should seek to “love your enemy as a yourself.” So often I think of this as a personal and heart thing. “I love my enemy in my heart.” This is certainly wrong. Christ is calling us to actively love our enemies. To love our enemies in action and heart. What an incredible thing for Christ to tell us to do. How rediculous in the world’s eyes?!?! What does it truly look like to do such a thing? I pray that I may learn to actively love my enemies as myself.

A Generous Orthodoxy: Why I am a missional, evangelical, post/protestant, liberal/conservative, mystical/poetic, biblical, charismatic/contemplative, fundamentalist/calvinist, … anabaptist/anglican, metho (Emergentys)

Rating: 3 out of 5

Author: Brian D. McLaren

Year: 2006

Publisher: Zondervan/Youth Specialties

ISBN: 0310258030

Not as good as Velvet Elvis and even more married to the Constantinian model of church.

While at the CCDA conference I got to hear from a group that I was first introduced to at the PAPA Festival.

Relational Tithe seeks to relationally distribute tithes in accordance with scripture. Much of their work is fueled by an essay by a megachurch teaching pastor entitled, “Embezzlement: The Corporate Sin of Contemporary Christianity?” In it Ray Mayhew, quite against his own best interests, seeks to examine the purpose of tithes using scripture and documents of the early church. It is an amazing, hard teaching and a very worthwhile read.

I increasing realize the need for a complete examination of church practice and that many of the problems of the church are directly related to an incorrect view of evangelism. I am working on a paper examining evangelism and plan to post it in the next few weeks. My hope is that it will serve to begin a series on a vision for the 21st century Church.

Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith

Rating: 5 out of 5

Author: Rob Bell

Year: 2005

Publisher: Zondervan

ISBN: 031026345X

I just finished “Velvet Elvis” by Rob Bell on audiobook. It was great! The author has a keen understanding of where God is calling the Church.

Rob Bell is the senior pastor at Mars Hill, a megachurch attended by thousands. Now, I know what many of you are thinking, Matt Pritchard is singing the praises of a megachurch pastor, what’s going on? Well, I’m still firmly in the camp of the importance of reflecting the intimacy of Christ in our fellowships.

That said, it was fun to hear Bell use the exact same language I have been using of late–maybe it’s a Holy Spirit thing. Though Bell is a little too institutional for my taste, he thoroughly comprehends the need for the church to embrace reality instead of religion, love instead of legalism, and a powerful Christ worth living and dying for instead of a palatable, easy god worth only saying a phrase of allegiance to.

Theirs Is the Kingdom: Celebrating the Gospel in Urban America

Rating: 5 out of 5

Author: Robert D. Lupton

Year: 1989

Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco

ISBN: 0060653078

Robert Lupton artfully relates a variety of stories from his experiences in urban ministry. The short chapters make this book perfect for devotions.

Kingdom Works: True Stories About God and His People in Inner City America

Rating: 4 out of 5

Author: Bart Campolo

Year: 2001

Publisher: Vine Books

ISBN: 1569551952

Kingdom Works provides a wonderful group of devotions on urban ministry by one of mission year’s founders, Bart Campolo.

Mudhouse Sabbath: An Invitation to a Life of Spiritual Disciplines

Rating: 5 out of 5

Author: Lauren F. Winner

Year: 2007

Publisher: Paraclete Press (MA)

ISBN: 1557255326

Lauren Winner delves into her Jewish roots to explore 11 spiritual practices that help us understand the character of God.

The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical

Rating: 5 out of 5

Author: Shane Claiborne

Year: 2006

Publisher: Zondervan

ISBN: 0310266300

As I have traveled the country talking with fellow 20-somethings, it has been clear that God is speaking to us in a united voice, however it has been difficult to find the words that correspond with this calling. Shane Claiborne artfully articulates what so many in our generation are hearing. A theologian who truly lives out the Call, he challenges the Church with exceptional love and truth.

The only negative is that in chapter 11, I felt he crossed the line from solidarity with the poor and oppressed to political action. At any rate, it’s a difficult path to navigate and Claiborne does it exceptionally (both in his writing and life)!

I have given away over 150 copies. A must read!