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Review Summary: New perspective on Christianity |
Date: 2008-11-09 |
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Details: Loved this book. Started a bit slow for me, but ultimately it created a foundation for some very good ideas. I'm surprised to find myself in agreement about 95% of the time.
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Review Summary: A Humbled Resistance |
Date: 2008-10-25 |
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Details: Months ago I wrote and extensive review/response to Claiborne's Irresistible Revolution. It is oriented towards pastors and church leaders interested in Claiborne's contributions as well has his theology. I have expanded it to be a response to both books with extensive quotes from both books. The complete review can be found online at objectivegospel.org on the Iron Sharpens Iron page.
Excerpt from A Humbled Resistance:
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What is Repentance?
Claiborne & Haw (C&H) characterize John the Baptist's message of repentance this way:
And John preached, "Repent," a message stronger than a neon sign outside a soup kitchen. It was a radical invitation to rethink the way we live. (JFP 79)
They give a footnote description of repentance:
Repent (metaoeite) has nuanced meaning, translatable to "change your mind," "rethink your life," "think about the way you think," or "turn your life around." Consider the connected word pensive in English or pensar in Spanish, which both relate to thinking. (JFP 79)
Given the prominence in both the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures of the call to repent, what is it that we have been called to turn away from? C&H would have us to believe it is an issue of imperial economics or lifestyle, but if we study the message of the early church, we can see that the call to repent is over personal sin and rebellion against God. Far from an "invitation" (something that could be refused without consequence), it is a somber command (Acts 17:30).
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Review Summary: Every Christian should read this |
Date: 2008-10-15 |
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Details: Shane Claiborne shares the Gospel as it was meant to be and makes truly following Christ (and not our corrupt society) desirable. He clearly separates what "Christianity" has become from what Christ and the early church fathers intended. Every person that calls themselves Christian should read this book and let it change their lives. |
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Review Summary: Independent Candidate in the Upcoming Election |
Date: 2008-10-02 |
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Details: This is Shane Claiborne's second book, with Chris Haw as coauthor. Claiborne's first book, The Irresistable Revolution, challenged Christians to live more like Christ. This book explores the relationship between spirituality and politics. Readers should be prepared for their values and beliefs to be challenged, just as their walk with God was challenged in Revolution.
Claiborne's style is unique. The Irresistable Revolution was published in brown ink. This book takes book design to another level. Every page is a different color. There are pictures interspersed throughout, sometimes with text on them. There are visible edits on the text, such as scratchouts and underlining. It can become distracting at times, but for the most part it adds to the reading experience.
Claiborne describes God's purpose for Israel, Israel's subsequent failure to live up to that purpose, and how it relates to Christianity today. He describes the subversive nature of Jesus' message, which basically looked Rome in the eye and laughed at its supposed power. He also summarizes the dangers of the gospel and politics being intertwined.
Claiborne is creative and extreme. Some of his ideas are really out there. It would be easy to call him a kook, but the problem is, he walks the walk. There is nothing that he is preaching that he isn't actually living. Even the proceeds from his book are distributed among the different communities in which he lives. This book is definitely worth reading, especially at this time of year. It will help Christians remember that we are citizens of heaven first, Americans second.
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Review Summary: Very Disturbing |
Date: 2008-09-27 |
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Details: "It ain't the parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand." -Sam Clemens, aka Mark Twain.
I entirely disagree with many of the conclusions reached in this book. I'm just not sure which ones yet.
The beginning montage was the story of my life, sort of. I picked this book up because it looked interesting.
...and then Shane and Chris challenged exactly everything I believe in, except the existence of God and His nature as a loving Father. They challenged even my identity as an American (excuse me, citizen of the United States), calling "my country" the Empire - Rome, in fact. The beast. And utterly antithetical to the Kingdom of God. I'd been listening to the Bible on CD (The Word of Promise), and a lot of what they were saying jived with what Jesus said. They challenged the way I live life.
I say this of them: Chris and Shane have taken belief in Christ in a real way, where one actually.. you know.. believes what He said... they have taken it to a very radical conclusion. Their anti-war position has not completely convinced me, but it has made me rethink my position.
Make no mistake, I want Jesus for President. I want to share this book. I'm not sure I agree with the authors' conclusion, but "J4P" rocked my very nice and cozy American world. I also recommend Crazy Love by Francis Chan. It too is quite disturbing. |
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out of 33 Reviews
