Sitting in a Starbucks reading a great book, The Tangible Kingdom by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay.
Early in the book they begin talking about the “tension” that followers of Jesus and the church are experiencing today. I found this quote, talking about the conversations between people who have left the church and those who have never found the church, to be especially provoking,
“It is actually quite a bit harder to try to reconvince those in the know than those who don’t know anything. For them, the discussion isn’t about proving Jesus. It’s about giving them hope that Jesus can or will still work with the church.”
Interesting thought on a Monday when the world is waiting to see what will become of the American financial market. The Monday after Ike ripped through part of our country – devastating and leaving homeless thousands of people. The Monday after two trains collided, killing more people than the previously mentioned hurricane.
These are the Mondays when simply spouting theological truths is not enough. These are the days I am reminded of Jesus’ prayer on the cross,
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt. 27:46)
The best part of that prayer? The next recorded words we hear from Jesus are, “Greetings.”
Life is full of tension. But we have a Savior who has been there and done that!
1 Comment
May 8, 2009 at 10:11 pm
We noticed on your blog that you wrote about The Tangible Kingdom by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay. Thanks for taking the time to do that.
One of the questions Matt and Hugh often received following the launch of that book was “Loved the book, but how do I get my community to do that?” The newly launched The Tangible Kingdom Primer is our effort to help small groups and churches do just that. It is an 8-week guide to creating missional and incarnational communities.
If you would like to receive a free copy of the Primer, please contact us at: books{AT} crmleaders.org. Please provide your name, the street mailing address you would like it delivered to (no P.O. Box please) and your email address. In the subject line, put Tangible Kingdom Primer Blog Copy.