Jesus Wants to Save Christians

Jesus Wants to Save Christians: A Manifesto for the Church in Exile by Rob Bell and Don Golden is a re-read for me, but I haven't written about it.  Bell and Golden look at the Exodus story and its implications for the church, especially the American church, of today.  They focus on four key places; Egypt, Sinai, Jerusalem and Babylon.  Egypt is the place where the oppressed Israelites cry out to God and their cry is heard by God.  God responds when he hears the cry of the oppressed.  God sends Moses to lead the people to Sinai, and at Sinai God makes a covenant with his people.  He chooses them to be his people who will show the rest of the world what God is like.  He commands the people repeatedly not to forget Egypt lest they forget how they were once slaves and set free by God.  Jerusalem is where the people begin to see God's blessing.  But soon they have forgotten Egypt.  They are now the ones oppressing, hoarding and protecting that which they feel is their right.  Solomon builds large military bases to protect and defend their way of life.  They are no longer helping other oppressed people.  Now the oppressed are crying out again which results in Babylon.  In exile the prophets begin seeing a glimpse of a bigger picture.  They start talking about a new exodus, one that will be bigger and more complete.  It's one that will be for all the world and not just the Jews.

The authors equate this with the American church's blessing and now responsibility to hear the oppressed.  Thrown in are some sobering statistics of America's wealth, military spending and waste compared with the rest of the world's need.  Bell and Golden encourage the American church to be a Eucharist or "good gift" to the rest of the world.  They ask the pointed question of "Who would care if your church closed?"  Are we making a difference in the world?

The book is written in the typical Bell style if you've read any of the other books he's written.  It's an easy read, but one that will challenge and convict.  Bell and Golden take what they call a "New Exodus Perspective" as they look at the meaning of the events of Exodus.  It's not my favorite Bell book, but one that can be very convicting of us as American Christians.  Overall 4 out of 5.

Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream

Back in the Fall I decided I should start attending the Men's Bible Study at Mechanic Grove.  The catch was that it meets at 7:00 Saturday morning, and I struggle to operate that early on Saturday morning.  But it turned out to be an incredible blessing as I began to meet and have conversations with men of different ages.

Our focus has been guided by "Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream" by David Platt.  The book focuses on how we were created to proclaim the glory of God.  Platt discusses how our pursuit of the American Dream and materialism has taken us away from our goal of proclaiming God to the nations.  Platt advocates for a reduction in our pursuit of material wealth and radical devotion to God.  He shares many stories of people in his faith community who have sacrificed their own pursuit of the American Dream in order to allow themselves to better proclaim God's glory to the nations.

One story he shares that hit me was about a business man who wrestled with what Platt was saying about giving up our stuff.  The man came to the conclusion that he couldn't see God telling him when he got to heaven, "I wish you would have spent more time building wealth for yourself" (my paraphrase).

Platt discusses how millions of people are dying every day of starvation, poor water and preventable disease.  Billions more are doing so without a knowledge of Christ.  He also bears witness to millions in the underground church who have a fire for God not found in comfortable "Christian" America.

The book has some very provocative ideas.  The discussion within the Bible study has been incredible and convicting.  It has been interesting for me to read this book.  The theology used to build his case is somewhat Reformed which is very different for an Ana-baptist audience.  But the living out is very similar.  I think the discussion of how materialism is taking over in the American church is one that needs to take place and Platt's book helps to advance that conversation.

One of the men in the Bible study is fond of reminding us, "It's just like the title says.  It's radical."  But maybe that's the way a disciple is supposed to be.