Real Live Preacher: the book

RealLivePreacher.com has arrived. Thanks, Gordon! (It took a lot longer than the 5-7 days UPS promised, but it's here.) It's great. A quote:

I believed then and still believe that many Christians are not honest about their own failings, sins, and disappointments. Like Martha Stewart, they try to sell a sugary, imaginary world of happiness to people who are hurting and looking for real answers. I believed then and still believe that many Christians use manipulative techniques to win converts. The pursuit of truth has taken a back seat or has been lost altogether. What matters is numbers, namely how many people you can convince to become Christians. Converts are counted and boasted about. They wouldn't call it boasting, but that's what it is. Retch! I beleived then and still believe that many Christians have created a subculture with its own language, customs, and myths. Ministers even have their own dialect and hairdos. Weird. This subculture is really more about worshipping America than God, more about achieving than receiving, more about competition than grace. The problem with a religious subculture is no one else "gets it," and you are isolated from the world you are called to SERVE. I became increasingly disgusted with the institutional and bureaucratic nature of churches. It seemed to be that many churches were worshipping the idols of wealth, power, and prestige. It seemed to me that many churches existed solely to support the Christian subculture.

Now, if you're offended by this passage, you probably won't enjoy this book. If you, like me, find the honesty refreshing, then you're likely to welcome RLP as a friend. He is among those who count honesty as a virtue, even if that honesty is jarring to those only used to piety. No pretending. He is numbered among those who are doubters and believers at the same time, which is why so many can relate to him. This is looking like a great read.

Comments

[george]

Here we go again, lets criticize the church.

[Liesa]

What a fantastic quote, and very very true too. Most everyone I know has had a bad church experience, it's about time the church gets called on their behaviour. The church alone turns more people away from God and Jesus than to it like they are supposed to. I can't wait to get my copy of the book!

[Arthur]

Where do I find a copy of this book? And George, I don't think RLP is criticizing the true Church as much as he is criticizing the institutional mindset of the professional "Churchians" as opposed to "Christians." Besides, if the shoe fits....

[real live preacher]

Actually, I AM criticizing the church. But I'm doing so from within the church. I'm doing so even as I awake every Sunday morning to go to church and to do church and to be church along with my community of believers. The church looking critically at herself is one thing. People outside the church taking potshots is another. peace, rlp

[Paul Johnston]

I used to find myself, years ago, expressing similar frustrations to those expressed by RLP and other like minded people. I don't anymore. I don't go to church seeking a human experience, human interaction or human approval. I go to worship the Lord my God. I sit and adore the real presence of the Trinity and give thanks for all that God has done for me. I tell him how happy I am being me. I tell him how astounded I am that he finds me, in all my nonsense, worthy of his revelation. I laugh secretly about how "well" I've become since I let him into my heart. I pray for all the people, seen and unseen, I feel the Spirit moving me to pray for. I thank him for my two beautiful daughters, my angels on earth. I ask him to deepen and refine my interior relationship with him. I am still trying to come to terms with the enormity of his sacrifice on the cross. I tell him I love him with all my heart and I listen while he thanks me and loves me in return. My love is jack-diddly compared to his, but that's okay, we laugh about that too. I think once you start doing that, everybody's b.s., including your own, loses its significance.

[Arthur]

There's a world of difference between "pot-shots" and "cheap shots," I think. Like liver and onions, which is not to everybody's taste, the institutional church is not everybody's cup of tea either. Mixed metaphors, but 'nuff said. I ain't goin' there no more.

[Fish]

Well the Church needs criticised. I have to agree wholeheartedly with RLP. The Church has lost it's original purpose that God had intended for it. The Church is dire need of Reformation.

[Bene D]

It arrived.:^) That news made a tough week go down a bit easier. Cool!

[James]

A friend of mine who works for a Christian book distributor sent this to me and I've really been enjoying it. I hadn't actually read RLP's site before that. Thanks RLP!