Book Review: Jesus in the Margins

Like most people in their mid-30s I was first introduced to Rick McKinley by Donald Miller in his book Blue Like Jazz. It was here that I first read about Rick’s passion to re-imagine church – to change the image of church for people that feel beyond reach. Pastor Rick and his wife moved to to establish a community “for people to discover the love of Christ in the reality of life,” (taken from his book’s back cover).

In Rick’s book, Jesus in the Margins, he explains how the encompassing love of Jesus reaches down into the margins of society. That He came to Earth for those broken souls that usually go unnoticed by mainstream society. Throughout the book, Rick walks the readers into the margins of life, showing them that it is in the margins that we see the image of God (Imago Dei incidentally is the name of the community started by he and his wife).

How many of you have seen the figurine of Jesus playing soccer, baseball, or football with the kids? This is the culturally agreed upon image of Christ most of us have in our heads – right or wrong. Rick’s description would be a harder sell in the Christian bookstores. He describes Jesus as a misfit in his family, town, and culture He grew up in (Chapters 2 and 3). Jesus grew up in a small, rural town amidst whispers, behind the back accusations, and branded an illegitimate child. He didn’t fit the status quo – he was a “friend of sinners” (p. 51).

Jesus in the Margins opens and closes with chapters devoted to real life stories of people. They share their stories of life: neglect, sexual abuse, growing up fatherless, success-driven personalities, and homelessness. Each story is my story, not because I have gone through each of these circumstances, but because ‘margin dwellers’ feel that they are alone and have no real expectation to be welcomed if someone knew their ‘real story’.

We are not supposed to do life alone. We are supposed to live life in community with other Christ followers – we are “wired” for community. We need each other – without community we cannot become all we were designed to be (we were created on purpose and with a purpose). Just because we are meant to be in community, does not mean community is always neat. Rick says that “community is messy” (p. 162). It is messy because those that live in “community are required to fall at Jesus’ feet and beg him for the love it takes to obey the ‘one another’ commands” (p. 162). We exist for God and for those in our community.

Rick’s life is his book. He writes with an honest voice, accepting that he cannot do anything for God to love him more or less. He accepted many years ago that reality is a tough place to be with or without Jesus – life is not fair, but God is in control. Rick says that “sin is our desire to run our own lives any way we want” (p. 65), and that no matter how many times he fails, that “grace…keeps coming my way…” (p. 68). This is what resonated with me the most – no matter how many times I try to do things my way; I’m going to screw things up; just as much as I make a mess of my life, “You are accepted because of what Christ has done for you, not because of what you can do for Christ” (p. 144).

I <3 a challenge

Most of you (remember, there are only about 6 of you that read this blog. I love my family!) know that I love to read and write. I read a lot and write on a inconsistent basis. Recently though I have begun to write more regularly (not on the blog obviously, but for work and for 'fun').

On my night stand there is usually no less than 5 books stacked in the corner under my lamp - which drives Jen crazy! She likes her night stand to be orderly, I like to be able to knock things unto the floor when I reach for my blackberry at 2 AM - different strokes for different folks. Right now there are a couple books that are kicking my arse - both in reading and writing.

Reading:

I am reading Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell and eventually will do a book review. Most people have read the book or have at least heard of Rob Bell. I have listened to his podcast for Mars Hill for a while and have seen most, if not all of his Nooma videos. But this was the first time that I have actually read any of his books.

Let me tell you he is breaking my bones. I'll explain more once I am finished with the book, but let me say that I am only on the third chapter and I am totally in inner monologue conversations with him challenging me on all levels. I love a good challenge - that is the only way we grow!

Writing:

I am writing a book review of Rick McKinley's book Jesus in the Margins. I am writing the review for a blog/twitter buddy - can't tell you about the project he is working on now, but should be able to link to it in the near future!

Jesus in the Margins was also a great challenge. In response to the challenge, my definition of neighbor, community, and love has expanded. I'll post the review when it is 'safe' to do so.

Growth is hard, but well worth it!

Book Review: Consuming Jesus

Totally challenging and rewarding!

It was an interesting read for me because of the timing of it - the
US in the midst of a political cycle that has two very similar groups of people (conservatives and liberals) vying for the seat of the
presidency telling us how different they are; at the same time, personally I am in the midst of some self
review. In the midst (I just like saying that word) of it all, this book was dropped at my front door.

This book has probably had more of an impact on how I look at my community than any other book on my bedside table. I struggled initially with the book because it slammed up against much of my previous notions (politically, culturally, and religiously). By the last chapter, my definition of community had changed from the limited view of community - the people in the area you live in that look like you, live like you, sound like you, and smell like you, to a new view of community that encompassed all people (no matter their social standings and their religious beliefs).

My favorite part of the book was the conclusion, A Nobler Vision of Patchwork Quilts and Church Potlucks. The chapter provided a vision for how the church the active part of the community, networking to serve and strengthen each piece.

the Dream continues

It was appropriate that yesterday (the day we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) I received my copy of Dr. Paul’s Metzger’s latest book, Consuming Jesus: Beyond Race and Class Divisions in a Consumer Church.

I flipped through the book last night and see that it is going to be a book that I will really need to hold on with both hands! In the first 6 pages of the introduction there were already 7-10 footnotes.