The main response that really made me think was: "used to be one." If Claiborne is the evangelist he seems to be throughout the book, then why is he so wrapped up in his project and not seeking to help the people he is interviewing that seem to be lost. Instead of focusing on the imagery people have of "Christian" in the present, I feel he should focus on changing the imagery now instead of later (or never). He should make the new kind of Christianity for love and grace emerge that he talks about. (page 270) He can help change the churches so people can become to know the God he knows, witness to the people on the street instead of interviewing, and use the published article for the magazine as an opportunity. Overall I feel Claiborne has stepped out of his position of fulfilling what he believes God would want.
What is the point of the project? Is he trying to use this project to try to encourage the "Christians" to go out into the world and witness about our awesome God? If so, what gives him the honors of this job (we are all equal)? I feel he might have wasted a great opportunity to show the "love, grace, and community" those people needed to discover. All "Christians" should be witnessing every opportunity because we all know life is short.
AMEN!!! to that. I too feel that Clairborne focused too much on what other people are doing and how they respond to it. Just like you said, I understand that some Christians are not all they are cranked up to be, but by knowing that Clairborne should indeed resort to helping them. This book seems to me as though he breaking the church down and not giving it any reconciliation. His talk on Mega Churches and where they put their tithes and offerings are not completely true either. Many of these churches raise building funds that are separate from tithes and regular offerings. Not to mention there are other ways these churches raise money, such as through their bookstores and and etc.
ReplyDeleteI basically just feel he needs to to approach the downfalls of the church differently. It is kind of like a cut and heal process. He totally cut up the church and did nothin to heal it. Jesus when he called out wrong, he also offered a way out. Personally, I wouldn't want someone who is not saved to read this book. It just makes the church looks even worst when you see it in writing.
On a positive note, I don't look at what other people are doing. I try to serve God for myself. That is my business. I will help others, but I want to make sure that I am right. I love the radical things that he is doing, such as camping out and going to Iraq and etc, but I just dont think every one is called to do that. There are other ways to do the work of the Lord. So yes, I do like the book, but not everyone can look past all the things he is saying about the church and see the Glory. I do love the ending of the book aswell..an alter Call.
I feel the same way in the sense of what was the point of this video project? When I was reading this part of the book I was really confused because as Claiborne is interviewing and getting these answers when asked about christians as "boring" and "used to be one" he seems to think nothing of it. Now I'm not saying this is a huge issue to me, but based on the life that Claiborne describes he is living, and how he is this evangelical missionary you would think that it would be an issue to him; he would do a little more to help spread love and compassion to these people that have those responses. I would think that would help the purpose of his video project in the sense that he would be showing how to spread love to even those who are unable to relate.
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