In the Preface, Dr. Brueggeman states that both liberal and conservative American Christians are wrong in their belief systems. He states that they have "lost their way in a frenzy of alienation and anxiety because old familiar modes of faith are not adequate...for the living of these days." He uses a quotation from Ephesians 3 concerning asking from God all that we can imagine to show how Christians from both political spectrums have failed. "Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3: 20-21. Progressives have failed because it is not fashionable for them to imagine that God can do things abundantly. Conservatives have failed because it isn't fashionable for them to imagine for God's goodness beyond a rigid set of rules to obey. As he states in his book "the human counterpoint to God's effective abundance is to ask or imagine." From this premise he begins to state his message.
Dr. Brueggeman states that baptized people have signed on for the Jesus story of abundance. When we do not trust in guaranteed abundance, we need to supply the deficiencies out of our own resources. We move from our "sense of scarcity" to an abundance that we can imagine that we ourselves can supply. However, he believes that in baptism the old story of scarcity is declared false and that we have become the place in the city where abundance is practiced. Thus, politically active conservative and liberal Christians are out of sync with their baptism and all that it means. At this point in time, these Christians as well as the church as a whole have to decide whether they want to belong to the dominant culture or to God. "Faith has nothing to do with being liberal or conservative." When Jesus began his ministry he began an alternative community. We are at a crossroads today where Christians must decide to either go with the dominant culture or to form an alternative community based on Jesus' teachings and example.
The author continues this theme showing how the sense of scarcity has affected our emotions bringing us anxiety as well as infidelity to God, refusing to provide justice for the orphans, widows and prisoners that Jesus spoke about in his ministry. In today's age, Christians of all political spectrums have been driven to find security in money and power as an antidote to their fears about scarcity. In doing so they have created hostility and alienation. As they have moved away from being authentic Christians and began fighting amongst themselves, the world changed and now no longer accepts the Bible message as it once did.
The gospel of hope "requires a community of faith and action that is open to newness that will be given as a gift. " The church must wait for this newness to come from the Holy Spirit but first it must give up its old ideas and choose new ones that are Biblical and not from the dominant culture. The 2 sides, liberal and conservative, will need to come together as one and wait for the newness to arrive and begin a ministry together. "The world is waiting for Christians who are not angry or anxious or weary or quarrelsome or cynical or in despair. The world is waiting for folk who trust enough to move out beyond themselves. The church exists so that the city can have its own true self. Jesus-and the church- can show the city through its life and ministry the things that make for peace." First, we need to make peace among ourselves.
I highly recommend this book. I was amazed at what Dr. Brueggeman got out of 2 verses from Ephesians and it speaks truthfully about our current situation in the U. S. We are divided. The author shows how we became divided and also shows a way out. There is much more in the book concerning our individual infidelities toward God and it is convicting. Also, he shows that fixing the problem is done by a change in our attitudes and an understanding of what the Bible says and requires of Christians that has been forgotten by us over the years.
A book for our time.
The author continues this theme showing how the sense of scarcity has affected our emotions bringing us anxiety as well as infidelity to God, refusing to provide justice for the orphans, widows and prisoners that Jesus spoke about in his ministry. In today's age, Christians of all political spectrums have been driven to find security in money and power as an antidote to their fears about scarcity. In doing so they have created hostility and alienation. As they have moved away from being authentic Christians and began fighting amongst themselves, the world changed and now no longer accepts the Bible message as it once did.
The gospel of hope "requires a community of faith and action that is open to newness that will be given as a gift. " The church must wait for this newness to come from the Holy Spirit but first it must give up its old ideas and choose new ones that are Biblical and not from the dominant culture. The 2 sides, liberal and conservative, will need to come together as one and wait for the newness to arrive and begin a ministry together. "The world is waiting for Christians who are not angry or anxious or weary or quarrelsome or cynical or in despair. The world is waiting for folk who trust enough to move out beyond themselves. The church exists so that the city can have its own true self. Jesus-and the church- can show the city through its life and ministry the things that make for peace." First, we need to make peace among ourselves.
I highly recommend this book. I was amazed at what Dr. Brueggeman got out of 2 verses from Ephesians and it speaks truthfully about our current situation in the U. S. We are divided. The author shows how we became divided and also shows a way out. There is much more in the book concerning our individual infidelities toward God and it is convicting. Also, he shows that fixing the problem is done by a change in our attitudes and an understanding of what the Bible says and requires of Christians that has been forgotten by us over the years.
A book for our time.
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