An author I greatly respect and put in the category with Lewis prefaced the book he is known for with this little preamble. Read on:
"This book is not for the superspiritual.
It is not for muscular Christians who have made John Wayne, and not Jesus, their hero.
It is not for academics who would imprison Jesus in the ivory tower of exegesis.
It is not for noisy, feel-good folks who manpulate Christianity into a naked appeal to emotion.
It is not for hooded mystics who want magic in their religion.
It is not for Alleluluia Christiasn who live only on the mountaintop and have never visitied the valley of desolation.
It isnot for the fearless and tearless.
It is not for red-hot zealots who boast with the rich young ruler of the Gospels, "All these commandments I have kept from my youth."
It is not for the complacent who hoist over their shoulders a tote bag o fhonors, diplomas, and good works, actually believing they have it made.
It is not for legalists who would rather surrender control of their souls to rules than run the risk of living in union with Jesus.
If anyone is still reading along, this book was written for the bedraggled, beat-up, and burnt-out.
It is for the sorely burdened who are still shifting the heavy suitcase from one hand to the other.
It is for the wobbly and weak-kneed who know they don't have it all together and are too proud to accept the handout of amazing grace.
It is for the inconsistent, unsteady disciples who cheese is falling off their cracker.
It is for poor, weak, sinful men and women with hereditary faults and limited talents.
It is for earthen vessels who shuffle along on feet of clay.
It is for the bent and the bruised who feel that their lives are a grace disappointment to God.
It is for smart people who know they are stupid and honest disciples who admit they are scalawags.
This is a book I wrote for myself and anyone who has grown weary and discouraged along the Way."
Now thats a book, a faith and a lifestyle worth engaging.
Please, your thoughts...?
I hope to discuss authentic/ancient Christianity in the next little while. Hopefully we can start some powerful dialogue. Begin it with me. Lets find some semblance of Christianity worth fighting for... please... for the sake of MANY - I hope we can resurrect the power of the Christ-faith.
hugs and kisses,
DSW
