Comments on: This Book Ticks Me Off

By: Deceptive Distraction | stevegrossmanonline.com

Deceptive Distraction | stevegrossmanonline.com — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 16:02:09 +0000

[...] dos. And that is no good news at all.”Then I read this today on Pete Wilson’s blog: “We have a culture-war spirituality that produces Christians who might never share their [...]

By: Turner Talley

Turner Talley — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 18:02:01 +0000

The world hurt me and Christ healed me. Jesus came to heal the broken hearted and He does. If I view myself as superior to those hurting people around me who need the same thing I received from Jesus – then I view myself as better than other. Therefore, I have made His healing about me and not about what He has done. I am sad to say at times I see and thing in this manner. I want His glory and he tells me to give it to Him, because he knows it will destroy me. This is a painful way for me to live and pain leads my back to Him. Superiority, thoughts of being better than – reap isolation and separation. Sadly the Church (the followers of Jesus) has experienced this. The only way the Church will change is through each individual believer having an intimate, continually growing relationship with Jesus. The words of the author are heart breaking and point to the need for more of Jesus in all our lives. I can point out the faults of those who rail against the church or point out the short comings of fellow believers or I can ask God to give me the grace to love them all where they are and point them to the only answer Jesus. I hope I chose the later.

By: se7en | religion sucketh

se7en | religion sucketh — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 14:33:47 +0000

[...] core? Pete Wilson (lead pastor, Cross Point Community Church in Nashville, TN) discusses that in This Book Ticks Me Off.“When is the last time church leaders re-imagined the fundamental part of their [...]

By: Ally

Ally — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:41:19 +0000

and just to clarify since I just read some comments from another Ally further down the list – this is a different one – sorry for any confusion I may have caused (I just stumbled across this blog today as someone had linked to this post)

By: Ally

Ally — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:36:25 +0000

Anyone who has read Michael Spencer over the years knows that for as much as it might sound like it at times – he certainly never gave up on the Church. I think he just had a gift for understanding those that did – because I think he often probably would have if he hadn’t believed in the local church as strongly as he did. Believing that a lot of churches are no better than no church, and recognizing that many have left already, is not the same as believing we should give up on the church.

By: Chris Loach

Chris Loach — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 02:35:46 +0000

I’ve had this book on my Amazon wish list for a while and now I want to read it more! I’ll be interested to see what you have to say when you finish it.

Chris

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:36:36 +0000

Pete:

I have appreciated MIke’s Internet Monk blog for some time. I just ordered his book and look forward to reading it !

Dave

By: Steve Hopkins

Steve Hopkins — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:07:43 +0000

I found a lot of what Spencer said right on but like you, sometimes unsettling. I also wonder is some of his comments aren’t generated from his own personal frustrations instead of objective observation. That being said, I learned a lot from the book

By: Julie R.

Julie R. — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:58:11 +0000

I have walked away from institutionalized religion. I do NOT regularly attend any one church. I have been a member at various churches throughout my life. I have worked in ministry areas. I have been on praise teams. But I was miserable, I was lonely, and at times I was no closer to God than I am to the actual sun. I never understood why, I didn’t see how I could be doing everything right and still be so miserable. Absolutely miserable. I started reading some books, and asking some questions about what I truly believe. I am finding that many of today’s brick and mortar churches, are not lining up spiritually with God’s Word. I know the bible says we are not to forsake the assembling our ourselves with other believers…but no matter where I am, if I am with other believers…I am ASSEMBLED. I am NOT saying that all churches and all Christians are evil…I even attend several churches from time to time as a visitor. I believe there are many churches who are finally getting the idea of what “church” should look like… So far..I am no where close to finding it. For me, FOR NOW…I feel compelled to stay AWAY from organized religion as it has always stood and stands now. I believe I am doing what God wants from ME. Since I have left the building, I feel God is continually showing Himself to me in ways I never imagined were possible. I feel closer to Him, because I AM closer to Him. I am more into the Word, more into studying. I am finding it easier to share what I believe these days, and I do when the opportunity presents itself. Christians who walk away from brick and mortar church aren’t the bad guys… we may just be looking to walk the path different from how mainstream Christians do.

By: mpt

mpt — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:23:20 +0000

I endorsed Michael’s book. And I’m really happy to see that people are debating the topics in this book with passion.

But I’m confused, because the book that I read didn’t suggest giving up on “the Church,” it simply suggested we’ve taken “the Church”–i.e., God’s people–and turned the whole concept into something that Jesus never intended. While Michael certainly criticized some of “ways” people do church or manufacture church, he certainly doesn’t suggest that we give up on God’s people.