the jesus of suburbia

I just finished up this fabulous book called The Jesus of Suburbia by Mike Erre. It has really called me to question my own faith and how I live that faith out. Have I tamed the SON OF GOD to fit into my lifestyle? Do I REALLY know Jesus, or is what I know only facts about Him? Below are excepts that I thought were amazing:

"What would happen if such giving began to characterize our churches? What would happen if we took the best of our resources and refused to spend them on ourselves but instead invest them in making the world a better reflection of Jesus? What would happen? People need to see what we are for, not just what we are against. So much of our message is tied to what the Christian community opposes: Harry Potter, homosexual marriage, abortion, feminism, stem-cell research, et cetera. But what are we for? The world need to know we stand for faith, hope, love, truth, beauty, grace, compassion, kindness, and courage. The only way they will know is if we show them. Words, these days, are meaningless."

.....

"The purpose of the church isn't just to survive this world but to become dynamic movements who live out the revolution of Jesus. We are called to serve and love the world around us. It is understandable why many do not want to do so. The world is ugly, fallen, and depraved. It is far easier to close ourselves off to the messiness of culture and focus on perserving our traditions and rituals. It is far easier to divide ourselves according to our theological distinctions than to focus on what unites us so we can mobilize together as the greater community of faith."

....

"I have heard it said that nothing is more dangerous to a revolution than winning. When a revolution wins, it faces the prospect of becoming institutionalized and losing its ability to be dangerous and subversive. If there is nothing to revolt against, a revolution loses its power. Revolutions are by nature subversive.
For instance, where in the world is the global church dead? In places where Christianity is the state religion. Where does it flourish? Where it is persecuted and oppressed. It would seem that if the opponents of Christ in the United States really wnated to stop the movement of Jesus, all they would have to do is to make Christianity the national religion. The separation of church and state actually protects us from winning in our desire to turn America into a "Christian nation." God save us from such a fate. In the Scriptures, past success is always the greatest threat to future usefullness in God's kingdom. (2 Chronicales 26) We lose the ability to be useful in God's hands when we become afraid to lose the success we have achieved."

Check out the book on Amazon.com....definetly more good stuff in the book.