Based on your input (recorded here and here) and my own convictions, I have come up with my first attempt at a working title and thesis for my next book. The word ‘working’ means that it’s still being worked on and is, therefore, NOT in final form. This is why I bring it to you!
Working Title (as of today): Becoming & Making Irreligious Followers of Jesus
In short, you might say that this is a book on discipleship: the power and simplicity of being and making disciples. I do believe that this is the heart of the ‘simple church’ movement and church planting movements. More here from an earlier post. BUT, I also believe that the terms and practices of ‘discipleship’ and ‘making disciples’ are vastly misunderstood which is why so many miss out.
So, with that title in mind, here is my working thesis (at this point):
1. The love and grace that Jesus has for us is bigger than we realize.
My note: I don’t think any book should be written that does not, in the end, call all of us to a deeper walk and relationship with Jesus.
2. The life of a follower (one who follows and makes followers) is a life of adventure, joy, and freedom far greater than we realize.
My note: This point goes to the core of what’s on my heart as I hope to fully explore the dynamics of being and making disciples. We can discuss this further together and I attempt to clarify what I’m after and, again, get your input.
3. The religious traditions of our Christian culture continue to be a greater hindrance to the life God has for us than we realize.
My note: I know many of you share this ongoing concern that the life Jesus has for us must be engaged in without the religious encumbrances that so often dilute and/or distort His image in and through us.
Note that your input from the past couple of weeks here has greatly informed my outline! Look forward to more insights from ‘the gang.’
Comments
14 responses to “Working Title and Thesis for the ‘Irreligious’ Book”
possible alternate title:
“What? You? A Christian?”
Just a quick thought that has surfaced in my small mind lately…(first, a disclaimer, I haven’t checked this out “biblically” or with other believers, so I could be way, way off. It wouldn’t be the first time). Anyways, here goes… Is our growth somehow limited by our American linear thinking and our results-oriented culture? I tend to think that we(Christians) are going to get better, stronger, more moral, less sinful. Is this true? I’d like to think it is, but my experience says differently. I am seeing more clearly, the longer that I am a Christian, my capacity to sin and dare I say, my desire to sin increases in some areas. The only thing I really see growing in a linear direction (meaning it keeps moving forward and getting bigger and better) is the grace of Jesus. I guess that I am wondering if our linear thinking … this assumption that we will somehow be continuously moving toward a more perfect state… somehow sets us up for failure and unrealistic expectations? My understanding is that other cultures think more spirally. Does this allow for more freedom, movement, and discovery?
Love the title.
I think Irreligious would be a better title with the other words in small print below.
To comment on discipleship and religion I claim that even we in house churches have religious practices, it is unavoidable. We must find a way to express the spiritual realities within us. In heaven we will spend all eternity praising God as do the created heavenly beasts as an outworking of our heavenly creation.
However being in a house church I understand what you are meaning. The problem is the practices of the traditional church serve to placate people to think that they are pleasing God. Jesus said to make disciples not pew sitters. There is the problem. Those that want to honor God in their hearts come and sit and leave and there is no perceivable development. The pastor feels good that he is discipleing his people but neither one is doing what God wants.
Still God works to accomplish his will. He did so even in the dark days of the church when it was captured by the Catholic church. In fact that is a good picture of what I am talking about. The traditional church has reduced the complexity of the Catholic ritual as we in the house church have reduced the complexity of the traditional church but it is there. I am assuming that everyone here has read Pagan Christianity. If not you should as well as Where do we go from Here? by Randal Neighbors.
Where tradional and house churches both fail is just like the above. The house church does a much better job of discipleing but they can only take their people so far. There must be a one to one relationship of a mature christian helping and providing accountability to a younger christian. Part of training to “do whatever I have commanded you” as Jesus said, is to instill in the disciple the understanding that unless we are passing it on from one to another we are not discipleing. Just helping a younger christian to be a beter one is mentoring. This is good but not good enough because it is not obedient to Jesus command to make disciples.
Thanks, John. It’s interesting that you’re the second person today who made the exact same suggestion to me regarding the title. Very helpful! I appreciate your comments very much.
Hi Roger–my brother forwarded your post. Every best wish on the success and effectiveness of your book. How about a title a bit more provocative and to the point? _Why Followers of Jesus Should Give Up on Christianity_ Rationale: our problem is not that we act religiously, per se, such as acting like a Buddhist or a Muslim. If so, the solution would be “irreglious.” Our problem is that the cultural religion called Christianity is quite syncretistic and diverges dramatically from following Jesus. Most not-yet-followers-of-Jesus seem aware of this basic point. Why not take it head on, since you make that clear in point 3 above? My other options would be: _How to Be a Non-Christian Follower of Jesus_ or a biographical, _How Following Jesus Led Me Out of Christianity_. Keep going! Brian
Oops! I meant to post this under “what hinders the western church”. Rookie error!
Hey Brian, I really like “How to Be a Non-Christian Follower of Jesus,” though I will have to give some thought as to how this will be perceived by my friends in developing countries. I’m thinking you should be writing “How Following Jesus Let me Out of Christianity.” I’m thinking you have a story to tell there! Thanks!
roger,
the title is too long and from a negative perspective not a positive. most people don’t understand our distinction of religious/christian.
you would reach a wider ‘church’ without using the term even if you include it in the text. teach the distinction in the text.
what you have to say is very relevant and at the end of the day it’s your book, Rog. impudent of us to criticise.
rob
I wholeheartedly agree with John’s comments.
I believe there is a “scattering, ” if you will, of mature seed desiring the deeper walk with Jesus. These souls are not satisfied with pew sitting or dictator-like denominations which spell out what is acceptable tradition and what is not.
To question those in authority in these settings is somehow likened to questioning God Himself…even if these practices are not found biblically.
Unfortunately, this is where many give up and yield to that human desire to stay connected at all costs. No one wants to be ostracized, and be outcast.
Yet, for those who long for the Truth, cannot rest in that reality. Some leave resentful critical and base all of their expectation of “church” on what they have previously experienced. Some leave hurt and confused and out of fear of rejection, maintain their distance, trying to follow Christ apart from the “church.”
My husband and I found ourselves “outside” after serving alongside the same congregation for 15 years. It has been a work of the Holy Spirit to release others from expectation and remain in humble pursuit of Authentic Christianity. We believe very strongly that the Bible teaches discipleship as a way of life, not a program for specific”ministries” only found between the walls of a Sunday or Wednesday gathering.
We find that most of the professing Christians we have met throughout our journey are quite satisfied with only small portions of their real life open to any kind of transparency.
Trust, of course is the biggest issue, (for reasons already mentioned.) But we have found as we have deepened our trust in Christ alone, our fear of rejection or persecution fades dramatically.
I have great hopes in what you are doing. I can tell you with all honesty the ONLY thing I long for, other than the appearance of our Lord, is to be gathered together with other believers who are willing to live out positionally and practically ALL that Jesus died to give us access to.
LOVE the title Roger. Irreligious Followers would be so simple and engaging.. then you could have the full title in smaller print.. ‘Becoming and making irreligious followers of Jesus’.
As our journey progresses – one HUGE thing we have been seeing – is that we need to talk about ‘church’ less – and ‘Jesus following’ more. God will draw hearts together as He builds his church. If we have our hearts set on listening to him and drawing deeply from him daily – ‘church’ will happen as a result. I love the idea here to focus the book on FOLLOWING JESUS – and not any of the distractions that ‘church structures’ (whether traditional or house church) can bring. I agree totally that religious structures are more of a hindrance to Jesus following. It’s tragic how sneaky our enemy is … to use something that most people see as a good thing (‘church’) to keep people from the reality of knowing Him. Excited to read your book!!
Blessings from the Sailers in Colorado!!
Thank you Roger. I like the title and message you are proclaiming. It still often feels like we who are in this journey, are lone rangers, and often are challenged to try and explain this to brothers/sisters we’ve walked with in the past from the legacy churches (not to mention unbelievers…so much religion has infused our culture that even unbelievers have certain assumptions and perspective on what a christian is (i.e. does). Kim
Hi, Kim! I, too, have found that, as I continue in my journey with Jesus, my sin has not disappeared.
I want to share a few things that I have learned. Perhaps you will find these thoughts helpful.
As we grow in our relationship with Jesus and as we become more in tune with the Spirit, we become more AWARE of our sin.
When we first receive Christ (or even before we come to faith in Jesus), we are aware some of our “big” sins almost to the exclusion to our “little” sins. “Big” sins are the more overt ones (lying, stealing, etc). “Little” sins are the covert ones (greed, envy, bitterness, etc). Keep in mind that God does not categorize our sins this way. I am doing so to hopefully make a point.
It seems that God often deals with our most damaging sins first. These are usually the “big” sins. For example, say someone is heavily involved in drug use. Until that person turns away from that lifestyle, he/she will have a very difficult time cvultivating a walk with Jesus, much less be able to address other sin areas in his/her life.
Then, as God sees fit, He brings other sin areas to our attention. He doesn’t hit is with all our sins at once, expecting us to be perfect overnight. Rather, he works with us individually, going at a pace he knows we can handle.
I am encouraged by the promise of Philippians 1:6: Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Indeed, we are all works in progress. Our loving Father is moving us along the path of sanctification, growing us, and helping to keep abiding him Him.
In summary, I do not think that our capacity to sin or our desire to sin grows over time. Rather, our awareness of our sin grows over time.
As you so wonderfully stated, our awareness and gratitude for the grace of Jesus also increases over time. He helps us to find a balance in our faith-rest walk. He helps us to turn from our sins, big and little, and land in a place of humble dependence on Him
Mathematician and bestselling author John Allen Paulos thinks not. In Irreligion he presents the case for his own worldview, organizing his book into twelve chapters that refute the twelve arguments most often put forward for believing in God’s existence.