The Whole More Than The Sum Of It's Parts!

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	• Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope Brian McLaren Thomas Nelson, 2007 - 256 pages average customer review:based on 40 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

The Whole More Than The Sum Of It's Parts!

There will always be, in this sinful world we live in, a need for a "Good Samaritan" to show us how to think and act in reference to those individuals, local communities and nations most find inconvenient and bothersome-----because they offer US nothing immediate------and, in point of fact, need us! The ironic thing, about the Gospel, is that Jesus' singular act of atonement was not for Himself-----but for the "uttermost parts of the earth"(Ps. 2:8)----for community----for the world! McLaren's book serves to open up the World and the Church(two opposites biblically) for a much needed analysis with this powerful theme-----; how can we as The Church be more effective in bearing the testimony of Christ to our community----our world? McLaren's book reminds us of what Jesus did and said-----"Take up your cross daily and follow me"! This, in my opinion, the American Church has not done effectively. Too much of a "come to us" mentality------and not enough outreach! Too much of a repent, get born again and tithe mentality-----and not enough "do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with thy God!"(Micah 6:8). The American Church needs to empty itself of worldliness(assimilation of the world's values regarding prosperity, security and equity) and adopt The Full Gospel of Christ(and I'm not talking primarily of spiritual gifts)-----which is to humbly and sacrificially love others! Thanks Brian!

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Everything Must Change

Catchy title to begin with! Whether you like McLaren or not, you must agree that the status quo simply won't work.And he goes on from that introduction to paint a hopeful scenario for our groaning world.

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Jesus Right, not Jesus Lite

In "Everything Must Change", Brian McLaren eloquently expresses what I've felt about Jesus' message, and the manipulation of that message, since middle school. With historical research, political savvy, and personal experience, McLaren thoroughly documents the ways in which Christianity could lead the way out of war, hunger, poverty, and environmental decay. And how instead power uses biblical interpretation and wedge issues like contraception as "weapons of mass distraction". McLaren is part of a wave, with links (which he acknowledges) to David C. Korten's "The Great Turning -- From Empire to Earth Community". Also see "This Present Paradise", an article by Rita Brock and Rebecca Parker in the Summer 2008 issue of "UU World" magazine. The only frustrating thing about McLaren's book is its lack of an index.

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Jesus and life issues today

Two underlying questions are the reason for this book by Brian McLaren.
1. What are the world's top problems today and 2. What do the life and message of Jesus have to say about these issues? This is a continuation of Brian's previous book, "The Secret Message of Jesus" about the Kingdom of God and what does it look like today.

Brian traveled around the world in the writing of this book, talking to church, community, business and government leaders, asking questions and listening to answers. Brian is a thinker and makes you consider your faith, the mission of God's people and its practical outworking to personal, community and global issues in light of the model and message of Jesus.

Like this book or not, you will have to think about the global issues that confront us and the relevance of faith and action to these issues. You may not agree with his ideas and his potential solutions but I have been impressed with his thinking and scope that will give us wisdom and keep us better informed in our response.

McLaren challenges us followers of Jesus about what it means to do God's will on earth. His writing on the context of the life of Jesus and his teaching on the Kingdom of God in regard to Rome and its authority as well as the religious leaders of Judaism and those who opposed Rome is so relevant to us today.

I think that Brian has something very important to say to us as people of faith. I believe that Jesus has some critical things to say to us. The question is are we listening and what will be our response?

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I've been waiting for a book about this.

I've been waiting for a book about this. I've asked my pastors: For which party should a Jesus-follower vote? What stance should a Jesus-follower have on war and peace? How far should Jesus-followers go toward feeding the poor and caring for the outcasts? Are Jesus-followers really supposed to be loyal to the economy at the expense of caring for the Earth? And I've been looking for a Christian leader to say something intelligent on the subject, something not firmly entrenched in conventional Christian dogma.

Here it is.

Three dominant social systems are at work in our world society: The Security System (The attempt to keep us all safe through dominating all enemy powers), The Prosperity System (The pursuit of riches at the expense of everyone who doesn't have them), and The Equity System (The attempt to redistribute wealth to make things fair). People throughout history have tried to fix the world's problems by adjusting any combination of these, without success. The problem is that all 3 systems are symptoms of the same Framing Story, and until an alternative Story is provided, our world is doomed to destroy itself. Blame that on The Fall (Genesis 3).

EVERYTHING MUST CHANGE asks 2 overarching questions:

1) What Are the Biggest Problems in the World?
2) What Does Jesus Have to Say About These Global Problems?

McLaren looks at the ministry of Jesus as it relates to the dominant powers of his day, namely the Roman governmental machine. The machine was oppressive, and so were its rulers, the Caesars. Then Jesus steps onto the scene proclaiming a different Framing Story, that a new Kingdom is here, forgiveness is available to all by following him, love is the new economy, and this new kingdom offers hope for a healed world. The problem, as McLaren sees it, is that "our conventional view has accidentally put Jesus in the very framing story Jesus originally sought to subvert" (83).

If you're looking for a cakewalk read, don't pick up EVERYTHING MUST CHANGE. This book will make you think. In good ways, it will challenge what you think you know about Jesus. Because when it comes down to it, if the Good News of Jesus isn't big enough to fix the enormous global problems we face today (both spiritually and physically), then the News might not be Good enough. Luckily Jesus' wisdom and truth speaks not just about salvation for our personal souls, but also for our very broken systems of the world. Shalom.

--- Reviewed by Jonathan Stephens

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reviews: 1, page 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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