Revolution

I am in the middle of reading a little book by Shane Claiborne called "Irresistible Revolution", and I have come to the conclusion that I should have listened to the warning I received about this book...

Someone wrote (maybe a review of or preface for the book) that you should not read this if you weren't ready to have your world rocked! Well, this book - I'm just on chapter 6 - is riveting! I don't know who this Claiborne character is, but he is a gifted writer...

He hits at the very heart of Christian living. He grew up going to church, a pretty normal middle Tennessee, Bible-belt, 'faithful' youth group member, going to all the youth rallies and conferences and Christian concerts... his is a story which is repeated over and over and over every day, every year across the middle and southern parts of America.

But his story takes a slight detour after he encountered the homeless population in downtown Philadelphia during his sophomore year at Eastern University... his life was forever changed, and he dedicated his life to trying to imitate Christ. Much of his ministry seems to be helping the poor and disadvantaged.

He founded 'the simple way', a community of believers who are committed to simply showing Christ's love to those around them.

His book chronicles some of the experiences he has had - from working in the 'home for the destitute and dying' alongside Mother Theresa in Calcutta - to establishing 'the simple way' in downtown Philly.

I believe his reaction to the 'organized churchianity' to which many of us were exposed growing up could be viewed as extreme (he seems to have taken a vow of poverty and celibacy); however, it is understandable that, when comparing the organized religion of his upbringing to the ministry of Jesus, he found the former to be lacking.

What impresses me is his honest treatment of the subject matter (what is real Christianity) and his willingness to act on what he discovers.

So far, his journey has led him to simply help people. And that seems to me to be what Jesus was all about.

Blessings!