Having the mind of christ - introduction

I started reading Ben Sternke & Matt Tebbe's new book 'Having The Mind of Christ: Eight Axioms to Cultivate a Robust Faith.' It was just released this month. I pre-ordered it because I happen to know them and like their stuff. Interestingly enough, this will mean three of the last four books I've read have been written by people I know! :)

I'd like to try to write something about each chapter. Normally I work through a book a chapter a day (or so). We'll see if I can get back into this rhythm. Here goes...

In the introduction they talk about coming to a place in life - even as pastors - where faith sort of stopped making sense. Much has been written about deconstruction in the church, and I won't rehash it. This book is more about RECONSTRUCTION. What we do after deconstruction. The crux... (p. 3-4):

"The process of reconstruction can take many forms. But for us... there has been a central component... that undergirds everything else. It has to do with how we see, rather than what we do. It's about our vision before our action. We need a new paradigm, not just new practices."

As they say, often when we want to change our lives we start with behaviors: new tactics, techniques, spiritual disciplines. Or, more prayer, bible reading, and church attendance. But if we're looking through the wrong "lens" we're still going to miss the point. They point out...

"Jesus repeatedly confronts and opposes the paradigms that are insufficient for understanding who he is, what he's saying, and what he's doing. In calling people to repentance, then, Jesus wasn't inviting people to just change WHAT they thought but HOW they thought as well."

So, the book consists of their "eight axioms for a new paradigm - eight key assumptions about our world and life with God" that they think can lead us to a more robust faith:

1. God is love, so it's all about love.
2. God is always present and at work.
3. God is just like Jesus.
4. God meets us in our messy reality.
5. God cares about (all of) it more than we do.
6. God does the same work through us and in us.
7. God's love always reckons with power.
8. God transforms us through embodied participation.

 Here's to hoping there is more to come...

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Proverbs 12:15

"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice."