tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post111599948553211684..comments2023-10-23T12:23:54.134-05:00Comments on Larry James' Urban Daily: Thinking about JesusLarry Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06124477733714017000noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-1116635104938020802005-05-20T19:25:00.000-05:002005-05-20T19:25:00.000-05:00Dear Larry,I'm compelled to respond to this post. ...Dear Larry,<BR/><BR/>I'm compelled to respond to this post. I've only read a handful of your posts over the years so I realize that my thoughts and words may not take into account the context of your words . . . much like reading the second chapter of James without reading the surrounding chapters.<BR/> <BR/>I was surprised by your observations that most churches don't have an accurate understanding of Jesus, nor do most church members "hang out" with people Jesus would hang with. Your frequent travelers' miles must be quite high having visited most of the churches in the United States! It appears you and I have been attending different churches over the past 40 years. The lives of most church members I see and know are filled with pain, brokenness, fear, hurt, and addiction. They long for hope, love, and mercy. We long for a word and the presence of the risen Lord.<BR/><BR/>You believe that in most churches Jesus would ushered outside on a regular basis because of his message. On the contrary, I believe that he would be embraced (and asked to stay for pot luck) by most churches because his message would be one of unfailing love, the very thing that broken, hurt, and addicted people so desparately want to hear. We in most churches want to be understood, we hope for mercy, and long for acceptance and tenderness. We are aware and sick of our personal imposters. <BR/><BR/>You pointed out that Jesus was inclusive and that EVERYONE was welcomed to be with him. Amen! Everyone! Jesus would hang with all his church. Oh that Jesus would hang with me!<BR/><BR/>If indeed Jesus would not fit in most of the religious bodies today, let us consider how we can lovingly point that out, as Jesus would. It does not necessarily have to "end in real difficulty most times."<BR/><BR/>Your words are challenging. Your labor is appreciated. Keep up the Good work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-1116367116846548242005-05-17T16:58:00.000-05:002005-05-17T16:58:00.000-05:00I think I agree with you, Casey. It is just that ...I think I agree with you, Casey. It is just that "the bride of Christ" may not be the institutional expression of the church that we see and by which we so often limit our vision of the kingdom. Post-modern expressions of communities of faith--that traditionalists would not see as "the church"--may need to be taken much more seriously if the church is to have any meaningful role in the future of our culture. I think that is my point. Jesus wouldn't fit in most of our organized religious bodies today. Most efforts to point that out and to make real change ends in real difficulty most times. Maybe I am wrong and maybe my experience is simply "warped" by my urban experience. So, forgive me if I am off base.Larry Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06124477733714017000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-1116347027857911322005-05-17T11:23:00.000-05:002005-05-17T11:23:00.000-05:00I enjoyed this post but we must remember the bride...I enjoyed this post but we must remember the bride of Christ is to have our love, devotion, respect, no matter how off track it gets for it is just such love that will get it back on track.Casey McCollumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04910149272276475986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-1116266558215847802005-05-16T13:02:00.000-05:002005-05-16T13:02:00.000-05:00Larry--what a great post and such a practical remi...Larry--what a great post and such a practical reminder of what Jesus was aboutJim Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01439815249502910190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-1116086650638225912005-05-14T11:04:00.000-05:002005-05-14T11:04:00.000-05:00Larry, thanks for the reminder! I know you are pr...Larry, thanks for the reminder! I know you are probably too humble to acknowlege it, but most of us see you living Jesus every day in your ministry! You are an encouragement to ALL of us to be more about HIM and less about religious things, brother! You wash our feet daily.<BR/><BR/>And keep quoting James Walters! :)<BR/>We still miss him around here. <BR/><BR/>In HIM,<BR/>DUDavid Uhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04087224962012899721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-1116070679929567242005-05-14T06:37:00.000-05:002005-05-14T06:37:00.000-05:00Amen. I'm glad you're trying to see Jesus as he re...Amen. I'm glad you're trying to see Jesus as he really is (not just the vehicle of nice folks conformity). Even more, I'm glad that who is really is gives you comfort. I'll be writing about this post at my blog this weekend. Peace.Milton Stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09235705641913811166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-1116031401200558282005-05-13T19:43:00.000-05:002005-05-13T19:43:00.000-05:00John, thanks for sharing Pound. Somehow all great...John, thanks for sharing Pound. Somehow all great thinkers and leaders, when domesticated, become something in the minds of their followers that they never, ever intended. Your work is very important, John. And frankly, in it I see this Jesus fellow every day.Larry Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06124477733714017000noreply@blogger.com