Faith in Jesus is only alive when it’s hanging on the precipice of now and released as reckless intimate risk.
Faith in Jesus is only alive when it’s hanging on the precipice of now and released as reckless intimate risk.
Biblical criticism & interpretation (general), Christian church (general)
John Arthur is looking for a church. Not literally of course, those are quite easy to spot usually. He is looking for "a reading" of church through a reading of Jesus. He wants to examine whether the Jesus we have in the church is, well, big enough really. Are the relationships we pursue, with God and each other, the authentic and costly ones Jesus exemplified, or diluted by our expectations and culture? Have we formed an edgy activism around Jesus’ call to risk and journey, or a policy of endurance? Has the church fully accepted Jesus’ trust of an incomplete kingdom?
Gadfly is a conversational essay, part philosophy, part social observation and lots of unconventional exegesis posing questions about the purpose of Bible reading, the nature of Jesus and their implications for church identity. It challenges the dry readings of systematic theology that dominate so much of the public expression of the Bible in our churches. Gadfly wants to replace this with a call to risk-laden intimacy - the missing sacrament of the modern church.
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Wow! what a wonderfully intense but beautiful journey that will buzz around in your head not only as you read it but long after it too - - and yes at times it will leave you feeling a little like you've been bitten by some gadfly with a sudden sting, welt and deep burning itch, but it's worth it. It's written in such a way that the words flow off the page, deep theological consideration of hermeneutics and todays church mixed with down to earth insights, questions and agenda so that you feel you have sat by a river on a warm summers day and come away with both the bites and joy that such a thing brings - it's a book thats both theology and contemplation, rigourous but engaging too. Seriously this is a book for a questioning generation and is certainly one that should appeal to those involved in Fresh Expressions, but it does to my mind demand a wider audience than that - it should be read by any one involved in church (regardless of demonination or authority) that is wondering why there is a disconnect between church and people, between spirituality and sacrament, between the bible and the ordinary. Gadfly certainly doesn't have all the answers, indeed in some way it leaves as many questions as answers for the church, but it's a book about faith, doubts and relationships and it's a beautiful study in working through the issues and certainly worth the time to read and consider. Reviewer: Melanie Carroll (02/08/14) http://www.goodbookreviews.org.uk/review/9781782793250/john-george-arthur/gadfly/ ~ Melanie Carrol, www.goodbookreviews.org.uk
'Gadfly:Reading Church through Reading Jesus' - Is a thought provoking and stimulating read ~ Roy Searle, Caim: Northumbria Community June 2014
There is life coursing through the lines. . .the writing brims with life insight and vigour. ~ Mark Greene, London Institute of Contemporary Christianity.
