This book! Have you read it? Like the subtitle says it is indeed wrecking my comfortable Christianity. Thank God.
This book is based around the parable found in Matthew 25:32-40. Read it here.
Along with this there are more than 2,000 verses involving poverty, physical oppression and justice, and the redistribution of resources. All the while I am memorizing pretty verses and missing a lot of the heart of God.
I just wanted to share with you one of the oh-my-gosh-I-can't-breathe-this-is-so-true-help-me-Jesus excerpts from this book:
on pages 56-57 regarding communion:
"Do this in remembrance of Me"...Not only does Jesus' statement require a constant response, but remembrance is from anamnesis, meaning to make real. Communion is more than a memory, more than a reverent moment when we recall Jesus' heroic sacrifice. Remembrance means honoring Jesus mercy mission with tangible, physical action since it was a tangible, physical sacrifice. In other words, "constantly make this real."
The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you, do this in remembrance of Me." 1 Corinthians 11:23-24
"Now you are the body of Christ." 1 Corinthians 12:27
Not only was Communion a symbolic ritual, it was a new prototype of discipleship "Continuously make My Sacrifice real by doing this very thing."
Become broken and poured out for hopeless people.
Become a living offering [denying yourself] for the salvation and restoration of humanity.
Obedience to Jesus' command is more than looking backward; it's a present and continuous replication of His sacrifice. We don't simply remember the meal; we become the meal."
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