Faith

In “The Second Mountain,” David Brooks explains the strengths of his secular Jewish background. I’ve seen those strengths with my Jewish friends, too. He points out the power of ritual, community and Shabbat (p. 225-6). It is also rooted in action (p. 227). After his divorce, he began to investigate the Christian faith. Certain Christians have an offensive tenor and tone that makes it very difficult for people to be interested in hearing about Jesus. This often happens when Christians link following Jesus with a political agenda. My favorite chapter in his book is 21, “A Most Unexpected Turn of Events.” PLEASE read this chapter! Brooks’ tells of speaking with the late John Stott, an Anglican priest and scholar. I quote Brooks: “Stott’s voice…is friendly, courteous and natural. It is humble and self-critical, but also confident, joyful and optimistic. Stott’s mission is to pierce through all the encrustations and share direct contact with Jesus. Stott says that the central message of the Gospel is not the teachings of Jesus, but Jesus himself, the human/divine figure. He is always bringing people back to the concrete reality of Jesus’ life and sacrifice. It’s about putting on the mind of Christ.” (p. 227) He also quotes Stott: “It is your sin I am bearing, your curse I am suffering, our debt I am paying, your death I am dying.’ Nothing in history or in the universe cuts us down to size like the cross. All of us have inflated views of ourselves, especially in self-righteousness, until we visit a place called Calvary. It is there, at the foot of the cross, that we shrink to our true size.” (p. 228) Brooks understands being a Christian is all about a relationship with Jesus. Christianity rises and falls on the resurrection of Jesus. The Apostle Paul had “a most unexpected turn of events, too.” The story is not about us. That is why our mission is “Helping Others Follow Jesus.” HE is our story.

- Pastor Tom Harrison