Cross-Eyed is a great resource and we’ve heard some great stories about people finding encouragement through the site, but the fact is, we can’t compete with books. Go to the Christian section of your local bookstore, pull out almost any old book and you’ve got us beat. Why?
Kimi Harris, sister-in-law of Alex and Brett Harris, puts it this way, “Blogs often contain short-lived opinions. Most likely all of us have at one point or another felt strongly about a certain principle or issue, but upon additional experience, time and wisdom, realized our original conclusion was wrong. We are much more likely to write about a passing belief on a blog, than in a book. We can easily share opinions on blogs that have not been tested with further thought, feedback or experience. This is an important aspect of blogging to keep in mind when reading them. Books on the other hand, are not so vulnerable to this tendency. [On the other hand] Books open the door to the wisdom of the ages. If we are only aware of the wisdom of the present day we will be limited in our knowledge. Every century, even decade, has its own strengths and weaknesses in thought and practice. If we read only the newest, most recent blogs, newspapers, and magazines (and books!) we will be restricted to the wisdom and faults of our age. But if we read older books, we can learn from their insight as well as their mistakes, and develop a more well-rounded knowledge.”
We hope that Cross-Eyed is an encouragement, inspiration and help to many people, but we acknowledge that we’re not perfect. This week, instead of spending anymore time on here or other blogs around the net, go grab one of the following books and get some real meat!
Synopsis: In many Bibles, Christ’s words are set apart with a red font. It should be obvious, but this distinction helps remind us that when God becomes Man and He speaks–it’s probably something we cannot afford to miss. So why doesn’t the church take these ” red letters” to heart? Why aren’t we doing more to be Christ’s hands and feet to the poor, the disenfranchised, the weary, the ill, the fatherless, the prisoners? It’s all there–in red letters. Why has the Church shirked its responsibilities, leaving the work to be done by governments, rock stars, and celebrities?
The Gospel wasn’t only meant to be read–it was meant to be lived. From the HIV crisis in Africa to a single abused and lonely child in Russia, the Church must seize the opportunity to serve with a radical, reckless abandon. Author Tom Davis offers both challenge and encouragement to get involved in an increasingly interconnected, desperate modern world.
Notes: Tom Davis is a dead honest author. He doesn’t beat around the bush with his writing, he speaks out with his message. As I read through this book it’s challenging me to evaluate just how I spend my time and what my compassion level is for the people around me. It’s making me look at the world in a different light.
The Irresistible Revolution – Shane Claiborn
Synopsis: If there is such a thing as a disarming radical, 30-year-old Claiborne is it. A former Tennessee Methodist and born-again high school prom king, Claiborne is now a founding member of one of a growing number of radical faith communities. His is called the Simple Way, located in a destitute neighborhood of Philadelphia. It is a house of young believers, some single, some married, who live among the poor and homeless. They call themselves “ordinary radicals” because they attempt to live like Christ and the earliest converts to Christianity, ignoring social status and unencumbered by material comforts. Claiborne’s chatty and compelling narrative is magnetic—his stories (from galvanizing a student movement that saved a group of homeless families from eviction to reaching Mother Teresa herself from a dorm phone at 2 a.m.) draw the reader in with humor and intimacy, only to turn the most common ways of practicing religion upside down. He somehow skewers the insulation of suburban living and the hypocrisy of wealthy churches without any self-righteous finger pointing. “The world,” he says, “cannot afford the American dream.” Claiborne’s conviction, personal experience and description of others like him are a clarion call to rethink the meaning of church, conversion and Christianity; no reader will go away unshaken.
Notes: I decided not to like this book from the minute I read the introduction. But like na ill-informed “welcome to the podium,” the book was very different from the slant presented in the welcoming pages. This isn’t a book that you can easily forget or put down. I found myself reading half of it in one sitting and judging from other reviews, many people said the same thing. Though the introduction by Jim Wallis, a minister, social activist and democrat, informs us that Shane Claiborn is a liberal and that conservatives have ruined the church, the book is mainly free from the confusion of political ties and the message is strong and powerful.
Blogs often contain short-lived opinions
Most likely all of us have at one point or another felt strongly about a certain principle or issue, but upon additional experience, time and wisdom, realized our original conclusion was wrong. We are much more likely to write about a passing belief on a blog, than in a book. We can easily share opinions on blogs that have not been tested with further thought, feedback or experience. This is an important aspect of blogging to keep in mind when reading them. Books on the other hand, are not so vulnerable to this tendency.
Books open the door to the wisdom of the ages
If we are only aware of the wisdom of the present day we will be limited in our knowledge. Every century, even decade, has its own strengths and weaknesses in thought and practice. If we read only the newest, most recent blogs, newspapers, and magazines (and books!) we will be restricted to the wisdom and faults of our age. But if we read older books, we can learn from their insight as well as their mistakes, and develop a more well-rounded knowledge. Don’t limit yourself, read old books.
Written by Eric Novak. For more articles by Eric check out his site: EricNovak.com
Cross-Eyed has definitely been a huge encouragement and inspiration to me and I want to thank you guys!
But your right about books! I haven’t read ‘Red Letters’ yet, but after this review, I’m going to pick myself up a copy!
I have read ‘The Irresistible Revolution’. It’s an amazing book that I could not put down! It really challenges you on what it really means to follow Christ and be a Christian. This book made me laugh and it made me cry. It opens up your eyes and when your done reading it, it’s not quickly forgotten. I agree that it’s a must-read for everyone!
I’m reading the “Irresistable Revolution” myself right now. I love Shane Claiborne’s writing style. He really strikes me is a likeable person and I’d honestly love to drink some fair-trade coffee with him sometime. However, one thing I’ve noticed is that while he states that not all believers need to go live in the ghetto like he does, he turns around, and compels people to do the same thing. I understand that he’s speaking to American materialism, but I think there needs to be discernment when reading a book by anyone who thinks they’ve found radical Christianity. The truth is, when people attack the legalism/traditional Christianity, they go about and set their own standards of legalism and their own traditions. Here, Claiborne equates Jesus-following with living with the homeless and becoming environmentalists. I don’t see anything wrong with those things–but if we ALL define Christianity as living with the homeless, etc., two things will happen: we’ll define Christianity by our works, and the rest of the world that isn’t homeless will go unevangelized.
I like Claiborne. Honestly, I love the standard he sets forth in this book because it’s so different…but at the same time I see dangers…because it’s easy to miss the point of the Gospel altogether if it all becomes about serving and not at all about truth. To be healthy, there must be a balance of both–because both feed eachother.
Anyways, I like your site. Peace.