Home > Work > Mere Churchianity: Finding Your Way Back to Jesus-Shaped Spirituality
21 " The standard practice of preachers linking God’s work so closely to church programs and priorities had a devastating effect on Christians who gave up on the church. For them, leaving the church meant leaving Jesus behind in the church. God was so closely linked to the building that it seemed he was the property of the congregation. The church acted as if it had God on salary, with him keeping regular office hours and even being on call whenever he might be needed. "
― , Mere Churchianity: Finding Your Way Back to Jesus-Shaped Spirituality
22 " Religion is our negotiation with God to try to get his help in exchange for our good behavior. We promise to do what we’re told, and we expect God to reward us. This is a straightforward business arrangement, and we fully expect it to work. Meanwhile, we talk about being God’s child as if we’re family. But in our performance-for-reward arrangement, things don’t operate on grace. Under the rules of religion, God is kept at arm’s length and expected to be involved only to the degree that he gives us what we think we deserve. "
23 " Jesus saves. But as soon as that’s out of the way, just hand the whole business back to us to run, and we’ll call him when we have an emergency or if we need a guest appearance. "
24 " The things you are certain of at age twenty-five lose a lot of luster by age forty, and even more by age fifty. As you follow God and hear from him and watch him work—and also watch him choose not to speak and act—the greater the chances that your early conception of him will be hidden in shadow. Over time, as you continue to follow God, you gain a humbler attitude about what you say about God. You also gain a desire for clarity and simplicity when you speak about God. "