This month, I finished reading two very different books: The Amber Spyglass (the last book of the His Dark Materials trilogy) by Philip Pullman, and The Hole in Our Gospel, by Rich Stearns.
They were both very good books, although I must admit to enjoying The Amber Spyglass more :) I got to thinking about the contrast in how God and the Church (uppercase "C") are depicted in these books. In Pullman's trilogy, God is a feeble, decrepit "angel" who dissolves into nothingness eventually; the power of God on earth is largely felt through the mighty hand of the ruthless, tyrannical Church. God is "the Authority" and the role of the Church is to make believers conform to their doctrine.
Rich Stearns, currently the president of World Vision USA, sees God in the faces and lives of the world's poor. The Church, in his book, has become more of a social club focusing on the well-being and needs of its members (even ones that are well-intentioned).
Two very different images of God, and two very different images of flawed churches. I've known both kinds of churches, and I also know there are ones that strive to be what Jesus called his church to be.
What kind of church is yours?
Monday, February 15, 2010
A tale of two books
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3 comments:
most of the churches I have attended or been a member of have been ones that strive to help the needy but also want to retain their social country club status.
What makes me sad about these two books is that their depiction of God is really a description of flawed humanity portraying their version of God - sad that these authors think that this is actually God.
That's true; we tend to project our own experiences and feelings onto who God is. It's why I think no-one has all the answers.
I got all the answers, but they tend to be wrong. Problem with seeing God in the poor is missing God in everyone else. I am better off than most on this planet, my desire would be not only those who are better off can see God in me.
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