I love to read. Occasionally a book will catch me, and then really stay with me, and I know it’s one that I want to hold on to for myself. Yet – I love it so much that I want to share it with others.
A few years back I did just that with the book “Across that Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America” by then US Representative John Lewis. I was so moved by his book that I bought copies and mailed them off to people.
Last week I read “If God is Love Don’t Be a Jerk” by John Pavlovitz. I have followed Mr. Pavlovitz on Facebook for some time now because he writes and posts essays and editorials that make sense to me. He writes about religion, today’s politics, and living in America. John is a pastor who has served churches, counseled people, supported them in good times and bad. Now, free of his church duties, and perhaps free of following a denomination’s standards, he writes from the heart. He challenges. He uses his experiences and he speaks ‘how it is’ and he asks how should it be?
I am not hear to sell more books for him. I am not connected with him in anyway except as a fan of what he writes.
Written under the title on the front cover is “Finding a faith the makes us better humans.” Don’t we all want that? Don’t we want to live our lives as good examples of a follower of Jesus? Are you like me and are you questioning where organized religion fits in with that these days? And, why so many are turned off by it?
“If God is Love, don’t be a Jerk” is not a heavy theology book filled with specialized language. You don’t need to have gone through a seminary to read it. No – It is written for you and me. It is written for all of us from all our backgrounds. It is not a dry read. There is some humor in it. But, there is also some really important questions asked, and some eye opening (but perhaps what should be common sense?!?) concepts. Chapter 1 is called “Unboxing God.” I mean, come on, don’t we all like to keep God in our box – and we put God in a safe place where we like Him, and call upon Him when we want to, and we describe Him in ways we can handle?
I am at a point in my life where I struggle with the love of my Lutheran heritage (and I really do love it), and the comfort of my way of worshiping God. I am on my spiritual journey with eyes open, and I wonder what living a Christian life will be like in the future. For me – and for others.
Religion and politics have gotten so mixed together in the past few years that I see a real falling out among the youth, and even among those who want to be faithful but can’t accept the hypocrisy. Many of my Roman Catholic friends left that church because it became so obvious in the last few decades – the scandals hidden, the white men rulers, the old laws that don’t address today’s issues . And, now other protestant religions are losing membership like crazy too. The generation of “going to church because we always do” is gone. Sunday school classes are hardly existent. Bible studies are few and far between. Yes – CoVid has accelerated this change. Online worship. Less contact. It’s real.
John Pavlovitz addresses many of the current changes. He wrote the book just last year, during CoVid, and post Trump. He speaks to the effects and fallout of them.
But, the book is always about LOVE ! God is love, and God wants us to love one another. God gives us a set of rules, and then all those parables and – Jesus! But, still we are jerks.
So, some of you will find this book in your Christmas stocking. Some of you I plan to gift to you in hopes you will read it. But, don’t wait for me. You can order “If God is Love don’t Be a Jerk” on Amazon. The audio version will be out soon. I’m also up for discussion about the book. Tell me what you think.
Marla’s Musings 