Real Live Preacher: the book

RealLivePreacher.com has arrived. Thanks, Gordon! (It took a lot longer than the 5-7 days UPS promised, but it’s here.) It’s great. A quote:

I believed then and still believe that many Christians are not honest about their own failings, sins, and disappointments. Like Martha Stewart, they try to sell a sugary, imaginary world of happiness to people who are hurting and looking for real answers. I believed then and still believe that many Christians use manipulative techniques to win converts. The pursuit of truth has taken a back seat or has been lost altogether. What matters is numbers, namely how many people you can convince to become Christians. Converts are counted and boasted about. They wouldn’t call it boasting, but that’s what it is. Retch! I beleived then and still believe that many Christians have created a subculture with its own language, customs, and myths. Ministers even have their own dialect and hairdos. Weird. This subculture is really more about worshipping America than God, more about achieving than receiving, more about competition than grace. The problem with a religious subculture is no one else “gets it,” and you are isolated from the world you are called to SERVE. I became increasingly disgusted with the institutional and bureaucratic nature of churches. It seemed to be that many churches were worshipping the idols of wealth, power, and prestige. It seemed to me that many churches existed solely to support the Christian subculture.

Now, if you’re offended by this passage, you probably won’t enjoy this book. If you, like me, find the honesty refreshing, then you’re likely to welcome RLP as a friend. He is among those who count honesty as a virtue, even if that honesty is jarring to those only used to piety. No pretending. He is numbered among those who are doubters and believers at the same time, which is why so many can relate to him. This is looking like a great read.