Renegade Gospel

• Renegade Gospel: The Rebel Jesus by Mike Slaughter on Amazon

"The Rebel Jesus" and (hopefully) Jesus' followers who rebelliously act against established authority of all kinds. For those of us who have been following Son of God, the Human One ["Son of Man" in some versions of scripture], Servant of All, Savior of the World for some time, Pastor Mike Slaughter's brief book moves along with the energy of the New Testament book of Acts as it reminds us what we can achieve trusting the risen Christ with our lives.

I love the report of the archbishop who observed (complained?--page 41), "Everywhere Jesus went there was a riot. Everywhere I go they make me cups of tea!" Such a routine, common, sad example of ways humans literally domesticate Jesus' crazy wildness! Slaughter references famous Christians like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mother Teresa that every one of us almost despairs of following, yet Pastor Mike reminds us we follow Jesus, and includes many examples of regular people in seemingly ordinary Christian communities accomplishing amazing tasks because they trusted their lives on the risen Christ.

On page 103 the author observes people in the church are supposed to be servants rather than "volunteers" of their time and talents at their own convenience. A few years ago a church friend and colleague exclaimed to me, "we're not volunteers—we are called!" Indeed. Called by Jesus – to follow Jesus – on Jesus' terms.

The back cover features endorsements by well-known church people such as Shane Claiborne, Will Willimon, and Brian McLaren. But not a single endorsement from a woman :(

Renegade Gospel: The Radical Road to the Cross has helping me dare again to claim my own call and vision to follow Jesus, to search once more for a community that fully welcomes my presence and participation. Although in this format Mike Slaughter's newest book seems like best reading for a long-time Jesus follower, there's also a DVD, Leader Guide, Youth Study Book and Children's Leader Guide, all of which likely would lead to helpful conversations and life-transforming actions.

• My Amazon Review: Renegade Gospel about Jesus the Rebel