6.14.2006
Blue Like Jazz
A little book review on Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller.
Alright- I guess I'm the only person on the internet who didn't like this book. I was so looking forward to it. So many had bragged on it and I couldn't wait to read what all the fuss was about. I was disappointed.
Miller comes across as an extremely self-absorbed, narcissistic, anti-establishment, single man. He also comes across as a bit pseudo-intellecutal. I hate to say that because it's not like I'm a REAL intellectual. I'm just telling you how it came across. My other beef is that the book is very rambling and hard to follow. Have you ever been in a conversation with someone who talked in half-sentences? Reading his book reminded me of that.
Like Miller, I believe that we should be living missional lives. Like Miller, I believe that we should be intentionally befriending people who are different from us-(lost people.) But Miller seems to think that if you're a Republican, a homeschooler or a non-cusser, you cannot be missional. I came away from the book feeling that Miller's biggest goal in life, more than anything else, was to be anti-establishment. I know he was trying to prove that the modern church has become irrelevant in a post modern culture and I agree with certain aspects of what he was saying, but I think Miller is missing it.
Julie at Everyday Mommy quoted John Piper yesterday and I think it fits well here:
"Adjust your doctrine – or just minimize doctrine – to attract the world, and in the very process of attracting them, lose the radical truth that ALONE CAN SET THEM FREE." -- John PiperI have developed many relationships with lost people and I've never once had to cuss to win them to Jesus. Amazing. I just love them and share the Truth with them over supper. OK--that's all I have to say about Blue Like Jazz.
11 Comments:
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Hey, Michelle. This book is. On my reading list. Too. (How do you like my half-sentences?!) Anyway, the whole emergent church thing has me intrigued. Not so much in a "I really want to do things this way" way, but more like a "Huh?" way. But I'm slow like that. My husband has spent much time researching this phenomenon (?) and we both just come away with "there's nothing new under the sun." (very Solomonesque, huh?) And hey, watch the cussing, or your mom will wash your mouth out with soap!
Hey Sherri--
Like you, the whole emergent church thing is interesting to me as well. My husband is actually preparing for a doctoral seminar in which he had to read 2,000 pages on the emergent church. When I ordered his books for the class, I ordered Blue Like Jazz for myself.
I guess the biggest beef I have with the movement is that I seem to be getting the idea from these books that they think that the purpose of the church is lost people. I believe the purpose of the church is God.
But I do appreciate their desire to make the church a place where lost people feel like they can come and get answers. I am very much against the "club" mentality that so many traditional churches have.
I like what your husband says--"There is nothing new under the sun." True.
Oh-- and no soap PLEEEEZE!!!!!! :)
Michelle,
It's good to here you say this. I have not read this book, although many friends have recommended it. I happen to know Don personally, and can say that your assumptions of him are right on target. I am very wary of the emergent church movement, and he seems to be leading the way. Of course I agree with living a missional lifestyle, I'm a missionary for goodness sake!! But, I agree with what you said in the comment to Sherri, the church IS about God...glorifying Him and enjoying Him, and I think that outreach comes from the fruit of that.
Since I haven't read the book, I can't comment with any more intelligence than that! :)
Blessings!
I enjoy reading your posts. You sound very intelligent to me!!
Thanks for the book review and perspective!!! I agree with joyfuljourney....you do sound and are intelligent! :)
Aww-- I feel so affirmed (and intelligent!!) :) I just meant that I'm not a true intellectual. You know what I mean.
I haven't read the book, so I don't have a clue what you're talking about.
But with all due respect, do you run in circles where cussing would make you more relate-able?
I don't.
But I know people who do. My husband has gone to gay bars with co-workers. Not because he enjoys it, but because they invited him to hang out with them in their element.
Maybe the point isn't to try to be someone else in the name of the Gospel, but more about being willing to meet someone where they are because they are seeking relationship.
Again, I haven't read the book, so I'm just spouting :-)
Hey Supermom-
Sorry I'm so late in getting back to you here. I was gone ALL DAY Saturday...
First of all, I think you already know that I think a lot of you. I love your heartfelt, well-written and often funny blog and I've told you this more than once. Truly, though we've never met, I consider you a friend. I know you have a heart for lost people and your motivation is to reach them. Praise God for people like you who love lost people.
My biggest complaint about THE BOOK is that Miller writes with a very condescening tone of arrogance. And this comes across when he talks about Republicans, homeschoolers and people who don't cuss. I just don't have any stomach for arrogance--no matter which side of the "fundamentalist line" you fall.
But on to your comment...
I guess I would have to say that I think cussing in order to make myself more relate-able for the gospel's sake is would operating out of a faulty logic. I can think of lots of sin that would make me more relate-able. Fornication, perhaps, would make more relate-able to the prostitute. Stealing might make me more relate-able to the guy who had embezzled on his taxes.
The Scriptures have so much to say about the tongue and how it's an expression of our heart. I really believe that we will be held accountable by the Father for every idle word that leaves our mouths. And so I also have to say that I believe that ANY profane expression that makes it from our heart to our lips--whether it be cursing or gossiping yelling in anger or slander--is sin.
And I don't think we ever need to sin in order to be more relate-able to the lost. I think the very best thing we can do to be relate-able to the lost is to LOVE them with unconditional love. I believe this is the Jesus Way.
This morning at church, a guy we have been reaching out to for a long time, showed up for morning worship in his Hooters T-shirt. I loved it! I thanked the Lord that this guy felt comfortable enough to come our church even though he is still very rough around the edges. However, I don't plan on wearing a Hooters t-shirt anytime soon. I'm just going to continue to love this guy into the Kingdom. How? Heartfelt conversation and hugs. (And food never hurts either...) :)
I mentioned in my review of the book that the biggest beef I had with the book is that he gave the impression that he thought that the purpose of the church is lost people; whereas I believe that the purpose of the church is God. You and I may differ on this point, I don't know. But there's my response.
p.s. I'm all for hanging out in g*y bars to reach people. I think this is very, very Jesus-like. However, I'm not for men k*ssing other men in order to make myself more relate-able. Kapish?
I probably wouldn't have commented - but this caught my eye from Joy:
*****
I happen to know Don personally, and can say that your assumptions of him are right on target. I am very wary of the emergent church movement, and he seems to be leading the way.
******
I have no desire to argue with anyone about what they took away from the book. Each person is certainly entitled to their own opinion on the matter. However, I happen to attend the church Mr. Miller describes in the book and have had the privilege of meeting him and hearing him speak on several occasions.
May I humbly say that I disagree with Joy's statement. I find Mr. Miller to be a gentle, funny, and kind man. He speaks much like he writes and is often quite self-deprecating and honest. (I also think it is quite a leap to describe him as "leading the way" in the emergent church movement.)
fwiw - as a relatively clean-mouthed, conservative homeschooler :) - I personally did not find the tone condescending. I enjoyed Mr. Miller's honest descriptions of his struggles and his willingness to examine his faith in light of the Gospel.
Thanks.
Post a Comment
<< Home