Boyett's O ME OF LITTLE FAITH

By Bonar Crump

I’m reading a book written by Jason Boyett called, O me of little faith: True Confessions of a Spiritual Weakling. The book acts as a testimony of sorts. It’s a well-reasoned collection of personal history used as a backdrop for explaining Jason’s doubts about the God and belief system of Christianity that’s been modeled for him his entire life. I don’t mean to imply that he blames anyone for the doubts he deals with, but he does feel compelled to explore the anomalies of his (and other’s) faith with an emphatic emphasis on asking “why?”

Why do we pray in such cryptic language? Why do we conjure up images of God which seem so paper-thin and flimsy? Why do we “sell” Jesus as a free gift or “get out of jail free card” only later to disclose that you’re gonna need to pay for the upgrades if you want to do this thing right? Why do we pit faith against logic and human experience in an attempt to rewrite all manners of time and space in a well-intentioned answer to the skeptics of “just because…that’s why”?

Here’s where I disagree with Jason: what he calls doubt in these situations I call honesty. His self-deprecating manner of presenting himself as a “spiritual weakling” seems very honest and forthright. His ability to untangle the spiritual knot in his life that is faith—doubt—understanding—self-evaluation—cosmic significance is an encouragement to us all to doubt. It is an encouragement to us all to be honest enough with ourselves to admit that a lot of what we’ve rubbed up against in contemporary organized religious circles CANNOT be from God.

My particular favorite section is about Jason’s struggle with the concept of prayer. I, too, don’t get what prayer is all about. If God is who He says He is then why do I need to be telling Him or asking Him anything? I never feel right praying for myself. It always feels like I’m using God as a Magic 8 Ball. Will someone give us an offer on the house this week? It is doubtful. Crap!

The message is clear…if you’re honest with your doubts and misgivings about your faith then you are asking the kinds of questions that will help you cast off the excessive garbage you’ve picked up along the way. That has to be a good thing. Whether you call it an “emergent” movement in the church or “postmodernism” it all translates into a generation of Christian believers that are honestly expressing their doubt in ways that are fundamentally enriching and controversially beneficial.

Thanks, Jason, for the cool read. My turtles rest on the outer rim of a black hole—there they wormhole through spacetime to wind up being connected to the top.  It’s a loop and I am the black hole. That’s the only way I can describe something that is without a beginning and without an end. You’ll have to read the book to understand what the hell I’m talking about…

I am ordering 4 more copies for friends today. Don't assume that you are one of the friends I'll be getting one for. Order one yourself.

[Get it at Amazon.com]

Throwing Hammers at Glass Churches

by Jeremy Myers
via Till He Comes

Bonar Crump is an aggressive blogger, and his book, Throwing Hammers – The Separation of Church and Self follows the same approach. It is edgy, squirm-in-your-seat, good writing.

He certainly has something to say, even if you don’t like how he says it. Frankly, however, I think he writes what a lot of people think and feel, but do not have the courage to say. Well, Crump says it. And with gusto.

Like what? Well, cover the eyes and ears of your children, here are some examples:

The deceptions of the Christian community never cease to amaze me. Incantations, rituals, robes, hymns, sacred readings, holy relics, holy writings, holy gestures, holy shit…” (p. 17).

We’ve created a system of healing which is completely off-limits to anyone that might be bleeding, infectious, or near death. We’ve segregated ourselves from those we can help the most. We’ve erected so many barriers between our hospitals and the outside world that we have become irrelevant! WTF indeed… (p. 35).

Why do we tolerate pricks within our churches? I’m not talking about among the folks being ministered to—I’m talking about within the ministerial branches of our churches (i.e. pastors, elders, deacons, teachers, nursery workers, etc.). …If you area prick and you are making life difficult for the rest of us then you have to pack your shit and go! We’ve got enough problems around here meeting people’s needs and teaching them how to love their neighbors without you setting such a piss poor example! (p. 59).

I imagine that reading such statements, many Church-Going Christians would say “This is not proper language for a Christian,” to which I imagine Bonar Crump would respond, “Damn right! That’s the entire point!”

And I’ll be honest. He does have a point, especially when he provides solutions for how we can stop being pricks. Check these quotes out:

The path starts with being lovable. (I’m not talking about being cute and cuddly, always smiling, and ready to hug anyone that walks in the door.) …It means to be gracious, compassionate, respectful, tolerant, humble, attentive, patient, kind, gentle, joyous, peaceful, and reverent—it means to be a servant. If you don’t start at this point then everything else is worthless! It’s really not that difficult to gauge—if people around you don’t enjoy your company, are forced to tolerate your speech and/or behavior, and really don’t want to invite you to the party then you being very lovable (p. 58).

Jesus, of course, is the perfect example:

He’s outside sitting on the curb consoling one of the bus drivers who just found out that his wife of 35 years has cancer. He’s across the street on the corner giving a homeless guy a dollar. He’s up the street trying to break up a fight between two guys arguing over a parking space.

He’s engaging in people’s lives—holding the hand of a woman who lost her baby during delivery—buying a beer for the guy at the end of the bar who just got laid off—counseling the couple who are standing on the brink of divorce—consoling the “life partner” of a man who just died of AIDS—trying to talk a kid out of taking his own life (p. 69).

In the end, I believe Crump presents a great vision for “the church” which appears to be much closer to the image of Jesus in Scripture than most of what I see elsewhere today.

Here is how he describes the ideal church:

There wouldn’t be any robes or hymnals or pews. The focus would be on providing the local community with a “rally point” for health and human services. …Our church would be run by social workers, nurses, teachers, program coordinators, and public health professionals. …Every day of the week our building would be used for some sort of event which would assist our community (p. 79).

He goes on to describe this is more detail, but to get it, you will have to read the book for yourself.

Amazon Reviews

AMAZON REVIEWS

Don't Let the Title "Throw" You!, June 17, 2010
By S Moore
This review is from: Throwing Hammers: Separation of Church and Self (Paperback)

I think when you see the title of this book, you're not sure what you're going to get. I'm telling you, you're going to get your money's worth. I've been an on again, off again "Christian" my whole life but always a believer. This author has a relationship and understanding of God that I envy, is obviously well-educated in religion, well-spoken and has some great metaphors. This isn't a boring book about Christianity, this author
 challenges you to think outside the box, doesn't mind if he offends you, all-the-while making for an entertaining, thought provoking read. Would love to see more books like this! 5 stars from me.
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A Whole New Perspective, June 17, 2010
By B Carter
This review is from: Throwing Hammers: Separation of Church and Self (Paperback)

Get ready for a whole new perspective on church, faith and religion. From the first page of the book, the author challenges you to cast off old ideas and open yourself to new possibilities for your faith. I am a Christian who tired of a church experience that left me feeling flat and unfulfilled. Reading this book helped me to realize that I am not alone! There are others out there searching for a way to live out their faith outside of the trappings of a one-size-fits-all religious institution. There are others out there longing to explore the unique gifts that God gave them and to use these gifts to live out their faith in a vibrant and meaningful way. If you are among these searchers, pick up this book and brace yourself for a whole new perspective.
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A MUST HAVE!!!, June 19, 2010
By T.S. Walters
This review is from: Throwing Hammers: Separation of Church and Self (Paperback)

This is an exceptional book that helps people truly discover the true meaning of what is going on inside the Church. An enlightening and open suggestion that causes the reader to truly look inside their beliefs of their faith and explore what people believe they should interpret the Church to be. This book opens the eyes of what has be questioned for so many years, but has never been brought to the forefront. A must read!
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What the..., June 23, 2010
By D Breedlove
This review is from: Throwing Hammers: Separation of Church and Self (Kindle Edition)

I liked the book - but it's not for everyone (as the author has acknowledged). It will either get your head nodding in agreement or piss you off - there's not alot of wiggle room for anything in-between. Crump has no hesitation in calling a spade a spade, and he makes no apologies for it.

"We challenge the 'big dog' or we accept the leash."
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Shocking!!!!, August 25, 2010
By Stephen D. Crump
This review is from: Throwing Hammers: Separation of Church and Self (Paperback)

Crump's message is like a spiritual AED (Automated External Defibrillator). An AED can diagnose a number of potentially life-threatening cardiac problems and treat them with an appropriate amount of electrical therapy. Like an AED, this book can apply its own "shock" to your spiritual heartbeat.

The delivery may offend some, but the message is straight-forward with little wiggle room. The author doesn't apologize for his display of intestinal fortitude in such a flammable topic. You will either love it or you will hate it. With numerous, to-the-core topics of internal struggles, this is definitely a book you will read through more than once.