Friday, September 22, 2006

Primal Leaders

"A barbarian invasion is taking place even right now. They are coming from the four corners of the earth and they are numbered among the unlikely. From the moment Jesus walked among us the invasion began. And just as with those who crossed paths with Him here on earth, those who are most religious will be most offended and indignant. Barbarians are not welcome among the civilized and are feared among the domesticated. The way of Jesus is far too savage for their sensibilities. The sacrifice of God's Son, the way of the Cross, the call to die to ourselves, all lack the dignity of a refined faith. Why insist on such a barbaric way? Why a reckless call to awaken the barbarian faith within us at the risk of endangering this great civilization we have come to know as Christianity?
"Because Jesus did not suffer and die so that we could build for ourselves havens, but so that we might expand the kingdom of His love. Because invisible kingdoms are at war for the hearts and lives of every human being who walks on the face of this earth. And times of war require barbarians who are willing to risk life itself for the freedom of others. The irony, of course, is that barbarians are driven away in times of peace - they only disrupt our communities, traditions, and sensibilities. It is only in the most desperate of times - times of war or conflict - that these outcasts are welcomed or even invited to return."

Erwin Raphael McManus from his book, The Barbarian Way, pp. 15,16.

Comments:
Just wanted to say thanks for your blog. I too am reading the Barbarian Way and am pushed to look beyond what we have become to what God intended. I am a pastor who wants to push folks to move beyond the comfortable to the barbaric faith. I enjoyed your postings and appreciate insights on how to get folks to the barbaric
 
Trent,
More power to you! I applaud pastors such as yourself who are not content with the status quo, but are seeking to move beyond the present state, even at risk to yourself. But that is what the barbarian way is all about, the risk of stepping out of the comfort and security of domesticated Christianity into the wild adventure of involvement with Jesus in bringing his kingdom to earth.
 
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