If the Church Were Christian

If the Church Were Christian June 17, 2010

As Barbara Brown Taylor says of Philip Gulley’s latest work, “If the Church were Christian: Rediscovering the Values of Jesus”, the chapter titles are worth the price of the book. Here are a few:


If the Church were Christian

  • Jesus would be a model for living rather than an object of worship.
  • Meeting needs would be more important than maintaining institutions (take note Mainline Protestants).
  • It would care more about love and less about sex.
  • Gracious behavior would be more important than right belief.
  • Peace would be more important than Power.

It’s one thing to affirm what the church, or an individual, believes.  It’s quite another to have to answer the question, “What does that belief look like?”  Gulley, a Quaker minister, is less interested in defending “right belief” and more concerned about the church being an embodiment of the grace-filled, justice oriented, inclusive Gospel of Jesus Christ.   If you’re not used to this kind of book, be prepared to have your Orthodox assumptions confronted.  This is a challenging and inspiring book.  A must for your summer reading list and even group discussion.

Read more theobloggers’ picks for Summer Reading at Patheos here.


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