Speaking of Jesus

This week is the introduction to a new book and Bible study at St. Philip's based on the book "Speaking of Jesus: the Art of Not-Evangelism," by Carl Medearis.   I first read this book in the spring after a friend of mine had recommended it to me, and then in an email wrote:

I found that it has really made me think about how I say things now.  And it was a really good thing when I met with an African American woman last week.  I had no idea about her beliefs and she asked me one of those loaded questions along the lines of “don’t you think you are ruining African traditional culture and beliefs by importing Christianity?”.  Fortunately, I was able to tell her (truthfully, of course, but I wouldn’t have known how to say it without having read the book) that I wasn’t really interested in importing Western church traditions.  I looked at it more as I had a best friend, Jesus, that I wanted to introduce my African friends to.  And that I thought they needed Him as much as I do.  Turns out, she is a Christian too, but she had been wrestling with this idea that somehow Christianity would destroy African culture.  Religion might – but not Jesus.

Over the summer I read it again, and then read two of Carl's other books.   Over the weeks and months between my first and second read of "Speaking of Jesus," I asked friends both at St. Philip's and other churches to tell me what they thought about Jesus.

I would ask about Jesus and they would tell me about the Church they went to.  I would ask what their (or our) church thought about Jesus, and they told me about the choir, or the praise band, or their pastor.

If someone asks me about my wife Suzanne, I don't tell them about the house we live in.  If someone asks me about that new restaurant we like so much, we don't tell them about the tablecloths.  If someone asks about that movie, or sports team, or musical artist, we don't tell them about the venue.  Why is Jesus different?

I am excited to read this book with others, and learn from them how we can really speak about Jesus.  Will you join me?

Read the first chapter [click here]
At Amazon [click here]
A Google eBook [click here] (but is missing chapters 8 & 10)