The Open Table - Donald Miller - "What I Don't Like"

[VanillaIcedLatte]

I feel the very same way about church. I am very much a Christian and I pray and trust in Him. In fact...I saw Mr. Miller this Sunday at a church. I had not been to church for a few years...and I enjoyed his speaking. AND then they sang Amazing Grace and a man was singing from his Heart and some college kids in front of me started snickering at him. sad.

[1ThreeDaysGrace]

I know that place, and i go to that place. There's a church called Oakwood in hartland wi. and i absolutly love it there, because its so comforting knowing that you can share anything with them and they will listen and care.

[dylanlovesmovies]

Honesty, its one of the most under appreciated qualities a person can have, regardless if they are Christians or not.

[83th4nn]

I don't think he is bashing churches. I think he is just pointing out the fact that you don't need to just go to church because you feel you have to. If the church you go to doesn't do things in a Godly, loving way (and, no, love isn't always tolerance) then you don't need to stay there and allow them to teach you...

[hubbs86]

"maybe it's a fault of mine, maybe it's a fault of the churches, i dont know...."

"Then you can decide for youself whether you like Jesus or not....if it's not comfortabel, unplug and go find somewhere else, cause they're not doing it right..."

The human heart is not inclined towards God.. it is sinful in every way (Jer 17:9) and hates God.

This guy is blind to the gospel... why are we reading this guys book again?

[mananacl]

@hubbs86 Those ellipses you have there are completely misleading. You're twisting his words. I think there are problems Donald Miller, because in some ways encourages seclusion from the Church, but he is not blind to the Gospel.

[83th4nn]

@hubbs86 He isn't blind to the gospel, he simply sees that a big reason that many people do not believe in God is because of the judgement and poorly hidden sins of the church. And, yes, we do have to make up our mind about what we think about Jesus.

[shandcunt]

"The Human heart has a hunger and a longing for God" - Mine doesn't, I believe the Humans have a desire to understand the world they live in and understand there place in it, how they fit in. For some people the God theroy, an assertion of upmost authority helps them achieve this for others they just understand reality.

[IslandofShips]

I've been recently reading his book Blue Like Jazz

After reading all these other comments i kinda agree disagree. I Agree that his ideas are more post modern but i think thats what I love. I feel like it was written for me. I don't agree that this is Churchless-christianity nonsense because i know a lot of wonderful christians who don't go to church all the time. Church is really important but i guess you just have to find the right one or right way to worship. Not all christians are the same.

[marushamomma]

what about the Bible?

[thestationagent256]

And he's totally not a church-basher. If you read his books, you'll see that he's very pro-church. He even had a hand in planting a church in downtown Portland, a very unreached area. He does, however, recognize the blindness of the modern American church. Anyway, I got into his books a few years ago, and I found his writing to be a huge breath of fresh air. The guy understands the pivotal realtional dynamics of the Gospel perhaps better than any other Christian author or pastor I've heard.

[ChrisJadesMonavie]

" A hunger for God", thats just it isn't it?

Wow..Couldn't have said it better myself.

[dpendley1]

Don really needs to a) find a wishy washy church that presents vague concepts to be discussed or b) seek some good therapy regarding his continuous church bashing. It is fashionable to bash the church Don, but your act is wearing thin. As a culture we are being bombarded by 'cool' pastors with funny hair cuts and nose rings trying to be sooo cool presenting ideas vs. truth. I am young and my generation needs truth...we will smoke out the fakes. We want courage and conviction!

[thestationagent256]

I gotta say I disagree, dpendley. I am also a young person, and I have seen no such "bombardment." I, rather, continue to see pompous, out-of-touch pastors that spew religion to a disenchanted young generation and wonder why they aren't getting a response. DM tries to reach this generation in a way that is not alienating or dehumanizing, and his approaches are very effective. I had the priveledge of seeing him speak recently, and the guy is the real deal. Keep it up, Don!

[shecouldchoke]

When has Don bashed churches??

[agustinymaximiliano]

More post-modernist sludge. It's not about you and your feelings, how you perceive and how you feel, and what works best for you and what fits best for your needs. It is about Jesus Christ, not more, not less.

[Dogtownpaddy]

Gnostic Jesus???....... well, we wouldn't want to accept people where they're at and love them unconditionally...... what a stupid non-Christian idea THAT would be??

[FINDTheREALJesus]

This guys Jesus is not the Jesus of the Bible. Read 2nd Thessalonians. This guys Jesus is the Gnostic Jesus

[FINDTheREALJesus]

Gee why don't we all just make up our own Jesus. God gave us THE WORD (KJV Bible) so we could differentiate between the REAL Jesus and the Fakes. T

[lacyfrench]

@FINDTheREALJesus

Are you stating the the Word can only come from the King James Version of the Bible, or were you stating what version you read?

[kstarheel5150]

I like Donald. I don't agree with all his attitudes or political leanings. But he offers some thought for people to... well, think about.

[jconway1]

Interesting comments

What do you consider to be the core elements of the gospel? Jesus told everyone he was the way, the truth and the life. He associated with the lowest of the low in society. He loved all but detested sin and he rebuked those who loved the law more than they loved God.I'd suggest you go back and read Miller's books again. Yes, he writes from a VERY personal point of view but living in Jesus is about a PERSONAL relationship, not attending a mega-church once a week.

[sluebke1]

Typical churchless-Christianity nonsense. I've read his books. Church and Christianity to Miller is about his own needs.

Small Groups is not a revolutionary idea. It is actually the ideal way of structuring a church of size.

Miller pushes postmodern ideology that barely touches on the core elements of the gospel. Read Acts. Paul preached forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

Miller is extremely influential among younger Christians and he does not encourage holiness among them.

[McMandinko]

I see where you come from, but I dont have a doubt in my mind that he loves Jesus. He's honest, which is what our world needs. There are enough books out there that sugar coat the christian life. Christianity isnt perfect, nor is it supposed to be. And I agree with you that he writes about himself. It should be about him, because you cant not personalize a relationship with God, it should be about him and God. I personally am a fan and have learned a lot from him.

[sidedooryouth]

all he's saying is that church should be focused around discussions and actions that are God centered...how is that nonsense???

[woundedhandsband]

I love this! I love Donald Miller, actually. He's amazing!