Greg Boyd, in his newest book, The Myth of a Christian Religion: Losing Your Religion for the Beauty of a Revolution
, begins with this: "Once upon a time I embraced the Christian religion... [which he lost and that was] "a tremendous blessing. Because when I lost my religion, I discovered a beautiful revolution."The reason there are Greg Boyds in this world is because American evangelicalism has been a thin remix of Romans, a religion shaped too much by a simplistic gospel and too rarely shaped by the robust kingdom vision of Jesus that itself gave rise to a much more robust gospel in Paul.
How much kingdom did you hear when you grew into the faith? (Provide decade please.) I heard nothing. In fact, I heard the Sermon on the Mount was for Jews and not for Christians. What are the central elements in mind when Boyd speaks of "religion"?
What have you read of Boyd? What are his best ideas for you?
"Jesus is not the founder of the Christian religion... [but that religion, which did develop centuries later] "was antithetical to what Jesus was about." And he thinks that Christian religion is itself a myth.
Instead, "What Jesus was about was starting a revolution. He called this revolution 'the Kingdom of God'" (9). What is this kingdom?
It is centered on only one thing: "manifesting the beauty of God's character and thus revolting against everything that is inconsistent with this beauty" (9-10). So Boyd calls this a beautiful revolution.
The ultimate revelation of this revolution is the Cross where instead of violence God did kingdom work through suffering -- for his enemies. This Cross becomes the paradigm for the revolution of sacrificial living for others. That kind of life involves revolting against everything that keeps us self-centered, greedy and apathetic. Which means revolting against society.
"So you see, the Kingdom has nothing to do with religion -- 'Christian' or otherwise. It's rather about following the example of Jesus, manifesting the beauty of God's reign while revolting against all that is ugly" (10).
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I'm glad we're talking about Greg Boyd here. He has definitely had an influence on my thinking. I also first encountered a lot of "Kingdom of God" theology from Dallas Willard. I grew up in the midwest in the UMC in the 90's. It seems that churches like mine were so worried about "doing" church that the messiness of the Gospel and the Kingdom were too inconvenient for the average church-goer and especially inconvenient for the church if seeking the true message of Gospel's meant possibly upsetting congregation members with big checkbooks.
Nonetheless, Boyd has taught me a lot about being an authentic Jesus follower, and what is actaully expected of us. I am especially looking forward to Boyd's new book on the Hebrew Bible's violence.
Sorry - forgot to post my url...
I don't remember hearing very much at all about the kingdom of God when I was growing up (1960's). What I do remember hearing (1970's) had to do with countering some premillennial issues. I recall some sermons in which preachers expressed concerns regarding the premill view of the timing of the kingdom. There was much stress on the idea that the church and the kingdom were the same. This kingdom/church has already been established. Consequently, we should not expect that one day Jesus will one day set up his kingdom and physically reign from Jerusalem, etc.)
I do not remember hearing anything about the kingdom that went beyond this. I don't remember anything regarding a kingdom lifestyle, kingdom priorities etc. More may have been said, but I sure don't remember it.
I have listened to perhaps 50 sermons of Boyd's during the past three years as what he terms a "pod-rishoner."
First, when he talks about "religion" in negative terms, he means people getting their life and self-worth from what they practice, where they go to church, and what doctrines they hold to.
I've never found him that radical. (Except when he goes after my carnivorous habits - He's a vegetarian.) When I say, not that "radical" I mean he's not reinventing Christianity. It's similar to what I grew up with. Social action, pietism, enthusiastic worship, countercultural lifestyle, empowering women and the poor, etc.
I grew up in a sort of methodist/holiness/charismatic family in the 70's.
Also, one of my best friends is from John Piper's church (20 years now) and he respects Boyd's ministry without agreeing with a lot of it. I think that's great and it's one of the reasons he is such a respected friend.
Raise in the Late 60's to the mid 80's.
Methodism never mentioned the Kingdom but Jesus was King. i sang songs about "My Father's World" but didn't think that the earth was God's, but the afterlife.
The more I read about the history of the time of Jesus, the more I really think that we need a perception shift, focus on doing what Jesus did to really experience God in our lives.
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