St. Becky Garrison, (see her "My favorite hate mail of the week")after interviewing Brian McLaren, mentioned the same things I did after experiencing him (here): Nicest guy imaginable, and a role model for responding graciously to critics.
I wonder if it is compatible with that gracious spirit to also say to a persistent Pharisee something like Mike Furches recommended as he spoke at our church (It's on the video here, but I can't find the time-location right now)
"In the name of Jesus, bite me!"
It somehow doesn't sound so offensive in Mike's southern accent: "Baht me!"
After all, Jesus called Herod a bitch. (Luke 13.32)
I can't imagine Mclaren calling anyone that.
But he may be nicer than Jesus(:
Dallas Willard has suggested that technically, Jesus was not nice.
He was something better, and more Holy Spiritual:
kind.
Maybe the kindest thing we can say to an unrepentant Pharisee is:
"I'm not as nice as McLaren, so in the name of Jesus, kindly baht me...
bitch!"
Ha! That's the most stream-of-consciousness, yet cogent blog post I've read in awhile. I'll be chewing on that one. : )
ReplyDeleteGreat , Mike. So glad to hear from you. I have a ministry of helpin people chew(:
ReplyDeletekeep up the great work