Could Christ's Kingdom Come?

"If there is a point in this book where readers might be tempted to slam the cover shut and say, 'This is ridiculous. This is unrealistic. This is a pipe dream. Nothing like this could ever happen,' this would be that point. But what do they have to look forward to if they're right? Simply more of the same in human history. More of the cycle of offense and revenge. What would it mean if, at this moment, many readers actually began to believe that another world is possible, that Jesus may in fact have been right, that the secret message of the kingdom of God—though radical, though unprecedented in its vision, though requiring immense faith to believe it is possible—may in fact be the only authentically saving message we have?" —Brian McLaren, The Secret Message of Jesus, p.128.

If you read no other book any time soon about what it means to be a follower of Jesus, please read this one. Or at least Part Three of this one. Or at least chapters 17 and 18 of Part Three. Because there you will find plenty to blow your mind and fill your heart. I'm in a group of mostly men [though Pastor Rachel has joined us] that is reading this book together. We meet once a month to talk and pray and eat and in between, we blog our thoughts and questions [though guests are welcome to weigh in too!!!] over at S-T-R-E-T-C-H Cafe [click pic for more].

Here's some of the stuff we're tackling soon: Why does Jesus speak in riddles [cf. Mark 4:11]? Why does The Truth hide truth [cf. Matthew 11:25]? Is following Jesus unrealistic in a world full of terrorism? Should Christians settle for merely "preliminary violence reduction" [ie-"just" war theory]? Can any meaningful kingdom, including the kingdom of God, exist with no boundaries? If not, who decides what they are and who is in and out? What's so good about the good news?