Philip Gulley. If the Church Were Christian: Rediscovering the Values of Jesus. Harper One: 2010. ISBN: 9780061698767.
Meet the Author
Philip Gulley is a Quaker minister, author, and tv show host. Gulley has served in pastoral ministry for twenty-five years and is currently the Senior Pastor of Fairfield Friends Meeting near Indianapolis. He has written sixteen books including the Harmony series of novels, chronicling life in the eccentric Quaker community of Harmony, Indiana and the best selling Porch Talk series of inspirational and humorous stories. Additionally, he has co-authored two books with progressive views of Christianity: If Grace Is True: Why God Will Save Every Person and If God Is Love: Rediscovering Grace in an Ungracious World with James Mulholland. If the Church Were Christian is his first theologically oriented book written without a co-author and will be followed by another in mid-2011: The Next Christianity: A God We Can Live With. Gulley hosts “Porch Talk with Phil Gulley” on the Indiana PBS affiliate WFYI.
Book Basics
Gulley invites his readers to journey with him toward the possibility of a church that is shaped by the values of Jesus. Each of the ten values is developed in a chapter length essay that reads more like a conversation. The chapters begin with an overview of the way things are and conclude with his vision of what they might become. The title chapters provide a glimpse into the content of If the Church Were Christian . . .
- Jesus Would Be a Model for Living Rather Than an Object of Worship
- Affirming Our Potential Would Be More Important Than Condemning Our Brokenness
- Reconciliation Would Be Valued over Judgment
- Gracious Behavior Would Be More Important Than Right Belief
- Inviting Questions Would Be Valued More Than Supplying Answers
- Encouraging Personal Exploration Would Be More Important Than Communal Uniformity
- Meeting Needs Would Be More Important Than Maintaining Institutions
- Peace Would Be More Important Than Power
- It Would Care More About Love and Less About Sex
- This Life Would Be More Important Than the Afterlife
So What?
Consider these words from the introduction:
If Jesus intended to create the church, he did a questionable job. He left no clear directions about its structure or purpose (p.3).
But if the church claims Jesus as its founder, it should at least share his values (p.4).
Review the ten values Gulley has chosen. How well do you feel each reflects the values of Jesus when evaluated against the life and ministry of Jesus as presented in the gospels? Are there any you feel do not fit? If so, which and why? Are there any values of Jesus you feel are central to his life and ministry, but which are not present on this listing? If so, what are these and how would you write them to fit into this list?
Interestingly, this blog exists and the “so what” portion of each post is always focused on #5 (realizing that inviting questions is more valuable than supplying answers for those on the journey of faith). For more about the history of this blog and its future direction, click here.