Wednesday Morning Revolution Courtesy of Rich Mullins

Posted on 05.27.08 in Faith and there are 9 comments.

I’m (slowly) reading The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne. Today I read a section that completely knocked my off my feet. I love it when that happens.

Rich Mullins had shared in Shane’s college chapel service. Here’s what Rich said:

“You guys are all into that born again thing, which is great. We do need to be born again, since Jesus said that to a guy named Nicodemus. But if you tell me I have to be born again to enter the kingdom of God, I can tell you that you have to sell all you have and give it to the poor, because Jesus said that to one guy too...”

Wow.

Thoughts?

(This post is a part of Water Cooler Wedneday. Check it out.)

The Comments:

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Great post, Kat! Thanks!

I love how Rich has such a fresh perspective on everything. It’s like he’s spent time thinking about stuff instead of just listening to lots of other people… :o)

The interesting point about the quote you’ve got here, is that Rich is more likely (in my estimation, based on his lifestyle) to be encouraging the rest of us to sell everything than he is to be questioning the terminology of being born again.

Of course, rethinking some of our Christian buzzwords isn’t a bad thing either…

We have to be careful navigating around that plank in our own eye-

Initial thoughts:

When he was talking to Nicodemus about being born again, he was talking about how to get to heaven.

When he was talking to the rich young ruler about giving all he had to the poor, he was talking about being perfect, which is not a requirement for getting into heaven.

Seems to me like the first is one that has to be done.  The second is a good idea if you really want to lead a faultless life.

Yeah, what Jimmy said…
(he says as he signs his new credit card)

ah yes, this reminds that I still need to finish posting my thoughts on this book.  Very challenging book.

Great quote - thanks for sharing it.

Anon

We can’t go through the Bible and pick out the things we think are doable or right and ignore the ones that don’t make sense or cost too much. The Bible isn’t about either/or. It’s about all. I don’t know how to do it “all” except through the power of Christ and even then my earthly self is going to have difficulty consistently reconciling “all” together in everyday life. Being born again is an eternal, life-changing matter. Selling all you have is about testing your motives, being willing to do absolutely anything that God requires or asks of you. A submission, obedience, “love the Lord your God with all your heart” thing.

Can’t argue with that one a whole lot.

i love that point. its pretty easy to pick and choose what we want to use out of the bible, easy to base a whole theology or opinion on a few words.
great post, kat

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