The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus

  Peter J. Gomes, who recently passed away, believes in hope.  The long-time minister at Harvard, who gave the benediction at Ronald Reagan's second inauguration, believes that the best is yet to come, and our lives ought to be shining examples of that.

  The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus is the follow-up to The Good Book and The Good Life, both well-worth reading if you haven't yet done so.

  In this latest volume, Gomes challenges us to consider who Jesus truly was, and how we are following him.  (A first check would be to be sure that we truly are)

  Jesus was one who shook things up, who challenged the status quo, who was not one to condone a comfortable life in comfortable churches.  Jesus, Gomes presents, was one to encourage people to see even their most hated enemy as someone worthy of their love.  Jesus was one who pointed us forward, to God's kingdom, and didn't want us to wait until we died to start living a life worthy of God's kingdom.  Jesus was one who believed in a life based upon inclusive, radical love.

  Gomes is not content simply to challenge the individual.  He challenges the churches to lead the people, to challenge the people, and not to allow comfort and security to rule the day.  While we are busy fighting over petty, insular issues, the world around us is crying out in need of the Gospel.  Will we share it, or will we use it to comfort ourselves in our hours of need?