Jesus came preaching, but the church wound up preaching Jesus. Why does the church insist upon making Jesus the "object" of its attention rathe... read full description
reviews
Mar 19, 2008
Leela
rated it: 
This was a good book, but not as much fun as I'd hoped. As usual, Gomes' turns of phrase are elegant and evoke his formal, slightly British preaching style. He has done an excellent job of mixing anecdotes and scholarship, while writing accessibly. I think what I wanted and didn't get was a richer portrait of Jesus-as-rebel. What I got instead was a rich analysis of the Christian church and how hard it may be to apply the principles developed as a minority underdog when one finds oneself hol
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Sep 04, 2010
Dan
rated it: 
This book was disappointing on two levels. First, instead of the well-turned phrases I have grown to expect from Gomes, we get a work that substitutes extensive quotation of hymns and the writings of others for originality. I got the impression I was reading a school research paper on hymnody rather than an original work on the gospel. More importantly, after covering what the Bible is not in the first part and what it should be in the second, Gomes leaves the reader with very little of subst
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May 30, 2008
Nikki
rated it:
The culmination of Gomes' trilogy which started with The Good Book, this book was pretty much preaching to the choir as far as I was concerned, so of course I liked it. Also, Gomes uses hymns to make his point a lot of the time, which was great. As a gay, liberal Christian, chaplain at "Godless Harvard," and consistently rated as one of America's best preachers, Gomes has a lot to offer. I particularly liked his differentiating between optimism and hope. My one quibble would be that
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May 24, 2008
Lotte
rated it: 
Much of what I thought about the book was expressed perfectly by Leela on this site: "I think what I wanted and didn't get was a richer portrait of Jesus-as-rebel. What I got instead was a rich analysis of the Christian church and how hard it may be to apply the principles developed as a minority underdog when one finds oneself holding all (or many) of the power cards. Fascinating. Interesting. Great sermon material. But not as compelling as I'd expected. It felt much more like work and muc
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Jan 10, 2009
John
rated it:
(4.5 stars)
The essential criteria for good preaching -- and books by preachers -- are eloquence and edification, and not (as some think) a deep intellectual depth. Gomes satisfies all three, but his writing is saved from the dead language of a theological tome, and instead blessed with an authentic preacherly ability to express deep principles in understandable ways.
He makes the case forcefully and enthrallingly for the first half of the book, bubbling over with pristin More...
The essential criteria for good preaching -- and books by preachers -- are eloquence and edification, and not (as some think) a deep intellectual depth. Gomes satisfies all three, but his writing is saved from the dead language of a theological tome, and instead blessed with an authentic preacherly ability to express deep principles in understandable ways.
He makes the case forcefully and enthrallingly for the first half of the book, bubbling over with pristin More...
Jan 13, 2011
Joe
rated it:
We read/discussed this in our Sunday School class. It was a good read for me. To me, Gomes stands/writes in the best tradition of the prophets, (probably more “traditional” than I, but…) eloquently and effectively speaking the truth, as he sees it…not one for pulling punches or sugar-coating his analysis.
The book is organized in three parts:
1. The Trouble with the Scripture, where he speaks of “an offending gospel” and the “risks of nonconformity,”
2. The Gospel and the More...
The book is organized in three parts:
1. The Trouble with the Scripture, where he speaks of “an offending gospel” and the “risks of nonconformity,”
2. The Gospel and the More...
Sep 11, 2010
Wil
rated it:
By the Gospel, Peter Gomes means the social gossip. The irony is that while he belittles fundamentalist for interpreting the bible literally, he interprets the sayings of Jesus literally to justify his insistence on the social gossip. I felt somewhat embarrassed for Dr. Gomes constant need to drop in stories that happen to show how great he is. He lets us know he meet the Queen Mother, received an honorary degree and mentions his relation to Harvard at least a dozen times. He should take the bes
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Jun 07, 2009
Sandy
rated it:
This is the first Gomes I've read and I liked it. I'm also reading Shane Claiborne's Irresistable Revolution at the same time and I was struck by how much they had in common. Gomes is more of an older, intellectual version of Claiborne's radical hippy themes. Both talk a lot about how the church has become the defender of the status quo and we've lost sight of the truly radical things the gospel actually calls us to do. I'd like to put Claiborne and Gomes in the same room and just be a fly on th
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Jun 29, 2010
I have to admit that while I didn't follow a lot of his reasoning, I did enjoy the way he wrote it. Gomes has a wonderful, almost sermonesque way of writing that seems so natural and unforced, but you know it wasn't. This is a book about AGAPE which means impossible love. It is at the heart of the social gospel which is what he is concerned with. As a Christian, I did enjoy this book and found a lot of it informative, even challenging. However, it's conclusions were a little too vague. Sti
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Nov 24, 2008
Aisha
rated it: 
Though the title makes it sound like it, no this is not an Anti-Christian Da Vinci Code book. On the contrary this is a very Christian book, but I think a very true to Christianity book.
It is an amazing and brilliant book, talking so much on how what we see is really not what Christianity is. That what people preach and do is not what Jesus preached. That most people, when they read the Bible, they seek more to confirm how and what they are doing and less to truly see what Jesus taug More...
It is an amazing and brilliant book, talking so much on how what we see is really not what Christianity is. That what people preach and do is not what Jesus preached. That most people, when they read the Bible, they seek more to confirm how and what they are doing and less to truly see what Jesus taug More...
Apr 10, 2008
David
rated it:
Harvard chaplain Gomes does a fine job of afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted in this eloquent call to look beyond Jesus as personal savior, and to learn from and realize his demanding teachings. Gomes calls for a return to the vigorous, active social gospel exemplified by Martin Luther King Jr. and the Salvation Army, a religion working towards salvation in this world rather than the next, and that finds loving one’s neighbor incompatible with gated communities and a winner-
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Mar 11, 2008
Sam
rated it:
In this startlingly accurate depiction of Christianity Gomes asks, 'why are our religious organizations always the last to get behind social change and justice?'
Not only are they slow to promote social change but they have come to be the keepers of the status quo.
This is in stark contrast to what Jesus came to do, which was to disrupt it.
Christianity has thrived in western society but the societal problems that Jesus preached against are as bad as they have ever More...
Not only are they slow to promote social change but they have come to be the keepers of the status quo.
This is in stark contrast to what Jesus came to do, which was to disrupt it.
Christianity has thrived in western society but the societal problems that Jesus preached against are as bad as they have ever More...
Sep 13, 2009
Chip
rated it:
Re-validates me when I'm feeling oppressed by the "stadium-seating worship arena seating 10,000 people megachurch" Christianity-lite that passes for spirituality in my part of the woods today. "WWJD" if he wandered into one of these corporate churches? He would be appalled. Christianity today has gotten so far removed from Christ that He wouldn't recognize it. "Church" has become synonymous with "entertainment" instead of "spiritual instruction"
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Aug 08, 2009
Marcus
rated it:
Gomes is always entertaining... but I don't quite get the point of what he's trying to say with this one. Of course, I chalk it up to the fact that I read such a diff. genre of religious literature these days, and this is unusual for me. But he's got some interesting lines and an interesting forepoint: people need to move beyond their sanctity for Scripture so they can read what it actually says.
Should be a quick read for you genius types... I'm almost done with it myself.
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Should be a quick read for you genius types... I'm almost done with it myself.
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Aug 01, 2011
Ms. S...........
rated it:
Not bad for a Protestant! Gomes remind us that it's all about love...specifically love of neighbor...and don't ask, like the smarty pants in Luke, "...who is my neighbor?" ...its the gay person, the homeless person, the Democrat, the Republican...
Feb 16, 2010
Raymond
rated it:
A reminder that Jesus was a radical who advocated disruptive social change and would be opposed by conservatives if he appeared today. A call to those who claim to be "Christian" to challenge the status quo and stand against injustice.
Sep 16, 2009
Pablo
rated it:
The third book in the series is as worthwhile as was the first "The Good Book". It is a great book exploring the relationship of person to God.
Nov 07, 2010
Andrea
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Apr 20, 2009
I'm going to read this because of this interview: http://www.hds.harvard.edu/news/bulletin...
Oct 11, 2011
Forrest
rated it:
One of my favorite books of all-time! I simply can not say enough great things about this great book.
Jul 27, 2009
Paul
rated it:
Not bad, not bad at all. But for me at least, there wasn't too much that was new for me. Still a good read.
Mar 22, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
A portrayal of an inclusive, welcoming gospel. Makes me want to read more books by Gomes.
Apr 03, 2011
Erin
rated it:
Very readable and thought provoking, it's a great read for the theological neophyte.
Jun 07, 2009
Penny
rated it:
read with the Garden City UM Wed a.m. book study - a good one to digest and discuss
Dec 11, 2008
Jennifer
rated it:
"A respectful agnosticism is called for when often there is offered in its place a self-interested certainty."
Jul 08, 2009
Susan
rated it:
This book reinforced my Christian beliefs. Gomes wraps up nicely how one can be a social liberal and still be a Christian. I would like to read his other books. Bible scholars will probably not be interested in this book because Gomes does not do an in depth study of scripture.
Jan 27, 2008
Bill
rated it:
Conservative Christians may not like what Rev. Gomes is saying (look at what He says and act on it) nor the fact that he's even saying it (he's openly gay). Gomes, a longtime minister and Harvard professor, calls for a return to the social gospel in vogue until the 1970s.
Mar 11, 2009
Eva
rated it:
Absolutely, totally brilliant. One of the greatest theologians of our time. However, it can draggg a little in places and get a little impenetrable. However, the quality of ideas and the challenge presented to people of faith is so great it still wins 4 stars from me.
Oct 23, 2008
Al
rated it:
I bought this book after I saw the author as a guest on The Colbert Report. He was intelligent and funny on the show. The book is not funny, but it's a descent read.
