Dirty Word: The Vulgar, Offensive Language of the Kingdom of God

by Jim Walker

This is the story of a devout faith community, made up of people you'd rarely see sitting in your sanctuary on any Sunday, that meets in an old warehouse (and former basement tattoo shop) on the wrong side of the tracks - founded by a self-proclaimed rule-breaking team of ""a recovering evangelical"" and ""a theological mutt."" Dirty Word is an honest and raw theological story of mission and ministry with people who are turned off by the practices and appearances of traditional church. Follow Walker's story and expect to find God in the most unexpected places. It's an uncensored look at an unapologetic way of being the church by getting out of the pews and into the streets. ""Jesus gets in the grime and muck of life,"" writes Walker. ""If we follow Christ (the Sufferer), we too are going to have to get dirty. Really dirty. All the time. Not just on the special, once-a-year mission trip to Central America, where we get to eat exotic food and touch a lizard."" God's good news is as subversive and counter-cultural today as it was in Jesus' time. Perhaps even more so as some characterizations of American Christianity have mainstreamed into vanilla-bland, glazed smiles of the ""well-dressed blessed."" It's a mixed message. What Walker saw on the streets, what he read in the Bible and what he saw heavily promoted as the Christian lifestyle in bookstores didn't match. So he decided to find another way. He reached out to the hardcore South Pittsburgh streets, gathering outcasts who wanted to live in a new way but couldn't find a place where they fit. The worshiping body they built together - Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community - is a place of loving honesty, tender care, deep hurt and great joy. Being a Christian doesn't mean you get to have it all as you pick up the cross and follow Jesus. It's a life of surrender and sacrifice, which means sometimes you might not be comfortable and happy. And, yet, you might find the most precious gift of all through your own brokenness.

Genres: Christianity

256 pages, Paperback

First published August 5, 2008

Reviews

[Greg · Rating 1 out of 5]

So today I was purging the shit out of my Christian Inspiration section, and it's always a nice time to do that. There is so much shit that I forget existed and am reminded about, and sometimes I get to see things I hadn't realized had ever been published. This book fell into the former category. I am a firm believer that punk and Christianity don't go together. No matter how rebellious you want to make your church there is still something incredibly un-punk rock about going to church, or believing in any God that isn't say Ian MacKaye, and even worshiping him is kind of stupid but not nearly as stupid as say worshiping at the altar of Sid Vicious, which is so un-punk that it's not even funny, and I'd say that joining a frat in college would make one more punk than either being a Christian or worshiping Mr. Vicious. I could go on and on here with what is punk and what isn't, but I'll only give one more: this book is not punk.

This has apparently been written by some pastor who is part of something called the Metal Brigade Church or something, and this doofus on the cover who sort of looks like Neil Robinson's (boo-yah! big punk points for moi with the kind of obscure reference) retarded very younger brother I think is supposed to be Garth from Wayne's World after his teeth were kicked in. The guy sort of looks like he'd be hanging out at a crust / anarcho punk show, but a nice one. The author of this book is from Pittsburgh, home of Aus Rotten, who sort of look like this guy, and I couldn't help wondering if they might be involved, now that Nazi Sympathy has been eradicated from the face of the earth by repetitive sloganeering and two chords. But I'm digressing.

According to this book it's vulgar and offensive and it even has an "explicit warning" tag on the front. I leafed through the book and I couldn't find anything offensive. Everything in it looked like every other 'alternative' youth aimed christian book I've ever leafed through. Which is the same as old fogey aimed christian books, but they usually spell their words a little funny, like putting a z at the end of a word instead of an s, because thatz what all the kidz be doing, dawg!

Actually seeing any book like this makes me embarrassed, and not just because of my involvement in punk. Seeing books like this is like hearing your dad use the word mosh-pit, of say the term phat, or schinizel anything, it's just embarrassing, even if I don't have a personal stake in it. Then it makes me feel sad because our culture is so stupid that shit like this can be thought of by someone, and someone is out there buying it and thinking that it's cool, I only hope that the people buying it are parents who want to talk the lingo of their moshing teenager, and the kid will just roll his eyes in disgust, go off and read The Stranger in his room and realize there is happiness in the empty absurdity of a godless universe.

[Jeff Bobin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Not sure how I missed this book when it was published but picked it up this year at Annual Conference after it was on the bishop's recommended reading list.

I am guessing that many will pass over this book because of the cover and that would be a shame. I will admit it would have been easy for me to pass over if I didn't know the author and the difference he is making in the Kingdom.

I am really glad I picked this up and took the time to actually read it and found myself drawn into the story of the birth of a church that looks very different then any I have served as a pastor. One thing I am clear about it that the stories shared here are about life transformation and new life.

While I live in a very different community if you take the time to reflect on the things that Jim is talking about here you will see many places we have an opportunity to connect with and build relationships with people around us that will allow us to share the love of God with them.

Jesus sent the disciples out into places that were way out of their comfort zone and to places that looked very different then what they had found acceptable or would have ever thought they would find themselves. It was out of the willingness to go into the unknown that has blessed Jim's ministry and made a difference in many lives.

Many will find far what they expect when they enter the world Jim takes you to if you take the time to actually read the book and reflect on it. I learned a lot about making assumptions, which I had done wrongly in several areas with Jim, and the danger that looking at what we see, in person or on a book cover, and thinking we know or understand where that person is or what their theology is.

If you want to have your way of thinking challenged about how you are the church in your community read this with eyes wide open a allow it to challenge your frames of reference.

I recommend this book for pastors or others interested in building the Kingdom of God.

[Carlyn Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you've read nothing that challenges your view of 'church normal' then I would recommend this to you. He is edgy, tries to be edgy, and for the most part it works. It will certainly help push you into thinking through what church is really all about. I would put it in the category of a popular read and for that it is very good. For someone wanting to think it through from a theological perspective I think you will want to look elsewhere to be challenged.

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim is a friend, so I might be a bit biased, but surely a worthwhile read for anyone looking to do ministry in today's world.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book dives into what it really means to be a missional church in the Messiness of life