Sacrilege Quotes

“This is a deeply sacrilegious book, and I expect that many will find it offensive. But I think that they will be offended in the right way; that is, the same way that Jesus offended people. Part of the mission of Jesus (and by extension his church) is to relieve us of the intolerable burden of our neo-pharisaic religion. I call it neo-pharisaic because it is just a new manifestation of a disease that has always plagued people of faith—religion! Religion is comprised of laying burdens on people’s shoulders, hypocrisy and double standards, gracelessness toward “sinners,” high-minded judgmentalism, straining at gnats and swallowing camels, externalization of faith in religious ritual, and not being pure in heart, among other things.”
― Hugh Halter, Sacrilege (Shapevine): Finding Life in the Unorthodox Ways of Jesus

“We buy into the saving work of Jesus big-time, but we dodge his words and his life as prototypical for the authentic Christian life.”
― Hugh Halter, Sacrilege (Shapevine): Finding Life in the Unorthodox Ways of Jesus

“But I just want you to know that every day has been a fight to hold out, figure out, and dig out the real Jesus for myself and others. I hope that as you read this, you’ll find the Jesus I did and that you’ll let him pull you into a future so amazing, you could never dream it up on your own. I hope you’ll never be religious, conservative, liberal, or concerned about what anyone thinks of you but only be what the real Jesus of the Bible calls you to be. And then I hope you’ll find like-minded and like-hearted friends who fight to live like Jesus together. And I hope you call that “church.” If you find the real Jesus, you’ll really love him. Jesus challenged and deconstructed religion. He brought people together. He helped people with their practical needs. He fought evil. He changed hearts. He was the exact representation of God, so if you ever want to know what God is really like and what his hopes for humanity are, all you have to do is find the real Jesus. Love, Dad”
― Hugh Halter, Sacrilege (Shapevine): Finding Life in the Unorthodox Ways of Jesus

“Jesus modeled kingdom life, and he gently bids passersby to trade in their self-oriented, fear-based existence for the fresh air of freedom, power, creativity, beauty, influence, simplicity, and love. And he allows any person who wants it the deepest privilege of helping heaven touch down on planet Earth. That’s what this book is about.”
― Hugh Halter, Sacrilege (Shapevine): Finding Life in the Unorthodox Ways of Jesus

“To be a disciple of Jesus is to be a fully empowered agent of the King.”
― Hugh Halter, Sacrilege (Shapevine): Finding Life in the Unorthodox Ways of Jesus