{"product_id":"the-underground-church-isbn-9781118061596","title":"The Underground Church","description":"\u003cb\u003eA new way to follow Jesus that draws on old ways of following Him\u003c\/b\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe Underground Church proposes that the faithful recapture the spirit of the early church with its emphasis on what Christians \u003ci\u003edo\u003c\/i\u003e rather than what they \u003ci\u003ebelieve\u003c\/i\u003e. Prominent progressive writer, speaker, and minister Robin Meyers proposes that the best way to recapture the spirit of the early Christian church is to recognize that Jesus-following was and must be again \u003ci\u003esubversive\u003c\/i\u003e in the best sense of the word because the gospel taken seriously turns the world upside down.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo matter how the church may organize itself or worship, the defining characteristic of church of the future will be its Jesus-inspired countercultural witness.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eDebunks commonly held beliefs about the early church and offers a vision for the future rooted in the past\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eProposes that the church of the future must leave doctrinal tribalism behind and seek a unity of mission instead\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eArchbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said,\"Robin Meyers has spoken truth to power, and the church he loves will never be the same.\"\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003eAcknowledgments xi\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eNote to the Reader xiii\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrologue: Empty Sermons, Empty Pews 1\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 Sweet Jesus: Talking His Melancholy Madness 12\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 The Early Church That Never Was 38\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 Waking Up in Bed with Constantine 63\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4 Onward Christian Soldiers? 88\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5 Faith as Radically Embodied Trust 115\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 Renewing the Church Through Shared Mission 140\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e7 Leavening the Imperial Loaf 166\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 Jesus Followers on the No-Fly List 192\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 The Underground Church on War, Sex, Money, Family, and the Environment 219\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEpilogue: Beyond Belief: The Manifesto of the Underground Church 251\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eNotes 257\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Author 265\u003c\/p\u003e [\u003cb\u003eSTARRED REVIEW\u003c\/b\u003e] Meyers (\u003ci\u003eWhy the Christian Right Is Wrong\u003c\/i\u003e) offers a number of subversive ideas in his latest, reminding readers that Jesus came to feed the hungry, wage nonviolence, and generally afflict the comfortable in his day. Today, the comfortable are seated in the pews of Christian churches, worshiping idols at twilight. Like many who use a traditional, prophetic voice, Meyers has a talent for putting theology on the ground and in the midst of life. Jesus really does mean for us to feed people, as he did: hospitality is a cardinal Christian virtue. So is nonviolence, but it’s so hard that most fail at a practice that demands discipline and sacrifice. Meyers calls for other practices running counter to the prevailing imperial culture, including low or no-interest moneylending and tithing, which may startle middle-class mainline Protestant churchgoers. Going back to basics is not a new idea, but Meyers writes with energy, intelligence, and conviction, adding to the choir calling for Christianity in a new key. (Feb.) (\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e, December 21, 2011)  \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRobin Meyers \u003c\/b\u003eis a nationally known United Church of Christ minister and peace activist. His congregation describes itself as unapologetically Christian and unapologetically liberal (mayflowerucc.org). He writes for \u003ci\u003eChristian Century\u003c\/i\u003e, is an award-winning commentator for NPR, and a professor of rhetoric in the philosophy department at Oklahoma City University. He is married to Shawn Meyers, an artist, and they are the parents of three children, Blue, Chelsea, and Cass. More information can be found at www.robinmeyers.com   \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“\u003ci\u003eDear reader, I hope that you do not find the word \u003c\/i\u003ecrazy\u003ci\u003e to be offensive when used to describe Jesus of Nazareth. It is not meant to be irreverent, or dismissive, or even shocking in the service of selling a book. It is meant to be true—as in \u003c\/i\u003ereal\u003ci\u003e.\u003c\/i\u003e”\u003cbr\u003e —FROM CHAPTER ONE  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Underground Church\u003c\/i\u003e is a radical book that proposes a radical idea: we need to recapture the spirit of the early church with its emphasis on what Christians \u003ci\u003edo\u003c\/i\u003e rather than what they believe. Written by the prominent minister, teacher, speaker, and writer, Robin Meyers, \u003ci\u003eThe Underground Church\u003c\/i\u003e posits that the best way to recapture the spirit of The Way is to recognize that Jesus-following was—and must be again—\u003ci\u003esubversive\u003c\/i\u003e in the best sense of the word. Instead of endless theological and political arguments, the church must be more concerned with being loving than with being right. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMeyers offers a potent antidote for organized-religion-as-usual—suggesting that until being a follower of Jesus is dangerous again we will continue to bless the status quo instead of transforming it. We must return to our culturally and socially subversive roots and live by the two most powerful words in the gospel “Fear not.” No matter how the church may organize itself or worship, the defining characteristic of the Beloved Community should be its love of justice and its countercultural compassion for all people. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is time to stop arguing about who is saved and who is lost, who is the elect and who is the damned, who is chosen and who is “Left Behind.” Are we in it for ourselves or for others? Are we willing to be transformed by God, or will we continue to play god? Is going to church about looking decent or about being undone by a radical gospel? Can we do mission work across our differences, or will our differences define us? \u003ci\u003eThe Underground Church\u003c\/i\u003e will provide healthy, inclusive, dignified options for living in a world saturated with sickness, separation, and indignity. In short, we will not try to get people up into heaven. We will try to get heaven to come down to earth.    \u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eThe Underground Church\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"DANGER: The contents of this book are explosive and could turn the world upside down. About time!\"\u003cbr\u003e —\u003cb\u003eBill Moyers\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"When was the last time you thought of going to church as dangerous? Once we challenged the status quo; now we mostly defend it. \u003ci\u003eThe Underground Church\u003c\/i\u003e tells the story of how we forgot where we came from and why we must recover our subversive roots. Read this book if you dare. Become part of the movement if you are daring.\"\u003cbr\u003e —\u003cb\u003eArchbishop Desmond Tutu\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"Read this book. Written by a wordsmith, it is a passionate and challenging call to churches to be liberated from the cultural captivity of convention and into the 'underground church.'\"\u003cbr\u003e —\u003cb\u003eMarcus Borg\u003c\/b\u003e, canon theologian, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, and author, \u003ci\u003eSpeaking Christian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eThe Underground Church\u003c\/i\u003e invites Christians to encounter a radical Jesus, to practice a subversive way of life, and to move beyond belief to love. This is no longer merely church—rather it is a movement that many are aching to join!\"\u003cbr\u003e —\u003cb\u003eDiana Butler Bass\u003c\/b\u003e, author, \u003ci\u003eChristianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"As I read Robin Meyers's new book, I felt afresh how subversive the Christian way of life should be in relation to today's partisan ideologies and consumerist assumptions. He depicts a subversive, transformative, and hopeful identity for followers of Christ—one that I hope will be increasingly contagious.\"\u003cbr\u003e —\u003cb\u003eBrian McLaren\u003c\/b\u003e, author, speaker, activist (www.brianmclaren.net)\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"This beautifully written manifesto, grounded in the author's deep faith and faithful ministry, is manna for those of us who love what the church is called to be—but who have a lover's quarrel with the way it too often distorts the good news about love, justice, mercy, and care for 'the least of these.' May The Underground Church rise up and flower everywhere!\"\u003cbr\u003e —\u003cb\u003eParker J. Palmer\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jossey-Bass","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47990360146149,"sku":"NP9781118061596","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781118061596.jpg?v=1761787508","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-underground-church-isbn-9781118061596","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}