More books

I've been reading again. This time 'Hannah's Child: A Theologian's memoir' by Stanley Hauerwas. He has had a very 'prophetic' voice calling to the western church as well as to the wider society, but he writes with real humility and authenticity about his life and what has made him and influenced him. It's interesting how he talks about his journey to faith; he describes how he became a Christian gradually and several years into studying and even teaching theology. And also I love his discussion about the tendency of the church to attempt to give all the answers in life....

"Following Jesus means you cannot anticipate or ensure results. Learning to live out of control, learning to live without trying to force contingency into conformity because of our desperate need for security, I take to be a resource for discovering alternatives that would otherwise not be present."

"When Christianity is assumed to be an 'answer' that makes the world intelligible, it reflects an accommodated church committed to assuring Christians that the way things are is the way things have to be. Such 'answers' cannot help but turn Christianity into an explanation. For me, learning to be a Christian has meant learning to live without answers. Indeed, to learn to live in this way is what makes being a Christian so wonderful. Faith is but a name for learning how to go on without knowing the answers."

I guess this is where I've got to with God too. So much of life - even with faith - just doesn't have answers. But I like learning to live with God - but out of control!

Then last week, I read ' A Just Church; 21st century Liberation Theology in Action' by Chris Howson. It's a good expression of how Christians can put faith into action in issues of social justice and building real community in order to advance the reign of God. Inspiring and challenging.