spanisheyes
Forum Moderator, The Goal Is Soul
Sunday People
May 5, 2002
Bono Launches Blast at Church
By Brenda O'Neill
Rock legend Bono has put his name to a controversial new book lashing
organised religion. The U2 frontman has penned a foreword to a tome
that's set to get Irish clerics talking.
The book -- "They've Hi-jacked God" -- takes a swipe at the modern
Christian church. It's by well-known Northern Ireland Christian Adam
Harbinson. He's been in hot water in the past for his anti-Drumcree
stance. He has even had his life threatened by crazed loyalists.
Superstar Bono was happy to endorse the book, saying that the Church
was in a battle with God. "Sadly the Church is winning," says Bono.
"Adam Harbinson takes on the Church as mausoleum for the 'dead' Christ
and the Church as handcuffs and fire brigade for the risen Christ --
it's an interesting subject. I find solace in places I never could have
imagined...the quiet sprinkling of my child's head in Baptism, a gospel
choir drunk on the Holy Spirit in Memphis, or the back of a cathedral
in Rome watching the first cinematographers play with light and colour
in stainglass stories of the Passion. I am still amazed at how big, how
enormous a love and mystery God is -- and how small are the minds that
attempt to corral this life force into rules and taboos, cults and
sects. Mercifully God transcends the Church which is, I think, the
subject of this book."
Bono adds that he has taken comfort and peace in life from his little
boy's baptism. Little John Abraham Hewson was born on May 21, 2000
[sic], the youngest of Bono and his wife Ali's four children. When
Harbinson was asked how he managed to persuade Bono to write the
foreword, he answered modestly: "I just asked him. "You don't have to
go to church in order to be a good person...a Christian. That was
Bono's experience and that's why he wrote this piece." The book is due
for publication later this year.
? Sunday People, 2002.
I agree with Bono's stance on the church...but at the same time, we have to look at God position in all this, and just as important see God as a risktaker. He took a risk in putting into motion the fact that God would partner with His creation in setting up the Church. In Philippians 1:5-6, Paul say this, "because you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.
So we have to put on trust in God and not man, we have to learn to 'gaze' fully on God, and 'glance' at the foolishness of man, and the rules and regulations he sets up for his own sake, as opposed to God's glory. God will not be mocked, so therefore, each of us who call ourselves believers must realize that we have within us a God bigger than anything, or anyone who would try and put God in a box...live for Him, and His Church, He died for you...what I'm saying is, take a risk, because that is the type of God we serve.
Chris
May 5, 2002
Bono Launches Blast at Church
By Brenda O'Neill
Rock legend Bono has put his name to a controversial new book lashing
organised religion. The U2 frontman has penned a foreword to a tome
that's set to get Irish clerics talking.
The book -- "They've Hi-jacked God" -- takes a swipe at the modern
Christian church. It's by well-known Northern Ireland Christian Adam
Harbinson. He's been in hot water in the past for his anti-Drumcree
stance. He has even had his life threatened by crazed loyalists.
Superstar Bono was happy to endorse the book, saying that the Church
was in a battle with God. "Sadly the Church is winning," says Bono.
"Adam Harbinson takes on the Church as mausoleum for the 'dead' Christ
and the Church as handcuffs and fire brigade for the risen Christ --
it's an interesting subject. I find solace in places I never could have
imagined...the quiet sprinkling of my child's head in Baptism, a gospel
choir drunk on the Holy Spirit in Memphis, or the back of a cathedral
in Rome watching the first cinematographers play with light and colour
in stainglass stories of the Passion. I am still amazed at how big, how
enormous a love and mystery God is -- and how small are the minds that
attempt to corral this life force into rules and taboos, cults and
sects. Mercifully God transcends the Church which is, I think, the
subject of this book."
Bono adds that he has taken comfort and peace in life from his little
boy's baptism. Little John Abraham Hewson was born on May 21, 2000
[sic], the youngest of Bono and his wife Ali's four children. When
Harbinson was asked how he managed to persuade Bono to write the
foreword, he answered modestly: "I just asked him. "You don't have to
go to church in order to be a good person...a Christian. That was
Bono's experience and that's why he wrote this piece." The book is due
for publication later this year.
? Sunday People, 2002.
I agree with Bono's stance on the church...but at the same time, we have to look at God position in all this, and just as important see God as a risktaker. He took a risk in putting into motion the fact that God would partner with His creation in setting up the Church. In Philippians 1:5-6, Paul say this, "because you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.
So we have to put on trust in God and not man, we have to learn to 'gaze' fully on God, and 'glance' at the foolishness of man, and the rules and regulations he sets up for his own sake, as opposed to God's glory. God will not be mocked, so therefore, each of us who call ourselves believers must realize that we have within us a God bigger than anything, or anyone who would try and put God in a box...live for Him, and His Church, He died for you...what I'm saying is, take a risk, because that is the type of God we serve.
Chris