Product Description

Many Christians are used to the idea of a meek and mild Jesus, the stereotypical "nice guy." Countering these all too prevalent notions, Mark Galli offers a unique study of seventeen troubling passages from the book of Mark to prove we should be anything but comfortable with Christ. Highlighting the incontrovertible fact of an untamable and often militant Messiah, Galli gives readers a training manual in spiritual growth to awaken sleeping believers and transform them into devoted disciples. Hinging on the compelling nature of the love of God, he explains how this mean and wild Jesus shows us truer love than our pleasant construct ever could. Striking and bold, but always rooted in Scripture, Jesus Mean and Wild will put readers on the road to true discipleship.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #574114 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-01
• Released on: 2006-07-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 208 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780801012846
• Condition: USED - VERY GOOD
• Notes:
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
Christianity Today editor Galli explores the less lovable side of the Christian deity, offering a well-written, thoroughly researched look at Jesus. "The warm and friendly Jesus, although an attractive idea, is but an idol," Galli says. He uses 17 passages in the Gospel of Mark to present a Jesus who is much less loving, gentle and patient than many Christians would like to believe. This Jesus can be stern, confrontational, purposefully confusing and even impatient. He sometimes shames and scares us, but loves us enough to draw us inexorably toward him: "For Jesus has come to us, the real Jesus—mean, wild, and pulsing with an unnerving and irresistible love." Although several other recent books, including Mark Buchanan's Your God Is Too Safe and R.T. Kendall's Out of Your Comfort Zone, have also traversed the God-is-dangerous territory, this one contributes much to the discussion; Galli's writing is clear and concise, his logic smooth, his knowledge of early Christian saints helpful, the discussion questions on target and his conclusions inescapable. Readers will come away with a disconcerting new understanding of "Jesus mean and wild." (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From the Inside Flap
FRONT FLAP Meet another side of Jesus--not always safe, but good! The contemporary church loves to paint Jesus as gentle, meek. . . nice. But in this striking new work, Mark Galli introduces us to a different sort of savior--one who often makes other people feel decidedly uncomfortable. Focusing on Jesus as he is portrayed in Mark's Gospel, Galli unveils the power of Christ in his militancy-an aspect frequently ignored in many churches today. Through biblical episodes, stories of saints--classic and contemporary--personal snapshots, and discussion questions, Galli shows that Christ's deep love for his people is richer and more difficult than we imagine. But it is in this persistent, fearsome, untamed love that we can find true joy. BACK FLAP Mark Galli is the managing editor of Christianity Today. A former Presbyterian minister, he is the author or coauthor of several books, including 131 Christians Everyone Should Know and Francis of Assisi and His World.

From the Back Cover
God loves you and has a wonderful difficult plan for your life. "Mark writes of a Jesus that is unleashed, untamed, undomesticated, and unpredictable. I want to know this Jesus, though he scares me a little."--John Ortberg, teaching pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church "In this wonderfully provocative book, Galli recovers a more multifaceted portrait of Jesus, insisting that Jesus's plan for our lives is demanding and difficult--and in that difficulty we find real love. This is not an easy book to read, because it promises to change you and your relationship with God. And I, for one, am very, very grateful that I read it. I know I will be reading it again."--Lauren F. Winner, author, Girl Meets God and Real Sex "Galli reads widely, writes winningly, and expounds Jesus convincingly. Finally, a Jesus who was potent enough to cause commotion and even (temporary) chaos."--Scot McKnight, author, The Jesus Creed and Embracing Grace "Can he say that? Galli's vigorous presentation of the 'mean and wild' aspects of Jesus arises from a justified impatience with a faith too often soggy. 'Mean and wild' are in the eye of the beholder, of course, but this volume will help clear our vision to behold a Lord who is anything but tame."--Frederica Mathewes-Green, author, The Illumined Heart: The Ancient-Christian Path of Transformation; www.frederica.com

Customer Reviews

A refreshing perspective
It seems in too many Christian circles we have this idea of a warm and cuddly Jesus -- a Jesus who would never say anything stern, a Jesus who would never make people mad. Too many Christians have embraced Christianity as a religion of being nice -- and if, heaven forbid, you ever say something that's not nice, then you're a wretched sinner.

Galli challenges this idea. He takes 17 passages from the gospel of Mark and shows how Jesus often acted in ways we might not expect -- or even in ways that maybe some think he shouldn't.

For example, he starts with Mark 1:11-12, which says that after Jesus was baptized, "the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness." Why did God do this? Isn't God supposed to be loving? Surely he wouldn't deliberately bring suffering into our lives. But that's exactly what God the Father did to Jesus in this passage. Galli uses this example to argue that difficulties and sufferings are often God's ways of fashioning the character of men and women.

Other examples Galli draws upon from the life of Jesus include his stern warning to the leper who was healed, his rebuke of Peter, his driving the money changers out of the temple, etc.

Galli's book is a refreshing perspective on who Jesus really is. Concise and readable, each chapter is about 8-10 pages long and can stand alone as its own unit -- meaning it's a book that you can read over a long period of time and not feel like you're missing the big picture.

Ultimately, Galli challenges the reader to get to know the real Jesus, not the one we've conjured up and not the one with whom we want to be comfortable -- because God will not allow us the luxury of being comfortable with him.

Powerful book, very well written
Mark Galli reveals a Jesus who prowls the pages of scripture, yet is rarely seen in our play it safe, praise and worship churches. This Jesus is more Lion of Judah than Lamb of God -- a man's man who never backed down from a fight. The delicious irony is that this Jesus would be expelled from many a church -- for being too "UnChristlike."

My only beef with this book: Galli has a real bias against large, successful churches, dismissing them as prideful. He says that Christ prefers to work through small, humble churches. He ignores the fact that wherever Christ went, large crowds followed. I have no doubt that Jesus can work through churches large AND small, but in my experience large churches are much more likely to embody Christ's wildness, risk-taking and mission focus.

This book is definitely worth a read. I highly recommend it.

Jesus Isn't Always Nice
This remarkable little book (with only 207 hardback pages) reminds that Jesus wasn't always nice. Using texts from the Gospel of Mark author Mark Galli presents the "shock and awe" moments from Christ's ministry and life. "Jesus Mean and Wild" (2006) completes its study with six pages of endnotes and 18 pages of small group discussion questions.

Galli's study is provocative and occasionally uncomfortable. He explains that his point is to "explore this unnerving texture by working through seventeen passages of the Gospel" (page 19). The book is simply astonishing! Each time I wanted to disagree with his analysis, the author presented me with a direct quote from Jesus. (I've begun to re-tool my thinking.)

As if to unnerve the stayed and stodgy believer even more, Galli uses the new English Standard Version of Scripture (2001). This translation presents novel, often challenging, words to the biblical text. His use of the ESV greatly assists in his presentation and surprising Jesus recount.

The best parts of this book are chapters 11 and 12 as Galli explains that contemporary western Christianity has given into the gospel of relevance and success. He says that in order for the church to continue to be faithful and effective this pursuit of numbers "must die" (page 128). If there is a downside to this book it is that the author tends to be preachy (he is verbose). Working through his sermons is a small price to pay to discover his pearls of wisdom.

This is a very good book. It shows that sometimes Jesus was direct and confrontational. It is recommended to everyone.