Jesus in the Margins

I am a non-Christian, and this book has a lot to offer for anyone thinking about becoming a Christian or wanting to learn more about the religion, but who are turned off by traditional churches or Christians. McKinley gives personal accounts from members of his church and talks about how Jesus's words and actions were often very different from those of mainstream American Christans. Jesus hung out with the losers, the outcasts, the people that many sheltered American Christians would not look in the eye as they passed them on the street. Rick shows us specific ways of inviting God into our lives and allowing God to help us through any difficulties in our lives. He also talks about how we can help others and how people following Jesus might behave - in a radically welcoming, giving, loving way. This is a healing book for those of us who have felt anger at the mainstream church but feel that the Christian religion might have something to offer. I am not a Christian but this book helped heal a lot of my sore feelings towards the religion.

I resonate a lot with the story of Rick's. As one who came to faith in Christ after high school I too felt the awkwardness of transitioning into the evangelical subculture. However, as I read the book and saw how Rick wrestled with his new faith which painted Jesus in a beautiful light, I couldn't help but be encouraged and drawn closer to Christ. The book was a great story and I felt like I had the privilege of seeing Rick's faith laid bare. It's one thing to read abstract thoughts or doctrine, but it's another to see one's life intersect with their faith. Rick's book is a beautiful crossroads of such a thing. It was hard to put it down.

The great Indian missionary and Christian statesman, E. Stanley Jones, was once asked by a Russian actress if he was a Christian because he wanted God to hold his hand and give him comfort. Jones replied, "I don't want God to hold my hand, but I want him to strengthen my arm that I might reach out a helping hand to others." What Jones expressed in a sentance, McKinley has fleshed out in this wonderful book. Through stories woven through his personal journey of grace and faith we see how believers and the church alike can reach out to all who need hope, faith and love. The margins of society are not to be ignored but rather the places Jesus often shows up most visibly.

i really liked this book. i read a lot of theology and it is rare to find a book that hits that experiential note without it being sappy or weak theologically. the book sort of has a blue like jazz flavor to it but it has more of a foundational ground and agenda. in blue like jazz, rick mckinely is "pastor rick says..." it was cool to get to know pastor rick and his friends in reading "Jesus in the margins" but even more so it hit a chord with me because the Jesus he presented made a lot of sense. so often i get the feeling that people think christianity is a religion and Jesus is our god who makes the rules. this book presents a different Jesus, one is even though he is God, loves to hang out with sinners and isn't afraid to break the rules. i understood something about Jesus that i never quite have in the same way before reading it...that Jesus knows what it feels like to be on the outside and that he went outside those boundaries for a reason. for me and for other screw-ups. the book gives theological feet to a mission mindset that cares more for sinners than arguing over trivial things in some sort of christian club.

McKinley writes an excellent work examining Jesus ministry to people in the margins. Many may be familiar with McKinley as 'Pastor Rick' in Don Miller's books (Blue Like Jazz, etc). Pastor Rick really picks up on a lot of the ideas Miller writes about but puts feet to them. He presents a view of Christianity that recognizes how many people feel broken, damaged by family/friends and lost in a world that seems to be heading in the other direction. This is where understanding how the Bible shows Jesus and his work to those left in the margins is so valuable. McKinley writes from experience, as they guy who has had his own struggles with acceptance and letting people in. I recommend this book as both individually healing and as a great presentation of what the Kingdom of God should look like.