Finding Life in Sacrilege

Last updated on: April 2, 2012 at 9:55 am by Guest Contributor

2,425 Comments

Finding Life in Sacrilege 2012-04-02T09:55:39-06:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

By Terry Smith

“Finding Life in the Unorthodox Ways of Jesus” was an odd subtitle, I originally thought. But it’s exactly what happened for me within the pages of Hugh Halter’s new book, Sacrilege. Books like Hugh’s remind me why I feel called to participate with Jesus in this weird ministry I do. There aren’t many “Christian” authors I read that I think really “get it,” but Hugh does.

I enjoyed travelling through the Beatitudes with Hugh. My soon to be wife, Rebecca, gets on me sometimes because when we’re driving, I don’t pay attention to my surroundings very much. She says things like, “We’re going through a part of town you’ve never been in and you can’t put down your phone.” I’m glad I took time and looked around where Hugh was taking me through Matthew Chapter 5. He wrote of the Scriptures as one would write of a beloved friend. These are Scriptures he’s familiar with because he has lived them.

In Chapter 4, he states the idea that one does not “know” a text until they have lived it. I have a love/hate relationship with this idea. I love the idea that when we live out the commands of Jesus, we fall more in love with the man who made the command and more in love with the text itself. However, I hate the application of that principle. I don’t want to have to live “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” to know that truth. But, I have lived it, so I do know it to be true.

I run a ministry here in Atlanta called “The Van Atlanta”. Some very nice folks give us donations of clothes and hygiene items and we make sure those items get to the homeless folks that need them. I really enjoy it. I enjoy helping folks. And I have no doubt that we are completing at least a part of the Gospel.

One thing I loved about Hugh’s book is how he challenged us to do more. At the end of each chapter, he gave us “something to consider” and “something to do”. These always challenged me. People tell me all the time that I’m “doing good work”. And that’s an easy trap to fall into. I’ll find myself wanting to skip church sometimes because I “did a good deed” today. Or I’ll find myself withholding a blessing (that I’m financially capable of giving) because I “helped that guy yesterday”. I like the fact that Hugh challenged me to take the “good” I was doing and do better. And when we can find a book that truly challenges us to not only “do better” but “be better”, we’ve found a gem. I suggest you read his book and share it. You will not be disappointed.

Terry Ramone Smith oversees the Van Atlanta – advocating for homeless Georgians and will soon be married to his love.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

March 26, 2012

Artists On Call in Culture: Responses to Wisdom & Wonder

Next Post

April 6, 2012 Hope in Something Better: A Review of "Jesus and the Demise of Death"

Recent Comments

2,425 Comments | Leave a Comment

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Author Q&A Book Review Christian Living Church Leadership Stump a Scholar Theology Uncategorized

Select a Month June 2022 March 2021 October 2020 August 2020 February 2019 November 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 November 2016 October 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which prophet confronted King Ahab about his sins?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jeremiah Elisha Ezekiel Elijah