Kate Gilbert’s Reviews > Jesus > Religion: Why He Is So Much Better Than Trying Harder, Doing More, and Being Good Enough > Status Update

Bethke talks about b omg freed from death by the cross and how we don’t have to keep trying to redeem ourselves or our sin, that has already been done. The best way we can worship God is rest in his grace. He also talked about God wanting glory for all things, not just Christian things. Anything with truth and anything he created he wants back and he wants glory for. An example is secular music vs. Christin music.

Bethke is finishing his talk on idolatry, explaining a relationship where his girlfriend was his God, his everything. When he lost her, he was sent into a spiral of depression and suicidal thoughts. Bethke is now talking about suffering. Suffering is there to help us, to show us that God is there for us in the trials. God doesn't give us a definitive answer, he tells us what suffering is not. It is not God leaving us

He also talked about how Sunday School Bible stories gloss over the real thing. They create heroes, and tell you to be the heroes, when in reality the heroes were sinners and we should idolize someone else. Jesus is the only savoir, not those "heroes" or us or anyone else.

Bethke talked briefly about idolatry- worshiping something more than we should worship God. Some examples were politics, or anything we hold our identity in. He said that if we idolize something, we have to demonize the opposite. Republican vs. Democrat for politics as an example. He said that nothing makes sense except to idolize Jesus and demonize demons- why wouldn't it make sense?

Jefferson is talking about different types of Christians. So far I have read about: the Fundies (fundamentalists)- people who think if they follow a set of rules they are good Christians, the fakes- Christians on the outside, wearing a cross necklace, going to Church on Christmas, and the Reverse Legalists- thinking you are righteous- arrogant people

I just started this book. I like how he is modest about not being a pastor or person of high education about the bible, he's just a guy with a story- a testimony. His story is really relatable about how he grew up Christian but didn't know Jesus. There are also discussion questions that get you thinking about the content of the book. The book is convicting- I'm really thinking about my faith and how I have come to it