The Orthodox Heretic And Other Impossible Tales
The Orthodox Heretic And Other Impossible Tales is written by Peter Rollins and published in hardcover by Paraclete Press (2009).
Happily, I received my copy of The Orthodox Heretic: And Other Possible Tales by Peter Rollins (How Not to Speak of God – Marks of the Emerging Church). I say happily because I ordered it three months ago on Amazon. Yes, it took an extremely long time for it to arrive here, but the wait was well worth it!
My rating: stars
Admittedly, I have only read the first chapter, but if this first chapter is a good indication of what awaits, then the wait for delivery was worth every minute. Rollins is a great writer and thinker. He challenges the status quo with competence and inspiration. The first chapter – or story – of The Orthodox Heretic is by itself enough to have me pondering for the rest of the day. It makes me want to have more God. It sends me searching for more God. In short, Rollins has written contemporary parables in a most masterful way. A good parable does this sort of thing to the reader/listener.
The first chapter of The Orthodox Heretic is titled “No Conviction.” It was inspired by a bumper sticker slapped onto the bumper of a speeding car that read: “If Christianity were illegal would there be enough evidence to convict you?” That’s a good question.
Here are a few important excerpts from No Conviction (Get this book to read the rest!):
Rollins sets the story’s scene …
In a world where following Christ is decreed to be a subversive and illegal activity you have been accused of being a believer, arrested, and dragged before a court. You have been under clandestine surveillance for some time now, and so the prosecution has been able to build up quite a case against you. They begin the trial by offering the judge dozens of photographs that show you attending church meetings, speaking at religious events, and participating in various prayer and worship services. After this, they present a selection of items that they have confiscated from your home: religious books that you own, worship CDs, and other Christian artifacts. They then step up the pace by displaying many of the poems, pieces of prose, and journal entries that you had lovingly written concerning your faith. Finally, in closing, the prosecution offers your Bible tot he judge. This is a well worn book with scribbles,notes, drawings, and underlinings throughout, evidence, if it were needed, that you had read and reread this sacred text many times (3-4).
So, that’s the scene and the case against you. The story, however, is not over yet. The prosecution finished their presentation against you and now the decision must be made by the judge. So, you anxiously await the verdict. Are you guilty, or are you innocent? The story continues …
Once you have been seated in the dock the judge, a harsh and unyielding man, enters the room, stands before you, looks deep into your eyes and begins to speak.
“Of the charges that have been brought forward I find you not guilty.”
“Not guilty?” your heart freezes. Then, in a split second, the fear and terror that had moments before threatened to strip your resolve are swallowed up by confusion and rage.
Despite the surroundings, you stand defiantly before the judge and demand that he give an account concerning why you are innocent of the charges in light of the evidence.
“What evidence?” he replies in shock.
“What about the poems and prose that I wrote?” you reply.
“They simply show that you think of yourself as a poet, nothing more.”
“But what about the services I spoke at, the times I wept in church and the long, sleepless nights of prayer?”
“Evidence that you are a good speaker and actor, nothing more,” replied the judge. “It is obvious that you deluded those around you, and perhaps at times even deluded yourself, but this foolishness is not enough to convict you in a court of law.”
“But this is madness!” you shout. “It would seem that no evidence would convince you!”
“Not so,” replies the judge as if informing you of a great, long-forgotten secret.
Then Rollins puts a word that all of us should hear into the mouth of this judge that is seriously profound. Seriously, spend some time thinking about what the judge is about to say to the one not convicted!
“The court is indifferent toward your Bible reading and church attendance; it has no concern for worship and words and a pen. Continue to develop your theology, and use it to paint pictures of love. We have no interest in such armchair artists who spend their time creating images of a better world. We exist only for those who would lay down their brush, and their life, in a Christlike endeavor to create a better world. So, until you live as Christ and his followers did, until you become a thorn in our side, until you die to yourself and offer your body to the flames, until then, my friend, you are no enemy of ours.”
This book should be on the shelf of every serious believer and follower of Jesus of Nazareth. Get yourself a copy, today! Go on! Order it!
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