“The church of Jesus Christ exists to be a sign of the kingdom of God in the culture in which it exists. It is the light and hope in a reprobate world that suggest there is an alternative worldview where giving, losing, serving, and turning our cheeks are higher values than hoarding, gaining, controlling, and avenging. The body of christ is the visible expression of a value system that sets love and obedience above rights and freedom.” (p. 160)
Apathetic.
Hypocritical.
Judgmental.
Arrogant.
Aloof.
Out-of-touch.
These are just some of the adjectives that some have used to describe the church in the West, and particularly the church in North America. The tragic thing is that many of the comments, which employ these and other adjectives, are made by those who are on the fringe. They have either given up on the church and have been part of an exodus from the church. Or they have never been a part of the church, yet critique it as if they have firsthand knowledge.
Admittedly, the church is not all that God has intended it to be. In many instances the adjectives and criticisms are justified and true. What is disconcerting, however, is the voices that decry the problems of the church neither offer a new way forward nor do they endeavor to help be part of a positive change as a part of the church. Jimmy Dorrell and the folks at The Church Under the Bridge, however, are an exception. Acknowledging the imperfections of the church has been part of a long process in which through soul-searching and the guidance of the Holy Spirit they have forged a new kind of church. A church that makes sense to and speaks the truth of God into the lives of a wide smathering of society. Drugs addicts and prostitutes worship next to business executives and spoiled college students. Together they do life together. They learn from one another. And, not surprisingly, they and the church that embraces these folks are better for it.
Trolls and Truth is a phenomenal book from a pastor who has learned firsthand the inadequacy of the church as it currently is and has fought hard and championed the church as it ought to be. The result is a heart-felt, beautiful, and sometimes uproariously funny set of “14 realities that today’s church doesn’t want to see.” Dorrell’s wit and humor is able to disarm the reader to the extent that the reader will be nodding in agreement with many of the observations that he has made. The stories help the reader to know that while this book critiques the church and proposes a new way forward that it is not a purely academic or untried series of suggestions- instead, these stories are recorded by a pastor who has experienced the pain and joy that are characteristic of the way forward.
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