Jason Clark

A Tale of Three Kings: A study in brokeness, by Gene Edwards
Buy in US, Buy in UK
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My earlier post on Dwelling, got some very honest responses about the pain of trying to be in a church. Two things I have observed over the years are the reality of pastors and leaders who are controlling and abusive, and much to blame for people leaving the church. But I have also seen how, we are quick to be unable to handle anyone speaking into our lives about our behaviour, character, and committment, and respond to loving correction by labellling it ‘abuse’ and leaving to consume somewhere else.

Maybe ours is a generation that has lost the plot on any understanding of authority and submission? How many people do you know who work out difficulties and conflicts in a church community, how many places experience and model strengthening, encouragement, correction and rebuking, for the sake of our growth?

The most painful bits of my life have been having other christians, speak into my life, correction, to question they way I am behaving, living out or not from my values. And I have had to make a choice as to whether to embrace that or run away. Staying with it, and has helped me more than running away.

One book, that I go back to regularly, is ‘A Tale of Three Kings’ by Gene Edwards. It uses the story of Saul and David to examine authority and submission, and the pain of brokeness. If anyone is feeling hurt by their church, if any leader is feeling abandoned by people leaving their community, this book, is a must read, prescription.

It’s only 100 pages long and can be read in less than an hour. If you are in pain from church, leaving church, being in church, without a church, I couldn’t recommend this book more highly.