Rumors of God, Whitehead and Tyson by Thomas Nelson
Experience the Kind of Faith You’ve Only Heard About

Rumor 1 : talk or opinion widely disseminated with no discernible source 2 : a statement or report current without known authority for its truth
www.merriam-webster.com

Most of the definitions of rumor imply that the information being passed on is unverifiable. I don’t know if Darren Whitehead and Jon Tyson were suggesting that the concepts in their book have not been verified but that may be so. In Rumors of God these pastors tell us about grace, justice, love, freedom and other Christ-like characteristics that for many people are just that, rumors--good ideas but not verified.

How many of us have really experienced a grace that keeps on loving when we have failed? How many have witnessed generosity that gives away fully loaded minivans or pays for trips to the orthodontist for some kid at school?

How about asking how a friend is doing because you really want to know or belonging to a group that really cares for you. For how many people are these ideas just rumors, nice stories, but not verified.

I could nod at every negative illustration the authors used. In 60 plus years in churches I have seen some ugly things. Broken TV’s given for ministry, grace withheld from those who needed it the most and an unfortunate desire to hold on to everything we have in case we need it some day.

Tyson and Whitehead invite us to look closely at Jesus. It is a much needed invitation. The church in the US needs to verify these rumors by its actions. This book is not one I can put down and walk away from. It requires action.

In ten chapters we are reminded of the things that happen when we make following Christ a priority: Exotic dancers get an extreme makeover, pastors who fail create a place for other failures, Manhattan executives get involved in water projects for the third world and people with cancer receive prayer from the whole community

I underlined quite a few sentences and created my own index so I could review my notes. I will be coming back to this book.

If enough people read this book and take it to heart we may be able to revert to the root meaning of the word rumor: a soft low indistinct sound, a murmur --no longer unverified but the good news that is now spreading.