Eric Michael Bryant’s Peppermint-Filled Piñatas

Taken from www.churchrelevance.com.

Eric Michael Bryant of Mosaic Church (Los Angeles, CA) recently wrote a book called Peppermint-Filled Piñatas that discusses what it takes to be a church that offers sincere love. Highlights from the book include:

• For far too long, the world has been made aware of what we as Christians hate rather than whom we love.
• We tend to judge people who do not know Christ by the same standards we have for ourselves. We should not be surprised when people who have not surrendered their lives to Christ live differently.
• Some of our churches have so consistently become a refuge for Christians from the world that we fail to become communities that go out into the world, or even communities where seekers feel free to come and explore the possibility of a God who loves them.
• Our isolation from the world fails to communicate God’s concern for those around us but instead communicates that we do not want others in our lives who do not know Christ.
• Rather than simply looking for ways to develop new strategies and programs, we must hone the skill of developing relationships.
• Developing friendships takes longer and requires more effort, but the impact is greater and longer lasting.
• Genuine love requires genuine sacrifice.
• Our character and actions should be what set us apart - not our zip code.
• Our love for others proves that God is real.
• Stereotypes exist because we do not form friendships with others who differ from us.
• Tolerance allows us to survive; love allows us to thrive.

Peppermint-Filled Piñatas offers insight into how to minister with love and reach people who are economically, ethnically, religiously, politically, or morally different than you. It is about breaking through tolerance and embracing love, and I found it to be both challenging and refreshing.