I ran across a book on my shelf that I had read years ago. I took it down to share with my sister. Adventures in Missing the Point was published in 2003 and written by Brian McLaren and Tony Compolo. After looking at the title daily for about a week, I decided I was the one who needed to read it again.

The authors address issues in the Christian experience where there is misunderstanding or disagreement. One person writes the chapter and the other author then writes a response. The book questions if we are creating religious consumers. “Are we creating self serving, self perpetuating, self centered subculture instead of a world-penetrating, world-serving, world-transforming, God-centered counterculture?”

As I started to reread the book, I realized that much of what Missing the Point addresses is still valid today. I hear similar discussions among Christians, today. In some ways these discussions have turned into heated debate. This book strives to bring us back to what Scripture says and doesn’t say.

I have a signed copy by Tony Compolo. His signature includes this scripture.

^10-11 I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it. ^12-14 I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. (Philippians 3:10-14 NIV).

All of this go me to thinking. In the church, we are in the season of Epiphany. It is the season of “ah ha’s”. It is the season to discover where I am missing the point.

God, please show me where I am missing the point. Show me where I have strayed from your word, your character, your call for me to “salt and light,” your call to serve “the least of these.” Create in me an epiphany of the heart this season, don’t let me miss the goal.

Are you missing the point? What is God trying to show you this season? Share your experience here and breathe life and bring hope to others.