Leonard Sweet - What Matters Most: How We Got the Point but Missed the Person

Praise for
What Matters Most

Len Sweet has really done it this time! In true midrash form, Len exposes the beauty of a relationship with our Creator. He asks all the hard questions and leads us to a place of grace beyond the formulaic answers. Throw all your self-help books in the trash and immerse yourself in a book that will help you see your faith journey in a whole new way.

C HRIS S EAY , author of The Gospel According to Tony Soprano

No charts, no boxes, no to-do lists. Just everything we thought we knew about faith but didnt. This is the book we should be reading in our small groups.

S ALLY M ORGENTHALER , author of Worship Evangelism, founder of Sacramentis.com and Digital Glass Videos

Way back in the 1970s, some thoughtful Christian leaders began talking about a relational theology. The term held intrigue and promise. Now, Leonard Sweet has given us a great gift. Here is a panoramic view of what a relational theology can mean for Christians today. Whether youre a spiritual seeker trying to get the lay of the land, or a seasoned traveler trying to make sense of what youve experienced, or even a disillusioned leader who feels its all gone stalethis book will help you see in a fresh, inspiring, profound, and invigorating way.

B RIAN M CLAREN , author of A New Kind of Christian and The Church on the Other Side

W HAT M ATTERS M OST
P UBLISHED BY W ATER B ROOK P RESS
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Colorado Springs, Colorado 80921

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (RSV) are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1946, 1952, and 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked (MSG) are taken from The Message. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org.) Scripture quotations marked (NEB) are taken from The New English Bible. Copyright 1961, 1970 by the Delegates of the Oxford University Press and the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press. Scripture quotations marked (REB) are taken from The Revised English Bible 1989 by Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press. Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from the King James Version.

Italics in Scripture quotations represent the authors added emphasis.

Copyright 2004 by Leonard I. Sweet

Previously published in hardcover as Out of the Question Into the Mystery.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published in the United States by WaterBrook Multnomah, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House Inc., New York.

W ATER B ROOK and its deer colophon are registered trademarks of Random House Inc.

The Library of Congress cataloged the hardcover edition as follows:
Sweet, Leonard I.
Out of the questioninto the mystery : getting lost in the GodLife relationship / Leonard Sweet.1st ed.
p. cm.
eISBN: 978-0-307-73058-9
1. Christian life. I. Title.
BV4501.3.S943 2004
248.4dc22

2004012086

v3.1

To Lyn and Picasso

with lasting gratitude for your
loyalty, laughter, and love.

I write this book with one foot on a banana peel. Im one of the least qualified persons to publish anything on the subject of relationship. I confess to Cro-Magnon capacities for canalizing and cannibalizing the emotions. I cant tell the difference between a makeover and a makeup. I trudge through the boggy world of relationships like a troglodyte. In the words of the old African American adage, Im trying to hit a straight lick with a crooked stick.

There are many who are more qualified than I to speak on these matters. But often those who are most qualified are least likely to work on the subject for fear of misleading or being misled. In other words, theyre too smart. Im too dumb and weak, which makes me unafraid to be wrong and hopeful for the healing that comes from immersing oneself in hot water. Besides, I have no choice. I am compelled to do this. Relationships are more than recreation. They are the very work of being human and divine.

It seems that Im either spending my life writing about Jesus or spending my life struggling not to write about Jesus. No one knows this better than my doctoral students, who heard this book as lectures and whose contributions are reflected in both text and endnotes. From George Fox University, I thank (Cohort 1) Peter Balaban, Greg Boulton, Eric Brown, Dwight Friesen, Craig Henningfield, Chad Johnson, Donna King, Raymond Leach, Terry OCasey, Ray Peacock, Earl Pierce, Shane Roberson, Rob Robinson, Warren Schatz, Marty Williams. From Cohort 2, I thank Rick Bartlett, Tony Blair, Doug Bryan, Jason Clark, Winn Griffin, Rick Hans, George Hemingway, Nick Howard, Todd Hunter, Randy Jumper, Eric Keck, Mike McNichols, Ken Niles, Craig Oldenburg, Kevin Rains, Rob Seewald, Rick Shrout, Dwight Spotts, David Wollenburg. From Drew University, I thank Thomas Biatek, William Brown, Kenneth Harrington, Todd Harrington, Alan Lyke, Daniel Meister, and Rachel Shoemaker.

While I was writing this book, my major mentor, Winthrop S. Hudson, died. I have continued to be mentored by certain people, however, some of whom have read the manuscript; others have not. Philosopher Stan Grenz has shown us all that classic orthodoxy and postmodern are not oxymoronic. Brian McLarens superconductive brain and vanguard spirit inspire me to explore the hidden depths and heights of faith. Judge Jesse Caldwell III, who is everything I am nota master at the art of friendshipcontinually inspires me with his undentable spirit and inexhaustible creativity. Biblical scholar Loy Witherspoon should not be held accountable for my antique but unique musings on certain passages. But Im grateful for his heads-up that some of this is about as welcome as a piano at a Church of Christ convention. Joe Myers makes support a sport. My WaterBrook editor, Ron Lee, gave me encouragement when I needed it the most and did his best to minimize Jobs (wonderfully mistranslated) warning: Oh that mine adversary had written a book (31:35, KJV ). He is every authors dream-come-true editor.