Matt Carriker

[Agape Waltham @AgapeWaltham]

Friends, I am excited about the virtual launch of “Giving Christianity Back to Agape Love” next Sunday, January 8th at 4:30 p.m. ET. If you can join (spots limited), register here!
https://t.co/AgePLCOAAg

[Matt Carriker @CarrikerMatt]

At Christmas, we celebrate invisible, divine love taking on human form, what we know of as the “Incarnation.” The real significance of Christmas is that love- the Christ consciousness- becomes incarnate in us! Enjoy this meditation on incarnational love.
https://t.co/OvMytlvreR

[Matt Carriker @CarrikerMatt]

hold THE universal truth. As we affirm that “God is Still Speaking,” we do well to hold our beliefs lightly, knowing that wisdom and new revelations are constantly springing forth from God’s well of abundant life.
“Giving Christianity Back to Agape Love”
https://t.co/Dzrwy9hf18

[Matt Carriker @CarrikerMatt]

Knowing that religious beliefs have been used to hurt, exclude, and judge others, Jesus’ invitation for us is to value love over belief. Knowing that Jesus had strong words for those who clung too tightly to their beliefs and traditions, we do well not to claim that we (1of2)

[Matt Carriker @CarrikerMatt]

It is a much-needed purification of unhelpful religiosity, so that the spiritual depth of Jesus’ life and ministry can emerge once again.
From my newly released book, “Giving Christianity Back to Agape Love”
https://t.co/Dzrwy9hf18

[Matt Carriker @CarrikerMatt]

Scholars, theologians, Pastors, mystics, and religious leaders from all walks of life must begin the difficult task of examining and evaluating our faith. As we do, we will find that there is much to leave behind. This is the “rummage sale” Christianity must undergo. (1 of 2)

[Matt Carriker @CarrikerMatt]

Today's reformers are encouraging us to move back to a simpler creed: that love is our path, love is our guide, and love is our foundation. In this spirit, ask of any belief, ritual, or tradition- does it align with love? Let’s test it and find out.
https://t.co/Dzrwy9hf18

[Matt Carriker @CarrikerMatt]

Jesus’ question to Christians today is simple- do your beliefs align with love? If we are known as Jesus’ disciples by our love, not by our beliefs, then we must take a long, close look at how we re-orient our lives and our communities.
“Giving Christianity Back to Agape Love”

[Matt Carriker @CarrikerMatt]

that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13: 35) In short, Jesus offered a new way of holding our beliefs, based on one criterion- love.
From Ch. 3- “A New Christian Reformation: Beliefs and Embodiment” of my new book, “Giving Christianity Back to Agape Love”

[Matt Carriker @CarrikerMatt]

Jesus’ life and ministry weren’t about ushering in a new set of beliefs. Early followers of Jesus were known as “The Way.” Albeit imperfectly, those early disciples sought to live out the path of love that Jesus embodied and taught them: “By this everyone will know (part 1 of 2)

[Matt Carriker @CarrikerMatt]

Watching this video made me smile! https://t.co/MrDJbomU90
I shot it 8.5 years ago, thinking I’d be finished with my book in 2015! How much I grew in those 8 years as I brought this book to completion. I’m grateful to share the finished product now. https://t.co/Dzrwy9hMQG

[Matt Carriker @CarrikerMatt]

Modern people resonate with Gandhi’s statement, “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
From Ch. 3- “A New Christian Reformation: Beliefs and Embodiment” of my new book, “Giving Christianity Back to Agape Love” (2 of 2)

[Matt Carriker @CarrikerMatt]

For centuries, Christian circles have been defined by theological beliefs rooted in a vengeful, violent, judgmental God. These beliefs have been the foundation for vengeful, violent and judgmental Christian behaviors. It's no wonder that people aren’t interested in church.(1of2)

[Matt Carriker @CarrikerMatt]

It needs to shed its idea that Christians have an exclusive hold on spiritual truth, thus perpetuating religious superiority in our pluralistic world.”
From Chapter 2- “Embodiment” of my newly released book, “Giving Christianity Back to Agape Love”

[Matt Carriker @CarrikerMatt]

beliefs about salvation and sin, God and Jesus, scripture, science, and sexuality. Christianity needs to shed the ways that violence and prejudice are perpetrated in the name of God, religion, and Jesus.

[Matt Carriker @CarrikerMatt]

“Most of us know what Christianity needs to shed- its judgment of others; its condemnation of people of other faiths, and of no faith at all; its attachment to dogma and limiting beliefs that no longer resonate with common sense Christians.

[Matt Carriker @CarrikerMatt]

"Giving Christianity Back to Agape Love" is about embodiment. It is not about converting people from other religions to Christianity or judging those who have fallen short of the highest standards of love. “Back to Love” is about “incarnating” all that Jesus incarnated.

[Matt Carriker @CarrikerMatt]

“A faith that isn’t lived out has little power in a world where faith is also used as a weapon.”
From Chapter 2- “Embodiment” of my newly released book, “Giving Christianity Back to Agape Love: A New Paradigm for Being Church Together”

[Matt Carriker @CarrikerMatt]

“The radical thing about divine love is this- God loves us, and there’s NOTHING we can do about it. In the words of Philip Yancey, there’s nothing we can do to make God love us more, and nothing we can do to make God love us less.”
From “Giving Christianity Back to Agape Love”

[Matt Carriker @CarrikerMatt]

'Jesus did not present a God who was the arbiter of the Ultimate, Divine Trade Agreement- “Do or believe the right things, and you’ll receive my love. If you don’t, you won’t!” This is us creating God in the image of human love!'
Ch. 1- Giving Christianity Back to Agape Love