Search advanced search
 
Books
Search:
x dismiss this message

Did you know you can edit this page?

Imaginary Jesus
  • Rated 0 stars
Read Imaginary Jesus

Imaginary Jesus (2010) (edit title/settings)

by Matt Mikalatos (Author) (edit contributors)

Share this book on:
see page history

Description edit see section history

Imaginary Jesus is an hilarious, fast-paced, not-quite-fictional story that’s unlike anything you’ve ever read before. When Matt Mikalatos realizes that his longtime buddy in the robe and sandals isn’t the real Jesus at all, but an imaginary one, he embarks on a mission to find the real... read more

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit

Write a ridiculously simplified synopsis.

Summary edit see section history

I loved this book, and yes I am a amateur theologian. Having studied just about every religion and dogma over the last 30 years. It's my opinion this book should be required reading to every theology or religion class.

Too often churches and denominations get so caught up in their own... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

I loved this book, and yes I am a amateur theologian. Having studied just about every religion and dogma over the last 30 years. It's my opinion this book should be required reading to every theology or religion class.

Too often churches and denominations get so caught up in their own dogma that the average congregant becomes confused about the real message of Christ. The message becomes obscure and lost among the legalistic dogma's of the churches. For youth and those just seeking Christ this all too often has the result of turning them away from Christ. Many leave the churches thinking, there is so much to this how can I ever get this right so why try or bother? That is a shame and a sin that leaders of the church often cause that result or at least play a part in that happening.

This book in a clear and funny hip way alerts readers to the fact Christ is neither legalistic, demanding,or political. This book brings out into the light of day the fact many denominations have constructed a imaginary Christ AKA Jesus who is much too hard to satisfy and get along with. The book with humor emphasizes the message that Jesus wants to meet each of us just where we are and will help us to remold who we are from that point. No need to worry about the legalistic mantra's of the churches and denominations.

I love this book, gave it a four star rating, would have given it five stars, except it left me wanting more.

I highly recommend this book.

Characters/People edit see section history

Show all 62 characters
Popular Covers

Loading covers…

Choose your book’s cover

Quotes edit see section history

  • “But to be a disciple means more than learning. It means to become like your teacher. It means transformation from what I am into what my teacher is. Y'shua said once, 'Everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.' ...You would eat what I eat, you would rest when I rest, and under the same olive tree. You wouldn't take the shortcut while I went the long way. We would be inseparable. You would like like my shadow, mimicking my actions until you could do what I do without thinking, until you had the same instincts, thoughts, and words.”
    Daisy
  • “Did you notice that in all of Y'shua's teaching so far, he had never yet said, 'I am the way and the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father but by me'? Do you see that when I threw down my nets it had nothing to do with eternal life? I wanted to be like that man. Pure and simple. I saw his life, not his future. I knew he was an amazing teacher and a person of power, but I didn't know he was God. Not yet. Do you see that?”
    Peter Jonason
  • “The real Jesus in inconvenient. He doesn't always show up when you call. He asks for unreasonable things. He frightens people. He can be immensely frustrating. But you can still serve him while working with an imaginary Jesus. We provide a service to get people closer to God.”
    Political Power Jesus
  • “That's the danger of following an imaginary Jesus. The more committed you get to him and his plan, the further afield from the real Jesus you get. Your earnest attempts to be committed to your imaginary Jesus actually move you away from Christ.”
    Daisy
  • “How do you deal with a God who breaks all the rules that your confident, well-meaning friends have told you he will follow? They had told me that he wouldn't invade my life with inconveniences like miracles, things that make me stop and realize the fragile, illusory nature of nature. And here he was, showing me that little things like pain and death and the rules of the universe weren't going to get in the way of his doing whatever he liked. I can remember lying there in the dark and thinking, 'If this is true, then he can do whatever he pleases. Who knows what he might ask of me? I can't control him. I can't box him in with my own beliefs and philosophies.'”
    Matt Mikalatos
  • “Hospitals aren't funny. They're designed to fight against death, and that makes them a testimony to the fact that death exists. The most successful operation, the most brilliant doctor, the most miraculous pharmaceutical is nothing but a detour on a one-way street.”
    Matt Mikalatos
  • “A sitcom played on the television, trying to assure us that life is a comedy, that in half and hour all our problems would be solved.”
    Matt Mikalatos
  • “You've become all about lecture, all about theology. Boring. You've vivisected the gospel, and then you wonder where all the life is. The Bible is meant to be interacted with, not cut up on a table.”
  • “I can see why you're comfortable with this Jesus. He's not the one I read about in your Bible, but I can see why you would like him.”
    Shane
  • “I mean that your head is full of static. Stuffed full of television and radio and comic books and noise. You say you can't hear Jesus, but it's because you have earbud in all the time. You're afraid of silence. You're afraid to let even a strong signal through.”
    Daisy
  • “Jesus took off his clothes and washed our feet. My friend John says that this was the moment when Jesus showed us the full extent of his love. Not by coming to Earth as a baby. Not by dying. But rather that moment in the upper room, washing our feet. He says that Jesus did it because he knew he had come from heaven, that he had all authority in heaven and on earth, and that he was returning to heaven.”
    Peter Jonason
  • “And then, of course, there was this bread. His body. I took the bread and dipped it in the cup. His blood. I put it in my mouth, chewing carefully. Here was a reminder that when I least deserved it, when I was his enemy, he died so that I could live. He died so that the entire world order could be restructured, so the dead could live, so that the universe could be restored. He died so that I could live a victorious life, so that I could become like him and no longer be held captive to my own nature and desires but could instead break out of those for my deeper desires, those amazing, wonderful, transcendent actions that I so badly wanted to do but couldn't without his help. He died so that I could live his life.”
    Matt Mikalatos
Show all 12 quotes from this book

First Sentence edit see section history

Jesus and I sometimes grab lunch at the Red and Black Cafe on Twelfth and Oak.

Table of Contents edit see section history

0: At the Red and Black
1: Following Jesus
2: A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread, and Pete
3. Imaginary Gardens with Real Toads in Them
4: In One Year and Out the Other
5: A Doctor in the House
6: Matt Mikalatos, Donkey Disciple
7: Something's Going On Down the Road over Yonder
8: Lamb on the Lam
9: Jesus Will Never Leave You (If You Tie the Knots Tight Enough)
10: Behold! I Stand at the Door and Knock!
11: !!!!!
12: The Secret Society of Imaginary Jesuses
13: Thy Kingdom Come
14: Onward Christian Soldiers
15: Boy Meets Bunny
16: Healing in the Bedroom
17: Every Cowboy Sings a Sad, Sad Song
18: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Emergency Room
19: Death and All His Friends
20: Learning to Listen to your Inner (Tube) Voice
21: One Jesus Down...Way Down
22: Ooooooh! TREE!
23: Return of the Frog of Hate
24: A Burning Bosom
25: Mormon Jesus and My Jesus
26: The Athiest Bible Study
27: Lauren and Hardy Meet Mohammad
28: Back in (the Red and) Black
29: The Parable of Zombie Boy and Werewolf Boy
30: Portland + Jesus = Love
31: Stupid Atheists and Their Stupid Insights
32: Oh Yes, Jefe, You Have a Plethora
33: It Takes a Village
34: In the Labyrinth
35: Holy Mother of God
36: Dinner with the President
37: The Center
38: Craft Time with the Apostle John
39: Function at the Junction

Acknowledgment

Glossary edit see section history

  • Cointreau: A colorless, orange-flavored liqueur.
  • génoise: A rich and delicate Italian sponge cake.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Matt Mikalatos (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Country: USA
Publication Date: January 4, 2010
ISBN: 9781414335636
Page Count: 240

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: PS3613.I45I43 2010
  • Dewey: 813.6

We’re hiding the errata, movie connections, books that influenced this book, books influenced by this book, books that cite this book and books cited by this book sections. If you would like to add content to them, you must first make them visible.

© 2006-2013 Shelfari | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy

Close