May 8, 2013 · 7:50 pm

From Fear To Faith Almost Ready!

The book is shipping in a few days and you can pre-order at the link below!  I have shared part of my own journey in this book along with several others.  It is needed and I hope it may be of help to some!   I will probably be giving away a couple of copies to someone so stay tuned!

This book offers many variant forms of the story of discovering the force of the Gospel that lies behind the illusions and distortions of fundamentalism. The authors witness to an emancipation when the old, phony “protections” are abandoned. Coming to such an awareness cannot be hurried or coerced, but it is an urgent enterprise. As one author concludes, “I needed to grow up.”

– Dr. Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary

 

These essays revive the ancient tradition of testimony – but in a surprising and compelling direction. The authors recount their journeys from intellectually and spiritually restrictive expressions of Christianity to a vibrant and satisfying faith. Readers will grieve the authors’ painful moments and celebrate their joy. The stories testify that we need not fear doubt, for doubt often opens the path to joy and fulfillment.

– Greg Carey, PhD, Professor of New Testament Lancaster Theological Seminary, Lancaster,

 

See the complete list of endorsers here and place your order for a discount!

 

From Fear To Faith

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May 6, 2013 · 1:42 pm

Things Aren’t Always Simple

I am asked frequently if one HAS to be a scholar to understand the biblical texts.  No, but scholarship sure helps and contributes to our understanding of such ancient texts, far removed from us and our own culture with which we are familiar.  This is why we have teachers in school, those who have studied subjects more in depth than most of us and can impart some of that knowledge and understanding to us.  The more I have studied over many years the less I see that I know and have hold of.

Greg Carey of Lancaster Theological Seminary has written an excellent article which I am sharing here.  Enjoy!!  Comments are always welcome!!

 

Biblical Scholarship:  What’s It Good For?

Greg is on Facebook here:  Dr. Greg Carey

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April 8, 2013 · 12:36 pm

Right Texts, Wrong Meanings

RIGHT TEXTS, WRONG MEANINGS: Busting Myths from Popular New Testament Texts. This is the title of a new book by a friend of mine, Dr. Sam Tsang.  Every day on social networking sites I see  lone Bible verses quoted and applied to something far from the meaning of the texts in which the quote appears.  Many seem to have the mentality that scripture is simply a collection of self-help proverbs, meant to help us feel good about everything and anything.  No care whatsoever is given to the entire text of which the verse is a part.  Interesting to me is that we do this with nothing else.  Seems that everyone is an expert and feels free to pull any text out to apply it to whatever situation we are in at the moment, especially if it makes us feel good and happy.

Dr. Tsang covers this in his new book, which is very readable and right on, written for non-academic readers.  From his Introduction:

  • Does Matthew 7:1 mean not to judge?
  • Is the lost son in Luke 15 the younger son?
  • Is Romans 13 about the absolute obedience to the government?
  • Is the widow’s mite in Luke 21: 1-4 about giving?

If you answered “yes” to any of these, you need this book.

 

I highly recommend this book IF you have any interest in understanding texts and getting them right.  If you prefer to just throw out of context quotes out there and feel good doing so then you will not benefit from it.  Read Sam’s blog post to learn more about the book and for ordering information.

 

Right Texts, Wrong Meanings

 

As always, thank you to those who are readers and always give me feedback and comments!!!

 

Doug

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March 16, 2013 · 6:56 pm

Take Aim At Ourselves

I came across a blog post today through a post on Facebook and have read it over several times, especially this paragraph:

Here is what I think, you wanna be like Luther? Set your aim on all the silliness with evangelicalism. The legalism. The celebrity. The concerts disguised as worship. The worship disguised as concerts. The marketing ad nauseum. The legalism. The calls for radical living from pastors with iPads and iPhones who live in the suburbs with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. Set your aim on the cover-up of sexual abuse. The legalism. Set your aim on a theology that questions everything and stands for nothing. The pastor as CEO. The pastor as rock star. The legalism.

I think Matt Redmond hit this about as straight on as it could be hit.  Read his blog post and think about it.  Think about the “rock star churches” you see everywhere and on TV.  Martin Luther was not popular when he came out against the Catholic Church of his day and neither will any of us who do the same thing today.  As Redmond writes, he tried to reform from within.  This will apply to any of our churches today.  It needs to be done and will be.  It is just a matter of by whom.

Read it here:  The New Pope, Luther and Our Need To Take Aim At Ourselves

As always, comments are good!!  :)

Doug

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February 2, 2013 · 5:52 pm

From Fear To Faith – A New Book

This is the title of a book scheduled to be released in March.  I have an essay included in the collection along with several others.  You can read the synopsis of the book at the link below and pre order your copy!  Editors are Joel L. Watts and Travis Milam.  I am really looking forward to its release!!

Click Here:   http://unsettledchristianity.com/2013/02/you-can-now-pre-order-from-fear-to-faith-my-second-book

 

The direct link to pre-order is http://energiondirect.com/products-page/energion-publications/from-fear-to-faith-stories-of-hitting-spiritual-walls

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January 22, 2013 · 9:54 am

Martin Luther King, Jr. on the Status Quo and “Church”

A while back I wrote  ”A Respectable, Feel Good Church” and received several comments here as well as on Facebook.  I just read an excerpt shared by someone from Martin Luther King’s “Letter From Birmingham City Jail” and want to share that here.  He felt the same way then when he wrote this on April 16, 1963.  What he wrote here is happening.  It is part of the reason many of us today have problems with how churches operate and choose to do things and live our faith on our own and feel more effective doing so.  Many of my friends want NOTHING to do with any of it and I see why.  The time is here to get some changes made.  I read this entire letter recently and was struck by the similarity of things today.

 

‎”So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an arch defender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church’s silent—and often even vocal—sanction of things as they are.

“But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If today’s church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust.”

–Martin Luther King, Jr., Letter From Birmingham City Jail

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January 13, 2013 · 12:59 pm

Gospel or Rah Rah???

Sunday again.  Each Sunday I see tons of posts on Facebook and quotes people post from “church.”  Almost everything I see could easily have been taken from a pep rally or a positive thinking seminar or any self-help book at Barnes and Noble.  There is something very wrong here.  One gets the idea from the quotes that people are in it only for themselves.  Most of them are very selfish about acquiring material things, doing great things, making their own accomplishments greater and greater and having more and more and more.  Acquisitiveness, which is the exact opposite of what the gospel actually is.

I don’t think I have EVER seen a quote that included taking care of the poor or  about trying to live with less than we currently have.  I recall Jesus telling one rich young man to give away all he owned to the poor and to follow him.  John, while in prison, was sent the message that the blind now see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, lepers are healed, dead are raised and the good news is given to the poor.  James wrote that what God accepts as pure is that the orphans and widows are looked after in their distress and helplessness.

The prophet Amos made one of the most scathing indictments ever recorded against those who enjoyed over abundance and were self-indulgent in Amos 6.  Why?  Because they were enjoying all the fine things, acquiring more and more while others were ruined and had nothing.  Arrogance and self-satisfaction were rampant, much as today.  Included in the indictment by Amos were the leaders, those who were going right along with all this and enjoying the same things.  The people were enjoying beds made of ivory, rack of lamb and big palaces and homes, while the homeless were a mile away and the nation continued going into debt and ignoring those who needed help.

TV “preachers” promote this kind of thing daily, as well as many “churches.”  It seems to be a constant barrage of them telling people that God wants us to have great things and material blessings!  Ask God and he will give you more and more and more and more!  Certain texts are used to promote this which have been twisted from the contexts and “made to fit.”  I am quite sure Mother Teresa would not fit in here, either.  The gospel is about helping others who cannot care for themselves.  It is NOT about acquiring more and more and getting richer and richer and spending more and more and more.

The whole idea is to be about taking care of those who need our help.  This includes animals!  We are on this planet and need to be taking care of it and all that is here.

~~~~~”I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not invite me in. I needed clothes and you did not clothe me. I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.”~~~~~

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