Bill Nieporte, Pastor

I am always grateful for authors who aim to challenge my own established beliefs. If I only read a diet of books that confirm what I already believe, how can I learn anything? I want to be challenged to think. Such a challenge may change my beliefs, or cause me to study harder to reaffirm my convictions. In either case, learning takes place.

For this reason, I was excited to read “The Gospel You’ve Never Heard: Who Really Goes To Hell.” The author’s convictions about heaven, hell, and who goes where, it certainly outside the mainstream of evangelical Christianity. He tries to do this from a scriptural viewpoint, revealing a high view of Bible and a desire to make it foundational in the development of his theological convictions. He wants to cut away the theology that has developed around the preaching of western evangelicals. These are laudable goals which I greatly appreciate.

Still, I have to say that the book was a major disappointment.

It lacked the depth necessary when addressing such a challenging topic.

It made bold assertions about the need to redefine certain biblical concepts (such as “justification” and “atonement”), but does so without meaningful explanation as to why.

It offered the typically trite “Jesus vs. Paul” conflict, which seems overstated, but has become fodder for many authors of late.

Beyond all of this, the book also was poorly edited. This made it extremely difficult to read on several occasions.

When the author makes conclusions, I did not agree with many of them. That wasn’t the problem, though. The problem was that the book simply did not come close to making a case. It did not challenge me nor get me to think.

So, while I respect authors and books that challenge the status quo, this book failed to do so on many accounts.

This review can also be viewed at http://viralbloggers.com/2010/02/the-gospel-youve-never-heard-who-really-goes-to-hell-by-david-rudel/comment-page-1/#comment-760

Book Review: A New Kind of Christianity by Brian McLaren

From time to time, I am provided books by “Viral Bloggers,” provided I am willing to write a brief review and post in on my blog.  I do this joyfully because I love to read and the books are free in exchange for a honest review.  There are many viral-bloggers, however, and only a few books.  Often I am unable to obtain a title that I want.

 When Brian McLaren’s new book, A New Kind of Christianity, was made available to the viral-blogging community, I quickly went to the site to claim a copy.  Unfortunately, I was too late.  All available books were snatched up in a matter of minutes.

 Still, as a big fan of McLaren’s books, I could not let this one pass me by.  So, I went to my nearby bookstore and paid out my own money for a chance to digest more of McLaren’s thoughtful prose.  Now that I have read the book, I consider it to have been a wise investment.

 The opening pages of the book were very amusing for me.  In them McLaren describes how he’d become known as a “dangerous” heretic.  That’s hardly anything that anyone might aspire to.  McLaren does, not to cause trouble, but rather to address the very real challenges that confront Christianity in this post modern era.  Like him or not, we ought to be grateful for voices like McLaren – people who are willing to ask hard questions and not accept the pabulum  of traditional orthodoxy.     

 McLaren’s desire is to see Christianity survive the political polarization that has come to exist between fundamentalism and liberalism.  The response for McLaren, however, is not to find some “middle ground,’ but rather to find a new way of being Christian in the emergent age.  Of course, this is fraught with danger.  Still, the church has experienced these types of reformation before.  The aim of this book is to provide a somewhat ordered and structured  guide through the rough waters that Christianity finds itself in.

 McLaren structures his book around “Ten Questions” which (as they are being answered) are “transforming the faith.”  These questions are as follows:

The Narrative Question: What Is the Overarching Story Line of the Bible?

The Authority Question: How Should the Bible Be Understood?

The God Question: Is God Violent?

The Jesus Question: Who Is Jesus and Why Is He Important?

The Gospel Question: What Is the Gospel?

The Church Question: What Do We Do About the Church?

The Sex Question: Can We Find a Way to Address Human Sexuality Without Fighting About It?

The Future Question: Can We Find a Better Way of Viewing the Future?

The Pluralism Question: How Should Followers of Jesus Relate to People of Other Religions?

The What-Do-We-Do-Now Question: How Can We Translate Our Quest into Action?

 While ordered and structured, McLaren’s book is hardly systematic.  The questions McLaren’s asks are more pastoral than theological.  They are the kinds of questions I hear asked, in one way or another, from a wide variety of people across the conservative/liberal perspective.  To this end, McLaren’s thoughtful and easy to read volume should lend itself to some wonderful coffee house discussions.

 A New Kind of Christianity is probably the best ordered presentation to date of emergent theology.  To this end, that it important, since the “emergent church” movement has typically been a bit lightweight when it comes to this kind of material.  If you are new to the movement and want to get a good idea of what it’s all about in the words of one of its greatest thinkers, then rush out and get your copy right now.

This blog also posted at http://viralbloggers.com/2010/01/a-new-kind-of-christianity-by-brian-mclaren/comment-page-1/#comment-568

In her book, The Book of the Shepherd, Joann Davis has given us a brief little fairytale in a land where many church folks live – a land of legalism where faith is expressed in fidelity to a list of rules and regulations, and failure results in harsh retribution. 

 Joshua, the protagonist in this little tale, is a kind young shepherd who believes there must be a better way, and so he embarks on a journey to find that better place.  He is joined by a young boy, David, renounced by his father for a minor failure, and Elizabeth, a slave girl who has been set at liberty.  As they travel, they met several guides (a storyteller, an apothecary, and a scribe) who all share wisdom for the journey.

 Those who have trouble with myth and allegory will probably not like this book.  If you are looking for a concise, reasoned, and well-ordered systematic theological treatise on law versus grace, you’ll not want to bother with this book.  Davis has given us a fable, a story.  It the best sense of the word, I see this book as a myth meant to draw people further down the road on their own journey out of legalism and into the grace life.  Read it with this mindset and you’ll find it an enjoyable and inspiration read.  Come at it with an overly critical mindset and you’ll find yourself very frustrated. 

 There might be another group who find this book a frustration.  They may well be comfortable with fable, but will be challenge by this stories obvious challenge to legalistic order of many ecclesiastical societies (i.e. established churches).   If order, structure, and control are the back story for your religious background, then this fables rejection of religious legalism in favor of a better way will certainly be a challenge.

 Personally, I encourage everyone to accept the challenge of reading this book.  It’s brief and easy to read and can be finished in one or two sittings.  Read it for the pleasure, engage in the reflections it brings to mind, and don’t take the format so seriously as to prevent it from allowing the fable to be a benefit.

See this and other blogs about this booh here  http://viralbloggers.com/2009/11/the-book-of-the-shepherd-by-joann-davis/

I’m not a big fan of “essay books.”  I much prefer to consume a book from start to finish, delving into the mindset of the author.  I like to argue with a book’s author – challenging her/his presuppositions, agendas, theology, philosophy, and politics.  I like following an author’s threads and seeing if they remain consistent from start to finish.

 That made reading “The Justice Project” a big challenge.  Brian McLaren is the primary editor for this collection of “essays” for Baker Books.   As I read the book, I forced myself to do an essay every other day – allowing me to live with each article and essayist thoughts.  Then I sat back to explore some of the common threads that McLaren (as editor) sought to communicate through this project.

 McLaren divides the book into several sections.

 1)      The God of Justice – which deals with issues of theology, church history, the challenge of postmodernism and the emerging church.

 2)     The Book of Justice – which address how the Bible deals with issues of justice through the Torah and Hebrew prophetic writings, as well as in the Gospels and Epistles

3)     Justice in the U.S.A. (which looks at justice issues which have been prevalent in theological and philosophical roundtables in the USA)

 4)     A Just World (a global look at the topic)

 5)     A Just Church (exploring ways that the church has/can pursue justice)

 As a whole, the book does a good job of starting a conversation from an “emergent church” perspective about a wide range of justice issues that confront the human family.  Not everyone will agree (especially from the established church) with many of the essayist conclusions.  That should make the conversation more meaningful for those who engage in the discussion in good faith and theological reflection.

The challenge for emergent church folks will be for others to take up the charge, for this book format only allows the surface to be scratch as to the topics and Christian response. 

 This review (and numerous others) is also posted at

http://viralbloggers.com/2009/09/the-justice-project-edited-by-brian-mclaren-elisa-padilla-ashley-bunting-seeber/comment-page-1/#comment-470

A Prayer to Our Father:  Hebrew Origins of the Lord’s Prayer, Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson, Hikkiah Press, 2009. 

What an amazing little book!

As a Christian with Jewish ancestry, it always warms my heart when members of these two traditions are willing to set aside their prejudice and discover their common roots. 

In this book, a Jewish scholar and a African-American Christian pastor become friends and begin a quest to understand the Jewish roots of what is commonly referred to as “The Lord’s Prayer.”

The book has three primary strengths.

First, those who thirst for knowledge about Lord’s prayer will find this book helpful.  Especially, I believe, those Christians who look to the words of this prayer as a model for their own Christian devotion.

Second, the story of how the two authors met and developed their friendship can be a model for developing more interfaith dialogue.  It has certainly challenged me to seek more opportunities to connect to those of other faiths and traditions in my own community.

Finally, the book put a hunger in this reviewer’s heart to rediscover the joy of studying scripture in its original language.  I honestly believe I have forgotten more Hebrew and Greek in the last twenty years since seminary then I had originally been taught.  As a result, I have less to offer in preaching and teaching than I should.

Just went and purchased a software program to help start refreshing my knowledge of Greek.  Hebrew will be next.  Maybe one of the Rabbis in my community might become my tutor.

This review is also posted at http://viralbloggers.com/2009/08/a-prayer-to-our-father-hebrew-origins-of-the-lord%e2%80%99s-prayer-by-nehemia-gordon-and-keith-johnson/comment-page-1/#comment-409

The Seven Faith Tribes, by George Barna

This “book review” (and that of dozens of others who have recently read this book) can also be view by visiting http://viralbloggers.com/2009/05/the-seven-faith-tribes-by-george-barna/ My user name on the “viral bloggers site” is “oldguydreaming.” 

George Barna is the founder of The Barna Group, a marketing research firm that studies the religious beliefs of Americans.   The primary methodology employed is to conduct opinion polls to ascertain information about the beliefs and practices of American citizenry.  This information is then interpreted by Barna from his personal bias as a Christian evangelical. 

  Barna’s particular bias is clearly evident in his most recent book, “The Seven Faith Tribes: Who They Are and Why They Matter.” 

  Drawing upon 25 years of research, Barna aims to identify and understand the seven dominant “faith tribes” in America. These are, according to Barna:

 Captive Christians

Casual Christians

Jews

Mormons

Pantheists

Muslims

(and) Skeptics.

  The bulk of Barna’s book is focused on understanding these groups.  What do they believe?  What is their worldview?  What is the social glue that binds them together?  As Barna sticks to this aim, the book is a worthwhile read.  For this content alone, I offer a high recommendation.

The problem, for me, is how Barna desires to use this information for a particular political agenda.  This agenda is summed up in the following question asked in the book:

 “Do you want the United States to be great again, badly enough to do what it takes?”

 Well, who could argue with that?  Certainly not I!  I offer my pledge of allegiance to the good old U.S. of A.  I sing the national anthem.  I proudly wave the flag on all appropriate occasions.  Sometimes I wave the flag simply because a spirit of patriotism inspires me.

 For me, however, there are several problems with the answering of this question as the central aim of the book.

 Firstly, the question presupposes that American was once great and now is not?  Once great nation?  Sure, if you were not native to this continent or a forcibly transplanted  African used for slave labor. 

 Become a great nation again?  That presupposes that we are no longer a great nation.   Why?  Because younger generations are asking questions, thinking for themselves, and coming up with a different definition of greatness than their ancestor?  Barna focuses a great deal of attention to the description of why HE feels that the U.S.A. is no longer a great nation.  At some points, I agree.  For the most part, however, these are interpretations of what’s happening in society from his own particular theological and political bias.  Others might look at what’s happening (for example, the election of an African-American president) and belief that America is now more fully fulfilling its highest aspirations. 

 So, on these points, Barna’s personal bias is shown and assumptions are made that not all readers will appreciate.   

 That said, I have a far different problem than Barna’s cultural and political bias.  For me it seems that the question itself is out of place, especially for an author writing for what will be a primarily Christian audience.  When we participate in worship, engage in discipleship activities, and lead a church toward missional objectives, it seems like a different agenda should be at work.  The question is not, “Do I want America to be great again?” The question is, “How can the Christian church advance our Redeemer’s Kingdom?” 

 Alas, Barna agenda seemed more about Barna’s nationalistic interests than that of the Kingdom.  Harsh, I know, but that how I see it.  As such, that adds a damper on my recommendation.  The middle section, when Barna identifies and describes the seven faith tribes is well worth the price on the cover, though, so I do offer a qualified endorsement of the book.

Daughter Michelle 17 Years Ago

Start Immediately: “This is the day that the Lord has made”

Unplug from wasteful activities – does anyone watch too much TV

Fellowship With People Of Faith – Recover the importance of festival

Find and reason to party (blessings, achievements, births)

Focus on the Goodness of God daily –think about God’s grace

Make noise and move around when you praise God. See 2 Sam 6:14; Ex. 15:20

Find a joy mentor. Spend time with people who fill you up, not empties you out

Set aside a day for pleasure and celebration

Will Samson’s “ENOUGH: Contentment in an Age of Excess,” is a very good book – well written, easy to consume. All the basic qualities a person might look for in a good book are present in Samson’s work. That said; I have to admit that this book made me squirm in my seat as I read it. I felt like the back row parishioner in a tent revival who thought that every word the preacher was saying was directed at him.

What’s worse is that Samson obviously did not intend to produce this type of response in his readers. His aim is not to irritate, but inspire. Too many books of a similar ilk lose their reader by embarking on long tirades about the “evils of capitalism,” urging people ride bikes instead of cars, recycle plastic and paper products, and stop wasting so much money at the nearby “21 theater Cineplex.” Samson’s approach is different. With good-natured ease, Samson weaves scripture and social commentary together in ways that will caused thoughtful readers to reflect upon the excessive impact of “stuff” on their bodies, the earth, our economy, and culture. .

As I read this book, I couldn’t help but wonder when Samson started writing. Certainly the books release in the middle of this current recessions couldn’t be more timely – especially since so many of the causes of this recession seem to be related to the kinds of excesses discussed in this book. Right now it seems that our newly elected political leaders are trying to get the economy “back on track” without even asking it the railway is even heading in the right direction.

How do we get our economy back on track? According to our leaders, it is through consumption. That’s what the Bush administration told us after the 9-11 terrorist attacks. That’s what the Obama administration would like to see happening now! We are told that we need to start buying and consuming again – and to prove it, the federal government will start buying and consuming resources it doesn’t even have.

This is a place where Samson’s book is both challenging and comforting. He reminds us that if trust God we don’t have to be driven by the admonition to buy and consume. Rather we can live free from those forces trusting God to meet daily needs.