I read some really great books, and some truly awful books, this year. Here are a few that deserve special mention. The Best NonFiction Faithful Disobedience, Wang Yi. This is a collection of articles, essays, blog posts, and sermons from leaders in the underground church in China. It is incredibly sobering while also being inspirational. … Continue reading My Best and Worst Reads, 2023
Humanity, Law Enforcement, and the Crisis of Church Scandal
Two streams of thought have merged and crashed into my struggle with the crisis of church scandals. And yes, crisis is the correct word, not hyperbole. Ten years ago, I wrote one of my favorite papers of my academic career. The paper was on John Williamson Nevin, an obscure theologian from the 19th century. Nevin … Continue reading Humanity, Law Enforcement, and the Crisis of Church Scandal
Lynched, by Angela D. Sims
This post is not a review or a critique, just a few insights gleaned from Sims' incredibly important project (published 2016). Over the course of 18 months (July 2009 - February 2011), Sims traveled around the country collecting oral histories from people in locales as varied as New Jersey and Louisiana, Texas and Nebraska. She … Continue reading Lynched, by Angela D. Sims
Review: The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women became Gospel Truth, by Beth Allison Barr
I went into this book hoping I'd like it. After all, I agree with Barr's egalitarian position regarding women in the church (though putting my cards on the table, I am a complementarian when it comes to the home). At a personal level, Barr's book is compelling. Her narrative is powerful. But, setting aside the … Continue reading Review: The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women became Gospel Truth, by Beth Allison Barr
Some Thoughts of The Case for Christian Nationalism, by Stephen Wolfe
I have the privilege of reading great books in my role as pastor; and, I have the responsibility to read some truly awful ones. This book is awful - worse than I thought it would be. It's also better than I thought - better reasoned and researched. These two things together make this a very … Continue reading Some Thoughts of The Case for Christian Nationalism, by Stephen Wolfe
God Entranced 