Things I Think…
1. Pope Francis died this morning and his loss leaves an empty space in the universal church. He was, as noted in the Bulwark, “a decent man in an indecent time”. He embodied the mercy of Jesus and opposed leaders who had no use for the poor, the marginalized, and the migrant.
“Today’s builders of Babel tell us that there is no room for losers, and that those who fall along the way are losers,” he said. “Theirs is the construction site of Hell.”
Requiescat in Pace
2. There was a time when I would have been deeply offended and angry at the comments made on social media after Francis’s death. Now I understand that’s just who they are and we worship different gods…
3. Long time friend of the site UnCCed mentioned in a comment that we might do a “recommended writers” list of people who help draw us closer to Jesus. Since then, others have requested the same, so let’s give it a shot.
I should preface this with some cautions. This is my list and I come to this task with pre-suppositions and prejudices. With a couple of exceptions, you will note that I avoid evangelical writers as doing so was helpful when deconstructing and reconstructing my faith in general and my view of Jesus in particular.
I also include people who I don’t agree with across every doctrine or dogma. Some may hold to controversial stances…I really don’t care. So, if you think that Bonhoeffer or Lewis (C.S., not Jerry Lee) were heretics…move along and grab a bite of John MacArthur or whatever else floats your boat.
Finally, I’ll say that this list is not only mine, but suited for someone like myself with only moderate intelligence, but a deep desire to learn. There have been great things written about all manner of theological matters, most of which are way over my head. These writers I can handle if I work at it.
1. Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The problem with Bonhoeffer is that he is often difficult to understand and once understood, it’s difficult to remain who you were before you read him. Pick up any of his popular works and you will be brought to Jesus and you will be changed. I think I have all his works that have been translated into English, but I won’t be able to absorb them in this life. Do not buy any of the crap Metaxas wrote…
2. C.S. Lewis. My old friend Clive used his imagination to inspire his theology…may his tribe increase…
3. Eugene Peterson. A sage of the faith…a wonderful companion, especially for pastors…
4. Steve Brown. God’s not made at you…
5. N.T. Wright. If these were in any kind of order of significance, Wright would be at the top. The reason being that Wright dismantles evangelicalism and dispensationalism while remaining an evangelical Anglican. You can’t just tear everything down and walk away…you have to rebuild. He will help you build a structure you can hang the rest of these folks work on.
6. Stanley Hauerwas. The book I linked was very powerful…
7. Kate Bowler. She gets it…
8. Beth Moore. I’ve never read any of her books, but her daily exhortations on social media show a heart set on Jesus…
9. Brennan Manning. Still a classic expositor of the heart of Jesus…
10. The Apostle John…I’m of the not so popular opinion that John wrote his Gospel, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John and the Revelation. Read them as a set and you find Jesus in His humanity and His glory and how we should respond to what we see…
4. Fifteen minutes after I post this, I’ll be embarrassed at names I left off…
5. Some folks are also helped by reading the church mystics…I’m not expert on these works, but I’m looking for an icon of Julian of Norwick…
6. Always leave room for the poets…Christian Wiman and Wendell Berry can help us see Jesus from different angles…
7. I remembered the hard way this morning how angry people get when you quote Jesus about “welcoming the stranger”…Jesus said it, I’m just repeating what He said…
8. Because I’m old, I neglected to add a video resource. I still say that The Bible Project is a phenomenal gift to the church…especially if you’re “deconstructing” but want to practice a generous orthodoxy…
9. Spring makes me feel like I’m going to live a little longer and actually want to do so…
10. Trying to figure out how I can add the Stanley Cup playoffs to the church calendar…
Wright is wrong. He affirms the heretical “New Perspective on Paul”.
Zach,
Calling someone a heretic is a serious charge…you could be guilty of slandering the brethren.
Define the New Perspective on Paul (which I hold to as well)…and tell us why it is heretical.
If you choose to defame someone here…better get it right the first time.
Michael,
I love Amy Carmichael and Oswald Chambers.
Linn,
I have a lot of friends who love those two as well…
I’m glad you included Manning, as I would have added him. When he died, I posted a tribute to him and was instantly flooded with messages that he taught “cheap grace”.
Staurwas is so awkward in inteviews, podcasts, etc. But man does he deliver. I can barely hang on at times because its so intense.
Craig Keener also has a sweet spirit, if you are familiar with him.
Terry,
I have a lot of Keeners commentaries…good scholar.
Manning has been the object of much wailing and gnashing of teeth here…I eventually boot them…
To be honest I often think God will not save something like me, another gift from the evangelical industry. I did and do often beg God will “save” or maybe even give a bit of pain relief to many I work (ed) with. It never happens but I still beg. When I say it never happens is I never see it and neither does others I ask. You know did so and so have a restful hour, minute, maybe a moment. Its not as bad now, I had to pull back after 45+years. It is pathetic and cowardly I admit but I just ran out of juice. I spend most of my time advocating how, calls, visits, meetings, helping financially when I can. Yesterday I ripped on my self for over an hour at how angry I am at me for not having the money like Musk or others do.
You see there is this group, like a lot of groups, stuck on the outskirts of the city. Some fifty RVs, cars, tents, bikes, etc. I went out there yesterday just to see if I could help. I will admit to being a bit nervous having been on the wrong end of a knife and gun a few times, granted that is also cowardly on my part. But I needed to go. As I pulled away and the news crews were filming I noticed this brand new hotel right down the road. I dreamed if I had the money I would just buy the hotel and go get them and move them in there. Back when I was younger I was able to do that a few times, get someone a house, apartment group home etc. It was truly a kick. I felt real joy, until the evangelical tapes replayed about getting any joy out of any thing losing my reward, my hey and stubble burning up along with me.
So I will go to the City Council meeting tomorrow and again wait around for hours and hours to speak for two minutes which will probably be dropped down to one minute, if that. And me and most others will be totally ignored, if not chuckled at or the eye rolls, sort of reminds me of church only they dont do it in the name of God.
#1- now that Pope Francis has died your recent prophecy about a dispensational end times prophecy revival is starting to unfold.
10. It appears that my home state is looking forward to another fantastic postseason. I’m no sportsball guy, but the local radio shows are blowing up about the Avs and the Nuggets. I always like this season, because people are not talking politics.
I told you about a book I am reading by Thomas Keating. Probably heresy, but so far, so good! It’s called Open Mind Open Heart
Excellent list Michael. I think I have read all of the authors you have listed except Hauerwas and my wife and I were just talking about him earlier this morning…I guess I will have to pick that up.
As for N.T Wright, my daughter gave me a book by him, “Surprised by Hope” about 9 years ago and it rocked my world. There are no words to describe how much I have benefited from his writings and lectures over the last 9 years. I am incredibly grateful for his ministry. It is tragic when people dismiss him typically due to an assessment by a MacArthur and the likes as opposed to an actual reading of his books. But then, so goes the evangelical mantra, “Let fear reign.”
Thank you for sharing…grace and peace to you!
I am very curious as to what Zachary thinks is the New Perspective on Paul, and how that could be considered heretical to any degree.
That’s funny.
Paul in Fresh Perspective is a short book. Easy read. Wright in his own words. Should be easy to site the heresy there, if it exists.
Shawn,
You’re seeing the same insanity I am…makes me ill…
Reuben,
If it’s helping, it’s worth talking about.
I’m sure if you run into something heretical, the Spirit will let you know…
Uncle Buck,
Thank you!
I wish we could get that title into everyone’s hands…it is very helpful, indeed.
I think you’ll enjoy Hauerwas…
Josh,
Zach likes to run with the Truly Reformed…they think Wright is a heretic because he corrects some Reformed errors…we’ll wait and see if Zach returns to enlighten us…
Stanley Hauerwas… But I might use the abbreviation intentionally next time.
Terry,
Corrections made…thank you.
I don’t know why I have such a hard time with that name…
If there’s such as a thing as “Generous Calvinism,” it’s Steve Brown.
The Bible Project is a treasure. I’m using some of their partnerships with Streetlights Bible (a great Spoken Word Bible reading) in classes now and then.
I’ve got to start wading through some mystics. I’m sure I won’t be 100% on all of them, but it’ll at least be interesting.
DavidP,
The mystics, like many writers in the early church, can be a wild ride.
You’ll wonder what drugs they were on reading one page, then find startling observations on the next.
Worth looking at…
I too think the same guy authored all the books attributed to John. He uses some symbols and themes throughout all the books that sounds like the same voice to me. Been reading through Eugene Boring’s commentary on Revelation. The introduction portion is very insightful.
Josh,
I’m not qualified to judge biblical authorship…but you put it well…sounds like the same voice to me.
I think I have that commentary on Logos…I’ll check it out.
It was free last month. May still be available if you haven’t added it yet. Really enjoying the historical setting.
Josh,
I do have it and I’m going through the introduction.
I love it when a scholar lays their cards on the table with clarity…this looks good to me.
Many thanks!
I’ve been looking at other works by the unfortunately named Boring. He seems to have been somewhat of a John scholar. Wish I would have found him before he passed last year.
No. 2! *loud whistles, cheers & applause!*
Michael wrote:
“…we’ll wait and see if Zach returns to enlighten us…”
Not likely.
Those guys can never engage on substance.
They’re ideological jihadists who just wanna’ cut off yer head. (so to speak)
Boring’s work is still free on Logos. Was able to download and start reading the intro.
The Pope condoned the evil he could live with living with. Perhaps he was a decent man, but there are many Christians in communist countries who have suffered without his defense of them. If any Pope were truly the Vicar of Christ …
there is nothing after that. It’s all the thought I should give to it.
I have the deepest respect and reverence for Pope Francis…how I wish that Protestant leaders mirrored his concern for the poor…
Michael
I respect that. Sadly, I honestly don’t know enough about the good things he did.