What If…

Why Jesus was so threatening

// September 13th, 2009 // Comments Off // Church, Current Affairs, Religion

Glocal Christianity: Why Jesus was so threatening.

Judas

// August 13th, 2009 // 9562 Comments »http://williamguice.com/2009/08/13/judas/Judas2009-08-13+12%3A44%3A45William+Guice // Bible, New Testament Context

Some of you know that I am intrigued with the Judas story. I am really wanting to dig in soon and do more research into this guy.

I’d love to know your thoughts of Judas? What are the main images, stories, ideas that come to mind when you hear his name?

Are there any ways that you can relate or see modern day examples of him?

Anabaptist Christianity

// July 4th, 2009 // Comments Off // Bible

Missio Dei explains the core values of Anabaptist Christianity as thus:

1. Jesus is the center of our faith.

2. Community is the center of our lives.

3. Reconciliation is the center of our work.

I was particularly drawn to this comment:

Many Christians today have what is called a “flat” Bible. They assume that the words of God interpreted by Moses in the Old Testament are as authorative as the words of Jesus in the New Testament. People with this understanding of Scripture downgrade the importance of Christ’s life and words. They often go primarily to the Old Testament for their political and social ethics and to the Ten Commandments for their personal ethics. This way of seeing the Bible determines their stance on such issues as war, capital punishment and social justice.

Read the rest here.

Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus

// May 1st, 2009 // Comments Off // Bible, Books

Ann Spangler & Lois Tverberg have given me one of my favorite and most frustrating reads of the past couple of years. I got a review copy of their new work Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus a couple of months back and it has hung around in my hand and in my backpack constantly with me since then.

First the frustration: For some reason, it took me forever to finish this book.

Why the frustration: I’m perplexed because I really really liked this book.

So, I have been constantly frustrated that I was toting around a book that I loved and wanted to read but for some reason couldn’t just get through. This is no reflection on the book as it is a needed work in my opinion. I am often asked what books I would suggest as “must reads” or what are some good books on history and Jewish context since I use a lot of it in my teaching. This book jumps in the top 5 on both of those lists.

Here’s Why…

Readability: The book covers a lot of ground about Jesus and his world. The writer’s pick up on a lot of the tradition, symbolism and missed wordplay that takes place in Jesus’ interactions with his followers but you never feel like you are bogged down in a technical work. The book covered a great deal of familiar ground, if you read a lot on 1st century Palestine, but the presentation and explanation of some technical symbols is great. This leads me to my next favorite thing about the book – sourcing. I read a lot on the first century world but I often really struggle with books that make claims but have nothing backing up the ideas. This book doesn’t do that. Spangler & Tverbeg patiently and thoughtfully source their propositions. This is huge if you are reading this and will be using it for teaching or discussing with others.

The book really hits stride for me in the middle of the book. It really is consistent; doesn’t bog down but really grabs you in the chapters on Passover and the feasts. I think you see the book at its best in these chapters as it clearly shows how Jesus relates to the feasts and how much of what he does fulfills, explains and expands the traditions of the people as experienced through the calendar feasts. The book also comes with some great resources in the appendices about the feasts and includes a much appreciated glossary.

So…This book has become my new intro book for people who are interested in the Jewishness of Jesus. It is accessible, informative and insightful. The questions at the end of the chapters are great for discussion and the book as a whole would be a great group read. I’ll be buying these to give away.