Questions Christians Aren't Supposed to Ask
Why should anyone believe in God in a world with so much pain? 

Why should I become a Christian when I find the public agenda of many Christians so offensive? 

I have been hurt by the church in the past. Why should I bother with it now? 

Most Christians have found themselves in conversations with nonbelieving friends and family where these kinds of questions have come up. In fact, most Christians have probably found themselves asking these questions too. But everyone who has ever wondered about such complicated things knows that this is dangerous territory—after all, what if there’s no easy answer? 

This book welcomes and encourages these questions that Christians “aren’t supposed to ask.” In each chapter, James Brownson introduces a particular question and then reframes it with a relevant passage from the Bible, bringing to bear his expertise as a biblical scholar. Rather than providing dogmatic (and ultimately unsatisfying) “Sunday school answers,” he explores the questions in provocative ways that often challenge the status quo of American Christianity. Fittingly, each chapter closes with discussion questions and suggestions for further reading, so that the conversations begun here can continue among the book’s readers in fruitful ways.

1138089712
Questions Christians Aren't Supposed to Ask
Why should anyone believe in God in a world with so much pain? 

Why should I become a Christian when I find the public agenda of many Christians so offensive? 

I have been hurt by the church in the past. Why should I bother with it now? 

Most Christians have found themselves in conversations with nonbelieving friends and family where these kinds of questions have come up. In fact, most Christians have probably found themselves asking these questions too. But everyone who has ever wondered about such complicated things knows that this is dangerous territory—after all, what if there’s no easy answer? 

This book welcomes and encourages these questions that Christians “aren’t supposed to ask.” In each chapter, James Brownson introduces a particular question and then reframes it with a relevant passage from the Bible, bringing to bear his expertise as a biblical scholar. Rather than providing dogmatic (and ultimately unsatisfying) “Sunday school answers,” he explores the questions in provocative ways that often challenge the status quo of American Christianity. Fittingly, each chapter closes with discussion questions and suggestions for further reading, so that the conversations begun here can continue among the book’s readers in fruitful ways.

19.99 In Stock
Questions Christians Aren't Supposed to Ask

Questions Christians Aren't Supposed to Ask

by James V. Brownson
Questions Christians Aren't Supposed to Ask

Questions Christians Aren't Supposed to Ask

by James V. Brownson

Paperback

$19.99 
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Overview

Why should anyone believe in God in a world with so much pain? 

Why should I become a Christian when I find the public agenda of many Christians so offensive? 

I have been hurt by the church in the past. Why should I bother with it now? 

Most Christians have found themselves in conversations with nonbelieving friends and family where these kinds of questions have come up. In fact, most Christians have probably found themselves asking these questions too. But everyone who has ever wondered about such complicated things knows that this is dangerous territory—after all, what if there’s no easy answer? 

This book welcomes and encourages these questions that Christians “aren’t supposed to ask.” In each chapter, James Brownson introduces a particular question and then reframes it with a relevant passage from the Bible, bringing to bear his expertise as a biblical scholar. Rather than providing dogmatic (and ultimately unsatisfying) “Sunday school answers,” he explores the questions in provocative ways that often challenge the status quo of American Christianity. Fittingly, each chapter closes with discussion questions and suggestions for further reading, so that the conversations begun here can continue among the book’s readers in fruitful ways.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780802878410
Publisher: Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date: 06/18/2021
Pages: 139
Product dimensions: 5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

James V. Brownson is the James and Jean Cook Professor of New Testament at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. He is also the author of Bible, Gender, Sexuality and The Promise of Baptism.

Table of Contents

Introduction vii

1 Hypocrisy Matthew 6:1-6 1

2 Hope Romans 8:19-25 9

3 Pain Mark 8:31-38 18

4 Politics Matthew 22:15-22 26

5 Sexuality Romans 1:18-32 35

6 Other Religions John 1:1-18 45

7 Failures Matthew 23:1-12 53

8 Spirituality Romans 12:3-5 62

9 Fruitfulness 1 Peter 2:1-3, 9-10 68

10 Hurt Hebrews 12:14-29 75

11 Abuse Matthew 23:23-33 81

12 Church Hebrews 10:19-25 87

13 Women 1 Timothy 2:8-12 93

14 Doubt Matthew 14:22-33 101

15 Hell Matthew 25:31-46 107

16 Relevance Mark 7:1-13 113

17 Slavery 1 Corinthians 7:21-24 119

Conclusion 125

Index 127

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