This video is in response to a recent dispute between two prominent, public Christian thinkers: Preston Sprinkle and Alisa Childers. I see this dispute as indicative of both broader cultural currents and conflicts within conservative Protestantism in America, as well as historical patterns in American Christianity. This is my attempt to summarize some recent history, use that historical analysis as a lens through which to view this conflict, and consider a few of the implications.
Books Mentioned in this video: God's Own Party by Daniel K Williams The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald From Bible Belt to Sun Belt by Darren Dochuck A Prophet With Honor by William Martin Evangelicals: Who They Are, Have Been & Could Be (Edited by Noll, Marsden & Bebbington) The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism by Carl F.H. Henry
00:00 - Why this video now? 02:22 - My Thesis: The Re-Emergence of Fundamentalism 06:21 - A Brief History of American Fundamentalism 16:16 - Who is a Fundamentalist Today? 19:29 - The Anti-Intellectualism of Fundamentalists 24:16 - Purity-Based Separatism 27:41 - Two Pillars of Fundamentalism 29:04 - So, then, who is an Evangelical?
This video is in response to a recent dispute between two prominent, public Christian thinkers: Preston Sprinkle and Alisa Childers. I see this dispute as indicative of both broader cultural currents and conflicts within conservative Protestantism in America, as well as historical patterns in American Christianity. This is my attempt to summarize some recent history, use that historical analysis as a lens through which to view this conflict, and consider a few of the implications.
Books Mentioned in this video: God's Own Party by Daniel K Williams The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald From Bible Belt to Sun Belt by Darren Dochuck A Prophet With Honor by William Martin Evangelicals: Who They Are, Have Been & Could Be (Edited by Noll, Marsden & Bebbington) The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism by Carl F.H. Henry
00:00 - Why this video now? 02:22 - My Thesis: The Re-Emergence of Fundamentalism 06:21 - A Brief History of American Fundamentalism 16:16 - Who is a Fundamentalist Today? 19:29 - The Anti-Intellectualism of Fundamentalists 24:16 - Purity-Based Separatism 27:41 - Two Pillars of Fundamentalism 29:04 - So, then, who is an Evangelical?Paul, Ancient Philosophy & the Good Life - A Review of Pauline Theology as a Way of LifeJoel Wentz2024-10-17 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
Did the idea of 'human flourishing' animate the Apostle Paul's writing and thinking? Is that a valid way to approach studying the New Testament writings? How does it compare or contrast with other views of 'human flourishing,' ancient or modern? And is the "good life," anyways? How do we know what it looks like, practically, and how do we pursue it? Joshua Jipp's new book tackles these questions, and more!
00:00 - Introduction 00:34 - Main Idea 03:13 - Research 05:39 - Readability 07:07 - ReactionMy Fall 2024 TBR! Or, what Im looking forward to reading...Joel Wentz2024-10-15 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
I have a pile of non-fiction books that I'm excited about digging into! They range from theology to philosophy to cultural and political theory. Let me know what you are excited to read, and if these spark any recommendations or interests for you!
00:00 - Introduction 00:56 - On Classical Trinitarianism (ed. by Matthew Barrett) 02:30 - The Church in Dark Times (Mike Cosper) 03:40 - What It Means to Be Protestant (Gavin Ortlund) 05:03 - A World After Liberalism (Matthew Rose) 06:15 - Against Worldview (Simon Kennedy) 07:44 - Technology and Christianity (Egbert Schuurman) 09:16 - Technopoly (Neil Postman) 10:10 - Jesus for Everyone (Amy Jill-Levine) 11:46 - All Things are Full of Gods (David Bentley Hart)A Book Highlight of The Church: A Guide to the People of God by Brad EastJoel Wentz2024-10-10 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
What is "the church"? It's such a simple question, but historical and theological answers are far from simple! Is it even possible to provide a succinct, approachable overview of ecclesiology? How does the Old Testament figure into a holistic biblical view? And is there a way of thinking about the church that both Catholics and Protestants can find agreement on? This is what the surprisingly short, but insightful, overview by Brad East and Lexham Press is all about.
00:00 - Introduction 00:50 - Main Idea 01:52 - ReactionWas Nixon on a Quest for Salvation?? A Review of One Lost Soul by Daniel SillimanJoel Wentz2024-10-08 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
Nixon is a fascinating historical figure on many levels: at the center of a profoundly consequential cover-up and controversy, a powerful figure who broke ground in global foreign policy, and someone who embodied the shifting political landscape in the midst of a chaotic decade in domestic American culture and politics. Can this leader be understood through the lens of "spiritual salvation?" Was he driven by a psychological and spiritual quest for assurance? What does this analytical lens bring to bear on the historical moment symbolized by Nixon's presidency in American life? This is what Daniel Silliman's intriguing new biography is all about.
00:00 - Introduction 00:31 - Main Idea 02:42 - Research 03:48 - Readability 05:47 - ReactionWell, I Have Thoughts....A Review of Shepherds for Sale by Megan BashamJoel Wentz2024-10-01 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
I have (a ton of) thoughts after reading the new, highly-controversial text from Megan Basham and Broadside Books. Is this a shallow, culture war screed? Is Basham's argument persuasive, or is there any depth to it? Is the controversy warranted? How should someone consider the claims made in this book, in our highly-divided political and cultural context today?
00:00 - Introduction 02:06 - Main Idea 07:54 - Research 11:10 - Readability 12:27 - Reaction, part 1: Positive Takeaways 26:36 - Reaction, part 2: Critiques of the Argument 42:06 - Reaction, part 3: Deeper Critiques of the Paradigm 52:06 - ConclusionsFrom Psychedelics to Christianity?? A Review of The Thing That Would Make Everything OK ForeverJoel Wentz2024-09-24 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
My thoughts on Ashley Lande's gripping memoir about a life devoted to seeking meaning through psychedelics, and how she discovered meaning and purpose in faith in Christ.
00:00 - Introduction 00:40 - Main Idea 01:43 - Why This Book? 02:54 - ReactionPastoral Work According to the Church Fathers - a Review of Ancient Wisdom for the Care of SoulsJoel Wentz2024-09-17 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
How did the first pastors think about their work? What cultural pressures to pastors experience today, and how do those pressures compare to the ways the church fathers wrote about caring for people? What could modern church leaders learn from returning to these ancient sources of wisdom? Would that be encouraging or discouraging?
00:00 - Intro 00:19 - Main Idea 02:56 - Research 04:24 - Readability 06:02 - ReactionBarely-Vangelical: My Journey Through Open TheismJoel Wentz2024-09-12 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
I grew up with a pretty standard, conservative evangelical view of God's foreknowledge, but I've had a pretty wild philosophical and theological journey since my upbringing. In this video I discuss that journey, including how I crashed into open theism, what I found compelling about it, why it ultimately didn't hold up, and what I believe about God, foreknowledge and time today.....
00:00 - Introduction and Overview 02:13 - Defining Open Theism 04:06 - My Inheritance 07:09 - First Deconstruction 11:34 - My conversion to Open Theism 18:47 - Second Deconstruction 27:32 - ConclusionSystematic Theology for a Pluralistic World? A review of I Believe Help my Unbelief (Karkkainen)Joel Wentz2024-09-10 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
How can Christian doctrine be responsibly articulated in a pluralistic world? How do traditional Christian concepts overlap with, and utterly distinct from, similar beliefs in other "living faiths" today? What does it look like to model confident Christian orthodoxy in increasingly contested, secular cultures? These are some of the questions at the heart of the new book from Veli-Matti Karkkainen in 'I Believe, Help My Unbelief.'
00:00 - Introduction 00:27 - Main Idea 04:25 - Research 07:15 - Readability 10:12 - ReactionCan America Survive 2024? A Review of Democracy and Solidarity by James Davison HunterJoel Wentz2024-08-27 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
Everyone is writing and thinking about polarization, toxic politics, and the possibility of another civil war in America. Historically speaking, what have been the sources of 'solidarity' upon which American democracy has rested? How have those sources of solidarity shifted and evolved in response to historical events? And what does all this have to do with our current crisis? Have all sources of meaningful solidarity collapsed in our time? These are the questions James Davison Hunter tackles in his ambitious new book.
00:00 - Introduction 00:27 - Main Idea 04:30 - Research 06:38 - Readability 07:59 - ReactionRomans (Finally) Makes Sense! A Review of Paul and Resurrection of Israel by Jason StaplesJoel Wentz2024-08-20 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
Is there a way to make sense of those notoriously difficult-to-understand phrases in Romans, like 'vessels of wrath' or 'the potter and the clay.' And what about chapters 9-11? Is it possible that a careful distinction between Paul's use of the terms "Israel" and "Jew" holds interpretive keys? Is it possible that the overarching argument in Romans is way more coherent than many of us have been led to believe? And how does this challenge the intractable debate between the 'old perspective' and 'new perspective' camps? All that and more in this remarkable book.....
00:00 - Introduction 00:27 - Main Idea 04:32 - Research 06:40 - Readability 08:21 - What I Learned 11:41 - ReactionA Positive Deconstruction Story?? A Review of Hurt and Healed by the Church by Ryan GeorgeJoel Wentz2024-08-13 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
In the ever-growing pile of books on deconstruction, spiritual abuse, spiritual trauma, and walking away from the institutional church, is it possible to find one with a positive, hopeful ending? Is it possible for someone to heal well through terrible spiritual abuse, and maintain faith and practice? What would that look like, and how can that story be told well? This is what I respond to in my review of Ryan George's new book......
00:00 - Introduction 00:21 - Main Idea 02:43 - Research 03:39 - Readability 04:24 - ReactionMy Kind of Apologetics! A Review of Fully Alive by Elizabeth OldfieldJoel Wentz2024-08-06 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
Can ancient Christian wisdom connect with modern audiences? What language and frameworks can be used to articulate Christian thinking in a compelling way to secular, skeptical readers? Could the 'seven deadly sins' have anything to offer our contentious and polarized cultural discourse? Elizabeth Oldfield's fantastic new book offers a resounding, and surprising, 'yes!' to all the above. Here are my thoughts....
00:00 - Introduction 00:26 - Main Idea 03:40 - Research 05:06 - Readability 06:50 - ReactionPleasant Surprise of the Year- A Review of Modern Genre Theory (Andrew Judd)Joel Wentz2024-07-23 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
What is "classical genre theory?" And what in the world is "modern genre theory??" What does any of this "theory" have to do with reading biblical literature? Well.....quite a lot, actually, in more ways than you probably have reflected on, and lo and behold, there's a wonderfully insightful, carefully researched, and surprisingly hilarious book to walk you through it!
00:00 - Introduction 00:27 - Main Idea 02:53 - Research 04:14 - Readability 06:06 - ReactionBarely-Vangelical: My Journey through Evolution, Science & Reading GenesisJoel Wentz2024-07-11 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
Like most who grew up in conservative evangelical culture, I inherited a young-earth, 6-day creationist view of the origins of humans and the earth. As I grew older, this view created serious tensions with my interest in science and intellectual honesty, and so I worked through a significant period of study and deconstruction before arriving at the views I hold today, which uphold a high view of BOTH Scripture and scientific study. There is at least one pretty surprising turn in my personal story with these topics, so I hope you enjoy this autobiographical recap.
Books Mentioned in this Episode: On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin The Lost World of Genesis 1 by John Walton the Bible, Rocks and Time by Davis Young & Ralph Stearley Adam and the Genome by Dennis Venema & Scot McKnight The Genealogical Adam & Eve by Josh Swamidass Reading Genesis by Marilynne Robinson What Hath Darwin to do with Scripture? By Dru Johnson
00:00 - Introduction 02:26 - My Inheritance: Young Earth Creationism 04:10 - Undergraduate Years: Rebelling against YE Creationism 10:54 - Graduate School: A Darwinian Bait & Switch 13:51 - My Deconstruction: Studying Evolution and Genesis 22:00 - My Surprising Turn: Adam, History and Genealogy 27:11 - My Conclusions: Taking Scripture and Science SeriouslyHow to talk to Christian Nationalists - A Review of Disarming Leviathan by Caleb CampbellJoel Wentz2024-07-09 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
Are Christian Nationalists akin to an 'unreached people group'? What gives Christian Nationalism so much spiritual power over people today? And what makes it so difficult to have a fruitful conversation with someone swept up in that movement? How can our interactions be healthier, more loving, and ultimately, help someone remove themselves from the toxic influence of overly-certain Christian Nationalistic politics? And, how can we be better, more genuinely humble, listeners? These are the questions that Caleb Campbell's new book tackles.
00:00 - Introduction 00:30 - Main Idea 01:52 - Research 03:36 - Readability 05:54 - ReactionIs Universalism Necessary?? A Review of Grace Saves All by David ArtmanJoel Wentz2024-07-02 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
Is "universalism" a necessary conclusion for Christian thinking? What about 'hopeful universalism'? And what's the problem with Arminian theology? How does "grace" figure into all of this, and how can we think more clearly about the prospect of grace-fueled salvific work? These are some of the questions Artman deals with in his surprisingly-short treatise on Christian Universalism.
00:00 - Introduction 00:52 - Main Idea 02:17 - Research 04:02 - Readability 05:15 - ReactionHow to Survive Spiritual Disillusionment - A Review of The Hope in Our Scars by Aimee ByrdJoel Wentz2024-06-25 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
Spiritual disillusionment and deconstruction are hot-button topics right now, and many, many books are being published about them. Does Aimee Byrd's new book do anything distinct within this sub-genre? How does it handle the thorny and sensitive questions around spiritual trauma and abuse? Who could benefit from her reflection, and is there anything surprising in the way she handles the subject? Here are my thoughts....
00:00 - Introduction 00:28 - Main Idea 01:37 - Research 03:00 - Readability 04:15 - ReactionCan We Learn From Slave Holding Theologians?? A Review of Ownership by Sean McGeverJoel Wentz2024-06-20 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
George Whitfield, Jonathan Edwards and John Wesley are theological giants in American Christianity, but they all (to varying degrees) participated in the slave trade. To what extent is their perspective understandable today? How might they have conceived of the slave trade at their time? What blind spots did they have? How does this impact their ongoing legacy, and how do we approach their work with an appropriate level of critique? Moreover, how might a nuanced approach to this topic help us be appropriately self-critical and identify our own moral blind spots?
00:00 - Introduction 00:23 - Main Idea 01:20 - Research 02:31 - Readability 04:08 - Reaction12 Quick Book Reviews! (April-June 2024)Joel Wentz2024-06-18 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
A quick tour through a dozen non-fiction books I read from April to June of 2024. Social commentary, cultural criticism, church history, political theology and more.....enjoy!
00:00 - Introduction 00:54 - The End of Race Politics by Coleman Hughes 03:46 - The Identity Trap by Yascha Mounk 07:01 - The Global Politics of Jesus by Nilay Saiya 09:00 - The Patient Ferment of the Early Church by Alan Kreider 11:08 - Unmasking the Powers by Walter Wink 13:40 - Atheist Delusions by David Bentley Hart 16:11 - God's Own Party by Daniel K Williams 18:23 - God Gave Rock and Roll to You by Leah Payne 21:16 - Side by Side, Parallel Histories of Israel-Palestine by PRIME 24:39 - Family Unfriendly by Timothy Carney 27:21 - The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism by Carl FH Henry 30:17 - The Anxious Generation by Jonathan HaidtEffective or Outdated Apologetics? A Review of Proclaiming Christ in a Pluralistic AgeJoel Wentz2024-06-13 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
J.I. Packer is a legend in certain Christian traditions, particularly conservative, Anglican and Reformed. Are these lectures from 1978 an example of his brilliance in communication and apologetics, or are they outdated and irrelevant to the pluralism we live in today?
00:00 - Introduction 00:32 - Main Idea 01:42 - Research 02:32 - Readability 03:19 - ReactionShould We Be Afraid of CRT?? A Review of Untangling Critical Race Theory by Ed UszynskiJoel Wentz2024-06-04 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
Critical Race Theory has become a bogeyman in the culture wars in America, but what *actually* is CRT? Is it related to Marxism or not? What's the difference between Critical Theory and Critical Race Theory? How do Christians, in particular, tend to misrepresent these complicated ideas when they critique them? And what leads certain people to be more reactionary than others in these debates? Ed Uszynski's new book tackles all these questions. Here are my thoughts.....
00:00 - Introduction 01:12 - Main Idea 04:25 - Research 08:08 - Readability 09:45 - ReactionIs Justification by Faith the Gospel?? A review of Beyond Justification by DePue and CampbellJoel Wentz2024-05-28 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
What does "justification by faith" really mean? And is it really the center of the Gospel? How important is it in the New Testament? In Paul's letters? Why is it such a prominent idea in Protestant-Evangelicalism, and is it possible that we need to radically rethink the whole idea? These are just a few of the questions that Depue and Campbell tackle in their ambitious, but highly readable, new volume on Paul.
00:00 - Introduction 00:27 - Main Idea 04:36 - Research 06:54 - Readability 08:35 - ReactionBarely-Vangelical: My Journey Through Hell (!)Joel Wentz2024-05-21 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
In which I reflect upon my journey through various understandings of the doctrine of hell. I cover the standard, conservative evangelical perspective I inherited, the process by which I discovered a wealth of different, traditional approaches to hell, which points and perspectives challenged me the most, and where I've landed. Are unrepentant humans consigned to an eternity of conscious torture? Or are they annihilated? What about universalism? Does it have any good points to consider? Along the way, I mention the books that had the most impact upon me in this topic.
Books Mentioned: Surprised by Hope by NT Wright Love Wins by Rob Bell The Fire That Consumes by Edward Fudge That All Shall Be Saved by David Bentley Hart The Evangelical Universalist by Robin Parry (Gregory Macdonald) Holy Hell by Derek Kubilus
*My review of Hart's book That All Shall Be Saved: *My review of Kubilus' book Holy Hell:
00:00 - Introduction 01:43 - My Inheritance: E.C.T. 06:09 - The Questions Begin: Motives of Belief? 12:09 - Why So Afraid of Universalism? 15:15 - Discovering Annihilation 18:50 - Discovering Universalism 20:53 - Defining Universalism 23:12 - More Pressing Questions About Hell 28:18 - Three Strong Universalist Proposals 34:33 - Assessing the Options 38:18 - My Current Understanding of HellThe Cost of Christian Patriarchy: A Review of Rift by Cait WestJoel Wentz2024-05-16 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
What is the toll of Christian patriarchy? What does it look like to grow up ensconced in a heavy-handed patriarchal family? What does it take to break away from it? What might that all have to do with purity culture, and what are the long-term effects of it on a young woman's mental and spiritual health? These are (some) of the themes and questions bound up in Cait West's powerful memoir. Here are my thoughts.....
00:00 - Introduction 00:43 - Main Idea 02:33 - Readability 05:10 - ReactionCant We All Just Get Along?? - Review of Learning to Disagree (by John Inazu)Joel Wentz2024-05-14 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
There are so, so many books being published on disagreement, polarization, argumentation and empathy right now. Does John Inazu's recent book bring anything new or fresh to those topics? Is it a dry, theoretical exploration of psychology and disagreement, or is it engaging and lively? And is it only for Christians, or can anyone benefit from it? These are some of the questions I address in my review here, enjoy!
00:00 - Introduction and My Skepticism 01:22 - Main Idea 02:19 - Research 03:45 - Readability 07:19 - ReactionJesus and the Powers (NT Wright and Michael Bird) ReviewJoel Wentz2024-05-07 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
Is human government intrinsically evil, or can it be redeemed? How are Christians supposed to interact with the powers of this age? Is faithful political engagement possible, or is it best to avoid the entire project? What is a holistic biblical account of human politics? And what is the "best" form of government in the world today? These are just some of the questions that Wright and Bird tackle in their surprisingly-short new book.
00:00 - Intro 00:26 - Main Idea 01:56 - Research 04:07 - Readability 06:02 - ReactionBarely-vangelical: My Journey Through Atonement DoctrineJoel Wentz2024-04-30 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
My first video in a series I'm calling 'Barely-vangelical,' in which I trace my journey through atonement doctrine. I inherited a popular version of Penal Substitutionary Atonement, but how exactly did this doctrine start to fall apart for me? What questions and tensions did it raise, without offering satisfactory solutions? How did I begin to ask questions, and how did I resolve those questions? And what does atonement look like for me now?
Books Mentioned: The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James Cone The Lamb of the Free by Andrew Rillera Christus Victor by Gustaf Aulen The Day the Revolution Began by N.T. Wright Delivered from the Elements of the World by Peter Leithart The Mosaic of Atonement by Josh McNall The Crucifixion by Fleming Rutledge The Crucifixion of the Warrior God by Greg Boyd Rethinking the Atonement by David Moffitt On the Incarnation by AthanasiusThe End of Penal Substitution?? A Review of Lamb of the FreeJoel Wentz2024-04-23 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
Is this the end of penal substitutionary atonement?? Is PSA dead?? Does 'Lamb of the Free' convince the reader of its provocative argument? If so, how does the Bible actually present the death of Christ in sacrificial terms? How is the death of Christ rooted in the Levitical sacrificial system, and what implications does this have for understanding the New Testament? Here are my thoughts on this astounding book.....
Main Idea - 0:35 Research - 5:09 Readability - 6:49 What I Learned - 8:26 Reaction - 14:57How (not) to read the Old Testament?Joel Wentz2024-04-18 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
Well, my reaction to this one was....complicated. Questions abound: how to Christians read the OT in a "Christocentric" way without committing shallow supercessionism? Is it true that it's impossible to really understand the OT without being a Christian? What about the texts that seem to indicate Christ as the fulfillment of everything God was doing in Israel? And what do we do about all those pesky laws?? Well, reviewing this book stirred up some of my thoughts on all the above....
Main Idea - 0:24 Research - 2:33 Readability - 3:31 Reaction - 4:1511 (Quick) Book Reviews!Joel Wentz2024-04-16 | In this video I give 2-minute overviews and reactions to 11 non-fiction books I have read recently. Some are new, some are older, but all of them are worth looking at, so I wanted to feature them here.
0:52 - Stolen Focus by Johann Hari 2:32 - Reading Backwards by Richard Hays 3:52 - The Year of Our Lord 1943 by Alan Jacobs 5:37 - Strange Rites by Tara Isabella Burton 7:39 - The Gospel of J Edgar Hoover by Lerone Martin 11:01 - The Road to Middle Earth by Tom Shippey 12:41 - Reckoning with Power by David Fitch 14:41 - Natality by Jennifer Banks 17:26 - Embodied by Preston Sprinkle 19:31 - Self Made by Tara Isabella Burton 21:32 - the Bible in Politics by Richard BauckhamThe Lost World of the Prophets (John Walton) ReviewJoel Wentz2024-04-09 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
I'm a big fan of the "Lost World" series by John Walton, and have read every volume released so far. Does the new entry, focused on the prophetic literature in the Old Testament, stack up? How does it compare to my favorites in the series, and what does it bring to our understanding of the Hebrew literature in general? Here are my thoughts!
The wide-ranging and fascinating conversation I had with Dru Johnson, the author of the recent book I quite liked, 'What Hath Darwin to do with Scripture?" We explore the notion of 'conceptual worlds,' consider the conceptual worlds of both Darwin and the Old Testament authors, and look for surprising points of overlap, as well as disagreement. This is NOT your typical discussion about the Bible and evolution!
Why this Book? - 1:38 What is a 'conceptual world'? - 4:04 Scarcity, Sex & Setting - 9:51 The Deeper Questions - 19:57 Limits of Darwin's Conceptual World - 28:14 A Higher View of Scripture - 42:09The Wood Between the Worlds (Brian Zahnd) ReviewJoel Wentz2024-03-28 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
Is our atonement theology too limited? How many ways can we understand what happened on Good Friday, and which way is "correct?" What is a 'theo-poetic' approach to something like atonement? Is this all just a bunch of loosey-goosey, liberal wandering, or is there something of substance here? What part could a book like this play in one's faith journey? Here are my thoughts on Brian Zahnd's newest.....
How should Christians think about politics today? Are we merely "exiles" in a Babylonian-style empire? What does that mean for voting, or serving in office, or other pressing civic issues? Most importantly, is there a comprehensive biblical case to be made regarding the posture Christians should have towards these questions? Preston Sprinkle tackles all of this in his new book, "Exiles," and these are my thoughts!
Were the first Christians weird? What made them strange, and why were they motivated to act so differently? Was this threatening to the broader, Greco-Roman culture at the time? What does all this mean for us today? Well, Nijay Gupta's great new book gets into all this and more. Here are my thoughts....
What might a more-fully 'biblical' system of criminal justice look like? What principles might it be based on, and more importantly, how would those principles be implemented in practice? Additionally, what is wrong with the way our (American) system works currently? Is there hope for improving it?
Matthew Martens tackles all these questions in his thoughtful, carefully-reasoned, and ambitious new book. Here are my thoughts!
Have most of us misunderstood hell? Can Protestants embrace Purgatory? What about the Bible? Is 'universalism' a heresy?? Derek Kubilus tackles these questions (and others!) in his thoughtful, winsome new book.
My (brief) thoughts on the new memoir from Mike Cosper and IVP. This book doesn't quite fit into the categories readers might assume, so I wanted to offer my reaction and a few thoughts about what this book does (and doesn't) do.So Many Books!! (What We Are Reading With Austin Carty)Joel Wentz2024-02-27 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
In which Austin Carty and I wax about the many, many books we have been enjoying recently. We manage to reference at least 36 titles of fiction, philosophy, history, my favorite theological text of all-time, and a healthy dose of Andy Root's books. A fun conversation for book-lovers!
'Wellness' by Nathan Hill - 2:45 'Turning Points in American Church History' - 6:42 'The End of the Myth' by Greg Grandin - 13:05 'Freedom' and other novels by Jonathan Franzen - 14:42 'The Year of Our Lord 1943' by Alan Jacobs - 17:10 'Trust' by Hernan Diaz - 22:00 'The Moviegoer' by Walker Percy - 23:15 Wendell Berry's Fiction - 24:35 'The Beauty of the Infinite' by David Bentley Hart - 31:42 'Exclusion and Embrace' by Miroslav Volf - 41:32 Andy Root's 'Ministry in a Secular Age' Series - 44:43Turning Points in American Church History (Coffman) ReviewJoel Wentz2024-02-20 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
My thoughts on the recent, popular-level book on American church history from Elesha Coffman and Baker Academic.
In which I respond to the most-common question I receive, "How do you read so many books?" In this video, I give a few of my general thoughts on reading, and why I'm committed to reading, and then I spend most of my time offering 5 pieces of practical advice to help interested readers improve their habits. I genuinely hope this is helpful!
Caveat #1 - 1:57 Caveat #2 - 4:22 Caveat #3 - 6:00 Practical Tip #1 - 9:02 Practical Tip #2 - 14:48 Practical Tip #3 - 16:05 Practical Tip #4 - 20:51 Practical Tip #5 - 22:10Surprised by Doubt (Chatraw & Carson) ReviewJoel Wentz2024-02-06 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
My thoughts on the recent book from Josh Chatraw and Jack Carson (Brazos) and whether or not it contributes anything new or fresh to the whole "deconstruction" phenomenon in evangelical Christianity.
This one held some surprises! If you're interested in Greek philosophy, classical doctrine of God, metaphysics debates, and especially close reading of Genesis 1, this might be for you. Fans of Peter Leithart will find much to appreciate here.
In which I rant about my favorite books published in 2023, in completely arbitrary categories that fit to my tastes. Enjoy!
Favorite Fiction - 2:04 Pleasant Surprise 1 - 4:15 Pleasant Surprise 2 - 5:21 Historical Study 1 - 8:11 Historical Study 2 - 9:52 Historical Study 3 - 11:17 Cultural Study 1 - 12:35 Cultural Study 2 - 14:52 Cultural Study 3 - 17:29 Book of the Year - 21:09The Augustine Way (Chatraw & Allen) ReviewJoel Wentz2024-01-16 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
My thoughts on the super-interesting book on Augustine and current apologetic methods.
Main Idea - 0:45 Research - 1:55 Readability - 3:24 Reaction - 4:21The Kingdom, The Power and the Glory (Tim Alberta) ReviewJoel Wentz2024-01-11 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz
My thoughts on the new, epic piece of reporting from Tim Alberta.