The Most Frustrating Defense of Penal Substitution - Commenting on the John Mark Comer Controversy Joel Wentz 2026-09-22 | The Most Frustrating Defense of Penal Substitution - Commenting on the John Mark Comer Controversy
Paul, Ancient Philosophy & the Good Life - A Review of Pauline Theology as a Way of Life Joel Wentz 2024-10-17 | 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 - Introduction00:34 - Main Idea03:13 - Research05:39 - Readability07:07 - Reaction
My Fall 2024 TBR! Or, what Im looking forward to reading... Joel Wentz 2024-10-15 | 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!I heartily recommend following the BookNotes newsletter from Hearts and Minds: heartsandmindsbooks.com/booknotes 00:00 - Introduction00:56 - 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 East Joel Wentz 2024-10-10 | 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 - Introduction00:50 - Main Idea01:52 - Reaction
Was Nixon on a Quest for Salvation?? A Review of One Lost Soul by Daniel Silliman Joel Wentz 2024-10-08 | 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 - Introduction00:31 - Main Idea02:42 - Research03:48 - Readability05:47 - Reaction
Well, I Have Thoughts....A Review of Shepherds for Sale by Megan Basham Joel Wentz 2024-10-01 | 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?Here's the article from Mere Orthodoxy by Miles Smith that I refer to: mereorthodoxy.com/reading-the-exvangelicals 00:00 - Introduction02:06 - Main Idea07:54 - Research11:10 - Readability12:27 - Reaction, part 1: Positive Takeaways26:36 - Reaction, part 2: Critiques of the Argument42:06 - Reaction, part 3: Deeper Critiques of the Paradigm52:06 - Conclusions
From Psychedelics to Christianity?? A Review of The Thing That Would Make Everything OK Forever Joel Wentz 2024-09-24 | 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 - Introduction00:40 - Main Idea01:43 - Why This Book?02:54 - Reaction
Pastoral Work According to the Church Fathers - a Review of Ancient Wisdom for the Care of Souls Joel Wentz 2024-09-17 | 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 - Intro00:19 - Main Idea02:56 - Research04:24 - Readability06:02 - Reaction
Barely-Vangelical: My Journey Through Open Theism Joel Wentz 2024-09-12 | 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 Overview02:13 - Defining Open Theism04:06 - My Inheritance07:09 - First Deconstruction11:34 - My conversion to Open Theism18:47 - Second Deconstruction27:32 - Conclusion
Systematic Theology for a Pluralistic World? A review of I Believe Help my Unbelief (Karkkainen) Joel Wentz 2024-09-10 | 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 - Introduction00:27 - Main Idea04:25 - Research07:15 - Readability10:12 - Reaction
Can America Survive 2024? A Review of Democracy and Solidarity by James Davison Hunter Joel Wentz 2024-08-27 | 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 - Introduction00:27 - Main Idea04:30 - Research06:38 - Readability07:59 - Reaction
Romans (Finally) Makes Sense! A Review of Paul and Resurrection of Israel by Jason Staples Joel Wentz 2024-08-20 | 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 - Introduction00:27 - Main Idea04:32 - Research06:40 - Readability08:21 - What I Learned11:41 - Reaction
A Positive Deconstruction Story?? A Review of Hurt and Healed by the Church by Ryan George Joel Wentz 2024-08-13 | 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 - Introduction00:21 - Main Idea02:43 - Research03:39 - Readability04:24 - Reaction
My Kind of Apologetics! A Review of Fully Alive by Elizabeth Oldfield Joel Wentz 2024-08-06 | 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 - Introduction00:26 - Main Idea03:40 - Research05:06 - Readability06:50 - Reaction
Pleasant Surprise of the Year- A Review of Modern Genre Theory (Andrew Judd) Joel Wentz 2024-07-23 | 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 - Introduction00:27 - Main Idea02:53 - Research04:14 - Readability06:06 - Reaction
Barely-Vangelical: My Journey through Evolution, Science & Reading Genesis Joel Wentz 2024-07-11 | 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 DarwinThe Lost World of Genesis 1 by John Waltonthe Bible, Rocks and Time by Davis Young & Ralph StearleyAdam and the Genome by Dennis Venema & Scot McKnightThe Genealogical Adam & Eve by Josh SwamidassReading Genesis by Marilynne RobinsonWhat Hath Darwin to do with Scripture? By Dru Johnson00:00 - Introduction02:26 - My Inheritance: Young Earth Creationism04:10 - Undergraduate Years: Rebelling against YE Creationism10:54 - Graduate School: A Darwinian Bait & Switch13:51 - My Deconstruction: Studying Evolution and Genesis22:00 - My Surprising Turn: Adam, History and Genealogy27:11 - My Conclusions: Taking Scripture and Science Seriously
How to talk to Christian Nationalists - A Review of Disarming Leviathan by Caleb Campbell Joel Wentz 2024-07-09 | 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 - Research03:36 - Readability05:54 - Reaction
Is Universalism Necessary?? A Review of Grace Saves All by David Artman Joel Wentz 2024-07-02 | 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 - Introduction00:52 - Main Idea 02:17 - Research04:02 - Readability05:15 - Reaction
How to Survive Spiritual Disillusionment - A Review of The Hope in Our Scars by Aimee Byrd Joel Wentz 2024-06-25 | 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 - Introduction00:28 - Main Idea01:37 - Research03:00 - Readability04:15 - Reaction
Can We Learn From Slave Holding Theologians?? A Review of Ownership by Sean McGever Joel Wentz 2024-06-20 | 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 Idea01:20 - Research02:31 - Readability04:08 - Reaction
12 Quick Book Reviews! (April-June 2024) Joel Wentz 2024-06-18 | 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 - Introduction00:54 - The End of Race Politics by Coleman Hughes03:46 - The Identity Trap by Yascha Mounk07:01 - The Global Politics of Jesus by Nilay Saiya09:00 - The Patient Ferment of the Early Church by Alan Kreider11:08 - Unmasking the Powers by Walter Wink13:40 - Atheist Delusions by David Bentley Hart16:11 - God's Own Party by Daniel K Williams18:23 - God Gave Rock and Roll to You by Leah Payne21:16 - Side by Side, Parallel Histories of Israel-Palestine by PRIME24:39 - Family Unfriendly by Timothy Carney27:21 - The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism by Carl FH Henry30:17 - The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
Effective or Outdated Apologetics? A Review of Proclaiming Christ in a Pluralistic Age Joel Wentz 2024-06-13 | 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 - Introduction00:32 - Main Idea01:42 - Research02:32 - Readability03:19 - Reaction
The New Fundamentalists: What the Dispute between Sprinkle & Childers Means for Evangelicalism Joel Wentz 2024-06-11 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz 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.Watch Preston Sprinkle's Response to Childers & Yuan: youtube.com/watch?v=sxLUbo-HdWg&t=3734s Books Mentioned in this video:God's Own Party by Daniel K WilliamsThe Evangelicals by Frances FitzgeraldFrom Bible Belt to Sun Belt by Darren DochuckA Prophet With Honor by William MartinEvangelicals: Who They Are, Have Been & Could Be (Edited by Noll, Marsden & Bebbington)The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism by Carl F.H. Henry00:00 - Why this video now?02:22 - My Thesis: The Re-Emergence of Fundamentalism06:21 - A Brief History of American Fundamentalism16:16 - Who is a Fundamentalist Today?19:29 - The Anti-Intellectualism of Fundamentalists24:16 - Purity-Based Separatism27:41 - Two Pillars of Fundamentalism 29:04 - So, then, who is an Evangelical?
Should We Be Afraid of CRT?? A Review of Untangling Critical Race Theory by Ed Uszynski Joel Wentz 2024-06-04 | 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 - Introduction01:12 - Main Idea04:25 - Research08:08 - Readability09:45 - Reaction
Is Justification by Faith the Gospel?? A review of Beyond Justification by DePue and Campbell Joel Wentz 2024-05-28 | 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 - Introduction00:27 - Main Idea04:36 - Research06:54 - Readability08:35 - Reaction
Barely-Vangelical: My Journey Through Hell (!) Joel Wentz 2024-05-21 | 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 WrightLove Wins by Rob BellThe Fire That Consumes by Edward FudgeThat All Shall Be Saved by David Bentley HartThe 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 - Introduction01:43 - My Inheritance: E.C.T.06:09 - The Questions Begin: Motives of Belief?12:09 - Why So Afraid of Universalism?15:15 - Discovering Annihilation18:50 - Discovering Universalism20:53 - Defining Universalism23:12 - More Pressing Questions About Hell28:18 - Three Strong Universalist Proposals34:33 - Assessing the Options38:18 - My Current Understanding of Hell
The Cost of Christian Patriarchy: A Review of Rift by Cait West Joel Wentz 2024-05-16 | 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 - Introduction00:43 - Main Idea02:33 - Readability05:10 - Reaction
Cant We All Just Get Along?? - Review of Learning to Disagree (by John Inazu) Joel Wentz 2024-05-14 | 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 Skepticism01:22 - Main Idea02:19 - Research03:45 - Readability07:19 - Reaction
Jesus and the Powers (NT Wright and Michael Bird) Review Joel Wentz 2024-05-07 | 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 - Intro00:26 - Main Idea01:56 - Research04:07 - Readability06:02 - Reaction
Barely-vangelical: My Journey Through Atonement Doctrine Joel Wentz 2024-04-30 | 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?Chapters:00:00 - Intro and overview 04:46 - Defining Atonement 07:22 - My Inheritance (Penal Substitution) 17:58 - Questioning Penal Substitution 38:40 - Recovering Atonement Books Mentioned:The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James ConeThe Lamb of the Free by Andrew RilleraChristus Victor by Gustaf AulenThe Day the Revolution Began by N.T. WrightDelivered from the Elements of the World by Peter LeithartThe Mosaic of Atonement by Josh McNallThe Crucifixion by Fleming RutledgeThe Crucifixion of the Warrior God by Greg BoydRethinking the Atonement by David MoffittOn the Incarnation by Athanasius
The End of Penal Substitution?? A Review of Lamb of the Free Joel Wentz 2024-04-23 | 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 - 0:35Research - 5:09Readability - 6:49What I Learned - 8:26Reaction - 14:57
How (not) to read the Old Testament? Joel Wentz 2024-04-18 | 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 - 0:24Research - 2:33Readability - 3:31Reaction - 4:15
11 (Quick) Book Reviews! Joel Wentz 2024-04-16 | 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 Hari2:32 - Reading Backwards by Richard Hays3:52 - The Year of Our Lord 1943 by Alan Jacobs5:37 - Strange Rites by Tara Isabella Burton7:39 - The Gospel of J Edgar Hoover by Lerone Martin11:01 - The Road to Middle Earth by Tom Shippey12:41 - Reckoning with Power by David Fitch14:41 - Natality by Jennifer Banks17:26 - Embodied by Preston Sprinkle19:31 - Self Made by Tara Isabella Burton21:32 - the Bible in Politics by Richard Bauckham
The Lost World of the Prophets (John Walton) Review Joel Wentz 2024-04-09 | 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!Main Idea - 0:53 Reactions - 3:04The Lost World Series - 5:44
How to Discuss the Bible & Evolution with Dru Johnson Joel Wentz 2024-04-04 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz 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? - 1:38What is a 'conceptual world'? - 4:04Scarcity, Sex & Setting - 9:51The Deeper Questions - 19:57Limits of Darwin's Conceptual World - 28:14 A Higher View of Scripture - 42:09
The Wood Between the Worlds (Brian Zahnd) Review Joel Wentz 2024-03-28 | 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.....Main Idea - 0:29Research - 2:57Readability - 4:08Reaction - 5:24
Exiles (Preston Sprinkle) Review Joel Wentz 2024-03-21 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz 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!Main Idea - 0:29 Research - 3:43Readability - 5:56 Reaction - 7:22
Strange Religion (Nijay Gupta) Review Joel Wentz 2024-03-14 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz 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....Main Idea - 0:24Research - 2:30 Readability - 4:09Reaction - 5:30
Reforming Criminal Justice (Matthew Martens) Review Joel Wentz 2024-03-12 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz 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!Main Idea - 1:32 Research - 3:39Readability - 5:11Reaction - 6:36
Holy Hell (Derek Kubilus) Review Joel Wentz 2024-03-05 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz 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.Main Idea - 0:31Research - 1:47 Readability - 3:26Reaction - 4:59
Land of my Sojourn (Mike Cosper) Review Joel Wentz 2024-02-28 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz 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 Wentz 2024-02-27 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz Check out Austin's Book 'The Pastor's Bookshelf': amazon.com/Pastors-Bookshelf-Reading-Matters-Ministry-ebook/dp/B09HYL3FD3?ref_=ast_author_mpb 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 - 23:15Wendell Berry's Fiction - 24:35 'The Beauty of the Infinite' by David Bentley Hart - 31:42'Exclusion and Embrace' by Miroslav Volf - 41:32Andy Root's 'Ministry in a Secular Age' Series - 44:43
Turning Points in American Church History (Coffman) Review Joel Wentz 2024-02-20 | 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.Main Idea - 0:27Research - 3:48 Readability - 5:43Reaction - 6:34
How to Read 100 Books In a Year! Joel Wentz 2024-02-13 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz 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 - 4:22Caveat #3 - 6:00Practical Tip #1 - 9:02 Practical Tip #2 - 14:48 Practical Tip #3 - 16:05 Practical Tip #4 - 20:51Practical Tip #5 - 22:10
Surprised by Doubt (Chatraw & Carson) Review Joel Wentz 2024-02-06 | 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.Main Idea - 1:05Research - 2:16 Readability - 4:22Reaction - 5:10
Creator (Peter Leithart) Revie Joel Wentz 2024-01-25 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz 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.Main Idea - 0:51Research - 3:38 Readability - 5:15Reaction - 9:14
My 2023 Book Awards! Joel Wentz 2024-01-19 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz In which I rant about my favorite books published in 2023, in completely arbitrary categories that fit to my tastes. Enjoy!Favorite Fiction - 2:04Pleasant Surprise 1 - 4:15Pleasant Surprise 2 - 5:21 Historical Study 1 - 8:11Historical Study 2 - 9:52Historical Study 3 - 11:17Cultural Study 1 - 12:35Cultural Study 2 - 14:52Cultural Study 3 - 17:29Book of the Year - 21:09
The Augustine Way (Chatraw & Allen) Review Joel Wentz 2024-01-16 | 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 - 0:45Research - 1:55Readability - 3:24Reaction - 4:21
The Kingdom, The Power and the Glory (Tim Alberta) Review Joel Wentz 2024-01-11 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz My thoughts on the new, epic piece of reporting from Tim Alberta.Main Idea - 1:24Research - 3:10 Readability - 4:32Reaction - 6:25
Returning to Eden (Heather Hamilton) Review Joel Wentz 2024-01-09 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz My thoughts on the book from Quoir and Heather Hamilton.Main Idea - 0:52Research - 3:20 Readability - 4:22Reaction - 5:38
The Water and The Blood (Kevin Emmert) Review Joel Wentz 2024-01-04 | Follow me on Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/16113948-joel-wentz My thoughts on the new defense of the sacraments from Kevin Emmert and Crossway.Main Idea - 0:43Research - 2:16Readability - 3:36Reaction - 4:51
