Coming Soon: "The Blue Parakeet" - a book review

Scot McKnight is a professor at North Park University, an established author, and a prolific blogger. I have a number of his books on my bookshelf, including:

Praying with the Church (Confession: I bought it mostly because I'm quoted in it. . .)
The Jesus Creed (A Christianity Today Book of the Year)
Turning to Jesus (I'll admit: I struggled through this one)
A Community Called Atonement (One of the books I recommend most to others)

McKnight's newest book, the Blue Parakeet, is set for release in November. And I have a copy of it on my desk.No, I didn't get a pirated copy off the Chinese black market. A couple months ago, Scot mentioned on his blog that Zondervan was willing to give away free advance copies to 20 people who would be willing to blog about it. So I put my name in the hat, and over the weekend the book showed up in our mailbox.

So, in the coming weeks, I'll be laying aside some other reading and digging into The Blue Parakeet, offering both a synopsis of the book, as well as my own opinions and thoughts on what McKnight is saying. Should be fun. Feel free to join in the conversation.
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On another note, I'm still wading through Atonement for a Sinless Society (see below), but have found that it's a book that takes no prisoners. From the first word he hits the ground running, leaving the reader to breathlessly follow along, hoping to catch up along the way. I like what's he's saying. . .it just takes a lot of time to process it all.

Book Reports

Just before heading off to family camp, I finally finished Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw's Jesus for President.


If you spend any time searching internet discussion boards for opinions about this book, you'll realize it's struck a chord. People either love it, believing it's the answer to the malaise facing the 21st Century church, or they'll hate it, believing it twists and distorts scripture to promote a pacifist, communist, anti-american agenda. Like a Rorschach test, reactions to this book probably say as much about the reader as they do the content of the book itself.

I should begin by saying the book isn't saying anything all that original. In other words, Claiborne and Haw aren't promoting anything they've discovered for themselves. Instead, they have ingested the work of people like Wendell Berry, Gregory Boyd, John Howard Yoder, Marva Dawn, and Walter Wink, they have listened carefully to the anabaptist voice within Christianity, they have synthesized the work of those thinkers and writers and theologians and peacemakers, and they have published a manifesto to the 21st Century Church - a call to the church to return to its roots as an alternative community, a seperate, holy people, called apart from the kingdoms of earth to live as the Kingdom of God on earth.

Two quick strenghts of the book:
1) This is biblical theology as opposed to systematic theology. In other words, the book focuses on the broad sweep of Judeo-Christian history, beginning in the garden and carrying on through Abraham, Israel, Jesus, the Church, up to the images of victory in Revelation. They then take the large sweep of biblical history to paint the full picture of rebellion and redemption in which we find ourselves. Thus, rather than nit-picking what "this verse over here" means up against "that verse over there," they instead ask "what has been God's plan all along?" This, to me, is the healthiest way to let the Scriptures speak into our lives.
2) It's a beautiful book. Literally. Shane and Chris employed the work of artists to craft a book that is fascinating to look at. Every page is a painting, a photo, a stitch-work, a challenge, a delight. Thus, the book challenges not just the intellectual side, but the artistic side, as well. Sometimes the pictures, the questions, the images speak even louder than the text on the page. This is obviously a labor of love for the authors.

My take on the book: For the most part, I think Shane and Chris are dead-on. Their critique of the 21st-Century American Church nails us all. They rightfully see the ways in which The Church has sold out to a culture of shopping, a culture of idolatry, a culture of power-play, and how the church has abandoned the call to "take up our cross" and follow Christ. At the same time, they don't stop at critique. In fact, most of the book is given to suggestions on how to move forward, and examples of communities of faith who come close to reflecting Christ in their lives. So they challenge the Church, but they challenge the individual Christian as well. How, exactly, do we follow in the pattern of Christ who had no home when we spend massive amounts of money on plasma televisions and name-brand sneakers? How exactly do we claim to follow the Prince of Peace when we so enjoy violence, when we so quickly call for retribution upon our enemies? How do we show love to our brothers and sisters when we participate in an economy that is so unequitable? How do we worship both the Father of All Nations and at the same time worship the country in which we live?

To read this book is to read a call to live a different kind of life. It challenges, it exhorts, it pushes on some tight spots. But I think it's a necessary read by any who would claim Jesus as Lord. So go read it. Then let's talk some more.

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So this is what came out of the Amazon box last week, and now is on top of my reading stack:

Hell for Advent

Throughout Advent, I've been reading a book on Hell. Four Views On Hell, to be exact. If you scroll down and look at the book list on the right, you should see it there (unless you are reading this a long time after I wrote it. . .)

It came about because of a discussion I was in a few months ago. A particular person attempted to make the case that to be "for Jesus," one must also accept the traditional view of Hell as eternal conscious torment. I tried to point out that there were, in fact, good Christians who differed on their interpretations of the doctrine of Hell. I was instantly labeled a heretic, and found myself defending positions of which I was only vaguely aware. Hence the book.

And this is how I like theology. Four authors give the basis for their particular understanding of the issue. Each author then responds to the works of the others, leading to a broad conversation covering the outlines of the topic, which allows the reader to see the strengths and weaknesses of each position and come to their own conclusion as to which rings truer than the others.

From my perspective, the real treasure is not so much the conclusion as it is learning about how people do theology, to see the author's various hermeneutics at play. You learn as much about how people interpret the Bible as you learn about the actual topic. You see how people think, you see their blind spots and their moments of genius, and with all that, you can decide who truly is speaking doctrine that fits the Biblical message.

And so we have:
- John Walvoord (1910-2002), former professor and president of Dallas Theological Seminary, presenting the Literal (traditional) view
- William Crocket, Professor of NT at Alliance Theological Seminary, presenting the Metaphorical view
- Zachary Hayes, Teacher of theology at Catholic Theological Union, presenting the Purgatorial view,
- Clark Pinnock, Professor of Christian Interpretation at McMaster Divinity College, presenting the Conditional (annihilationist) view

And you get this:
Walvoord, true to his Dallas roots, can't get beyond the word Inerrancy, claiming that any interpretation other than a literal one denies inerrancy, thus denying the Truth of the Word. There is no room for nuance or historical interpretation or theological extrapolation. God said it, I believe it, and that's good enough for me. And I'll ignore any evidence to the contrary.

Crockett begins to develop some interesting lines, being (in my opinion) truer to the intent of the text, getting away from wooden literalistic interpretations, recognizing the reality of metaphor in eternal language; in addition, he sees (unlike Walvoord) that the texts themselves are somewhat contradictory, here saying "fire" and there saying "darkness." In the end, though, for Crockett whatever hell is like, all the metaphors say it's pretty horrible.

Hayes, for whatever reason, goes off-topic and speaks instead to the issue of purgatory. His is perhaps the most frustrating chapter simply because it's not Biblical. It relies completely on tradition and philosophy and a few apocryphal writings. Even Hayes admits that there's really no proof for purgatory in the Bible. But being a good teacher in the Catholic Church, none of that matters, because Tradition teaches purgatory, and that's all that matters. Obviously, to non-Catholics, that is an extremely weak argument.

Finally, the Pinnock chapter. This is the real reason I bought the book, in that I'd been intrigued with annihilationism ever since I read about it in Randy Klassen's What Does the Bible Really Say About Hell? Pinnock has become a spokesperson for this viewpoint (as well as for Openness Theology, both of which have made him persona non grata with the Evangelical Theological Society). And I found myself somewhat frustrated, because Pinnock spends very little time laying out the biblical case for annihilation. Instead, he spends most of his pages working at undermining the more traditional position and those who hold to it. Pinnock has been savagely attacked for holding to a few non-orthodox positions, and it comes through clearly as he continually speaks of those who reject his own views as heretical. His pleas for open discussion and review of doctrinal positions is to be lauded, but I wish in the end he had simply laid out a stronger biblical framework and let that speak for him. To be honest, the 3-4 pages in which he actually did work on the scriptures are powerful and show how the annihilationist view should at least be considered, but they didn't make a strong enough case.

That's not to say I've been won by any of the other positions. I still think there is something to the annihilationist viewpoint; I was just hoping that Pinnock would build a stronger case (because there is a stronger case to be made) instead of taking potshots at his accusers.

However, I would recommend the book to anybody who wants to read more on the issue, who wants to read about other options, or who simply wants to see how theologians do theology.

Advent Suggestions

Some books I have in my library, which I have found helpful as devotional guides through the season of Advent:

Watch for the Light

"From Johann Christoph Arnold to Dorothy Day, from Madeline L'Engle to Karl Barth, from Saint Thomas Aquinas to Meister Eckhart, this unparalleled anthology offers wisdom beauty and spiritual nourishment from a wide spectrum of classic and contemporary sources.

Containing a selection for each day of the Christmas season, from the last week of November through the first week of January, Watch for the Light can be read through times of leisure or as a guide to daily devotions. Either way it will give new meaning to the phrase 'holiday preparations.'"

The Christ of Christmas: Readings for Advent

by Calvin Miller

"The Christ of Christmas" invites you and your loved ones to thirty-one deep experiences with God this December, complete with devotional readings and Scripture. These devotions paint the familiar in all its amazement, yet bring its beauty so close to home, you can sense its joyful celebration in everything you do and everywhere you go."

Preparing for Jesus: Meditations on the Coming of Christ, Advent, Christmas, and the Kingdom

by Walter Wangerin, jr.

"In this advent and Christmas devotional, best-selling author Walter Wangerin jr. takes you day by day through the major events and characters leading up to the birth of Jesus. Preparing for Jesus offers a refreshing perspective on the meaning of Christmas, from the first glimmers of Jesus' expected arrival clear through to the visit of the wise kings from the East."

Christmastide: Prayers for Advent Through Epiphany from The Divine Hours

by Phyllis Tickle

Not a devotional per se, this is a collection of prayers and scriptures, or more precisely, an Order of Prayer, to be read and prayed through the weeks and days leading up to Christmas and on to Epiphany. This is not "devotional reading" or "story-telling," these are prayers to be said by the people of God seeking guidance through the frenetic holidays.

In the Days of Angels: Stories and Carols for Christmas

by Walter Wangerin, jr.

This one is at the top of my pile. While not set up as "devotional readings," this collection of stories, poems, and songs has spoken deeply into my heart time and again. Often I pick up a book about Christmas and hope it stirs my soul, more often than not, I am disappointed. Not so with In the Days of Angels. Instead, it dives deeply into the mystery of in incarnation, of Emmanuel, and connects that mystery with the pains of modern life in powerful and evocative ways. While all these books are good, this one is a must.

Accompanied By Angels: Poems of the Incarnation

by Luci Shaw

Last month I heard Dave Kersten say "Every pastor needs a favorite poet." Luci Shaw is my poet. This is a collection of poems she has written over the years, all somehow connected into the life and ministry of Jesus. "Beginning with the joy, terror, and wonder of the annunciation, Shaw leads the reader on a poetic journey through the birth, life, and death of Jesus the Christ, culminating in the joyous and unexpected wonder of his resurrection. Her subjects run from the mundane to the sublime, from birds in flight and waiting old men to fiery angels and storm-ravaged ridges."

Still reading

I'm still working through Scot McKnight's A Community Called Atonement. It's short enough that I probably could have finished it in a couple days. But my attention has been taken up by Tolstoy's Resurrection, which is a lot longer and deeper. And has a better plot.

But when I have a moment, I pick up Community and read a chapter or two.

One of my favorite quotes so far:

"This generation of students doesn't think the 'I'm not perfect, just forgiven' bumper sticker is either funny or something to be proud of. They believe atonement ought to make a difference in the here and now. . .If a previous generation was taught that evangelism and social justice were disconnected, even if one could (or even should) flow from the other, the present generation knows of a holistic human being in an interlocking society of connections where any notion of gospel or atonement must be integrated and community-shaped if it is to be called 'good news' at all. As God is missional (missio Dei) so the work of the church and individual Christians is also missional. To be missional means to participate in the missio Dei, the mission of God to redeem this world."

What I really like about McKnight's work is that he emphasizes the real-world issues. Too often our theological discussions remain cerebral and technical, and don't spill over into the "what difference does it make in real life" realm. The atonement especially - it all becomes about what happened spiritually in Jesus, what happens in eternity. McKnight brings it back to earth, showing both that it can (and should) have a massive impact on how we live our lives today, and that, if it doesn't have physical, real-world impact, then it's not worth much as a doctrine.

Which, by the way, is part of the point Tolstoy is driving at in that other book I'm slogging through.

Book Report

I'm about 1/2 way through Eugene Peterson's Eat This Book. Turns out Scot McKnight has been reading it, too. He says it's the best book on the Bible ever written.

I'm not sure about that high of an accolade, but I would agree it may be in the top 10. When people come to me and ask about prayer, I usually refer them to Richard Foster's classic Prayer. It set the standard for books about prayer when it came out. Many people say they really learned to pray by reading that book. So it has pride of place on my shelf.

I think Eat This Book might end up right next to it, becoming the standard reference when people ask me "how do I read the Bible?" It has already inspired me in my own scripture reading.

Essentially, Peterson's premise is this: if the Bible doesn't form you, if it doesn't get inside you and change your life, if it isn't forming our Christian communities, then we aren't reading it correctly. The Bible is not out to give us correct doctrine, it isn't intended to help us formulate our theological positions. It isn't meant for inspiration or devotion. It's sole purpose is formation of Christ-followers. We must then take it as it is, ending all our attempts to fit it into our world, to "make it relevant," or to use it like some sort of antacid that we pull of the shelf when our guts are in a turmoil.

The Bible is only read correctly when we eat it - when we take it in and live it. "If we have not entered this text as participants we aren't going to understand what is going on. This text cannot be understood by watching from the bleachers - or even from expensive box seats. We are in on it."

Later he says "Obedience is the thing, living in active response to the living God. The most important question we can ask of this text is not, 'What does this mean?' but 'What can I obey?' A simple act of obedience will open up our lives to this text far more quickly than any number of Bible studies and dictionaries and concordances."

So, if you're looking for something to read over the rest of the summer, or looking to get more from your Bible reading, go pick this one up.