by Joel V Webb | Mar 6, 2024 | Uncategorized
There is a deep tension in our society right now when it comes to the issue of race and racial relations. Up until recently, I have found many of the methods to identify and answer these questions to be severely wanting. They would either deny there is a problem or take the problem so far as to think racism permeates every single part of life, separating people into classes originally devised by Marxist ideology.
So what are we to do? How can we address these questions thoughtfully and realistically while still remaining faithful to the framework of Scripture? One thing the dominant perspective gets right is stating that there is a problem. The thing it fails to do is offer the only true answer to the problem: the ultimate atonement for sin on the cross.
In Tony Evans’s book, he lays things out frankly and honestly. He does not pull punches in seeing how the Bible addresses the issues of racial tension we are seeing today. And this goes for both sides of the aisle. Racism is real, and it does exist, and those who are followers of Jesus deny the basic reality of a person being an image bearer if they are racist. There is no room for racism in God’s Kingdom. Likewise, he leaves no room for those who seek to divide us by our melanin levels, as is with the derivatives of critical theory. He shows that in the gospel, there is a unity in Christ that bridges all divides and brings true reconciliation.
At the end, there is a provided list, particularly for black and white Christians, of serious questions to be considered. I found it challenging and hopeful. While it certainly pressed points of things I have not considered before, it is done wholly in the love and grace of Jesus, and it does so for both lists. Whoever reads it will feel challenged to do better and to love more.
I highly recommend this book. It provides a path forward that is not found at the whims of questionable philosophical origins and frameworks, and is wholly built upon the transformative power of the gospel. Unlike some of the other options that are out there to wholly focus on what makes us different and always left me feeling misunderstood or angered, Evans’s take points us ultimately to the cross that reconciles us all together to God. If the divide of sin and death could be resolved, so can our divisions over race as well.
You can find the book here – https://a.co/d/aT1WgNE
by Joel V Webb | Jan 16, 2024 | Uncategorized
I’m sure most of us have read a lot of books about the gospel, discipleship, getting saved and the like. While a lot of them over the years have been good, more often than not they were either too long, or so short they didn’t cover much in depth that needed to be.
This book hits all the check boxes. I have never read a better book in my life that summarizes the whole point of why we are here (other than the Bible of course!). In this short volume, Michael Heiser summarizes from Scripture why are we even here. If all this, then why.
It can be so easy to look around at everything we understand and ask that question, “but why would God do it all anyways?” It’s been a question that I’ve started wrestling with for the first time in my life. Actually,, seeking out the answer why without just shrugging it off.
That is when I found this book. I already was a fan of Heiser. His deep knowledge and understanding of the Bible and are great expanse of context that has opened up my eyes to so many different nuances I missed before were on full display here. Even though his academic works can be thick, this book is very accessible. It was made for the new Christian and anyone else who wants to get an idea of what does God want.
Between giving a big picture overview of the story we see in the Bible, to the practical steps of how to get saved, and the easy-to-understand elements of discipleship, I now have the book I will recommend to anyone who is wanting to know what it means to follow Jesus…or just needs to have some questions answered no matter how long they have been.
By the end of reading this book (which took around 2 hours start to finish) I have a renewed excitement about my walk with Christ, and I look forward to the same happening for you.
The book can be found for purchase
HERE
by Joel V Webb | Jan 1, 2024 | Uncategorized
So often in our western culture, the idea of ‘faith’ is spiritualized and almost taken to a point of feeling. What if it was more tangible? In this book, Bates posits that the better translation for the word pistis which is often rendered as faith, would be better said as allegiance.
By giving our allegiance to King Jesus, we are secured in His salvation and righteousness. Becoming a follower of Jesus isn’t over after we just say a prayer, it must be realized by the evidence of obvious allegiance to Christ.
Salvation is and always will be a free gift. A gift to those who give their allegiance to Christ the King and embody it will loyalty and the works that show His Spirit lives in them.
Book can be purchased HERE
