So I have always had a place in my heart (right next to Jesus of course) for the Christian literature that fills the bookshelves of Christian bookstores in our Christian country. Okay, that was a little sarcastic. But really, I have enjoyed many Christian Living books over my years and particularly found mysef drawn to the "relationship" ones. Since I have been traveling so much recently, I haven't had the chance to read any recently. A girlfriend of mine loaned me one of these books that week and last night I started reading it. I realized within the first few pages that I would not be able to read this book as I had in the past. That my understanding of Christian living as a whole has changed. I now cringe at straight line bible applications. For example, the story of Ruth is not meant to be a prescriptive account of how young Christian women should pursue older Christian men. It is a descriptive account of God playing out His redemptive story in the lives of His people. But we focus the bible on ourselves, as opposed to the true focus of every verse in the old and new testaments: Jesus.
So anyways, this whole biblcal redemptive narrative theology is causing me to pause as I read these Christian self-help books. They are usually written with great intentions for growth and godliness but the authors seem to misunderstand the purpose of God's word. Anyways, biblical theology: love it, it's ruining my nice little North American Christian culture bubble, but that's just how it's going to be.
So anyways, this whole biblcal redemptive narrative theology is causing me to pause as I read these Christian self-help books. They are usually written with great intentions for growth and godliness but the authors seem to misunderstand the purpose of God's word. Anyways, biblical theology: love it, it's ruining my nice little North American Christian culture bubble, but that's just how it's going to be.
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