[TruthTalk] Religious Books

[Judy Taylor]

From: "Jonathan Hughes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi Judy,  A welcome back from me as well.   jt: Thank you Jonathan   jh: Regarding the Gregory Boyd book:  I understand your hesitation regarding him.  I said to Lance two days ago, “I wish someone else had written this book.”  There has been much controversy in Boyd’s Open View of God.    jt: Not sure I understand what that involves - did you ever have a discussion on this?   jh: There is only one paragraph that hints at this view in the book as well as one (maybe two) footnotes that point the reader to other books that he has written on the subject.  I fear that people will not read this book because of Boyd’s adherence to Openness Theory (sometimes called freewill-theism although they are mildly different).  That being said I also told Lance that this was the best/most important book I had read in three years.  I am a voracious reader.  To place a book that high on my list of ‘most important’ is not easily achieved.  It was this book (and the exposition of a number of scriptures within it) that the Spirit used to convict me of my judgment on this forum (especially towards you).   jt: I'm glad that God used Boyd's book in your life; can you articulate what IYO is so special about this book in particular?   jh: One of my reasons for being so excited about this book is that there is no reference to Torrance or any of the rest of the group of theologians that have helped shape my views.  To have someone come from the outside and yet arrive at many of the same conclusions is very interesting to me.  His website is http://www.gregboyd.org/gbfront/.  Boyd has been popular in some circles for a long time now.  He is also the author of a book from 1989 entitled ‘Letters to a Skeptic.’  It won book of the year award if I remember correctly.   jt: That must be the one he wrote with his father.  Did you read that one?  Sounds as though he is good at apologetics.   To anyone on this forum that is interested:  I will buy and mail you this book.  If you don’t like it you can toss it at no loss to yourself.  Just send me a response and I will attempt to get them in the mail in the upcoming week.  You may send your address to my email [EMAIL PROTECTED] in case you do not want it on the forum.   jt: What a generous offer Jonathan.  It sure is tempting.  Let me give it some thought.   judyt       From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Judy Taylor Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2004 9:22 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [TruthTalk] Religious Books   From: "Lance Muir" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi Judy: Welcome back. As ever your posts are thorough and, I read all of them. Please do let us know of Jenna's progress.   jt: Thank you for the welcome Lance, it's good to be back and to see that you are all still writing to TT ...   Reply: 1. Nothing is wrong with the Bible. I both recommend it and, sell it.   2. GBoyd does know the difference between religion and walking in the Spirit insofar as I've read him correctly. I've read about 8 of his books. I've listened to 30 or 40 hours of lectures by him.   jt: Then you must have some idea of what he is about; when someone becomes so popular so quickly I begin to wonder about their message...   3. I haven't finished this book but, am reading it now.   jt: What exactly is his concept of 'Religion'? Is it the same as what Hebrews calls 'dead works'?   4. I don't believe that Boyd has ever read TFT. Some of what he says is similar to TFT. Do you believe that Christians should read ONLY the Bible to determine matters of faith and practice?   jt: I'd be a hypocrit if I said they should read ONLY the Bible because I have a house full of books myself and I find reference and background books to be helpful but I do believe that everything people such as Boyd write should be examined and evaluated in the light of God's Word.   When anyone, including yourself, speaks to an issue (any issue) you are providing us (TT and, the world) what you believe to be the 'Mind of God' on the matter. Boyd is doing no more than what you do.   jt: He is doing much more than what I do because of "who" he is. People are trained to look up to education and he has a Phd from Princeton. He has lectured at Promisekeepers and to Congress... so he has opportunity to do much more good/damage than me numerically at least..   Let me conclude with a quotation from the epilogue: "But it begins with repentance. Acknowledging our failure must be the first evidende that, as a matter of fact, we don't get life from being right. It is the first evidence that we have ceased eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and begun eating of the tree of life.   jt: I don't have a problem with his concept about eating from the trees. I do have a problem with the words he uses. Sin is much more than a mistake or failure... and this is why Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:4,5,13 "his speech and his preaching were not with enticing words of man's wisdom [....] that their faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God because he spoke words that the Holy Ghost teaches comparing spiritual things with spiritual."   To all we have failed to show Calvary-type love to, to all we have looked down on as though we were in a position of moral superiority, to all we have ostracized, treated rudely, cruelly, and even violently--to all these we must ask forgiveness.   jt: All of this is sin and God is primarily the one sinned against - We should take it up with him. Repentance without regret means that we stop doing those things; we turn and walk in the Spirit, no longer fulfilling the lust of the flesh.   We must testify that it is only by the outrageous love and mercy of God that any of us have any hope. And that, in the end is the only message we have ever had to offer any one.   jt: Amen to the above statement.   Lance   From: Judy Taylor To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: July 15, 2004 07:21 Subject: [TruthTalk] Religious Books   Lance, What's wrong with the Bible?  How do you know that Gregory A. Boyd knows the difference between religion and walking after the Spirit himself?  Have you read this book of his?  Is it in line with the theology of TFT?   judyt [EMAIL PROTECTED]> Slade: Amen again! Recommended reading:Repenting of Religion: Turning from Judgment to the Love of God Baker, 2004   From: Slade Henson Have a hard line against divorce, Terry. I wish it didn't have to exist... but don't allow the hard line against the person. Divorce was given to us because we have hard hearts... and our hard hearts causes divorce. Since we cannot get into the hearts and minds of our fellow humans (THANK GOD FOR THAT!!!), we need to give them room to grow and love to heal.   Yeshua seeks the one lost. We need to do the same.     If they divorce for the arms of another person, we cannot allow that kind of behavior in the Ekklesia. THAT is adultery and that needs to be excised from the Ekklesia.   -- slade