title: Who Stole My Bible? Reclaiming Scripture as a Handbook for Resisting Tyranny
author: Jennifer Butler
date: 2020
publisher: Faith in Public Life
date: 2020
publisher: Faith in Public Life
Rev. Jennifer Butler, a Presbyterian minister who leads a movement called Faith in Public Life, address some of the questions that have been raised about how the Bible has been used to defend judgments and practices at cross purposes with the goal of a beloved community.
Butler writes:
“For me, Scripture is at the same time ‘God-Breathed’ and an account of an imperfect people struggling to draw near to what is holy and good. Scripture was written by people with often-flawed perspectives, translated by people with agendas, and is preached by people with blind spots. The overarching theme of Scripture is God’s intervention in history as One who hears the groans of oppressed people and acts. We understand the Bible best when we try to join that story.”
Butler lays out each chapter, which looks at a different bible story, with the following sections:
- Our Past: A personal retelling of a bible story from the point of view of the characters.
- Understanding the Text: Provides historical context to the story
- America Today: Butler, highlights some parallels between the story and the current cultural context in America
- A Lesson For Us: A takeaway
- Modern Models: Highlights individuals and communities which are living out the takeaways.
- Questions: Each chapter ends with questions for further thought.
You may not agree with all her conclusions about the text, but you will start to ask some fresh questions of the text. And the Bible will come alive again.
DISCLOSURE: I received this book free through the Speakeasy blogging book review network.
I was not required to write a positive review.
The opinions I have expressed are my own.
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