Faith's Freedom: A Classic Spirituality for Contemporary Christians

by Luke Timothy Johnson

Johnson believes Christian spirituality needs an intellectual recasting that takes seriously the life of ordinary people in a world shaped by modernity rather than the monastery by discerning the narrative of God's action in their midst.

Genres: Theology

200 pages, Paperback

First published May 31, 1990

About the author

Luke Timothy Johnson is an American New Testament scholar and historian of early Christianity. He is the Robert W. Woodruff Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at Candler School of Theology and a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University.

Johnson's research interests encompass the Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts of early Christianity (particularly moral discourse), Luke-Acts, the Pastoral Epistles, and the Epistle of James.

Reviews

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mature, contemporary spirituality by a New Testament scholar and prolific writer/teacher.
I was puzzled by the title, but by the end of the book, I concluded that it is a perfect phrase for understanding Christian life as Johnson portrays it. Since man did not create life, and I don't believe it happened by chance, I am responsible to the Creator. I am also free. Life is the project of discerning how these two realities function in living every day.
Johnson uses two models of Christian life, both errors on the extremes: gnostic and liberationist. Authenticity exists in the difficult middle place, in a world constantly in flux, constantly requiring decision. No blueprint is possible. We have choice before us always, and no guarantees. That is what faith means.
I also want to remember that his description of silent prayer is the most helpful one I have ever read.

I don't normally choose to read spirituality. But this book was totally worth my time.

[Ephrem Arcement · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of this book is an excellent compendium on the Christian life. The models from which Johnson works (gnostic and liberation) are only helpful to a certain extent. The problem with models is that while they illuminate, they can also restrict. Both are at work here. While listening to this book read at table, I couldn't help but wish I had come across it years ago when I was beginning my years of Christian formation. It would have been a helpful guide in making sense of so much confusion!