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Free for All: Rediscovering the Bible in Community
Is our study of the Bible as pure as we think it is? In Free for All , Tim Conder and Daniel Rhodes show how the way we read the Bible is held captive by the dominant culture in which we find ourselves. They aim to expose the cultural authorities that influence our understanding of the Bible and provide a way for communities to encounter the text as communities. This journey into community interpretation of the Bible not only honors the text and liberates its voice, but also catalyzes transformative practices of proclamation, hospitality, ethics, mission, and imagination.
Church leaders, pastors, small group leaders, and those interested in the emerging church conversation will find Free for All an energizing resource to infuse their study of God's Word with new life.
Church leaders, pastors, small group leaders, and those interested in the emerging church conversation will find Free for All an energizing resource to infuse their study of God's Word with new life.
256 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 28, 2020
I love the way Condor and Rhodes present their church's approach to scripture. I find their perspective refreshing. They engage the Bible and attempt to bring the good news of Jesus to the world without acting in an "us-verses-them" mentality. It's a humble approach that commits to the truth of God and yet makes no attempt to reduce the majesty or mystery of God.
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August 4, 2011A good balance between the individualized private interpretations of Scripture and the 'authority' of the Church that dominates and doesn't allow for questioning. The 'body hermeneutic' described in Free For All is a welcome corrective and I can only pray that it catches on with and in more churches.
Conder clearly addresses the issue of community study/interpretation = sharing our collective ignorance and points out the straw man logic of this position. While a precise model to counter this is described in the book, the authors are not dogmatic regarding how one achieves a community-wide wrestling with the Bible and one another. And a strong case is made that this is the only true way we can understand many passages outside our own comfortable, self-rationalizing perspective.
Those in the more fundamentalist or far right camp may find a number of things to offend here so be forewarned. Little is off-limits and the authors make this clear early on. They come from a fairly intellectual, university setting where they are used to challenging 'dogma' and being challenged.
That said, the hermeneutic is sound, regardless of one's take on the author's, their church, the way they implement their discovery of Bible truths, etc.
There is something truly wrong with pastors teaching the body for years and years without seeing any real personal progress or development and even more with the consumer mentality that is forever seeking a better church with better 'teaching.' There are a number of passages that clearly speak to the whole church teaching the whole church, speaking, instructing one another, exhorting one another, etc. To the degree that we do not make space for this mutual edification ministry within the body, it will continue to be weak and dependent, and or challenge the very 'authority' that tries to control the mutual gathering of the saints.
Conder clearly addresses the issue of community study/interpretation = sharing our collective ignorance and points out the straw man logic of this position. While a precise model to counter this is described in the book, the authors are not dogmatic regarding how one achieves a community-wide wrestling with the Bible and one another. And a strong case is made that this is the only true way we can understand many passages outside our own comfortable, self-rationalizing perspective.
Those in the more fundamentalist or far right camp may find a number of things to offend here so be forewarned. Little is off-limits and the authors make this clear early on. They come from a fairly intellectual, university setting where they are used to challenging 'dogma' and being challenged.
That said, the hermeneutic is sound, regardless of one's take on the author's, their church, the way they implement their discovery of Bible truths, etc.
There is something truly wrong with pastors teaching the body for years and years without seeing any real personal progress or development and even more with the consumer mentality that is forever seeking a better church with better 'teaching.' There are a number of passages that clearly speak to the whole church teaching the whole church, speaking, instructing one another, exhorting one another, etc. To the degree that we do not make space for this mutual edification ministry within the body, it will continue to be weak and dependent, and or challenge the very 'authority' that tries to control the mutual gathering of the saints.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews