Faith Lies: Seven Incomplete Ideas That Hijack Faith and How to See Beyond Them

by Darrell Smith

While the loud voices at the margins adamantly declare faith either completely irrelevant or capable of being contained in one narrow ideology, most people get lost in the mix, feeling no certainty or comfort in either direction. Faith Lies deconstructs the terrible notion that faithlessness and fundamentalism are our only options. Faith Lies is not an attack on the church or religion. It is an honest and reflective dialogue about very sensitive ideas - ideas that should lead us to freedom and love but instead too often generate division and isolation.

Genres: Theology, Spirituality

276 pages, Paperback

Published October 23, 2020

About the author

DARRELL SMITH is a non-dual writer, facilitator, and theologian. Serving both in the church and as the founding director of Chapter 3—a non-profit committed to serving people and the common good, Darrell has been exploring and, at times, protesting religion for over 30 years.

Darrell’s exploration and protest has led him to homeless shelters, recovery groups, and refugee ghettos as well as universities, churches, and prisons. He has supported relief efforts in Central and South America and worked with such organizations as Renovaré, Apprentice, and Kairos Prison Ministry.

Darrell attended the Perkins School of Theology, Wayland Baptist University, the Robert Webber Institute for Worship Studies, and Texas A&M University, holding degrees in English, Speech Communication, Christian Ministry, and Worship Studies. His published works include 'Faith Lies: Seven Incomplete Ideas That Hijack Faith and How to See Beyond Them' and 'Spiritual But Not Anxious.'

Since 1999, Darrell has served at Alamo Heights United Methodist Church in San Antonio, Texas. Darrell is married to Stacy, and they have three children.

Reviews

[Pastor2112 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truth is multifaceted and greater than we can fathom. This increases exponentially (infinitely?) when we consider "truths" concerning God. In "Faith Lies" Smith addresses half-truths that lead to diminishing God and faith rather than allowing God to be God and for faith to flourish rather than stagnate. Many half-truths come off as the "whole truth" and in the process strangle the whole truth. They become "faith lies". Smith encourages us to possess convictions but to remain open to the fact that the truth is greater than our convictions. He writes, "My experience thus far has taught me that holding on to something too tightly kills the thing. Those things that we hold most dear should be given freedom and room to grow and flourish. In the wise words of the clearly theological rock-and-roll song by 38-Special, 'Hold on loosely but don’t let go. If you cling too tightly, you’re gonna lose control.'" Smith provides wonderful reflections to expand our thinking and increase our faith.

[Marilyn Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much good information in here!

[Fr. River]

TWO BOOK REVIEWS

Faith Lies By Darrell Smith



"After this many disciples turn3ed their backs and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve 'Do you want to go away to?' Simon Peter answered him, "Lord where shall we go, you have the words of eternal life." John 6:66-68

Reverend Smith in Faith Lies challenges the ideas of fundamentalism, where the Bible is looked upon as the "literal Word of God." He points out that taking the literal approach to the Bible is one in which we are afraid to look outside the box, and how destructive that approach is to ourselves, and others. When we take the Bible or any philosophy, theory, or political concepts literally we limit ourselves and set ourselves up as judge and jury.

The Great Commandment: 'Thou shalt love the Lord your God with all of your strength, soul, and mind and your neighbor as yourself." is the heart of the Gospel, and in doing so we live out the way of Jesus. To truly live, to truly grow, we need to open our minds and spirits to others with out judgment, and show love.

Love, God, is a book of what we commonly call devotions which for me has become and invitation to God's loving presence. We deepen our relationship with God through a centering on Scripture and writings of saints both living and dead who offers us an approach of non-judgment, and challenges us to open up to people, to open to God, as a God with many faces. This is a book that I will continually use because it is one that brings comfort and hope.

Both these books remind me of my call to ministry. Many times both yesterday and today I doubt my ministry, I doubt myself, but ultimately I come back to "Where else can I go?" "Who has the words of eternal life to eternal life." For me only Jesus, the Jesus of many faces!

Fr. River Damien Sims, sfw, D.Min., D.S.T.

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