I had a great dinner the other night here in Raleigh (at Bogarts, mmm) with my friend Mark from Zondervan/Symtio, a new audio/eBook hybrid platform launching to serve the Big Z and several other houses. We had a great conversation about Foresight@Regent, ministry, and the future of publishing in all its technological and authorially-empowered glory.
One cool thing I learned about is a little-publicized full audiobook giveaway of Cathleen Falsani‘s incendiary tome Sin Boldly. Falsani is a Wheaton grad and religion Chicago Sun Times, Huffington Post, and Religion News Service. I haven’t read (or listened) to the book yet, but with a dual background in evangelicalism’s heartland and those godless liberal media (grin), I’m sure it’s interesting.
In case you take umbrage at the title (and it’s not the book on the left, by the way), here’s the back story: Martin Luther said it. Here it is in some kind of context, from a 1521 letter from Luther to Melanchthon:
If you are a preacher of mercy, do not preach an imaginary but the true mercy. If the mercy is true, you must therefore bear the true, not an imaginary sin. God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner and sin boldly, but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world. (Source)
Ah, Lutherans – such a way with words! Because I’m kinda New Perspective-y, I wrestle somewhat with Luther’s late Medieval psychologized reading of Paul and texts discussing grace. I think Luther equated 1st century Jewish folk with his contemporary Catholics, and Hebrew Law with Canon Law and his own conscience, and well…things got complicated. But! Let me be the first to sing Amazing grace, how sweet the sound! We interpret the meaning and scope of grace differently from age to age, but I think any person of faith, hope, and love rejoices in God’s compassionate grace revealed in the face of Jesus.
So back to Lutherans for a sec. From Nadia Bolz-Weber (whose own book, Salvation on the Small Screen, is just delightful) to Robert Farrar Capon – who isn’t technically Lutheran but I’d like to say Episco-Lutheran in a way that’d make Karen Ward proud – some of favorite grace theology, practice and storytelling comes from Lutherans. I have no idea if Falsani is a Lutheran.
And on that note, please, download the audio book here while it’s still available (and then go buy a truckload if you like it – its the only way publishers will have their fears assuaged and keep trying these nu-media experiments). And check out this short YouTube interview with Falsani.
Grace & Peace…
Thanks for the link!
My good buddy and I were discussing books today over a nice brew. He said he saw a review on public tv concerning this book and was highly intrigued. I am downloading now and will read/listen!
and also with you,
Harold
Hey Mike,
On the subject of being “new perspectivey” towards Paul –
I took a look at that page and I was a little unsure which link there was hiding a good concise treatise on the new perspective, apart from the blub about how the issue is more about gentile/jewish relationship and exclusivity in the first century than about self-righteousness and legalism.
So of course, I approach this topic from a rather unique and confused angle anyway, being Jewish. When Paul is being reviewed, and when the conversation in different circles comes around to, “No, Paul was primarily concerned with protecting Gentiles from having to become Jews or act like them,” I am always sitting there asking the unconsidered and less-discussed question which self-referentially could be worded, “Well then, what about me? I’m not a Gentile.”
So I was wondering if you could take a gander at what the aforementioned “new perspectivey” answer might be to that.
Thanks Mike!
Here’s what Jesus said: No Jew; No Greek. No bond; No free. No male; No female.
Conclusion: Peel off skin, customs, tradition, religion, etc. and we’re all the same in God’s eyes… children. His. He doesn’t love any child MORE than the next; nor does He love any child LESS than the next. When will humanity understand that simple, sweet and merciful characteristic of our Father?
Thankful for His grace,
Tammy
Hey Mike,
I do think it’s an interesting offering of the audio book in Seth Godin style. I think it’s always a win-win to give out free audio/eBooks, because at the end of the day – if you enjoyed the book you’re going to want it on your shelf and you’ll buy one.
Needless to say I downloaded it and I’m looking forward to listening/reading it.
sidebar: what’s your take on Symtio?
Thanks for writing!
Gavin
abunga.com