Wrestling with hard Scripture: Amalekites, Paul, and 'you know I can't leave, help my unbelief'
The second cluster of midlife-crisis questions comes from actually reading the Bible past the headlines: conquest passages like the Amalekites, slavery, divine judgment, and Paul's harder teachings. Mike shares how a Wren Collective lyric change at a concert summed up the posture for him: 'you know I can't leave, help my unbelief.' Ben warns against childhood 'Genesis rainbows and Moses staves' faith that cracks when critics are right about what the text says, and argues wrestling with the text is healthy rather than dangerous.
More on Deconstruction
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Deconstruction: Nicodemus, demolition, or examination?
- Is deconstruction like what Jesus did to the Pharisees, or is it more destructive, and why?
Mike's question: when Jesus showed up and presented a reality of following Yahweh that was completely foreign to the Pharisees, was that deconstruction, and is modern deconstruction like that or more destructive?
From No. 460 · 14 to 25 Mistakes From Wildin’
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Putting teaching over conversation
- When is 'just having a conversation' really avoidance of what Scripture says?
The 'teaching over conversation' item gets another false-dichotomy verdict: people learn from teaching and then talk about it, so do both.
From No. 458 · 12 to 13 Mistakes From Wildin
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Don't take macro action based on micro analysis
- Am I taking macro action based on micro analysis?
A host introduces his principle — 'don't take macro action based upon micro analysis,' or 'don't take broad action based upon narrow analysis' — and the room tests it across examples.
From No. 450 · Good News of Narrow Focus
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Grace for deconstruction: separating church culture from the faith
- Has anyone ever approached you about deconstruction and asked for help?
A host admits the word 'deconstruction' irritates him but offers a grace-filled reading: many who use the term come from large celebrity-pastor church cultures where the culture…
From No. 450 · Good News of Narrow Focus