Brimstone: The Art and Act of Holy Nonjudgment

by Hugh Halter

How was Jesus the most holy person while at the same time the least judgmental? And why don’t His followers live like He lived? Let’s be honest, Christians are losing the culture war. The western Church is in stark decline and our kids no longer find the message of judgement tenable in the real world. Jesus came to influence and draw—not condemn and repel. In Brimstone, Hugh Halter helps us navigate the overuse of poor judgment and the underuse of right judgment.

This book will help you navigate the great law of love given by Jesus. Inside you’ll find a disruptive invitation to be holy as Jesus was holy and engage the sinful world with a smile instead of pointing a finger in their face.

Genres: Christian

192 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2015

About the author

Hugh Halter is a pastor and popular author of numerous books including Flesh, The Tangible Kingdom, And, Sacrilege, and Primer. Hugh and Cheryl are presently enjoying the spoils of empty nest living but love to use their ranch as a haven of celebration, hospitality, and friendship to the lost and least on the south side of Denver.

Reviews

[Jeanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I am arguing for is removing, or at least decreasing, the amount of lousy judgment that we pour ourselves and, consequently, everyone else. No, our problem is not judgment itself. It’s the lack of right discernment, the absence of perfect knowledge, the void of righteous reasoning that creates the buzz saw of trite, dehumanizing black and white lines.

Judgment is misused, misunderstood and we all do it. We have to. We judge which direction in life we take, we judge whom our friends will be, and we judge others on our own standards of dress, conduct, and life. We also make judgments when we drive and someone cuts us off, or 12 items or less line when we have one item and the person in front of us as 20. We have standards. Hugh Halter invites us to inventory how many times we do judge. What are attitudes are in our judgment calls. How we judge, reveals our own insecurities.

This book is more of a call to see how judgment can dehumanize the people we are called to love. Do we desire justice or mercy? What do you desire for your neighbor? Do we have the ministry of mercy and leave judgment to Christ?

The question becomes who has authority? As a Christian this is essential in how we view others that we do life with. Do we feel it is our job to rid the world of evil? Better yet, or we qualified to get rid of evil that is in the world? Porn may not be considered an evil to some but to others the sex slave industry is evil. Evil is another confusing word. What I call evil may not be evil to someone else but we all agree that there is evil in this world. Halter says this…Jesus doesn’t come into the world with the desire to punish us or push us into the lake of burning brimstone. His intention is exactly the opposite-He came to save. This is really important nuance about Jesus that we often miss. Most of us feel it is our job to rid of evil, to call it out, to rant and rave over all the bad stuff people. But Jesus didn’t come with this posture toward people or political aggravations.. As you can see there is tension. I don’t agree that we should not call out evil or be concerned with evil. However, I think we can relax the tension when we become the solution to share the love of Christ however; where there is evil, there is tension.

I was encouraged in ways to love others and without compromising the truth. Taking issues with current news events, Facebook posts, the blog wars, Halter has a passion to love others to the Gospel. Sharing ourselves with others that may not hold the same values as we do is key in loving as Christ loved. If the bible is not a book of authority for your friend, throwing it in their face will not change it. The only way we can change it, is when we put ourselves under the authority of the word. I love this quote…Being the Truth is better than imposing the truth That truth is only received when it is presented from a posture of love.

All nine chapters are thought provoking and will ultimately challenge how we can love better.

Each Chapter ends with What do we know for Sure? What should we change in light of what we know? Who might this change affect and what is God asking you to do? Why is this good news for you?

This is not another read on theology but a way to open doors without compromising our worship of God.

A Special Thank You to David C Cook and Netgalley for ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having been born into a Christian family who went to a very judgemental church, and had been judged very harshly by them and the church, I therefore tried to be fair when judging people. However, this book pointed to areas in my thinking that needed to change regarding putting love before truth. Thank you, Hugh Halter, for writing the book that has moved and challenged me to step out and love my “neighbours” first and foremost. God can then work with showing them the truth as they come closer to Jesus.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

* I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley to review.

How do I start? My goodness this book was a mind twister and I don't mean in a bad way but in a good way! I am a Christian who feels reluctant to declare to be one because of the bum rap that we Christians have been dealt with. I don't blame the world of non-believers because basically I understand the reaction and feelings. Anymore I cringe and shake my head equally of what I see in the world and within the ranks of my Christian brothers and sisters.

This book is about judgment and how we, as Christians have failed royally and shamefully in that area. We are called to first love God and then love our neighbor which I feel means everybody regardless of color, beliefs or sexual orientation. This book outlines in detail that call to love and not to judge. We as Christians have taken on such a judgmental stance so much so that most people hate us and want nothing to do with the "love" that we are suppose to show and hand out.

This book will do a number on how you view your fellow man and woman and unearth hidden and not so hidden attitudes and judgments. The author starts out with a scenario of his judgment in a given day. I related to that immediately. To be human is to be judgmental and I feel that it is an innate trait within us. The author explores this tendency to judge. Be prepared to have you look sincerely and honestly with yourself and a "religiosity" that is often solidly intact in all of us. He hit upon so many points that I think the Christian community needs to hear and to think about. If you are a rigid, severely conservative, self righteous Christian, be prepared to have a few of your hard earned ideals thrown out of joint!

Here is a quote from the book that resounded within me:

"let us live as a true aroma of Christ instead of a stench or fume of brimstone. If it is Christ in us, if God is making His appeal through us, then why do we keep trying to protect our image and our values? We should instead be image bearers and let people be with us so they can pick up on our values. May wisdom be proved right! May the church come alive! And may you live with Jesus."

[Karabo Mailula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hugh, thank you so much for sharing your story (accompanied with great insights) on how to live like Jesus did when He walked among us. This book is a game changer and I highly recommend it. I choose to be both a friend and a lover to the world without abandoning the truth. It's Christ in me, the hope of glory.

[Nick Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. If my wife weren't waiting to read it, I'd probably read it again right now.