What do you think?
Rate this book
Brimstone: The Art and Act of Holy Nonjudgment
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.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.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2015
40 people are currently reading
224 people want to read
About the author
Hugh Halter
19 books42 followersHugh 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
August 24, 2016
Excellent book for a small group bible study! This book really gets you thinking about how critical we are towards other people and the bottom line is we are simply to love one another.
June 26, 2016
Written in an immensely approachable style and makes a strong argument for the case of nonjudgement (with a few caveats at the end). Excellently written and forceful.
January 25, 2021
This author did a sermon at our church and I really liked him so I checked this out. Great message.
February 6, 2019
Halter writes an excellent book! I certainly don't agree with everything said. However, the overall message of the book is good and well needed for current Christian culture in America. The author could have defined 'judgment' better (perhaps conflating judgment & condemnation) and I was disappointed to see no discussion of Jesus' words in John 7:24 "Stop judging by outward appearances, and judge righteous judgment."
Great quotes and helpful words below:
Our problem is not judgment itself, but lack of right discernment, absence of perfect knowledge.
Sin affects our ability to judge between good and evil. Sin makes most of our judgements wrong.
How are we to relate to people who are screwing up their lives or the lives of others? We may have enough knowledge to make a correct judgment over them, but if we take our cues from Jesus, we will realize we don’t need to impose our judgment. Eventually every sin will be uncovered, and in time people will confront their sin all on their own. If we judge them, our condemnation might make them flee back into the darkness rather than God’s light. If we are the light, we don’t have to confront to do our work, but simply be present.
Judgment is good if it leads to justice and redemption. Judgment without these intents it actually counterproductive to God’s kingdom design.
People are already under judgment even without you judging them. They are either hiding in the dark or walking toward the light.
Jesus is the only final authority and judge.
Judgement happens when we decide based on preconceived notions or stereotypes (e.g. As a pastor, thinking all parishioners are slack, halfhearted consumers)
He talks about the stoning of the woman caught in adultery and talks about stones the size of a loaf of bread (not historically accurate). Yes, I judged.
Simplest form of self-righteousness, thinking that your sins are not as bad as someone else’s.
Halter makes a great point about the Christian false classification of sins, pointing out that “sexual sins with opposite sex in our minds while we watch porn, are just as bad as sexual sins with the same sex.”
If you sin at all, you have no reason to judge those you don’t know or do know. Jesus is the advocate for people who sin. Jesus is full of grace and therefore He got a chance to share the truth.
“Neighbors make real Christians out of us. It’s a relationship you don’t have to pursue, and most will think you’re weird if you do, but if we take Jesus at His word, this one command can change any neighborhood almost overnight.”
Neighbors aren’t thinking about how to love you. This isn’t a two way street. You’ve got to be the one to initiate contact and then continue, get their stories and make friends. Jesus was called friend of sinners, getting to know people at the heart level.
“People with Jesus’ whimsical holiness don’t gasp when someone curses. They don't avoid a group of people, places or parties because someone might get out of hand. They inhabit dark places with the intention of protecting, redeeming, befriending, and befuddling people with acceptance and love. They win the lost because they’re the only ones who hang out with the lost.”
We don’t influence our culture by yelling at it.
Confronting sin without first influencing the heart creates more space between us and them.
We never have to fear what the culture calls acceptable because we are always free to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength!
The main point is not judgment, but living out our true missionary calling.
Jesus is King. Being sent is part and parcel of being in the family of God - He wants us to be on mission with him. It’s an aspect of our new identity. We are redeemed and then sent back as missionary saints.
Missing-ology is when we try to scare people from hell or sin, making blanket statements, generalizing, stereotyping, and simplifying a complex problem down to a Bible verse. In short, judging them.
Missionaries in Congo preaching from the riverbank and calling for commitments to be baptized in the river - with no success. They berated the people for their lack of devotion. Later they found out that the Congolese knew the river was crawling with man-eating crocodiles. Uhhh, duh!
One way we judge, people misuse/abuse when trying to argue a point is the word “biblical”. Someone might say, We plan on having a biblical marriage. homosexuality is not biblical. That was really a biblical sermon. Anything in the bible is biblical. Using this term is arrogant and unhelpful.
Missionaries recognize that their neighbors don’t care if “the Bible says ______” Don’t make an idol out of the Bible. We must humble ourselves under Jesus and His scriptures.
Small groups/Bible studies: Consider doing away with invitations to your church or to Bible studies, instead invite people to come “talk about life and God and pray for each other.”
Since church is made of people who are learning to realign their lives under the reign of God, it makes sense that good judgments are there - calling out sin, calling each other forwards, spuring one another on to love and good deeds, etc.
Another problem of judging: people change! They may be somewhere different in a month, year, or decade (All people are in process)
If you disagree with a follower of Jesus, you cannot write them off, or cut them out of the family. It’s Jesus’ call to make. Fight for unity and stay friends. Err on the side of love.
We should hold our interpretations lightly and be more humble with people who see truth from another angle. We should not make it hard for people to come by faith by imposing our essentials on them.
John Wesley! In essentials, unity. In non essentials, liberty. In all things, charity.
“Am I helping this person see the goodness of God in how I am interacting with him/her?”
How can you influence people without being with them?
Jon Foreman: Is your music Christian?
“To be honest, this question grieves me because i feel that it represents a much bigger issue than simple a couple SF tunes. In true socratic form, let me ask you a few questions: Does Lewis or Tolkien mention Christ in any of their fictional series? Are Bach’s sonatas Christian? What is more Christlike, feeding the poor, making furniture, cleaning bathrooms, or painting a sunset? There is a schism between the sacred and the secular in all our modern minds. The view that a pastor is more Christian than a girls volleyball coach is flawed and heretical. The stance that a worship leader is more spiritual than a janitor is condescending and flawed…None of these songs have been born again, and to that end there is no such thing as Christian music. No. Christ didn’t come and die for my songs. He came for me. Yes. My songs are a part of my life. But judging from scripture i can only conclude that our God is much more interested in how I treat the poor, broken, hungry than the personal pronouns i use when I sing. I am a believer. Many of these songs talk about this belief. An obligation to say this or do that does not sound like the glorious freedom that Christ died to afford me. I do have an obligation however, a debt that cannot be settled by my lyrical decisions. My life will be judged by my obedience, not my ability to confine my lyrics to this box or that.
Always see a person as someone God is right now trying to woo to Himself. Am I helping God or making His job harder? Am I helping move this person toward Jesus or repelling them?
Don’t judge people based on their worst moments. Others have mental health issues.
Also, Sometimes seeing parents outsider their roles (e.g. John, Susan vs. Dad, Mom) will help you remove your judgment that they dropped the ball along the way, because maybe they never had anyone to help them mature, heal, or repent.
What about weaker brother? Don’t avoid things because they may cause a problem (many struggle with men, women, credit cards, internet, alcohol). God doesn’t outlaw them all, but teaches us how to handle them. But don’t offer anything to someone you know is struggling with that substance.
More than anything else, we will meet our true judge someday, seeing Jesus face to face. The incarnation shows us that He came to love us as a friend, and after that, we began to accept His truth. At the end, I can only say, I tried to do everything in Your name Jesus.
Great quotes and helpful words below:
Our problem is not judgment itself, but lack of right discernment, absence of perfect knowledge.
Sin affects our ability to judge between good and evil. Sin makes most of our judgements wrong.
How are we to relate to people who are screwing up their lives or the lives of others? We may have enough knowledge to make a correct judgment over them, but if we take our cues from Jesus, we will realize we don’t need to impose our judgment. Eventually every sin will be uncovered, and in time people will confront their sin all on their own. If we judge them, our condemnation might make them flee back into the darkness rather than God’s light. If we are the light, we don’t have to confront to do our work, but simply be present.
Judgment is good if it leads to justice and redemption. Judgment without these intents it actually counterproductive to God’s kingdom design.
People are already under judgment even without you judging them. They are either hiding in the dark or walking toward the light.
Jesus is the only final authority and judge.
Judgement happens when we decide based on preconceived notions or stereotypes (e.g. As a pastor, thinking all parishioners are slack, halfhearted consumers)
He talks about the stoning of the woman caught in adultery and talks about stones the size of a loaf of bread (not historically accurate). Yes, I judged.
Simplest form of self-righteousness, thinking that your sins are not as bad as someone else’s.
Halter makes a great point about the Christian false classification of sins, pointing out that “sexual sins with opposite sex in our minds while we watch porn, are just as bad as sexual sins with the same sex.”
If you sin at all, you have no reason to judge those you don’t know or do know. Jesus is the advocate for people who sin. Jesus is full of grace and therefore He got a chance to share the truth.
“Neighbors make real Christians out of us. It’s a relationship you don’t have to pursue, and most will think you’re weird if you do, but if we take Jesus at His word, this one command can change any neighborhood almost overnight.”
Neighbors aren’t thinking about how to love you. This isn’t a two way street. You’ve got to be the one to initiate contact and then continue, get their stories and make friends. Jesus was called friend of sinners, getting to know people at the heart level.
“People with Jesus’ whimsical holiness don’t gasp when someone curses. They don't avoid a group of people, places or parties because someone might get out of hand. They inhabit dark places with the intention of protecting, redeeming, befriending, and befuddling people with acceptance and love. They win the lost because they’re the only ones who hang out with the lost.”
We don’t influence our culture by yelling at it.
Confronting sin without first influencing the heart creates more space between us and them.
We never have to fear what the culture calls acceptable because we are always free to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength!
The main point is not judgment, but living out our true missionary calling.
Jesus is King. Being sent is part and parcel of being in the family of God - He wants us to be on mission with him. It’s an aspect of our new identity. We are redeemed and then sent back as missionary saints.
Missing-ology is when we try to scare people from hell or sin, making blanket statements, generalizing, stereotyping, and simplifying a complex problem down to a Bible verse. In short, judging them.
Missionaries in Congo preaching from the riverbank and calling for commitments to be baptized in the river - with no success. They berated the people for their lack of devotion. Later they found out that the Congolese knew the river was crawling with man-eating crocodiles. Uhhh, duh!
One way we judge, people misuse/abuse when trying to argue a point is the word “biblical”. Someone might say, We plan on having a biblical marriage. homosexuality is not biblical. That was really a biblical sermon. Anything in the bible is biblical. Using this term is arrogant and unhelpful.
Missionaries recognize that their neighbors don’t care if “the Bible says ______” Don’t make an idol out of the Bible. We must humble ourselves under Jesus and His scriptures.
Small groups/Bible studies: Consider doing away with invitations to your church or to Bible studies, instead invite people to come “talk about life and God and pray for each other.”
Since church is made of people who are learning to realign their lives under the reign of God, it makes sense that good judgments are there - calling out sin, calling each other forwards, spuring one another on to love and good deeds, etc.
Another problem of judging: people change! They may be somewhere different in a month, year, or decade (All people are in process)
If you disagree with a follower of Jesus, you cannot write them off, or cut them out of the family. It’s Jesus’ call to make. Fight for unity and stay friends. Err on the side of love.
We should hold our interpretations lightly and be more humble with people who see truth from another angle. We should not make it hard for people to come by faith by imposing our essentials on them.
John Wesley! In essentials, unity. In non essentials, liberty. In all things, charity.
“Am I helping this person see the goodness of God in how I am interacting with him/her?”
How can you influence people without being with them?
Jon Foreman: Is your music Christian?
“To be honest, this question grieves me because i feel that it represents a much bigger issue than simple a couple SF tunes. In true socratic form, let me ask you a few questions: Does Lewis or Tolkien mention Christ in any of their fictional series? Are Bach’s sonatas Christian? What is more Christlike, feeding the poor, making furniture, cleaning bathrooms, or painting a sunset? There is a schism between the sacred and the secular in all our modern minds. The view that a pastor is more Christian than a girls volleyball coach is flawed and heretical. The stance that a worship leader is more spiritual than a janitor is condescending and flawed…None of these songs have been born again, and to that end there is no such thing as Christian music. No. Christ didn’t come and die for my songs. He came for me. Yes. My songs are a part of my life. But judging from scripture i can only conclude that our God is much more interested in how I treat the poor, broken, hungry than the personal pronouns i use when I sing. I am a believer. Many of these songs talk about this belief. An obligation to say this or do that does not sound like the glorious freedom that Christ died to afford me. I do have an obligation however, a debt that cannot be settled by my lyrical decisions. My life will be judged by my obedience, not my ability to confine my lyrics to this box or that.
Always see a person as someone God is right now trying to woo to Himself. Am I helping God or making His job harder? Am I helping move this person toward Jesus or repelling them?
Don’t judge people based on their worst moments. Others have mental health issues.
Also, Sometimes seeing parents outsider their roles (e.g. John, Susan vs. Dad, Mom) will help you remove your judgment that they dropped the ball along the way, because maybe they never had anyone to help them mature, heal, or repent.
What about weaker brother? Don’t avoid things because they may cause a problem (many struggle with men, women, credit cards, internet, alcohol). God doesn’t outlaw them all, but teaches us how to handle them. But don’t offer anything to someone you know is struggling with that substance.
More than anything else, we will meet our true judge someday, seeing Jesus face to face. The incarnation shows us that He came to love us as a friend, and after that, we began to accept His truth. At the end, I can only say, I tried to do everything in Your name Jesus.
October 5, 2016
Synopsis: Why are Christians so judgy, and how can we stop being that?
So, I am a curious person, and I'm always looking for something to challenge my perceptions. If you're ever looking to find a book that will break down your preconceived notions and make you question all you thought you knew about your evangelical faith, I highly recommend Hugh Halter. Really, any of his books will do the trick.
This book in particular took on a daunting issue. Specifically, how can the Evangelical community still remain effective if they're known for their uncanny ability to judge other people, and also judge each other? Obviously, Halter has a lot to say on that issue that I won't rehash here. What I do want to say is that in my opinion, these are the books that need to be read. There may be a great deal contained that will be outright incendiary by many standards and to many readers. That is for the best, I think. This book has a lot of potential to challenge.
I have many unanswered questions, and although I can't say this book fixed everything for me, I appreciate his approach. Halter doesn't come across as a pompous ass, although sometimes he seems a little cray. But I like that. My problem with many theologians is their incredible certainty, when I know that there is still so much to be understood. I like that Halter seems oftentimes like he is taking a journey to the truth, and he is inviting us along for the ride.
So, I am a curious person, and I'm always looking for something to challenge my perceptions. If you're ever looking to find a book that will break down your preconceived notions and make you question all you thought you knew about your evangelical faith, I highly recommend Hugh Halter. Really, any of his books will do the trick.
This book in particular took on a daunting issue. Specifically, how can the Evangelical community still remain effective if they're known for their uncanny ability to judge other people, and also judge each other? Obviously, Halter has a lot to say on that issue that I won't rehash here. What I do want to say is that in my opinion, these are the books that need to be read. There may be a great deal contained that will be outright incendiary by many standards and to many readers. That is for the best, I think. This book has a lot of potential to challenge.
I have many unanswered questions, and although I can't say this book fixed everything for me, I appreciate his approach. Halter doesn't come across as a pompous ass, although sometimes he seems a little cray. But I like that. My problem with many theologians is their incredible certainty, when I know that there is still so much to be understood. I like that Halter seems oftentimes like he is taking a journey to the truth, and he is inviting us along for the ride.
April 15, 2019
Elementary and close to (but maybe not quite) heretical
i made a mistake of reading this after reading the Mortification of Sin. The juxtaposition of beautiful prose and biblical truths of John Owen’s classic with this book’s failed jocular tone and relative truths is enough to cause a migraine. The author uses an elementary tactic of trying to apply a square idea (in this case “don’t judge, ever”) into a circular hole (biblical Christianity). He misinterprets scripture, ignores his own rules, contradicts himself continually and writes his prose poorly. He clearly has built up large amounts of cognitive dissonance when his previous book was criticized. He lets this out passive-aggressively through immature means like name calling (“fundies”) and making hypothetical situations where he can easily control the situation. Waste of time, more emerging church mindless babble.
i made a mistake of reading this after reading the Mortification of Sin. The juxtaposition of beautiful prose and biblical truths of John Owen’s classic with this book’s failed jocular tone and relative truths is enough to cause a migraine. The author uses an elementary tactic of trying to apply a square idea (in this case “don’t judge, ever”) into a circular hole (biblical Christianity). He misinterprets scripture, ignores his own rules, contradicts himself continually and writes his prose poorly. He clearly has built up large amounts of cognitive dissonance when his previous book was criticized. He lets this out passive-aggressively through immature means like name calling (“fundies”) and making hypothetical situations where he can easily control the situation. Waste of time, more emerging church mindless babble.
November 13, 2015
Gut level honesty. The author takes you on his own personal spiritual journey. Loved it and recommend it.
August 25, 2016
"You can't judge what you love, and really it's much easier to love someone you eat with."
Love.
It's the only the way to a non-judgemental heart.
Challenged by these words.
Love.
It's the only the way to a non-judgemental heart.
Challenged by these words.
August 2, 2020
Brimstone notes:
Our work as reconcilers via the good news:
"The only way to bring about reconciliation is to introduce something new into the conflict that neither side is focusing on....For Jesus and Paul, that is the good news...If the gospel is only about doctrine, then we have to get people to listen to it, then we have to argue over points of perceived truth...interpretations, etc...the good news transcends all of that... sharing the gospel is about persuading people with a win rather than a loss. Maybe if we can rise above doctrinal conflict together and show peaceful humility, conversation, and even friendship, we could see mountains moved."
"Persuasion is not about a moment in time convsersaion. Persuasion is a process by which we continually offer good reasons to keep talking, keep moving, keep going toward the center, which is Jesus."
John 14:9 "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" Jesus is saying "Don't put anything else in front of people other than Me. Don't talk about church, don't talk about Bible verses, don't talk about their sins, don't talk about Christianity....None of these draw people to God. Keep people confused on Me." Jesus seems to transcend all the bogus stuff that religion and humans do.Jesus is a salve to religious wounds. Keep Him in the center.
"If you see every human as someone under redemptive reconstruction, you'll find great motivation to work with Jesus instead of making His job harder."
"I am super busy and I'm an introvert. Is there a key to this friend thing? I always respond with just one answer: EAT WITH SOMEONE"
"How can you influence someone when you don't allow them to be with you?"
Our work as reconcilers via the good news:
"The only way to bring about reconciliation is to introduce something new into the conflict that neither side is focusing on....For Jesus and Paul, that is the good news...If the gospel is only about doctrine, then we have to get people to listen to it, then we have to argue over points of perceived truth...interpretations, etc...the good news transcends all of that... sharing the gospel is about persuading people with a win rather than a loss. Maybe if we can rise above doctrinal conflict together and show peaceful humility, conversation, and even friendship, we could see mountains moved."
"Persuasion is not about a moment in time convsersaion. Persuasion is a process by which we continually offer good reasons to keep talking, keep moving, keep going toward the center, which is Jesus."
John 14:9 "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" Jesus is saying "Don't put anything else in front of people other than Me. Don't talk about church, don't talk about Bible verses, don't talk about their sins, don't talk about Christianity....None of these draw people to God. Keep people confused on Me." Jesus seems to transcend all the bogus stuff that religion and humans do.Jesus is a salve to religious wounds. Keep Him in the center.
"If you see every human as someone under redemptive reconstruction, you'll find great motivation to work with Jesus instead of making His job harder."
"I am super busy and I'm an introvert. Is there a key to this friend thing? I always respond with just one answer: EAT WITH SOMEONE"
"How can you influence someone when you don't allow them to be with you?"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2022
This book was often uncomfortable to read. The author is trying to stretch the reader based on the person of Jesus. In this, I agree with his approach completely. He consistently went back to the key chapters near the end of the book of John, where Jesus is pouring out his heart to his disciples. I agree with the author that this must be central to the way anyone lives, who claims to be following Jesus. His main point is that it is better to err on being too loving that to err on being too judgemental, and then trust God to sort things out in the end. While I didn’t agree with everything in the book, I strongly believe that the author is getting the reader to ask and think about the right questions; even if they are uncomfortable.
May 14, 2022
The author wrote this book on being nonjudgmental yet there were times he became judgmental. One example is the women Who spoke to him about his comment on yoga. He obviously didn’t agree with them and he became judgmental because they were concerned of the roots of yoga. In another chapter he listed some things that people are judgmental about. There are scriptures for many of those yeah he only chose to give the Scripture for Christians bringing lawsuits against others. Why didn’t he give all the Scriptures? He seems pretty hung up on how much sexuality which seem to be a part most chapters. No I don’t think the author made his point of being nonjudgmental. I felt he was judgmental.
January 25, 2018
This book has been changing my way of thinking ever since I started with just the introduction. I love Hugh’s outlook on things and have learned a lot from him. This book gave me several things to think about and to discuss with family and friends. It seems like Hugh gets a lot of flack for becoming more “liberal” in his beliefs as he has grown. Reading his thoughts, struggles and passions has really changed my outlook on a lot of things and has continued to impact my thought process on a daily basis. This has definitely become one of my favorite books!
September 30, 2020
This book practically changed my views on human-judgements and opened my eyes to scriptural truth in order to be a better person, a better Christian, God-like.
Thank you Hugh Halter, for explaining into details in each chapter what the concept of Brimstone is and how as Christ followers, we should follow in His steps of Holy Nonjudgement.
On the upcoming day of reckoning and judgement, Jesus Christ would do justice to every one's matter. Meanwhile, He has called us to spread His love all around so that we and others can know Him truly and be saved.
Thank you Hugh Halter, for explaining into details in each chapter what the concept of Brimstone is and how as Christ followers, we should follow in His steps of Holy Nonjudgement.
On the upcoming day of reckoning and judgement, Jesus Christ would do justice to every one's matter. Meanwhile, He has called us to spread His love all around so that we and others can know Him truly and be saved.
May 30, 2018
This non fiction book gave me much to think about. The emphasis of a Christian life should be love, not judgement. Many Christians ( myself included) will have a difficult time with some of the author's conclusions, but it's worth reading, considering, meditating on. Not difficult reading, even if it is non fiction.
November 11, 2021
Lots to think about for people who seriously want to follow Jesus at his word. Halter is challenging to anyone with a history of using scripture to shame their neighbors, offerß helpful wisdom to anyone looking to honestly engage the culture and their neighbors with Jesus, and offers freedom from being the moral police everywhere because Jesus has it under control.
June 20, 2020
The book the Evangelical Church Needs Today
Hugh loves Jesus and the Church too much to hold back. He teaches us, with grace, how to not judge, but lead with love. This is not about throwing out truth; it’s about holding truth in the arms of grace.
Hugh loves Jesus and the Church too much to hold back. He teaches us, with grace, how to not judge, but lead with love. This is not about throwing out truth; it’s about holding truth in the arms of grace.
September 30, 2017
I needed this!
Living in St. Louis the past 3-plus years has been challenging to say the least. Who can even count the judgments I've made? This book came right on time.
Living in St. Louis the past 3-plus years has been challenging to say the least. Who can even count the judgments I've made? This book came right on time.
April 2, 2019
A very thought provoking book. Agreed with some things and not with others. But overall a very good book to make one look at how we judge other people.
March 3, 2017
"Jesus wants us to be deeply embedded in the muck and mire of humanity without pulling our hair out trying to rid the world of evil."
In his characteristic walk-alongside-you manner, Halter shares his experiences and observations to draw the reader into his understanding of our role as peacemakers and Jesus-ambassadors--a role that doesn't include pointing out every one else's sin. He encourages us to "err on the side of love," saying "Choose love, not over truth, but before truth." We'll make alot more friends this way, which means alot more people will be willing to hear about Jesus.
As usual, Halter tells many of his own stories, pulls in a bit of history, and asks many questions. At the end of each chapter, he summarizes with bullet points and points the reader toward practical changes. That's the bonus of this book.
If you've been struggling with how to approach people who think/believe differently--even those who are historically hostile toward Christians--this is a great book for you. Halter doesn't tell you what to believe, just shows you what he believes and how he's come to that conclusion.
In his characteristic walk-alongside-you manner, Halter shares his experiences and observations to draw the reader into his understanding of our role as peacemakers and Jesus-ambassadors--a role that doesn't include pointing out every one else's sin. He encourages us to "err on the side of love," saying "Choose love, not over truth, but before truth." We'll make alot more friends this way, which means alot more people will be willing to hear about Jesus.
As usual, Halter tells many of his own stories, pulls in a bit of history, and asks many questions. At the end of each chapter, he summarizes with bullet points and points the reader toward practical changes. That's the bonus of this book.
If you've been struggling with how to approach people who think/believe differently--even those who are historically hostile toward Christians--this is a great book for you. Halter doesn't tell you what to believe, just shows you what he believes and how he's come to that conclusion.
July 8, 2015
Hugh Halter writes books that force you to open your mind and heart to a different way of thinking. If you tend to be stubborn, set in your ways, or closed-minded, you will likely not finish this book. For those that do finish the book, you will likely come away with a different perspective and outlook on cultural norms relating to your fellow man.
This book was released just a few days after the U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding same sex marriage. While that decision in no way prompted the writing or release of this book, Halter certainly discusses key elements from the issues of the recent past. He also dives into issues including marijuana, alcohol, different religions, and many forms of alternative lifestyles.
The bulk of the first half of the book deals with judgement - the overuse of poor judgement, the underuse of right judgement, and the misuse of people who get caught in the middle. Halter claims that he wrote this book for people like himself who live in the real world, who have friends and family with real issues. I'd say that's just about everyone I know.
Halter coins a term "whimsical holiness", which is the ability to hold on to personal values of Christ-likeness while being deeply in relationship with people who do not hold your same convictions. In other words, it's about keeping a sense of humor while keeping a sense of holiness. Here's a little example of what that means:
"God has been to the brothels, the bars, and the back alleys of Sin City. People with Jesus's whimsical holiness don't gasp when someone curses. They don't avoid a group of people, a place, or a party because someone might get out of hand. They inhabit the dark places with the intention of protecting and redeeming, befriending and befuddling people with acceptance and love. They win the lost because they're the only ones who hang out with the lost.
This is the power of incarnation (living our human life like Jesus lived His) and the character of whimsical holiness with which every Christian must learn to clothe him- or herself. Redemption, liberation, and sanctification are dirty jobs. The dirtiest! And to follow Christ is to jump into pain, hell, and all kinds of sinful acts without an arrogant, finger-pointing, judgmental thought."
The second half of the book focuses on how to be on mission for Christ. Missiology is the study of how to bring the gospel to the world. Specific groups and cultures have very different norms that you must know about before you reach out to them.
I really enjoyed this book, but, like I said, some of you may not. For some it may be too liberal or too accepting of different lifestyles and cultures. But keep in mind that Mr. Halter is merely presenting his views as a guide, not telling us that this is the law of the land. Keep an open mind. I like that at the end of each chapter he provides a list of key points, divided into four categories: 1) What do we know for sure? 2) What should we change in light of what we know? 3) Who might this change affect, and what is God asking you to do? 4) Why is this good news for you?
Overall I give this book 5 stars. Halter challenged me to dig deep and think about how I treat my friends, enemies, and those that are just different from me. The recent Supreme Court decision is obviously the first of many changes that different groups will try to make that will greatly affect our way of life. It's up to you to decide how you will react to the changes.
I received this as an ARC from David C. Cook Publishing on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was released just a few days after the U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding same sex marriage. While that decision in no way prompted the writing or release of this book, Halter certainly discusses key elements from the issues of the recent past. He also dives into issues including marijuana, alcohol, different religions, and many forms of alternative lifestyles.
The bulk of the first half of the book deals with judgement - the overuse of poor judgement, the underuse of right judgement, and the misuse of people who get caught in the middle. Halter claims that he wrote this book for people like himself who live in the real world, who have friends and family with real issues. I'd say that's just about everyone I know.
Halter coins a term "whimsical holiness", which is the ability to hold on to personal values of Christ-likeness while being deeply in relationship with people who do not hold your same convictions. In other words, it's about keeping a sense of humor while keeping a sense of holiness. Here's a little example of what that means:
"God has been to the brothels, the bars, and the back alleys of Sin City. People with Jesus's whimsical holiness don't gasp when someone curses. They don't avoid a group of people, a place, or a party because someone might get out of hand. They inhabit the dark places with the intention of protecting and redeeming, befriending and befuddling people with acceptance and love. They win the lost because they're the only ones who hang out with the lost.
This is the power of incarnation (living our human life like Jesus lived His) and the character of whimsical holiness with which every Christian must learn to clothe him- or herself. Redemption, liberation, and sanctification are dirty jobs. The dirtiest! And to follow Christ is to jump into pain, hell, and all kinds of sinful acts without an arrogant, finger-pointing, judgmental thought."
The second half of the book focuses on how to be on mission for Christ. Missiology is the study of how to bring the gospel to the world. Specific groups and cultures have very different norms that you must know about before you reach out to them.
I really enjoyed this book, but, like I said, some of you may not. For some it may be too liberal or too accepting of different lifestyles and cultures. But keep in mind that Mr. Halter is merely presenting his views as a guide, not telling us that this is the law of the land. Keep an open mind. I like that at the end of each chapter he provides a list of key points, divided into four categories: 1) What do we know for sure? 2) What should we change in light of what we know? 3) Who might this change affect, and what is God asking you to do? 4) Why is this good news for you?
Overall I give this book 5 stars. Halter challenged me to dig deep and think about how I treat my friends, enemies, and those that are just different from me. The recent Supreme Court decision is obviously the first of many changes that different groups will try to make that will greatly affect our way of life. It's up to you to decide how you will react to the changes.
I received this as an ARC from David C. Cook Publishing on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 10, 2015
Halter follows the classic emergent line of missional thinking that prefers to marginalize sin rather than risking judgment, characterize mainstream believers as bigots, and generally dismiss any calls Christianity makes to a higher standard. In my impression, Halter is misguided despite his good intentions.
The basic idea that we are called to love sinners, befriend them, and be a light that reaches to them is indisputable. And beating people over the head with their sinfulness is not the way to fulfill our mandate! However, what Halter et al consistently overlook is that lovers of darkness will always see shining light as judgmentalism because the very presence of light exposes the works of darkness. Halter's oxymoronic approach of "whimsical holiness" is tantamount to hiding your candle under a bushel.
Joining people in sin is not the way to lead them out of sin. From my own encounters with people who have experienced new birth conversion of water and Spirit, the sentiment is unanimous: people who are bound in sin and want out are actually repulsed by the ones who take Halter's approach. If they know they're drowning in sin, the last thing they want is a religion that leaves them wallowing in it. The Christianity that makes no distinction between sin and holiness is the ultimate in irrelevance!
Halter's Brimstone calls us to marginalize sin to reach the sinner; that is unnecessary and actually counterproductive. The emergent movement already demonstrates that this approach basically appeals to those who want to retain sin but dispense with conscience. I maintain despite Halter's claim otherwise that it is still possible to love sinners without endorsing sin; furthermore, that's the only way our faith will ever be relevant, and the only way the gospel will ever be freed to deliver its transforming power.
The basic idea that we are called to love sinners, befriend them, and be a light that reaches to them is indisputable. And beating people over the head with their sinfulness is not the way to fulfill our mandate! However, what Halter et al consistently overlook is that lovers of darkness will always see shining light as judgmentalism because the very presence of light exposes the works of darkness. Halter's oxymoronic approach of "whimsical holiness" is tantamount to hiding your candle under a bushel.
Joining people in sin is not the way to lead them out of sin. From my own encounters with people who have experienced new birth conversion of water and Spirit, the sentiment is unanimous: people who are bound in sin and want out are actually repulsed by the ones who take Halter's approach. If they know they're drowning in sin, the last thing they want is a religion that leaves them wallowing in it. The Christianity that makes no distinction between sin and holiness is the ultimate in irrelevance!
Halter's Brimstone calls us to marginalize sin to reach the sinner; that is unnecessary and actually counterproductive. The emergent movement already demonstrates that this approach basically appeals to those who want to retain sin but dispense with conscience. I maintain despite Halter's claim otherwise that it is still possible to love sinners without endorsing sin; furthermore, that's the only way our faith will ever be relevant, and the only way the gospel will ever be freed to deliver its transforming power.
August 31, 2015
This concisely captures the thoughts that I've been spiraling into in my last 20 years with God.
It's short, easy-to-read, and respectful; and I wish every Christian would read it.
Just a few brief quotes. (I've highlighted stuff on almost every page.)
... evangelism begins with changing their assumptions about what a Christian is.
... light doesn’t have to confront to do its work. It just has to be there.
Is there a way for us to stay faithful to God and our sense of moral obligation without ostracizing, judging, or coming off as jerks to everyone else?
I’m not saying every Irishman drinks a pint of Guinness, but if you plan on reaching more than the two people who don’t, you may need to develop a taste for it or pick another country to missionize.
It’s just natural to pick up rocks and want to throw them, isn’t it? ... Remember, Jesus tossed away the rocks He could have thrown at you. Maybe it’s time to drop yours.
Mercy assumes mistakes have been made. Mercy expects people to screw up, and rather than grinding them into the dirt for it, mercy grants them what they need to heal. With mercy, there is no clean or unclean — instead there are just people who need a break.
It's short, easy-to-read, and respectful; and I wish every Christian would read it.
Just a few brief quotes. (I've highlighted stuff on almost every page.)
... evangelism begins with changing their assumptions about what a Christian is.
... light doesn’t have to confront to do its work. It just has to be there.
Is there a way for us to stay faithful to God and our sense of moral obligation without ostracizing, judging, or coming off as jerks to everyone else?
I’m not saying every Irishman drinks a pint of Guinness, but if you plan on reaching more than the two people who don’t, you may need to develop a taste for it or pick another country to missionize.
It’s just natural to pick up rocks and want to throw them, isn’t it? ... Remember, Jesus tossed away the rocks He could have thrown at you. Maybe it’s time to drop yours.
Mercy assumes mistakes have been made. Mercy expects people to screw up, and rather than grinding them into the dirt for it, mercy grants them what they need to heal. With mercy, there is no clean or unclean — instead there are just people who need a break.
July 4, 2015
A loving voice in the middle of heated arguments
This book was released just shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that marriage is an institution for consenting adults of any sex, not simply a man and a woman. That same day I got an email from Christianity Today informing me that "we lost the war." If you give a hearty "amen," this book probably isn't for you, but I still think you should read it. If you're trying to follow Jesus by loving God and your neighbor, and somehow this battlefield language makes you uneasy, then this book is for you.
The book has 2 major parts. The first, and obvious part, is about judgment. What is it, when is it appropriate, and is there a pattern Jesus uses that we can follow? The second, less obvious but more important part, is a practical guide on how we take that to love our neighbors and point people to Jesus. If you've ever wondered if you really have Good News to share, this is a good read.
This book was released just shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that marriage is an institution for consenting adults of any sex, not simply a man and a woman. That same day I got an email from Christianity Today informing me that "we lost the war." If you give a hearty "amen," this book probably isn't for you, but I still think you should read it. If you're trying to follow Jesus by loving God and your neighbor, and somehow this battlefield language makes you uneasy, then this book is for you.
The book has 2 major parts. The first, and obvious part, is about judgment. What is it, when is it appropriate, and is there a pattern Jesus uses that we can follow? The second, less obvious but more important part, is a practical guide on how we take that to love our neighbors and point people to Jesus. If you've ever wondered if you really have Good News to share, this is a good read.
July 23, 2016
I’d like to love like Jesus loves. I’d like to be a light that shines brightly enough for Jesus that others see Him and the life that He alone can offer, and find themselves wanting this life too. I’ve come to strongly believe that all the in-your-face judgemental statements coming from Christians directed to those who don’t know Him aren’t doing anyone any good.
I once read a book by Smith Wigglesworth where he said someone asked him they could continue in their bad habits after becoming a Christian, and Smith told them to come as they were. He knew that God Himself would make the necessary changes.
Christians are expecting non-Christians to live as fully mature Christians. That isn’t possible. I have come to see in the past few years that we shouldn’t judge non-Christians. We should treat them as Jesus would. We should reach out with love and friendship.
This is book is worth reading. You may not completely agree with it, but give it a chance anyway.
I once read a book by Smith Wigglesworth where he said someone asked him they could continue in their bad habits after becoming a Christian, and Smith told them to come as they were. He knew that God Himself would make the necessary changes.
Christians are expecting non-Christians to live as fully mature Christians. That isn’t possible. I have come to see in the past few years that we shouldn’t judge non-Christians. We should treat them as Jesus would. We should reach out with love and friendship.
This is book is worth reading. You may not completely agree with it, but give it a chance anyway.
September 20, 2015
Thanks to the publisher and author for providing an advanced copy to read and review.
This is a very relevant topic, and I was excited to read it. I had read an online review and it struck me as knowledge I could grow with.
With Christians in the spotlight lately, due to issues such as abortion and gay marriage, a book about nonjudgment is necessary. Mr. Halter believes the Bible, specifically the Grace of Jesus, calls for us to not judge others. In his opinion one of the reasons is we suck at it. Jesus' judgment was a righteous judgment, something we are incapable of. I would agree to an extent. Within the church believers should speak up using the Bible to clearly show why a fellow believer's behavior is not in line with Biblical teachings. But judging is no way to get people to visit a church, and can turn some away.
This is a great book, and all Christians could gain some necessary advice from reading it.
This is a very relevant topic, and I was excited to read it. I had read an online review and it struck me as knowledge I could grow with.
With Christians in the spotlight lately, due to issues such as abortion and gay marriage, a book about nonjudgment is necessary. Mr. Halter believes the Bible, specifically the Grace of Jesus, calls for us to not judge others. In his opinion one of the reasons is we suck at it. Jesus' judgment was a righteous judgment, something we are incapable of. I would agree to an extent. Within the church believers should speak up using the Bible to clearly show why a fellow believer's behavior is not in line with Biblical teachings. But judging is no way to get people to visit a church, and can turn some away.
This is a great book, and all Christians could gain some necessary advice from reading it.
February 13, 2016
Even though I don't agree with everything the author outlines in this book (although I did agree with a lot of it), I couldn't help but give it a 5-star rating. Why? Well, it seriously challenged me at a foundational level. It made me appreciate someone who wanted to exist in the tension of disagreement within the church instead of drawing lines in the evangelistic sand. I disagree with him, but I highly value the way he disagrees. I want to disagree like that. I don't want my opinions to create unnecessary division between me and my friends... regardless of our beliefs, world views and opinions. This book helped me care about that. More than I ever have before.
January 27, 2016
Has some good thinking and talking points. The author was a little too flippant for me at times, however overall, I liked this. I don't agree with everything presented and I'm still processing much of it. I do believe that he is right on the mark about NOT judging non-Christians and their lifestyles, and instead, showing love and extending friendship, making the dialogue about Jesus, not religion and rules. Some good stuff in here, and Christians shouldn't be afraid to give this work thought, consideration, and prayer.
July 9, 2015
Finally
A slow burn of a book. Hugh Halter walks through a number of perspectives to spend the right amount of time fleshing out some simple pieces that Jesus requires in regards to judgment. It's pace is slow enough that I actually got the point and sound enough to help me begin to move away from some inherited cultural norms using basic truth.
A slow burn of a book. Hugh Halter walks through a number of perspectives to spend the right amount of time fleshing out some simple pieces that Jesus requires in regards to judgment. It's pace is slow enough that I actually got the point and sound enough to help me begin to move away from some inherited cultural norms using basic truth.
September 5, 2015
Read and then do
I've loved Hugh's writing since The Tangible Kingdom. I highly recommend reading it first if you haven't already. Then read this. And then "try on" what he's saying. Don't read from an agree/disagree point of view. And then try living this way for a month. For me, I try and live this way. It's not easy, but it has freed me up to love more than ever.
I've loved Hugh's writing since The Tangible Kingdom. I highly recommend reading it first if you haven't already. Then read this. And then "try on" what he's saying. Don't read from an agree/disagree point of view. And then try living this way for a month. For me, I try and live this way. It's not easy, but it has freed me up to love more than ever.
October 7, 2017
I tend to be very cautious of people that proof-text, but the arguments, scripture, and analogies are spot on. I wish I had written it. I've had a hard time convincing people that Jesus would bake the cake, and while I already agreed with that, I found comfort knowing that other Christians are articulate and proclaiming the love of Christ.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews