Informed: Untangling Destructive Interpretations of Scripture

by Douglas Jacoby, Joseph Harris

Informed is a book about truth and error; in particular, it is about how thoughtful readers of the Bible can navigate the multiplicity of human teachings claiming to be biblical (Colossians 2:8). Many of these teachings are destructive, as unhealthy tangles of opinion compromise the Christian lifestyle. Others simply skew the gospel message. As with the labyrinth of ancient mythology, finding our way can be confusing, to say the least.
Douglas Jacoby and Joseph Harris tackle the most common distortions and misunderstood teachings of the Bible:

Clergy & Laity—The Most Common False Construct
Health & Wealth—The Gospel of Materialism
Signs & Wonders—History and Hysteria
Fear & Fascination—Futile Speculation
Rapture & Tribulation—Exiting Earth?
Predestination & Perseverance—God’s Good Pleasure?
Sex & Pleasure—The Pursuit of Happiness
Heaven & Hell—Instant Rewards?
Zion & Palestine—Israel and the Church
Visions & Dreams—It’s All About Me
Bow & Pray—The New-Fangled Doctrine of 1835
Gospel Plus—When Guidelines Undermine Scripture

136 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2019

About the author

Douglas Jacoby

Since 2003, Douglas has been a freelance teacher and consultant. With degrees from Drew, Harvard, and Duke, Douglas has written 25 books, recorded 300 podcasts, and spoken in 500 cities in 111 nations around the world. He leads tours annually to sites of biblical interest (like Rome, Athens, and Jerusalem). He is also professor of theology at Lincoln Christian University.

His website, douglasjacoby.com (free), has nearly 10,000 pages of Christian resources. Website membership, affording unrestricted access to the site, including weekly podcasts, funds his travels in the developing world. The Jacobys have three adult children. They reside in the Atlanta area.

Reviews

[Jambean8 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate the book tackling a broad range of topics many Christians have accepted without question as true. I am also grateful for the willingness to openly refute sometimes entrenched beliefs that are not in context and nonbiblical. I would have liked a little more instruction and/or direction on how Christians without formal training can learn to ask better questions of the text and find more context to form personal convictions based on what's there rather than what they are told is there by others and/or what they feel is there.