Freedom to Choose: What to Do When the Bible is Unclear

by James M. Howard

“The book is intensely practical. A joy to read!” -William Webb “This book fills a hole in the literature of biblical interpretation.” -Doug Groothuis “The material in this book dramatically impacted my personal life and ministry.” -Lisa Harper “It is a breathtaking resource for contemporary church.” -Isaias Uaene “You need to read this book. It will not give you cookie-cutter answers.” -Gordon Oeste “Practical and proven steps that equip us to joyfully and carefully work through unclear Bible passages and difficult life situations.” -Joyce Schroeder “Our families need your book.” -Steve Garcia Ever feel lost or stuck when reading and trying to apply the Bible? You’re not alone! At the heart of this book is the question, “How do you bring the wisdom of the Bible to address a specific problem when the Bible does not give a clear answer, or where the situation is radically different from that in the Bible?” If you ever wrestle with this question, then this book is for you. In this book, you will learn how • Better understand ancient passages from the Bible • Bring controversial passages into your life with confidence • Work together to create a flourishing community of joy • Reveal the kingdom to your friends and neighbors in life-giving ways • Make better decisions using the Bible

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 18, 2021

Reviews

[Peter Handel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Appreciated his wrestling with interesting scenarios. Summary: "Love the sinner, hate the sin", which can often simplify some of these difficult problems -> we're all broken in need of each other's kindness and love.

[Mark Dorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing, dense, practical and thought-provoking book, quite refreshing for anyone ever involved in church leadership (volunteer or clergy). Wrestles well with the difficulties of group decision-making where the Bible is silent, unclear, or too broad to just cite a verse and move on from there. Incredible list of sources for further study!