Blinded by the Bible : Rethinking Our Relationship with Scripture

by Kevin Pendergrass

Many Christians, especially those raised in the world of fundamentalism, were conditioned to view the Bible as a book that is unambiguous and straightforward. This is reflected in the popular phrase, "The Bible says it. I believe it. That settles it." However, with thousands of denominations and fragmented sects worldwide, Christianity is perhaps more noticeably divided now than it has ever been. This is especially true when it comes to how Christians interpret and apply scripture.

The Bible has also been used as a way to oppress the marginalized and motivate countless forms of cruelty and hate.
It can be terrifying when one discovers that the oversimplified way they were taught to read the Bible does not match the complexities found in scripture. This fear is only compounded when one recognizes that scripture is often incongruent with the observable and experiential world around us. In Blinded by the Bible, you will join Kevin Pendergrass as he tackles these issues and explores many related questions such

Why have Christians throughout the ages interpreted the Bible so differently from one another?

What impact do past and present cultures and civilizations have on how we understand the Bible?

Does the Bible have a fixed and definitive ethic upon all it teaches and touches?

How should Christians approach and apply the Bible today?

The Bible is a collection of books and letters written throughout many centuries that contain ancient worldviews and presuppositions that speak to specific cultures, situations, and civilizations. Instead of domesticating the Bible to fit modern ideas and assumptions about scripture, we must be willing to take the Bible on its own terms. Only when we begin to understand the purpose of scripture and how it functions internally will we be able to have a healthier relationship with the Bible.

ENDORSEMENTS

Kevin Pendergrass has given us a resource that is clear, interesting, helpful, and timely. Highly recommended! —Brian D. McLaren, Leading figure in the emerging church movement and author of Faith After Doubt and Do I Stay Christian?

Kevin Pendergrass has done his theological homework and writes for the "common Christian." So accept that invitation and join the conversation, and you will be glad you did. — Dr. Linda King, B.A. from Oklahoma Christian University, J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, M.T.S. from Brite Divinity School, Ph.D. in Biblical Interpretation from Brite Divinity School.

This book will be of great help to the many people today who are looking for a more productive way to engage with the Bible. — Dr. David Artman, M. Div., D. Min., Author of Grace Saves The Necessity of Christian Universalism.

Kevin provides useful tools and perspectives for those seeking a more robust reading of these ancient texts. — Scot Loyd, M.A. in Communication Studies, MPhil in Heritage Studies, Debate Coach and Communications professor at the University of Jamestown.

This well-researched work will undoubtedly, in the end, prove to be a challenge for some readers, an awakening for others, and the beginning of many long, tasty, deeply soul-searching late-night conversations for all. — Greg Lee, Writer/Producer/Actor.

Genres: Spirituality, Christian

291 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 7, 2022

Reviews

[Ellie Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very open book and was a breath of fresh air but is a little slow at points

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read book to be read by serious Bible scholars. It traces the history of the Bible, addresses inconsistencies, and does a good job explaining the history of Christianity. I was fascinated this topic. I had read Michener's book, The Source, last year and it brought up many Bible stories and made me think deeply about the origins of faith and what people believe. Today, there are some who use the Bible to justify hatred, violence, or exclusion. The book goes on to explain Christ's view of the Bible and how even he argued with the elders and brought it all back to the core of Christianity- love, do unto others as you would to yourself, be kind and generous. I'd like to recommend this book to some of my friends interested in Bible study who take the Bible more literally and use quotes from it to justify their negative attitude towards homosexuality, but I don't think they will. Those who will benefit from this book are those with an open-mind and people who follow the examples of Jesus Christ. You may not agree with everything in this book, but the author writes and explains the Bible very thoroughly and gives you a lot to think about. I think the title is unfortunate, since it may be a turn off to some, thinking that the book is critical of the Bible. It is not that kind of book. It is written by a deeply religious man who has given serious thought to many issues.

[cydni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a *must read* if you are serious about your Bible study. If you, like me, were raised in the church with a very legalistic mindset, this book is for you. If you were not, this book is still for you. This was so refreshing after years of being taught that questioning means lack of faith. This book felt like a safe place where many questions I’ve had could be answered without the typical smackdown I’ve gotten over the years. I got to the end of the book and felt less alone. Thank you, Kevin.