Are you reevaluating aspects of your faith in an effort to (re)consider what you believe? This is the process of deconstruction, and many people of faith today are expressing their doubts, asking hard questions, and exploring how faith meets life in our journey on this earth. This book club is a safe space to express those uncertainties and to find others who are on a similar journey.
We will meet on Wednesday, December 3rd @ 6:30 p.m. at CrossRoads, which is located at 708 N. Main St. We will have a light snack (provided) followed by a conversation over the content of Brian Recker's brand new book, Hell Bent: ow the Fear of Hell Holds Christians Back from a Spirituality of Love. Here is a brief overview of the book:
There is a black hole at the center of Christian spirituality: the doctrine of hell. No matter how hard we try to believe in a loving God, the fear of eternal torment always lurks at the back of our minds, warping our sense of what love means. Worse still, many churches act as if the point of Christianity is not to follow Jesus but to secure a get-out-of-hell-free card—and to “save” everyone you know by converting them to your religion. For many of us, the whole story of Christianity has punishment at the very center. But does the Bible really say we’re going to hell if we don’t do or believe the “right” things?
In this taboo-shattering book, former evangelical pastor Brian Recker takes an honest look at scripture and reveals what has been true all along: Hell isn’t real, and God’s universal love is radically inclusive, in this life and the next. By removing punishment from Christianity's center, Recker boldly reimagines the core questions of faith, such as why Jesus lived and died, and what it means to be “saved.” It’s time to rediscover spirituality as Jesus taught it: loving God, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Whether you’re Christian, exvangelical, or anywhere along a deconstruction journey, Hell Bent is the perfect resource to help you replace fear and church hurt with healing and peace.
Reading the book is not a requirement to attending or participating. In addition, the book club is open to people of any faith or no faith at all. You do not need to be a part of CrossRoads to attend this event. It is open to the public and anyone who would like to join with us.
For those that are unable to attend in person, we invite you to read the book with us. You can share your thoughts and questions with Patrick Wilson to be shared with the group at the book club meeting and/or set up a one-on-one time to visit about the book in person, over the phone, or through chat/text. We'd love your input on the book and how it challenges and shapes your faith journey.
