“There must be heresies among you” –I Corinthians 11:19.
The complete text of that verse goes: “There must be heresies (or divisions) among you that those who are approved may be recognized among you.”
How will we know what we believe if we don’t know what we don’t?
“Churchfails” is a book edited by David Stabnow and written by several seminary professors. Subtitle: “100 blunders in church history (and what we can learn from them).”
I predict you’re going to love this book.
You know immediately that much of this is tongue-in-cheek when you read the introductions to the seven learned authors of these short, pithy chapters. For instance…
–“Rex Butler was a shoe salesman in his former life, then God called him to teach when he was 40 years old. He went from selling soles to schooling souls…..following in the footsteps of William Carey and D. L. Moody!” (Joe’s note: Carey was a cobbler and Moody sold shoes.)
–Ken “Deep Dish” Cleaver grew up in the Windy City, a land flowing with cheese and sausage…… We actually invited him to be on our team of authors because he’s an avid unicyclist and we needed the balance.”
–Rodrick K. Durst was “raised and trained in California, moving between campuses of Golden Gate Seminary to catch all the earthquakes…..”
–Lloyd A. Harsch is a “parent, professor, pastor, political pundit, and punster…..He has a captive audience that is pressured to applaud his puns because he submits their grades!”
–James Lutzweiler is “a part-time mushroom picker…..” Stephen O. Presley “hails from (Texas) but ventured out to study theology among the brave-hearted kilt-wearers of the far northern territory….” David K. Stabnow (editor of the book) “gave up a dead-end career digging graves in the frozen soil of Minnesota in favor of herding cats and shepherding words as Bible and Reference Book Editor at B&H. He lives in Nashville but doesn’t listen to country music.”
Whew. And the book hasn’t even gotten underway yet.