Repenting of Religion

The next book that has had a profound impact upon me is "Repenting of Religion, Turning from Judgment to the Love of God" by Gregory Boyd. The following quotes can be found -- with more at http://www.gregboyd.org/books/repenting-of-religion/.

Description: In this bold and provocative book, pastor and author Gregory A. Boyd draws on the insights of German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer to demonstrate that the foundational sin of humanity is “eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Instead of being content reflecting God’s perfect love to others, we are inclined to eat of the forbidden tree and judge them. The heart of the Gospel, Boyd argues, is receiving and reflecting God’s love, but this is precisely what our judgmentalism prevents. Unfortunately, Christians tend to be at least as guilty of this foundational sin as the world. Boyd challenges Christians to repent of our judgmental religious attitudes and commit to living in God’s outrageous love.

Greg’s story behind the writing of Repenting of Religion: I first read Bonhoeffer’s Ethics in graduate school, and it frankly bored me. Then in 1998 I met a couple (Gina and Richard Patton) who were exceptionally bright and who were really into the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Through many stimulating conversations they inspired me to re-read Bonhoeffer’s Ethics. It honestly turned my world upside down! I then went on to read Temptation and Fall and other works. This research, combined with other things God was doing in my life at the time, awakened me to the fact that I was a compulsive judge — though most of my judgment was unconscious. Even more significantly, I came to see that judgment is the antithesis of love and is, in fact, the “original sin” of the Bible (eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil).

The book Repenting of Religion was originally going to be a study on Bonhoeffer’s concept of judgment. But as I began to put the book together several years later I came to see my thinking on the topic had evolved quite a ways beyond — and in some cases, against — Bonhoeffer’s. So, while I rely a lot on Bonhoeffer’s thought, the book expresses my own thinking on judgment as humanity’s foundational sin.

Now to my own thoughts. I was profoundly affected by this book. I have to admit that part of my admiration for the book stemmed from my admiration and affection for Bonhoeffer. But it was more than that. I first heard Greg speak at a symposium at Bethel West Seminary several years ago. He also spoke twice at the Holy Spirit conference at Greenlake. He is dynamic. Ideas just seem to flow from him. Do I like everything that he says? Of course not. He always leaves me asking questions -- some of which are still not answered. He also speaks what I believe is truth. Much of it challenges many of my preconceptions.

Again, his theme is love. God loves us so that we can love. The church all to easily falls into the Pharisaical trap of judgment. I love the church and believe that people fall into the trap of legalism because they care. They want to be pure, they want the church to be pure. The problem is that they become stumbling blocks keeping people from hearing and accepting the gospel. Rather than judging people, we need to love people.

Of course, Boyd goes a step farther. He puts forward what he (and I) first saw in Bonhoeffer. This judgment that we are so quick to enter into is really a part of our fallen nature. The original sin in the garden was that Adam wanted to be like God. Judgment belongs to God -- not to mankind. We have taken this on as our own task and have really perverted it. Paul tells us to judge sin within the church -- not outside. He tells us to judge sin inside so that the body may be kept pure and that the one who sins can be reconciled. This judgment is to done out of love, not out of pride and vindictiveness.The sin outside the church is not our issue. We are to love all men (and women) and help them to find Jesus. We are not to set up barriers to keep them out of the church.

Finally, it is too easy to make judgments about sin in a way that makes the sinner an enemy. Remember, Paul the Apostle tells us that flesh and blood are not our enemies. Flesh and blood (people) are God's creation. God loves them. Jesus died for them. We are to love them and help them to find Jesus.

Greg Boyd didn't really tell me anything new, but he did help to put things in a way that made everything become clear in my thinking. I devoured the book. I really think that it should be widely read. Some may be reluctant to read the book because they are aware that he is a proponent of the "openness of God" theology. They don't need to be afraid, this book is not about that. Others may have heard that Boyd writes some controversial and shocking things -- he does. Read the book. Try to keep an open mind and listen to what he is saying. I believe that he is saying something very important for this day.