I once thought of writing a book about a year or two ago called “Barbershop Theology: How to Defend the Faith in Urban Culture” I actually had begun to write some stuff on my old blog along those lines and was going to get it edited and shop it around. Well it didn’t come for two reasons. 1. God decided to use Eric Redmond instead” 2. I don’t think I could have got Piper to endorse it! LOL
On a more serious note. I just finished reading the book and wanted to post my review/thoughts. This is my first book review so give me grace as I start to grow in this area…
Pastor Redmond (who pastors Hillcrest Baptist Chruch in Maryland) has wrote a very brief, narrowed and concise book in this book. The book works like a conversation. There are 9 days and then a few appendices at the end. The book totals about 100 pages or so so it only took me about two and a half hours to read over two days. Each day there is a question by the “brother” and Pastor Redmond responds biblically, gently, and persuasively while avoiding using theological terms (academic ones anyway), avoiding just overlooking the importance of the question and avoiding letting the brother off the hook. Each of the questions are relevant and each answer is biblical.
Pastor Redmond definitely has his ear to street or at least is engaged in the local barbershop. These questions made me laugh as I thought about the 100’s of conversations I have had with my barber of 7 years and whenever I have to sit in at a shop when I missed my appointment. Everyone seems to be barber chair theologians, politicians and sports experts, two of the three I can care less about. I usually find myself in the middle of some pretty philosophical conversations, typically because I can’t sit back and allow someone to ridicule the Christian Faith. This book will be a help two three types of people.
1. The person who really doesn’t know how to defend the faith has very little theological training.
2. A person who has barber who loves to talk about spiritual matters but you know to be thoroughly clueless. This book would be a nice gift for them. So buy it for them
3. You are a person who has stumbled along this site and want to no more about the Christian faith but in a way that is relevant to your life experience.
The nine questions are:
1. Isn’t the church full of hypocrites
2. Wasn’t the bible written by men?
3. Isn’t the church geared towards women?
4. Isn’t the preacher just a man?
5. Doesn’t Islam offer more for black men?
6. Aren’t some churches just after your money?
7. Is organized religion necessary?
8. Jesus never claimed to be God (big one here folks)
9. What to look for to find a good church?
Appendix A: Christ fulfillment of OT prophecies and
Appendix B: The church does not welcome homosexuals
Some quotes:
The fact that God worked with men to give his Word to us is not a slight against the Word of God but is an example of the great kindness of God to trust us with His word
Mere human writers would definitely have removed fornication, adultery, gluttony, stealing, lying, gossiping, and greed from their list of Sins! Most certainly, mere human writers would not have made us responsible for the crucifixion of the Son of God!
The lack of challenge from the the pulpit to women to hold their tongues, be busy at home, submit to their husbands and show respect to their husbands (in the Chapter Isn’t the church geared towards women)
It is because you, and many brothers like you are needed to fill places at church and take their God-given, Scripture-prescribed roles as leaders-as pastors, elders, preachers, teachers, deacons, older men who are respected, wisdom-giving example-setters, disciple-makers, loving husbands, and nurturing fathers, So go take your place…..
Ordination is a process in which a candidate for ministry should be tested on his Bible knowledge, theological depth, giftedness for ministry, ministry experience, and wisdom in decision-making.
The preacher, as one responsible for teaching the Scriptures, the Word of God–God’s very own words–should have the ability to explain clearly the meaning of passages of Scripture when he preaches. That meaning should be derived from the meaning God intended in the passage.
Only expositional preaching of the Scriptures has the power to transform and strenghten one’s soul, for God will be speaking
Churches, however should maek an ordination process the clergy’s equivalent of the Bar Exam, Professional Engineer Exam, or Medical Board Certifying Exam.
However, as with any religion, it is up to each individual to practice what he believes. A lack of practice on the part of some does not discredit the entire religion. Even for Islam, people do not reject it because some members of the Nation of Islam assassinated Malcom X or because some Muslims are terrorists.
The there is the persistent appearance that the preacher is getting rich off people, driving a luxury car, living in the best home in the suburbs or exurbia, and dressing himself and his wife int he finest clothes.
Organized institutions and industries offer far greater benefits and protection, and less confusion, than unorganized institutions or equivalents. Unorganized religion would work the same way as other unorganized institutions. Or, to turn the images around, organized religion speaking now only for the church intends the god of every individual
Those are just a few quotes. My only struggle was an emphasis on theological education in which it seems like the theological education was strictly institutional versus other methods of getting theological training. This may be a personal hang up of mine but that is what is seemed like in the chapter “Isn’t the preacher just a man”. But I thoroughly enjoyed the book and wanted to review it before Fathers Day but at least I made the Father’s day deadline. Buy this book as a late gift for your friends or loved ones. Or take $30 dollars buy three copies and leave them strategically at barbershops, beauty salons, or even give them to a co-worker. Don’t forget family reunion time is upon us so this would be a good way to reach out to our lost loved ones. God bless and hope this was a fair presentation.
Bro. Lionel,
I find that every man who has spent upwards of $10,000 and had to give up his social life in order to pursue his theological degree, insist that it is a must for everyone. No one really believes that tons of disciplined reading and conversations with others where you can have your thoughts challenged is equivalent to seminary training. Surely there must be a balance between the haves and the have-nots. I’m married with four children as you know. My wife is a stay-at-home mom so we’re on one income. Mine. Oh, did I mention we live in California? (High cost of living is an understatement) Now, although God has truly blessed my family and I am not complaining at all, I can’t afford to go to seminary. I don’t have the time or money. Like you, though, I do like to read a lot. (I just read “Slandering Jesus” by Dr. Erwin Lutzer) So I feel you on being a little put off by Pastor Redmond’s bent.
[...] Posted by Job on June 16, 2008 Where Are All The Brothers?? A quick review and plug « Black and Reformed Ministries [...]
WHERE IS THE MAN THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO LIE ON GOD?
Posted June 20th, 2008 at 10:25am
Where is this Man that willingly lies on God? Where is this Man that would risk fleshly Life and Soul to profess one’s belief and traditional teachings against what is written by the Holy One of Yisrael, The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Creator called YHWH. YAH The Holy One of Yisrael says in scripture ( not gospel ) that he Surely would (only) reveal his secrets to his servants the prophets Amos 3:7. Knowing this why would one go looking in the Gospels of John, Mark, Matthew for the word Of YAH? Has everyone forgotten the words of the Prophets? If one recalls and remembers, if memory fails them not, remember YAH got his Prophets up early ( Jeremiah35:15 ) warning saying return from the evil way, amend your doings, go not after other gods to serve them. YAH’s anger provoked with his jealousy with new and strange gods, this was a abomination to him, you would perish with these gods. ( Deuteronomy 32:16-17 ) The first commandment of YAH was that you shall have no other god before him( EXODUS 20:3 ), has this been violated by going into new testament honoring this god of the New Testament ( Christian Section ). Wasn’t YAH word ever lasting didn’t he say in ( Malachi 3:6 ) he change not? Would it be wrong to pray to the same God Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, King David, Solomon, or Jeremiah prayed to? Would it be better to go by what is written in the scripture or what one believes? YAH says his people are destroyed for the lack of knowledge not lack of belief ( Hosea4:6, kicked out the land because they transgressed the law [Jeremiah 16:11-13] not because they didn’t believe in a man, the scripture says cursed be the man that trusteth in a man that depart from YAH ( Jeremiah 17:5 ). Check the record of the prophets in the scriptures. In Exodus 4:22 The God Of The Hebrews said Yisreal was his Son his first born. (12tribes) also in Hosea 11:1 Yisrael was His Son,(12tribes) also Jeremiah 31:9 Israel was his Son (12tribes). In the Christian section of the Bible in Matthew 3:17 states a voice out of a cloud ( which didn’t identify itself) said this is my son which I’m well pleased. One has to believe who says this. The pastors in church state Jesus is the son of God when The Most High God did not, have they lied on God? (What they should say I believe that voice out of the cloud is God speaking, rather and lie on God and say that he said it) ( Note one of the most key elements of a lie is that one must believe it. Hasn’t YAH said he’s God all by himself : Deuteronomy32:39, Jeremiah5:7, Isaiah 44:6, Isaiah44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and declared it? ye are my witnesses ( Israelites ). Is there a God besides me? Yea, there is no God; I know not any. YAH’s Elect is the ( Israelites ) not Christians thats a lie. ( Isaiah 45:4 ) YAH says Israelites are his Saints not Christians, this is another lie the Christians tell. ( Psalms50:5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.) Question what sacrifice have Christian made with YAH? New covenant in OLD TESTAMENT is with Israel and Judah ( Jeremiah31:31 and also in New TESTAMENT Hebrews 8:7-8 with Israel and Judah only,( not the world, or Black Saved Child of God Christians.) ( Psalm 89:34 My covenant will I not break, Nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. ) I love you brothers & sisters I pray you get understanding, I didn’t mean to be so harsh, but I hope you get understanding. ( PROVERBS 27:5 Open rebuke is better than secret love. ) ( ECCLESIATES 7:5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
YES I STUMBLED ON TO THIS SITE, HOWEVER I DO NOT FEEL THAT YOU ARE QUALIFIED TO TEACH ME ANYTHING. I LOOK TO WHOEVER OR WHATEVER TAUGHT JESUS MOSES ABRAHAM AND MUHAMMAD AND NOT SOMEONE WHO HAS AN AUTHORIZED VERSION OF THE TRUTH FROM THEIR FORMER SLAVEMASTERS.