I call the series “Hack the Theologian.” This doesn’t mean I think these theologians are hacks. Far from it! It means that I am trying to find (and share with you) the one thing that makes them tick, the one insight that keeps them writing and teaching, the one truth they are most passionate about, the one idea that turned their life and theology upside down. You can read the other posts in the series right here.

(Do you know an author I can highlight in this series? Have them contact me!)

So Let’s “Hack” Shawn Lazar

Shawn was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. He studied theology at McGill University (BTh) and the Free University of Amsterdam (MA) where he is completing a PhD in ethics. He and his wife, Abby, live in Denton, TX. They have three children, Daphne, Zane, and Ava Scout. Shawn is an insufferable bookworm who is happy to inherit any theological library you might choose to donate to him. Just don’t tell Abby, who thinks he has enough books already.

Here are my questions to Shawn…

1. Can you tell us who you are and what you do in 40 words or less? (I put the word limit so we can see what you focus on.)

My name is Shawn Lazar. I’m married to Abby. I have three feral children. And I work at my dream job writing, editing, and typesetting for “Grace in Focus” magazine, which is free for the asking. [Jeremy’s Note: It’s fantastic. Sign up right here.]

2. Tell us something about yourself that few people know.

I was an extra in the movie “Snake Eyes” with Nicolas Cage.

3. What is the best book you have read this past year? (It doesn’t have to be theological!)

Simple Church by Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger.

4. You have a new book called Chosen to Serve. Tell us a bit about it. What is the main point and what do you want people to learn or do?

Most people believe God chooses people to go to heaven or to hell. That’s called the doctrine of election. They disagree over how God makes that choice—Does He foresees their faith? Is it arbitrary?—but they agree that’s what election is about.

By contrast, I argue Biblical election is actually about God’s choosing people, places, and things to serve Him, i.e., to get a job done.

5. Karl Barth was once asked to summarize his life’s work in one sentence. He answered, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” How would you summarize your life’s work? To put this question another way, if you could get people to understand just one idea, what would it be?

This quote from Luther on changing diapers changed the way I saw what it means to have a “life’s work”—”God, with all his angels and creatures, is smiling, not because that father is washing diapers, but because he is doing so in Christian faith.”

Thanks, Shawn!

If you have read my book, The Re-Justification of God (for which Shawn wrote the Foreword), you will love Shawn’s book, Chosen to Serve. Get a copy today!

Please share this post with others!

I call the series “Hack the Theologian.” This doesn’t mean I think these theologians are hacks. Far from it! It means that I am trying to find (and share with you) the one thing that makes them tick, the one insight that keeps them writing and teaching, the one truth they are most passionate about, the one idea that turned their life and theology upside down. You can read the other posts in the series right here.

(Do you know an author I can highlight in this series? Have them contact me!)

So Let’s “Hack” Bruxy Cavey

Bruxy Cavey is the senior pastor at The Meeting House, a church for people who aren’t into church. The Meeting House is a multisite Anabaptist congregation in Ontario, Canada where thousands of people connect to God and each other through Sunday services, online interaction, and a widespread house church network. His newest book, (re)union, released earlier this year.

Truth be told, I only like Bruxy because of his hair. It remind me of some author author/blogger with long hair. (It’s a joke!)

Here are Bruxy’s answers to my questions:

1. Can you tell us who you are and what you do in 40 words or less? (I put the word limit so we can see what you focus on.)

I’m Jesus-loving Jesus lover, who really loves Jesus. Beyond that, I’m the teaching pastor at The Meeting House: A Church For People Who Aren’t Into Church.

2. Tell us something about yourself that few people know.

Even though I speak in front of thousands of people each week, I’m a highly skewed introvert and a mild agoraphobic. I’m basically afraid of people! When I was younger, the one super power I wished I had was invisibility. I would prefer never to be seen.

Over the years God has helped me balance this tendency to want to run away and hide with a growing, maturing love for people, which wins out on most days and I’m happy to engage and connect.

I just think it’s funny that God gave this timid INFP one simple gift – public teaching to thousands. Very funny God.

3. What is the best book you have read this past year? (It doesn’t have to be theological!)

I really enjoyed Brant Hansen’s Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better.

4. You have a new book, (re)union. Tell us a bit about it. What is the main point and what do you want people to learn or do?

Ever since the 1950s, when a booklet called The Four Spiritual Laws was released, Christians have learned how to talk about the good news of Jesus in terms of four basic points – God loves us, we have sinned, Jesus is the solution, we accept him by faith.

This God-Sin-Jesus-Faith pattern has been repeated in various formats throughout the decades since, such as “The Bridge to Life,” “Steps To Peace With God,” and “The Roman Road.”

And while I celebrate the truth in this way of presenting the gospel, I’m also aware of some key aspects of the gospel that are missing, such as the nature and call to enter the Kingdom of God here and now, as well as the inherent challenge to religious systems embedded within the message.

In (re)union I want to help us press the reset button on how we present the gospel, through what I call simply The Gospel in Thirty Words: Jesus is God with us, come to SHOW US God’s love, SAVE US from sin, SET UP God’s kingdom, and SHUT DOWN religion, so we can SHARE IN God’s life. (You counted, didn’t you.) [Jeremy’s Note: Yes I did!]

Also, the “target audience” is different. There are countless books out there designed to help Christians learn how to talk to non-Christians about the gospel. My hope is that (re)union will be accessible to both Christians AND non-believers to read, inviting them all to learn and grow and discuss together.

5. Karl Barth was once asked to summarize his life’s work in one sentence. He answered, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” How would you summarize your life’s work? To put this question another way, if you could get people to understand just one idea, what would it be?

God loves me, this I know, for Jesus tells me so.

Bruxy’s book, (re)union has already released. I really enjoyed it, and you can get a copy of it on Amazon right now. While you’re there, pick up a copy of his other book as well, The End of Religion. It’s one of my favorites.

Please share this post with others!

I call the series “Hack the Theologian.” This doesn’t mean I think these theologians are hacks. Far from it! It means that I am trying to find (and share with you) the one thing that makes them tick, the one insight that keeps them writing and teaching, the one truth they are most passionate about, the one idea that turned their life and theology upside down. You can read the other posts in the series right here.

(Do you know an author I can highlight in this series? Have them contact me!)

So Let’s “Hack” Brian Zahnd

Brian Zahnd is a pastor and author of numerous books. His newest book, Sinners in the Hand of a Loving God, is releasing on August 15. Since this is also my birthday, he clearly meant this as a birthday present to me…

Here are my questions to Brian Zahnd…

1. Can you tell us who you are and what you do in 40 words or less? (I put the word limit so we can see what you focus on.)

I’m the founding pastor of Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri. I’m also an author, speaker, an occasional mountain climber, and a pretty serious Dylanologist. My wife and I have led Word of Life for 35 years.

2. Tell us something about yourself that few people know.

I’m an introvert. (Though people who really know me know that.)

3. What is the best book you have read this past year? (It doesn’t have to be theological!)

Non-fiction: Patient Ferment of the Early Church by Alan Kreider
Fiction: Eyrie by Tim Winton

4. You have a new book called Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God. Tell us a bit about it. What is the main point and what do you want people to learn or do?

In Sinners in the Hand of a Loving God I wrestle with the question of whether or not God is actually angry, violent, and retributive. I deal with the issues of the wrath of God, Old Testament violence, the violence of the cross, hell, and the seemingly violent nature of the book of Revelation. My desire is that Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God will help people read the Scriptures in the light of Christ.

5. Karl Barth was once asked to summarize his life’s work in one sentence. He answered, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” How would you summarize your life’s work? To put this question another way, if you could get people to understand just one idea, what would it be?

God is like Jesus. God has always been like Jesus. There has never been a time with God was not like Jesus; we haven’t always known this, but now we do.

Brian Zahnd’s new book is releasing tomorrow. I highly recommend you get a copy. Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God, is available on Amazon.

Please share this post with others!

I call the series “Hack the Theologian.” This doesn’t mean I think these theologians are hacks. Far from it! It means that I am trying to find (and share with you) the one thing that makes them tick, the one insight that keeps them writing and teaching, the one truth they are most passionate about, the one idea that turned their life and theology upside down. You can read the other posts in the series right here.

(Do you know an author I can highlight in this series? Have them contact me!)

So Let’s “Hack” Greg Boyd

Greg Boyd is the pastor of Woodland Hills Church in Minneapolis, MN, and author of numerous books, including his magnum opus, The Crucifixion of the Warrior God. His newest book, Cross Vision, is releasing on August 15. Since this is also my birthday, he clearly meant this as a birthday gift to me…

He also is putting on a conference about the topics of these books in September. I am attending the ReKnew Conference in September. If you live in the Minneapolis area, or are attending the ReKnew conference, let’s connect while I am there! Go here to register.

Here are Greg Boyd’s answers to my questions:

1. Can you tell us who you are and what you do in 40 words or less? (I put the word limit so we can see what you focus on.)

I am a pastor, theologian, professor, author, and public speaker. I’ve been married to Shelley Boyd for 38 years and we have three children and five grandchildren, and in my spare time I enjoy speed walking, speed metal, and drumming.

(Note: That was EXACTLY 40 words! Well done, Greg!)

2. Tell us something about yourself that few people know.

I have a phobia of sharp objects going into my eyes, to the point that I have trouble looking at any sharp object pointed in my direction, even when it’s on TV!

3. What is the best book you have read this past year? (It doesn’t have to be theological!)

N.T. Wright, The Day the Revolution Began

4. You have a new book called Cross Vision. Tell us a bit about it. What is the main point and what do you want people to learn or do?

Cross Vision, teaches believers how to interpret the Old Testament’s violent portraits of God through the lens of the cross and to thereby see how these portraits bear witness to the self-sacrificial, non-violent, enemy-embracing love of God revealed on Calvary.

5. Karl Barth was once asked to summarize his life’s work in one sentence. He answered, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” How would you summarize your life’s work? To put this question another way, if you could get people to understand just one idea, what would it be?

All we need to know about God, ourselves, other people, and the world is found in the crucified Christ.

Greg Boyd’s new book is releasing tomorrow. I highly recommend you get a copy. Cross Vision, is available on Amazon.

Please share this post with others!

I call the series “Hack the Theologian.” This doesn’t mean I think these theologians are hacks. Far from it! It means that I am trying to find (and share with you) the one thing that makes them tick, the one insight that keeps them writing and teaching, the one truth they are most passionate about, the one idea that turned their life and theology upside down. You can read the other posts in the series right here.

(Do you know an author I can highlight in this series? Have them contact me!)

So Let’s “Hack” Frank Viola

Frank Viola is the author of numerous books and heads up an online discipleship group called “The Deeper Christian Life.” Here are Frank Viola’s answers to my questions:

1. Can you tell us who you are and what you do in 40 words or less?

Just an Italian guy who is captivated by Jesus and shares the same name as the MLB pitcher. Ever since I’ve been a Christian, I’ve known in my heart that there must be more. So my spiritual journey has been that of discovering the “more” and sharing my discoveries with others.

2. Tell us something about yourself that few people know.

I used to pitch in high school, and I was also the lead singer of an incredible music band. (Sadly, I never made the Majors — without counting in my dreams. The other Frankie V. did.)

3. What is the best book you have read this past year? (It doesn’t have to be theological!)

Shaped by Vision – the biography of T. Austin-Sparks (second time around).

4. You have a new book called There Must be More. Tell us a bit about it. What is the main point and what do you want people to learn or do?

We are calling this monstrosity my Titan. It’s an oversized, 800-page, limited edition hardcover that contains over 380,000 words. It includes all of my published writings from 2008 – 2016, some of which were rejected by my publishers because they were too controversial. I (and others) regard the Titan to be more radical than Pagan Christianity, my 2008 book with George Barna. It’s also a robust follow-up to Pagan Christianity.

Here is what it covers and who it’s for:

Serious Reasons

1. It’s for those who have read some (or all) of my other works and want some of my best writings that have never been printed, which go deeper into the themes.
2. It’s for those who are part of a Christian community or plan to be in one. It includes my memoir about church and body life with dozens of lessons learned. It also addresses the dangers and the common problems, along with how to deal with them based on my experience in body life since 1988. It’s more detailed in this regard than any of my other works.
3. It presents a fresh look at God’s eternal purpose and driving passion through the sections on “Magnificent Obsession” and “Rethinking the Mission.”
4. It’s for any Christian who knows in their hearts, “There has to be more than this” (meaning, more than what they’ve been taught and what they’ve seen).
5. It’s for those who are interested in a totally different take on the baptism of the Spirit and spiritual gifts than the Pentecostal view and the cessationist view.
6. It’s for those who wish to have in print my critique of John MacArthur’s Strange Fire.
7. It’s for those who desire to get a fresh perspective on Christ and His kingdom that will warm the heart, edify the spirit, and inspire the soul.
8. It’s for those who want all of my unpublished writings in one place. The Table of Contents gives readers an easy way to navigate the content.
9. It’s for those who wish to contribute toward helping some of the poor and sick people we are trying to help.

Humorous Reasons

1. It’s for those who are looking for an excuse to buy a new coffee table (there’s a good chance that the Titan will break it immediately upon placement).
2. It’s for those seeking a blunt force object for a time of need (who needs guns when you have a copy of the Titan on hand).
3. It’s for those who are looking for a heavy, unmovable door stopper.
4. It’s for those who own fireplaces and are looking for good kindling material that will burn for at least 8 hours (the 800 pages are constructed in such a way that they roast slowly).
5. It’s for both my fans who desire to collect all my work. (My mother being one of them.)

5. Karl Barth was once asked to summarize his life’s work in one sentence. He answered, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” How would you summarize your life’s work? To put this question another way, if you could get people to understand just one idea, what would it be?

Jesus Christ is ALL, everything else is commentary.

The Titan will only be printed once and never again. It’s presently on discount until August 20th. Check it out and get your copy at ViolaTitan.com

Please share this post with others!