In The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible, Scot McKnight explores, explains, defends, and rebukes the various ways Christians read the Bible.
He spends the early pages of the book unfolding his hyper-conservative upbringing – the type that basks in phrases like “God said, I believe it, that settles it for me!” He, like many of us, was eventually shocked to discover that we all pick and choose some parts of the bible to believe literally and others that we don’t.
“What I discovered,” McKnight says, “is that we all pick and choose. I must confess this discovery did not discourage me as much as it disturbed me, and then it made me intensely curious… The discoveries and disturbances converged onto one big question: How, then, are we to live out the Bible today?”
After recounting his journey from a hyper- (and hypocritical) literalism to an admitted pick-and-choose method, McKnight explores the questions: – What is the Bible? What do I do with the Bible? and How do I benefit from the Bible? He then proceeds in the last third of the book to examine the issue of women in church ministries today using the methods of Biblical learning and perspective described in the first two-thirds of the book.
McKnight’s purpose in writing the book is well described in the following quotation:
“I believe there is an inner logic to our picking and choosing, but I believe we need to become aware of what it is. Until we do, we will be open to accusations of hypocrisy. It’s that simple, and it’s that lethal. If you tell me you believe the Bible and seek to live every bit of it, and if I can find one spot that you don’t – especially if that spot is sensitive or politically incorrect or offensive – then we’ve all got a problem.”
I have challenged a few Christians this way myself over the years, the type whose logic is so skewed that – if followed to it’s logical end – would require them to stone a homosexual to death. This is the type of dilema we create for ourselves if we claim that we don’t pick and choose.
If you’re a dedicated complimentarian, you’ll reject McKnight’s egalitarianism.
If you’re already convinced, this might add a bit of clarity.
If you’re on the fence, I’ll venture to say that McKnight will convince you of his position.
This is after all who the book is aimed at: the undecided.
I highly recommend this book. Even if you disagree with the application of McKnight’s ideas, the first 2/3 of the book should be required reading for anyone wishing to be thought of as an intelligent and informed Christian. I recommend putting this book into the hands of the youngest person you can find who will read it. Many an over-zealous, judgment –launching attitude may be changed by McKnight’s thesis.
Scot McKnight is a professor of religious studies at North Park College in Chicago, Illinois and the source of one of the most widely-read Christian blogs, The Jesus Creed.
Other book reviews on this site:
Tim Challies – The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment
William P. Young – The Shack
Rob Bell – Jesus Wants to Save Christians
