How good are Adam Hamilton's books?
Adam Hamilton has quite a few books in Vyrso:
https://vyrso.com/products/search?q=adam+hamilton&start=0&sort=rel&pageSize=60
I read his bio and the write up on his church. I'm not sure if he's evangelical.
If you have read any of his books, what do you think? What is his writing style? Would you recommend them to an evangelical audience?
Thanks, Dale Heath
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Adam Hamilton is one of a very few (perhaps the only) preacher who does not sell hate nor tell lies. If you are looking for books that will support your hate for others, make you look down on others then do not read any of his works. If, on the other hand, you want to learn how to be a Christian he is perhaps the best source available today,
Bob - 17" MBP quad 2.3GHz 4GB and iMAC
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Dale,
I haven't read his books but here are two reviews that I think might help you make a decision. One is favorable, the other is unfavorable, both are thoughtful.
http://www.bobcornwall.com/2014/04/making-sense-of-bible-adam-hamilton.html
http://www.fullporchpress.com/full-porch-press-blog/378-adam-hamilton-making-sense
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Robert Neely said:
Dale,
I haven't read his books but here are two reviews that I think might help you make a decision. One is favorable, the other is unfavorable, both are thoughtful.
http://www.bobcornwall.com/2014/04/making-sense-of-bible-adam-hamilton.html
http://www.fullporchpress.com/full-porch-press-blog/378-adam-hamilton-making-sense
Thanks Robert, that was very helpful. Dale Heath
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Mattillo said:Bob said:
Adam Hamilton is one of a very few (perhaps the only) preacher who does not sell hate nor tell lies.
I'm confused... are you suggesting that all preacher's except Hamilton sell hate and/or tell lies?
Based on reviews and some of the works I've read by Hamilton I can see why Bob is "so in love" with Hamilton that he makes such a horrific statement about a man who's not as perfect as Bob wants to make him out to be 😁 Anyway, "itchy ears," anyone?
DAL
Ps. My advice, Dale, as with any work written by men who are not inspired, "prove all things hold fast that which is good."
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Dale E Heath said:
Adam Hamilton has quite a few books in Vyrso:
https://vyrso.com/products/search?q=adam+hamilton&start=0&sort=rel&pageSize=60
I read his bio and the write up on his church. I'm not sure if he's evangelical.
If you have read any of his books, what do you think? What is his writing style? Would you recommend them to an evangelical audience?
Thanks, Dale Heath
I have driven past Hamilton's church hundreds of times. Heard Philip Yancey speak there a year or two ago. He has received lots of attention locally and nationally for the incredibly fast growth of his relatively young church to become the largest UMC church. His books are primarily sermon series that have been put in print format. Some have also been developed into Bible studies.
He comes from both evangelical and more liberal theological backgrounds. He is clearly driven by a passion to reach people with the gospel--especially those who grew up in church and left. He tries to reconcile their skepticism and worldview with the Bible.
He admits that his theological views have changed on many subjects as he tried to provide answers to the skeptics.
From my perspective, he has roots in evangelical views, but has moved away from those in an attempt to reach the skeptics.
A good example of the mix is found in his book Making Sense of the Bible. The first half of the book is a good survey of the Bible. In the second half, he explains his views on some of the controversial issues between the Bible and contemporary culture. He explains that he puts scripture into three different buckets (as to whether they are the Word of God). He says that the Bible writers are inspired the way he is inspired to write a sermon.
"The Bible was written by human beings who brought to the task of writing their faith, their theological convictions, their experiences of God’s presence and God’s work in their lives, the needs of the community to whom they were writing, and also their cultural context. The divine inspiration of scripture was not God dictating the scriptures but God working in the hearts of the biblical authors in a way not dissimilar to how God works in the hearts of modern-day preachers and prophets and laity who are moved by the Spirit— through a divine prompting felt in the heart, focused in the mind, and spoken with the lips or the pen."
Hamilton, Adam. Making Sense of the Bible: Rediscovering the Power of Scripture Today (p. 173). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
"If the biblical authors heard God speak to them as we hear God speak today, then we should expect that their cultural, historical or theological assumptions, presuppositions, and biases will come through in their writings. Being used by God, influenced and inspired by God, did not make them infallible nor did it erase their strongly held personal convictions. The biblical documents are nevertheless those writings that early Christians found to be useful, inspiring and to consistently and accurately convey the charters and rule of the Christian faith."
Hamilton, Adam. Making Sense of the Bible: Rediscovering the Power of Scripture Today (p. 156). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
"Where a particular teaching in scripture is at odds with what Jesus said, we are right to consider that the passage may reflect the culture, the worldview, or the perspectives of the human author of scripture rather than the timeless heart, character, and will of God."
Hamilton, Adam. Making Sense of the Bible: Rediscovering the Power of Scripture Today (p. 216). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
He has been leading the movement within UMC to recognize same-sex marriage as compatible with the Bible. That is one of the topics covered in the book.
"I am a United Methodist pastor. My denomination currently prohibits pastors from officiating in same-sex marriages, prohibits our churches from hosting same-sex marriages, forbids the ordination of “self-avowed practicing homosexuals,” and notes that “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.” I believe these ideas will become increasingly problematic in the years ahead, and as people wrestle with the nature of scripture, I think they will increasingly see the passages related to homosexuality as bucket 2 or bucket 3 scriptures."
Hamilton, Adam. Making Sense of the Bible: Rediscovering the Power of Scripture Today (pp. 278-280). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
Adam Hamilton has an evangelistic heart. His theological views are not evangelical.
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Thanks Edwin! Great comments!
I think the Word of God in Romans 16:17-18 serves as a good warning against people like Hamilton and those who follow him. I guess Jesus and Paul must've been haters based on the preaching style they employed at times. But hey, good thing Hamilton is around to sell himself to the crowds in the wide and broad gates of "his church." I feel for the guy, hopefully he'll find the true light some day and turn from his "compromising, evil" ways. There's nothing wrong with reaching out to ALL people, but when you do so compromising and twisting the very Word of God, then that's a problem. But oh well, the very Word of God had already warned us concerning people like Hamilton anyway. Just pray for the guy. My 2 cents!
DAL
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