The cross of Christ is undeniably central to the Christian faith. But, how can the cruelty and brutality of a two-thousand-year-old Roman cross touch base with a hedonistic world that has been so desensitized towards violence? Within the postmodern setting of a body-obsessed culture, Christianity urgently requires an innovative and stimulating way of understanding the cross and its atoning significance. At the heart of this book is the Naked Christ--an emblem through which the author draws on the rich resources of the Christian tradition in its portrayal of the cross. He explores how the metaphors of nakedness and clothing can encapsulate aspects of atonement and enable them to be understood within a variety of contemporary contexts. The Naked Christ is a useful resource for anyone seeking fresh ways to express what the cross of Christ means to contemporary culture.
Why this book is so important to me and why I would love for everyone to read it: When we find the Naked Jesus, we uncover the freedom to put our faith into action; we desire to do something and not just believe something; we stop talking a good game and get dirty playing the game; we are freed from the institutional church structure that desires to define us and stand invited to the table where the Naked Jesus help us discover who we are; we are freed from the garbage it brings to the party; and we no longer swim in the slime of the shallow end of the pool.
The Naked Gospel is a chapter-by-chapter assault on the churchy jargon and double talk of our day. It puts forth a message that is simple but life-changing. With a fresh take on Scripture and unapologetic style, The Naked Gospel will challenge you to re-examine everything you thought you already knew.
Across America, strip clubs have come under attack by a politically aggressive segment of the Christian Right. Using plausible-sounding but factually untrue arguments about the harmful effects of strip clubs on their communities, the Christian Right has stoked public outrage and incited local and state governments to impose onerous restrictions on the clubs with the intent of dismantling the exotic dance industry. But an even larger agenda is at work, according to Judith Lynne Hanna. In Naked Truth, she builds a convincing case that the attack on exotic dance is part of the activist Christian Right’s “grand design” to supplant constitutional democracy in America with a Bible-based theocracy. Hanna takes readers onstage, backstage, and into the community and courts to reveal the conflicts, charges, and realities that are playing out at the intersection of erotic fantasy, religion, politics, and law. She explains why exotic dance is a legitimate form of artistic communication and debunks the many myths and untruths that the Christian Right uses to fight strip clubs. Hanna also demonstrates that while the fight happens at the local level, it is part of a national campaign to regulate sexuality and punish those who do not adhere to Scripture-based moral values. Ultimately, she argues, the naked truth is that the separation of church and state is under siege and our civil liberties—free speech, women’s rights, and free enterprise—are at stake.
This book is for anyone who grew up in the Church, but did their growing up far away from it. Author Craig Borlase offers answers for those looking for vulnerable Christianity, the kind that makes us unafraid of being naked before each other and God. If you feel you fit just outside of what the Church has to offer, this book offers answers based in Scripture and will lead you into a more authentic relationship with Christ and others. ?The Naked Christian is a book that makes me glad I'm a Christian, and that hasn't happened in a very long time.? Mike Yaconelli ?Craig Borlase shakes off the dust, longing for a purer and more real walk with God. The Naked Christian helps us rethink some of our ?church-culture? mindsets, with refreshingly blunt honesty.? Matt Redman
What did God have in mind when he created you? Are you there yet? Based on the author's own sometimes difficult spiritual journey, The Naked Christian pulls no punches. In colorful conversational style, teaching pastor Doug Brendel pokes holes in our classic Christian cover-ups - many of which we don't even realize we're wearing - and helps you truly discover "the dream God dreamed when he first dreamed you up!" How do you feel about God when you're hurting? How do you rationalize your failures? How do you know if God is going to answer your next prayer? These and other sometimes-ticklish issues are already shaping your faith and your life. By examining 13 of Christ's most intriguing conversations, The Naked Christian will help you see your faith as it really is and guide you into the fullness of God's ideal design for your life.
Happy marriages don't just happen. Despite the abundance of magazines and self-help books available, people continue to struggle with marriage Naked and Unashamed describes the diligent, necessary work to maintain marriage, as well holistic character-that the nakedness asked of each individual extends from how we communicate, to how we grow spiritually, to how we manage our finances, and to how we make love. Every marriage is a snapshot of and testimony to God's covenant relationship with His Church. Without mincing words, Dr. Jerry, Claudia, and Jeremy offer real help through practical and spiritual advice on these topics and more. Undressing for Intimacy Unpacking Communication Exploring Expectations Undressing for Sex Naked and Unashamed challenges couples to embrace a holistic, lifelong undressing for marriage. Throughout, the book presents a picture of marriage in which relational and spiritual intimacy may be found in every aspect of the relationship. The book should enrich both marriages and the Christian life of the individuals within marriage. “I have performed scores of weddings over the years, and my wife and I have done the premarital counseling. I wish this insightful book had been available for us.” —LYLE W. DORSETT, PhD, Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism, Beeson Divinity School “Naked and Unashamed is a must-read for any couple seeking to do Christian marriage in a way that is glorifying to God. Part master class, part playbook, this frank and easy-to-understand guide is packed with critical insights and practical wisdom that can be applied immediately. This book leaves its readers equipped to engage in their marriage relationship in a truly transformational way. I cannot recommend it highly enough.” —MICHELLE MOUJAES, Founder and Executive Director, Faithtree Resources “This is the premarital resource I have been waiting for! Incredibly rich with wisdom and insight, Naked and Unashamed is for every couple who are more interested in staying married than they are in getting married. I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking a deeper, fuller, richer, understanding of biblical marriage.” —JIMMY DODD, Founder and President of PastorServe, author of Survive or Thrive: Six Relationships Every Pastor Needs
Is Your Conscience Condemning You? What exactly is your conscience? What role does it play in your life? And does it help or hurt you? In Who Told You That You Were Naked? Andrew Wommack answers these questions and more as he outlines how the conscience affects us. Andrew shares how the vast majority of Christians dont understand how the conscience operates. If they did, they would no longer struggle with the fear, shame, guilt, and doubt that keep them from Gods best. As you learn about your conscience, youll learn how to walk in greater intimacy with Jesus, how to pray with boldness and confidence, how to receive Gods promises, and how to break free from fear and doubt once and for all.
