Unbinding Christianity: Choosing the Values of Jesus over the Beliefs of the Church
Unbinding Christianity: Choosing the Values of Jesus over the Beliefs of the Church
Overview
Description
Unbinding Christianity is a book that will be good news for some readers while stretching others in uncomfortable ways. It begins with the premise that traditional Christian teaching is focused on right beliefs while the life and teachings of Jesus was all about right living. The book represents a fresh voice for Christians who struggle to accept traditional beliefs by assuring them that Jesus himself said much more about right values than he did right beliefs.
The goal of this book is to unbind Christianity from the wrappings of creeds, doctrines, dogma, and beliefs in order to make room for an understanding of what it means to be Christian defined by values that invites unity among Christians without the need for conformity of beliefs.
One of the important by-products of a values-based Christianity is that it paves the way for Christians with different beliefs to find common ground with one another while also freeing them to build bridges of understanding with non-Christian.
Editorial Reviews
If you have found it impossible to continue believing in some of the doctrines the church has taught to be essential and don't know if you can continue being a Christian, Jan Linn offers some much needed guidance. He invites readers to think along with him as he makes distinctions between believing in doctrines and having value-enlivened belief, between being a Christian and being Christian. His message is that just because your integrity demands you give up on some traditional Christian ideas doesn't mean you need to become a Christian dropout.
--The Rev. Craig Watts, D.Min, author of Bowing Toward Babylon
Unbinding Christianity is a thought-provoking argument for expansion of Christianity's often employed litmus tests of inclusion and rejection. Jan Linn addresses this complex issue in a clear, concise, and easily accessible manner. A great read!
--Joshua Santana, Attorney-at-Law
This book is a wake-up call to all of us who choose to follow Jesus, a challenge for us to rethink what it truly means to be Christian. Jan Linn's thesis is simple, yet profound--it is what we do on a daily basis, not what we believe, that is the core of a Christian life..
--Heather Cargill, Psy.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist
In a biblically well-informed and a life-experience challenging way, Unbinding Christianity explores a central question: Are we called to follow the values of the life Jesus lived or are we merely following a set of beliefs the Church has offered? This book offers hope to those who have felt excluded by the latter and want help with following the culturally-challenging way that Jesus lived.
--Kevin Campbell, Director, US Long Term Disaster Recovery, Habitat For Humanity
Being Christian, it seems to me, is less a set of beliefs and more a way of life. While I have believed that for many years, Jan Linn's clear, concise, and compelling book clarifies why this is so, and how the very future of the faith depends on its recognition. This book will benefit everyone concerned about the future of Christianity and the future of the church.
--The Rev. Nathan Wilson, Director of Communications, Christian Theological Seminary
Jan Linn argues that the Christian faith has become distorted by a focus on beliefs rather than the values Jesus taught. For many Christians his message will be welcomed with relief, even joy, as they struggle between their resistance to certain required Christian beliefs and their love for their church.
--Judy Foster, Ph.D., Professor of English, St. Cloud State University, Retired
Jan Linn offers a much-needed challenge to those who claim to follow Jesus: move beyond easy "believe-ism" to embrace the demands the gospel places on us. Linn argues Jesus asks us to live like him, not merely to believe like him. This is a crucial insight at this pivotal moment in our history.
--The Rev. Derek Penwell, Ph.D., author of Outlandish: An Unlikely Messiah, A Messy Ministry, and the Call to Mobilize
About the Author
Jan Linn has been a congregational pastor, college chaplain, and seminary professor, a consistent and persistent advocate for racial, economic, and social justice, and the author of eighteen books, including his most recent title, Evangelicalism and the Decline of American Politics. He and his wife, Joy, live in Minnesota and are parents to four children and six grandchildren.
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- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
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If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
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To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
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- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
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If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
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If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
Categories
Overview
Description
Unbinding Christianity is a book that will be good news for some readers while stretching others in uncomfortable ways. It begins with the premise that traditional Christian teaching is focused on right beliefs while the life and teachings of Jesus was all about right living. The book represents a fresh voice for Christians who struggle to accept traditional beliefs by assuring them that Jesus himself said much more about right values than he did right beliefs.
The goal of this book is to unbind Christianity from the wrappings of creeds, doctrines, dogma, and beliefs in order to make room for an understanding of what it means to be Christian defined by values that invites unity among Christians without the need for conformity of beliefs.
One of the important by-products of a values-based Christianity is that it paves the way for Christians with different beliefs to find common ground with one another while also freeing them to build bridges of understanding with non-Christian.
Editorial Reviews
If you have found it impossible to continue believing in some of the doctrines the church has taught to be essential and don't know if you can continue being a Christian, Jan Linn offers some much needed guidance. He invites readers to think along with him as he makes distinctions between believing in doctrines and having value-enlivened belief, between being a Christian and being Christian. His message is that just because your integrity demands you give up on some traditional Christian ideas doesn't mean you need to become a Christian dropout.
--The Rev. Craig Watts, D.Min, author of Bowing Toward Babylon
Unbinding Christianity is a thought-provoking argument for expansion of Christianity's often employed litmus tests of inclusion and rejection. Jan Linn addresses this complex issue in a clear, concise, and easily accessible manner. A great read!
--Joshua Santana, Attorney-at-Law
This book is a wake-up call to all of us who choose to follow Jesus, a challenge for us to rethink what it truly means to be Christian. Jan Linn's thesis is simple, yet profound--it is what we do on a daily basis, not what we believe, that is the core of a Christian life..
--Heather Cargill, Psy.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist
In a biblically well-informed and a life-experience challenging way, Unbinding Christianity explores a central question: Are we called to follow the values of the life Jesus lived or are we merely following a set of beliefs the Church has offered? This book offers hope to those who have felt excluded by the latter and want help with following the culturally-challenging way that Jesus lived.
--Kevin Campbell, Director, US Long Term Disaster Recovery, Habitat For Humanity
Being Christian, it seems to me, is less a set of beliefs and more a way of life. While I have believed that for many years, Jan Linn's clear, concise, and compelling book clarifies why this is so, and how the very future of the faith depends on its recognition. This book will benefit everyone concerned about the future of Christianity and the future of the church.
--The Rev. Nathan Wilson, Director of Communications, Christian Theological Seminary
Jan Linn argues that the Christian faith has become distorted by a focus on beliefs rather than the values Jesus taught. For many Christians his message will be welcomed with relief, even joy, as they struggle between their resistance to certain required Christian beliefs and their love for their church.
--Judy Foster, Ph.D., Professor of English, St. Cloud State University, Retired
Jan Linn offers a much-needed challenge to those who claim to follow Jesus: move beyond easy "believe-ism" to embrace the demands the gospel places on us. Linn argues Jesus asks us to live like him, not merely to believe like him. This is a crucial insight at this pivotal moment in our history.
--The Rev. Derek Penwell, Ph.D., author of Outlandish: An Unlikely Messiah, A Messy Ministry, and the Call to Mobilize
About the Author
Jan Linn has been a congregational pastor, college chaplain, and seminary professor, a consistent and persistent advocate for racial, economic, and social justice, and the author of eighteen books, including his most recent title, Evangelicalism and the Decline of American Politics. He and his wife, Joy, live in Minnesota and are parents to four children and six grandchildren.
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
Categories
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