Genesis for Normal People: A Guide to the Most Controversial, Misunderstood, and Abused Book of the Bible (2012) - Peter Enns, Jared Byas
Patheos Press, 136 pages
Trade Paperback ISBN 9781939221032 $12.99
Kindle eBook $8.99
Stories are not waiting to be molded to fit our experience. They are waiting for us to take the risk of entering the world of story and be changed by it.
Too often readers go to the Book of Genesis to prove a point. Maybe that point is a scientific one about how the world really began. Maybe someone is seeking to discover what happened to the dinosaurs. Or maybe someone else just wants to discover how mankind could so royally mess things up. Authors Peter Enns and Jared Byas waste no time in telling us that Genesis is, by and large, a story, not a scientific textbook, not an exhaustive account of creation, and certainly not a book of irrelevancies for the 21st century. It’s a story of relationships, specifically the relationship between God and the people He created.
Since it’s the first book in the Bible, Christians usually go to Genesis to start our “Read the Bible in a Year” (or longer, in my case) plans. Inquisitive Non-Christians looking for answers tend to start there, too. For both groups of people, things can get confusing if not downright frustrating.
What makes reading Genesis so frustrating is the fact that we are living in the 21st century, looking at the story with 21st century eyes when we should be trying to focus on what the book’s ancient author was trying to convey to ancient readers and hearers. The book’s original audience didn’t care about the Big Bang or dinosaurs. They didn’t even know the world was round, for cryin’ out loud! They needed to know who they were as a people, that their faith was in God and that God was going to see them through, no matter what. God was there in the beginning, He will be there in the end and at every stop along the way. And He will not give up on His people.
The fact that the authors are able to shift our paradigms in just a little over 100 pages* is remarkable. For seasoned Christians, the tone of the book may be a little off-putting; while Enns and Byas want you to think like an ancient, their writing style is pure 21st century casual: non-technical and humorous, bordering on irreverent. But for non-Christians, this style might just put them at ease, showing them that Genesis is the first part of a Bible with 65 other books showing how God’s people sometimes just don’t get it and need lots of reminders. Being a person who often doesn’t get it (If you doubt that, just ask my friends and family.), I appreciate the reminders.
In many ways, ancient Israel’s weaknesses are our weaknesses. Genesis is just the beginning of a long story that chronicles Israel’s struggle with God, its faith and belief that ultimately, God can be counted on and will see us through from beginning to end and beyond.
And it’s our story, too.
4/5
*(The eBook version I bought includes a study guide with questions for individual or small group use. I have not seen the print version, but assume it includes the guide and questions as well.)
2 comments:
Andy,
I've benefited from some of Enns' previous books and also enjoy his blog at patheos.com. I hadn't yet purchased Genesis for Normal People because I assumed the "normal people" part was secret code for "rehash of things I've written elsewhere". With your recommendation though I think I'll give it a try.
Jason,
Thanks for dropping by. I hadn't read Enns previously, so this certainly may be a rehash as you mentioned. At the time the eBook was under $2, so I thought it was worth a look. I did purchase a hardcopy for our church Resource Center, so we'll see how it checks out. The Amazon "Look Inside" or the Kindle free sample will probably give you a good feel for it.
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