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First Corinthians, Richard Hays (WJK)
Hays is best known as an ethicist, penning the now classic Moral Vision of the New Testament. With this volume, however, Hays brings his ethical vision to the task of interpreting I Corinthians, a biblical text replete with ethical questions and conundrums. Offered as part of the Interpretation series, Hays aims to provide resources for preachers and teachers and resists the scholarly temptation to stay in the weeds and not come out into the open where we actually live.
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A Public Faith, Miroslav Volf (Brazos Press)
We are heading into a tempestuous election season. All indicators are that this will be as divisive a campaign as we’ve known. Frankly, I don’t know that we can stand it. However, Volf reminds us that Christian faith is public, and that part of the mandate of our public faith is to serve the common good. Can we resist coerciveness and work for our neighbor’s flourishing? Can we stay true to our unique identity while also listening well to others? The gospel requires it, and our culture is desperate for it. Volf offers good wisdom for our times.
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Safe House, starring Denzel Washington
We have only a couple movie rules in our house. This is one of our few Commandments: Thou Shalt Go to Every Denzel Movie. Safe House was a moment of happy obedience. With his most compelling role since Training Day, Washington offered a complex character who grows with you as the story progresses. While not a movie for young viewers, Safe House offers a compelling narrative of redemption and atonement.
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Winn Collier is pastor of All Souls, a congregation with Baptist ties in Charlottesville, Va., the author of three books and a columnist. (www.winncollier.com)