God Words Broken Theology for Broken People

By Jacob Gawlik

This book is a series of developing thoughts on basic Christian Theology. It serves as a starting point for conversations about what a person believes. It also helps add meaning to commonly misunderstood words that are often used when talking about one's faith.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 14, 2019
• ISBN: 9781794745186

Book preview

God Words Broken Theology for Broken People

God Words Broken Theology for Broken People

God Words

Broken theology for broken people

Rev. Jacob M. Gawlik

Rev. Jacob M. Gawlik

2019

Copyright © 2019 by Rev. Jacob M. Gawlik

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

The scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

First Printing: 2019

PRINT ISBN 978-0-359-88790-3

EBOOK ISBN 978-1-79474-518-6

Rev. Jacob M. Gawlik

C/O St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

703 3rd Ave.

Sterling, Illinois 61081

https://www.facebook.com/RevGawlik/

To my amazing daughters.  May you each grow into a world where all are treated equally as children of God.

Foreword

Rev. Dr. Eric C. Schlichting

Language has always fascinated me.  As a classics major in college, digging into a translation project and thinking carefully about how to convey meaning across not just different languages, but across different cultures, was a challenge that helped me grow.  Language both shapes and reflects our thought process.  When we begin to use language simply out of habit, or worse yet, when we use it carelessly, the thoughts we’re trying to express don’t come across the way they should, and we lose meaning along the way.

As we studied and worked (and laughed a lot) through seminary and through years of ministry, I’ve come to know that Jacob’s approach to language is direct.  I think you will see that in his thought-provoking reflections on the language we use to articulate our faith, our understanding of God, and our response to God’s love expressed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

When your approach to language is as direct as Jacob’s, you’d better be sure you are using your words well, and understanding them thoroughly.  Jacob’s observations on God words help us do this.  His exploration serves not as a definitive explanation, but as a starting point for deeper reflection and conversation.  This book offers a path to helping us be certain the words we use match the meaning we want them to carry.

And yet, all of this is ultimately in the service of pastoral ministry.  Through challenges, joys, aggravations and growth, Jacob’s focus has been, and continues to be, how to care for God’s people the best way he can.  By offering God’s people an avenue for reflecting deeply and sincerely on what they believe about God, and how they express those beliefs, Jacob is finding yet another way to care for the people God has put in his life.

So, as you read, pray, and meditate on God Words, take your time.  Be prepared to be challenged, to find insight, to ask a lot of follow up questions, and to grow in your faith.

Introduction

What comes next is a series of developing thoughts.  They are not authoritative or suggestive.  They are not meant to be inspirational.  They may be challenging, provocative, or just plain offensive.  In order to move past this