Honestly
Telling the Truth about the Bible and Ourselves
- Ethics, Culture & Social Issues
- Publisher: Fortress Press (Augsburg Fortress)
- Published: 2023
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Publisher's Description
Author Mark Wingfield combines his theological training as a pastor and his skills as a journalist in this exploration of truth and faithful truth-telling. Truth is often elusive in our culture, but Wingfield maintains that the Bible has been misused by some to perpetuate certain kinds of lies and untruths. Exploration of key biblical texts is woven together with stories drawn from personal experience and news stories from both church and our present-day culture. Wingfield points to a lack of real truthfulness that plagues America in both politics and religion today. We are shouting well-worn sound bites at each other from opposing platforms. Precious few of us are willing to step in the middle and facilitate dialogue, and those poor souls who do often get shot down from both sides. Rampant self-interest can lead to supporting lies and holding tight to particular stances that are not aligned with the Bible's ethics of justice and love. The book begins with the important question, "What Is Truth?," and explores biblical truth on topics such as creation, race, climate change, evolution, Jesus and truth, liars in the Bible, and the truth-telling of the prophets. Final chapters look at the truth about who we are and what truth looks like in our current post-Trump era. A study guide is included to help facilitate group conversation about each chapter.
Endorsements (5)
“Instead of using the Bible as a weapon to use to protect their ‘truth’ or as a fortune teller’s crystal ball, Mark Wingfield leads us to scripture as a mirror to see ourselves in the light of God’s truth.”
“Mark Wingfield draws from decades of experience in religious journalism to make the case for Christian truth-telling, even when it’s complicated and hard. Drawing from a rich mix of history, biblical material, and contemporary events, Wingfield creates a readable, useful book that every Christian should read in this post-Trump era of misinformation, falsehood, and lies.”
“A unique, rich, pastoral, and bracing reflection on truth in an era where truthfulness is slipping away from us. Biblical and personal, timeless and timely, this brief book is well worth your attention.”
Rev. Dr. David P. Gushee
“In true journalistic fashion, Mark Wingfield has crafted a most enjoyable, yet profound book about the power of seeking, recognizing, and courageously living out of truth. Weaving stories from the past and present, from scripture and secular wisdom, to speak into the age-old challenge of discerning truth, Honestly is both bold and hopeful. Few have shown the courage Wingfield does in these pages, naming the lies that are currently harming us as a society, and challenging us to undo those harms—by living the selfless lives that truth telling requires.”
“Mark Wingfield has taken time, devoted the thought, and written with candor about truth and truth-telling. His book helps readers see how what we accept as true is affected by self-interest, our willingness or refusal to think beyond our particular situations, and our willingness or refusal to ‘un-learn’ beliefs that are based on myth, prejudice, and celebrity/authority-figure worship. This book offers the chance for us to become better thinkers, and therefore, better persons.”
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