Saturday Faith
Moving through the Crisis of Hopelessness
- Christian Living
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Published: 2021
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Publisher's Description
Saturday Faith deals with the times between Friday and Sunday which, in Christian parlance, are associated with Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Yet, what can be said about the time between the loss of one hope and the emergence of something new? What about the moments of hopelessness? In Saturday Faith the issue of hopelessness is examined as both an issue found in the Bible and as an experience through which one can travel. Hopelessness is actually a part of the journey of faith. Saturday Faith sets out to examine the stages of faith and demonstrate how one's theology can fall apart in crisis. In this assessment, one can begin to recognize that, even in places of hopelessness, there is more faith to be found in those Saturday times. Saturday Faith shows how Job, the disciples, and even Jesus experienced hopelessness. What the reader can hear in these pages that if one finds themselves walking through a "Saturday time" in life, they are not as hopeless or alone as they might feel. It may require a shift in thinking, but Saturday is not where the story ends.
Endorsements (3)
“Saturday Faith presents an intriguing theological and philosophical argument for embracing hopelessness as part of Christian faith rather than antithetical to faith itself. Ensminger invites us along an unusual biblical journey, coupled with Fowler’s stages of faith, to illustrate how hopelessness is essential for theological maturation. Living in liminal ‘Holy Saturday’ space, where hope becomes past tense and the future is not yet visible, is essential for authentic Christian faith development toward ‘Resurrection Sunday.’”
“This is a book for the hopeless, that is, those whose hopes have been dashed. Ensminger explores the meaning of despair using the image of ‘Saturday,’ the day between crucifixion and resurrection. Instead of rushing his readers through Saturday, he gives them valuable insight into just what it might mean to experience a prolonged ‘Saturday.’ A must-read for those wanting to think about Saturday, even as they wait in hope for Sunday to come.”
“In Saturday Faith, a wise and compassionate pastor reframes doubt and hopelessness from symptoms of lost faith to important stages on the journey toward wholeness and Christian maturity. Drawing on rich biblical and theological images and themes, Ensminger insightfully and gracefully challenges us to confront our ‘dark nights of the soul’ as preludes to renewed hope and greater growth in Christian discipleship. Individuals and groups will find this book to be a valuable contribution to their continuing faith development.”
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