Book details
Tongue-Tied
Are you tongue-tied about faith?
Many Christians easily and eagerly talk about movies, sports, politics, jobs, and emotions. So why are we tongue-tied when it comes to talking about our faith—even with each other? Even with our kids? What renders us incapable, embarrassed, or hesitant to talk about God?
In Tongue-tied, theologian and former seminary president Sara Wenger Shenk investigates the reasons that people who claim the name of Christ are so reluctant to talk about him. Recovering an authentic vocabulary of faith—and learning to speak in trustworthy, captivating ways—is an urgent task for followers of Jesus today. In an era of dying churches, polarizing cultural arguments, and environmental and humanitarian crises, many people are longing for deep conversations about things that matter. We are longing for genuine spiritual connection with a just and loving God. By reflecting theologically on biblical wisdom and our shared humanness, Wenger Shenk calls readers to recover the winsome language of Christian faith.
We don’t need to re-learn Christianese or brush up on churchy clichés. We need a language of faith that is authentic, candid, and robust enough to last.
Many Christians easily and eagerly talk about movies, sports, politics, jobs, and emotions. So why are we tongue-tied when it comes to talking about our faith—even with each other? Even with our kids? What renders us incapable, embarrassed, or hesitant to talk about God?
In Tongue-tied, theologian and former seminary president Sara Wenger Shenk investigates the reasons that people who claim the name of Christ are so reluctant to talk about him. Recovering an authentic vocabulary of faith—and learning to speak in trustworthy, captivating ways—is an urgent task for followers of Jesus today. In an era of dying churches, polarizing cultural arguments, and environmental and humanitarian crises, many people are longing for deep conversations about things that matter. We are longing for genuine spiritual connection with a just and loving God. By reflecting theologically on biblical wisdom and our shared humanness, Wenger Shenk calls readers to recover the winsome language of Christian faith.
We don’t need to re-learn Christianese or brush up on churchy clichés. We need a language of faith that is authentic, candid, and robust enough to last.
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Foreword
Part 1: Losing Fluency: Why is it so hard for many of us to talk about our Christian faith?
1. Christianese is shallow and contrived
2. We build certainty castles to defend what is right
3. We are uncomfortable in our own skin
4. Us-vs-them is our default way of thinking
5. The well-being of our children and communities is eroding
Part 2: Recovering Fluency: How can we recover freedom, honesty, and resolve when talking about our faith?
6. We can learn to be comfortable in our own skin
7. Resilient faith blossoms in hard times
8. A quest for wisdom frees us for life amid uncertainty
9. The Bible isn’t what you think it is
10. Faith is rooted in curiosity
11. Faith is reborn from the earth
12. It’s time to rediscover spurned gems of our faith
13. We can learn to speak the truth in love
14. “A thing of beauty is a joy forever”
15. Science and God are intimately related
16. Worship and prayer animate genuine faith
Conclusion
The Author
Part 1: Losing Fluency: Why is it so hard for many of us to talk about our Christian faith?
1. Christianese is shallow and contrived
2. We build certainty castles to defend what is right
3. We are uncomfortable in our own skin
4. Us-vs-them is our default way of thinking
5. The well-being of our children and communities is eroding
Part 2: Recovering Fluency: How can we recover freedom, honesty, and resolve when talking about our faith?
6. We can learn to be comfortable in our own skin
7. Resilient faith blossoms in hard times
8. A quest for wisdom frees us for life amid uncertainty
9. The Bible isn’t what you think it is
10. Faith is rooted in curiosity
11. Faith is reborn from the earth
12. It’s time to rediscover spurned gems of our faith
13. We can learn to speak the truth in love
14. “A thing of beauty is a joy forever”
15. Science and God are intimately related
16. Worship and prayer animate genuine faith
Conclusion
The Author
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Praise for Tongue-Tied
“A wise, much needed book offered to Western Christians who, for complex reasons, have become unable and/or unwilling to speak openly about the God of the gospel. Sara Wenger Shenk speaks clearly about how the church may faithfully, honestly, and persuasively speak about the God in whom it trusts."Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary
“Tongue-Tied is energetic, inspirited, inspiring, and passionate. Reading it opens possibilities for deeper, life-giving relationships with God, other persons, and creation. Sara Wenger Shenk is a reliable guide for everyday mystics and contemplative kindred spirits who seek to live with intention and talk with ease about the faith that grounds us.”Rebecca Slough, former dean at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
“Releasing our tongues for witness is not about adopting the slickest strategy for evangelizing our neighbors. It is about doing the hard work of facing the obstacles that tied our tongues in the first place. Sara Wenger Shenk is a trustworthy guide leading us into the mess and back out again.”James R. Krabill, general editor of Worship and Mission for the Global Church
“In poetic and prophetic prose, Sara Wenger Shenk reawakens readers to the possibilities and power of authentically talking about faith. She evokes anew an imagination for articulating faith that wells up from the depths of soul, body, heart, and mind.”Sarah Ann Bixler, instructor in formation and practical theology at Eastern Mennonite Seminary
“Sara Wenger Shenk's assessment of the reasons for the lack of ‘faith talk’ in many parts of the church brings fresh, new thinking to a pervasive problem, and resonates with my own observations. Her wise reflections, paired with her particular gift for making scenes, experiences, and feelings come alive, makes the book both a sage analysis and enjoyable to read.”Jewel Gingerich Longenecker, dean of lifelong learning at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
“In this book, Sara Wenger Shenk urges Christians to let their love—of God, and of narratives of faith—be known. The author does not offer easy platitudes, but convincingly asserts that faith stories – which are ultimately love stories—are worth talking about.”Regina Shands Stotlzfus, professor of peace, justice & conflict studies at Goshen College