This edition of the Profess Interview Series brings to you an exclusive conversation between C.E. Moore and Joshua Graves, author of ‘The Feast.’ In our interview Josh talks about his book, some of the different stories he chose to include, his thoughts on narrative theology, and gives a reasoned response to our recent critique.
You can listen to (or download) the interview here.
You can browse the entire Profess Interview Series library here.
On narrative vs. propositional approach to Scripture: “I think the tension is good. I think the people who came to Jesus and they wanted a propositional statement and Jesus refused, it was because he realized something about the human experience. That is, unless we really have to search and go after it, we won’t own it. So, I think the tension is healthy.”
On the atonement: “What has happened through the centuries…is that the cross has become the source of one’s salvation, but not the shape. What I mean by that is that the danger in American Christianity is that the cross has become a ‘Get out of Hell Free’ card…If anything, the gospels directly challenge and say, ‘I’m going to the cross and I want to know who’s going with me?’”
On his understanding of “Christ’s kingdom”: “For me, the central heart of Jesus’ ministry is the Lord’s prayer…and he teaches his disciple to pray that ‘Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’…and that prayer starts, ‘Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come,’ to this realm, to this physical world.”
Listen up. Listen in.
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Josh Graves is author of The Feast: How to Serve Jesus in a Famished World (Leafwood, 2009). Josh is the preaching and teaching minister for the Otter Creek Church in Nashville, Tennessee. He is also currently a doctoral student at Columbia Seminary, studying the relationship of postmodernism and Christianity. Prior to living in Nashville, Josh served as the Teaching and Young Adult Minister for the Rochester Church of Christ where he also taught courses in religion and Christian spirituality at Rochester College. In addition to other articles and essays, Josh also wrote the study guide for Mere Discipleship (Brazos Press, 2008). Josh is married to Kara—the daily source of joy in his life and the real theologian in the family. They have one son, Lucas.
To follow Joshua Graves on Twitter: @JoshGraves
To find out more about Josh Graves go to www.joshuagraves.com
We’d like to thank Josh Graves for answering some of our burning questions.
