The Journey Back to Eden: Restoring the Creator's Design for Women and Men [Paperback]

Glen G. Scorgie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 27, 2005

Men, women, and equality: Where is the Bible pointing us? Join the journey through the pages of Scripture and across history to see the trajectory of the Spirit. Can it be that he is taking the church back to personal wholeness and relational harmony that have eluded men and women since the Fall in the garden? Based on a high view of Scripture, this fresh look at the biblical landscape * corrects misunderstandings of biblical statements on gender. * demonstrates that some texts applied only to the unique historical situations they addressed. * discerns the overall direction that the Holy Spirit is taking, calling the church to embrace a vision of gender equality, freedom, and mutuality. Written in an accessible style, The Journey Back to Eden offers hope and encouragement to men and women who are perplexed by gender stereotypes. The book includes questions for individual reflection or group discussion.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

It can be difficult raising Christian daughters today in an environment that can be socially and spiritually toxic. Even the evangelical church can sometimes send negative messages not giving women an equal voice, not inviting them into decision-making circles, and not having many visible leadership roles. As a consequence, some Christian women, especially younger ones, have felt somewhat demeaned and diminished. Yet we don’t want them to turn their backs on Christianity or set up unnecessary roadblocks to faith.

How can we remain faithful to the truthfulness of Scripture and at the same time affirm the equality of women? This book shows how the real issue between those who hold a complementarian view and an egalitarian view is not with biblical infallibility. The real issue is biblical interpretation. The canon of Scripture is complete but our understanding continues to develop. Therefore this book sets out to accomplish three tasks. 1. A clarifying task: Correct misunderstandings of normative biblical statements on gender. 2. A restrictive task: Demonstrate that certain texts which have traditionally been regarded as normative for all time were in fact applicable only to the unique situations originally addressed. 3. A discerning task: Discern the overall direction the Holy Spirit is taking the church as he unfolds God’s will in a progressive way. Just as the biblical teaching on slavery contained seeds pointing to the eventual liberation of slaves, so the biblical teaching on women points us toward the ideal of gender mutuality in every sense, freedom for women to pursue their calling before God.

The author graciously acknowledges there may be parts of the world not ready to embrace the truth of women’s complete liberation in Christ. So there’s room for temporary compromises. Likewise the author acknowledges it is acceptable for a husband and wife to decide to maintain their home and marriage according to the pattern of male priority and leadership. Yet he counsels that the decision should be a mutual one and not a binding one that sees this as the only pattern commanded by Scripture.

The book includes the following distinctives as it traces the trajectory of the Spirit through Scripture: 1. It proposes a progressive rather than static hermeneutic (approach to interpreting Scripture). 2. It shows an alternative version by using narrative forms with stories and examples along the way. 3. It’s written in an accessible way open to the average reader. 4. It adheres to a high evangelical view of Scripture’s trustworthiness.

About the Author

Glen G. Scorgie (Ph.D., St. Andrews) is professor of theology at Bethel Seminary San Diego since 1996. Previously he was academic vice-president of North American Baptist College in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and is a past president of the Canadian Evangelical Theological Association. For the past decade he has also been involved in the ministries of Chinese Bible Church of San Diego, and lectures regularly in Asia. His writings include A Little Guide to Christian Spirituality (2007). For more information, visit his website at www.glenscorgie.com.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (September 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310259908
• ISBN-13: 978-0310259909
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,342,594 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Glen G. Scorgie (PhD, University of St. Andrews and graduate degrees from Wheaton and Regent) has been Professor of Theology at Bethel Seminary San Diego and a teacher and preacher at Chinese Bible Church of San Diego. He is author of A Call for Continuity and Journey Back to Eden. Dr. Scorgie and his wife, Kate, have three children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Appreciation, September 4, 2006

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Student for Life (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Journey Back to Eden: Restoring the Creator's Design for Women and Men (Paperback)

I truly appreciate Dr. Scorgies book sharing God's desire for men and women and how we need to reinstate that in our world. I belong to a denomiation that view women as equals and are permited to be Ordained as an Elder and be a Senior Pastor of a church.