This book was previously released with the title, Word Pictures: Knowing God Through Story and Imagination.
Artist and screenwriter Brian Godawa used to revel in his ability to argue the truth of the Gospel, often intellectually crushing his opponents in the process.
But winning an argument does not equal persuading people to follow Jesus. So what’s missing?
Through prayer and searching the Scriptures, Godawa realized that while God cares deeply for rationality, it wasn’t the only tool he used to reach people with his truth.
He discovered that storytelling, visual images, and other art in the Bible were central to Biblical evangelism and Christian apologetics because they could go places reason could never go: into the imagination and the heart.
The Bible is a Work of Art
Weaving historical insight, pop culture and personal narrative throughout, Godawa reveals the importance God places on imagination and creativity in the Scriptures.
You’ll get a biblical foundation to pursue imagination, creativity, beauty, wonder and mystery in your faith.
You’ll learn what C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien understood: The power of poetry, parables and visual art found in God’s Word.
For any Christian who wants to learn Biblical evangelism and Christian apologetics in a postmodern context, this book will help you find a path between the two extremes of intellectualized faith and anti-intellectual faith by recovering a biblical balance between reason and imagination.
Customer Reviews
“Bypassing Intellectual Rationalization”
“Brian’s style is extremely readable while being informative at the same time. This is rare. By the last page, you have had a full course meal of enjoyable learning with the added benefit of a life changing experience. Brian has given us a valuable tool to live the Christian life with a view to portraying its necessity, beauty and enjoyment, all without using theological buzz words that have a tendency to halt conversation before it begins.”
Dave
“Moral Narrative vs. Logic & Science »
“Godawa uses "The Imagination of God" as an apologetic of scripture that establishes a strong foundation for interpreting scripture by understanding the relationship of art, creativity, and truth, as presented by God. After all, scripture is filled with stories, allegories, drama, metaphors, and parables. The book points out that the problem with unbelievers isn't a rational problem, it is a moral problem. Sin distorts our reason, which distorts our will.”
Jim Monts
“Humans think we own the rights to humor, imagination, color and light. Godawa's work reminds us Who created those things... This depth of this book is incredible, but it reinforces and reminds the reader that we are the Creation, not the Creator, and HE is beyond amazing.”
C. Smith
“The Imagery really Matters”
“Godawa argues for a balanced theology that places equal emphasis on both the rational knowing of God and Scripture and imagery mediated through story, myth, drama, art, etc. He convincingly builds a case for the legitimate place of imagery in our knowing and walking with God as Christians…Godawa argues that is very much through its God-created picture-making (imaging) faculties that the heart intuits and learns to know its Creator and that only in restoring imagery to its rightful place in our lives, a sorely needed balance in the Christian walk will return.”
Amazon Customer
“The place to begin
Godawa's book is the place to begin in a consideration of a theology of the arts and the imagination both for those who have never considered it and those immersed in it.”
