Provocative Faith Chronicles Author's Journey from Legalism to Authenticity

Written by Staff

Matthew Paul Turner's Provocative Faith (Revell, September 2005) challenges Christians to live a faith life that's centered, stimulating, controversial, challenging, powerful, miraculous, vulnerable, frustrating,  and fearful — in a word, provocative.
 

Raised in a legalistic church, Turner's faith was marked with shame and disappointment. Tired of going through the ordinary Christian motions, he craved something more. When God fell silent following Turner's struggle with online porn, Turner realized his faith life had turned into a selfishly constructed "God ATM." At 24, he set out to discover truth and break through his personal "cages."
 
At 31, seven years later, Turner is sharing what he's discovered to be true about passionately following after Jesus. "We need to learn how to love relentlessly when it seems impossible. We need to shed pride and free ourselves from cages we've locked ourselves in, embracing lifestyles of community and joy. We need to really know Jesus and know him well," he says.
 
"We often live our faith lives vicariously through others," he says, pointing to the tendency to rely on pastors, worship leaders, and others for spiritual growth. "However, individuality in our love for Jesus is essential to tap into something spiritually extraordinary." Turner doesn't claim to have all the answers, he but wants to start a movement of people living with conviction and authenticity. "Jesus was provocative — his followers should be, too," says Turner. 
 
Turner's blunt honesty about the highs and lows of his own uncanny faith journey — from his fundamentalist upbringing to serving as the editor of the nation's leading Christian music magazine, battling pride, getting fired, getting married, and everything in between — will inspire readers to turn away from culture's confusion and toward Jesus's teachings. The result? A challenge to walk away from the Christian and cultural norm and live outside the ordinary.

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