The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible

In our polarized postmodern society, can we be authentic Christians without taking sides? How do we approach the Bible if we're neither theologically conservative nor liberal? McKnight offers a "third way" for a new generation of evangelicals---setting aside traditional labels, reading the Bible as "story," and living out a radical gospel message. 192 pages, hardcover from Zondervan.

The Blue Parakeet is author Scot McKnight’s deeply reasoned, compelling statement of how to read the Bible in a new evangelical generation. In re-examining the Bible, McKnight provides an exciting “Third Way” that appeals to the millions in today’s church who long to be authentic Christians, but don’t consider themselves theologically conservative or liberal.

Infused with common sense and seasoned with candor, the latest work from McKnight (The Jesus Creed), religious studies professor at North Park College, takes a stand in controversial territory by bravely asking the question: how is it that even Christians who claim to be led by an authoritative Bible read it so differently? In response, the author asserts that believers need to take a fresh look at how they adopt and adapt Scripture before they can read the Bible in a way that renews a living relationship with the God behind the sacred text. Using the analogy of a water slide, McKnight argues that the Gospel is the slide, the Bible and church tradition the walls that both protect and liberate the believer as he or she discerns how to apply Scripture as a living document. In the last section, McKnight tackles the controversial issue of women's role in church ministry in a way that is both scholarly and confessional, documenting his own journey alongside that of the apostle Paul and other biblical characters. Enriched by folksy anecdotes, this volume could be very useful for evangelical readers and any others wanting a safe place to ask the same bold questions. (Nov.) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Infused with common sense and seasoned with candor, the latest work from McKnight (The Jesus Creed), religious studies professor at North Park College, takes a stand in controversial territory by bravely asking the question: how is it that even Christians who claim to be led by an authoritative Bible read it so differently? In response, the author asserts that believers need to take a fresh look at how they adopt and adapt Scripture before they can read the Bible in a way that renews a living relationship with the God behind the sacred text. Using the analogy of a water slide, McKnight argues that the Gospel is the slide, the Bible and church tradition the walls that both protect and liberate the believer as he or she discerns how to apply Scripture as a living document. In the last section, McKnight tackles the controversial issue of women’s role in church ministry in a way that is both scholarly and confessional, documenting his own journey alongside that of the apostle Paul and other biblical characters. Enriched by folksy anecdotes, this volume could be very useful for evangelical readers and any others wanting a safe place to ask the same bold questions. (Nov.) — Publishers Weekly

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Reviewed by vanessa walters (red cloud), June 06, 2009

I bought this book @ a Barnes & Noble bookstore, mostly because of the section on women in ministry...But the book as a whole is well worth the $$ and makes me think, especially about topics thorny and difficult to discuss in Christian circles..I myself am facing the dilemna of feeling 'boxed in' by the church I have attended for several years..women in my church cannot lead, teach (except for other women & children), no gifts of the Spirit, etc..My pastor would NOT like this book! I recommend Blue Parakeet to anyone who relishes asking questions about their faith...

Reviewed by Eric Nygren (Williamsburg, IA), October 17, 2008

Any book that forces you to stop, think, and reevaluate what you believe is a book worth reading. Scot McKnight's new book The Blue Parakeet is that kind of book. In particular McKnight's concern is that Christians aren't making the effort to understand those passages in Scripture that seem somewhat out of place from the rest. McKnight suggests that there a number of these passages which are not only being ignored because of their apparent difficulty; some passages are even being silenced by Bible readers today. McKnight surveys a number of these "blue parakeet" passages in his book, but focuses in on one teaching that he believes is detrimental to the Body of Christ: the role of women in the church. As I considered McKnight's story there were a number of points he made that resonated with me. The book offered some helpful discussion to help Bible readers better under the text they have. There were other times when McKnight's arguments went in directions that I found some discord with. But even in these points of disagreement, McKnight's witting style caused me to at least reconsider that which I believed to be true. I did feel that the sections related to the topic of women in ministry tilted the balance of the book beyond what the subtitle (Rethinking How You Read the Bible) indicated the book was to be about. I do not think that the example was out of place; in fact it fit well with the other "hot button topics" McKnight pointed to in order to illustrate his point. I wonder if his passion for the subject would have been better served in a separate work. There did come a point in reading this work that I felt as if I were reading an entirely different book from what had come before. That being said, The Blue Parakeet is definitely worth reading and will be a helpful tool for anyone who needs to shore up their own understanding of how they approach and read the Bible.

Reviewed by James Chambers (Cedarville, IL), August 18, 2008

All in all, Scot McKnight's book is a must read for those who wish to get more out of their Bible reading than they are currently getting. Scot follows in a long line of evangelicals who have come to see that the way the Bible has been used for Christian spiritual formation was lacking something; that the Bible was not being used according to its intended purpose. Scot's method of reading, understanding, and applying the Bible to today's context is a shot in the evangelical arm to get the most out of our reading the Bible and living the Christian life (two things I am very passionate about). I can see this book becoming a useful resource in discipling new Christians on reading the Bible as well as becoming a book used in Christian colleges to help students understand the role of the Bible in academics and life. One last thing is that this book will stretch Christians, but it is a stretch that needs to be made. You won't be sorry you purchased and read this book.

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