Unfettered: Imagining a Childlike Faith Beyond the Baggage of Western Culture

In this contemplative guide, pastor Smith (The Vulnerable Pastor) contrasts Western culture’s perspective of Christianity with the approach characterized by “awe, wonder, innocence, and trust” as described in the Bible. Arguing against faulty absolutes Christians are prone to believe (such as that “miracles are no more and that God reveals himself only through the printed text of the Bible”), Smith offers what she describes as “a life of daily partnership with the God of the universe.” She explains that something as simple as taking the time to lie in the grass and listen to the sounds of nature contributes to a habit of practicing “restful dependence” on God. For Smith, quieting her inner voice allowed her to open up to new possibilities: “As I approached the Scripture with this childlike posture of resting, receiving, and responding, I began to see the kingdom in a new way.” Smith differentiates between childlikeness (which renews one’s wonder) and being childish (which results in passivity), and quotes theologians, as well as such authors as C.S. Lewis, Brennan Manning, Thomas Merton, and John Wesley to bolster her points. She also refers to Jesus’s teaching in John 15 on abiding in the vine as the ultimate example of resting. Smith’s sage advice will aid Christians in recognizing the simple joys of practicing their faith. (May)