Becoming God’s Family INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR
RACHEL HASTINGS IVP assistant academic editorial director
Rachel Hastings: Why do we need a book on the church now? Carmen Joy Imes: The data says people are leaving the church at an alarming rate. Forty million Americans used to attend church but no longer do. Lots of books point to the problems of abusive and toxic leadership or focus on who is leaving and why. Becoming God’s Family approaches the problem from another angle—I try to recapture Scripture’s vision for us to form communities of faith. I’m convinced that the church is God’s plan A for our growth and participation in God’s mission, and that there is no plan B. The headlines capture negative stories about the church—and we should not ignore these stories—but I also highlight stories of faithful congregations where the Holy Spirit is empowering Christians to make a real difference in their communities. RH: What would you say to those who have good reasons for not attending church, either due to illness, occupation, or a history of abuse or church hurt? CJI: It’s not always feasible to regularly attend services, but we cannot fully experience the life of faith without joining a church. We are not meant to walk alone. We need each other! No church is perfect, but it’s worth the effort to find a faithful community. In the book, I offer practical suggestions for navigating some of these tricky issues. RH: What does the Old Testament offer in exploration of the church? CJI: On the pages of the Old Testament, we discover how God shows up when believers gather to worship and wait for divine intervention. We also see so many examples of what goes wrong when they don’t. We learn how God responds to abuse and oppression and hear his vision for faithful communities. Those threads continue into the New Testament, providing a radically different vision for life than the one on offer in a Western, individualistic context that prioritizes autonomy.
RH: Being God’s Image is anchored in Genesis 1–2, while Bearing God’s Name is anchored in Exodus 19–20. Where is the center of gravity for Becoming God’s Family ? CJI: Becoming God’s Family is an extended reflection on the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in Acts 2, but like my other books, it traces threads through the entire Bible, beginning with the call of Abram and Sarai in Genesis 12. God makes a covenant to bless all nations through the family of Abraham, but that promise is not fully realized until the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost. RH: Which of your three books should people read first? CJI: Although the three books have complementary themes, each stands on its own. Being God’s Image explores human identity, while Bearing God’s Name explores vocation, and Becoming God’s Family invites us to root both our identity and vocation in healthy community. Readers can read any of the three books first! RH: Who is this book for? CJI: This book is for the Christian who doesn’t think they need church. And it’s for those with one foot out the door who are saying, “Give me one good reason to stay.” I hope it’s also helpful for church leaders and others who are “all in” to help them better articulate why church matters. I’ve designed it to be user-friendly for small groups or classroom use. Each chapter includes Scripture readings, discussion questions, and QR codes for BibleProject videos that relate to the content of each chapter. I’m releasing companion videos with SeminaryNow, which offer another great way to engage the content. ■
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