“In any case,” writes Rachel Held Evans in the middle of her posthumously published work, Wholehearted Faith, “I wonder sometimes whether we’re playing at death and calling it life.” In characteristic and prescient candor, at the time of her death, Held Evans was in the act of asking the peculiar and essential questions that strike to the heart of what it means to be a creature created by God. She was circling around the most elemental issues of Christianity, of death and life, of love and truth. In her last words, we find a legacy of doubt, the grief of a person who was putting her finger on the central point without yet acknowledging the Verity Himself—Jesus—standing before her. Along with the beautifully illustrated children’s book, What Is God Like, Wholehearted Faith gives us a picture of what sort of god Held Evans was sketching out—not the God of the Bible, not of Jesus who makes that God known to us in the fullness of his astonishing and glorious mercy, but the god of ourselves.

This Postmodern Realities episode is a conversation with Journal author Anne Kennedy about her online-exclusive article, “The Windswept Plains of the Heart: A Review of Wholehearted Faith and What is God Like.”https://www.equip.org/article/the-windswept-plains-of-the-heart-a-review-of-wholehearted-faith-and-what-is-god-like/

Starting in February 2021, all online-exclusive articles, have had a early access window for Journal subscribers only before being made public. Given the time sensitive nature and global importance of this subject, our editorial board decided to make this available to the public as soon as possible. Also consider this a free preview of the quality and in-depth research that goes into our online-exclusives. To learn more about subscribing and gaining early access to future online-exclusive articles, please see our FAQ section on Early Access to Online-Exclusive Articles by clicking here and subscribing by clicking here. https://www.equip.org/early-access-to-online-exclusive-articles-faqs/

We’d also like to invite you to subscribe to the Journal. To subscribe to the Journal, please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/crj-subscription/

When you to subscribe to the Journal, you join the team of print subscribers whose paid subscriptions help provide the resources at equip.org that minister to people worldwide. These resources include our ever growing database of over 1,500 articles, as well as our free Postmodern Realities podcast.

Another way you can support our online articles is by leaving us a tip. A tip is just a small amount, like $3, $5, or $10 which is the cost for some of a latte, lunch out, or coffee drink. To leave a tip, click here https://www.equip.org/product/pmr-jnl-tip/

Other articles and podcasts featuring this author:

Hank Unplugged:

Gaslighting, BLM, Cancel Culture and More with Anne Kennedy

Postmodern Realities and Articles:

Episode 258: African Traditional Religion

African Traditional Religion, Black Lives Matter, and Prosperity Gospel

Episode 255 For Our Lamps Are Going Out: Gaslighting in the Age of Social Media

For Our Lamps are Going Out: Gaslighting in the Age of Social Media

Episode 252 Meditation Upon the Death of a Pet

Meditation Upon the Death of a Pet

Episode 245: Glimpsing the Grave: A Critical Review of The Book of Longings

Glimpsing the Grave: A Critical Review of The Book of Longings: A Novel by Sue Monk Kidd

Episode 240: Be Free! The Making of Biblical Womanhood A Summary Critique review of The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women became Gospel Truth by Beth Allison Barr

Be Free! The Making of Biblical Womanhood A summary critique review of The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women became Gospel Truth by Beth Allison Barr

Episode 224 You Only Die Once: Why It’s Okay Not to Live in the Present

You Only Die Once: Why It’s Okay Not to Live in the Present

Episode 216 Why Do I Call Myself Good? A Look at Virtue Signaling

Why Do I Call Myself Good? A Look at Virtue Signaling

Episode 211: There Is No Health in Us: Wellness and Self-Care in the Age of COVID-19

There Is No Health in Us: Wellness and Self-Care in the Age of COVID-19

Episode 209 She Who Has Eyes, Let Her See: A look at Didn’t See That Coming by Rachel Hollis

She Who Has Eyes, Let Her See: A look at Didn’t See That Coming by Rachel Hollis

Episode 204: The Road Back to Where? A Look at Self Discovery Using the Enneagram

The Road Back to Where? A Look at Self Discovery Using the Enneagram

Episode 198 Cancel Culture and the Gospel: Where Can You Go When The Whole World Is Against You?

Cancel Culture and the Gospel: Where Can You Go When The Whole World Is Against You?

Episode 193 Catching UP with Rachel Hollis, Glennon Doyle & Jen Hatmaker

Episode 191 Gods, Gold, and Cheetahs: The Theological Vision of Untamed

Gods, Gold, and Cheetahs: The Theological Vision of Untamed

Episode 181 But What If It Is Me? The Work and Worldview of Brené Brown

But What If It Is Me? The Work and Worldview of Brené Brown

Episode 178 Worshipping Together

Episode 160-Naming Names: Why It’s OK (and Necessary) to Call Out False Teachers and Fugitives from Church Justice by Name

Naming Names: Why It’s OK (and Necessary) to Call Out False Teachers and Fugitives from Church Justice by Name

Episode 151 Am I a Bad Christian for Watching Hallmark Christmas Movies?

Am I a Bad Christian for Watching Hallmark Christmas Movies?

Episode 147 Book Review of Modern Kinship: A Queer Guide to Christian Marriage and An Evaluation of 2019 Evolving Faith Conference

A Helper Like Me: A Review of Modern Kinship: A Queer Guide to Christian Marriage by David and Constantino Khalaf

Losing Faith: A Look at the 2019 Evolving Faith Conference

Episode 140 The Theological “Mess” in the “Moxie” of Jen Hatmaker

The Unhindered Leadership of Jen Hatmaker

The Theological “Mess” in the “Moxie” of Jen Hatmaker

Episode 136 Have You Considered Trying Harder: The Theology of Rachel Hollis

Have You Considered Trying Harder: The Theology of Rachel Hollis

Don’t miss an episode; please subscribe to the Postmodern Realities podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Please help spread the word about Postmodern Realities by giving us a rating and review when you subscribe to the podcast. The more ratings and reviews we have, the more new listeners can discover our content.