Overview

Does Being ""Saved"" Have Anything of Substance to Offer in Today's World?What does it truly mean to be ""saved""? In From Alienation to Reconciliation pastor turned attorney, Adam Rodrigues, tackles the difficult questions of what Christianity means, explaining how to effectively live a life of true salvation every day. Adam shows how an ""incarnational faith""-a faith that transforms our bodies as much as our spirits-is key to walking out our salvation. He argues Christian transformation is as much physical as it is spiritual because it is grounded in the incarnation of Christ and His resurrection. From Alienation to Reconciliation will: Teach pastors to navigate painful church conflict Show how Christianity speaks to life's deepest questions Demonstrate how reconciliation lies at the heart of the Gospel message From Alienation to Reconciliation is a must read for those asking the deeper questions of both an intellectual and spiritual faith.

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9798988537007

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Reviews

"ForewordAny time an author asks someone to write a Foreword to their book, it is an honor. This is Adam Rodrigues' first book, and I am honored to write its Foreword because this volume reflects wisdom beyond his years. He writes with a winsomeness that reflects what I call humble confidence. His confidence shows up as a desire to contribute to people's lives, particularly their relationship with Jesus Christ. He offers ideas that have first been shaped by his own journey and offered with clear, uncluttered rhetoric. His writing demonstrates an obvious humility that is rare in the tumultuous and raucous world of rhetoric we live in currently. Full disclosure: I am the seminary president referred to in chapter 3. I never knew that the words I had spoken, as Adam began his semi-nary career, would have the enduring impact reflected in this volume. With more years in the rearview mirror than ahead of me, I must admit I have read that section of the book a few more times than you might expect for the ""humble"" preacher Adam depicts. There are two words used in this volume that I am drawn to. The first is the word saved. Our current moment in history has all too often left this term in the dust, as some uncouth relic of a past world from which we would like to distance ourselves. Shrill alternative visions of the future demand more progressive and woke images that would reflect a new, non-offensive rhetoric. This book demonstrates a refreshing re-telling of why saved is neither a term that is bigoted nor antiquated. The second term that caught my attention was reconciliation. My favorite verse in the Bible is in 2 Corinthians: ""We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us; be reconciled to God"" (5:20, NIV). In this verse, Paul is simple pointing us to what Adam's book identifies as-what we are saved from and what we are saved to. The transformation of our lives by an encounter with Jesus Christ ought to have some visible fruit. If we have been reconciled to God from our alienated state, then it is reasonable for reconciliation to flow from that transformative encounter. Reconciliation should be a visible demonstration, in every sector of society, of what being freed from alienation can bring. This volume provides an example of the current recovery of the pastor as public theologian. All too often theology has remained in the abstract language of the professional guild. Rodrigues writes in the tradition of Augustine, Calvin, and Barth. Here is a young pastor who reads his times in the light of Scripture and communicates wisdom with humble clarity that is life-giving. His recent profession-al validation as an attorney further highlights his understanding of Christian vocation as a continuing journey that brings reconciliation to every expression of alienation that strangles human flourishing. Adam Rodrigues is a follower of Jesus I am privileged to call friend. I commend to you a clear example of accessible theological reflection that demonstrates a lucidity and wisdom offered in a winsome and compelling fashion. -Dr. Byron D. Klaus President (1999-2015), Assemblies of God Theological Seminary"

ForewordAny time an author asks someone to write a Foreword to their book, it is an honor. This is Adam Rodrigues' first book, and I am honored to write its Foreword because this volume reflects wisdom beyond his years. He writes with a winsomeness that reflects what I call humble confidence. His confidence shows up as a desire to contribute to people's lives, particularly their relationship with Jesus Christ. He offers ideas that have first been shaped by his own journey and offered with clear, uncluttered rhetoric. His writing demonstrates an obvious humility that is rare in the tumultuous and raucous world of rhetoric we live in currently. Full disclosure: I am the seminary president referred to in chapter 3. I never knew that the words I had spoken, as Adam began his semi-nary career, would have the enduring impact reflected in this volume. With more years in the rearview mirror than ahead of me, I must admit I have read that section of the book a few more times than you might expect for the ""humble"" preacher Adam depicts. There are two words used in this volume that I am drawn to. The first is the word saved. Our current moment in history has all too often left this term in the dust, as some uncouth relic of a past world from which we would like to distance ourselves. Shrill alternative visions of the future demand more progressive and woke images that would reflect a new, non-offensive rhetoric. This book demonstrates a refreshing re-telling of why saved is neither a term that is bigoted nor antiquated. The second term that caught my attention was reconciliation. My favorite verse in the Bible is in 2 Corinthians: ""We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us; be reconciled to God"" (5:20, NIV). In this verse, Paul is simple pointing us to what Adam's book identifies as-what we are saved from and what we are saved to. The transformation of our lives by an encounter with Jesus Christ ought to have some visible fruit. If we have been reconciled to God from our alienated state, then it is reasonable for reconciliation to flow from that transformative encounter. Reconciliation should be a visible demonstration, in every sector of society, of what being freed from alienation can bring. This volume provides an example of the current recovery of the pastor as public theologian. All too often theology has remained in the abstract language of the professional guild. Rodrigues writes in the tradition of Augustine, Calvin, and Barth. Here is a young pastor who reads his times in the light of Scripture and communicates wisdom with humble clarity that is life-giving. His recent profession-al validation as an attorney further highlights his understanding of Christian vocation as a continuing journey that brings reconciliation to every expression of alienation that strangles human flourishing. Adam Rodrigues is a follower of Jesus I am privileged to call friend. I commend to you a clear example of accessible theological reflection that demonstrates a lucidity and wisdom offered in a winsome and compelling fashion. -Dr. Byron D. Klaus President (1999-2015), Assemblies of God Theological Seminary

Author Information

Adam moved around a lot as a kid but ended up in Tennessee when he was twelve and stayed there through college, so he mostly considers himself a Tennessee native. It helps that his mom and in-laws live in central Tennessee. He went to Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee and got his Bachelor of Arts degree in biblical and theological studies. He double majored in Spanish, but he'll be the first to tell you his Spanish has improved most by listening to Spanish podcasts. He liked school a little too much and so began his Master of Divinity program at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri the fall immediately after graduating from Lee. After dating for a little over two years, Adam realized he had better hurry up and propose to his girlfriend, Kate, before she realized she was too good for him. They were married halfway through Adam's M.Div. program. After graduation, Adam and Kate moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, where Adam eventually began serving as lead pastor of a small nondenominational church. Three years into that experience Adam had the crazy idea to go to law school to equip himself even further to help people. He continued as lead pastor of a small church through his first year of law school then moved on from that to focus solely on law school-only to welcome the new challenge of navigating law school with newborn twin boys.Despite delayed finals his second year and many sleep deprived nights throughout his final year, Adam managed to graduate with his JD from the University of North Carolina School of Law in May of 2020. He took an in-person bar exam in July during COVID-19, a really scary experience, but he managed to pass and now has his own law practice in Tennessee. He also currently volunteers at Family Worship Center in Tennessee. You can find more of his reflections on the Christian life at adamjrodrigues.wordpress.com.

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