Fooling Ourselves with Fig Leaves: Confusing Religiosity with Righteousness
Ebook
In his letter to the church in Galatia, the Apostle Paul addresses the inefficacy of religious tradition for salvation and reaffirms the completeness of Jesus Christ's redemptive work for our deliverance and righteousness. Fooling Ourselves with Fig Leaves is an attempt to take the message of the Galatian epistle and apply it to today's spiritual context. In it, the author takes us through a journey of discovery and insight as he exposes the deceptive nature of religion, and highlights efficacy of justification by grace through faith. As a professor and pastor, Miciano writes with a desire to be faithful to the integrity of the ancient text while being mindful of the needs of believers and seekers today. This makes for an engaging read in exploring the age-old pursuit of knowing God and enjoying him forever.
"Ed Miciano's Fooling Ourselves with Fig Leaves is an
enjoyable journey through Paul's epistle to the Galatians. Using
insightful analysis, humor, stories from his own ethnic culture,
and examples readers are familiar with, Miciano calls us away from
the religiosity we too often get trapped in, either by intention or
the inertia of our own spiritual lives."
--Abraham Ruelas, Dean of Campus Programs, Professor of
Communication & Psychology, Patten University
"This book uncovers religiosity as a human activity that hinders
people from really knowing God. The author confronts the problem
biblically and theologically. Since the beginning of history,
religion has been used by good reputed individuals as a palliative
device to assimilate the consequences of sin. This book shows the
solution to the problem."
--Miguel Alvarez, Professor of Theology and Mission, Regent
University, Virginia Beach, VA
"Fooling Ourselves with Fig Leaves takes you on a journey
and reveals Bible truth as it is written unfolding in today's
context. The spirit of religiosity is nothing new . . . God's
children need to be able to spiritually discern what is true and
real Christianity. Reading the accounts in the New Testament will
alert you and cause you to spot people that carry and propagate
this spirit of religiosity."
--Peter Kairuz, Chief Executive Officer, CBN-Asia,
Philippines
"The study of the book of Galatians from the pastoral eyes of Ed
Miciano brings contemporary sensibility to one of Paul's key
doctrinal letters on Christian freedom and grace. Fooling
Ourselves with Fig Leaves is clever, insightful, and
inspirational reading for clergy, laity, and students of the Bible.
I nodded and smiled throughout Dr. Miciano's appraisal of the
Epistle to the Galatians."
-- Eloy H. Nolivos, Assistant Professor of Practical Theology, Oral
Roberts University
"Ed Miciano's Fooling Ourselves with Fig Leaves is an enjoyable
journey through Paul's epistle to the Galatians, one of my favorite
books of the New Testament. Using insightful analysis, humor,
stories from his own ethnic culture, and examples readers are
familiar with, Miciano calls us away from the religiosity we too
often get trapped in, either by intention or the inertia of our own
spiritual lives. While not quite pointing us to Bonheoffer's
religionless Christianity, Miciano challenges us to examine those
behaviors we deem necessary to our public piety in light of the
freedom we have in Jesus Christ as a means of achieving true
spirituality. At the same time, the book walks the reader through
Galatians as the Apostle Paul deals with issues, including
challenges to his apostleship and the work of Judiazers to
undermine Christian liberty. We see Paul the pastor as he explains
the role of the Law and the doctrine of justification by faith
alone, and offers practical advice on how to live as people who are
set free by the redemptive work of Christ."
--Abraham Ruelas, Dean of Campus Programs, Professor of
Communication & Psychology, Patten University
"This book uncovers religiosity as a human activity that hinders
people from really knowing God. The author confronts the problem
biblically and theologically. Here the reader will find that
religion is used by people mostly to hide failure in its subsequent
pain. Since the beginning of history, religion has been used by
good reputed individuals as a palliative device to assimilate the
consequences of sin. This book shows the solution to the
problem."
--Miguel Alvarez, Professor of Theology and Mission, Regent
University, Virginia Beach, VA
"The book you have in your hands was written by a man who walks his
talk. I have known Ed even before he went to Bible school. He is a
no nonsense kind of guy, a man of integrity. Fooling Ourselves with
Fig Leaves takes you on a journey and reveals Bible truth as it is
written unfolding in today's context. It is a safeguard to sharpen
our spiritual senses to detect truth from false doctrine. Matthew
24:11 tells us that 'many false prophets will appear and will
deceive many people.' The spirit of religiosity is nothing new; it
dates back 2000 years and is still at work today. God's children
need to be able to spiritually discern what is true and real
Christianity. Christlikeness in the lives of people is not only
heard from their lips but seen in the way they live every day.
Reading the accounts in the New Testament will alert you and cause
you to spot people that carry and propagate this spirit of
religiosity. One good gauge you will discover for yourselves when
you spend enough time is this, they would want you to conform and
become more like them, than to conform to image and likeness of
Christ."
--Peter Kairuz, Chief Executive Officer, CBN-Asia,
Philippines
"The study of the book of Galatians from the pastoral eyes of Ed
Miciano brings contemporary sensibility to one of Paul's key
doctrinal letters on Christian freedom and grace. Fooling Ourselves
with Fig Leaves is clever, insightful, and inspirational reading
for clergy, laity, and students of the Bible. I nodded and smiled
throughout Dr. Miciano's appraisal of the Epistle to the
Galatians."
-- Eloy H. Nolivos, Assistant Professor of Practical Theology, Oral
Roberts University
"A call for personal holiness and devotion that Dr. Ed Miciano
provides in this book is at our fingertips. It is one of the more
profound commentaries in Galatians that provides many insights for
discussion of many issues in life. This book bridges theology and
practice, sacred and secular literature, yesterday and today,
old-fashioned and modern, discussing religiosity including the
purpose and efficacy of legalism and nomism. I highly recommend
this book! It is a relevant contribution to our rapidly changing
society."
--Ferdinand Melenres, Pastor, Word International Ministries-New
York
"In my years of studying and teaching the Bible, I have never come
across a commentary on Galatians that made it significant for our
time. This one was engaging and filled with many relatable stories
and illustrations. Ed's perspective makes this book a very
practical guide to avoid hiding 'behind fig leaves.'"
--Dino Miciano, Pastor, Network Christian Ministries, Seattle
"Fooling Ourselves with Fig Leaves is a thorough and engaging
commentary on the New Testament book of Galatians. This is no
dry commentary, as Dr. Miciano communicates his observations using
humor, anecdotes, and clear layman's language. In today's
climate, where Christian standards and righteousness have been
redefined, Miciano's work demonstrates how the book of Galatians is
as relevant today as it was in the first century AD!"
--Elsie Reyes Cook, Vice-President of Operations, SUM Bible College
& Theological Seminary
"Dr. Ed Miciano writes from over thirty years of ministry
experience and twenty-five years as a pastor. His years
as a seminary professor guided him to be true to the theological
positions and implications of the Letter to the Galatians. His
years as a ministry youth worker simplified and brought the
language of this book to a level that can
be easily understood. This is a commentary where the
past speaks to us today in complete relevance."
--Emerito Paulate, Regional Overseer, Word International
Ministries-USA
Product Details
- Title : Fooling Ourselves with Fig Leaves: Confusing Religiosity with Righteousness
- Authors:
- Miciano, Edoardo S.
- Coats, Bruce
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Publication Date: 2016
- ISBN: 9781498233354
Dr. Ed Miciano is the founding pastor of Bridgepoint Community Church in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ed has served as Assistant Professor of Biblical Theology at Patten University. He currently lectures on systematic and practical theology at the S.U.M. Bible College and Theological Seminary in Oakland, California. He is the author of The Ministry of Coaching and The Faith Factor.