Shaken Faith: What You Don't Know (and Need to Know) about Faith Crises and How They Affect Spiritual Growth

When your faith no longer works and the catch phrases and Christianese that got you to where you are cannot take you past your current crisis what do you do? Is doubt okay? Is it okay for Christians to struggle with what they believe? Is it okay to question God? This book takes an honest and in-depth look at faith crises experiences from interviews with sixty people and five biblical narratives addressing head-on the issues of doubt and times of questioning ones faith. Shaken Faith outlines a biblical perspective and a fresh way of viewing doubt the questions Christians experience in their faith and faith crisis moments. In order for faith to be real it must be challenged and shaken so that the depth of the faith can be rooted in an unshakable God. Sanejo Leonard encourages us to develop our churches as well as our individual characters into the kinds of Christ-like manifestations of honest open reflective agents of hope that catalyze authentic holistic transformation of our individual and communal lives. We would all do well to pursue her vision for it is the call of the Good Shepherd who leaving the ninety-nine seeks to comfort the lost . . . and doubting one. --Gary Black Jr. Assistant Professor of Theology Azusa Pacific Seminary This is good news for anyone whose own faith or the faith of someone they love is in crisis. Leonard invites us to push aside an outdated paradigm and embrace a more nuanced profound and adventurous relationship with God. --Jan Johnson author of Invitation to the Jesus Life Sanejo Leonard talks about various crisis experiences that challenge Christians spiritual and intellectual well-being. She talks about how faith crises may be occasions for strengthening faith and hope rather than weakening them. Leonard uses stories and conversations with real-life Christians along with biblical expertise in helping us deal with the inescapable crises of shaken faith. --Don Thorsen Professor of Theology Azusa Pacific Seminary Sanejo Leonard holds an MDiv and DMin from Azusa Pacific University. She is an Associate Pastor at Convergence Church Tustin CA Adjunct Professor in Religious Studies at Victor Valley College and Adjunct Professor in Biblical Studies and Ministry at Ohio Christian University Grand Canyon University South University and Indiana Wesleyan University.