Additional information
by Jonathan Brenneman (Author)
This short book is adapted from a chapter of "I Am Persuaded: Christian Leadership As Taught By Jesus."
Jesus said, "Call no man on earth father, for you all have one Father who is in heaven." Yet Paul called Timothy, Titus, and Onesimus his "sons" and sometimes used "father" language when addressing the churches. Was Paul contradicting Jesus?
Instead of cherry-picking scriptures, adapting extreme views, and reviling anyone who sees differently, we need to get to the heart of the issue. "Spiritual Fathers Or Brothers?" clears up the confusion and helps us to understand the heart of both Paul's teaching and Jesus' teaching. While acknowledging that Christian leaders should share in the father heart of God, it also highlights the unhealthy dynamics that result if we go beyond scripture in our emphasis on "fathering" young disciples.
The reader should have a more complete and balanced perspective by the end of this book, whether or not he fully agrees with the author's conclusions.
Author Biography
Jonathan Brenneman was born in Rochester, New York and raised in Pennsylvania. He read the Bible from cover to cover when he was seven years old, but remained unsure if God existed.
When he was nine years old, Jonathan woke up with severe back pain. He was healed as his mother prayed for him, and felt something like a ball of energy rolling up and down his spine. This convinced him of God's existence.
As a young adult, Jonathan began to see miracles happening through his own hands after becoming convinced from scripture that it is always God's will to heal. He loves to lay hands on suffering people and see their pain melt away.
Jonathan is a missionary, now living in Brazil with his wife Elizabeth and his daughter Rebekah.
