Carolyn Custis James - When Life and Beliefs Collide: How Knowing God Makes a Difference

This outstanding book offers the best demonstration that everyone needs theology, the best expository account of Mary and Martha, and the best trajectory for womens ministry in modern North America that I have yet read. Carolyn James is a first-class writer and has a first-class, well-researched biblical message to deliver. Her book seems to me to be a must-read for Christian women and a youd-better-read for Christian men, for it gets right so much that others have simply missed.

J. I. Packer

Historically the study of theology has been the domain of men, but Carolyn James argues with both logic and passion that knowing and loving God must be the pursuit of all who are called his children. This book moved me to seek God more vigorously. Read it and pass it on to your daughter!

Kay Warren, Saddleback Church

After the plane crash that took the lives of our husbands, Payne Stewart, Robert Fraley, and Van Ardan, we found comfort and purpose in Carolyns insights into the Scripture and her focus on the importance of a deeper relationship with God. Knowing God doesnt stop the pain, but it makes a difference in how we cope with our heartache. We trust that her book will encourage others as much as we have been encouraged.

Tracey Stewart, Dixie Fraley, and Debbie Ardan

Every Christian is a theologian whether we like it or not. Carolyn Custis James shows us how to be a good theologiannot in an academic sense, but in a way that brings God into all of the struggles of life. Though written especially for women, Christian men will also profit from this book. I highly recommend it.

Jerry Bridges, Author ofThe Pursuit of Holiness

Every once in a while I come across a book that I can hardly wait to recommend to my friends. When Life and Beliefs Collide is that kind of book. It is profoundbiblical, scholarly, and provocative, and far more. This is a book with enormous passion and great compassion. Carolyn has become a teacher for this old preacher in a way that will make a major difference in my life.

Steve Brown, KeyLife Network

James book advocates the best kind of theology, one committed to mind and heart. Read this book to rekindle your love for theology. Written primarily to encourage women to consciously pursue theology, this book should be read by both men and women.

Tremper Longman III, Ph.D.,
Robert H. Gundry Professor of Biblical Studies, Westmont College

We are products of our theology. What we believe is demonstrated in the way we live. Carolyns rare combination of theological precision and winsome warmth challenges us to a deeper intimacy with Jesus and equips us to pass on a legacy of biblical womanhood. I pray that Christian women everywhere will use this book to help us rise to the challenge.

Susan Hunt, Author and Director of Womens Ministries,Christian Education Committee, PCA

Carolyn James book motivates women to study the Bible to know God more than anything I have read in many years. I am personally encouraged by it and recommend it to all women and men who want to live each day to glorify God. Get hold of the message of this book. It will change your thinking and thus your life.

Rosemary Jensen, General Director, Rafiki Foundation, Inc., andFormer Executive Director, Bible Study Fellowship International

As women are encouraged to love Gods Word, their hearts and minds are enflamed. Those flames in turn ignite the lives of their family, friends, and associates. It is heartening to have a book so competently and warmly written by Carolyn James, a woman who understands the need for the study of theology.

R. C. Sproul

In a most engaging style, Carolyn Custis James argues that everyone is a theologian. The only issue is whether we are good or bad theologians. She holds up Mary as the exemplar, especially for women, of being a good theologian. Our author also implicitly holds up herself as a first-class theologian by sound exegetical research, cogent theological reflection, and personal application.

Bruce K. Waltke, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Old Testament Studies,Regent College, and Professor, Old Testament,Reformed Theological SeminaryOrlando

Thoughtful, scholarly, and motivating! Carolyn has written an excellent book which should inspire and encourage women for years to come.

Joni Eareckson Tada, President, Joni and Friends

We live in a day of heated exchanges and strident finger-pointing regarding a womans place in spirituality, learning, and leadership. Carolyn James cuts through many unnecessary tangles to call women and men to the high calling of theological reflection. Carolyns thoughtful and joyful voice is an invitation for many women to embrace their calling as theologians. You will be richly rewarded for pondering this glorious book.

Dan B. Allender, Ph.D., President, Mars Hill Graduate School

ZONDERVAN

WHEN LIFE AND BELIEFS Collide
Copyright 2001 by Carolyn C. James

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Zondervan.

ePub Edition June 2009 ISBN:0-310-86467-4

Requests for information should be addressed to:
Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

James, Carolyn Custis, 1948
When life and beliefs collide : how knowing God makes a difference / Carolyn Custis James.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN-13: 978- 0-310-25014-2
1. Christian womenReligious life. I. Title.
BV4527 .J353 2001
248.8'43dc21

00-069311

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible: NewInternational Version. NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.
Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189. All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

08 09 10 11 12 13 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12

With love to my parents,
Dwight and Lucille Custis,
two of my favorite theologians,
who have loved, supported, and prayed me
through the living and writing of this book

CONTENTS

8. A Warrior in the Heat of Battle: Mary Anoints
Jesus for His Burial

A FEW YEARS AGO, MY EDITOR AT ZONDERVAN, JACK KUHATSCHEK, told me, Theres a woman I want you to meet. Shes writing a serious and thought-provoking book about women and theology, and I think the two of you will hit it off. He was so right! My heart connected instantly with Carolyns as I read portions of her manuscript. I was struck by her assertion that all of usmen and women; those who are seminary trained and the people in the pewsare already theologians. The question is, What kind of a theologian are you? And are you a good one?