Naeem Fazal
Reimagining God
Naeem Fazal, founding pastor of Mosaic Church, and author of Ex-Muslim, talks about deconstruction or reimaging God. Naeem talks about the importance of being able to recognize God outside of our personal context, how to view sin, how to approach scripture, and a beautiful gospel that’s not just about the Jesus who saves but about the Jesus who is restoring humanity and all creation.
QUOTES
“My whole life has been about reimagining God because I started off as a Muslim.”
“Our mission as Mosaic, (our church) is to reclaim the message of Jesus.”
“Not recognizing God out of context is the biggest sin of religious people.”
“We sometimes preach Jesus and preach the gospel to solve a particular kind of sin a particular type of problem.”
“We have sinner and saint, but God sees oppressed and free.”
“What Jesus was doing on the cross was not just saving us so we wouldn’t go to hell. It’s way bigger than that; it’s liberating us to live in this eternal Kingdom that can be accessed here and on the other side. He was restoring not just humanity, but all creation.”
Regarding scripture / “It’s an inspired tool that God has used to encourage my faith; it is not what I anchor my soul on.”
“Here’s what happens when you anchor your soul on the text. The text becomes sorcery. You say it a certain way to get what you want. So, these stories and conversations become like incantations that are used in Jesus’ name. People don’t get that, but that’s Harry Potter.”
For more on Naeem Fazal
www.naeemfazal.org
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Podcast intro and outro music by Wilde Assembly
Thought interesting when Naem, your podcast guest, discussed ‘anchoring your soul on the text ( of scripture )’ and ‘this text becomes sorcery’ and ‘people don’t get it but this Harry Potter.
Didn’t your wife, Karen, recently say in her own podcast (think with Sarah) that she read the whole Harry Potter series to her son, and was so enthralled she procured the audio of the series to replay with her son when they go for walks.
Yikes! According to Naem..that be a whole lotta sorcery??
Hey Carole, Naeem wasn’t ripping on Harry Potter. Knowing him, I bet he loves the series haha. He was addressing our Western certainty, our dualistic, inerrant approach to scripture. As though the bible isn’t an invitation to a relationship but instead is a list of instructions or “spells” that can be magically applied to get what we want.
This was a really enjoyable listen. Naeem has such a loving, fun way of representing LOVE. I was especially grateful that he mentioned owning a Bible being from a place of privilege. My friends and I have brought that up a few times in discussions, so it was refreshing to hear his perspective on it. Thank you for this great interview!
Lots of talking and innovative babble about “Reimagining God” with no reference from God’s Word about who God actually is. Sounds to me like you should rename this episode “Recreating God” because it’s pretty clear that is what you’re doing here. This is idolatry and it is so dangerous. God will hold you responsible for those you lead astray. Please, for your sakes, I beg you to repent from your false teaching.
2 Tim. 4:1-4
1I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Thanks for the thoughts, Scott
While we aren’t in agreement, I appreciate your passion!
Praying grace and wonder over you and yours today.