13. Jared Byas (The Bible for Normal People) – Taking the Bible Seriously But Not Literally

13. Jared Byas (The Bible for Normal People) – Taking the Bible Seriously But Not LiterallyAlexis sits down with Jared Byas - co-host of The Bible for Normal People (along with Pete Enns) and author of Love Matters More — to explore what it really means to take Scripture seriously. For many of us raised in evangelical spaces, we were taught that taking the Bible seriously meant taking it literally. But what happens when reading closely actually raises more questions? When you see the “wrinkles” and the humanity in the text? When certainty starts to crack?💬 In This Episode• “Taking the Bible seriously will inevitably lead you to not take it literally” • The “wrinkles” in Scripture - and choosing intimacy over perfection • Why “speaking the truth in love” often becomes a power move • Paul’s black swan moment and theological transformation • Fear vs. love in Christian formation • Rebuilding trust in the Bible after church harm • Parenting with curiosity instead of control • For the spiritually tender: you’re not backsliding - you’re paying attention👥 People/Resources MentionedJared Byas: @jaredbyasThe Bible for Normal People: @biblefornormalpeoplePete Enns: @peteennsCurious Faith Media: @curiousfaithmediaRachel Held Evans: @rachelheldevansLove Matters More by Jared Byas: https://www.jaredbyas.comGod's Stories as told by God's Children: https://a.co/d/087F8ZFNGod's Stories as told by God's Children for Adults: https://a.co/d/0fteC7QR#Christianity #deconstruction #reconstruction #ChristianSupport the showAbout The Sacred SlopeWhere the slippery slope becomes sacred ground.For the spiritually tender—raised in or rooted in Christianity.Come explore our global, diverse, inclusive Christian faith, deconstruction, and spiritual identity in a rapidly changing world. Through conversations with clergy, scholars, and cultural voices, the show creates space for people navigating faith after certainty, church harm, or political co-option of religion.🎧 WATCH: YouTube / Spotify     LISTEN: Apple Podcasts + everywhere     FOLLOW: @thesacredslope (IG, FB, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, Bluesky)🔗 Connect🎧 Explore episodes & community: linktr.ee/TheSacredSlope 🎙 Hosted by Alexis Rice 🎵 Music by Brett Rutledge, Eddie Irvin & Sean Spence 📬 Nominate a guest: [email protected]🌿 Community Guidelines 🌿Fruit of the Spirit:  ❤️ love • 💫 joy • ☮️ peace • 🕊 patience • 💝 kindness • 🌿 goodness • 🙏 faithfulness • 🤲 gentleness • 💪 self-control