Becoming the Son: A Q&A with Author C.D. Baker

Last updated on: May 16, 2013 at 5:15 pm by Guest Contributor

1,944 Comments

Becoming the Son: A Q&A with Author C.D. Baker 2013-05-16T17:15:17-06:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Now Featured at the Patheos Book Club

Becoming the Son: An Autobiography of Jesus
By C.D. Baker

An Interview with the Author

Why should someone read this book?

Jesus Christ changed the world, and not just for Christians. Knowing who he could have been can make a great difference in the way any of us understands ourselves and others. Yet, most of us only know him according to very narrow perspectives, usually controlled by churches or other communities. The result is to sometimes miss the Bible’s amazing clues that invite us to broaden our minds. Through the power of imagination, I hope the reader will experience truth as new possibilities about Jesus Christ are revealed.

Why did you write this book?

For some, the notion of limitation, failure, disappointment and even imperfection is shaming. Many Protestants and Roman Catholics, alike, have done much to foster this by de-emphasizing the humanity of Jesus in favor of the more ethereal Christ. Therefore, most churches emphasize the need for God (and others) to see ‘Christ in us.” My hope is that we don’t forget that God humbling himself to be one of us also means that we are invited to see ourselves in Jesus. Imagine the joy of discovering that our limitations, our imperfections, and even our failures were shared by Jesus Christ. Imagine the peace that might come if we would only believe that God considers humanity…in all its weaknesses…still worth loving. That’s why I wrote this book.

Why an ‘auto’ biography?

Christianity is unique in inviting something of a blurring of identities between ourselves and Jesus Christ. I wonder if very many of us ever really imagined what it could have been like to stand in the sandals of Jesus for a moment…for a day, even a lifetime. We are surely invited to ‘know him better,’ and I can’t think of a more potent way of ‘knowing’ someone than to ask the question: ‘What it would be like to be him.’ Finally, as a literary device, first-person is the most intimate relationship between reader and protagonist. Why not invite an imaginative encounter with Jesus in the most intimate way possible?

Who is publishing the book?

I’m pleased that Knigonosha Ltd of Kiev, Ukraine, is publishing the Russian language edition. In addition, Eksmo Publishing is negotiating a cooperative release in Russia. However, I have been advised by the publishing professionals with whom I’ve worked on other books that no American evangelical publisher will touch it. Apparently, the content is controversial enough to be considered risky for reputations. I’ve also made an assumption that the book is too orthodox for the ‘secular’ marketplace, leaving me somewhere in limbo. The emerging models of independent publishing are actually quite fascinating, so I’ve decided to release an ‘author’s edition.

Previous Post

May 16, 2013

Animate: Coming Out as Apophatic

Next Post

May 23, 2013 Strange Gods is a Thorough Reality Check

Recent Comments

1,944 Comments | Leave a Comment

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Author Q&A Book Review Christian Living Church Leadership Stump a Scholar Theology Uncategorized

Select a Month June 2022 March 2021 October 2020 August 2020 February 2019 November 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 November 2016 October 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I am a book of sermons and laws, Moses' final words before entering the Promised Land. What book am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The law Moses' testimony Deuteronomy The second law