Fooling Ourselves with Fig Leaves: Confusing Religiosity with Righteousness

by Edoardo S. Miciano; Bruce Coats

Publisher:

Wipf and Stock

, 2016

Overview

In his letter to the church in Galatia, the Apostle Paul addresses the inefficacy of religious tradition for salvation and reaffirms the completeness of Jesus Christ’s redemptive work for our deliverance and righteousness. Fooling Ourselves with Fig Leaves is an attempt to take the message of the Galatian epistle and apply it to today’s spiritual context. In it, the author takes us through a journey of discovery and insight as he exposes the deceptive nature of religion, and highlights efficacy of justification by grace through faith. As a professor and pastor, Miciano writes with a desire to be faithful to the integrity of the ancient text while being mindful of the needs of believers and seekers today. This makes for an engaging read in exploring the age-old pursuit of knowing God and enjoying him forever.

Praise for Fooling Ourselves with Fig Leaves

”Ed Miciano’s Fooling Ourselves with Fig Leaves is an enjoyable journey through Paul’s epistle to the Galatians. Using insightful analysis, humor, stories from his own ethnic culture, and examples readers are familiar with, Miciano calls us away from the religiosity we too often get trapped in, either by intention or the inertia of our own spiritual lives."
--Abraham Ruelas, Dean of Campus Programs, Professor of Communication & Psychology, Patten University

“This book uncovers religiosity as a human activity that hinders people from really knowing God. The author confronts the problem biblically and theologically. Since the beginning of history, religion has been used by good reputed individuals as a palliative device to assimilate the consequences of sin. This book shows the solution to the problem."
--Miguel Alvarez, Professor of Theology and Mission, Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA

"Fooling Ourselves with Fig Leaves takes you on a journey and reveals Bible truth as it is written unfolding in today’s context. The spirit of religiosity is nothing new . . . God’s children need to be able to spiritually discern what is true and real Christianity. Reading the accounts in the New Testament will alert you and cause you to spot people that carry and propagate this spirit of religiosity."
--Peter Kairuz, Chief Executive Officer, CBN-Asia, Philippines

"The study of the book of Galatians from the pastoral eyes of Ed Miciano brings contemporary sensibility to one of Paul’s key doctrinal letters on Christian freedom and grace. Fooling Ourselves with Fig Leaves is clever, insightful, and inspirational reading for clergy, laity, and students of the Bible. I nodded and smiled throughout Dr. Miciano’s appraisal of the Epistle to the Galatians."
-- Eloy H. Nolivos, Assistant Professor of Practical Theology, Oral Roberts University



"Ed Miciano’s Fooling Ourselves with Fig Leaves is an enjoyable journey through Paul’s epistle to the Galatians, one of my favorite books of the New Testament. Using insightful analysis, humor, stories from his own ethnic culture, and examples readers are familiar with, Miciano calls us away from the religiosity we too often get trapped in, either by intention or the inertia of our own spiritual lives. While not quite pointing us to Bonheoffer’s religionless Christianity, Miciano challenges us to examine those behaviors we deem necessary to our public piety in light of the freedom we have in Jesus Christ as a means of achieving true spirituality. At the same time, the book walks the reader through Galatians as the Apostle Paul deals with issues, including challenges to his apostleship and the work of Judiazers to undermine Christian liberty. We see Paul the pastor as he explains the role of the Law and the doctrine of justification by faith alone, and offers practical advice on how to live as people who are set free by the redemptive work of Christ."
--Abraham Ruelas, Dean of Campus Programs, Professor of Communication & Psychology, Patten University

"This book uncovers religiosity as a human activity that hinders people from really knowing God. The author confronts the problem biblically and theologically. Here the reader will find that religion is used by people mostly to hide failure in its subsequent pain. Since the beginning of history, religion has been used by good reputed individuals as a palliative device to assimilate the consequences of sin. This book shows the solution to the problem."
--Miguel Alvarez, Professor of Theology and Mission, Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA

"The book you have in your hands was written by a man who walks his talk. I have known Ed even before he went to Bible school. He is a no nonsense kind of guy, a man of integrity. Fooling Ourselves with Fig Leaves takes you on a journey and reveals Bible truth as it is written unfolding in today’s context. It is a safeguard to sharpen our spiritual senses to detect truth from false doctrine. Matthew 24:11 tells us that ‘many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.’ The spirit of religiosity is nothing new; it dates back 2000 years and is still at work today. God’s children need to be able to spiritually discern what is true and real Christianity. Christlikeness in the lives of people is not only heard from their lips but seen in the way they live every day. Reading the accounts in the New Testament will alert you and cause you to spot people that carry and propagate this spirit of religiosity. One good gauge you will discover for yourselves when you spend enough time is this, they would want you to conform and become more like them, than to conform to image and likeness of Christ."
--Peter Kairuz, Chief Executive Officer, CBN-Asia, Philippines

"The study of the book of Galatians from the pastoral eyes of Ed Miciano brings contemporary sensibility to one of Paul’s key doctrinal letters on Christian freedom and grace. Fooling Ourselves with Fig Leaves is clever, insightful, and inspirational reading for clergy, laity, and students of the Bible. I nodded and smiled throughout Dr. Miciano’s appraisal of the Epistle to the Galatians."
-- Eloy H. Nolivos, Assistant Professor of Practical Theology, Oral Roberts University

"A call for personal holiness and devotion that Dr. Ed Miciano provides in this book is at our fingertips. It is one of the more profound commentaries in Galatians that provides many insights for discussion of many issues in life. This book bridges theology and practice, sacred and secular literature, yesterday and today, old-fashioned and modern, discussing religiosity including the purpose and efficacy of legalism and nomism. I highly recommend this book! It is a relevant contribution to our rapidly changing society."
--Ferdinand Melenres, Pastor, Word International Ministries-New York

"In my years of studying and teaching the Bible, I have never come across a commentary on Galatians that made it significant for our time. This one was engaging and filled with many relatable stories and illustrations. Ed’s perspective makes this book a very practical guide to avoid hiding ‘behind fig leaves.’"
--Dino Miciano, Pastor, Network Christian Ministries, Seattle

"Fooling Ourselves with Fig Leaves is a thorough and engaging commentary on the New Testament book of Galatians. This is no dry commentary, as Dr. Miciano communicates his observations using humor, anecdotes, and clear layman’s language. In today’s climate, where Christian standards and righteousness have been redefined, Miciano’s work demonstrates how the book of Galatians is as relevant today as it was in the first century AD!"
--Elsie Reyes Cook, Vice-President of Operations, SUM Bible College & Theological Seminary

"Dr. Ed Miciano writes from over thirty years of ministry experience and twenty-five years as a pastor. His years as a seminary professor guided him to be true to the theological positions and implications of the Letter to the Galatians. His years as a ministry youth worker simplified and brought the language of this book to a level that can be easily understood. This is a commentary where the past speaks to us today in complete relevance."
--Emerito Paulate, Regional Overseer, Word International Ministries-USA

Product Details

• Title : Fooling Ourselves with Fig Leaves: Confusing Religiosity with Righteousness
• Authors:
  • Miciano, Edoardo S.
  • Coats, Bruce
• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Publication Date: 2016
• ISBN: 9781498233354

About the Authors

Dr. Ed Miciano is the founding pastor of Bridgepoint Community Church in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ed has served as Assistant Professor of Biblical Theology at Patten University. He currently lectures on systematic and practical theology at the S.U.M. Bible College and Theological Seminary in Oakland, California. He is the author of The Ministry of Coaching and The Faith Factor.