From the Blood of Abel, Out Today!

Over the course of our lives, we will likely undergo a variety of changes, which can come in a wide array of forms. Some of us will move all over the map, like nomads, sojourning from one place to another. Others will go from having zero children to five in a matter of a decade. Sadly, some of us will witness the untimely deaths of our loved ones; will face personal health or financial issues, or all of the above. And yet others—such as myself—will set out on a spiritual journey that ends up utterly destroying just about everything we once believed.

And this change is ultimately a good thing.

Looking back, I have to admit that if you told the Matthew of 10 years ago that he would be writing a book about the “good book” and its chief character, Jesus of Nazareth, he would probably think you were insane. You see, the twenty-something version of myself was, from time to time, borderline atheistic on the worst days and devoutly agnostic on the best. So, needless to say, discussing the Bible at-length was not even close to being on the radar.

Roughly ten years later, thanks in large part to those who have endured the journey prior to me, I am still amazed at how much I’ve changed.

Now, I have set out to primarily do two things in From the Blood of Abel: 1) diagnose humanity’s root causes of violence and 2) offer the antidote. And with the world in the situation it finds itself in, this couldn’t come at a better time.

As we all know, humanity seems to be at a crossroads of sorts. Yes, violence on the whole is down. But tensions between nations are rising. Economies are in bad shape. The ecology of the globe is at a tipping point. And the answer to these problems, far too often it seems, is to beat the drums of war. This can’t go on. We are better than this.

Jesus showed us as much.

At a time like this, what we need—desperately—is the Gospel of Peace, as it is known as in the book of Ephesians. We need to learn how to beat our swords into plowshares, how to cut off the chariots of war, as well as the bows of battle.

My hope, then, is that this book helps us learn how to do that by placing Jesus Christ front and center as our leader. After all, his biggest request was that we follow him, and if we do, then perhaps we can follow him in becoming peacemakers, or in other words, in ushering in the kingdom of God.

That is my hope, anyway.

So, may you find this book liberating and useful in your journey. And may the peace of Christ Jesus comfort you during any darkness you encounter.

Shalom.

To pick up a copy of “From the Blood of Abel,” click here.