Inconvenient Faith: What Happens When We Let Jesus Ask the Questions About Money (Book I): Bible Studies That Strip Faith Down to Its Essence

By Mel Williams

YOU DON'T WANT TO READ THIS BOOK.

You want a Bible study about money that:
- Blesses your financial goals
- Endorses your retirement planning
- Assures you that prosperity is God's favor
- Provides practical tips for being generous without disrupting your lifestyle
- Makes you feel good about occasional charitable giving

This book does none of that.

Instead, it lets Jesus ask his actual questions about money-the ones you've been avoiding, explaining away, and spiritualizing for your entire Christian life.

Questions like:

"What are you trusting for security-accumulated wealth or me?"

"When does your church's fundraising from struggling members become exploitation?"

"Who are you stepping over daily on your way to comfort?"

"What's the difference between your prudent planning and the rich fool's anxious hoarding?"

"Do you want grace (which means others get what they don't deserve) or merit (which means you get exactly what you earn and no more)?"

These aren't rhetorical questions. They're real questions that demand honest answers.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE LET JESUS ASK THE QUESTIONS ABOUT MONEY

Jesus talked about money constantly-more than prayer, heaven, or worship combined. He told stories about rich people ending up in torment and poor people being comforted. He commanded successful people to sell everything. He said wealth makes entering God's kingdom nearly impossible. He physically disrupted religious commerce.

But we've developed sophisticated theological systems to explain away what he said:

"Jesus is speaking spiritually, not literally."
"That was a different economic context."
"He's condemning the love of money, not money itself."
"That was for that specific person, not everyone."
"We're saved by grace, not works."

All of these might contain truth. But notice: every interpretation protects your comfortable lifestyle. Every explanation ensures Jesus' hardest teachings never actually challenge how you earn, spend, save, or hoard.

That's not interpretation. That's self-protection.

This book strips away those shields.

Six studies examine passages we've domesticated, letting them become wild again:

1. THE RICH YOUNG RULER - What are you trusting for ultimate security?
2. THE WIDOW'S MITE VS. TEMPLE WEALTH - When does religious fundraising exploit the vulnerable?
3. CLEANSING THE TEMPLE - When does commercialized religion require forceful disruption?
4. THE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOL - What's the difference between planning and hoarding?
5. LAZARUS AND THE RICH MAN - Who are you rendering invisible at your gate?
6. THE WORKERS IN THE VINEYARD - Do you want grace or merit?

Each study uses LECTIO DIVINA-ancient sacred reading that lets Scripture question you-to force honest self-examination through three questions:

- What is Jesus asking in this passage?
- What does his question disturb in me/us?
- How will I/we respond to his question?

YOU'LL GET:
Deep historical context - Extended examination of what disturbs you - Extensive journaling space - No easy answers - Concrete challenges for individuals and communities - Systemic analysis, not just personal behavior tips

YOU WON'T GET:
Comfortable reassurance - Practical steps for being slightly more generous - Theological loopholes - Permission to keep living exactly as you are

FAIR WARNING: These studies will make you angry, defensive, and uncomfortable. That's not a flaw. That's the point.

If you finish this book comfortable with your relationship to wealth, you either already live radical economic discipleship-or you successfully resisted every question Jesus asked.

Are you brave enough to let Jesus ask his questions?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FW5KPSP6
• ISBN13: 9798269740645
• Release Date: October 2025
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 324 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.7" x 6.0"