Who are the heroes of the Christian faith? And who are the villains? Was Jezebel just the thoroughly evil character we believe her to be? Or was there another side to her story? Did David always behave as the great hero of the faith? What about his spectacular mistakes?

The reality is that we all have the potential for great good and disastrous moral failure. Through imaginatively retelling the stories of Bible characters, Jeannie Kendall shares profound insights on human nature in her new book Heroes or Villains? that can help us make better choices in our lives.

Jeannie Kendall is a Baptist minister and has had extensive experience working within a pastoral and counselling setting. She is a former Spurgeon’s College president and currently teaches on the Pastoral Supervision course.

Jeannie, why did you decide to write Heroes or Villains?

I was having a conversation with my grandson about a cartoon series, and asked him if the person he had just named was a ‘goodie’ or a ‘baddie’. As I said it, I was reminded again how as people we are simply not easily divided in that way, including the Bible characters. That was where the book was born.

Who have you written this book for?

I hope that this book will be of interest to a wide group of people – to Christians who have been around church for a long time but would value a fresh look both at the Bible characters and the way in which those qualities are present in their own lives; to those new to faith who would find the wide spread of Bible people and the background given helpful; and to those of no faith who find people and how they function interesting. The questions at the end of each chapter make the book useful for both individual and small group use. I think it would also be a helpful and innovative tool for discussions in PHSE or RE in a school setting.

You say that we all have the capacity ‘for great good and disastrous moral failure’. Why is it so important that you paint a nuanced view of human nature?

I think it is far too easy to divide people, as I said in question 1, into ‘good’ and bad’, including ourselves. This is unhelpful both in our relationships and in our personal growth and can become self-fulfilling. Rather than label ourselves or someone else a failure, for example, I think it is far more helpful to see ourselves as people loved by God who sometimes fail, as a friend of mine once said. There is always room for change and growth – the life of King David is a prime example. If we see ourselves as a mix, we can take responsibility both to overcome or minimise the unhelpful aspects of our personalities, and also to develop the good qualities there within us, and hopefully the reflection questions will help us in that.

One of the stories included in the book is that of Jezebel. How did you find anything other than evil characteristics in her story?

I don’t believe anyone is born evil, but instead born with the capacity for both good and evil. Someone like Jezebel will have a back story of circumstances, the way they have been treated by key figures in their lives, and the decisions they have made, all of which contribute to them becoming the person they are. This does not absolve Jezebel, or other figures who commit appalling atrocities, of responsibility, but it recognises that, as people created by a good God, we need to understand all that has brought them to that point.

You include first person retellings of Bible stories for each of the characters in the book. Why did you choose this approach and what do you think this brings to the book?

I think retelling in this way enables us to identify with the characters, and recognise that despite a huge difference between the eras in which they lived and ours, as people they shared the same feelings, possessed those same qualities which are still there in us, and wrestled with the same issues. It also enables me to weave cultural background into the text whilst it remains lively and engaging in style.

How did you decide which characters and characteristics to include? And were any particularly surprising?

Actually, I started with the villains! After that I sought to have a mix of well-known and not so well characters, and also reflected on some of our most common characteristics and where they might be found in the Bible account. I certainly learnt a lot along the way: I think others may find the fact that I link Paul with vulnerability surprising.

What was the most challenging element of writing the book?

Writing during a move and then while a major building project was going on at home, so with the laptop on my knees! More seriously, trying to be fair to the various personalities, and to make sometimes quite complex psychological theory accessible without being trite or inaccurate. I love writing though, so it is aways a joy.

And what was the most rewarding element of writing this book?

Finishing! Actually those same elements that were challenging: the engagement again with the Bible characters and with how both they and we ‘tick’.

Have you learnt anything new / been reminded afresh about God/ your faith while writing this book?

I think it has to be where I finish the introduction, being reminded again of ‘the lavish way in which God loves us deeply as we are, mixed and muddled, villainous and heroic.’

As a trained counsellor, exploring emotions and desires with people is a key part of your work. Why do we all need to pay close attention to the characteristics outlined in this book?

I think it is absolutely vital both as individuals and as groups and societies that we understand these qualities, so that individually and corporately we can work to minimise those which are troublesome and destructive, and grow those which are life-giving and affirming. We are much more likely to be able to do that if we understand them. Simply repressing undesirable qualities merely means they will manifest in a different way. We need to understand their origin and allow the Holy Spirit into areas we might want to keep hidden to bring healing and change, which will benefit both us and those around us.

What do you hope readers will most get out of reading this book?

A better understanding of themselves and of the Bible stories, but above all to be drawn closer to God.

In one sentence, how would you describe Heroes or Villains?

Heroes or Villains? explores some of the best and also some of the most troublesome qualities which we possess as human beings, through an exploration of twenty Bible personalities and the application of accessible psychological theory.

Is there anything we can pray for you?

Thank you! That the book will find its way to all those who will benefit from it and be a blessing, encouragement and challenge.