Reviews

"Why Church Matters?" by Joshua Harris

2012-02-10T15:48:00.000-05:00

Stop dating the church. That's the message, and the original title, of author and pastor, Josh Harris', book Why Church Matters: Discovering Your Place in the Family of God. This is quit ironic, as the author admits. Having already written two books on relationships, not to mention another on lust and sexual sin, Harris now writes a book about a relationship, but a different one. On this irony, he writes:

The irony of this was that even though I had stopped paying the dating game with girls, I was perfectly happy to keep playing it with the church. I liked attending on weekends, and I enjoyed the social benefits of church, but I didn't want the responsibility that came with real commitment.

And I can think of no better illustration of what most Christians are doing with the church; simply dating her. Dating with no commitment. Critical and not loving. Fickle and not selflessness. Consumeristic and not communal.

Harris indicts the average American Christian from individualistic, self-centered complacency and the excuses oftentimes offered are inexcusable. As a pastor, I hear these excuses all the time. The church is full of hypocrites. All they do is fight. The sermons are too long. I don't like the music. Etc. But as Harris argues, the church, though certainly imperfect, is more than these things. The church is the Bride and we cannot understand marriage without rightly understanding what the church is and what Christ has done for Her. Harris spends some time discussing Ephesians 5 and then adds:

If Jesus loves the church, you and I should, too. We can't use the excuse that the church has messed up too many times or that we're disillusioned. Jesus is the only person who has the right to disown and give up on the church. But He never has. And he never will.

And neither should we. Stop dating the church. The church matters and we are to be a part of what God is doing in His church.

Throughout the book, the author offers both pastoral insight and a sound theology that is refreshing and pleasant to my ears. This is a book that I wish all of our members would read. The church matters and it is time to stop pretending that the local church and our participation in it is optional.

One of the most practical chapters in the book regards the question of how to choose a church. Harris offers a number of things to consider:

1. Is this a church where God's Word is faithfully taught?
2. Is this a church where sound doctrine matters?
3. Is this a church in which the gospel is cherished and clearly proclaimed?
4. Is this a church committed to reaching non-Christians with the gospel?
5. Is this a church whose leaders are characterized by humility and integrity?
6. Is this a church where people strive to live by God's Word?
7. Is this a church where I can find and cultivate godly relationships?
8. Is this a church where members are challenged to serve?
9. Is this a church that is willing to kick me out?
10. Is this a church I'm willing to join 'as is' with enthusiasm and faith in God?

This is a helpful list and includes things often left out (like #9) and summarizes the spirit, wisdom, and good of the book. As I said above, this is a book I would like for our entire congregation to read and to consider. Are we Christians just dating the church? If so, then we are in serious trouble. I highly recommend this book written by a well-respected pastor and author.

Stop dating the church.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Other titles by Joshua Harris:
Reviews - Sex is Not the Problem (Lust Is)
Reviews - "Dug Down Deep" byJoshua Harris
Reviews - "Start Here" by Alex and Brett Harris

Other titles on the church:
Reviews - "A Light To the Nations"
Reviews - "What is a Healthy Church Member?"
Reviews - "Why Men Hate Going to Church" by David Murrow
Reviews - "Biblical Foundations For Baptist Churches"
Reviews - "The Body"
Reviews - "9 Marks of a Healthy Church"
Reviews - "He is Not Silent"
Reviews - "Women's Ministry in the Local Church"
Reviews - "The Purpose-Driven Church"
Reviews - "Church on the Other Side"

Other WaterBrook Multnomah Titles:
Reviews - "Culture Shift" by R. Albert Mohler
Reviews - "Radical Together"

Reviews - "Desiring God" by John Piper
Reviews - The Next Christians"
Reviews - "Start Here" by Alex & Brett Harris
Reviews - "Angels" by David Jeremiah
Reviews - "Dug Down Deep" by Joshua Harris
Reviews - "Treasured" by Leigh McLeroy
Reviews - "God Gave Us Christmas" by Lisa Bergren
Reviews- "God Gave Us Love" by Lisa Bergren
Reviews - "Every Sing Man's Battle" by Stephen Arterburn & Fred Stoeker

"What is the Mission of the Church?" by Kevin DeYoung & Greg Gilbert

2012-01-20T16:34:00.002-05:00

What is the mission of the church? In recent years there has been an unlimited number of books seeking to answer that very question and out of all the rhetoric there seems to be two options: social justice on the one hand and preaching the gospel on the other. But in their book, What is the Mission of the Church?: Making Sense of Social Justice, Shalom, and the Great Commission, authors and pastors Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert offer their pastoral experience and biblical insight into the conversation. Their suggestion, and purpose of the book, is that the mission of the book, put succinctly, is the Great Commission. They write:

The mission of the church is to go into the world and make disciples by declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Spirit and gathering these disciples into churches, that they might worship and obey Jesus Christ now and in eternity to the glory of God the Father. (241)

This thesis statement (though here quoted from the end) is repeated throughout the book. The authors carefully unpack what the Gospels say about the Great Commission, why it matters, and why they believe it is the mission of the church. The strange thing is that this fundamental thesis is insightful and refreshing, though it should be obvious. The authors go through some strain showing how many of the traditional missional passages (like Genesis 12:1ff and Luke 4) are not the best places to start. Instead, when addressing the mission of the church, the authors prefer (and believe rightly) with the Great Commission like that in Matthew 28:18-20.

To make their case, the authors offer an overview of the biblical story, and its emphasis on how God and man can be reconiled as a result of the bridge burned by sin, a detailed discussion of what the gospel is, and various "missional" issues of what Jesus (and Scripture) means by the Kingdom of God and how we are to think about issues like social justice and shalom.

Perhaps my favorite chapter is the overview of the biblical story offered in chapter 3. The authors argue that the one question that Scripture, at its heart, seeks to answer is How can hopelessly rebellious, sinful people live in the presence of a perfectly just and righteous God (69). This then leads them into a survey of the biblical story divided into four "acts": Creation, Fall (the prime problem that the Bible sets up in its first three chapters is the alienation of man from God [73]), Redemption, and Consummation. In each act, the authors show how this storyline answers that important question reconciliation between God and man.

The tone of the book is particularly helpful. Instead of writing as gunslingers, the authors seek to honestly look at some of the difficult issues debated today (highlighted by extremes in both liberal and conservative camps). Frequently, the authors show that the two common sides on any given subject continually speak past each other. For example, their discussion on the differences between viewing the gospel through a narrow lens and a wide lens is helpful. Those who view the gospel through a wide lens move beyond the cross and resurrection to issues of creation care, poverty, justice, and politics. On the other hand, those with a more narrow lens, emphasize, almost exclusively, the cross and resurrection of Jesus and how that reconcile sinners.

In this paradigm, I am a proud member of the zoom-lens, or narrow lens, party, but I have felt like the authors in that much of the debates regarding the many issues raised in this book and other missional books reveal how easy it is to talk past one other. The gospel has implications, there's no doubt about that, but when asked what the gospel is in its essence, it is dangerous to go beyond the language of the cross and resurrection. I do believe that the gospel has implications that drastically affects our understanding of everything. After all, we are new creatures are we not? And as new creatures we must think differently about mission, church, discipleship, marriage, justice, and our role in society.

This is not the only example of clarity offered by the authors, but it is one that sticks out the most. I could also add the simple assertion offered by DeYoung and Gilbert that all Christians are for alleviating poverty and for some to assert that narrow-lens Christians are somehow in favor of injustice is simply absurd. Again, refreshing and some real honesty is a high point in this book.

Regarding the challenging issues of social justice, the Kingdom of God, and shalom the authors offer a very robust biblical theology on these issues. The authors genuinely seek to present to the reader more than just soundbites but a more complete understanding of what the Bible says about poverty, alleviating poverty, standing against injustice, etc. To the question of social justice, the authors dedicate two chapters the first focusing on exposition and the other focusing on application. It would do both sides some good to consider these pages as the authors seek to be honest with the biblical text and with how that applies.

More could be said regarding this book, but overall this is by far the best book on the question of the mission of the church I have read. Though one might find some holes here and there (and the authors admit that people on both sides will not like some part of their book), the authors manage to pierce through all of the muddy water that has been stirred in these debates. The authors do not get distracted by politics, policy, or endless and needless fights. Instead, they continually focus on what they believe is the great mission for the church: the Great Commission.

As one who agrees generally with this thesis, let just add that the gospel that is spread as a result of the Great Commission is what truly transforms society. We will never restore Eden. After all, we are the one's who destroyed it in the first place and we never created to begin with. However, where genuine Christianity is present, things change. Society changes and history bears that out. If we want real social change, it will not come from the King down to the peasant, but when the gospel penetrates the heart, establishes a missional (can I use that word now?) community, and through the love and providence of God transforms things. The process is never perfect and rarely pretty. But if the gospel transforms the believer certainly the spread of the gospel has clear implications on everything else.

This book was given to me free of charge for the purpose of this review.

For from Kevin DeYoung & Greg Gilbert:
Reviews - "Why Our Church Switched to the ESV" by Kevin DeYoung
Reviews - "The Good News We Almost Forgot" by Kevin DeYoung
Reviews - "Just Do Something" by Kevin DeYoung
Reviews - "Why We're Not Emergent: By Two Guys Who Should Be" by Kevin DeYoung
Reviews - "What is the Gospel?" by Greg Gilbert

For more:
Reviews - "God's Grand Design" by Sean Michael Lucas
Reviews - "Jesus + Nothing = Everything" by Tullian Tchividjian
Reviews - "Life's Biggest Questions" by Erik Thoennes
Reviews - "Welcome to the Story: Reading, Loving, and Living God's Word" by Stephen J Nichols
Reviews - "King Solomon" by Philip Graham Ryken
Reviews - "Am I Really a Christian?" by Mike McKinley
Reviews - The Beginning and End of Wisdom" by Douglas Sean O'Donnell
Reviews - "Thinking. Loving. Doing." by John Piper & David Mathis

"Real Marriage" by Mark & Grace Driscoll

2012-01-03T14:30:00.000-05:00

As a pastor, I am tired of reading Christian books on relationships and marriage that dance around the issues that everyone is asking. What couples want to know is what is marriage, how can we persevere in our marriage, and countless of questions about sex. Most of which has been overblown and misinterpreted. Mark Driscoll and his wife Grace have come together to offer their insights into the important topic of marriage in their brand new book Real Marriage: The Truth About Sex, Friendship, and Life Together.

Mark Driscoll is controversial. I get that. But most criticize him because of his Calvinistic theology, his abandonment of the Emergent movement, and his views on gender roles and sex. This books takes a careful look at what a real marriage is (thus the title) and engages the reader to think biblically about specific issues regarding sexuality and sex. But I fear that many will highlight only one difficult chapter where the authors honestly offer their views on common questions couples are asking about the bed room.

First the first part on marriage. There is much to love here. The Driscoll's emphasis that marriage is friendship and go through some pains in explaining this. This is not to say that love is not the bedrock of marriage or that marriage isn't a covenant. They affirm that wholeheartedly. But it is to say that friendship is what is missing from many marriages. Many are loveless because they are friendless. In addition, it is difficult to reconcile and easier to turn to bitterness when friendship is absent. I can with joy say that my wife is my friend.

But my favorite part of this section is how each author wrote a chapter focusing on their gender. Mark's chapter on men is direct and he confesses as much in the introduction. But he makes two important points worth highlighting. Men are to be both tough (like Jesus who was willing and able to suffer and die without shedding a tear) and tender (like Jesus who could weep at his friends funeral). Too often, men are one or the other. A tough man wants others to fear him and to respect him and thus abuses or scares his wife or daughter(s). On the other end is the tenderhearted man unable and unwilling to take a stand, to get a real job, and to serve his family the way that God demands.

This is a helpful balance that I intend on using in my own ministry. Many men fear the turning tide of the metrosexual man and thus turn into gladiators. They try to prove themselves a man so much that they are unable to serve their wife in the way she needs him too. In the same way, there are simply too many wimps running around calling themselves men. Driscoll has a way of addressing men challenging them to man up and stop acting like a sissy and I love to hear and read him on this subject.

Likewise, Grace writes to women encouraging them to respect their husbands. As a man readying this chapter I was encouraged by her words. When she described a man's need to be respected and served in the way she describes, she was describing me. She is honest with her readers in sharing her struggles and the challenges that her and Mark have had in this area. Respect is a big deal to men and Grace shows why it matters and how a loving wife will serve her husband by respecting him and not by cutting him down. Feminism has so degraded men that it is a relief to read this.

There is a lot to commend in this portion of the book. But the second part, the more controversial part, deals with sex. I thoroughly enjoyed this section as much as part 1 on marriage. There are few books which manage to compact so much about lust and sexuality in such a brief space. The Driscoll's deal with pornography, lust, fornication, adultery, and countless sexual questions and struggles that couples have in the bedroom. I feel that the reason that people will find this part controversial is simply because Christians still refuse to go where the Bible takes them.

Perhaps most helpful here is their discussion on sex as a god, as gross, or as a gift. Sex for many is a god and they are controlled by it. Just turn on the TV or look at the cover of the magazines and you can't miss it. On the other hand, many, mostly in conservative churches, see it as gross. We tell our children growing up, in an attempt to protect them, that sex is gross and bad and should only be done for the purpose of reproduction. The Driscoll's show why both of these extremes is dangerous and wrong. Sex, rather, is a gift from God meant to be enjoyed.

Driscoll is famous for his series on Song of Solomon and much of that material is repeated here. He does emphasize the pleasure aspect of sexual intimacy, but running throughout the book is the gift of oneness that sex gives a married couple. The one-flesh reality of sex and marriage is central to having a great marriage - a real marriage.

But then there is the chapter titled, "Can We _______?" In this chapter, the Driscoll's try to uncover as many rocks as possible for their reader. For example, can a married couple have oral sex? What about masterbation? Etc. One might disagree with some of their conclusions here, but at least they are talking about it. At least they are seeking biblical answers to these questions - questions that Christians are asking but many are too afraid to ask lest they be viewed as perverted. I question some of their answers, but I am glad that they are willing to raise them.

Overall, this is a good book that is well worth the read. But it is not for the faint of heart. Fundamentalists who pretend the world isn't as it is and that Christians aren't as they are will be appalled by some of the things in this book. Their honesty is refreshing to someone like me, but might be a bit offensive to others. I'm sure many will find their conversation too frank and inappropriate, but I find it necessary. I would recommend all of Driscoll's books, especially his more recent ones. This is a book well worth the investment for any couple, for every pastor, and for engaged couple wanting answers, wanting some counseling, and wanting to save their marriage before it starts.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

For more:
Reviews - Death by Love by Mark Driscoll
Reviews - "Doctrine" by Mark Driscoll
Reviews - Religion Saves by Mark Driscoll
Reviews - The Radical Reformation by Mark Driscoll
Reviews - Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll
Blogizomai - "Fall: God Judges" by Mark Discoll
Blogizomai - Wilson & Driscoll: On Masculinity, Spiritual Gifts, & Ministry
Blogizomai - Mark Driscoll on Abortion
GBC - Driscoll on Consumers vs. Worshippers
GBC - The Church As Family
GBC - Driscoll on Neither Feminism or Chauvinism
GBC - Driscoll on Trinitarian Heresies and Living the Trinitarian Life
GBC - What Creation Reveals About God
GBC - Driscoll Sermon: God is Creator
GBC - How Much Do You Owe?: Mark Driscoll on our Need for Redemption
Reviews - "The Supremecy of Christ in a Postmodern World"
Reviews - "The New Christians" by Tony Jones

For more from Thomas Nelson:
Reviews - "Why Men Hate Going to Church" by David Murrow
Blogizomai - Repost | "Nearing Home" by Billy Graham
Reviews - America: The Last Best Hope - Volume 3
Reviews - "Has God Spoken?" by Hank Hanegraaf
Reviews - "Why God Won't Go Away" by Alister McGrath
Reviews - "Billy Graham in Quotes"
Reviews - "No He Can't" by Kevin McCullough
Reviews - "Washington: A Legacy of Leadership" by Paul Vickery
Reviews - "Max on Life" by Max Lucado
Reviews - "Slave" by John Macarthur
Reviews - "The Jesus Inquest" by Charles Foster
Reviews - "Finding Our Way Again" by Brian McLaren
Reviews - "Outlive Your Life" by Max Lucado
Reviews - "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns
Reviews - "Saint Patrick" by Jonathan Rogers
Reviews - "A Century Turns" by William Bennett
Reviews - "Sir Winston Churchill"
Reviews - "On this Day in Christian History"
Reviews - "Storm Warning" by Billy Graham

"God's Grand Design" by Sean Michael Lucas

2011-12-13T13:41:00.000-05:00

What was the center of Jonathan Edwards' theology? That's a question that preoccupies and opens the wonderful book "God's Grand Design: The Theological Vision of Jonathan Edwards," by Sean Michael Lucas. Lucas notes that to many biographers and Edwards scholars, the question of the center of Edwards' theology and ministry is a lively one. But to Lucas, what mattered most to Edwards was driven by his role as a pastor: to present back to God a complete Christian. Edwards spent much of his time dedicated to thinking, writing, and preaching "about the Christian life, both for himself and then for his parishioners" (12). However, though this pastoral concern drove his ministry, he was deeply theological. Thus throughout his life, "Edwards set forth a vision of the Christian life that was deeply theological" (13).

What Lucas presents in this new book on the greatest American theologian in history is a survey of Edwards' theology of the Christian life from creation to consummation. In part 1, the author walks the reader through Edwards' theology of redemptive history from the person of God and creation to the eschaton. The theology here is really rich and the author presents a really robust survey of Edwards' thought, writings, and theology.

Central to why God created is, as we would expect, for His own glory. The author writes:

Edwards's larger purpose was to raise his congregation's vision from its apparently mundane and petty daily concerns to find their affections engaged by the cosmic purpose that god has in his work of redemption. And God's grand design in the work of redemption was nothing less than is own glory. (22)

He goes on to add:

Far from focusing on a merely individual salvation, Edwards rooted his understanding of the Christian life in the cosmic purpose of God himself - namely, for God to glorify himself and enjoy himself forever.

Far from wanting an abstract theological construction with little bearing on actual Christian living, Edwards recognized that only as Christians have their vision filled with God's grand purpose to glorify himself through his work of redemption are their affections transformed, their wills moved, and their beings engaged in benevolence toward all creation. Yet in order for believers truly to grasp such a vision, they need to see that God's purpose to glorify himself through creation and redemption is an outflow of his own eternal being. (23)

This is just rich theology. Unlike the stereotype of Edwards of a mundane, boring preacher who cares more about even more mundane, boring theology is simply untrue. Lucas understands that it was Edwards' rich theology that led to his efforts in leading Christians to sanctification and the above is only one example of this.

This section highlighting and surveying Edwards' theology from creation to consummation is simply rich and worth the price of the book itself. This is one of the best survey's of Edwards' theology I have come across. Though I am by no means an Edwards scholar or one who has read a lot of him, Lucas writes an engaging and helpful theological survey of the man. Lucas looks at Theology Proper, creation (remember that Edwards is pre-Darwin), the Fall, original sin, redemption, and eschatology.

But the book is more than just a survey of Edwards' theology. There are plenty of books on that. What Lucas spends much of his time on is how this rich theology is translated into practical ministry. Central to all of this is Edwards book on the Christian Affections. Regarding the question of what Edwards means by affections, Lucas presents a helpful explanation and discussion helping the reader better understand apart from all of the confusion of colonial English.

As a pastor and as a Christian I loved this section. Here we meet not just Edwards the theologian, but Edwards the shepherd. Though Edwards is known for his sermons (and we have many of them), we at times forget that he pastored real people and his theology shaped how he met the needs of his church. The discussion on Edwards' Affections and how we can be self-deceived offer great insights for the pastor, the seminary student, the academic scholar, and the lay person.

I particularly enjoyed the chapter on Christian ministry (for obvious reasons). Every pastor and Christian called into ministry ought to at least read what Lucas presents here. Edwards' understanding of preaching, Scripture, and the gospel are really insightful and Lucas succeeds in presenting Edwards as a mentor for pastors instead of just another important dead theologian.

This is an excellent book. I did not know if I would enjoy this book as I am one who frankly finds Edwards difficult to get through. He is rightfully respected and honored as America's greatest theologian, but I have struggled in reading and studying under him. Therefore, perhaps the greatest compliment I can give this book and its author is that Lucas made me realize what I have missed by all but ignoring Edwards.

I cannot recommend this book enough. I was unsure of choosing and reading this book, but I am glad that I did. I would highly recommend this book to academics, seminary students, pastors, and even advanced Christians. Certainly the theology and writing would be difficult to the new believer, but for those who want a rich theology that is practical, this is a good place to turn too.

Another homerun by Crossway Books.

This book was given to me free of charge for the purpose of this review.

For more:
Reviews - "Jesus + Nothing = Everything" by Tullian Tchividjian
Reviews - "Life's Biggest Questions" by Erik Thoennes
Reviews - "Welcome to the Story: Reading, Loving, and Living God's Word" by Stephen J Nichols
Reviews - "King Solomon" by Philip Graham Ryken
Reviews - "Am I Really a Christian?" by Mike McKinley
Reviews - The Beginning and End of Wisdom" by Douglas Sean O'Donnell
Reviews - "Thinking. Loving. Doing." by John Piper & David Mathis

"Why Men Hate Going to Church" by David Murrow

2011-12-05T23:48:00.002-05:00

Where have all the men gone? Look at the average conservative church today and you will find a major absence of men in the local church. Men seem to be missing. Certainly the chickification of society has affected the church and the stereotype that religion is for women is certainly a factor, but as David Murrow writes in his wonderful book Why Men Hate Going to Church. His main argument is that the church, and Christianity beyond that, has catered to women for years and have driven men away from the church.

Murrow begins by making an interesting point. Most of the main characters and heroes in Scripture used by God to change the world were men. The far majority of the preachers, prophets, priests, apostles, leaders, kings, etc. are men. Men! And religion - and the gospel - is for women? How does that make sense.

This is a book that is a must read for pastors and for church leaders. Look at virtually any church and you will find men missing. Many wives attend worship without their husband by their side. Many churches are struggling to find responsible men with integrity willing and able to serve as deacons, leaders, elders, and staff. The church has left men behind and Murrow offers a way out of this decline and returns the church back to the more masculine gospel. I highly recommend this book as we as Christians need to abandon the the ship we're on and return to a gospel that transcends gender and reaches all people everywhere.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

For more from Thomas Nelson:
Blogizomai - Repost | "Nearing Home" by Billy Graham
Reviews - America: The Last Best Hope - Volume 3
Reviews - "Has God Spoken?" by Hank Hanegraaf
Reviews - "Why God Won't Go Away" by Alister McGrath
Reviews - "Billy Graham in Quotes"
Reviews - "No He Can't" by Kevin McCullough
Reviews - "Washington: A Legacy of Leadership" by Paul Vickery
Reviews - "Max on Life" by Max Lucado
Reviews - "Slave" by John Macarthur
Reviews - "The Jesus Inquest" by Charles Foster
Reviews - "Finding Our Way Again" by Brian McLaren
Reviews - "Outlive Your Life" by Max Lucado
Reviews - "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns
Reviews - "Saint Patrick" by Jonathan Rogers
Reviews - "A Century Turns" by William Bennett
Reviews - "Sir Winston Churchill"
Reviews - "On this Day in Christian History"
Reviews - "Storm Warning" by Billy Graham

"Jesus + Nothing = Everything" by Tullian Tchividjian

2011-12-05T23:38:00.000-05:00

I have read a lot of good books this year, but without a doubt, the best book I have read all year is Tullian Tchividjian's new book Jesus + Nothing + Everything. The context of the book is Tchividjian's struggle as a pastor to wade through the storms of ministry. After merging his church with the late Dr. D. James Kennedy's church, Tchividjian ran into serious struggles and hardships that almost led to his firing. Once he went on vacation one summer, he was ready to quit until he started to read Paul's letter to the Colossians and was gripped by the gospel. He writes:

His good news met me in my dark place, at my deepest need. Through his liberating word, I was being transformed, freed, refreshed.

I started learning to see the many-faceted dimensions of the gospel in a more dazzling way. it's almost as if, for me, the gospel changed from something hazy and monochromatic to something richly multicolored, vivid, and vibrant. I was realizing in a fresh way the now-power of the gospel - that the gospel doesn't simply rescue us from the past and rescue us for the future; it also rescues us in the present from being enslaved to things like fear, insecurity, anger, self-reliance, bitterness, entitlement, and insignificance . . . Through my pain, I was being convinced all over again that the power of the gospel is just as necessary and relevant after you become a Christian as it is before.

Tchividjian sings my tune. This is a book about the gospel, pure and simple. The title summarizes it all. Wherever we may be, whatever we may be struggling with, Jesus is enough. Jesus equals everything. We need nothing else. The gospel is just as much for the redeemed as it is for the lost. The gospel not only tackles our past and assures us of our future, but meets us where we are in the present.

Yet the problem in all of us is idolatry and legalism. All of us have idols that we worship and through is experience at his church, the author came to realize this. What mattered most to him was being loved by his congregation and followed by his church. Thus when he was attacked and challenged, his world was falling apart. Yet he learned, through the power of the gospel, that Jesus was enough.

But maybe our idol is very different. The author walks the reader through various idols and how the gospel is better than them. The problem with idolatry is that it implies that we need Jesus and something else in order to be happy, contentment, and at peace. Legalism does the same thing. Tchividjian offers some sharp critique of these two demons. He writes, for example:

So if we aren't naturally prone to look to the finished work of Jesus for us as it's presented in the gospel for the 'everything' - where are we looking?

Typically, it's not that Christians seek to blatantly replaced the gospel. What we try to do is simply add to it.

He then goes on to elaborate CS Lewis' argument in Screwtape Letters that a Satanic strategy against the Christian is "Christianity And." It is the opposite of what Tchividjian argues in this book. Christianity And Vegetarianism. Christianity and Faith Healing. Christianity And the New Psychology. Christianity And . . . Such a mindset, which haunts us all, destroys the gospel and prevents the gospel from truly ministering to us. This is all idol worship. Jesus + X is idolatry and not the gospel.

In fact, idolatry and legalism hold us in bondage. They make us slaves. Finally someone of prominence other than John MacArthur is speaking the language of slavery when describing sin and its hold on us. The gospel frees us from the bondage of sin, idolatry, and religion. Such things convince us that without them and their control on us, we will not be content or happy. But the gospel says otherwise. All we need is Christ and nothing else. That is true freedom. No need to satisfy these false gods anymore. He writes:

For each of us, the "everything" that Jesus can represent in our lives is always linked, directly and inescapably, to our most basic need - a rescuer to free us form our slavery to sin, from our bondage to self-reliance, and from the burden of our idols. It's a need we never grow out of.

He's right. The gospel is constantly freeing us from slavery when we see our redemption and hope in Jesus Christ - past, future, and yes, present.

I could say more about this book, but you get the point. It is a book about the gospel. The sweet, liberating gospel. A gospel that meets us where we are, brings us to the Savior, and calls us to leave everything behind because we need nothing else but Him. No more chasing after the wind, worshiping non-existent, false idols. No more religion. No more legalism. No more hypocrisy. Just Jesus.

I cannot recommend this book enough. Every pastor ought to read it and shape their ministry around the gospel. Not religion, ritual, or church politics, but on the gospel. Every struggle needs the gospel. Every moment of bliss and rejoicing needs the gospel. Every sermon needs the gospel. Every prayer needs the gospel. And every book - and here we have one - needs the gospel.

Jesus + Nothing = Everything: Intro from Crossway on Vimeo.

This book was given to me free of charge for the purpose of this review.

For more:
Reviews - "Life's Biggest Questions" by Erik Thoennes
Reviews - "Welcome to the Story: Reading, Loving, and Living God's Word" by Stephen J Nichols
Reviews - "King Solomon" by Philip Graham Ryken
Reviews - "Am I Really a Christian?" by Mike McKinley
Reviews - The Beginning and End of Wisdom" by Douglas Sean O'Donnell
Reviews - "Thinking. Loving. Doing." by John Piper & David Mathis

"Thinking. Loving. Doing." by John Piper & David Mathis

2011-11-19T21:51:00.000-05:00

Reading books based on a conference are tricky. If you were at the conference and you enjoyed the event and all of the talks, then you will more than likely enjoy the book that follows. For example, I have attended each Together for the Gospel conferences, have enjoyed each talk, and have enjoyed the books that followed each conference. But the most recently edited book by John Piper (and David Mathis along with him) is different. In October 2010, a conference was held by Desiring God ministries in light of John Piper's book Think. The conference included renown speakers like Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., Rick Warren, and Francis Chan.

The problem is that I did not attend this conference nor have I read the book the conference was based on. Furthermore, before picking up the book Thinking. Loving. Doing.: A Call to Glorify God with Heart and Mind, I was unaware that these would be prerequisites. But nonetheless, I did pick up and read.

The challenge I had with this book was I struggled understanding its point. What is the primary purpose and message of this book? What is the books thesis? The title is helpful and I understand the conversation regarding thinking, but what is the driving point? Must I read Piper's earlier book in order to understand this one?

Beyond that flaw, this is a book that includes helpful chapters. Dr. Mohler had the best chapter by far as he discussed how to think about thinking - something I've heard him discuss before. Thabiti Anyabwile's chapter on Islam was good though I found it a bit out of place for this book. Chan's exhortations regarding humility and love I thought were needed and well received. Overall, each chapter is helpful but I am stuck with the question of why this book was written outside of putting into print what was said at a conference that readers like myself did not attend?

Don't get me wrong. This is a good book, but it certainly isn't a great book or a necessary book. I suspect that those who were at the conference will enjoy this book while most of the rest of us, like myself, will find it confusing. Everything with Piper's name on it is worth looking into, but this is certainly not his best work either as editor or writer.

This book was given to me free of charge for the purpose of this review.

For more:
Reviews - Preaching the Cross
Reviews - Proclaiming a Cross-Centered Theology
Reviews - "Life's Biggest Questions" by Erik Thoennes
Reviews - "Welcome to the Story: Reading, Loving, and Living God's Word" by Stephen J Nichols
Reviews - "King Solomon" by Philip Graham Ryken
Reviews - "Am I Really a Christian?" by Mike McKinley
Reviews - The Beginning and End of Wisdom" by Douglas Sean O'Donnell

"How Do We KNow the Bible is True" by Ham & Hodge

2011-11-18T14:19:00.000-05:00

Ken Ham, along with Bodie Hodge, is back with another book helping Christians answer some of the many difficulties questions we face. Questions like, Is the Bible really inerrant, are there any contradictions in the Bible, what is the Trinity, what about the resurrection, and a host of other questions in their book How Do We Know the Bible is True?, volume 1.

The book as a whole is really helpful. The chapters on the Trinity, the resurrection, the reliability of the Old and New Testaments, and Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch were particularly helpful to me. The advantage of books like this is that they are written to the average believer and not to academic theologians and scholars. Thus Ham and Hodge are willing to introduce the reader with the many difficult issues of Christianity and Scripture unashamedly and without fear.

Particularly helpful here is the chapter questioning the authorship of the Torah. The chapter offers a great history and explanation of the Documentary Hypothesis. This is a great introduction to the argument made by its proponents and then an excellent challenge to its claims. Read liberals today and behind some of their assumptions is the Documentary Hypothesis.

Similarly, the introduction to the doctrine of the Trinity was helpful. Though as a pastor and seminary student, I have heard and seen the evidence and defense of the Trinity and affirm all of it. But what is helpful is how the issue is presented. Most new believers and stagnant Christians could understand some of the basic beliefs regarding the Trinity and why we don't believe in polytheism.

Overall this is a good book to own. It is a great resource on common issues and questions pastors and Christians are challenged with. However, as with all Ken Ham books, there is a heavy emphasis on creationism. I believe in creation and am a young-earth creationist. However, it is an over simplification to blame everything on one's view of the age of the earth and evolution. I do believe that evolution is a major challenge and the secular worldview is without a doubt shaped by evolution, but Ham time after time again simply can't help himself but offer another rant against evolution. Though I firmly believe in creationism, I do believe that a Christian can affirm Genesis 1-2 and at the same time believe in an old earth without sacrificing cardinal beliefs. Admittedly this is problematic (which is why I remain a young-earth creationist), but one cannot tell me that everyone that affirms old earth has abandoned the gospel and has turned into an atheist.

With that said, this is a pretty good book. It is not a difficult read and offers good answers to challenging questions in Christianity. For those wanting a defense of Bibliology and the challenges against the Bible and Christianity, this is a good place to start.

This book was given to me free of charge for the purpose of this review.

For more:
Reviews - "Begin"
Reviews - "Already Compromised"
Reviews - Already Gone
Reviews - "The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence For Belief"
Reviews - "The Death of Evolution"
Reviews - "Atheism Remix"
Reviews - Reviews in Brief - Doctrine of Divine Creation
Reviews - "Fatal Flaws"
Reviews - "How Good Do We Have to Be?"

"Nearing Home" by Billy Graham

2011-11-18T12:53:00.002-05:00

Billy Graham is over 90 years old and remains one of the most recognizable faces who single handily shaped the 20th Century. His sermons, books, travels, interviews, speeches, and ministry have changed the world. Now at the end of his life, Billy Graham has published a book on growing old, death, dying, and retirement entitled Nearing Home: Life, Faith, and Finishing Well.

Though I am still under 30 years old, I thought it would be important to read this book for several reasons. First, anything written from the pen of Dr. Graham is worth the investment. Graham's ministry is international and remains one of the most respected voices in evangelicalism. He is worth listening too even today.

Also, Graham writes with the heart of a minister. He offers some real practical advice to the reader on how to age, what to expect, and how to prepare ourselves and our families for our aging, retirement, and death. He discusses the difficulties and joys of retirement, the right attitude of work and money, ministry after retirement, working for God's glory, preparing wills and living wills, and all kinds of issues that many of us choose to ignore. Graham does not right as a legal expert, but as a minister concerned for the reader.

Furthermore, Graham writes from his experience. We have all watched him age in our respected years and in this book, Graham offers some real and honest insight into the struggles he has. He still wants to preach but repeatedly tells us how difficult it is for him to get out of his chair. He shares his struggles of being a widower. He is oftentimes lonely, misses the "good ol days," and just wants to preach one more time. He confesses the difficulties of turning over the ministry to someone else (namely his son Franklin) not because he felt they were unqualified (he praises Franklin for his work), but because he didn't want to let go.

This is a great book and one I would recommend for both the elderly and their pastors. Graham rightly encourages the retired and the elderly to continue serve God. With the extra time they have gained in their retirement, Graham encourages them to work for the Kingdom, serve their family and their community. I wholeheartedly endorse this. Some of the hardest workers in our church are retired or widows. They have chosen a life of service, not a life of ease.

Graham likely does not have very long to live and this should fill us with much sadness to a certain extent. But Graham confesses, as did Paul, that to live is Christ, but to die is gain. Graham looks forward to being reunited with his wife Ruth Bell and united with the Savior he has served so faithfully for so long. Graham walks the reader through the joys of death - and the life that follows. May we long for that too. Death is not to be feared and Graham shows us why. Certainly age has its own problems, but life is worth it and death, for the believer, is never the end.

Graham is always the evangelist and this book only continues this legacy.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

For more on Billy Graham:
Reviews - "Billy Graham in Quotes"
Review - "The Preacher and the Presidents"
Review - "Billy Graham: His Life and Influence"
Review - "The Journey"
Review - "The Evangelist"
Reviews - "Storm Warning" by Billy Graham

For more from Thomas Nelson:
Reviews - America: The Last Best Hope - Volume 3
Reviews - "Has God Spoken?" by Hank Hanegraaf
Reviews - "Why God Won't Go Away" by Alister McGrath
Reviews - "Billy Graham in Quotes"
Reviews - "No He Can't" by Kevin McCullough
Reviews - "Washington: A Legacy of Leadership" by Paul Vickery
Reviews - "Max on Life" by Max Lucado
Reviews - "Slave" by John Macarthur
Reviews - "The Jesus Inquest" by Charles Foster
Reviews - "Finding Our Way Again" by Brian McLaren
Reviews - "Outlive Your Life" by Max Lucado
Reviews - "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns
Reviews - "Saint Patrick" by Jonathan Rogers
Reviews - "A Century Turns" by William Bennett
Reviews - "Sir Winston Churchill"
Reviews - "On this Day in Christian History"
Reviews - "Storm Warning" by Billy Graham

"The Beginning and End of Wisdom" by Douglas Sean O'Donnell

2011-11-07T20:01:00.000-05:00

A growing trend I see among current evangelicals is the desire to see Christ in every page of God's Word. From Creation to Consummation, the desire to see Scripture as a book painted with the blood of Christ is a welcomed trend. To help us in this journey, Douglas Sea O'Donnell has offered some insight into how we can preach Christ from some popular Wisdom texts from Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job in the book "The Beginning and End of Wisdom: Preaching Christ From the First and Last Chapters of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job."

The book itself is pretty straightforward. After some introductory remarks on wisdom literature and preaching, the author moves to highlight, as the subtitle suggests, the beginning and ending of the three main books of Wisdom in the Old Testament: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job. These are essentially sermons that offer works of insight for the believer and a helpful preaching aide and example to follow for the pastor.

The book is published by Crossway, thus the theology and writing are sound. That goes without saying. Virtually anything published by Crossway will be legitimate theologically. My favorite chapter, though, regarded his discussion of Proverbs 31 in which the author offers some real exegetical insight into the text and some great pastoral application for both men and women. This chapter alone makes it a helpful resource as Proverbs 31 is a great Mother's Day text.

Overall, the book is well written and worth having in your library. His discussion and application of the doctrine of Providence in Job was real insightful. His layout of Ecclesiastes also reveals the preacher's heart. The appendix's are helpful and the book itself overall is a real aide. Its limitation is that it is a collection of sermons, not discussion of how to do sermons or how to find Christ throughout the Wisdom books. Likewise, the author only looks at very select passages avoiding huge chunks of texts including many difficult areas of Wisdom literature. Nonetheless, the book is still really insightful and I would recommend it to any pastor. It is an easy read with some great insight.

This book was given to me free of charge for the purpose of this review.

For more:
Reviews - "Life's Biggest Questions" by Erik Thoennes
Reviews - "Welcome to the Story: Reading, Loving, and Living God's Word" by Stephen J Nichols

Reviews - "King Solomon" by Philip Graham Ryken
Reviews - "Am I Really a Christian?" by Mike McKinley

"Culture Shift" by R. Albert Mohler

2011-10-18T11:31:00.000-04:00

Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has recently released his first full length book in paperback and it is well worth the read. Dr. Mohler - through his blog, website, work at the seminary, sermons, lectures, books, and other writings - is a leader in helping Christians make sense of and engage our postmodern/post-Christian culture. His influence on many minds, like mine, can not be overstated as he has been on the forefront of many of the issues Christians face today. His book Culture Shift: The Battle For the Moral Heart of America is a summary of much of what he has said concerning the culture and how we might engage and understand it.

Culture Shift is a collection of some of Dr. Mohler's most important articles over the past several years. Anyone that has consistently kept up with Mohler's website has already read much that is in this book, but what this book does is allow for us to take some of the key issues of our day, and instead of googling them all, put them into one place. I had already read most of these posts, but in going back through them, and after updating each of them, it was nice to be reminded and to rethink over some of these difficult issues. But this does not mean that the chapters are outdated or nostalgic. Rather, Mohler chooses a number of timeless truths and issues and applies the gospel to them. This book could be easily read years from now as this republication makes clear. If the articles were limited by time, then the paperback would have been released a long time ago.

Also, this is not just a book about the lefts assault on marriage and family with issues like homosexuality and abortion, but rather dives into many of the root movements, desires, and results of our postmodern culture and it's many attacks against Christianity and traditional values. Mohler does not back down from some very difficult and controversial subjects such as torturing. Instead of torturing, our current debate should be over how we should get information from terrorist and other enemy combatants. At one point, I found myself in disagreement with Dr. Mohler, but as the conversation continued, he made his argument clear and, I believe, accurate. He provides arguments from both sides, and gives his readers a Christian perspective on the issue.

Some of my favorite chapters include, "Are We Raising a Nation of Wimps," "The Culture of Offendedness," "Needed: An Exit Strategy From Public Schools," and "Who's Afraid of the Fetus," just to name a few.

Mohler's belief in needing an "exit strategy" from the public school system has been very controversial and many have come out against him in this respect. At the time of the original publication, I, too, was unsure about this discussion but overtime (and with the birth of our two children and my work in the public school system and as a youth pastor and now as pastor)I have to admit that from a Christian worldview Mohler point should be taken more seriously by Christian parents. Mohler gives some fearful examples of what is going on in the public schools, and provides the reader with where this is coming from.

Finally, Mohler makes some excellent points concerning abortion in the chapter, "Who's Afraid of the Fetus?" Mohler dives into an interesting development into the abortion debate where pro-life groups want to make it mandatory that the "would-be" mothers must have an ultrasound before murdering her child. But this is no ordinary ultrasound. Recent technology has allowed us to look closely at the child in the womb, and as a result, many mothers have realized that the action that they are about to commit is in fact the killing of another human being.

The left has responded with outraged and are fighting against it. They know that such technology undermines what they are fighting for. Mohler asks the question, "whose afraid of the fetus?" This debate has radically changed as the result of technology, and the left are having trouble keeping up.

Overall, this is a great read. This is not a broad look at what the culture is all about, like Charles Colson's "How Now Shall We Live," or Nancy Pearcy's "Total Truth," or even like Dinesh D'Souza's "What's So Great About Christianity?" but rather a look at specific issues and specific persons and trends within our culture that Christians need to think about and deal with. I highly recommend this book. It isn't very long and Mohler manages to cover a whole host of issues with a Biblical worldview behind it.

Anyone that lives in the culture needs to know how to engage it, and this is a great place to start.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Other books by Dr. Albert Mohler:

Reviews - "The Disappearance of God"

Reviews -"He is Not Silent"

Reviews - "Desire and Deceit"

Reviews - "Atheism Remix"

Reviews - "Preaching the Cross"

Reviews - "Proclaiming a Cross-Centered Theology"

Reviews - "Is Hell For Real Or Does Everyone Go To Heaven?"

Other WaterBrook Multnomah Titles;
Reviews - "Radical Together"

America: The Last Best Hope - Volume 3

2011-10-11T23:16:00.000-04:00

A few months ago I read volume 1 of radio talk show host, William Bennett, book America: The Last Best Hope, and loved it. Though it covered more of the political side of history, the book was a great read that surveyed the big events of American history. I recently picked up William Bennett's third volume America: The Last Best Hope to gain more insight into the events of the past 20 years and love it just as much as the first volume. Bennett notes that he was hesitant about writing on the history of 1988-2008, but became convinced of its necessity. Bennett is a well known conservative writer, political pundit, contributor to CNN, radio host, and historian and his credentials show up throughout the entire book.

The book is pretty straight forward. Bennett chronicles the major events from 1988-2008. However, the book is more about politics than anything else. In fact the dates selected note Presidential elections. In 1988 President George H. W. Bush was elected to office while in 2008, President Barack Obama was elected. Each chapter begins with the presidency of a new president or with the start of a president's second term. Though the book is not just about the history of politics in the last 20 years, it is the major focus.

But how could it not be? Certainly the cultural wars, the events, and the major news events are political. The Gulf War, the War on Terrorism, 9/11, President Bill Clinton's sexual scandals, the rise and fall of the economy, the Oklahoma City bombings, numerous terrorists attacks, media leaks, etc. Most of the major events have been political.

Regarding his history of politics, Bennett is a first rate writer and historian. As the book reveals, Bennett had a front row seat to many of the major events. His brother represented and President Clinton during the impeachment process. As a radio host, Bennett was frequently in contact and in commentary with many of the events. He personally knows many of the movers and shakers of politics that have shaped the last 20 years. So on the political level, Bennett has great insight.

But there is more to like regarding the political history in the book. Bennett leans conservative and it bleeds through. This does not mean that it is just a conservative hit piece that tries to make an argument. Rather, Bennett goes into details in areas that a non-conservative historian would not. For example, Bennett goes out of his way to reveal the international evidence of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Though he is critical of the Bush administration in its handling and compiling of the evidence, he does reveal how everybody, Republican, Democrat, conservative, liberal, the UN, and the international community, were all saying the same thing. This does not make Bush a liar.

But the book isn't just about politics. Bennett discusses a number of the major events away from the world of policy. For example, Bennett discusses the OJ Simpson trial as well as the King trial which led to looting and riots after the police that brutally beat him were found not guilty.

Overall, Bennett does a good job surveying and providing a historical perspective on all of the major event so the past 20 years. Being only 25, the first president I can remember is Bush Sr., but I knew very little (obviously) about politics and the presidency. I enjoyed learning more and gaining some perspective on the events and those who shaped history over the past twenty years.

I recommend this book to not just history buffs or presidential lovers, but to all Americans. History is not just about dates and dead people (and in this book, many of the people mentioned are still living). Rather, history gives us insight into where we have been (the good and the bad) and where we are going (what needs to remain and what needs to change). To be blind to history is to be blind to the present. I really enjoyed the book and I think you will too.

This book is the paperback version of what was originally entitled A Century Turns: New Hopes, New Fears.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

For more:
Reviews - America: The Last Best Hope - Volume 1
Reviews - "A Patriots History of America"
Reviews - "Decision Points" by George W. Bush
Reviews - "The Preacher and Presidents"
Reviews - "Ronald Reagan"
Reviews - "The Audacity of Hope"
Reviews - "Going Rogue"
Reviews - "A Patriots History of America"
Reviews - "Sarah"

"Is Hell For Real Or Does Everyone go To Heaven?"

2011-10-04T12:40:00.000-04:00

2011 will be remembered theologically as the year that Christians and the culture debated hell. Thanks to the firestorm started by Rob Bell's best selling book Love Wins, Christians are discussing hell, who goes there, who doesn't, how long it lasts, does it exist, etc. In addition to these questions, we've been forced to ask the "questions behind the questions," what kind of God creates hell, can God be both love and just, etc.?

In response to Bell's Hell, a series of books have been published challenging his assertions and directing us back to what Scripture and the gospel says on the subject. One of those books is Is Hell For Real Or Does Everyone go To Heaven? edited by Drs. Christopher Morgan and Robert Peterson. This short book is a 5 chapter (plus a lengthy appendix) collaboration of some of the greatest Christian minds and theologians. The list of contributors include Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., J. I. Packer, Timothy Keller, and others. These names alone make this book worth the investment.

The book is quit simple. If one wants to know more about the subject of hell, perhaps they should invest in Dr. Morgan's other book, Hell Under Fire. The goal of this book is to offer a biblical response, not to Rob Bell, but to common questions regarding hell. This was one of the more refreshing aspects of the book. I have read Bell's book and found it wanting. I have also read and skimmed through some of the other books written in response to Bell. This book is not directed to him, but to the reader. Bell is only hinted at in the introduction and essentially falls from the discussion afterward. This is not a book about Bell, but about the subject of hell and the gospel.

Instead of discussing each chapter and each author, let me highlight one argument made that I found particularly helpful. In the first chapter, Dr. Mohler is asked the question, "Is Hell Real?" Mohler surveys the historical record about what the Church has taught on the subject (rooted in the Biblical revelation) and how hell has become challenged up to our day.

But it was the conclusion that I gave me new insight. In true Mohler fashion, the author offers a number of cultural trends that have contributed to the current theological crisis. The second trend is our culture's changed view of justice. He writes:

Retributive justice, meaning the punishment of wrongdoing, has been the hallmark of human law since premodern times. It assumes that punishment is natural and necessary. However, this idea has been under assault for many years in Western cultures, which has led to much discomfort about hell.

Rejecting universal moral standards, philosophers such as John Stuart Mill argued that justice is about restoration rather than retribution. Criminals came to be seen not as deserving punishment but as needing correction. The goal was rehabilitation. Yet this shift from the prison to the penitentiary was rejected by C. S. Lewis as a threat to the very concept of justice:

Thus when we cease to consider what the criminal deserves and consider only what will cure him or deter others, we have tacitly removed him from the sphere of justice altogether; instead of a person, a subject of rights, we now have a mere object, a patient, a "case."

As the transformation of legal practice has redefined justice, some theologians have incorporated this new view int their doctrines of hell. For Roman Catholics, for instance, the doctrine of purgatory functions as a kind of penitentiary. Similarly for some evangelicals, a view of hell as temporary and corrective -- rather than eternal and punitive - has become the remedy.

Mohler hits the nail on the head. Liberalism begins with the philosophical assumptions of culture and then seeks to justify them in Scripture. Thus the enemy of liberalism is orthodoxy that doesn't not agree with contemporary culture. Mohler's makes an excellent point.

Overall, this is a good book. Though not exhaustive (that's not its point or goal) it is a helpful introduction from some of the world's leading voices on the difficult theological issue of hell. Each writer and editor defends the gospel and biblical truth even if it is unpopular. And for that, they should be praised.

For more:

Blogizomai - Will This Sort of Love Win?: Reflections on the Bell Controversy - Part 1

Blogizomai - Will This Sort of Love Win?: Reflections on the Bell Controversy - Part 2

Blogizomai - Love Debated: Bell & Warnock Debate "Love Wins"
Blogizomai - Sifting Through the Cybermuck: Links to the Bell Hell Controversy
Blogizomai - Sifting Through More of the Cybermuck: Links to the Bell Hell Controversy

Blogizomai - Some Final Cyber-Thoughts: Links to the Bell Hell Controversy

Blogizomai - Let's Talk About Hell Baby . . . And a Little More on Rob Bell

Blogizomai - Love Promoted: The First Bell Interviews

Blogizomai - Where is He Now? McLaren on the Question of bin Laden's Final Destination

Blogizomai - Is Hell Real? The Difference Between Emergent Agnostic Doctrine & Orthodoxy

Blogizomai - Why Pundits Should Stick to Punditry: Universalism, Inclusivism, and Freud's Wish Fulfillment
Theology - Who Didn't See This One Coming?: Rob Bell, His New Book, & Its Predictable Universalism

Theology - MSNBC Takes on Bell . . . Or At Least Tries Too
Blogizomai - Freud's Wish Fulfillment: Why Atheism Can't Explain Atheism
Theology - Driscoll: Hell is the Wrath of God in Effect
Theology - McLaren and McKnight: Conversations on Being a Heretic
Theology - Piper on Helless Preaching
Reviews - "Jesus Wants To Save Christians" by Rob Bell
Reviews - "Jesus Wants To Save Christians" by Rob Bell (separate from above)
Reviews - "Velvet Elvis" by Rob Bell
Reviews - "Religion Saves" by Mark Driscoll

"Begin"

2011-10-03T12:20:00.000-04:00

As a pastor, I am constantly trying to put good resources into people's hands. Interestingly, even as a pastor in the so-called Bible Belt, the biblical illiteracy is pretty serious. Most new believers are clueless as to what is in the Bible, what its all about, and how to read it. Thus I was excited to read the new book by Master Books Begin: A Journey Through Scriptures For Seekers and New Believers (ESV).

The book itself is pretty simple. It has a basic introduction by Answers in Genesis President Ken Ham and is then followed by sections of Scripture from the English Standard Version. These sections include much of Genesis, John, Romans, and other important portions of Scripture The idea is the help the reader get the "guts" of Scripture and to understand its basic story and how it presents the gospel. Throughout the book, the editors offer simple introductions to certain sections to help the reader to understand what they are about to read.

For these reasons, I highly recommend this book, but there are a couple of areas of critique that are worth mentioning. First, I'm not sure Ken Ham is the best voice for this important project. Ham permeates the book and his obsession over the subject of creation and the age of the earth is all over this book. I agree with much that Ham argues and have found him and his Answers in Genesis helpful (I grew up a short distance from the Creation Museum). But the book is bookended with youth earth creationism. I understand raising the issue when introducing Genesis 1-11, but chapters 3-11 are virtually ignored because of the time dedicated to young earth creationism.

Furthermore, the conclusion that seeks to offer "Ten Basics to Boldly Proclaim a Biblica Worldview" is dominated by creationism. Nine of the ten points regard creation. Number 10 is about the gospel. Frankly, a biblical worldview is dominated by the gospel. Part of that gospel story is Creation and the image of man, but is more than just creationism. You mean to tell me that one who affirms penal substitution is a heretic if he believes that God created ex-nihilo and believes that the earth is old?

So would I recommend this book to new believers and visitors? Maybe. Depending on their background and understanding of some of these issues. Even then I would encourage them to skip the introduction and much of the conclusion emphasizing the Scriptural portions available. I love that Genesis, John, and Romans are emphasized but there is frankly too much surrounding it that is unfortunate.

This book was given to me free of charge for the purpose of this review.

For more:
Reviews - "Already Compromised"
Reviews - Already Gone
Reviews - "The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence For Belief"
Reviews - "The Death of Evolution"
Reviews - "Atheism Remix"
Reviews - Reviews in Brief - Doctrine of Divine Creation
Reviews - "Fatal Flaws"
Reviews - "How Good Do We Have to Be?"

"Has God Spoken?" by Hank Hanegraaf

2011-10-01T11:11:00.000-04:00

Has God really spoken? That the question raised by Bible answer man, Hank Hanegraaf, in his new book Has God Spoken?: Proof of the Bible's Divine Inspiration. Books like this have been written for centuries now - especially after the rise of the enlightenment and with it its many attacks on the authority, inspiration, and inerrancy of Scripture as well as the challenge of modern and postmodern liberalism. Hanegraaf seeks to show the Divine origin of Scripture especially in light of some of its recent challengers.

The most mentioned enemy, what he refers to as the fundamental left (a term I like a lot), is Bart Ehrman who has made it his mission to discredit Christianity and the Scripture it holds dear. Hanegraaf has listened to Ehrman's many arguments regarding textual criticism, slavery and homosexuality, and the supposed contradictions in the Bible and he finds them to be empty. The author takes his time explaining to the reader what is at stake with each issue and how we are to understand them all with the purpose of showing that the Bible is credible, accurate, and ought to be considered divinely inspired.

I find it encouraging that a popular author like Hanegraaf is willing to discuss something as complicated as textual criticism. When many are confronted with this challenge they get worried, but Hanegraaf shows that textual criticism hasn't been the critic we thought it would be. We can be certain that the Bible we hold in our hands is the words penned by its authors. Likewise evidence from archeology, history, and other evidences are given as proof that Scripture is legitamate.

But he doesn't stop there. Much of the book is to help the reader read Scripture. There is a lengthy discussion on hermeneutics, what we mean by understanding Scripture literally, etc. that is really helpful for young believers.

Overall, this is a helpful book. Though long, the author seeks to present a case (similar though not exactly like Josh McDowell's more famous Evidence That Demands a Verdict book) for Scripture and its credibility. There is an emphasis on the resurrection and its historical likelihood and how it gives credence to the Christian gospel.

Though there are parts that are over simplified (I'm not sure that Gilgimesh proves that Noah was an actual person or that the flood was universal) and incomplete (what about some of the more problematic "contradictions" raised by some other than those found in the resurrection accounts), it is a helpful book. One can tell that the author is being selective and not exhaustive. He could have discussed more archeological evidence (the section on the Exodus here was really helpful), source criticism, and gone deeper into hermeneutics, but it is a helpful taste of why we should take Scripture seriously.

Clearly, Hanegraaf has done his homework and I would recommend this book. It is not the best book on the subject and I'm not sure He has proven without a shadow of a doubt that Scripture is divinely inspired, but he has shown that such a conclusion should be taken more seriously. Furthermore, he has revealed the empty arguments of people like Bart Ehrman and groups like the Jesus Seminar. And for that he should be praised.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

For more:
Reviews - "Welcome to the Story: Reading, Loving, and Living God's Word" by Stephen J Nichols
Reviews - "Ancient Word, Changing Worlds"
Reviews - "King Solomon" by Philip Graham Ryken
Reviews - "God's Word in Human Words": Full Series
Reviews - "How to Read the Bible as Literature . . . and Get More Out of It"

Other Thomas Nelson Books:
Reviews - "Why God Won't Go Away" by Alister McGrath
Reviews - "Billy Graham in Quotes"
Reviews - "No He Can't" by Kevin McCullough
Reviews - "Washington: A Legacy of Leadership" by Paul Vickery
Reviews - "Max on Life" by Max Lucado
Reviews - "Slave" by John Macarthur
Reviews - "The Jesus Inquest" by Charles Foster
Reviews - "Finding Our Way Again" by Brian McLaren
Reviews - "Outlive Your Life" by Max Lucado
Reviews - "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns
Reviews - "Saint Patrick" by Jonathan Rogers
Reviews - "A Century Turns" by William Bennett
Reviews - "Sir Winston Churchill"
Reviews - "On this Day in Christian History"
Reviews - "Storm Warning" by Billy Graham

"Welcome to the Story: Reading, Loving, and Living God's Word" by Stephen J Nichols

2011-09-29T16:40:00.000-04:00

There is a growing trend in Christianity which I find helpful. Many Christians are stepping back and looking at the grand meta-narrative of Scripture from beginning to end - from Genesis to Revelation. If we believe that God is provident, then we also believe that God has directed the beginning, the middle, and the end of His Divine Story. This is most clearly seen in Scripture itself.

Recently, Christian historian Stephen J. Nichols whose books have been particularly helpful to me has published his attempt at presenting the biblical story and how to understand it in Crossways Welcome to the Story: Reading, Loving, & Living God's Word.

Nichols follows the basic storyline of the Bible presented as Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. Each section receives its own separate chapter and the author shows how each effects the biblical story and, really, our story. Throughout these sections, the author weaves in biblical theology with insights from history (his bread and butter) guiding the reader through the Story itself.

For the most part the author manages to stay away from controversial theological issues. This was rather surprising to me especially since Nichols is an distinguished Christian scholar. He has already written books on Christology, Bibliology, Martin Luther, and other topics and thus is quit competent to speak on some of the issues that are naturally raised when discussing the meta-narrative of Scripture.

For example, in the chapter on Creation, little to nothing is said regarding the various views regarding how to interpret the Biblical record. What about evolution? How old is the Earth? Surely these views affect our understanding of the Story. But one helpful part of the creation discussion was hos suggestion borrowing from Karl Barth that "image" means relationship. Like the Trinity, we are relational beings.

One shortfall here is common among such projects. It is amazing how easily Christians skip from Genesis 3 (the Fall) to Matthew 1 (the Incarnation) or later (the crucifixion and resurrection). A lot happens in between those events to say the least. What does the giving of the Law, the rise of the Judges, the monarchy, the captivity, and the rebuilding of the Temple have to do with God's Divine Story? Though Nichols quotes from the prophets and other Old Testament texts later in the book, at this point he virtually skips them and he is not alone. This is a serious challenge for Christians who tell the Story of Scripture. We cannot dismiss God's dealings with Israel so easily.

But the book is not just a summary of the biblical narrative. Much of the book helps the reader understand Scripture subjectively. He guides the reader through how not to miss the point (a reference to Brian McLaren and Tony Campolo?), the affect that Scripture has on us, how to draw the right interpretation and meaning of Scripture, etc. One of the things I love about Nichols and his books, writings, lectures, etc. is that he is not just an ivory tower academic, but a person who tries to make the complex understandable to the average believer. He takes on soteriology, christology, and bibliology not to display his writing abilities, but to help Christians better understand his faith and that is what he does here.

Overall this is a helpful book worth considering but in comparison to his other books, this is not Dr. Nichols best book. Nichols is at his best when he is discussing history and those who changed it. That does not mean that this is a terrible book, it isn't, but only to offer an honest critique. The book stands on its own as a helpful introduction to the Story of Scripture and how to love and live it (as the title and subtitle suggests).

For readers wanting to understand this story and to know how it all fits together, this may be a helpful tool for you. But for those wanting details, perhaps you should look elsewhere.

This book was given to me free of charge for the purpose of this review.

For more:
Reviews - "For Us and Our Salvation" by Stephen Nichols
Reviews - "Jesus Made in America" by Stephen Nichols
Reviews - "Ancient Word, Changing Worlds"
Reviews - "King Solomon" by Philip Graham Ryken
Reviews - "God's Word in Human Words": Full Series
Reviews - "How to Read the Bible as Literature . . . and Get More Out of It"
Reviews - "Am I Really a Christian?" by Mike McKinley
Reviews - "Life's Biggest Questions" by Erik Thoennes

"Lukan Authorship of Hebrews"

2011-09-20T17:42:00.000-04:00

Who wrote the book of Hebrews? That question has haunted Christians, theologians, historians, and scholars since its original writing. There is so much mystery to this question that many have simply thrown up their hands and on faith declare that whoever wrote it did so under the guiding hand of the Holy Spirit. That, for the most part, is good enough. But it doesn't answer the question.

In the book"Lukan Authorship of Hebrews," scholar David L. Allen suggests (as the title suggests) that the author of Hebrews is not as mysterious as we might think. The author, based on internal, external, historical, and linguistic evidence, believes that Luke wrote independently the book we now call Hebrews.

The book is part of the excellent New American Commentary Series which explores various theological issues. In what I believe is the most thorough book on the subject, Dr. Allen presents a strong case that though is not conclusive does reveal that there is credible evidence to conclude that Luke wrote the mysterious letter to the Hebrews.

The author begins with a survey of the evidence and then discusses some of the more popular options: Paul, Barnabas, and Apollos. Paul has always been the assumed author. So much so that some Bible's have labeled the letter Pauline in spite of the many questions. With clarity and through extensive and honest research, the author presents the evidence for each and why these three popular options (he mentions others like Adolf Harnack's suggestion that Priscilla and Aquila wrote the book) are unlikely.

That leaves us with Luke. But that's not all the evidence. From here, the author walks the reader through the linguistic evidence that the writer of Luke-Acts was likely the writer of Hebrews. Admittedly, this is a difficult and long section of the book. Unless one understands Greek and linguistics, this will be a painful chapter to work through. But the conclusion of the author remains consistent. The evidence suggests that Luke wrote more than just Luke-Acts, he also wrote Hebrews.

The author continues his argument comparing the theology and purpose of Luke-Acts with Hebrews and one finds a lot of similarities. Dr. Allen admits that finding the exact purpose with each book can be problematic and debated among scholars today, we can find some similarities between the Lukan and Hebrew text.

All of this leads to the historical reconstruction of Luke's writing of the letter. Overall, the author makes a compelling case for Lukan authorship of Hebrews. I must admit that Luke is a promising candidate, but like the author, I must still confess that we simply do not know who wrote this letter. I am unaware of a more thorough survey of this important and fascinating question.

The author has done his homework and puts forward an argument that ought to be taken seriously and explored even deeper (if that is possible!). One of the arguments I had not considered regards the identity of Luke as a Gentile. When the author raised the question of his Gentile background I immediately began asking myself on what basis do we believe that he was a Gentile? The author suggests that perhaps Luke was in fact a Jew and the arguments suggesting otherwise are problematic.

But before reading this book, let the reader be aware that this book, and every book in this series, is an academic book meant to be read by scholars and students with background in these issues. One needs to be familiar with Biblical studies, the context and content of the book of Hebrews, theology, history, manuscripts, Greek, patristics, linguistics, etc. These are not easy subjects and yet the author takes the reader into all such areas of study. I have studied all of them and have done research on the authorship of Hebrews and I struggled mightily with some of the arguments. Though the author seeks to help the reader, it is clear that he is not writing to the new believer.

So who wrote Hebrews? Dr. Allen says the Gospel writer/historian/physician Luke and he just might be right. The argument put forth here ought to be taken seriously and maybe Dr. Allen has opened a door that many Christians have refuse to consider.

For more:
Reviews - "The Voice of Luke"
Reviews - "Ancient Word, Changing Worlds"
Reviews - "God's Word in Human Words": A Detailed Critique - Part 1
Reviews - "God's Word in Human Words": A Detailed Critique - Part 2
Reviews - "God's Word in Human Words": A Detailed Critique - Part 3
Reviews - "God's Word in Human Words": A Detailed Critique - Part 4
Reviews - "God's Word in Human Words": A Detailed Critique - Part 5
Reviews - "How to Read the Bible as Literature . . . and Get More Out of It"

"Am I Really a Christian?" by Mike McKinley

2011-09-20T16:47:00.000-04:00

Are you a Christian? It is rare that such a book dedicates its volume to such a question with the assumption that perhaps the reader isn't one. In his book "Am I Really a Christian?" author Mike McKinley seeks to warn the reader that just because they may consider their selves a Christian doesn't make them one. One may look like a duck, act like a duck, and talk like a duck. But that doesn't mean their a duck.

McKinley's point is evangelistic and pastoral. As a pastor I can sympathize and that is what I loved about this book. Many Christians are Christians in name only or are under the delusion that just because they signed a card, got baptized, walked an aisle, or occassionally attend a church that they must be a genuine, name-written-in-the-Lamb's-Book-of-Life Christian. McKinley writes with some real honestly. If your a Christian, you might want to double-check to make sure you actually are one.

The chapter titles say enough about the argument he puts forward. You are not a Christian . . .:

. . . Just Because You Say That You Are
. . . If You Haven't Been Born Again
. . . Just Because You Like Jesus
. . . If You Enjoy Sin
. . . If You Do Not Endure to the End
. . . If You Don't Love Other People
. . . If You Love Your Stuff

Each chapter explores these themes and the author takes the time to explain some of its themes. Chapter 2, for example, walks the reader through what Jesus meant by the phrase, "you must be born again." Unless we are regenerated, we are not saved. I particularly loved the chapters on sin and endurance. Too many people, particularly in the Bible Belt where I serve as pastor, believe that because salvation is by faith alone it doesn't matter how they live. This is an old heresy that is still around. Instead, we must persevere in both holiness and through suffering and the author guides the reader through the process and how the gospel helps us live righteously and in perseverance.

But in a book where the author seeks to convince the reader that they may not be a believer, is there any hope for assurance? The author couldn't be more clear in one of his last chapters; yes. Yes we can have assurance that we are truly redeemed and safe in the hands of the Redeemer.

This is a great book especially for pastors wanting some insight in how to preach on these subjects and for believers struggling with assurance and with those who have bought into cheap grace and other false gospel lies. McKinley is a good writer and anything published by Crossway is worth the read. The book has the stamp of approval of Mark Dever's 9Marks ministry. I encourage Christians, new and experienced, to consider the argument put forward here and for all believers to take the gospel more seriously.

Are you a Christian? That is the most important question we could ever ask.

This book was given to me free of charge for the purpose of this review.

Here is the author answering the question, "What is the Gospel?" in a promotional video for the book. There are several more than just this one.

For more:
Reviews - What is the Gospel?
Reviews - "Life's Biggest Questions" by Erik Thoennes
Reviews - "King Solomon" by Philip Graham Ryken
Reviews - "The Gospel According to Jesus" by John MacArthur
Reviews - The gospel According to Jesus" by Chris Seay
Reviews - Hard to Believe

Love Wins?: Phil Johnson's Critic of Bell's Best-Seller

2011-09-19T08:30:00.000-04:00

I have not personally reviewed the book but I have read Rob Bell's very controversial 2011 book Love Wins. Here is a 50+ minute review from Phil Johnson (close associate of John MacArthur) on the book that I found helpful.

For more:

Blogizomai - Will This Sort of Love Win?: Reflections on the Bell Controversy - Part 1

Blogizomai - Will This Sort of Love Win?: Reflections on the Bell Controversy - Part 2

Blogizomai - Some Final Cyber-Thoughts: Links to the Bell Hell Controversy

Blogizomai - Let's Talk About Hell Baby . . . And a Little More on Rob Bell

Blogizomai - Love Promoted: The First Bell Interviews

Blogizomai - Where is He Now? McLaren on the Question of bin Laden's Final Destination

Blogizomai - Is Hell Real? The Difference Between Emergent Agnostic Doctrine & Orthodoxy

"The Social Principles of Jesus"

2011-09-13T15:03:00.000-04:00

I am in the middle of writing a paper on Walter Rauschenbusch and recently sat down to read his book The Social Principles of Jesus. This book is quit different from his rest. The book is written primarily to college students and includes daily reading primarily from the Gospels with comments from Rauschenbusch seeking to prove that Jesus was a social gospel leader before the social gospel was trendy and cool. Each chapter ends with a series of questions, similar to a study guide, for the reader to reflect on the content of the chapter.

The book puts forth standard social gospel texts but like all of the other such social gospel and liberation theology efforts, the exegesis, hermenteutics, interpretations, applications, and theology simply fail. There is little said about the atonement (apart from his chapter on vicarious suffering). Many of his interpretations (particularly of some of Jesus' parables) are problematic and some are simply wrong. Furthermore, Rauschenbusch puts forward passages that fit his agenda (like Luke 4 and Matthew 25) but fail to put forward passages that run against his whole social gospel agenda.

In the end, if one wants to understand Rauschenbusch's theology, though this isn't the best book for that (I would recommend A Theology for the Social Gospel for that) there is a lot of great insight here. His excursions on the Kingdom of God and his definition of it as the reign of God are great. This text gives brevity to what he expounds on in more detail elsewhere.

This is a fairly brief book that can be downloaded for free on your Kindle. I recommend it to those who want to know more about Rauschenbusch and the social gospel. Beyond that, like everything else from him, there are better things to read.

But I will say that another great insight in this book is how at times I couldn't tell if I was reading Rauschenbusch of the early 20th Century or various Emergent leaders of the early 21st Century. I continue to believe that the Emergent movement is nothing more than a postmodern version of the 20th Century liberal social gospel. Rauschenbusch continues to prove my point.

For more:
Blogizomai - "The Kingdom is Always But Coming"
Review - "A Theology for the Social Gospel" - Part 1
Review - "A Theology for the Social Gospel" - Sin
Review - "A Theology for the Social Gospel" - Atonement
Theology - Orthodoxy vs. Unorthodoxy: A Look at Rauschenbush's "A Theology for the Social Gospel"
Blogizomai - Repost Friday | How To Change the World: The Advantage and Power of the Gospel and the Limits of the Social Gospel
Blogizomai - What Would Jesus Vote?: Jesus, Health Care, and the Gospel
Blogizomai - Have We Forgotten the Gospel? Glenn Beck, Social Justice, and the Gospel
Blogizomai - Who Isn't One?: Brian McLaren and Social Christians
Blogizomai - Repost | What Did the Cross Accomplish?: External Hope or Internal Reformation
Blogizomai - Have We Forgotten the Gospel?: Glenn Beck, Social Justice, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Blogizomai - Crossing the Wall of Separation: The Danger of the State Wooing the Church
Blogizomai - Weekly Recommendation - "Generous Justice" by Timothy Keller
Review - "Jesus Wants to Save Christians"
Review - "UnChristian"
Reviews - "The Justice Project"
Review - "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns
Review - "The Gospel According to Jesus" by Chris Seay
Review - "Outlive Your Life" by Max Lucado
Review - "When Helping Hurts"
Review - "Everything Must Change"
Review - "The Great Awakening" Part 1
Review - "The Great Awakening" Part 2
Shortblog - Glenn Beck and Social Justice
Shortblog - The Power of the Gospel in Bringing Social Change: Perhaps We Need to Reconsider Our Efforts
Theology - Is Wallis a Marxist? A New Video Surfaces
Theology - Repent for Health Care is At Hand: Did Obama Just Legislate the Gospel?
Theology - The Postmodern Social Gospel: Brian McLaren Proves My Point
Theology - The Bible and Poverty: The Gospel as the Remedy
Theology - What Does It Mean to be Christian?

"Why Our Church Switched to the ESV"

2011-09-13T14:25:00.000-04:00

As a pastor, I get asked about Bible translations all the time. Being in the South - i.e. the Bible belt - the King James Version is the standard translation by which all other translations are judged. This is rather unfortunate for reasons that go beyond this review, but nonetheless the large number of translations remains a challenge for believers today. Especially among young people. Simply put, young people do not like and cannot read the King James Version. Period. I grew up on it and I struggle with it. Thus knowing which translation to read, buy, and as a pastor, to preach from is important.

Pastor and author Kevin DeYoung offers his take on the subject in the book Why Our Church Switched to the ESV (Crossway, 2011). The title gives away the thesis. One should also note the publisher. Crossway is the publisher of the English Standard Version (ESV) and thus is promoting this book.

The book is not a critique of every translation or even of the major translations of the Bible. It is really a brief text on why the ESV is better than the NIV (New International Version, published by Zondervan). DeYoung seeks to offer a simple reason to why he preaches from and his churches uses the ESV and does so in brevity. Thus his target isn't other translations but with the ESV.

This is both a strength and a weakness. The NIV is the most popular translation and thus in an attempt to be brief, DeYoung is able to cover a lot of material comparing the ESV with a translation that most readers are at least familiar with. However, comparing the ESV with just the NIV is misleading. The two are very different with very different approaches to translations.

The NIV is a thought-for-thought translation. The ESV is more of a word-for-word translation. Here I side with the ESV. DeYoung perfers accuracy over the thoughts and interpretation of the translation committee. I couldn't agree with him more here. But what would have happened if he compared the ESV with the NASB (New American Standard Bible, and my personal favorite)? I believe that in most cases, the NASB is more literal than the ESV. But then again, DeYoung wants both accuracy and readability, something that the ESV does better than the NASB.

But nonetheless, the book does offer some helpful examples of the differences in translations. DeYoung writes with the mind and heart of a pastor and thus offers more than just academia, but pastoral ministry. That is a real strength of the book. But reading a book that has a clear bias makes it not the best book on the subject. This is as much an advertisement as it is a critique and an explanation that helps believers pick a translation and that may be what both DeYoung and Crossway want.

As a pastor, I recommend the ESV perhaps more than any other translation (close behind the NASB). Every graduation and baptism candidate receives an ESV Bible and I can count on an ESV reader being present at every Wednesday Night and Sunday Night Bible study. And I am in the Bible Belt! Clearly the ESV is a great translation and I agree with DeYoung's critiques of the NIV, but the book fails to convince the reader that the ESV is better than all other translations in that it leaves the others out.

For more:
Reviews - "Ancient Word, Changing Worlds"
Reviews - "God's Word in Human Words": Full Series
Reviews - "How to Read the Bible as Literature . . . and Get More Out of It"
Reviews - "The Good News We Almost Forgot" by Kevin DeYoung
Reviews - "Just Do Something" by Kevin DeYoung
Reviews - "Why We're Not Emergent: By Two Guys Who Should Be" by Kevin DeYoung

"The Kingdom is Always But Coming"

2011-09-02T12:01:00.000-04:00

One of the most important theologians and thinkers in the past 150 years is Walter Rauschensbusch whose social gospel movement continues to challenge orthodox Christianity and remains popular among many well-intentioned, yet misguided postmodern evangelicals. One cannot read the writings and listen to the lectures, sermons, and presentations of people like Jim Wallis, Tony Campolo, Brian McLaren, and others (like Walter's great-grandson Paul Rauschenbusch) without seeing Walter Rauschenbusch standing on their shoulder.

In other words, many liberals today continue to stand on the foundation built by Rauschenbusch and in his recent biography The Kingdom is Always But Coming: A Life of Walter Rauschenbusch Christopher Evans shows us just why Rauschenbusch was so influential, what he really believed, and why he still matters.

Evans has written the best biography on Rauschenbusch in recent years. Evans is an academic who has clearly done his homework and presents a thorough survey of his life, ministry, theology, and thought. Rauschenbusch is the most recognizable voice in the social gospel movement, but he was not the first. Rauschenbusch, though not the best theologian of his time, made a case for the social gospel that was popular and timely and Evans shows how he did this.

I am currently writing a paper on Rauschenbusch for a Ph.D. class highlighting his understanding of the atonement and was directed towards Evans new biography as a starting point to understand better Rauschenbusch's world and thought. I have found that when focusing in on someone's theology, it is important to understand their story and biography and Evans is without a doubt the best place to start. Evans offers the reader great insight into what made him tick, the challenges he faced academically, pastorally, theologically, and in his own family.

A couple of things I found particular helpful. First, Evans' survey of August Rauschenbusch, Walter's father, was insightful. In many ways, Walter was following in his father's footsteps. Though August was a pietist and Walter essentially left it behind (though his pietist background greatly influenced him), his father remained a huge influence in his life. August instilled the families German heritage by returning his children to their home country and Walter continued this practice for the rest of his life and for his family. In order to understand Walter, in many ways one must understand his father. Evans offers a great survey of this relationship and who August was as a man.

Secondly, though Evans does not offer a robust survey of Rauschenbusch's theology, he does give the reader some great insight into what drove his theology. One cannot separate theology from biography and Evans shows how his experiences as a pastor in New York, his reading of theologians like Horace Bushnell and Albrecht Ritschl, his reading and study of political scientists like Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, and his upbringing as a German pietist in America shaped his theology. The social conditions of his congregation, for example, led him to reject American capitalism and to call Christians to abandon a "too heavenly minded" faith.

Thirdly, Evans takes us into the world of Rauschenbusch as a husband and a father. We know him as a professor, writer, theologian, historian, preacher, pastor, and social activists, but few of us think of him as a husband and a father. I would love to know more about his wife. Evans quotes her as saying how she was so dedicated to her husband that she was driven by how else she could help his ministry. At the same time, Walter's schedule kept him away from home a lot and this caused some problems with his relationships with his children.

What I found particularly interesting about his children is the direction of their own theology - something that says a lot about the implications of Rauschenbusch's own theology. The social gospel is dependent on liberalism. You can't separate the two. Thus naturally many who embrace Walter's theology are liberals and liberalism is a spiraling theology. It continues to sink deeper and deeper towards Process Theology and then towards Deism, Theism, and to Christian Atheism. That's exactly what we see in Walter's family. And that is exactly what we saw in modern liberalism and what we are seeing in postmodern liberalism.

For those interested in understanding the story behind the leading thinker in the social gospel movement, I can think of no better place to turn than to Evans' helpful biography. He's a great writer who understands Rauschenbusch. Walter is a hugely important thinker and Evans shows why. Though Evans fails to dive deep into Walter's theology, he offers some great insights into what he believed and why. A great read.

For more on Walter Rauschenbusch:
You can read Waltar Raushenbush's groundbreaking book, "A Theology for the Social Gospel" online here.
Review - "A Theology for the Social Gospel" - Part 1
Review - "A Theology for the Social Gospel" - Sin
Review - "A Theology for the Social Gospel" - Atonement

For more:
Blogizomai - Repost Friday | How To Change the World: The Advantage and Power of the Gospel and the Limits of the Social Gospel
Blogizomai - What Would Jesus Vote?: Jesus, Health Care, and the Gospel
Blogizomai - Have We Forgotten the Gospel? Glenn Beck, Social Justice, and the Gospel
Blogizomai - Who Isn't One?: Brian McLaren and Social Christians
Blogizomai - Repost | What Did the Cross Accomplish?: External Hope or Internal Reformation
Blogizomai - Have We Forgotten the Gospel?: Glenn Beck, Social Justice, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Blogizomai - Crossing the Wall of Separation: The Danger of the State Wooing the Church
Blogizomai - Weekly Recommendation - "Generous Justice" by Timothy Keller
Review - "Jesus Wants to Save Christians"
Review - "UnChristian"
Reviews - "The Justice Project"
Review - "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns
Review - "The Gospel According to Jesus" by Chris Seay
Review - "Outlive Your Life" by Max Lucado
Review - "When Helping Hurts"
Review - "Everything Must Change"
Review - "The Great Awakening" Part 1
Review - "The Great Awakening" Part 2
Shortblog - Glenn Beck and Social Justice
Shortblog - The Power of the Gospel in Bringing Social Change: Perhaps We Need to Reconsider Our Efforts
Theology - Is Wallis a Marxist? A New Video Surfaces
Theology - Repent for Health Care is At Hand: Did Obama Just Legislate the Gospel?
Theology - The Postmodern Social Gospel: Brian McLaren Proves My Point
Theology - The Bible and Poverty: The Gospel as the Remedy
Theology - What Does It Mean to be Christian?
Theology - Orthodoxy vs. Unorthodoxy: A Look at Rauschenbush's "A Theology for the Social Gospel"

"The Mighty Weakness of John Knox"

2011-08-24T18:04:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite theologians and Christians in history is the Scottish Reformer John Knox. Knox changed the world and was used mightily by God to proclaim the gospel and to reform His church. Knox is without a doubt controversial and since his death has been perceived in very clear negative light by Scotland's dominant secular culture. And that's a shame. Knox boldly proclaimed the gospel to everyone, whether farmer or Queen, without shame.

I recently read the book The Mighty Weakness of John Knox by Douglas Bond. The book is part of the A Long Line of Godly Men Profile series edited by Stephen Lawson. The series includes similar books including The Expository Genius of John Calvin by Dr. Lawson and The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards (Long Line of Godly Men Profile) also by Dr. Lawson.

Bond's take on Knox is a great read. The first chapter covers briefly the biography of Knox. It is an excellent source for an overview of Knox's life and ministry. Though brief, Bond highlights the highlights revealing Knox the man and how he changed history through his ministry and preaching. Clearly a lot of detail is left out, but Bond offers a great introduction to the new reader.

From there, Bond highlights Knox's legacy. What made him such a great man and what insights can we gain from his life? One of my favorite chapters regarded Knox as a man of prayer. It begins with the quote from Charles H. Spurgeon: When John Knox went upstairs to plead with God for Scotland, it was the greatest event in Scotland (33). That about sums it all up. Bond shows how feeble Knox was and how much he depended on his Lord through prayer. O that more men and women of God would drop to their knees and trust in their Sovereign Lord. Just like Knox!

I also enjoyed the chapter surveying Knox as a preacher. This ought to be Knox's greatest letter even though we only have two manuscripts of his sermons. Just two. Hard to believe! When Knox preached, people listened, some got angry, but many were changed. Knox preached the gospel and God changed Scotland through such bold preaching. But even here Knox was a rather weak man. As the quote at the beginning of the chapter from Knox reveals, The person of the speaker is wretched, miserable, and nothing to be regarded, but things that were spoken are the infallible and eternal truth of God. Our weakness. God's greatness. Our infallibility. God's infallibility. Knox, as Bond shows, was Christo-centric in his sermons. He preached Christ and read Christ in every text. Thus the power of preaching was made known.

Overall, this is a great book. I love Knox and virtually love anything written about or from him. Though Knox's memory has fallen on hard times, Bond shows why Knox ought to be appreciated and remembered. The title says it all, though Knox was a weak man, God made him strong. Through this faithful servant, God saved Scotland. The gospel went forth and society was changed. He really does make foolish the wisdom of the world and He did it through Knox.

Though the biography could have been longer, this book is well worth the read. Bond is a great reader and writes with a heart that speaks to the reader. This isn't dry history, biography, theology, or academia. Bond seeks to apply the lessons of Knox's life to the reader. If God made Knox mighty though he was weak, He can do the same with us.

________________________________________________________________________

I am currently working my way through a Scottish catechism written by John Knox's colleague John Craig (my ancestor). Here is what I have thus far:

An Introduction of the Life and Works of Scottish Reformation John Craig - Part 1
A Short Summary of the Whole Catechism - Introduction
A Short Summary of the Whole Catechism - Chapter 1
A Short Summary of the Whole Catechism - Chapter 2
A Short Summary of the Whole Catechism - Chapter 3
A Short Summary of the Whole Catechism - Chapter 4.1
A Short Summary of the Whole Catechism - Chapter 4.2
A Short Summary of the Whole Catechism - Chapter 4.3
A Short Summary of the Whole Catechism - Chapter 5.1
A Short Summary of the Whole Catechism - Chapter 5.2
A Short Summary of the Whole Catechism - Chapter 6.1
A Short Summary of the Whole Catechism - Chapter 6.2

For more:
Blogizomai - Douglas Bond on the Legacy of John Knox
Reviews - "John Knox" by Rosalind K. Marshall
Blogizomai - Was Calvin a Calvinist? Helm Weighs In
Blogizomai - He Turned the Water Into Wine: MacArthur, Alcohol, & Christian Liberty
Blogizomai - Theology Thursday | Calvin on the Redemptive Necessity of the Resurrection
Theology - Calvinist Baptists and the Many (False) Misconceptions
GBC - "Without the Gospel": A Gem From John Calvin
GBC - Calvin on God in Theology and the Christian Life
GBC - Calvin on Providence
GBC - Calvin on Treasures in Heaven
GBC - Calvin on Fasting
GBC - Calvin on Prayer: Why Bother?
Reviews - "Young, Restless, and Reformed"
Reviews - The Theology of the Reformers
Reviews - The Unquenchable Flame
Reviews - "On the Necessity of Reforming the Church" by John Calvin
Reviews - John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, & Doxology
Reviews - Christianity's Dangerous Idea
Reviews - "Five Leading Reformers"

"Desiring God" by John Piper

2011-08-22T22:12:00.000-04:00

One of the classic works written in recent decades is without a doubt John Piper's book Desiring God, Revised Edition: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist recently republished and updated. Books like this become a class for a reason. This book has characterized Piper's growing popularity and ministry. But the subtitle sums it all up, Desiring God is a book of Meditations of a Christian Hedonist.

Piper sets forth his case for Christian Hedonism, a term that is on the surface rather unfortunate, but still remains an adequate one. Piper begins by suggesting that This is a serious book about being happy in God and he sets forth his case. He finds his case for Christian Hedonism is the old creed, The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Here we see the connection between God's glory and our joy. These two realities permeate the book. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. Piper shows how God's glory in our lives leads to real joy in our lives.

This is a pleasant book. I am pleased that Piper admits some of the criticism he has received in his argument and defends his case for Christian Hedonism. But what makes this book such a classic isn't his defense, but his argument. I have found it critically helpful for us to see that glorifying God in our lives leads to our joy. If only Christians would understand that basic fundamental point even without the hedonist label.

Overall, this is a classic pure and simple. Piper walks us through various aspects of the Christian life such as love, marriage, worship, etc. and shows how Christian Hedonism is the answer. But even if you don't favor the label or even think the same way as Piper, this is a crucially important book and a classic for a reason. Joy can be ours if we will glorify God in our lives. We need both.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Other Piper Books:
Reviews - "Finally Alive"
Reviews - "A Sweet & Bitter Providence" by John Piper
Reviews - "The Supremacy of Christ in a Post-Modern World"
Reviews - "When I Don't Desire God"
Reviews - "The Supremacy of God in Preaching"

Other WaterBrook Multnomah Titles;
Reviews - "Radical Together"
Reviews - The Next Christians"
Reviews - "Start Here" by Alex & Brett Harris
Reviews - "Angels" by David Jeremiah
Reviews - "Dug Down Deep" by Joshua Harris
Reviews - "Treasured" by Leigh McLeroy
Reviews - "God Gave Us Christmas" by Lisa Bergren
Reviews- "God Gave Us Love" by Lisa Bergren
Reviews - "Every Sing Man's Battle" by Stephen Arterburn & Fred Stoeker

Reviews

"Why Church Matters?" by Joshua Harris

"What is the Mission of the Church?" by Kevin DeYoung & Greg Gilbert

Top 11 Reads of 2011

"Real Marriage" by Mark & Grace Driscoll

"God's Grand Design" by Sean Michael Lucas

"Why Men Hate Going to Church" by David Murrow

"Jesus + Nothing = Everything" by Tullian Tchividjian

"Thinking. Loving. Doing." by John Piper & David Mathis

"How Do We KNow the Bible is True" by Ham & Hodge

"Nearing Home" by Billy Graham

"The Beginning and End of Wisdom" by Douglas Sean O'Donnell

"Culture Shift" by R. Albert Mohler

America: The Last Best Hope - Volume 3

"Is Hell For Real Or Does Everyone go To Heaven?"

"Begin"

"Has God Spoken?" by Hank Hanegraaf

"Welcome to the Story: Reading, Loving, and Living God's Word" by Stephen J Nichols

"Lukan Authorship of Hebrews"

"Am I Really a Christian?" by Mike McKinley

Love Wins?: Phil Johnson's Critic of Bell's Best-Seller

"The Social Principles of Jesus"

"Why Our Church Switched to the ESV"

"The Kingdom is Always But Coming"

"The Mighty Weakness of John Knox"

"Desiring God" by John Piper