Rejuvenation for the weary preacher. A siren call for sluggish Christians. The book that re-established the primacy of preaching in the church.Transcript: https://readingandreaders.com/podcast/preaching-and-preachers-by-martyn-lloyd-jones/Support Me: https://buymeacoffee.com/terencetan

What can you say to those who grieve? What can you do for those who have lost a loved one? How can you do all that without coming off as an insensitive oaf? If only they would tell us how to comfort them.Hi, my name is Terence, and I’m your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review books for you. Today, I review “What Grieving People Wish You Knew About What Really Helps (and What Really Doesn’t)” by Nancy Guthrie. One hundred ninety-two pages, published by Crossway in September 2016. Available in Amazon Kindle for USD 9.97 and in Logos for USD 12.98.## Grieving Mother and FriendsNancy Guthrie has published ten books on Bible studies, six on Grief and Suffering, nine devotionals and many more. In today’s book, she writes as a mother who has grieved for two children, Hope and Gabriel. Both were born with a rare genetic disorder, Zellweger Syndrome, and only lived for six months.She is acquainted with grief and with others who grieve. She introduces us to the GriefShare ministry, I quote:> When your friend attends a GriefShare group, he or she will be surrounded by others who are working their way through grief too — people who understand the tears and fears, the angst and anger, the questions and frustrations of grief. It can be such an unexpected and welcome relief just to be surrounded by people who get it.GriefShare facilitators and members are prominently featured in the book. You can almost consider them co-authors or Guthrie, a curator.This comes across as a writing project from the community of the grieving who want everybody outside this circle to know how to walk alongside them. They have been helped. They have been hurt. And this is their collected wisdom.  So, let me start by telling you two ways I got grief wrong.## Call Me If You Need AnythingFirst, I thought it was good of me to say, “Just call me if you need anything.”Then I read this:> I will never forget the line of people at the cemetery. They passed by hugging my mother and all seven of my siblings as we put Daddy in the ground. All the words blur together, except that they would be there for us. I remember wondering what they meant. The following spring, after Daddy was buried, one neighbor drove up our mile drive and asked what he could do. Any fences need fixing? Any chores the boys need help with? He just came. Every time he came I remember thinking about that line of people at the graveside. They were loving people who meant well. This man did well. He just came. I don’t remember if he ever actually had to do anything. But he came and offered his strength to help.  I reflected on this, and I realised that while I was sincere in my offer to help -- if I got the call, I would have dropped everything to help -- I also realised that when I gave that offer, I thought I had already done my part, my job. Now, it was up to them to take up my offer. By giving up the initiative, I was off the hook. By passing the initiative to them, I was passing on the burden to them of asking for help.## Click to Like My GriefAnother thing I got wrong is about grief on social media. I was surprised to find a whole chapter on this.When I see someone share their grief online, I don’t usually comment or like the post. If it’s a person I know well enough, I would write a personal message.My reason is:1. If I am not close to the person, I think it’s hypocritical to show up to make a quick comment or click on a sad emoji.2. I see social media as a frivolous medium. People are flippant and shallow on social media, but grief deserves a more solemn medium.3. When I make a public comment or post on social media, I realise that I write not just to my friends but also to everybody else. So, this sense of performing for onlookers seems wrong when dealing with a tremendous personal loss.4. I am a private man and not the type to express my grief publicly. So, when I refrain from responding to social media posts, I am applying the golden rule: I am treating others as I would like to be treated.After reading this chapter, I realised it’s not about me; it’s about the one who has suffered loss. Love is also treating others how they would like to be treated.They have already made their grief public. That gives permission to everyone to respond publicly; that is an invitation to acknowledge their grief with a click or a comment. She writes:> to neglect or refuse to comment on a post by a friend who has poured out his or her sadness on Facebook is to see their great sorrow and look the other way.And if I excuse myself because I'm not their close friend, that's convenient because I don't have any close friends, I'm joking, I do have friends, close enough I think. Anyways, I was surprised to repeatedly read how close friends were disappointments and strangers became treasures. We don't need to be close to care, just as the Samaritan man didn't have a checklist before he decided to help people.## Everything is WrongI learnt many things from this book, and I only shared two. Some may be wondering whether I am too hard on myself. After all, some people don't like others coming over to mow the lawn; they want to do it by themselves, or perhaps they want to be left alone.Guthrie shared how gutted she was when her friend, who meant well, came to wash up her departed child's clothes. Guthrie wished she didn't because she missed her baby and her baby's scent.At one point in the book, Guthrie describes the conflict within her:> I remember in those early months that I headed to church each week with two significant fears. I was afraid that everyone would ask me about Hope. And I was afraid no one would speak to me about Hope.When I read this, I thought if she doesn't know how to feel and how to respond, then there is a good chance that whatever I do is just wrong. How can I possibly get the words right, the timing and the tone right when the grieving does not know what is right? Only everything is wrong?When I say I got it wrong, I don't mean I sinned. I just mean I didn't think much about how I could do things differently. And in hindsight, I just didn't care enough to think how I could be more helpful.Sure, I would get things wrong, but that shouldn't stop me from being a better person when helping the grieving.After reading this book, if you love to talk, you learn that the grieving can appreciate you talking less. And if you are the one who never says anything because you are scared of saying something wrong, you need to learn to open your mouth because they need to hear that you care.How do we know when to speak and when to be quiet? When to mow the lawn and when not to? That is wisdom. And Guthrie suggests we get our cue from the mourner. Let the griever set the tone and direction. That and a dose of wisdom from above.## God's WillI have shared with you two things I got wrong. Let me now share two things I got right, but most people get wrong.First is the matter of the Will of God. Is it ever appropriate to say to a widow next to the coffin, "It is God's Will"?As someone who loves the doctrine of the Sovereignty of God, if I say, “Yes, because it is true”, then it is a torturous act inflicted on someone already in unbearable pain. If I say, “No, because it is cruel, " it feels like my convictions are only valid when convenient, so maybe I don't believe them to be true after all.Guthrie offers wisdom here:> I have come to think the term is our inadequate human language trying to make divine mystery manageable and tolerable. The words themselves are simply inadequate to carry the weight of the reality—especially when used in a simplistic way.Later on, she writes:> Was it God’s will for two of my children to be born with Zellweger syndrome and live very short lives? I don’t think this question can be answered on these terms, nor does it need to be. We think we had two children who died because of the corrupting impact of sin on this world—the brokenness of this world has infiltrated even our genetic code so that we have defective genes. We don’t think God picked us out to have two children who would die. But we would also say that nothing happens to us that is somehow outside of his control. God has ordained a world in which he accomplishes his will through secondary causes such as the laws of nature and human choice. As I’ve heard my friend Joni Eareckson Tada say, “Sometimes God allows what he hates to accomplish what he loves.”We know God remains in control. We just don't need to insert this profound truth at inappropriate moments.It's the same when we attend a non-Christian's funeral. We don't tell the grieving widow, "Your husband is in Hell."Nor do we, in our attempt to comfort, tell her, "Your husband is in a better place."## HeavenGuthrie tells us that Heaven cannot be assumed:> ... while our culture assumes that most people—or at least all “good” people who die—go to heaven, that is not at all what the Bible teaches. The Bible makes clear that there is not one person who is good enough to enter into the holy presence of God (Rom. 3:9–20).In this chapter, she presents the gospel. She quotes Ephesians 2:4, 8-9 and writes:> A person who has been made alive together with Christ may die physically but will never die spiritually. The person who was dead and was made alive together with Christ is as likely to die as Christ is likely to die. And Christ will never die.And she continues:> But of course we know that there are those who do not see their need to be made alive with Christ. And when those people die, the sorrow for those left behind is multiplied. We should not always assume that the grieving people we talk to are confident their loved one is in heaven enjoying the presence of God. Imagine yourself in that situation (or maybe you are actually in it). Imagine that you never saw any sign that the deceased had a desire to be joined to Christ by faith or perhaps that person flatly rejected or ridiculed the need for Christ. If someone were to bring up heaven and want to assure you that your loved one is there, it would create anxiety, not peace. It would add to your agony instead of giving you assurance.If we can’t say of the non-Christian, “At least he is in a better place”, then what can we say?In this chapter, which I cannot reproduce here, Guthrie helps us navigate by showing grace and love, yet never compromising or distorting the truth.I especially appreciate this chapter because it shows us the Christian difference. When a Christian dies, when we look back and see the spiritual fruit in her life, we can confidently say that she is in Heaven.But when a non-Christian dies, we can only say, "Sorry for your loss." No mention of Heaven or Hell. No offence and also no comfort."Death where is your sting?" is a victory cry reserved for the Christian.## Too Much Of a Good ThingIf I am forced to give one criticism it's it gives too much of a good thing.Imagine you attend a talk by Nancy Guthrie. She speaks for 15 minutes, then invites one of her team members to share a few words on the topic from her personal experience. You listen, and it just hammers everything home for you. The personal sharing just makes it more real, more vivid.Then Guthrie invites the second person to share. Again, wow. Then the third, then the fourth. You start to wonder when we will move on to the next topic.In the FAQ chapter, there is this question, "There’s a Bible verse I want to share. Should I?" Guthrie answers by sharing the example where her friend, without any warning, lost her husband. Guthrie writes:> So I got on the private Facebook group for couples who have attended our retreat and asked them to respond with nothing other than a verse of Scripture which Starr could take hold of, and choose to believe in those difficult hours.She then lists the responses to the request—all 31 of them.  Am I heartless to say that she could have picked ten examples that best made her point? Maybe there is a reason she wanted to show the complete picture. Maybe I am heartless and would only truly appreciate what she has done here someday in the future.Overall, the book does an excellent job of balancing Guthrie's and the contributors', so I am really just nitpicking.## What If I Get It Wrong Again?Let me close this review with the biggest encouragement I got from the book.Throughout the book, Guthrie teaches us to be better friends to those in grief, answering questions from those who want to comfort. This is the only question posed from the other side's perspective.> I’m the one who is grieving. How do I respond to all the people who say and do so many things that seem to add to my hurt instead of soothe it?Guthrie answers:> The truth is that most people are hoping to be helpful, trying to let us know they can relate in some small way to what we’re going through. If we put ourselves in their shoes, we realise it’s tough to know what to say to someone who’s grieving. So we can be prickly and sensitive about the things people say to us that we wish they hadn’t, setting very high hurdles for people around us to jump through with their words. Or we can choose to see their brains searching for a connection, their hearts wanting to show us they care—even though they may not have the words to express it well. We can extend a hand to help people around us overcome the hurdle of awkwardness.That is just grace. If these people who have gone through so much pain can say, in essence, "Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing," then I think we can do better.Ecclesiastes 7:2–3 (ESV)It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.For a long time, I never understood what that meant. But after attending a few houses of mourning and reading books like today's, I can see how sorrow is better than laughter. May the wisdom of God be with us all as we comfort the grieving around us.## OutroThis is a Reading and Reader's review of “What Grieving People Wish You Knew About What Really Helps (and What Really Doesn’t)” by Nancy Guthrie.I got this book for free. It was the Logos book of the month. I downloaded it, not knowing whether I would ever read it, and I'm sure glad I did. If you want more book reviews, subscribe to the podcast or visit my website, www.readingandreaders.com. Thank you and bye-bye.## Book List* “What Grieving People Wish You Knew About What Really Helps (and What Really Doesn’t)” by Nancy Guthrie. [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Grieving-People-about-Really-Helps/dp/1433552353). [Logos](https://www.logos.com/product/227267/what-grieving-people-wish-you-knew-about-what-really-helps).

In the past, many got married for sex and thus for personal fulfillment. Nowadays, many don’t see a need to get married to get sex. Yet, whether married or not, people were not being personally fulfilled. How do marriage, sex, and personal fulfillment come together, if at all?Hi, my name is Terence, and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review “Married for God: Making Your Marriage the Best It Can Be” by Christopher Ash. 176 pages, published by Crossway in August 2016. Available via Amazon Kindle for USD10.16 and via Logos for USD10.79.Christopher Ash is Writer-in-Residence at Tyndale House in Cambridge. He is a full-time preacher, pastor, teacher, and writer. According to Amazon, he has 40 titles and there is one tantalising title I would like to read, “The Book Your Pastor Wishes You Would Read (but is too embarrassed to ask)”. But that is a book for another day.Today I review Ash's book on marriage.Anyone who intends to get married should go for a pre-marriage counselling course. I say this even to non-Christians. And if you are reluctant to sit down with a pastor, you should get a book to go through together.Marriages include arguments. I could also say many marriages end with arguments. The tragedy is some of those arguments could have been avoided. When one says, “My dream is to have children.” And the other shocked says, “But dear, I don’t intend to have children.” This is a conversation they should have had before they got married.For Christians such conversations is ever more important because God does not approve of divorces. If the marriage is not working, the biblical answer is: make it work.Today's book is not just helpful for those about to get married.If you have been married long, this book will strengthen your marriage.Bizarrely, if you are single, this book will also strengthen your single life. More on that later.Let's open the book.In the introduction, the fundamental statement put to us is:> We ought to want what God wants in marriage.Ash later on continues:> ... when we ask what God wants, we are asking what is best for us. What is best for us is not what we want, but what he wants. When I ask what God wants for marriage, I am saying that I want my marriage to cut with the grain of the universe.Wow. Your love for one another, this private connection between a man and a woman is part of a cosmic design.If you have never considered marriage in that light, there is more to come. In fact whatever you think marriage is, put that aside. Make a commitment to hear from God first. So if whatever God says goes against what you think marriage is about, go with God. This is how Ash ends the introduction chapter, with a call to repentance.## Baggage and GraceBut what happens if God, who is awesome and holy, wants what I don't want? What if, in the light of his holiness, he exposes me? The part I have kept hidden from family and friends, and frankly, intended to keep hidden from my future spouse?And so Christopher Ash, theologian and pastor, right at the start has a chapter titled, “A Word about Baggage and Grace”. I will just read the section headings and you will see why you need not fear God's will for you.1. The Bible Speaks to Those Whose Sexual Pasts Are Spoiled2. Jesus Christ Offers Forgiveness and Restoration To Those With Spoiled Sexual Pasts3. God’s Grace Enables Us to Live Lives of PurityThe chapter ends with six questions and discussion points. Let me read question 4.Question 4:> If you are (or may one day be) married, what kind of “baggage” do you think you bring into marriage, in your thinking and expectations?If you are reading this book on your own, that is great for your self-reflection, but what about your fiance? The temptation here is to think he or she doesn’t need to know your past. But your past, whether you want to or not, in one way or another, will affect the marriage.But if you share your deepest darkest secrets, what happens if your fiance cancels the wedding? Or what if one day she takes this painful part of your life and throws it in your face?The fear bubbles up and chokes, and tempts you to do what you have always done. Hide."Hahhaha... question 4 is asking about baggage? I guess my baggage is I once forgot my baggage at the airport."The couple laughs. Love makes lame jokes funny. Quick! Let's read the next chapter before something ruins the moment.It takes courage to answer soul-baring questions. It takes wisdom to navigate this treacherous waters, which is why I encourage couples to invite their pastor into pre-marriage discussions.A good and experienced pastor will establish a safe space and frame the discussion to ensure that the couple does not dwell on the baggages but eventually move on to the next part: what comes after question 4, I quote:> Pause to bring this “baggage” quietly before God. Pray through the truth of grace in this chapter and ask God to put them deep in your heart. Claim the forgiveness and cleansing of Christ for your past.After this point, you have: 1) responded to the call to repent and 2) received the gift of grace. No matter how dirty and unworthy you think you are, you need Jesus. No matter how clean and pure you think you are, you also need Jesus. You are now ready to read Chapter 2: Married for a Purpose.Chapter 2 is a good example of what to expect from the rest of the book. So I will spend most of my time here, then quickly outline what to expect from the rest of the book, share two criticisms, and finally conclude the book review.## Married For a PurposeAsh starts each chapter with a story. This is how he starts Chapter 2.> Laura felt lonely and bitter. She and Andy had been married for four years now. She thought back to their wedding day, which had been amazing.Fast forward to the last paragraph of the story.> To be honest, marriage for Laura was really not all it had been cracked up to be. It really didn’t match the description on the tin, or not the description given her by that pastor. And in her bitterness she wondered if there was really any point in keeping it all going, if the rest of her life was going to be like this. What was the point?Ash tells us the standard Christian answer: The point of marriage is to have children, to demonstrate faithfulness, and to preserve social order.Ash then does my favourite thing, which is to open up the Bible. He expounds first from Genesis 1:26-31, which includes these familiar verses: “God created man in his own image, ... male and female he created them” and “God saw everything that he had made, and it was very good.”But I bet you have never heard his interpretation before. As he unpacks the verses, he eventually reaches a conclusion. The marriage motto is sex in the service of God.“That can’t be right! Marriage is more than sex!”Ash already knows what’s going through our minds so I will let him deflect our indignation.> Like all mottos, this simplifies my point. I do not mean to suggest that marriage is only about sex. But it is sex that distinguishes marriage from any other friendship or partnership. By “sex” in this motto, I mean a shorthand for the whole of marriage as it develops and grows out of its heart and core of sexual intimacy and faithfulness. Sex is shorthand for the marriage relationship in all its fullness: in intimacy, friendship, partnership, fun, and faithfulness. The motto is to remind us that the whole business of marriage in all its fullness is to be lived in the loving joyful service of God, as we look outward from our marriages and as couples seek to care for God’s world together.The big insight is not ‘sex’. Until recently, everyone knew that sex and marriage came as a package. The big insight is in the words ‘in the service of God’, which he explains further.The next passage is Genesis 2:15-25. This contains the must read verses on marriage, “It is not good that the man should be alone” and also “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”Interestingly, Ash tells us how Genesis 2:18 is wrongly understood. The text says, “It is not good that the man should be alone” but does Adam being alone mean he was lonely?Ash makes this distinction and draws out the implication. If Adam was lonely, then this verse means God designed marriage to solve loneliness. But what does that mean for single men and women? Or even the married men and women who still feel lonely.Ash writes:> For those who are married, their marriages ought indeed to be places of fellowship that are remedies for loneliness. But marriage is not the remedy for loneliness. Wherever there is fellowship there is God’s remedy for loneliness. Not all human beings are able to marry, but all human beings are invited into fellowship with God and with one another in Jesus Christ.I like how Ash puts it here:> This irony, that we expect so much of marriage but find it disappointing, is an irony the Bible understands perfectly. It calls it idolatry.But if Adam was not lonely, but was as the verse says, alone. Then, reading that verse in the wider context, we see that Adam was alone in his task to care for the garden. So God created Eve so that Adam was not alone. And they were to have children who have more children, all in order to take care of God's creation.  Ash writes:> Surprisingly, the key to a good marriage is not to pursue a good marriage, but to pursue the honor of God. We need to replace this selfish model of marriage with one in which we work side by side in God’s “garden” (that is, God’s world), rather than gaze forever into each other’s eyes.## The Rest of the BookLet me read the titles for the remaining chapters along with my short comments.Chapter 3: What is the Point of Having Children? Many couples who struggle with this will find an answer here.Chapter 4: What is the Point of Sex and Intimacy? A good read for soon-to-be married for those long married and also for singles.Chapter 5: God’s Pattern for the Marriage Relationship. It's not obvious what this chapter is about so let me quote something from this chapter. I quote:> I was reading a book of marriage services for Christians from different denominations and noticed that the list of suggested Bible readings omitted the only three readings in the New Testament which are directly addressed to husbands and wives (Eph. 5:22–33; Col.3:18–19; 1 Pet. 3:1–7). This would have struck me as curious, except that all three Bible passages tell wives to submit to their husbands, and I am sure were omitted because the compilers simply could not stomach this teaching.As a young man, I too could not stomach this teaching because, you know, equal rights. God's command for the wife to submit has been used by abusive husbands to abuse their wives. But when I learnt to read it in context in consideration with what the Bible as a whole says about submission, I can see God’s design for marriage. But it wasn’t easy to overcome years of social programming. Hence, the call to repentance; to make a commitment to God’s Word first.As one man against the world, Ash has to clearly show submission in marriage is truly God’s pattern. And we need to break out of what we think it looks like and consider what it truly looks like. It is not God's design for the husband to be a tyrant and the wife a mouse, nor is it God's design for the wife to be bossy and the husband to abdicate his responsibility. If you think otherwise, repent!Chapter 6 is titled “What is the Point of the Marriage Institution?” It answers the wider society questions like, “Why marry when you can just live together?”Chapter 7 is a pleasant surprise in a book about marriage. It’s  not a question a pastor would obviously ask in a pre-marriage counselling: “Is it Better to Stay Single?” If the couple is a high-risk for cold feet, this question could make one (or both) run. On the other hand, this much needed perspective on marriage could help both make an informed decision with a happier outcome.Chapter 8 asks, “What is the Heart of Marriage?” Oh, what would be your answer? God, Jesus? Ah, the safe Sunday School answer. Not wrong, but not what Ash has here. Love? Close.As Christopher Ash puts it beautifully:> ... the reason that faithfulness lies at the heart of marriage is that faithfulness lies at the heart of God, and therefore at the heart of the universe. Those of us who are married are called to keep the covenant promises of marriage, because God keeps his covenant promises.With that whirlwind run through the book, let me mention two criticisms to round up the review.## CriticismsThe first is from Chapter 3, “What is the Point of Having Children?” Here, he makes a strong and powerful biblical case for children. I am just not sure whether he has over-reached. I quote:> If you regard children as a curse and don’t want them, don’t get married!From a Christian perspective, whether married or not, obviously we must not see children as a curse.I just wonder whether if a couple comes to him and do not to have children, not because of exceptional circumstances, but simply as a matter of choice, would Ash tell them not to get married?My second criticism is from Chapter 6, “What is the Point of the Marriage Institution?” In arguing against co-habitation, does he over-simplify his analysis? I quote:> ... sex outside marriage is always sex “under law” (as it were): always seeking to prove, always striving to do well enough to keep the other one in the relationship, always anxious lest at any time the other may decide there is not enough in it for him or her, always under trial.For context, Ash is making the contrast with sex within marriage which is “sex under grace”. There is no pressure to keep the relationship going with good sex because the relationship is secured by a vow to God and to one another.But when Ash says that sex outside marriage is always seeking to prove, always striving to do well, always, always, always, I can imagine a co-habitating couple scrunching their forehead saying, “No. That is not true.”They go on to describe their sexual relationship as a give-and-take, learning to love one another with their bodies, in language and tones similar to a married couple’s. So while I completely agree with Ash’s distinction between “sex-under-grace” vs “sex-under-law”, I think some co-habitating couples would not recognise his description as valid since they practise a resemblance of sex-under-grace.And so, I think Ash missed an opportunity to present a more nuanced commentary here. Could he have angled his comments so that some of those co-habitating couples who think whatever they have is good and great, sees that what they have is merely a resemblance, not the reality of what is good. Good as in God is good. Good as in Grace is good.Before I conclude, I have to tell readers what you don't get in this book. You don't get an in-depth discussion on how to manage financials as a couple. Or how to effectively communicate. Or how to resolve conflicts. Or despite the motto being "sex in the service of God", there is no how to have great sex. For that, you have to look at other books.This is not a criticism of Ash's book. What he set out to do, he achieved them brilliantly. This book explains how marriage is for God. And truly, while everything else is important, none is more important than knowing marriage is for God.Let me end this review by quoting my favourite passage in the book. This passage reminds me of the purpose of my own marriage and makes me want to do better for God.I quote:> ... I like to think that men and women may say to themselves as they watch a Christian marriage: “I have never seen God. Sometimes I wonder, when I look at the world, if God is good, or if there is a God. But if he can make a man and woman love one another like this; if he can make this husband show costly faithfulness through sickness as well as health; if he can give him resources to love when frankly there is nothing in it for him; well, then he must be a good God. And if he can give this wife grace to submit so beautifully, with such an attractive gentle spirit under terrible trials, then again he must be a good God.” If you are married or preparing for marriage, pray that others may be able to say this of you in the years ahead.## OutroThis is a Reading and Reader’s review of “Married for God: Making Your Marriage the Best It Can Be” by Christopher Ash. 176 pages, published by Crossway in August 2016. Available via Amazon Kindle for USD10.16 and via Logos for USD10.79.Thank you for listening. Bye bye.## Book List* Married for God by Christopher Ash. [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Married-God-Making-Your-Marriage/dp/1433550784). [Logos](https://www.logos.com/product/168264/married-for-god-making-your-marriage-the-best-it-can-be).

Everyone wants to know how to make money, how to lose weight, how to make friends and influence people. But before all that, more importantly, the first thing we got to know is how to think -- and as people who live our lives before God -- specifically, it is knowing how to think theologically.Hi, my name is Terence and I’m your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review “How to Think Theologically” by Howard W. Stone and James O. Duke. 142 pages, published by Fortress Press in 2006. 2006 is the second edition. The fourth edition, published in 2023 is available in Amazon Kindle for USD14.99.Reviewing the 2nd not the 4th EditionWhy am I reviewing the 2nd edition and not the 4th edition? Because I got the 2nd edition for free. Even though I was not reviewing books for the past 6 months, I still made sure to get the Logos free book of the month. For June, the free book was “How to Think Theologically”.You might be wondering whether it’s worth listening to a review of the second edition when, if you do read the book you would get the latest edition. In any case, my review is still helpful in your buying, reading, decision.First, whatever is good in the 2nd edition will be in the 4th edition. That is why there is a 4th edition.Second, when you hear all the good things I have to say about today’s book, you might resolve, like I have, to never miss a free book deal. And if you did get the Logos free book for June, this review might just persuade you to read it.I Could Not Help You... Until TodayThe book resonates with me because it describes the one thing I have been trying to excel in all these years.When I was a young Christian I did not know what thinking theologically meant. I knew it was imperative for us to think biblically but what does that mean?I only understood after I read books like Don Carson’s “Showing the Spirit”, a commentary on 1 Corinthian 12-14. That book fundamentally transformed my thinking process.Now, many good books later, I try to bring the Bible to bear in everything, to understand God and his work in myself, the people around me and the world across space and time.If you ask me, “Terence, I want to learn how to think theologically too, can you help? Can you do what you do best and recommend a book?”A few weeks ago, my answer would be, “I wish I had a simple guide for you. Everything I practise, I learnt it the hard way through many books, by many writers, on many diverse issues, over many years. You could read Don Carson’s book but you would learn by observing the master. The master is not explaining what or why or how. He is busy doing the thinking through the Bible on the topic. In Don Carson’s case, thinking through 1 Cor 12-14 on the topic of the Holy Spirit. I wish I have that one book to recommend to you.”And today, I have!Buy this book. Read this book: “How to Think Theologically” by Howard W. Stone and James O. Duke.Dynamic DuoHoward Stone is a psychologist, marriage and family therapist, theologian ,and professor emeritus at Texas Christian University. James Duke is Professor of the History of Christianity and the History of Christian Thought at Brite Divinity School.They have put together this concise how-to guide for Christians who never knew they were theologians and don’t know where to start.So let me share my thoughts on the book.Embedded vs. DeliberativeFirst, I found the distinction between embedded theology and deliberative theology to be immensely helpful.This is the way I understand it. Embedded theology is what you grew up with in church; it's the air you breath. It's instinct, reflex, it's how you do the faith.Deliberative theology is questioning your growing up years; it's putting the air you breath into a mass spectrometer. It's inquisitive, reflective, it's asking why you do faith in this way and not that.Deliberative theology is the theology I tend to force unto the people around me. Embedded theology is what they wish we could all do instead.When we make a distinction, we are drawing a line, we are pointing out differences. Sometimes, often times, that leads to quarrels. Other times, making that distinction helps people to reconcile.We recognise that embedded theology is what everyone practises and it is good enough until it isn't. And then deliberative theology becomes necessary. Christians who are able to do deliberative theology within the faith are less likely to deconstruct themselves out of the faith.They are more equipped to handle crisis. In this book, the authors use many real world examples. But two stick out the most.First is the Great Hymnal Controversy. The church wrestles with whether to buy new and different hymnbooks to replace the ones falling to pieces. You can replace this controversy with the one you have in your church.The second crisis moves away from the religious assembly to the personal home. Tom’s mother has terminal cancer and the doctor suggests removing life support. Tom doesn’t know what is the right thing to do. All of us have faced devastating dilemmas before. And if you have not, you will.Do you know what to do? Do you know how to think theologically?The Reason You Read This Book: How-ToStone and Duke are here to help. They will teach us in a systematic way.The first three chapters of the book sets up the motivation and principles. Then the next four chapters show us how to do it, and lastly the final two chapters describes how thinking theologically works in the Christian community and in spiritual formation.When we come to the how-to chapters, the authors give us a template to work from. Three sets of diagnostic exercises covering three areas: The Gospel, the Human Condition and Vocation.I quote:Each question in turn (though not necessarily in order) can be applied to every issue that calls for our theological deliberation. The exercises surely will not cover all that could be said about the meaning of the Christian message of God. But they strike near the very heart of the concerns of Christian faith. In exploring these questions, something is disclosed of the breadth and depth of the Christian message. They provide a staging area for later, more complete, reflection.Let’s look at the questions in the first set, the Gospel set.What is the gospel?How does the gospel reach the people?How do people receive the gospel and its benefits?Hmm... the questions are not ground-breaking. A bit basic. And that’s the point, to go back to basics and re-evaluate our situation in light of the basics, the gospel!This is how it works, I quote:For the church council debating the purchase of new hymnals, a clearer understanding of the church’s role in promulgating the gospel might have facilitated the discussion. Tom, who is already searching the Scriptures on his own for help in dealing with his mother’s imminent death, might be prompted to seek more help from the church: as a companion to the Scripture in making the gospel of Jesus known and as a potential source of guidance and strength in making his hard decision regarding life-support removal.We now turn to the chapter on Human Condition. The questions are:What is the basic problem with the human condition? (What is Sin?)What is the resolution to that problem in the human condition? (What is Salvation?)How is the problem resolved? (What is the means of Salvation?)This chapter reminds me of another book I read, “Gospel Fluency” by Jeff Vanderstelt. Vanderstelt makes this audacious claim: “For every problem, the gospel is the solution.”When I first heard it, I thought, "That couldn’t possibly be true."But as Vanderstelt explains, I begin to realise that, indeed, underlying every quarrel, addiction, fear and anger, is sin. And once I saw the True Enemy, it was easier to see The Solution, because there is only one solution to Sin, and that is Jesus Christ.So far we have only looked at two sets of questions. You can do so much with these questions.Find a quiet place to sit. Reflect on the questions that Stone and Duke ask in their book. Don’t give the Sunday School answers. See the issue as a Christian.And when you do some reflections, you can be surprised at how an incidental reading leads to unexpected assurance.That was what I got.What is Sin is Not IncidentalIt all started when someone told me, “Nobody is born with a sin nature. We are all born as a blank slate.” In theology, this means a denial of Original Sin.I believe we are all born with Sin. But I went back to study why I believe so. Along the way, I read Augustine’s Anti-Pelagian writing, which became a podcast review. I searched for Christian books that deny Original Sin, I couldn't find any. There are books that deny Original Sin, but they were not within the broad spectrum of the Christian faith.But the biggest pushback I faced seems to not be whether to affirm or deny Original Sin, but whether it even matters. The issue is not veracity, but practicality or necessity.Some say: “Why don’t we accept both interpretations as equally valid? After all, many Christians hold different interpretations on many parts of Scripture and have learnt to look past these differences to unite on the main thing, the Gospel.”So I have been questioning myself over and over again, whether am I being unnecessarily difficult. Yet, over and over again, as I study Scripture, I cannot see how one church can hold two opposing interpretations on what Sin means.Stone and Duke's chapter on the Human Condition just reinforces my conviction that this matter is of critical importance.To be clear, this is not a book written to affirm or deny Original Sin. But I note that one of the questions they ask is: What is the basic problem with the human condition? In other words, What is Sin?How you answer this question affects how you understand salvation. What did Jesus do? He saved us from our sins. But what is Sin?And as the book makes clear, answering these questions affects how we live life. The authors do not see Sin as something out there, something that lives in the books of dead theologians to be dissected by theologians who have too much time in their hands.Sin is the basic problem with the human condition. Just this fact demands our every effort to get what it is right. We should not just sweep distinctions aside and claim all interpretations leads to Jesus.Not Just a Series of QuestionsI have only discussed two sets of the diagnostic exercises. The third set covers Vocation. The questions are:What deeds are Christians called to do?What are the reasons for performing a service or action?Why is one course of action the most fitting in a given situation?You could say, "If I knew how to answer those questions in the first place, I wouldn't be in a dilemma!"That is why we have to understand, the book is not just a series of questions. If it was, it would be two pages long and not 142 pages.There is more to the practise of theological reflection and the authors do a good job explaining them. Except when they don't.More Explanations Would Be BetterSome parts could be better explained.In chapter 3, the authors quote theologian David Kelsey. Kelsey lists four ways theologians draw biblical texts into theological reflections. According to Kelsey, the Word of God is identified in:Propositions about divine truthSymbolic expressions of faith experiencesRecitals of God’s identityInvitations to existential possibilities for new lifeThen without further explanation the authors challenge the reader, I quote:Try listening for Kelsey’s categories in the next sermon you hear. When the minister quotes Scripture, ask yourself: What is this speaker using the Bible to ask me to do? Or, put the same question to a sermon or lesson that you deliver: What are you asking your hearers to do when you quote the Bible?Challenge not accepted. I don't understand what Kelsey means by those four ways. I could guess but I should not have to.In chapter 8, the authors ask us to think critically using a process that includes description, analysis, framing a view, judgment and response.They explain what description means. They explain what analysis means. But they explain framing a view by describing how a camera frames the subject. I like photography. I know how to frame a subject. But I don't know how to transfer my photography skills into theological thinking.What is the difference between analysis and framing a view? The authors do not explain. I could guess but I should not have to.I appreciate how the authors want to keep the book short. They succeeded in doing that. But I wish they could have a few more extra pages so that they can explain things properly. And I guess many other readers thought so too because the 4th edition has 40 more pages. The book must be good if people want more of it right?Two Starting Points and One CorrectionHowever there was one part of the book that I felt needed correction.In the authors' introduction to the theological method, they describe two starting points. I quote:Christian theology is reflection on the faith in the Christian message of God in Jesus Christ. The connection between faith and God’s message is an invitation to reflect either on the human side of the connection (faith) or on its divine side (God’s message).These two tracks have given rise to a distinction between theologies with an anthropological or human starting point and those that begin with divine revelation.They then proceed to explain the merits and risks of each starting point. They give the impression that both are equally valid starting points. I disagree. I believe we should always start with divine revelation.When preparing for a sermon or bible study, we must start with the text. We mustn't allow the congregation's felt needs direct where the text wants us to go.When a preacher is doing a book series, preaching verse by verse, how much more amazing it is when we hear how the Word of God speak to the people's needs without the preacher ever knowing about them.The problem with the church today is our tendency to put us, our wants and needs, first and not God. We think we know better, but we don't. I could rant about this for hours but let's just skip to the part where I changed my mind.As I was preparing for this book review, I read up on the authors. Stone describes himself as psychologist, marriage and family therapist first, then theologian. So I started thinking from his perspective.And I realised I was framing the discussion wrongly. I was interpreting the two approaches strictly from a preaching or bible study point of view.In preaching, I still hold strongly to everything I just said. We start with the text.But when it comes to counselling, if I have Tom in front of me, and he has all these questions. If he agrees to the medical experts to withdraw life support for his mother, is it euthanasia or is it allow nature to carry its course? Is he honouring God or participating in the culture of death?As I listen to him, obviously my starting point is him. I would be scrambling to pick from my mind anything from Scripture that deals with his issue. So in counselling, the Word of God is responding to the believer's confusion, pain, doubts and fears.Then when I zoom out, reframe this conversation I am having with myself, I remind myself that the point of the book, is for everyone to think theologically about all parts of life. I was so zealous to establish divine revelation's primacy that I had tunnel vision.So instead of correcting the authors, I found myself corrected. And this is good. That means I am growing.Every Christian should experience correction. If a Christian never finds himself or herself corrected in the Christian walk, then humanity has just found the next perfect person after Jesus Christ.The People Who Should Read This Book and Don'tSpeaking of correction, I can think of many categories of people who should read this book but won't.Those who think theology is for overly-intellectual people. That is not true, the authors refute that from the get go.On the other extreme, those who think they already know how to think theologically. They are seasoned fighters in theological MMA. Bashing people online over doctrine is not theological thinking. You should read this.In an ideal world, everybody would read this book. In an ideal world, this book would be required reading to graduate from elementary school. Okay that's a bit exaggerated. Required reading to graduate from high school.This is because theology needs to be done in community. I quote:[Indeed,] theological reflection is insufficient if it is done in isolation. Theological reflection occurs in the context of community. Because it is communal, it is also collaborative and dialogical. Even though we eventually come up with our own unique operational theology, its formation occurs in testing, sharing, talking, and listening to others.If you and I both read this book, when we have a dispute, maybe over hymnbooks or something else, then if we say let's look at this biblically. We understand each other. Naturally, we each want to prove that we are right, but we now engage in a process of exploration and discovery.Even if I totally disagree with you, it is edifying for me that we looked at the issue through the Gospel, the Human Condition and Vocation, and went further from there. Although we have different answers to the questions, I could, in the years to come, reflect on your answers and eventually it might make sense to me and the process leads to my correction.So the experience is not of two warriors grappling in the octagon, trying to bash the other senseless, but it is of two seekers continually exploring the divine landscape in search of truth. Sharing what they have found in hopes that the other will join them on the correct path.OutroIn conclusion, this book is not the only way to learn how to think theologically. But it might be the most concise and practical guide for all Christians in that process.This is a Reading and Reader’s review of “How to Think Theologically” by Howard W. Stone and James O. Duke. 142 pages, published by Fortress Press in 2006, which is the second edition. The fourth edition, published in 2023 is available in Amazon Kindle for USD14.99.For more book reviews and contact details, you can visit readingandreaders.com. Thanks for listening. Bye bye.Book ListHow to Think Theologically by Howard W. Stone and James O. Duke. Amazon 4th Ed. Logos 2nd Ed.

This is a Reading and Readers review of “Portrait of God” by Jack Mooring. 224 pages, published by David C. Cook Publishing in August 2024. Available in Amazon Kindle for USD9.99 and in Logos for USD10.79. I received a free review copy but the publisher has no input to my review. Thank you and bye bye.## Book List* Portrait of God by Jack Mooring. [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Portrait-God-Rediscovering-Attributes-through/dp/0830786031). [Logos](https://www.logos.com/product/300988/portrait-of-god-rediscovering-the-attributes-of-god-through-the-stories-of-his-people).

Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Except I have not been reviewing any books for nearly two months now.Have I quit the podcast? No. I am still looking forward to the 100th episode of Reading and Readers. I have a special book in mind for that one. So if I do end this podcast, and I don't have any intention of doing so, I would definitely do it after the 100th episode. Why the delay? I used to do a book review every two weeks. That was a crazy pace. I could sustain that pace until my responsibilities elsewhere -- in the office, church and home -- increased. I found myself having to read more books but not books I would later review. So I have decided to take the podcast slow. Instead of a sprint, or a jog, it will be stroll or a walk. I will still be downloading the monthly free books from Logos. I will still be on the look out for good books. If I see a must-read book, I will read it. If it is a must-share book, then I will review and share my thoughts with everyone.This was not how I expected to celebrate the Reading and Reader's third year. However, I am hopeful that once things settle down, I will get back to reading and reviewing Christian books for you. Thank you for your support. Until next time, bye!

Today's book could be the most important book of the year. Hopefully not the decade. Because I would really hate to talk about Critical Theory again. If everybody in the world read today's book, we would never have to talk about it ever again. Hi, my name is Terence and I’m your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review “Critical Dilemma: The Rise of Critical Theories and Social Justice Ideology - Implications for the Church and Society” by Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer. 582 pages. Published by Harvest House Publishers in October 2023. Available in Amazon Kindle for USD21.99 and in Logos for USD16.49. But I got it in Logos for the low low price of USD6.99 because every month I eagerly wait for Logos' free and deeply discounted books. Eagerly AwaitedThis book came up. And there is no other book that I have more eagerly waited for than a Neil Shenvi book on Critical Theory. I first knew of Shenvi from Voddie Baucham’s “Fault Lines”, a book on Critical Race Theory that I reviewed in Episode 9. From Voddie Baucham's book, I found myself in Neil Shenvi’s website and was floored by the thorough analysis of the many many Critical Theory books he reads. I knew then that if Shenvi ever decided to compile his knowledge into a book, I must read it. As good as anyone's articles, interviews and seminars are, the best way to make a case is through a well-written book. But there is another author to today's book. Pat Sawyer. Sawyer was in the banking industry for 17 years before he took a PhD in educational and cultural studies. He wrote a dissertation on social justice. It seems that the fusion of these two men, Shenvi and Sawyer, has released an incredible amount of energy. Their combined powers of observation, subject expertise, analytical skills and commitment to the Christian faith has made them, I would say, very dangerous men. Just as the emperor who wears no clothes can no longer walk around naked after a child tells the truth, so the reader can no longer be complacent or be outraged under false premises after Shenvi and Sawyer tell the truth on Critical Theory. Critical Dilemma is divided into three parts.Part 1: Understanding Part 2: Critiquing Part 3: EngagingUnderstanding Critical TheoryThe book begins with an honest painful look at Slavery and Jim Crow. This disarms the Social Justice Warrior. Here is outrage over slavery and Jim Crow. This disarms the Christian Culture Warrior. Shenvi, why are you opening old wounds? Sawyer, why are you taking the enemies talking points? By starting with these "Shadows of the Past", the authors establish their credentials as unflinching truth tellers. When people are ignorant of history, they are vulnerable. When good people hear of the victims, they want to right those wrongs. Why is Critical Theory so effective in channeling this righteous anger through the government, schools, churches and families? That question is answered in Part 1.Later, the authors challenge the reader to say they do not go far enough. Our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the Social Justice Warriors. But not in the way you may think, I will explain more later.Know Them In Their Most Plausible and Persuasive FormThe authors take Critical Theory seriously. They don't caricature it. No strawman here. Not trying to score points with the groupies. They went through the Critical Theory literature to know what it says and have made a sincere attempt to present it to us.How do we know it's sincere? They quote extensively the main proponents of Critical Theory.They state up front that some of these guys would deny being members of Critical Theory. Shenvi and Sawyer refuse to get into a fight over labels. The key is to discuss ideas. And they show through those extensive quotes that if it walks like a duck, it quacks like a duck, at the very least, it's in the bird family.They explain all this without imputing motives. They have a chapter titled, "Positive Insights" that lists positive aspects of Critical Theory. We need to properly understand the appeal of Critical Theory in order to make a proper critique over it.Why do they make such a great effort? John Mills puts it well. He who knows only his own side of the case, knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them. But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side; if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion…Nor is it enough that he should hear the arguments of adversaries from his own teachers, presented as they state them, and accompanied by what they offer as refutations. That is not the way to do justice to the arguments, or bring them into real contact with his own mind. He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them; who defend them in earnest, and do their very utmost for them. He must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.Shenvi and Sawyer see their own work as an illustration of John Mill's claim. Contemporary Critical Theory: The Big FourBy now, I am sure everyone listening is dying to know what is Critical Theory that has turned the world upside down. "Rejecting racism is racism." "Whiteness is wickedness." "There are more than two genders."The Grand Unified Theory behind the madness, which Shenvi and Sawyer has termed "Contemporary Critical Theory", can be expressed in its four characteristics. The Social Binary. Society is divided into oppressors and the oppressed, white and people of colour, heterosexuals and homosexuals, Christians and non-Christians.Hegemonic Power. Oppressors impose their values, traditions and norms unto society. For example, Christians see marriage as a one man, one woman, construct and have imposed this value, tradition and norm unto society.Lived Experience. If you are a man, shut up about abortion. If you are white, shut up about racism. Because you don't have the lived experience of being a woman or a person of colour.Social Justice. We want action. We want to change the world. So if you don’t speak up, then you are complicit in the injustice.Wait a minute. You just told me to speak up for injustice. But you also told me to shut up because I don't have the lived experience to speak to the problem. Yes, that is the lose-lose scenario you have as a privileged person. You can’t do anything right. Just cry and feel their pain but don’t cry and make this all about you. Critiquing CCTOnce we understand what is Critical Theory, we are in the position to critique it. In Part 2, the authors do not assume readers share their faith. The reader may be a Christian, may profess to be a Christian but doesn't know what is Christianity, or may be an Atheist. The book is written for all. And so, they give a crash course on evangelical faith. As a Christian, instead of seeing it as a mind-numbing regurgitating of what I already know, I see it as confirming that Shenvi and Sawyer and I are actually on the same page when it comes to the fundamentals of Christianity. This is important because they will make their strongest critique of Contemporary Critical Theory not based on secular reasoning, for that you can read Cynical Theories by Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay but based on the Bible. In a rigorously argued chapter that compares the four characteristics of Contemporary Critical Theory against Christianity, the authors make an assertion that no Christian can ignore. Let me quote at length the summary of that chapter.They write:Contemporary critical theory is skeptical of singular narratives and universal truth claims, viewing them as bids for power. Yet Christianity is itself a singular narrative of redemption and makes numerous universal truth claims. Contemporary critical theory exalts lived experience and downplays objective reasoning as masculine and Eurocentric. Yet Christianity argues that our hearts are sinful and that our fallible interpretation of our lived experience must be subordinated to God’s revelation in Scripture, apprehended through reason. Contemporary critical theory views privilege as collective and rooted in oppression. Yet Christianity recognizes that some norms are God-ordained and that privilege is not necessarily unjust, although it should be used to serve God and bless others. Contemporary critical theory posits an adversarial relationship between different genders, classes, and ethnic groups. In contrast, Christianity insists on fundamental solidarity between all human beings and a nonnegotiable familial relationship between Christians. Finally, for all these reasons, contemporary critical theory is rightly viewed as a worldview or metanarrative. It is not a narrow analytic tool. It makes sweeping assumptions about human beings, purpose, lived experience, meaning, morality, knowledge, and identity that inevitably bring it into conflict with Christianity.This is what I meant by "Our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the Social Justice Warriors." Their analysis of the human condition is wrong and their solution flawed but what zeal to change the world! Christians should be more zealous for the Truth, for Christ.I wish I had more time to discuss each point in that summary. I stress it is a summary. Shenvi and Sawyer make really good points, piling on the evidence, drawing on, so-to-speak, written testimonies. Held against Scripture, their own words condemn them. And that is true for the whole book. I had a hard time preparing this book review. I wanted, at first, to go through the flow of the arguments in the book, but it is beyond my ability to summarise them without turning it into a dry and boring outline. At this point, you know something about what is in Part 1: Understanding and Part 2: Critiquing.MasterclassWhat you may not yet fully appreciate is this book is a masterclass on how a Christian deals with a controversial subject, even a dangerous one. Some would accuse Shenvi and Sawyer of violence all because they dare to question what others hold to be true... and sacred. The clarity in the organisation: Understanding, Critiquing, Engaging. This should be the layout for any number of topics. I got one right now. I would like someone to write a book on anti-semitism. I don't understand why anti-semitism is still so prevalent. Why can't societies shake it off? It's also a masterclass in reasoning. I would not be surprised to find out that Shenvi and Sawyer were both world-class debaters. They very cleverly reveal poor arguments.Very quickly, one example. Bulverism. Bulverism is when you say something is true, but instead of explaining why its false, your opponent imputes motive. They write: Do men argue that abortion is immoral? That’s because they’re trying to control women’s bodies; therefore, their claim is false. Do White people think we should be polite? That’s because they’re trying to police the emotions of people of color; therefore, their claim is false. Do Christians claim that homosexuality is sinful? That’s because they’re trying to protect their heterosexual privilege; therefore, their claim is false.Until I read this book, I didn't notice this pattern. After reading it, I see it everywhere. The book is peppered with ways to detect flawed arguments which in the wrong hands could make you a worse person to talk to. Nobody likes the guy who points out the faulty lines in your argument. Which is why Part 3 of this book is so important.Engaging CCTPart 3: Engaging is a shorter section of the book but a crucial one. It's not enough that we understand Contemporary Critical Theory and can see how Christianity offers a true description and solution to the problem, we need to engage. And it's not that easy. I'll just show you one that might trip you up.Consider this statement: Justice is part of the gospel.Do you agree? Justice is part of the gospel. Surely, the answer is yes. Depends on what you mean by justice right? If you have the gospel, if you know the gospel, then you are thinking of God's justice. Man sins, Jesus saves, glory to God. But if you say, "That is justice in a religious sense, what about justice in society? There is so much injustice. Surely Christians, the church, the gospel has something to say about that." This is how Shenvi and Sawyer put it:The key point here is that seeking justice is an imperative. It is urged on us as God’s command, as something we ought to do, as a moral obligation we ought to fulfill. But these are all imperative statements. We therefore need to be exceptionally careful not to intermingle seeking justice with the gospel. We would rightfully shrink back from saying that “sexual purity is part of the gospel,” or “financial stewardship is part of the gospel,” or “pro-life activism is part of the gospel” not because these activities are wrong but because they cannot save us. They are not the good news of God’s redemption in Christ.It's so important we hear this. We do not minimise seeking justice. But we do not conflate that with the gospel of Jesus Christ. No matter how well-intentioned we may be.Who Should Read This BookWho is this book for? This book should be in every seminary, church library and pastor's study. The church cannot afford to get this wrong and this is the best book that explains why and how. If you say you can be a Christian and still hold to Critical Theory or parts of it, then read and weep. The highest praise I can say for this book is this: If you are a Critical Theory activist, then Critical Dilemma is the book to destroy. If you can make a winning argument against this book, you have cut the legs off your opponents. You have won the war. The tragedy is, if Shenvi and Sawyer are right, the Contemporary Critical Theory activist is not in a war for Truth but a war for Power. Until we understand this, we will not be able to make sense of Contemporary Critical Theory and the world today.The emperor is wearing no clothes. Who dares to tell the truth?This is a Reading and Reader’s review of “Critical Dilemma: The Rise of Critical Theories and Social Justice Ideology - Implications for the Church and Society” by Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer. 582 pages. Published by Harvest House Publishers in October 2023. Available in Amazon Kindle for USD21.99 and in Logos for USD16.49. But I got it for USD6.99 in Logos last month all because every month I eagerly anticipate their free and deeply discounted books.Book List“Critical Dilemma: The Rise of Critical Theories and Social Justice Ideology - Implications for the Church and Society” by Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer. Amazon. Logos.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.The Apostles Creed. What does it mean? Hi, my name is Terence and I’m your host for Reading and Readers. Today I review “The Spirit of Grace” by Alister McGrath. 128 pages. Published by SPCK Publishing in Dec 2014. Available in Amazon Kindle for USD9.99 and for free in Logos in January. Scientist and TheologianMcGrath graduated with a first class honours in Chemistry at Oxford, then a doctorate in molecular biophysics, a first class honours in theology, and just to make the rest of us feel small and tiny, he went on to two more doctorates in theology, and intellectual history.I see here he has a long history as a Professor of Theology in Oxford, London, then back to Oxford as the Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion in 2014. In 2022, he stepped down from this endowed chair, and is now the Senior Research Fellow at the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion at Oxford. McGrath has written many books. There are many interesting titles here that I want more time to talk about them. So I'll do that at the end of this review. Let’s look at today’s book, "The Spirit of Grace". The Title Under-Promises (Or The Book Over-Delivers)When I picked up this book, I thought I knew what it would be about. The title says, “The Spirit of Grace”, so the book must be all about... the Holy Spirit. To my surprise, it was not. This is actually the fourth book in a series. The series is designed to explain Christian creeds and Book 4 covers this part of the Apostles Creed: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,The rest of it: “the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.” will be covered in Book 5, “The Christian Life and Hope.” This is great. I don’t mind reading another book on the Holy Spirit but I haven't read a book on the Apostles Creed. But McGrath surprises me once again by giving more than expected. Let me read the chapter headings and we'll see if you were paying attention.Chapter 1: The Holy Spirit: The giver of lifeChapter 2: Humanity: the climax of God’s creationChapter 3: Grace: the gift of a courteous GodChapter 4: Church: the communion of saintsChapter 5: One holy catholic and apostolic ChurchThe Apostles Creed doesn’t say anything about humanity. Yet, McGrath wisely notes: If we are to understand the important place of spirituality in the Christian faith, we need to grasp both the idea that humanity has been created in order to relate to God and the role of the Holy Spirit in enabling and sustaining that relationship.If I was assigned to write a book on the Apostles Creed, I would just do what I was told. There are four lines for this book? Then I'll have four chapters. But McGrath has a higher level objective. He wants to explain the Christian belief to everyone, to describe the heart of the faith. If we need biblical anthropology, if we need to know what the Bible says about us, to understand Christianity he gives it to us. Before we delve into a few chapters as examples, I just want to say that this book provoked many thoughts. Which at first I thought was strange because it's not as if I am encountering something new, a new concept. I know the Apostles Creed. When I go back to my hometown, the church I go to would in every Sunday service flash up the Apostles Creed for the congregation to read together. I know the theology behind the Apostles Creed, having read books on the different elements of it: the Holy Spirit, forgiveness, the church. So why has McGrath's book been so stimulating? And I concluded it's because the truth he speaks of is timely and timeless, it applies to what is important in our lives. When I'm guided by an able guide as McGrath, my latent thoughts, my worries and concerns, hopes and dreams, engage with the truth. Let me share what I mean.Holy Tensions ResolvedIn Chapter 1 on the Holy Spirit, McGrath describes the experiential approach emphasised within the Charismatic and Pentecostal movements. He writes: An emphasis on the experience of the Spirit can be argued to represent a welcome move away from very bookish or intellectual ways of thinking about the Christian faith. Why should those who cannot read, or who find abstract reasoning difficult, be disadvantaged in matters of faith? The Holy Spirit is the great leveller, making the rich experience of the living God available to all.Then before one can accuse McGrath of being a Charismatic, he writes: But not everyone feels so positively about experiential approaches to faith. Dorothy L. Sayers wrote to C. S. Lewis on 5 August 1946, making clear they made no sense to her. ‘All spiritual experience is a closed book to me; in that respect I have been tone-deaf from birth.’ Sayers relied on reason and imagination to generate and sustain her faith, and saw no cause to appeal to the vagueness of religious experience to express or defend it. Others are wary of a ‘touchy-feely’ faith, which they consider may open them to the charge of emotionalism or subjectivism—that is, making what they feel the basis of what they believe.Having brought up the tension of the two positions, McGrath then tells us in no uncertain terms: “Divergence within Christianity really reflects a strength.” Later he concludes: There is only one Holy Spirit, but our experience and appreciation of that Spirit differs and reflects our individual identity. We are not forced into a template! Each of us is special, with something unique to offer God, who takes the threads of our lives and weaves them into a greater pattern.What strikes me is how much we need good theologians. We give credit to the tireless pastor, preacher and missionaries but we must not forget the teachers, especially those who have dedicated a lifetime to study the Bible and to describe reality.Most of us don't have the time to reflect on the theological issues of the day so we need some of us to do what is needed, to do theology. Too many Christians think that ‘theology’ is a bad word for it leads to divisions. That is a failure to see how theology unites. When there are divisions between intellectuals and believers who are more experiential, we unite in truth presented through theological analysis: Hey! Many gifts, many types of personalities but one Holy Spirit. Reading the whole book we see unity in our common humanity, in our common need for forgiveness and once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, in our common belonging within the Church. And if you read the whole series which explores the Christian creeds, including the Apostles Creed, you can see how it is our theology, our understanding of God, that unites us in our faith.Pelagian Controversy Nicely SaidIf you subscribe to this podcast, you will know that I recently reviewed Augustine’s Four Anti-Pelagian Writings. I didn't expect to see Pelagius again so soon. In McGrath's chapter on humanity, McGrath gives a clear and concise summary of the Pelagian controversy.In just a few pages, he tells us the history between the men, the theological debate and its implications, clearly siding with Augustine's interpretation without villainising Pelagius.Let me read his conclusion: The debate between Augustine and Pelagius is often revisited by Christians. On the one hand, Pelagius’ emphasis on the importance of trying to do our best is welcomed. On the other, Augustine’s emphasis on human frailty fits in far better with the New Testament’s stress on God’s graciousness towards us. For Augustine, human beings are damaged, wounded and seriously ill. There is no point in demanding that we improve ourselves when the essence of our condition is that we are trapped in our predicament. Pelagius seems to be in denial about the human situation. His naïve approach, although unquestionably well intentioned, could be compared to ordering a blind man to see things properly. Spiritual healing, not simply moral direction, is required.This is the calm even-handed way McGrath deals with one of the most recognised and pernicious of heresies. This calm examination of ideas in simple non-technical language allows us to weigh the merits without the outrage. I don't know about you but I think we could do with less outrage nowadays.Catholic is Understood UniversalOne of my favourite chapters in the book is Chapter 5 which contains his systematic unpacking of the words from the Nicene Creed, “One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church”. Catholic here does not refer to the Roman Catholic Church. Catholic means universal. To explain this, McGrath quotes Cyril of Jerusalem:The Church is called ‘catholic’ because it extends through all the world, from one end of the earth to the other; and because it teaches completely, and without any omissions, all the doctrines that ought to be known to humanity concerning both things that are visible and invisible and things that are earthly and heavenly; and because it brings all kinds of people—whether rulers or subjects, learned or ignorant—under the influence of true piety; and because it universally treats and cures every kind of sin, whether committed by the soul or the body; and possesses in itself every kind of virtue which can be named relating to words, deeds or spiritual gifts of every kind.McGrath then explains why understanding the church as catholic is important to Christians today:The Church is the depository and transmitter of the whole Christian faith, not simply those parts of it that are thought to be relevant to its own situation. As someone who has studied the history of the Church, I have often noticed the tendency of one generation to regard some aspect of the Christian tradition as being of little interest, only for a later generation to rediscover its importance. The survival of the Christian faith depends upon the full richness of its intellectual, spiritual and ethical teachings being preserved and transmitted. We simply do not know what challenges we may face in the future, and which of the many resources of our faith may come into their own in meeting them. Christianity doesn’t always need to develop new ideas; it can reach back into its past, and rediscover ideas and approaches that have a new relevance in today’s context.McGrath speaks of creeds, tradition and resources. Resources like books. I started Reading and Readers because I wanted to do something about Christians not reading and not thinking deeply. They are missing out on the best things in life: The devotion and reflections of the faithful. I was very encouraged.Three Annoying Aspects (That Are Not The Writer’s Fault)As I am sure you can tell, I like the book. I recommend it. However, there are three annoying features which intrude on the reading experience. First, he makes regular reference to the previous books in the series. That’s good because he shows how what was taught previously connects to the present topic. It’s good because we learn better when we can connect ideas together, it reinforces memory and also comprehension. Which is great, unless you did not, like me, read the previous books, making it a bit harder to fully appreciate the references. Second, I think the title could be reworked. McGrath did explain how the title “The Spirit of Grace” connects all the elements together but it’s not obvious that a book titled “The Spirit of Grace” will contain chapters on Humanity and the Church. Or that the book is part of a series on the Apostles Creed.Which brings me to my third annoyance. This is a series but it doesn't show up as a series in Amazon. Amazon doesn’t put all the books in the series together in one convenient link. So you would have to search for the title of each book in the series. This is not McGrath’s problem, it’s Amazon’s. To save your time, I have put all five Amazon links in the episodes description below. Just a quick note, the series was published by two publishers. I read and reviewed the UK’s publisher edition, with the series titled “Christian Beliefs for Everyone”. This is the free book in Logos. In the US, the publisher is Westminster John Knox Press, with the series titled “The Heart of Christian Faith”. Can I Have More Please?As far as I am concerned, every church that flashes up the Apostles Creed on the screen or gets their members to read the creed in every service should buy boxes of these books, put them on display and get members to read them. If you read all the books in the series, you would have read 600 pages but you won’t feel it because each book is only 120 pages. Time will just zip by. However, if you want a shorter commitment, McGrath has another book, titled: “I Believe: Exploring the Apostles’ Creed”. Only 126 pages and it promises to cover the Apostles Creed in six week study plan. You could spend the rest of the year just reading McGrath books. He has many interesting titles. If you love C.S. Lewis, you probably already know Alister McGrath because he is well-known for his biography: “C.S. Lewis: A Life: Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Prophet”.If you don't know Lewis maybe you should read this book: “Deep Magic, Dragons and Talking Mice: How Reading C.S. Can Change Your Life”. It must have changed McGrath's life because after reading Lewis' "Mere Christianity", McGrath went to to write "Mere Theology", "Mere Apologetics" and "Mere Discipleship". If you are looking for heavier reading material, McGrath together with J.I. Packer is the editor for the Crossway ClassicCommentaries series. The series has commentaries by long dead guys like John Calvin, Martin Luther, R.C. Ryle, Charles Hodge, and Charles Spurgeon. In fact, I reviewed one of the books in Episode 27, a commentary on Hebrews by John Owen. If I could just read one book out of McGrath’s long list of writings, I would pick up, “Richard Dawkins, C.S. Lewis and the Meaning of Life”. McGrath is both a scientist and theologian so this should be a good read. It’s only 80 pages! If Logos makes it free I will definitely review it.If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then wanting to read more books by the same author must be the sincerest form of a book recommendation.OutroThis is a Reading and Reader’s review of “The Spirit of Grace” by Alister McGrath. 128 pages, published by SPCK Publishing in December 2014. Available in Amazon Kindle for USD9.99 and free in Logos. The next book I review is Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer's "Critical Dilemma: The Rise of Critical Theories and Social Justice Ideology - Implications for the Church and Society". I have finished the book and I was in a dilemma whether to rush the review or do a proper one. Then I thought this could be one of the most important book for Christians to read today so I should not rush it. "Critical Dilemma" is available in Amazon for USD21.99 and it is discounted to USD6.99 in Logos for January. Get it and all that is happening around you suddenly makes sense. Books ListFaith and Creeds (Book 1) by Alister McGrath. Amazon.The Living God (Book 2) by Alister McGrath. Amazon.Jesus Christ (Book 3) by Alister McGrath. Amazon.The Spirit of Grace (Book 4) by Alister McGrath. Amazon.The Christian Life and Hope (Book 5) by Alister McGrath. Amazon."Critical Dilemma: The Rise of Critical Theories and Social Justice Ideology - Implications for the Church and Society" by Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer. Amazon. Logos.

Everyone knows John Calvin was a great theologian but did you know he was more than a theologian? Do you know how he has influenced our schools, governments and our very way of life? Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "The Legacy of John Calvin" by David Hall. 112 pages. Published by P&R Publishing in June 2008. Available in Amazon Kindle for USD7.99 and available in Logos for free! Free for January.Who is David Hall? This is what Amazon says:Dr. David W. Hall has served as the Senior Pastor of the historic Midway Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Powder Springs, Georgia since 2003. Is he qualified to write on John Calvin? Amazon continues to say:In addition to his work as Executive Director of Calvin500, his Calvin500 series contains the following works: The Legacy of John Calvin, Calvin in the Public Square, Calvin and Commerce, Preaching Like Calvin, Calvin and Culture, Tributes to John Calvin, and Theological Guide to Calvin’s Institutes.Having written so many books on Calvin, we are confident that if anyone could write an authoritative book on John Calvin, David Hall would be the guy. Or he could have written so many books on Calvin that everywhere he goes he sees John Calvin.The book is divided into three parts. Part 1: Ten Ways Modern Culture is Different because of John Calvin Part 2: John Calvin: A Life Worth Knowing Part 3: Tributes: Measuring a Man after Many GenerationsPart 1Let me start with Part 1.Listeners to this podcast, should be somewhat familiar with John Calvin. You know him as the theologian. The guy who wrote The Institutes, the bedrock of the Systematic Theology. Other than writing theology, what else did he do? Got nothing? Here are some of the ways your life is all the better because of John Calvin. Did you go to school? That's thanks to Calvin. In Geneva, Calvin set up the free public school and seminary and, according to a historian quoted in this book, these became "the forerunners of modern public education."Do you know volunteer societies? They might have helped you or someone you know. That's thanks to Calvin and his deacons who cared for orphans, the elderly and the sick. I quote: This ecclesiastical institution was a precursor to the voluntary societies of the 19th and 20th centuries in the West.Do you know what is a Senate? Senators are in the Senate. They have a seat in government. Calvin and other commentators studied the Bible. They studied how Jethro advised Moses on how to govern a nation. Calvin concluded that what worked for Moses and Israel would work for John Calvin and Geneva. Thus, the Senate was established in Geneva. This idea then reached America. As Hall says, "With this idea [of limited government], Calvin altered the trajectory of governance."In the chapter titled, "Decentralised Politics: The Republic", we have a lot more to thank John Calvin. I quote: Many ideas that began with Calvin’s reformation in Geneva and later became part of the fabric of America were cultivated and crossbred in the seventeenth-century. Customs now taken for granted, like freedom of speech, assembly, and dissent, were extended as Calvin’s Dutch, British, and Scottish disciples refined these ideas.With this illustrious list of contributions to modern culture, I was surprised that we don't have John Calvin to thank for slice bread. Part 2In Part 2, we have a short biography of Calvin divided into four sections: Calvin's Life, Calvin's Friendships, Calvin's Death and Epilogue.If you are yet to be persuaded on the giant who is John Calvin, David Hall quotes 19th century Harvard historian George Bancroft who: traced the living legacy of Calvin among the Plymouth pilgrims, the Huguenot settlers of South Carolina, and the Dutch colonists in Manhattan, concluding: "He that will not honour the memory and respect the influence of Calvin knows but little of the origin of American liberty." Later we read that the world-renowned German historian Leopold von Ranke reached the conclusion that, "John Calvin was virtually the founder of America." A French man founded America? How did he do that? Well, we hope to find out in this biography.Hall gives a standard portrait of Calvin. His early life, how his father sent him to study law because that's where the money was, then a thunderclap. The Reformation happened. Calvin left France and eventually arrived in Geneva. He didn't want to stay in Geneva but he was spiritually bullied by William Karel to stay. So he stayed. Then he refused to offer communion to some people (he had good reasons not to) and the City Council exiled Calvin. But three years later, those who opposed Calvin fell away, and Geneva insisted Calvin return to continue the good work he did there. So he did. He famously preached exactly where he left off three years ago.We read how he helped to build up the church, the city, the public school and seminary, the printers, the economy and more. We read about his friends, a Who's Who of the Reformation. John Calvin was not a loner, he probably has more friends than you and I!In his later years, Calvin was badly sick but that did not stop him from working. They had no painkillers. But he manages to produce great works of literature while most of us spend our time figuring a comeback in Twitter.Then John Calvin's life ends. We turn to the epilogue. What I expected to see is how Calvin's disciples went on to continue the good work. I expected to read how they shaped the religious, political, social and economic landscape. I expected a brief sketch of how John Calvin raised up disciples who raised up other disciples who then somehow contributed to the founding of America. That is what I expected but what I got was a character study. It's an eulogy. It extols what Hall considers Calvin's chief virtue, namely humility. It's a good eulogy. Humble Calvin would protest for thinking so much of him but I still think an epilogue that briefly trace through the lives of Calvin's disciples would fit better with the theme of the book.Part 3In Part 3, we have tributes. The purpose of this section is, "to illustrate that Calvin is esteemed by many evangelicals from differing traditions", and that "The passage of time and breadth of acclaim is another measure of Calvin's contribution." To make that point we have tributes from Baptists (Spurgeon, John Piper, Steven Lawson), Anglicans (J.I. Packer and J.C. Ryle), Independents (John MacArthur), Methodists (John Wesley) and a surprising note from a Roman Catholic (Alexandre Ganoczy). Part 3 is the weakest part of the book. The portions are uneven. The tributes from Spurgeon go on and on. While Steven Lawson does not need his name as a sub-heading when all the section says is Lawson wrote a book as a tribute on Calvin's preaching. And that's the weird thing. The people here pay tribute to Calvin the Theologian, not Calvin the School Builder, or Calvin the Senate Starter, or Calvin the Republican. If Charles Spurgeon had said, "Look at America, they have no king, thanks to John Calvin." That would be something. The tribute from the Roman Catholic just says John Calvin is superior to Martin Luther and he had his own mind, he was not blindly copying everybody else. That's a lame compliment. You know what would be a good Roman Catholic tribute? A harsh condemnation. Pope Leo X once described Martin Luther as a wild boar in God's garden. A condemnation from a pope or a million dollar bounty on Calvin's head would be a public relations win for Calvin. Just for singling him out as public enemy number one, in today's world, would get John Calvin a million followers, a million likes, within hours. Claims Not Well SupportedLet's now look at the book as a whole. This book is part of the Calvin500 series. So perhaps my criticisms are unfair because they are addressed in the other books. But as it is, this is the only book I read and it is a mess. It's a good book for people who love Calvin and want to know another side of his life and work.It's not so good for people who have no overly fond feelings for Calvin and are not wrong to be sceptical of the grand claims made in the book.John Calvin as the founder of America? There are many others that would claim some intellectual and even spiritual credit for founding America, but I don't think John Calvin comes up in the list of claimants. And perhaps that is what today's book is for: to right a wrong. But the book doesn't make the case. Sure, they are historians who say so. There are other experts who say so. But how did they reach their conclusions? I want more than someone saying: America's Founders were influenced by Puritans, the Puritans were influenced by Calvin, ergo the Founders were influenced by Calvin. What About Schools?For example, schools. Calvin did not invent schools. Hall never makes such a preposterous claim. But it says here that these schools are forerunners of modern public schools. But in what way? What was Calvin's contribution? Did he design the syllabus? Did he teach? Did he cast the vision, raise the funds, laid the first brick? Did someone visit the school and say, "I would like one back home," and built whole nation full of Calvin schools? Unless it's clear what are the unique aspects of Calvin's school and academy, I would argue that schools, even tuition-free schools, existed before Geneva, in other countries. The Republic?Hall gives Calvin some credit for republicanism, a system of government where the leader is not a hereditary king but an elected representative from the people. The thing is I am not sure Calvin would claim credit for republicanism. John Calvin was trained as a lawyer, so let's take a courtroom scenario. Imagine that it was a criminal offence to have significantly contributed to the Founding of America. Now imagine that John Calvin was resurrected from the dead to answer for his crime. The question is would there be enough evidence for the jury to convict him? Based on this book, no. It would be easy to show that John Calvin was too far away from the events to have any meaningful influence on them. Calvin did establish a limited government in Geneva but Geneva is not America, in size or scope. Therefore, unless the prosecutor has something more substantial than hearsay, any jury would easily acquit Calvin of the charge.Just for comparison, if it was a criminal offence to have significantly contributed to Reformed Theology. Then there is no escape for John Calvin. His words, his actions, his disciples are all evidence against him. Give Me the Full Version of the BookThis is why the book is flawed in concept. It makes assertions but does not go far enough to support them. Part 2 and Part 3 of the book should be scrapped. If you want to know about the life of John Calvin, write another book. If you want to know the tributes or opinions of others, across different denominations, fields, countries over the centuries, write another book.But for this book, 112 pages of it, write as if you are John Calvin. He was an irresistible force because his top legal mind made theological arguments indisputably built on the Bible. Be like Calvin, make the case.And if the book was re-worked, it needs a good editor. Let me give one example.When I read Part 2, the life of John Calvin, I thought the tone was too positive. We need to find fault with the man but there are known issues with Calvin. Servetus, anyone? I have heard a good defence for Calvin with regards to Servetus, but in this book, it's as if nothing ever happened. And that's okay, it is the writer's prerogative to leave some things out and in the case of Servetus, if you can't explain the whole story, it might be best to not mention him at all. The irritation is the book does mention him but never bothers to explain who he is. In Part 3, we have a John Wesley giving a tribute to Calvin. I quote:I believe Calvin was a great instrument of God; and that he was a wise and pious man; But I cannot but advise those who love his memory to let Servetus alone. Yet if any one resolves to understand the whole affair,” he may consult a learned account by a Dr. Chandler of London.Isn't that a teaser? Wesley asks us to leave Servetus alone, but we can't leave it alone now because our curiosity is now aroused, who is Servetus? If you are going to mention him, then tell us who he is, if not, then don't cause Wesley's quote doesn't even need to be there. I have been highly critical of the book. Is there anything good about it. Well, it's short and it's free. Or it was free in January. If it's no longer free by the time you are hearing this, then you have one less reason to get it.I do not recommend this book. I recommend you get another book. Maybe another one by David Hall? I do not dismiss his passion and knowledge of John Calvin. Maybe his other books in the Calvin500 series are better than today's one. Maybe today's book was simply an ill-advised idea that came out half-baked. All I know is, this is not the book to inform or excite anyone on John Calvin's legacy in the modern world.OutroThis is a Reading and Reader's review of "The Legacy of John Calvin" by David Hall. 112 pages. Published by P&R Publishing in June 2008. Available in Amazon Kindle for USD7.99 and available in Logos for free! Free for January.Thank you for listening. Bye bye.Book List"The Legacy of John Calvin: His Influence on the Modern World" by David Hall. Amazon. Logos.

It's a nightmare that never ends. A nightmare of rape, murder, of unspeakable evil to the young, to the old, to pregnant women and babies. A nightmare that is all too real. What does the Bible say about the Israel-Palestine conflict? Or more specifically, what does the New Testament say about the Christian's posture towards the Holy Land?Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Jesus and the Land: The New Testament Challenge to 'Holy Land' Theology" by Gary M. Burge. 168 pages, published by Baker Academic in April 2010. Available in Amazon Kindle for USD15.99 and was USD3.99 last month, December, in Logos.Theologian Writing on the LandBurge is a New Testament scholar who has written, amongst many of his works, extensive commentaries on the Gospel of John and the Epistles of John. I have reviewed his commentary on the Letters of John from the NIV Application Commentary series. So from there I know what to expect of his views on modern day Israel. If you don't know them, you will certainly know them by the end this review.This book was published in 2010, but it might as well have been published today. The conflict in Israel-Palestine is still ongoing. The Jewish people and the Palestinians are still making exclusive claims to the land.In his introduction, Burge writes: This book asks how Christians should understand these competing land claims. Given our theological framework, what is the relationship between land and theology in the New Testament? What did Jesus and the New Testament writers think about the territorial claims of ancient Israel? Did they retain the view of the sanctity of Jerusalem and its Temple? Were they rethinking the relationship between faith and locale? Or were they confident that a sacred place was still to be held for believers?Old Testament in BriefBurge starts the book, in the Old Testament, in the time when God promises Abraham, "To your descendants I give this land..." This land, this promise, Burge charts the relationship of the children of Abraham to the land, from the Promise to the Conquest, from the Warning of Exile to the Return from Exile. We see that the Old Testament doesn't portray the Holy Land as prime real estate. Burge writes: While it will be a good land, it will not be an easy land. This will be a land that demands faith. Far from being paradise, this is a land that will hone a people. For instance, without a central river system, agriculture must rely on God, who supplies the land with water through rainfall. Culturally the land will not be empty but will be filled with Canaanites (and others) who will tempt Israel to compromise its unique commitment to God. And politically, armies moving from Egypt to Mesopotamia will run through this land as if it were a highway and Israel will be forced to decide whether its security will be found in local treaties and alliances or in God, who promises to sustain its welfare.Throughout the book, Burge makes his points from Scripture. For example, I quote: Before Israel enters the land under Joshua’s leadership, Deuteronomy records Moses’ final words of encouragement and warning to the people. (Deuteronomy 4:25-27) When you have had children and children’s children, and become complacent in the land, if you act corruptly by making an idol in the form of anything, thus doing what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, and provoking him to anger, I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that you will soon utterly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to occupy; you will not live long on it, but will be utterly destroyed. The Lord will scatter you among the peoples; only a few of you will be left among the nations where the Lord will lead you. Burge comments:The severity of these words is stunning. This land is not simply a gift the giver has forgotten. It is a gift that has expectations for covenant holiness and justice. God is watching this land. He has personal expectations for this land. It is a land that should evoke memories of his own holiness.Diaspora JewsBurge covers the whole Old Testament in one chapter. Before he goes into the New Testament, Burge describes the world of the Diaspora Jews through the writings of Philo and Josephus. What happened during this time? For one thing:More Jews were living outside the holy Land than they were living in it. And this brought major implications to Jewish thinking and perspective.What surprised me is that the Jewish people, before Christians came to the scene, were already moving the theological focus away from the land.The Jews who were born outside of Israel, who married, did business and made a life outside, were still Jews in their customs and relationships. They were still making pilgrimages to Jerusalem, still paying the Temple tax and many wanted to be buried in the Holy Land, but many did not believe that to be a good Jew meant to rebel against the Romans, retake the Temple and reconstitute the Kingdom of Israel. Jesus and the LandThis brings us to Chapter 3: "Jesus and the Land" and Chapter 4: "The Fourth Gospel and the Land". Burge is a Johannine scholar so it makes sense for him to dedicate an entire chapter for the Fourth Gospel. In these two chapters, Burge makes an incredibly persuasive case for how Jesus of the Gospels must have thought of territorial theology.At one point, he notes: First, Jesus is surprisingly silent with regard to the territorial aspirations and politics of his day. The national ambitions of Judaism under Rome constantly pressed Jewish leadership to respond. Either Judea was capitulating to the occupation or Judea had to organize to defeat it. However, Jesus is oddly silent about the debate. Moreover Jesus is curiously receptive to contact with the occupiers. In Matthew 8:5–13, he responds to the request of a Roman centurion whose valued servant was ill. Here we find no repulsion of the soldier, no condemnation of Gentiles, but rather we find receptivity and welcome. He says of the Roman: “Not even in Israel have I found such faith” (8:10). What emerges is a general impression that Israel’s national ambitions tied to reclaiming the land live on the margin of Jesus’ thinking.If Christians are to give the land of Israel-Palestine some kind of special treatment (whatever that means), then we should get some cue from Jesus. But if Jesus did not care much for the dirt under his feet, then should we? Do you remember how the Pharisees and Herodians asked Jesus, "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" We hear Jesus give the famous answer, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's." Burge tells us, "We can fairly interpret this as a refusal to support the tax revolt" and later "The kingdom Jesus advocated could not be co-opted by a nationalistic movement that sought to win back the land by force." Speculative PointsIn one section, Burge prepares a list of seven critical passages. I can't go through them one by one but I want to share two of them. Not the most persuasive, but the most speculative.In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declared, "the meek shall inherit the earth." The earth can also be translated as the land. And what would a Jew think when the words 'inherit' and 'land' come up? Well, he would be thinking of the Holy Land. And who does Jesus say will inherit the land? The meek, not the strong. In Matthew 25:14-30, a rich man entrusts three servants with cash. Two of the servants invest and make a profit. But the third buries the money in the ground. Or as Burge suggests, ground can be translated as land. Is this parable a cautionary tale against territorial theology? Burge himself admits:Such an interpretation is far from certain since it requires an allegorising of the story that is foreign and arbitrary to the story itself. When a writer is willing to point out when his point is weak, more credit to him. Too many make too much out of too little. We should call it like it is, not as we hope. We get the same level of insight and care as Burge gives us a sweeping survey of land theology in Acts, Galatians, Romans, Hebrews and Revelation in chapters 5, 6 and 7. This excerpt is representative of his conclusions:At no point do the earliest Christians view the Holy Land as a locus of divine activity to which the people of the Roman empire must be drawn. They do not promote the Holy Land either for the Jew or for the Christian as a vital aspect of faith. No Diaspora Jew or pagan Roman is converted and then reminded of the importance of the Holy Land. The early Christians possessed no territorial theology. Early Christian preaching is utterly uninterested in a Jewish eschatology devoted to the restoration of the land. The kingdom of Christ began in Judea and is historically anchored there but it is not tethered to a political realization of that kingdom in the Holy Land. Echoing the message of the Gospels, the praxis of the Church betrays its theological commitments: Christians will find in Christ what Judaism had sought in the land.What Burge Does Not SayAs I grow to appreciate from this book, Jerusalem and the surrounding lands are important, Burge does not diminish their importance, but they are important historically, not theologically. Historically because Jerusalem is not Shangri-La. Abraham, David, Mary, Joseph, Jesus, Peter and Paul walked on the same dust Christian tourists walk on. The same dust, I observe, that Israel and Palestine spill blood for.That's my observation. As I read Burge's analysis and conclusion, I marvel not just in what he says, but what he does not say.He does not say anything about the current Israel-Palestine conflict, when he could easily do so.For example, when he explains how the meek shall inherit the earth, it would be easy to take a shot at Christian Zionists. "When Israeli settlers take the land, are they meek?" Burge mentions settlers once in the introduction to describe the relevance of the topic, says nothing about them for seven chapters, and he only mentions them again, and this time extensively, in the last chapter, chapter 8, where he discuses modern day Israel.This approach to separate biblical interpretation from contemporary application respects the reader. I don't need to consider the righteousness of a particular cause, I just need to consider whether his interpretation is right. I don't need to wonder if it is correct the way he connects our 21st century concerns with the writings of 1st century Christians. If we interpret properly, we will know that 1st century Christians think a lot about the land. More than we do!They see Romans marching up and down it every day! The Problem with Those Supporting Holy Land TheologyThe absence of the modern day conflict in the earlier chapters does not mean the author is detached. Far from it! It is obvious he has strong passions but he aims to develop his theology first, before applying them to his concerns.He writes:Numerous writers have critiqued this movement extensively and found in its bold claims to territory (linked to eschatology) an angry and dangerous synthesis of theology and politics. Engaging their writings directly is difficult because it is a populist movement fueled by preachers who use its schema evangelistically. No carefully argued theological study has come from within its own ranks. No New Testament scholar has written in its defense. Its advocacy groups, such as Christians United for Israel, and Camera, are generally run by political activists. Its books come from the pens of popular television preachers or lobbyists. I have been invited to debate some of their leaders and find myself with people who have no training in theology. How can such a widespread movement in the Church be successful without a thoughtful theological undergirding?He then continues with a scathing critique which I can only give you the headings without the detail:They fail to point out the indisputable biblical motif that land promise is strictly tied to covenant fidelity.They use the prophets to build their worldview, but they fail to hear what else the prophets had to say.They need to call Israel to live by biblical standards of life. The alien and sojourner should be protected because Israel was an alien and sojourner in Egypt.They are naive in applying the historic text of Israel's ancient history to modern Israel.They fail to think Christianly about the subject of theology and the land. A scholar was able to affirm Zionism from the Old Testament, but Burge points out how he neglected to bring the New Testament to bear.Explain The OT to MeThis brings me to my critique on the book as a whole.The subtitle of the book is, "The New Testament Challenge to 'Holy Land' Theology", but if one wants to make a deathblow to Holy Land Theology, we need as rigorous an interpretation of the Old Testament as well. We need an OT scholar writing alongside the NT scholar. The book would be thicker. Right now, it's easy to read at 168 pages. But one chapter for the Old Testament is too short. It's not enough to convince supporters of 'Holy Land' theology who quote the OT.Burge's critique that territorial theology does not consider the New Testament is valid. But Christians at the pulpit and the pew, need help to make sense of the Old Testament text. It's not enough to just say what the New Testament text says. As it is, it can look as if the OT and NT are shouting over each other.Can a Two-State Solution Exist?My second criticism is only a criticism because he did not address the question that emerged in my mind as I read his conclusions. Basically, Burge tells us that territorial theology is wrong because Jesus, Paul and all the New Testament writer has shifted the attention away from the land beneath their feet to the kingdom of God. But is it possible that it's a matter of timing? For example, Jesus said he was sent only to the lost children of Israel and with some exceptions, he kept to a tight area. Jesus did not preach in Athens, heal in Malta, or die in Rome. If we only had the Gospels, and didn't have Acts or the epistles, we could conclude that the Gospel is limited to where Jesus worked. "Ah hah!", someone says, "That's why we have Acts and the epistles." Which is my point, perhaps there is something in the Old Testament that would support some form of Holy Land theology. Or consider how John the Baptist had to ask Jesus, "Are you the one, or should we expect another one?" He asked that because Jesus did not fulfil many of the prophecies expected of the Messiah. Maybe the remaining Old Testament prophecies will be fulfilled in a time or manner that we do not expect? In short, what I am asking is does Burge's interpretation necessarily exclude territorial theology? Can both exist alongside just in different periods? Based on my reading of this book, I think I know what Burge's answer would be, but I would have liked to know definitively if a Two-State Solution can exist?So Good, It's ScaryBecause, I'll tip my hand now, I am as convinced as I can be that Burge's approach, exposition, analysis and conclusion is right. I always wished I had the time and ability to study the theological framework behind the Israel-Palestine conflict, and if I had half the ability of Burge, I would have attempted what he did, just go through Scripture, expound it and arrive at a conclusion that informs us on how we are to understand the world today. I found myself agreeing so much with everything he writes that I questioned myself, "Am I living in the same echo-chamber as Gary Burge?" So near the end of the book, I told myself that if I wanted to make sure that my position here is stress-tested, I need to read a good book that argues the opposite. And what do you know, Burge gives us a long list of books for further readings. One list is for theological books. He introduces them: There have been a limited number of treatments of the land motif in the Bible. Many work directly on the problem of land conflict in Israel-Palestine and then provide theological reflection as a feature of the ethical discussion. Others—Jewish and Palestinian writers—inevitably express their own narratives within the struggle. Another list is on the modern day conflict itself. He recommends books from both sides of the debate written by ex-American President Jimmy Carter, current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a Palestinian Lutheran pastor and more. In conclusion, to the Christian who has an opinion on the Israel-Palestinian conflict, I won't say you must read this book, but I would say you must have a theological underpinning for your opinion. Your opinion needs to be informed by both the Old Testament and the New Testament. And if you want to be as well-informed as you can be on this issue that is often played on Christian sentiments, then I would recommend "Jesus and the Land: The New Testament Challenge to 'Holy Land' Theology". It's just as relevant as it was the day it was published 14 years ago, which is one of the rare cases where the writer must wish his book was less relevant today.OutroThis is a Reading and Reader's review of "Jesus and the Land" by Gary M. Burge. 168 pages, published by Baker Academic in April 2010. Available in Amazon Kindle for USD15.99 and was USD3.99 last month, December, in Logos.I am currently reading the Logos free book for January. What better way to start the new year than to read "The Legacy of John Calvin: His Influence on the Modern World" by David W. Hall. If you are predestined to listen to it, I'll see you then. Thank you for listening. Bye bye.Book List"Jesus and the Land" by Gary M. Burge. Amazon. Logos.

RR90 Long Term ReflectionHi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Except today, I don't review a book. Instead I do my annual Year End Reflection where I look back and consider what are the books that have, thus far, made a lasting impression on me. This year, unlike previous years, I did not give myself much opportunity to reflect or to practise what I read. Having said that, I was surprised by how much the printed word has managed to make an imprint on me. Like a gardener who neglected his garden which is now overrun with weeds, I found to my delight that in some corners, seeds have survived and grown and bear fruit.As I look back at all the books I have reviewed in this podcast, there were a few titles that come to mind over and over again. In brief, in order of appearance in the podcast, these are the seven books read in the past that was meaningful to me this year:Episode 7: Providence by John Piper. When I have conversations with anyone on the sovereignty of God, I try to recall as much as I can from Piper's brilliant exposition. He left me utterly convinced of God's Providence in every part of creation. And most wonderful of all is this truth is not just a talking point I use in conversations but it has shaped my spiritual posture towards God, always rejoicing, always trusting. Providence is a thick book, 752 pages. I thank God that I read this big book earlier because I don't think I would have the mental, emotional, spiritual strength to lift this book this year. But because I did, it has laid a strong foundation for how to receive God's Truth, to rejoice in it and to rely on the wonderful providence of God. Episode 17: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit by Chris Wright. I don't know whether this would offend Chris or make him smile, but the one thing I remember from his book is from his introduction, on how John Stott would every morning pray the Fruit of the Holy Spirit and how Stott was considered by many to be the most Christ-like person they know. I do pray the Fruit of the Spirit, but not everyday, only when I face trials. I also remember how after finishing the book, how I wished to be more Christ-like. I have made pretty bad decisions, and I own those bad decisions, but where I have made good decisions, it is out of this desire to be more Christ-like, and I thank the Holy Spirit for this.Episode 25: Death of Porn by Ray Ortlund. A book that has given me some anguish, often despair, and after some preaching to myself, that despair turns to repentance. Two insights that have continued to guide my thoughts. First is when we look for porn, what we are really looking for is Jesus. I was shocked how Ortlund put porn and Jesus in the same sentence. I'm still shocked. It reveals our desperate futility for something that can only be found in Christ. The second insight is we make a budget for sin. I never thought about it as a budget. If I do this and that for God, then surely all the good I do will offset the little sin I do here. It's a lie I tell myself and Ortlund exposes it. Episode 30: Sunsets: Reflections on Life's Final Journey by Deborah Howard. The author is a Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse. She takes care of people who are going to die soon. Death is an icky subject. It's taboo. But the reality is people around me have died, some this year. The people around me will die, maybe sooner than expected, maybe suddenly, maybe it's me. Howard has helped me process dying, death and life after death. Since everyone dies, this book should be required reading for all.Episode 33: God, Technology and Christian Life by Tony Reinke. These are early days of drone warfare. Soldiers can work from home to kill the enemy in a far away land. That is if they can keep their jobs after A.I. has taken everyone else's jobs. It is easy to get carried away by the headlines. In Reinke's book, he reminds me that when everything is changing, everything is still the same. God is still in control. He never lost it. And so every exuberance, every anxiety must be tempered by the truth that God is over all, including technology. My Christian life is all the better for this truth. Better than the latest Apple, Google or Facebook product is the firm knowledge that God is over all. Episode 42: Theology of Reconciliation by Ruth Khoury Mansour. I bought this book because it was written by a Palestinian Christian on reconciliation. It's a monograph, so I paid for a research thesis. Every research thesis I read is dry as dust. But because of the subject matter and her writing style, through her literature review and methodology, analysis and conclusion, I managed to get a picture of life as a Baptist in Palestine, living amidst conflict, Israelis vs. Palestinians, Muslims vs. Christians, Baptists vs. other Baptists. With the kidnapping, war and airstrikes constantly in the news, I wonder how are my Palestinian brothers and sisters in Christ. Reconciliation seems so impossible, yet we have hope in Christ. Episode 72: On Getting Out of Bed by Alan Noble. The title sums up the year for me. There are days when it is difficult to get out of bed. You open your phone to the rest of the world posting their achievements, the rewards of success and you can join them too, all you need is a bit of direction and effort, just do steps 1, 2 and 3, and you can be a success too. Alan Noble's book is a comforting hug when all one can muster is just to get out of bed. If you have problems getting out of bed, this short book is better than the loudest alarm clock you can buy.That's it. Seven books. Let me emphasise, this is not my list of top seven books. Nor would I necessarily recommend these books to you because, where you are in life right now, you may need other books. These are seven books that have sustained me in my faith through my trials and my temptations in 2023. What I read a long time back has helped me to think through what concerns me today: the emergence of A.I. and the Israel-Gaza war. I invested my time in good company and they have helped me in ways unexpected.Today's episode is less on the books and more about me. It's less on the reading and more on the reader. And through my sharing, I hope in a small way, it encourages you to read a good book because what you store in your heart and mind may one day be providentially what you need. To read my full reviews or get the links to the books I mention, you can scroll to the bottom of this episode description or visit readingandreaders.com. You can also drop a note in the contact page of the website, that's readingandreaders.com.If you are not a reader yet, I hope you will be in 2024. Happy New Year. Bye bye.Book ListProvidence by John Piper. Review.Cultivating the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. Review.Death of Porn by Ray Ortlund. Review.Sunsets: Reflections on Life's Final Journey by Deborah Howard. Review.God, Technology and Christian Life by Tony Reinke. Review.Theology of Reconciliation by Ruth Khoury Mansour. Review.On Getting Out of Bed by Alan Noble. Review.

A theologian writes a critical response to a popular teaching. He destroys it. The teaching and teacher are irredeemably branded as heresy and heretic. Augustine vs. Pelagius, the battle of the ages. Today I read what nobody else wants to read to find out was Saint Augustine correct? Is Pelagianism a heresy and Pelagius a heretic?"Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Saint Augustine: Four Anti-Pelagian Writings" translated by John Mourant and William Collinge. 372 pages, published by The Catholic University of America Press in January 1992. It's available in Amazon for USD42.24 (as of the date of recording) and in Logos for USD30.99. Pelagius Was Not A Heretic"Pelagius was not a heretic. The church has gotten him wrong." This was news to me. When I first started reading theology, I learnt that Pelagius taught that man, by nature, is able to live completely sinless lives and that this was heresy. And the man who succeeded in destroying this heresy is a hero of the church, the same man who wrote Confessions and City of God, Saint Augustine of Hippo.So I was surprised to hear that heretic Pelagius was misunderstood and great man Augustine wrote a hit job on him. I have no skin in the game, if Pelagius was truly innocent of the charges, then let justice be done. I began by reading Pelagius in his own words. I found Pelagius' Letter to Demetrias, which is available for free online. And I was shocked! Let me read from that letter:Nor is there any reason why it is made difficult for us to do good other than that long habit of doing wrong which has infected us from childhood and corrupted us little by little over many years and ever after holds us in bondage and slavery to itself, so that it seems somehow to have acquired the force of nature. We now find ourselves being resisted and opposed by all that long period in which we were carelessly instructed, that is, educated in evil, in which we even strove to be evil, since, to add to the other incentives to evil, innocence itself was held to be folly.Pelagius does not believe that we inherit the sinful nature from Adam, but instead we copied what we see around us. In short, Pelagius does not believe in, what we know today as, Original Sin, an idea we have Augustine to thank for. Augustine was right to condemn it! Without reading Augustine, I already know I am against Pelagianism. Someone might say that's because I have already been corrupted little by little over many years by Augustine. In response, I concede that the books I read favour Augustine, but I truly believe my convictions come directly from the Bible. I could leave it as that. Sustaining my position on biblical grounds. But since the discussion is on two separate but related questions: Is Pelagianism a heresy? Is Pelagius a heretic? If we want to properly answer these questions, we should read the man who was instrumental in the condemnation. We should read Augustine's own words and not what other people said he said. We need the primary source. Read The Primary SourceI searched and bought a translation of Saint Augustine: Four Anti-Pelagian Writings. I hope to find out answers to a few questions like: What did Augustine understand of Pelagianism? Was he fair in his criticism? Did Augustine respond with biblical truth or philosophical arguments or did he just rile up religious fervour?Most, if not all, of the answers to those questions can be found in the first two writings collected in the book. They are On Nature and Grace and On the Proceedings of Pelagius. They were written in 415-416AD, shortly after Pelagius went to court. These are hot off the press responses from Augustine on the events of the day.The other two are shorter and written much later. The titles are On the Predestination of the Saints and On the Gift of Perseverance. These were not written to address Pelagianism directly but they are here because Augustine is dealing with a related problem.Working Out Theology is Not Neat and TidyThe first thing that struck me was how messy everything was. Let me explain. Any good book on Systematic Theology will say this is what Augustine believed, this is what Pelagius believed. If the book had a bit more space to spare, they quote a sentence, a paragraph from Augustine and/or Pelagius. Everything is neat and tidy.When you read this book, it's not. Here, you see Augustine trying to get a handle on Pelagius. "Did he really say what he said?" Christian leaders are pestering Augustine to respond to Pelagius' teaching. Augustine is reluctant to go after the man but is compelled to go against the teaching.Listen to this. The love we have for him [Pelagius] now is different from the love we had for him formerly; then we loved him as one who seemed to be of the true faith, whereas we now love him in order that, by the mercy of God, he may be set free from those antagonistic views which he is said to hold against the grace of God. It was not easy to believe this about him, when the rumor began to be circulated some time ago -- for rumor is usually a liar -- but what brought it home to us and made us believe it was a certain book of his which aims to set forth theories intended to destroy and remove from faithful hearts any belief in the grace of God bestowed on the human race through the one Mediator of God and men, Christ Jesus. Some have accused Augustine of misrepresenting Pelagius. They say, "If only we had his writings, then we could show how arrogant Augustine villainized poor Pelagius." To those people I say, "Have you actually read Augustine?" Because I didn't before and what I see here astounds me. He liberally quotes Pelagius. Augustine tells us that he was himself accused of saying things he did not say. So he does not want the same thing to happen to Pelagius. Over and over again, he gives Pelagius the benefit of the doubt, saying in effect, "While it is possible that we have misunderstood him, to the best of our knowledge, what I quote here is what he wrote and what he wrote should be condemned."Are Man Able To Lead Sinless Lives?Pelagius says that Man are able to lead sinless lives. Augustine says that Man cannot for all man are born sinners. Let me read from the middle of the argument. Listen to how Augustine interacts with Pelagius.He [that is Pelagius] adds still further, Because indeed the possibility of not sinning does not depend upon us, even if we should want not to be able not to sin, we cannot not be able not to sin. He has said this in a convoluted manner and for this reason somewhat obscurely. But it is possible to put it more clearly as follows: because the possibility of not sinning does not depend upon us, then, whether we wish it or not, we are able not to sin. For he does not say, “Whether we wish it or not, we do not sin” — undoubtedly we do sin if we wish to. Nevertheless, whether we wish it or not, we have, he asserts, the possibility of not sinning, which he says is inherent in our nature. Yet it can reasonably be said of a man with healthy feet that whether he wish it or not he has the possibility of walking, but if they are broken, then even if he wishes, he does not have this possibility. Thus our nature is corrupted, of which it is written, “Why is earth and ashes proud?” It is corrupted and it implores the physician: “Save me, O Lord,” it cries; “Heal my soul,” it cries. Why does Pelagius block these cries, and thus hinder the future health [of the soul] by defending it as a present possibility? I Do Not Think Grace Means What You Think It MeansDefenders for Pelagius are quick to remind all that Pelagius was cleared of the charges brought against him. The church leaders asked Pelagius whether Man could live sinless lives by the grace of God. He answered yes, by the grace of God, yes. And, if I can paraphrase Pelagius, he says, "As I have said many times, it is possible to lead a sinless life by the grace of God. Maybe it has not happened yet but how can we deny that possibility? Why do people accuse me of denying the grace of God?" Surely what Pelagius said doesn't sound so bad after all? If God saw fit to empower, through the Holy Spirit, a man to lead a sinless life, who are we to deny God? And for that reason, on this position, the church leaders heard Pelagius and declared him orthodox. His belief is acceptable within the church.Augustine was anguished. He does not blame the council for their decision. They were good people. The problem was they were not familiar with Pelagius' teaching and so they did not ask the right questions, namely what does Pelagius mean by the grace of God?This is how Augustine responds to Pelagius affirming the grace of God: When I read these words, I confess to you, dear ones, that I was suddenly filled with joy, because the author did not deny the grace of God, through which alone a man can be justified. It is such a denial that I detest and dread above all else in controversies of this sort. But in continuing to read further, I began to be suspicious, at first because of some of the comparisons he presented. For he writes, Now if I were to say that a man can dispute, a bird can fly, a rabbit can run, and I were not also to mention the means by which these acts can be accomplished, namely, the tongue, the wings, and the feet, then have I denied the conditions of these activities, when I have recognized the activities themselves? It certainly seems as if he has mentioned things which are effective by nature, for these members, namely the tongue, the wings, and the feet, have been created for natures of a particular kind. Nor has he proposed anything that we would want to understand to be of grace, without which no human being is justified, for there the question concerns the healing rather than the formation of natures. From here on I began to read with misgivings and soon discovered that my suspicions were not unwarranted.Why does Augustine have such deep misgivings? If both can agree that it is possible to lead a sinless life by the grace of God, does it really matter whether the grace of God is God creating in us a human nature able to overcome sin, so Pelagius, or the grace of God is the Holy Spirit indwelling in us, so Augustine? This is how Augustine and the church has understood the implications.Augustine writes: Could he [a man], or could he not, have become just by his own nature and free will? If they say he could have, then see what amounts to rendering the cross of Christ void: to contend that without it anyone can be justified by the law of nature and the choice of his will. Let us also say here: “Then Christ died in vain."If a man can be just without Christ, then Christ died in vain. It would actually be a cosmic joke because the son of God descended, suffered and died, when he didn't have to. If it was possible, if I only needed to try harder to be sinless, then I can rightly boast that all I needed was the body or nature that God gave me in the beginning, and I have no need for the cross of Christ. This religion of works is contrary to the Gospel.And yet, despite all the evidence, Augustine is still willing to give Pelagius the benefit of the doubt. Maybe Pelagius did not mean what he wrote. For it is “the grace of God, by Jesus Christ our Lord,” the grace by which Pelagius has nowhere been willing to say we, when we pray, are helped, so as not to sin. If by chance he implicitly acknowledges this, he must forgive us for having suspected otherwise. In that case, it is he himself who is the cause of all the discredit which he suffers on this matter, for he is willing to acknowledge it and yet unwilling to confess or declare it.Internet Forums in AntiquityYou know what this book reminded me of? It reminded me of the drama in some internet forums. There are some who are quick to put words in other people's mouths. This is what you say, what you mean, and you are bad for even saying such things. Then there are some who genuinely try to understand what the other guy is saying, even when it sounds wrong, but he hopes that it was all a misunderstanding. That would be Augustine. When you read this book, you don't just learn the proof text and theological points, you also sit under a saint. FamiliarThere is more to the Pelagian controversy than I can get into in this review. There were multiple charges against Pelagius, not just one, but the one I described was one of the main charges. As you read the book, there are many things familiar and many things foreign. When Augustine writes on the Grace of Final Perseverance, he expounds from the Lord's Prayer, and concludes that people who pray to God, by their actions, admit God to be sovereign. This is what J.I. Packer presented in his book, "Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God", which I reviewed in Episode 87. Almost like a side remark, Augustine points out that we believe God puts people in earthly kingdoms, so why should we find it difficult to believe that God puts people in his heavenly kingdom? John Piper elaborated on this and more in his 800-page book "Providence", which I reviewed in Episode 7.Let me share one more familiar note: Faith, then, both in its beginning and in its completion, is a gift of God, and let it not be doubted by anyone who does not wish to contradict the most evident sacred writings that this gift is given to some, but to others it is not given. Why this gift is not given to all should not disturb the believer, who believes that from one man, all have gone into condemnation, a condemnation undoubtedly most just, so much so that even if no one were freed therefrom, there would be no just complaint against God.If God did not save anyone, he would still be just. I am not saying that Augustine originated these ideas, I would argue everything I just read comes from Scripture. The sense of familiarity makes reading easier and gives the reader confidence to read further and push through unfamiliar territory.UnfamiliarOne that comes up often is baptism. Pelagius, Augustine and the early church have a different understanding of baptism than I do. Pelagius is quoted to say, "through baptism the Church is purified from every spot and wrinkle."The synod approves of this saying.And Augustine? He writes: For who among us denies that the sins of all men have been remitted through baptism and that all the faithful arise without spot and wrinkle from the bath of regeneration?Because of this, I have to adjust my understanding to make sense of some of the points made in this book. And I'll be honest, sometimes I fail to make sense of it, so I skip. I have learnt to not let what I don't understand prevent me from getting what I do understand. If I insisted on understanding everything that I read, I wouldn't be able to read past Genesis 1:1. With the Bible, we get help from commentators. With Augustine's Anti-Pelagian Writings, we get help from the translators. TranslatorsThere are four writings in this book and each of them has their own introduction from the translators. They give the background, synopsis, translation issues and appendix. You could jump straight into Augustine's writings, just like you could jump straight into the middle of a TV series. But if you want to understand what is going on, it helps to have someone next to you explain who are the characters, what is the motivation behind their actions and what are they aiming for. Before this book, I only knew Pelagius, as well, the heretic. This is how the translator presents Pelagius:Pelagius must be understood as primarily a moralist, a religious teacher calling for a reform of Christians’ lives according to a more demanding standard than that which he perceived to be prevalent, and not as a speculative theologian. Nevertheless, his moral teaching drew on (and perhaps also issued into) a distinctive and fairly well articulated theological anthropology.If we keep this in mind, it helps to understand Augustine's reluctance to go on the attack and also his annoyance in having to do so. It also helps explain why Augustine had written a letter to Pelagius commending him, which Pelagius read out in his defence, much to the consternation of Augustine.I found it useful to read the synopsis first so that I have a mental map of where Augustine is going. Hearing this, a purist might argue that I'm letting the translator influence my interpretation of Augustine. I am aware of the danger. But as I said, I found the translator's sypnosis helpful, otherwise I would be lost. And I make a conscious effort to read Augustine's text for myself. That's why I am reading this book and not someone's write up of Augustine.Redeeming PelagiusLet's go back to where I started this review. "Is Pelagianism a heresy? Is Pelagius a heretic? Was Augustine fair in his treatment of the teaching and the teacher?" Can the answer to these questions be found in today's book? Yes. And anyone who is serious should read this book because no one can give the excuse that this book is too difficult to read. It's harder than what we are used to reading today but it's not inaccessible. There are some today who wish to see justice done for Pelagius, for they believe he was wrongly accused of heresy. I commend them for desiring justice but I think they are redeeming the wrong guy.Consider this, if there is a court, with a proper judge and jury, who are sincerely doing their duty to evaluate the evidence and make the right verdict, and they find a man guilty. Then later, much later, people raise doubts on the verdict. The right way is to review the case, are there are new evidences? Was there a mistake? If there was a miscarriage of justice, then let justice prevail, though delayed. There are people who wish to overturn the verdict, by ignoring the original witnesses, by relying on what others heard from the witnesses.In the case against Pelagius, Augustine recorded his words and his own words bear witness against him. If Pelagianism is accepted, then Christ died in vain. Then anyone who accepts Pelagianism, also shares in Pelagius' condemnation. Am I being too harsh here? I don't enjoy calling others heretics. Neither does Augustine.If you are not particularly motivated to read Augustine's Anti-Pelagian writings, a better place to start on Augustine is his Confessions or City of God. I haven't read them yet, they are in my bucket list.Before I end this review, let me read the concluding paragraph in "On the Predestination of The Saints". Augustine writes:Therefore, we undertook, as far as we could, to show that even this very beginning of faith is a gift of God. And if we have done this at greater length than might have been desired by those for whom it was written, we are ready to be reproached by them for it, provided that they nevertheless will admit that, even if at much greater length than they would like, even at the cost of boredom and weariness on the part of those who understand, we have accomplished what we set out to do: that is, have shown that even the beginning of faith, like continence, patience, justice, piety, and other things of which there is no dispute with our brothers, is a gift of God. Therefore, let us conclude this volume, that too great a length of one book may not be displeasing to the reader. Isn't that every writer's hope? That too great a length of one book may not be displeasing to the reader.OutroThis is a Reading and Reader's review of "Saint Augustine: Four Anti-Pelagian Writings" translated by John Mourant and William Collinge. 372 pages, published by The Catholic University of America Press in January 1992. It's available in Amazon for USD42.24 (as of the date of recording) and in Logos for USD30.99. Book ListSaint Augustine: Four Anti-Pelagian Writings" translated by John Mourant and William Collinge. Amazon. Logos.

Every good book or movie or TV series ends with closure for the characters. After so many years, Rachel and Ross finally got together. After so many doubts, Chandler finally accepts he is going to be a father. But the Bible does not give us such closures. What happened to Peter? He just disappears halfway through Acts. What happens to Paul? We left him in house arrest. We expect to turn the page to find out what happens next and it just ends like a canceled Netflix series. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "After Acts: Exploring the Lives and Legends of the Apostles" by Bryan Litfin. 200 pages, published by Moody Publishers in January 2015. USD9.99 via Amazon Kindle. It was available for free via Logos for November.AuthorAccording to bryanlitfin.com: Bryan Litfin is a professor in the School of Divinity at Liberty University. Previously, he was Head of Strategy and Advancement at Clapham School, after serving for 16 years as Professor of Theology at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and 3 years as an editor and writer at Moody Publishers. He is the author of Constantine’s Empire Series (Revell, 2020-2022), the Chiveis Trilogy, Wisdom from the Ancients (Harvest House Publishers, 2022), Early Christian Martyr Stories (Baker, 2014), After Acts (Moody, 2015), and Getting To Know the Church Fathers (Brazos, 2007), as well as several scholarly articles and essays.This is a surprise! He writes novels. He is a storyteller. And I'll come to why this is such a surprise at the end of this review. What is not surprising is he is a scholar, a professor of theology with an interest in the early church. In the book, he casually refers to Eusebius, Irenaeus and Jerome. He picks out the best bits from the Acts of Peter, Proto-Gospel of James, the Gospel of Thomas and more. He is familiar with early church writings and it shows.And that expertise is critical for us to figure out what happened after Acts. The Book of Acts closes with Paul under house arrest. If the Bible was submitted to a publisher, the publisher would reject it: "Great story, but you gotta fix the ending". Well, in God's infinite wisdom we get the Bible as it is but that has not stopped others from writing to finish the story of Peter, Paul and others. Some of these stories read like fan fiction or some kind of fantasy, alternate history. But is there a kernel of truth in them? Litfin goes through the Bible, archaeology and extra-Biblical sources to tell us not only what likely happened but why he is convinced. He even gives us a report card at the end of every chapter. A for almost certainly true. F for almost certainly false.PeterI started the episode by asking what happened to Peter. Litfin tells us. First, he explains who is Peter, what he did, what he wrote, and why he is important. Tradition has it that he was crucified upside down. You may have heard the reason was because he found himself unworthy to be crucified the same way Jesus was.Litfin writes:Peter may well have been crucified upside down, for the Romans were known to do this. Since the martyrdom story in the Acts of Peter was already developing in the early second century, it might have been recording an actual eyewitness remembrance. However, the victims of Roman crucifixion were not given the chance to make requests about the method of their impalement. The intent was to shame them in a grotesque way, not accomodate their wishes. Therefore, the upside-down crucifixion of Peter is historically plausible, though not for any spiritual reasons. Now that we know what happened to Peter, this should give us enough closure on the character, on the man. But there is more!He tells us the story of how the Apostle Peter's bones were discovered! Although Litfin cautions us that it is still an open question, yet the sequence of events he describes, the forensic analysis done, shows that it is possible, it is possible that we have recovered the bones of the Apostle Peter. Huh! In the report card, on the event that Peter died by crucifixion, Litfin gives it an A-. On whether his bones were recovered, Litfin gives it a B. ThomasLet's look at another disciple's story. This one is of personal interest to me because many years ago, I went on a church mission trip to India. It was an eye-opening trip that has helped form many of my convictions. I saw people hungry for the gospel, coming for prayer and a demonstrating sincere desire to worship and obey God. Our host brought us to a hill where the apostle Thomas was memorialised because according to tradition the apostle Thomas went to India to spread the Gospel. So we went to this hill and to us it was a sight-seeing trip, but to the people around us, it was a spiritual pilgrimage. I vaguely recall the pictures on the walls describing the miracles performed by Thomas. I visited the cave where he died and later the tomb where his bones are kept. I remember not knowing what to make of all of it and after reading today's book, I am glad I did not make too much of it. He writes: The tradition of Thomas’s martyrdom has come to be associated with a little hillock called St. Thomas Mount in modern Chennai on India’s east coast. Though the ancient accounts do tell us that Thomas died in India by spearing, the suggestion that it happened at Chennai is the stuff of pious fabrication. Only in the medieval sources do we begin to see a connection between Thomas and the eastern side of India. The sixteenth-century Portuguese explorers who sought to convert the indigenous Indian Christians to Roman Catholicism are responsible for the hilltop shrine at Chennai and its supposed bone fragment from the apostle.I doubt any of this matters to those who make the pilgrimage to St. Thomas mount but the truth matters and Litfin is keen to tell the true story of the disciples. And next to Peter, I would say the most famous apostle would be Paul. And Litfin saves the best for last, for Paul appears in the final chapter.PaulI will just share this wild story and move on: When Paul’s severed head hit the ground, it bounced three times as it uttered the words “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,” which caused three springs of water to well up. Today the church of St. Paul at the Three Fountains marks that very spot -- but it is clearly the result of later legends that carry no historical validity.Wild StoriesI wish Litfin would tell me these stories even if they aren't true. That's strange coming from me because if you listen to my reviews, you will know that I don't like my commentary writers to make wild guesses. I much prefer them to stick to the facts and let me come to my own opinion. Litfin does an excellent job at giving me the facts but how I wish he would tell more stories. Listen to this: In the chapter on Peter, Litfin writes: In the early second century, a collection of oral folklore began to solidify into a narrative trajectory now called the Acts of Peter. In addition to such thrilling episodes as a duel between Peter and the heretic Simon Magus, in which Peter causes the flying Simon to crash and burn (chapters 31–32), we also find a detailed account of Peter’s martyrdom (chapters 33–41). Emperor Nero is the villain in the background of the story, which proves the second-century Christians believed Peter died during that ruler’s reign.Does anyone want to hear more about Peter causing the flying Simon to crash and burn? I would. But if you want to know more, you won't get it from Litfin in this book. Instead, Litfin directs us the website, earlychristianwritings.com, which has the translated text for us to read in full. And every time he hints of a great story but doesn't tell it, I groan.He writes:... in the apocryphal Passion of Simon and Jude, Judas Thaddeus travels with Simon the Zealot to Babylon, where they debate with the Persian magi. The characters proceed through a series of adventures until at last they are martyred by the priests of the sun god.What are the adventures?! And again:... an early medieval text incorrectly attributed to a certain Babylonian bishop named Abdias recounts Matthew’s daring exploits and miraculous adventures in the land of Ethiopia.Come on, what are the adventures? I was so crushed he didn't tell these stories. I thought he couldn't and was not interested because was a dry bones academic. So imagine my surprise, when I found out that he writes novels. He wrote a book titled, "Early Christian Martyr Stories". He is a story teller but for this book he didn't want to just spin a yarn, he wanted the inquisitive believer to know with certainty what happened.And in my opinion, he has done that and more. He has surprised the reader with some amazing stories to whet the appetite and has show us how he sifts through the source materials to get to the his conclusions. In that sense, I would recommend this book for both the casual reader and the thinking Christian.Before I end the book review, I want to share how this book aroused my curiousity of Peter's adventures. So I went to the website Litfin recommended and I skimmed through translation of "The Acts of Peter". Here I read how Peter tells a guy Marcellus that if you believe in the Lord, just sprinkle water over a broken statue and it will become whole. And it did. Peter comes knocking at Simon the sorceror's house and Simon instructs a dog, "Tell Peter that I am not within." And the dog answers!Thou exceeding wicked and shameless one, enemy of all that live and believe on Christ Jesus, here is a dumb animal sent unto thee which hath received a human voice to confound thee and show thee to be a deceiver and a liar. Peter sees a herring, a sardine hung on a window and tells the crowd, "If you see this swimming in the water like a fish, will you be able to believe in him whom I preach?" The crowd say yes. Peter takes the herring, "In the name of Jesus, swim." And he throws the herring into the waters, it comes alive and swims. I can see why Litfin didn't tell these stories because once you start, you can't stop. And not so edifying. We don't expect our preachers to bring cans of sardines to evangelistic rallies. But what this shows is Litfin has succeeded to make the early church writings more attractive and more accessible than I had thought possible. And I think if you read this book, you will feel the same too.This is a Reading and Readers review of "After Acts: Exploring the Lives and Legends of the Apostles" by Bryan Litfin. 200 pages, published by Moody Publishers in January 2015. USD9.99 via Amazon Kindle. It was available for free via Logos for November but it's USD7.79 now.If you like to know more about books, especially good Christian books that are offered for free for a time, subscribe to Reading and Readers, the podcast where I review Christian books for you. Thank you and bye bye. Book List"After Acts: Exploring the Lives and Legends of the Apostles" by Bryan Litfin. Amazon. Logos.

Evangelism. The Great Commission is so important which is why people get upset when it's done differently or wrongly or not according to what the Bible teaches.Sovereignty of God. Arguably the greatest of all the great doctrines. And people do argue about it, what it means and how it changes our lives. Put Evangelism and Sovereignty of God together and it's like the fusion of two atoms. You get a tremendous release of energy that can either power up or destroy your faith. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God" by J.I. Packer. 122 pages, published by Inter-Varsity Press, the first edition was published in 1961. You can get the 2012 edition via Amazon for USD10.25 or via Logos.com for USD9.99. Don't have ten bucks to spare? A pity cause it was only USD1.99 a week ago! To make sure you don't miss out on great book deals, subscribe to this podcast or follow me at Twitter. You can find details at www.readingandreaders.com. That's www.readingandreaders.com.J.I. Packer passed away in 2020 at the age of 93 years old. He wrote "Knowing God", revived the Puritans and gave us the ESV Bible translation. In my mind, J.I. Packer is the theological-equivalent of an explosive engineer or bomb expert. Where ever there is a theological controversy, there he is, calmly, precisely defusing the bomb. By careful design, he channels all that destructive energy and puts it to good use.I give you one example, one of the hottest topic in the recent past is the charismatic/pentecostal movement. It was so hot that churches were splitting left and right on this issue. Yet, any hothead, regardless of where he stands on the issue, will find good sense in Packer's book "Keep in Step with the Spirit". He has the uncanny ability to describe the issue in a fair way, bring out the essence of the debate and channel all the energy towards mutual edification.Evangelism and Sovereignty of God are as explosive as any doctrine can be. But under J.I. Packer's pen, Evangelism and Divine Sovereignty come together in a way that shines forth the glory of our awesome God. Divine SovereigntyLet me read an excerpt from the first chapter, titled, "Divine Sovereignty":I do not intend to spend any time at all proving to you the general truth that God is sovereign in his world. There is no need; for I know that, if you are a Christian, you believe this already. How do I know that? Because I know that, if you are a Christian, you pray; and the recognition of God’s sovereignty is the basis of your prayers. In prayer, you ask for things and give thanks for things. Why? Because you recognize that God is the author and source of all the good that you have had already, and all the good that you hope for in the future. This is the fundamental philosophy of Christian prayer. The prayer of a Christian is not an attempt to force God’s hand, but a humble acknowledgment of helplessness and dependence.When Packer says, "I do not intend", we hear his strong voice coming out of the pages. He knows where the issue lies and here he believes that every Christian whether they admit it or not, in their heart of hearts know that God is sovereign simply because they pray; simply because they credit God for their salvation.I find Packer here to be generous to a fault. While no Christian would ever deny the Sovereignty of God, they have a different definition and deny that God has absolute control over all creation. But why deny it?Packer writes:The root cause is the same as in most cases of error in the church -- the intruding of rationalistic speculations, the passion for systematic consistency, a reluctance to recognize the existence of mystery and to let God be wiser than men, and a consequent subjecting of Scripture to the supposed demands of human logic. People see that the Bible teaches man’s responsibility for his actions; they do not see (man, indeed, cannot see) how this is consistent with the sovereign lordship of God over those actions. They are not content to let the two truths live side by side, as they do in the Scriptures, but jump to the conclusion that, in order to uphold the biblical truth of human responsibility, they are bound to reject the equally biblical and equally true doctrine of divine sovereignty, and to explain away the great number of texts that teach it. The desire to oversimplify the Bible by cutting out the mysteries is natural to our perverse minds, and it is not surprising that even good people should fall victim to it. Hence this persistent and troublesome dispute. The irony of the situation, however, is that when we ask how the two sides pray, it becomes apparent that those who profess to deny God’s sovereignty really believe in it just as strongly as those who affirm it.Packer concludes Chapter 1 by fervently asserting that those who deny Sovereignty of God actually believe it. And he knows the sticking point. If God is always in control, how can humans be responsible for their actions? And that is where Packer brings us to in Chapter 2.Divine Sovereignty and Human ResponsibilityAs I read through this second chapter, I find myself sympathetic to Packer's attempts to convince the reader of the truth. It took me years to reach what Packer hopes to achieve with the reader in these pages.The truth is, well, listen to how Packer puts it:God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility are taught to us side by side in the same Bible; sometimes, indeed, in the same text. Both are thus guaranteed to us by the same divine authority; both, therefore, are true. It follows that they must be held together, and not played off against each other. Man is a responsible moral agent, though he is also divinely controlled; man is divinely controlled, though he is also a responsible moral agent. God’s sovereignty is a reality, and man’s responsibility is a reality too.Packer recognises that it sounds like a contradiction. He calls it an antimony. And rather than attempt to solve the supposed contradiction, Packer attempts to convince us that what we really need is to know God is wise in ways that we are not. What we see as a problem is not a problem in the mind and counsel of God. What would be wise for us is to accept this is the way it is and we should work with what we got.But we don't. We are tempted to only focus on human responsibility. Or in the other extreme, we only focus on divine sovereignty. And Packer shows us the folly of falling into such temptations. Instead what we should do, is as Packer exhorts: ..., we shall try to take both doctrines perfectly seriously, as the Bible does, and to view them in their positive biblical relationship. We shall not oppose them to each other, for the Bible does not oppose them to each other. Nor shall we qualify, or modify, or water down, either of them in terms of the other, for this is not what the Bible does either. What the Bible does is to assert both truths side by side in the strongest and most unambiguous terms as two ultimate facts; this, therefore, is the position that we must take in our own thinking.As I revisit this controversy, not I think for the last time, I thought of an illustration. Have you been to a 3D cinema where you have to put on glasses to see the images pop out from the screen? If you saw the image with only your left eye, you will not see the 3D image. Same goes if you tried looking with only your right eye. You need to look with both eyes to see the image pop in front of you. But the natural man is blind. Or partially blind. In one eye or both. The solution is to read and study the whole counsel of God, so that we can see with both eyes the reality of Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility. We have not talked about Evangelism. Let's go to that now.EvangelismChapter 3, titled "Evangelism" is, to me, the most surprising chapter of the book. 60 years after this book, and still the questions Packers poses here is still as relevant as ever. What is evangelism? What is the evangelistic message? Why do it? And how? The chapter is surprising because it scratches an itch I have had for a while and Packer managed to describe the itch and give me the relief.I have some misgivings on evangelistic rallies but I never sat down to arrange my thoughts on the subject because everybody accepts it. They have accepted it for a long time. To question evangelistic rallies would be to question the work of people like Billy Graham and to question such faithful servants of the Lord seems petty and mean.I don't know what is Packer's opinion of Billy Graham's ministry but this book was published in 1961, six years after Billy Graham launched a big evangelistic rally in London. Evangelistic rallies were drawing big crowds and many thought organising special meetings was the way to bring people to Christ. Packer writes:If in our churches “evangelistic” meetings, and “evangelistic” sermons, are thought of as special occasions, different from the ordinary run of things, it is a damning indictment of our normal Sunday services. So that if we should imagine that the essential work of evangelism lies in holding meetings of the special type described out of church hours, so to speak, that would simply prove that we had failed to understand what our regular Sunday services are for.Packer does not condemn evangelistic rallies. Nor is he just listing the pros and cons. He looks at the essence of the matter.And gives us this wonderful gem: Evangelism is to be defined not institutionally, in terms of the kind of meeting held, but theologically, in terms of what is taught, and for what purpose.Ah, what clarity! There are whole pages here that I would like to read to you, pages of methodical reasoning and thought-provoking questions that every Christian should consider, but I will just read to you two paragraphs.So, in the last analysis, there is only one method of evangelism: namely, the faithful explanation and application of the gospel message. From which it follows—and this is the key principle which we are seeking—that the test for any proposed strategy, technique or style of evangelistic action must be this: will it in fact serve the word? Is it calculated to be a means of explaining the gospel truly and fully and applying it deeply and exactly? To the extent to which it is so calculated, it is lawful and right; to the extent to which it tends to overlay and obscure the realities of the message, and to blunt the edge of their application, it is ungodly and wrong.Later, he writes:We need to remember here that spiritually it is even more dangerous for a man whose conscience is roused to make a misconceived response to the gospel and take up with a defective religious practice than for him to make no response at all. If you turn a publican into a Pharisee, you make his condition worse, not better.Again, "If you turn a publican into a Pharisee, you make his condition worse, not better." And how are our misguided efforts to evangelise to blame? At its root, it's because we don't know what is evangelism. For the details, you got to read the book.Divine Sovereignty and EvangelismBefore I go into the fourth and last chapter, just a brief recap:Chapter 1 confirms that we all believe in Divine Sovereignty. Chapter 2 assures us that Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility are both true and we should not pit one against the other. Chapter 3 brings us to the heart of evangelism.In chapter 4, how does everything come together? God controls everything including Man's ability to respond to his call, yet he also command us to make that invitation? Since God has absolute sovereignty over everything, why should we bother? I think the force of the argument in chapter 4 does not really work unless one has properly read and appreciated chapter 1, 2 and 3. This is how Packer puts it. The biblical answer may be stated in two propositions, one negative and one positive.The negative is:The sovereignty of God in grace does not affect anything that we have said about the nature and duty of evangelism.He breaks it down into subsections, titled:The belief that God is sovereign in grace does not affect the necessity of evangelism.The belief that God is sovereign in grace does not affect the urgency of evangelism.The belief that God is sovereign in grace does not affect the genuineness of the gospel invitations, or the truth of the gospel promises.The belief that God is sovereign in grace does not affect the responsibility of the sinner for his reaction to the gospel.Each part is explained in Packer's powerful and concise ways to support the negative statement: The Sovereignty of God in grace does not affect anything that we have said about the nature and duty of evangelism.The positive statement is:The sovereignty of God in grace gives us our only hope of success in evangelism.Packer believes if we are certain, if we are confident that God is in control this will make us bold, patient and prayerful in our evangelism. And so we note, we began the book by prayer and we end the book with prayer. I also said in the beginning that Packer is the theological-equivalent of a bomb expert because of how calmly and effectively he deals with explosive topics. I didn't realise when I started that explosions is a good way to describe these controversies. For it got me thinking: What is the most explosive thing in our solar system? It's not dynamite, C4 or even the nuclear bomb. The answer is hinted in the question. In our solar system, the Sun is this giant ball of fire, a perpetual chain of nuclear explosions powerful enough to destroy all life on Earth many times over yet also the only source of heat and light for us to live. And perhaps that's one way to think of these difficult doctrines. We try to figure out how they work and sometimes it ends up well, sometimes not. But we should not forget that the doctrines are expressing something greater than us, realities that to a certain extant will always be beyond us. Packer reminds us of these truths in this book. No wonder it is considered a Packer classic. Today I review "Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God" by J.I. Packer. 122 pages, published by Inter-Varsity Press, the first edition was published in 1961. You can get the 2012 edition via Amazon for USD10.25 or via Logos.com for USD9.99.Book List"Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God" by J.I. Packer.Amazon. Logos.

In every church you will hear that the most important thing is discipleship. "Get discipleship right, and you get everything else right", "Christians are disciples of Jesus" and so on. Is discipleship a trending buzzword or is it rooted in Scripture? Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "The Message of Discipleship: Authentic Followers of Jesus in Today's World" by Peter Morden. 276 pages, published by Inter-Varsity Press UK in January 2019. Available in Amazon Kindle for USD8.99 and free in Logos until 15 November.Peter Morden is the Senior Pastor at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Leeds, England. He did his PhD on Charles Spurgeon, wrote a book on Charles Spurgeon, and worked at Spurgeon College, previously as the Vice-President and Director of Training, now Distinguished Visiting Scholar. Morden doesn't only have Spurgeon in his mind, he also has Andrew Fuller, Baptist history and discipleship, which is the topic of today's book.Today's book comes from that stable of utmost pedigree: the Bible Speaks Today series. The series editors are Alec Motyer, John Stott and Derek Tidball. I can easily recommend the Bible Speaks Today as your first commentary series. And before you buy the whole set, you would want a taster, for that I recommend any one written by John Stott. Or even today's book by Peter Morden.The series aims to:To expound the biblical text with accuracyTo relate it to contemporary life, andTo be readable.While I have not read every book in the series, of the many I have read, they all achieve those three aims. And today's book is no exception.IntroductionIn the introduction, Morden starts by making the case for discipleship, what is it, why do we need to learn it and where do we start. Morden lists four features of his book.The first feature is a focus on Jesus. He writes:Some studies on discipleship concentrate more on the life we are to lead than they do on the one we are to follow.He later writes:It stands to reason that if we are to follow Jesus closely we are going to need to look to him more than we look to ourselves. So, I have tried to give space in this book to contemplating Jesus, his character and his ways. This explains some parts of chapters which may — at first sight — seem to have little to do with discipleship. Their inclusion springs from a deep conviction: it is when we fix our eyes on Jesus that we grow most as disciples.The second feature is "A Focus on the Gospel". The third, "A stress on whole-life discipleship". The fourth, "Grace and glory".These four features unify for the reader the key principles behind discipleship and they undergird every chapter here.The book is structured as follows, I quote:This book has three main parts. The first, which has four chapters, gives ‘foundational’ teaching for our journey of discipleship; the second, also four chapters, points us to the resources for that journey; the third, consisting of eight chapters, encourages us in the day-to-day practice of following Jesus. Finally, there is a chapter on finishing the race that is the life of discipleship.Let's jump into my reflection on the three parts. Part 1: FoundationsWhat do you think is foundational to discipleship? And what would be the supporting verses? What do you think is Morden's answer to this question? I have already told you his answer. The foundation to discipleship is Jesus Christ. In Part 1, there are four chapters, which are: Chapter 1: Following the Crucified Lord (Mark 8:22-38) Chapter 2: Following the Exalted Lord (Mark 9:1-13) Chapter 3: Following the Missionary Lord (Mark 9:14-32) Chapter 4: The Disciples Call (Isaiah 6)I like how Morden does not assume that reader knows the Lord Jesus well enough and they just need to get on to some pointers to be a good disciple. "I already know Jesus, I just need you to tell me what to do."No, no, no. Don't go off in a rush. Morden brings the reader to the Gospel of Mark. Let us see what the Bible says about following Jesus. We don't read about Morden's discipleship journey, this is not a memoir disguised as a how-to book. We don't learn how to grow one church to be a hundred. The foundation to discipleship is not your personal growth or even salvation or the great kingdom expansion, but the most basic, core, fundamental basis of discipleship is following the Lord. Let us not assume this is understood, let us stay here and Morden stays here for four chapters. And what do you get here, I give you one example. Consider these verses, Mark 8:34–38. And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”Taking that passage, Morden breaks it down. These are his five expositional points: The way of the cross is for all who want to followThe way of the cross means embracing the possibility of deathThe way of the cross requires complete consecrationThe way of the cross involves loss of rightsThe way of the cross is the way of lifeHere, Morden quotes Richard France:The metaphor of taking up one’s cross is not to be domesticated into an exhortation merely to endure hardship patiently.And in the same quote, a bit later on:While it may no doubt be legitimately applied to other and lesser contexts of suffering involved in following Jesus, the primary reference in context must be the possibility of literal death.Morden does not smooth out the difficulty of discipleship. Yet, even as he stresses the glory of the cross, the radical nature of discipleship, as he elaborates later, Morden is also quick to stress the radical grace of discipleship. We need grace because despite our best efforts, we will fall. If you paid attention, you will notice that the structure of his five point outline follows closely with the Bible passage. That is what Morden does for the whole book. He puts his nose to the Bible and he shoves our noses so close to the Bible that we can smell the ink off the pages. Some readers may find this approach to be tiresome. I say to you, please for the sake of your soul, adapt yourself to this writing style. Let the Bible's outline be your outline. Follow the contours of Scripture. Let its thoughts, be your thoughts. Not every book needs to be written in this way but when it comes to core beliefs, we need more Scripture not less.Part 2: ResourcesLet's move to Part 2: Resources for Discipleship. If you could pick four resources for discipleship, what would you pick? What do you think every disciple needs in order to be a true disciple?Let me tell you Morden's pick and see how do you compare.First, the Bible. I'm sure you picked that! Then, prayer. We also have here the Holy Spirit. "How dare we take the Third Person of the Trinity to be a resource!" Before anyone gets too uppity, all Morden means is disciples need to lean on the Holy Spirit. We cannot do discipleship without the Holy Spirit. Fourth and lastly, Morden picks the church as an essential resource for discipleship. Do you have anything else you would consider important? If you do, just keep it and we will come back to that before the episode ends. I'll tell you where to put your idea. Now that Morden has picked his four resources: Bible, Prayer, Holy Spirit and Church, what are the best supporting Bible verses? How can you demonstrate from Scripture that this is important for the disciple.For the Bible, how about that verse... "All Scripture is God-breathed"? Good, good. It's here. How about something from the Old Testament? Well... what about that super-long Psalm... where it goes on and on about the law, precepts, commands? Great. That's Psalm 119 and Morden has got that down.What about Prayer? What Bible verse would you pick to bring out prayer? That's easy! The Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-15. Yup, Morden has the chapter built on the Lord's Prayer.We are on a roll!Third one. What about the Holy Spirit? Hmmm... would it something from the Gospel of John, that passage where Jesus tells the disciples about the Holy Spirit? Good choice but that's not the one he uses. Morden picked Ephesians 5:15-20, "do not get drunk with wine but be filled with the Spirit" and 2 Timothy 1:6-7 to speak on the spiritual gifts. I would have picked 1 Cor 12-14 but Morden's choices are just as good.Lastly, the church. What verse would you pick? This is hard. You have lots to choose from and Morden picked Hebrews 10:11-25. Not the easiest verse to link to the church. It would have been easier to speak about the body of Christ (1 Cor 12), the bride of Christ (Eph 5, also in Revelations) or the living stones or the royal priesthood of all believers (1 Peter). Why did I ask you about your choices? Because I want you to see that you could have picked those topics and those Bible verses. And if you didn't know anything about discipleship, if you called a friend, they would have told you something similar. Then you could very well ask, "If I have the answers, why read this book?"It is comforting to know that the answers are not new. As Christians we are not in the business of creating new products, we are in the business of the old rugged cross. We are literally doing things by the book, the good book. What Morden offers is point by point clarity. He unpacks what Scripture says and if there is someone who can do it better, he lets them.In the chapter on the Holy Spirit, Morden begins with these words: If we are going to follow Jesus faithfully then we need God the Holy Spirit. Yet many disciples today do not pay sufficient attention to the Spirit, at least in practice. Jim Packer expresses powerfully what happens when we fail in this area.Here is Packer's quote. Packer here describes the consequences of neglecting the Holy Spirit:You slip, he says, ‘back into orthodoxism and formalism’, getting stuck in a ‘religion of aspiration and perspiration without either inspiration or transformation, the religion of low expectations, deep ruts, and grooves that become graves’.Morden loves this phrase because he brings it up a few more times in the chapter. I love it too so I am going to read it again.religion of aspiration and perspiration without either inspiration or transformation, the religion of low expectations, deep ruts, and grooves that become graves.Morden is clearly a man who likes a good turn of a phrase. And I am happy to be served his collection of quotes related to discipleship. Part 3: PracticesAfter finishing Part 1: The Foundations of Discipleship and Part 2: Resources for Discipleship, we are now ready for Part 3: The Practices of Discipleship.So let me ask for the final time, what would you like to include in practices of discipleship? Morden has included a variety of subjects including Love, Evangelism, Finance and Daily Work. And if you think he could have included more, Morden agrees! In the introduction he writes: This is emphatically not 'the complete book of discipleship'. If he had more space, he would have included a chapter on the environment and a chapter on the home. As Morden stated clearly, discipleship is a 360 thing. It's not just about prayer with the family or worshipping on Sundays, discipleship touches every aspect of our lives so there are more topics than there are space in this book.Among the eight topics Morden gives, I found one topic that stands out. It's the chapter with the title, "Discipleship in the Dark". It's an exposition on Psalm 88. If you can, you should read Psalm 88 now to see why it's such a strange choice for a book on discipleship. It starts in despair and it ends... well... listen to how Psalm 88 ends.But I, O LORD, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. O LORD, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me? Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am helpless. Your wrath has swept over me; your dreadful assaults destroy me. They surround me like a flood all day long; they close in on me together. You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness.It ends with darkness.Let me read at length Morden's explanation: The psalm is, in fact, extremely bleak—from beginning to end. Taken at face value, there is little obvious hope. This is the reality—the bleak reality—of Psalm 88.So, why expound it in a book on discipleship? In fact, I have a feeling that a detailed consideration of Psalm 88 in a book on Christian discipleship may be a first! Why do it? It is a fair question. The psalm seems at first sight irrelevant—no explicit mention of Christ, no explicit mention of discipleship, no mention of community, no mention of disciple-making mission. Later on... And yet ... As I have preached on this psalm and talked to Christian disciples about it, I have found it resonates with many. Yes, Psalm 88 is a bleak psalm and yet this is one of the very reasons it is a fine psalm and a vitally important part of God’s word for followers of Jesus. It relates especially to the times on our journeys of discipleship which are incredibly tough. The darkness closes in and we feel utterly alone. God himself feels distant and seems deaf to our prayers. Many fine believers have experienced such a time, memorably described by John of the Cross as a ‘dark night of the soul’. For all who find themselves in such darkness, this psalm speaks both to us and for us. It is a vital resource for all who want to live under the lordship of Jesus, the suffering servant who said, ‘Take up your cross daily and follow me’.I was so impressed by what he wrote that I read it that night with my family before we went to bed. And I asked them, where do you bring your sadness? Many go to alcohol, to girls (and the children giggle here), or go to movies and games, but where does the Psalmist go to? Or to who does he go to? He goes to God. If we are to judge any book by any measure, it should be by how the book makes you read the Bible. How it makes you take the Word of God seriously. And by that measure, this is a wonderful book.ConclusionHere are my final thoughts. I finished this book in nearly one seating. The book has the right focus: Jesus and the Gospels. It has the right approach: Just unapologetically expound the Bible. It has the right tone: Humble and helpful. If I could, I wish this to be the first book on discipleship for every Christian. But for many it wouldn't be because even though this book is easy to read, some prefer a book that stands alone and doesn't trace through Scripture. And that is a pity. If it's not going to be your first book, then make it your main book. Let this book be the framework for you to hang your thoughts on discipleship. What do I mean by that? Remember how I kept asking you for your thoughts on what you would include in the book? What you thought were important?Well, you could follow the outline of today's book. Part 1: Foundation of Discipleship, Part 2: Resources, Part 3: Practices, and whenever you have deepening or broadening thoughts, you can put that thought into the way Morden has structure the whole thing.I dare not say that this is the definitive book on discipleship, but I would say that it's very difficult to go wrong with this book. It would guard you from many excesses, like putting a practice, for example evangelism, to make it the foundation for discipleship. The foundation is following Jesus. It's not flashy. It doesn't promise a way to a million disciples. It just promises to let the Bible speak on Discipleship today.OutroThis is a Reading and Reader's review of "The Message of Discipleship: Authentic Followers of Jesus in Today's World" by Peter Morden. 276 pages, published by Inter-Varsity Press UK in January 2019. Available in Amazon Kindle for USD8.99 and free in Logos until 15 November.I just want to point out something that has happened at Logos for a while now. I used to review the free books from Faithlife. Well, they have moved the free books from Faithlife and renamed it to be free ebooks in Logos. That's not all.It used to be that there is one free book for the month. Now, the offer is a free book for two weeks, then they give another free book for another two weeks. So that is great news. More good books for free! However, it is hard to read and review a book within two weeks. Unless the books is so readable like today's one. Since I don't intend to break myself to read and review a book in two weeks, I will just tell you that Logos has a free book. And you should get it since it's free. Whether you read it or not, is one thing. But I hope my reviews will help you make the decision to read it or not. Thanks for listening. Bye bye.Book List"The Message of Discipleship: Authentic Followers of Jesus in Today's World" by Peter Morden. Amazon. Logos.

While others collect seashells, I collect interpretations. And I seem to have a growing collection of interpretations on Romans. And today's book offers a different definition of righteousness, a different understanding of election and more.Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review a commentary on Romans from the Interpretation Bible Commentary series written by Paul J. Achtemeier. 256 pages, published by Westminster John Knox Press in 1986. It was a free Logos book for October. So it's no longer free but you can continue listening to know what the book is about and hopefully learn a few things on the way.AuthorPaul J. Achtemeier passed away in January 28 2013. Elmhurst College, where he studied and later taught, published an obituary. I'll read an excerpt:Achtemeier earned his bachelor of divinity and doctor of theology degrees at New York’s Union Theological Seminary. He spent more than four decades teaching at colleges and seminaries in the United States and Europe, including Elmhurst, Lancaster Theological Seminary and the Graduate School of Ecumenical Studies of the World Council of Churches in Switzerland. For 24 years, he was a professor at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, where he retired in 1997 as Herbert Worth and Annie H. Jackson Professor Emeritus of Biblical Interpretation.Clearly a distinguished and learned scholar. He was a prolific writer having written 18 books and numerous scholarly journals. For the purpose of today's review, he is both the author of the commentary on Romans and also the New Testament Editor for the entire series, "Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching". I can't comment on the entire series but this commentary on Romans certainly is aimed at the teacher. At the end of every chapter, Achtemeier signals the teacher or preacher. He offers guidance for the Sunday school class or the pulpit. "This is what the passage says, this is not what the passage says, here are some other useful Bible passages, you can connect them in this way, here are some questions to ask the people, here is how you can encourage, warn, guide and lead them to Christ."For pastors who plan around the lectionary, you will like how he relates the passage to Lent, Advent, Pentecost and so on.God's Lordship and The Problem...The book is divided into four parts, each part broken down into many chapters to cover all 16 chapters of Romans. The four parts are: God's Lordship and the Problem of the Past: Grace and WrathGod's Lordship and the Problem of the Present: Grace and LawGod's Lordship and the Problem of the Future: Israel and God's Gracious PlanGod's Lordship and the Problem of the Daily Living: Grace and the Structures of LifeThat's the outline of the book, now the outline of today's review. The bulk of today's review will be on two major criticisms. The list is long but I have narrowed down to the two issues that run through the whole book. Then I will spend some time to talk about it's redeeming features and conclude with how you can benefit from this book.So let's move on to the first of my criticism.Righteousness Is Not God Declaring You Are JustWhen it comes to Romans, the key is to understand what does "righteousness" mean. 500 years ago, Roman Catholic Europe was turned upside down because faithful Bible students discovered that "the righteous shall live by faith" did not mean it is do-gooders who are saved. Rather, the righteousness of God described here refers to the righteousness that Christ imputed to us. This is the Great Exchange, we gave Jesus our sins and he gave us his righteousness, and so we live by faith.Knowing the history of the Reformation, we should be alert when anyone offers a different definition of "righteousness". Not because it's wrong. We don't know whether it's wrong until we study it. We should be alert because we are approaching a non-trivial definition that affects not only our interpretation of Romans but also the framework of our faith.The Reformation gave us a definition of righteousness which is sometimes described as forensic or legal. When God sees us, he sees Jesus, thus God declares us to be just.Achtemeier writes: The difficulty with such an understanding of “righteousness” is that God appears to regard us as something we are not, that is, sinless. Some have wanted to say God regards us “as if” we had no sin, but then God’s judgment is based on an untruth, hardly what one would expect from a just and impartial God. The second problem lies in the fact that Paul can say God is “righteous,” and one must then wonder who is in a position to pass judgment on God and say that he has conformed to some legal norm. If this is juridical terminology, who has brought God into court to try him, to see whether he can “justify” himself and can then pronounce him righteous?My quick answers to the two problems:No matter how you define righteousness, a Christian understanding of God will always show a just God forgiving sinners who don't deserve grace and mercy. We sin but Jesus paid the price. God rewards Jesus for his obedience until death. Why should I gain from His reward?In Psalm 51:7, David pleads, "Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow." Is this not alluding to a purity, a sinlessness, that only God can provide, and that through Jesus Christ? Next problem: "If righteousness is juridicial terminology, who has brought God into court to try him?" The idea of bringing God to court horrifies us but we should not let that image play on our piety and frame the argument in error. Listen to Hebrews 6:13:For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,If God can swear by himself, is it really so wrong for God to declare himself righteousness? Righteousness Is A RelationshipSince Achtemeier rejects righteousness in a legal sense, what is his definition? He refers to how righteousness is regularly used in the Old Testament to refer to the covenant. So he defines: To be “just” or “righteous” is to uphold the covenant; to be “unrighteous” is to act in such a way that the covenant is broken. In that context, righteousness is used to describe a relationship. What upholds the relationship is “righteous”; what destroys the relationship is “unrighteous.”He backs this up with scholarly support. There is some merit to seeing righteousness as a relationship. But in supporting this definition, does he go too far to utterly reject another? He writes: All of this means “righteousness” is not a “quality” or a conformity to some legal norm. Rather, it is a positive relationship to God growing out of his power to restore through Jesus Christ his gracious lordship over us, a lordship which our idolatrous rebellion had turned into a wrathful lordship.This is my first encounter with this righteousness is a relationship definition. And I foresee, for the coming years, when this review is long forgotten, I will test this definition against Scripture. But I wonder, clearly our covenantal relationship with God is linked to righteousness but is it the definition? When I say I am righteous at home, righteous in marriage, righteous with my wife, there is little tone or shade of a covenantal relationship. When I say I am righteous, it sounds like a boast. I have not done anything wrong. Nobody hears me and thinks, "He is righteous in the marriage means his relationship with his wife is good." Having said that, I accept that it is possible that the Bible defines righteousness in a technical way that refers to relationships but look forward to see how Achtemeier defends it.And so we reach an especially juicy passage, Romans 5:16-17:And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.What is this free gift? I understood the free gift to be Christ's righteousness which is mine by faith. I am now gloriously clothed in the royal robes of Christ. What is this free gift to Achtemeier? Is the free gift an unbroken relationship? But there must be a basis for the restored relationship, right? Of course, that is faith in Christ. Yes, that is the basis, but what has changed? How has faith in Christ changed the relationship. God is still holy. I am still... sinful? Perhaps the next verse in Romans will shed some light. Romans 5:18 says: Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.I can understand act of righteousness to mean a good act, a sinless act but I don't know how to read act of righteousness as an act of an unbroken relationship. Maybe that's not how Achtemeier interprets it and I am making a fool of myself. Let's just hear from Achtemeier.Except he doesn't go into it. This is not a verse-by-verse commentary. Exposition is written as essays covering large swathe of verses. Achtemeier has a chapter on Romans 5:12-21, he titles it, "Adam and Christ: Disobedience and Obedience". The focus of the essay is on the contrast between Adam and Christ. He has already explained righteousness-as-a-relationship in earlier chapters and he refers eager readers to various scholarly works. So maybe he thinks he doesn't need to expound on Romans 5 anymore. I think he is badly mistaken. Surely he knows that this is a passage to counter his definition and is worthy of a defence. What is the free gift? What is the act of righteousness? I wish Achtemeier had explained.At the risk of sounding harsh, he seems to take the easy verses which amply support his definition but he avoids the hard verses that complicate his interpretation. Predestination, Election, Hardening, So MaddeningLet's move away from righteousness and go to my second critique which is in Part Three of his book, which covers Romans 9-11. This is a battleground for many faithful Christians which is why we should expect commentators to give their best effort in exposition.Who is Romans 9-11 dealing with? Is it peoples, specifically Israel, or individuals? The question is whether this is corporate election or individual election. If the verses refers to individual election, then they strongly support a view that God determines who will be saved. This is a big, big, question. Too big to take on in this book review podcast. I promise you, I will give you good resources to tackle this topic before the episode ends. Because I will not be tackling the topic directly, instead I will demonstrate the frustrating way Achtemeier deals with it. In his commentary on Romans 9:14-29, he writes:Paul knows, to be sure, of the danger which exists if one resists God’s gracious offer of mercy to us rebellious creatures. If we reject that offer of mercy, we run the risk that God will honor our choice. But nowhere does Paul hint that such refusal is willed, let alone predetermined, by God. Were it so, the apostolic office would be a sham; and the proclamation of God’s gracious act in Jesus of Nazareth and its call to trust in the One whom Jesus called “Father” would be a snare and a delusion.Later he writes: The passage is therefore about the enlargement of God’s mercy to include gentiles, not about the narrow and predetermined fate of each individual.Achtemeier writes as if it is obvious that the first half (the enlargement of God's mercy to include gentiles) negates the second (predeterminism of each individual) but it is possible that the first half encompasses the second. I don't know anybody who would deny that Romans teaches that God's mercy is now extended to the Gentiles. So bring all the heavy guns you want, I am already a believer. The question is whether the verses can be interpreted as, what Achtemeier calls, predeterminism. And I look for the argument that nullifies predeterminism. I only see repetition of assertions, telling us how terrible it would be if it were true. But there is no death blow to predeterminism, only indignation. Worse, he shoots himself in the foot.A few chapters later, he comments on Romans 11:1-12. Let me read Romans 11:7-8 first and then Achtemeier's comment. This is Romans 11:7-8.Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.”Isn't hardening people to reject salvation a form of predeterminism? Knowing his views on that, what do you expect Achtemeier to say? He writes:God is in control. He hardens whom he will. Israel has been hardened. What other conclusion is there than that God has hardened them? No other, and Paul is ready to concede that point (v. 8). Indeed, how could he not concede it, since Scripture itself, to which Paul so readily attributes authority in these matters, says that very thing. God has hardened a part of Israel (vv. 8–9). He has dimmed their eyes and stopped up their ears, and the inevitable result is that they have missed the import of God’s act in Christ.Nowhere does he explain how God, who he concedes, has personally, actively, hardened individuals within Israel, is the same God, who he claims, does not predetermine any individual's fate? He never explains! Instead, he goes on about the impact of the hardening, so that Israel might be jealous; the purpose of the hardening, so that they might be saved. That's what Paul wrote but, come on, surely anyone can see there is a knot to be untangled here.I am not saying that God's hardening of Israel is a slam dunk. I have heard good explanations for this. What I am saying is Achtemeier seems oblivious to the need to defend his interpretation for crucial verses in Romans. This commentary does not do enough to prepare the preacher for what happens after he comes down from the pulpit. What is he going to say when someone asks, "Pastor, if God does not predetermine any individual's fate, then why does the Bible say God hardened parts of Israel?"There are answers to that question but they are not found in this book.It's Not All Bad (Not Exactly A Rousing Recommendation)I know I have spent a lot of time on the criticisms but I think it reveals the main doctrinal contention and also his approach to some of the tough questions. But the book is not all bad. When Achtemeier expounds on verses that deal with who we are and who we should be, he is very good. In Romans 2, there is a danger that Paul's harsh criticism of the Jews would lead to smugness in us. Achtemeier rightly warns us of this. In Romans 13, on Christians and the government, he poses the problem of evil government, and rebellious citizens. He explains the role of government according to Scripture and honestly, humbly, states that it is not so clear cut at what point the Christian is to refuse to obey the government. And I just want to say again, his instructor's guide at the end of every chapter is helpful. Not RecommendedYou can sense that I won't be making a strong recommendation for this commentary. I had a hard time reading this book, and not just because I had to figure out in my head his and my theological positions. It's tough going because asserts something and I have to read and re-read a whole essay to see whether he addresses my concerns and I find that he fails to defend when he should. This should not be your main commentary for Romans. If you only have money for one or two or three commentaries, I would recommend Douglas Moo or Thomas Schreiner. But if you are flushed with cash and there is space in your bookshelf, physical or digital, then Paul J. Achtemeier's commentary on Romans gives an alternative perspective on key doctrines. The problem is even if you hold his positions, he does not make a good case for them.That's the end of my review on Achtemeier's commentary but I did promise resources for the corporate vs. individual election question. So here goes.In another commentary, "Romans: A Concise Guide to the Greatest Letter Ever Written" by Andrew David Naselli, which I reviewed in Episode 55, Naselli had even less space to discuss the debate, so he left it as a footnote. But what a great footnote! Naselli recommends readers to read this exchange between Thomas Schreiner and Brian Abasciano. Schreiner wrote a paper titled, "Does Romans 9 Teach Individual Election unto Salvation?" Abasciano writes a paper titled, "Corporate Election in Romans 9: A Reply to Thomas Schreiner". Schreiner then writes, "Corporate and Individual Election in Romans 9: A Response to Brian Abasciano". I read all three papers, I enjoyed the back and forth and if anyone wants to do a deep dive into the topic, this is the gold standard for that vigorous debate.OutroThis is a Reading and Reader's review of a commentary on Romans written by Paul J. Achtemeier from the Interpretation Bible Commentary series. 256 pages, published by Westminster John Knox Press in 1986. I struggled to finish the book which explains why today's review is not in time for people to grab it as a free book from Logos. It was free in October. Now it's November. If you missed it, just make sure you don't miss the November deal.Thank you for listening. Bye bye.Book ListRomans, Interpretation Bible Commentary, by Paul J. Achtemeier. Amazon. Logos.

If you need a guide to navigate through mental illness for yourself or someone you know. Today's book is for you.Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "A Christian's Guide to Mental Illness: Answers to 30 Common Questions" by David Murray and Tom Karel Jr. 256 pages, published by Crossway in September 2023. Available in Amazon for USD21.99. I got a free review copy from Crossway. Crossway has no input on today's review.Those Who Help and Have Been HelpedBy way of introducing the authors, let me quote them:As the authors of this book, we want to assure readers that God is our hope and help. For a combined total of about fifty years, we’ve both been involved in helping Christians with mental illness and their families. Tom has served as a psychologist in a Christian healthcare setting and David has served as a pastor, counselor, and professor of counseling, as well as authoring various books on the subject.Later they write: We approach this problem as Christians who not only believe but who have experienced that God provides hope and help for Christians with mental illness and those who care for them. While mental illness often has spiritual consequences, it is rarely only a spiritual problem that can be fixed simply with repentance and faith. God provides hope and help through his word and a word-based view of his world. This word-directed, holistic approach is the most honoring to God and the most beneficial for sufferers and their families.Question TimeThe book is organised around 30 questions. I will not read out all 30 questions here but let me read a few. The first question is, "What is Mental Illness?" After answering that, they answer related questions on the different kinds of mental illnesses, its causes and effects. Here is a good question. "Can a Christian have mental illness?" Have you heard people say that "If you are a Christian, then you should not have mental health issues. You just need to read the Bible more, pray more, trust God more and all that mental illness problem will go away." Well, the authors have a good answer to that if you are willing to take it.Bruce LeeAs I go down the list of questions in the table of contents, I thought of a quote:A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.That's not from Proverbs. That's from Bruce Lee. None of the questions here are foolish, but we can definitely learn a lot from the 30 questions they chose here. For instance, it's clear that Murray and Karel have a holistic approach. Some push the sufferers to mental health professionals. "You can take care of it because I am not qualified to." Others push it to the pastors maybe because pastors are in the business of counselling, healing and miracles. While others say it's a social or relational problem, you just need to stick the fellow within a circle of loving family and friends. The authors think everyone has a role. We have dedicated chapters on the role of pastors, family and friends, mental health professionals, biblical counsellors and also medication in helping the mentally ill. Then we have a whole list of questions on how to deal with mental illness. And if you pay attention to the verbs, you might notice that the authors don't use the words solve, cure, or manage. Instead they use verbs like discern, help, avoid, care, prepare, minister. And some of these questions may not occur to you. As you are grappling with how to deal with the mentally ill, you may not be asking yourself, "How can we help him grow spiritually? How can we help her serve in the church?" The authors do not shy away from scary questions. They ask, "How can we help someone who is suicidal?" They direct our attention to ones often forgotten, "How can we care for caregivers?" And the last question in the book is an audacious one, "What good comes out of mental illness?" How can any good come out of something so terrible? If anyone else had tried to talk about the good that comes out of mental illness, we might throw him out. How dare he? But because we have read Murray and Karel's answers to previous questions, answers that come from a God-loving, people-loving heart, we trust that they know know how important it is to answer this question and answer it well. Story Behind The BookThe book ends with a chapter titled, "The Story behind This Book". The chapter begins like this: When Norman Van Mersbergen’s brother, Gary, died from complications of schizophrenia, a small legacy of about $70,000 was realized from his estate. Due to their painful experience of trying to care for Gary through these traumatic years, Norman and his wife, Vicki, felt called of God to donate this money to a research project that would ultimately help Christians care for other Christians with mental illness. They reached out to Dr. David Murray, then a professor of counseling, and along with Ed Stetzer they pulled together a team from Lifeway and Focus on the Family to research this neglected subject. The resulting research is the foundation of this book. Here is a little of Norman’s (and Vicki’s) story.It's a sobering story. In previous chapters we get bits and pieces of different peoples's experiences with mental illness. This one is different. Here we have the life story of a man suffering through mental illness. And how it affects the people around him. It's not a fairy tale story, it will not fit with how some people, even Christians, think a Christians life with mental illness should be. It's a brief story, but it shows paradoxically how the 30 questions are helpful and ultimately not helpful enough. Not helpful because it's not enough just to know the answers, it's hard. Mental Illness and Spiritual LifeThat's a broad look at what to expect, let me narrow down by sharing a few tidbits from a chapter. Chapter 6 is "How Does Mental Illness Affect Spiritual Life?" Consider this important point:First, when mental illness is a sickness, it is a mistake to condemn such suffering as sin. Such misclassification turns a sufferer into a sinner, heaps false guilt on the person, and multiplies her suffering. Second, and just as damaging, is when mental illness is even partly caused by personal sin but is blamed on sickness alone. In this case, false comfort may be offered, turning a sinner into a sufferer, and depriving the person of the healing power of repentance and faith in Christ.This is probably what I will remember long after this review is done. Don't turn a sinner into a sufferer, nor turn a sufferer into a sinner. Again, we get a holistic, a whole physical, mental, emotional and spiritual, handle of mental illness. This is also the chapter that helped me relate better to those with mental illness. This next part spoke to me:For most people, especially men, sleep deprivation vastly increases the likelihood of conflict. We get grumpy, impatient, and bad-tempered. We withdraw from social situations and have no time even for close friends. We just want to be left alone. If we don’t want to be with people or talk to them, it is unlikely we will want to be with God or speak with him.Recently, I am going through sleep problems. So I truly get what this is saying. Then they link it to mental illness, like so:Mental illness tends to have a similar effect. When our thoughts, moods, and physical health are disordered, it is almost impossible for that not to injure our relationships. As our most important relationship is with God, we can expect that mental illness is going to undermine that relationship in a similar way. A little bit of empathy goes a long way. And for Christians who tend to tell others to suck it up, maybe it's good to remember how difficult or impossible it is to just suck it up. Maybe they still have to, but empathy helps us approach it in the right spirit. In every chapter, the authors give a summary that includes some action items. For this chapter, one of the action item reads: Think through how your last physical illness influenced your spiritual life. And just like that, this exercise can help you be a better person to help those with mental illness.As I mentioned earlier, every chapter ends with a personal story and in this chapter we have a paragraph of David Murray's reflection on how he used to look at mental illness and how he looks at it today. I found the choice of stories in the book interesting in how uninteresting they are. We don't have a man who mistook his wife for a hat or anything that would grab headlines. It's just ordinary people dealing with everyday life, a life made complicated by mental illness. And hopefully Christians will make helping them an ordinary thing as well.Book Better Than Q&ALet us now move to my general thoughts on the book.The style and format of the book fits with a website's Q&A. You click on a question, and you get an answer well-written for the general, non-specialist, audience in a helpful, non-condemning, tone. So why turn it into a book rather than a website? I am sure there are many reasons, but from a reader's perspective, a book gives you something that a website does not. With a book, you are expected to read cover to cover and for many people, I think that's what you need.You may have some pre-conception of what is mental illness and how to deal with it. The problem is you don't know what you don't know. What the authors offer here is a series of questions, questions that they consider most important to guide Christians on mental illness. Questions that may never have come across your mind and now have an opportunity to hear the answer from Christian mental health experts. Christian, underline, ChristianI would like to underline that Christian part. If you Google search what you want to know about any mental illness, you will get tons of helpful advice from professors to sufferers. That part is easy. I think the hard part is finding information on mental health from Christians who don't sound like they have a problem with mental health problems.There are many Christians, including pastors, who would make light of mental health. There are Christians, including pastors, who don't know how to deal with it, they don't see it as their problem, you have to go see a mental health professional because they are the only ones that can help you. By no means, not all Christians are like that, this book is proof of that. But when you are searching online, you just don't know whether what you are reading is coming from Christians, pastors, who know what they are talking about. God-loving, God-fearing Christians, who have studied mental illness, helped people with mental illness and have themselves suffered through mental illness. If you are looking for a good Christian resource on mental illness that is not coming from extreme ends of the spectrum, I can tell you right now, you just got to get this book.Who is this Book for?This is not a book for those who need detailed knowledge of the disease. If you have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, this book does not nearly go into enough details to help you with that specific illness. But if you have just been diagnosed, maybe even in denial, or shame, wondering what this means for your faith and salvation, then this book is for you. If you know someone struggling with mental illness, whether you are a pastor, family member, friend, mental health professional, biblical counsellor, then this book is a good start to see how different people can work together. It's not all on the pastor. It's not all on the family. It's all on the therapist. We can all play a part to help a brother, a sister in Christ overcome this trial.Maybe what we are looking for is assurance. Let me end today's review with the book's answer to the question, "Are they saved?" How can we know when the fruit of their faith is questionable? Under the subsection, "There are Truths to Comfort the Heart", they write:Salvation is God’s work from before time began until time is no more and everything in between (Rom.8:28–29). This means that salvation is God’s work, not ours or anyone else’s, and therefore it is not dependent on a person’s work or even their sanity. God can preserve a person’s faith even when we cannot or they cannot. He can give a person with mental illness more faith than those who have full control of their faculties. This is where a strong view of God’s sovereignty in salvation can give more hope than some theological views that major on functioning human reason and “free will.”I have never considered the question of mental illness and salvation. And before this book, I never saw how God's Sovereignty was the comfort and answer to that question. How great is our Sovereign Lord! How wonderful are his ways!OutroThis is a Reading and Readers review of "A Christian's Guide to Mental Illness: Answers to 30 Common Questions" by David Murray and Tom Karel Jr. 256 pages, published by Crossway in September 2023. Available in Amazon for USD21.99. I got a free review copy from Crossway. They have no input on today's review.

9/11 was a singular event. For a moment it united America like nothing else did. It shaped America in politics, war and religion. Today's book was written within a year of the event. Now 20 years later, are the words written for America then helpful for all Christians today?Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "When Worlds Collide: Where is God?" by R.C. Sproul. 96 pages, published by Crossway in September 2002. The hardcopy is available for USD6.14 in Amazon. It's USD2.99 in Logos but only for September. So get it before the deal ends.September 11, 2001This book was written in the aftermath of terrorists hijacking planes, crashing them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The book opens with these words:As I am writing, the United States of America is at war. It is possible that by the time you read this book the war will be over. Sproul describes a united America, Americans planting American flags, Americans telling one another "God Bless America!"If we could transport one of those Americans to today, he would be dumbstruck. Today we have Americans calling each other terrorists. Americans sounding like they want to kill each other. Americans making a shambolic withdrawal from Afghanistan.With the benefit of 20 years behind us, today's book, "When Worlds Collide" gives us a theological perspective of the country's response to this national tragedy when the pain was raw. Sproul offers comfort, but a comfort many would reject. He offers condemnation, a condemnation not limited to the terrorists. To a shell-shocked people, Sproul defies convention to deliver a powerful prophetic message. Was that message heard? Is it still valid today? Keep listening.War of IdeasThe book is divided into six chapters. I will sprint through each chapter. I will pick up and throw you an idea, a question or a bible verse. My aim is to show you how the book progresses and hopefully entice you to read it for yourself.Chapter 1 is titled "War of Ideas". It would be easy for Sproul to target Muslims. Or if he doesn't want to get personal, he could target Islam as a religion, philosophy or worldview. But he doesn't. Instead, Sproul sees the conflict, not as Christianity vs. Islam, or West vs. East but as God vs. Anything-But-God.He writes: Since the September 11 attacks on the United States, there has been much public discussion about the role of God in our lives, and we have seen an unprecedented response of the American people in prayer and public worship. Suddenly, the God who had been exiled from the public square, who had been banished to the other side of the wall that separates church and state, was called upon to get back into the game. Sounds good right? But he continues on.It became fashionable for the nation to stage religious rallies featuring film stars, politicians, and clerics. Televised worship services called upon the nation to put aside theological differences and come together in a show of religious unity. Ecumenism got a shot in the arm as cooperation went beyond interdenominational Christian worship to worship among people of entirely different religions. The upside of renewed religious zeal was matched with the downside of syncretism. While people are clamouring for everyone to come together, Sproul calls Christians to unite in the Gospel. Christianity must not be relegated to be the same as all other religions despite everyone's good intentions. I love this next part. It shows Sproul's insight and classic wit.Nothing is more “un-American” than to have an exclusive understanding of God. Yet nothing is more fundamental to the biblical concept of monotheism than the exclusivity of the God of heaven and earth. In 1 Kings 18 we read of the prophet Elijah engaging in a contest with the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel. But try to imagine Elijah giving an interview to the media assembled to watch this contest. Imagine him speaking into a microphone, saying, “Well, you know, at the end of the day, I and the prophets of Baal really worship the same God. We believe in the same religion. We just do it differently. Our religious activity is not the same. There are elements in the religion of Baal that are different from the elements of the religion of Israel, but surely the God of Israel doesn’t mind. In fact, He’s honored when we celebrate our religious unity.” Can you imagine anything more foreign to the teaching of sacred Scripture than that? In a time of war and amidst calls of solidarity, Sproul not only calls true believers to hold the doctrinal line, he sharpens the divide.He asks the question that immediately comes after a tragedy hits, "Where is God?"God has never left and we ask that question because we don't know who he is.Peace and CalamityIn Chapter 2, "Peace and Calamity", Sproul asks, "Does God Only Bless?" He points us to Isaiah 45:6-7: I am the LORD, and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the LORD, do all these things. Every thinking Christian will sooner or later wrestle with how a good and all powerful God in a world where people crash planes into buildings. And the rest of the daily tragedies we numb ourselves to. Did God mean for all these bad things to happen? Sproul writes:If God did not ordain all things, He would not be sovereign over all things. And if He is not sovereign over all things, then He is not God at all. What a terrible thought! Is Sproul saying that God made it happen? He caused this to happen? Isn't it more accurate to say: "God permits or allows bad things to happen". But if you just think about it, saying God allowed it to happen does not let God off the moral hook. Consider this: a policeman who does nothing when a crime happens in front of him is morally wrong. He did not do the crime but he was powerful enough to stop it but he didn't. And God can stop every single bad thing from ever occurring. God could have struck each one of those terrorists dead the same way he struck Uriah who touched the Ark of the Covenant, or Annanias and Sapphira who lied, or King Herod who accepted praise that he was a god. God could but didn't, which means he wanted or ordained it to happen as it did.I don't blame anyone from pushing back on this. Sproul doesn't go deep enough in this book to answer your doubts. I recommend Scott Christensen's book, "What About Free Will? Reconciling Our Choices with God's Sovereignty", which is where I got the policeman illustration from. Assuming you can accept that God allows or ordains calamities, then what is the purpose? For that, we turn to chapter 3, "Purpose in Suffering".Purpose in SufferingHow do we make sense of senseless tragedies like 9/11? First of all, Sproul points out, there are no senseless tragedies. They may be senseless from our perspective but from God's perspective, there is a divine reason. Two Bible stories make this clear. Sproul unpacks in detail what I can only do briefly here. The first story is the story of Joseph. Joseph famously told his wretched brothers, "You meant it for evil but God intended it for good." What the brothers did was bad. Clearly, bad. Yet, we also say that God ordained it to happen for His own purpose which Joseph at first did not understand, but later did. God could have struck them all down the moment they thought of killing Joseph but God did not because he wanted Joseph to save everyone.The second story is the story of Jesus. Jesus was crucified on the cross. The people who did it were evil. But God wanted it to happen. God could have opened up the earth and swallowed them all up, God could have sent his army of angels to rescue Jesus, God could have done so much more for his Son, but God did not, because he wanted Jesus to save everyone.Drawing from the Bible, Sproul gives us God's perspective on our pain. If we know that God has a purpose in our tragedies, we can lean on God, just as all the saints before us have done.And just as everyone is getting used to God being in control, Sproul throws in another bombshell and says God's wrath is not limited to those terrorists on the plane.The Grapes of WrathChapter 4 is titled "The Grapes of Wrath". He unpacks Revelation 14:18-20:And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia. Sproul writes: We think of September 11, 2001, as the greatest day of calamity in the history of the United States of America, but that day of calamity is not worthy to be compared with the day of calamity that God says will come in the future when the grapes of wrath are thrown into the winepress and are trampled by His judgment. Hey, Sproul, aren't you supposed to be condemning the terrorists, why are throwing God's Wrath against us in our faces? I think it was brave, I will call it brave, for Sproul to write such things so soon after 9/11. I am sure he preached this on his pulpit. But I wonder, would he preach on God's wrath in the funeral service of the victims? Can you see how such a message while the pain is so raw can be seen as insensitive at best, monstrous at worst?Which is why we must have chapter 5, where Jesus awaits.Finding PeaceChapter 5 is titled, "Finding Peace". We soon read Luke 13:1-5.There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”Sproul writes: I wonder if Jesus could get away with remarks like that in twenty-first-century America? In the midst of tragedy, instead of bringing comfort and hope, Jesus was saying, “Don’t look at those people as being worse than you are, because as long as you maintain a posture of impenitence toward God, you also will perish.” The rest of the chapter is a Gospel plea. Sproul demonstrates our need for a saviour and only Jesus saves. Ah, the glory of the cross. Sproul could have ended the book here, but he gives us one final chapter, the epilogue.Epilogue: Resolve in WarfareThe book begins at Ground Zero, at the tragedy of 9/11. Then Sproul takes the reader's hand and leads him to process what has happened, telling us that the answer is not found by looking deeper within but looking upward to God. And having scaled the remarkable heights of God's goodness, wrath and sovereignty, at the epilogue Sproul, like an angel who returns a saint from Heaven back to Earth, brings us back to Ground Zero.He writes: To maintain resolve in a civil war or in a world war is a different matter from maintaining resolve in a war against terrorism. In the first six months following 9/11, the nation went through the throes of pain and anger, and there was a surge of patriotism. Stores quickly sold out of American flags. Indeed, citizens displayed more flags in their yards, on their cars, even in lapel buttons, than we have seen since World War II. However, in recent months the number of flags being displayed has been dramatically reduced. The surge of resolve has passed, perhaps waning until another attack against us. We know that there were no further attacks like 9/11 since. But reading how Sproul ended this book, we are reminded of the fear and anxiety that gripped America then. This hints at what Sproul offers that other books can't.Theodicy of A Specific EventThis book introduces God's Providence and the Problem of Suffering.If you struggle with "The God who ordains even bad things to happen", and I completely understand the horror of the thought, I truly do, I suggest John Piper's 700 page magnum opus, "Providence". That book may help you reach a conclusion or start a journey of discovery, in any case, it's the most comprehensive and readable book on God's Providence. You can read my review in Episode 7.If you struggle with suffering, I recommend D.A. Carson's "How Long, O Lord? Reflections on Suffering and Evil". One thing I learnt from that book is the best time to read a book on suffering is not during suffering but before. I have taken Carson's advice to heart.But both of these book don't focus on a specific event. Maybe instead of something general you want to see how a Christian can process a tragedy.And there are bookshelves full of books on personal tragedies, but there are not as many written on a public, national-level tragedy that is shared by all. In fact, the only book that comes to mind is Augustine's City of God, written after Rome fell. But that happened so long ago, Augustine's writing is difficult to understand and his book is too big. The Penguin Classic edition is 1152 pages long. Other that City of God, I can't think of any other book that deals with the theology or the theodicy of a major national tragedy. Surely there must be one. If you know of any, please let me know, via Twitter or the contact form in my website at Readingandreaders.com. Thus, from where I'm sitting, Sproul's "When Worlds Collide" offers a unique look on how Christians can and should respond to something like 9/11. We don't have to be swept up by the waves of sentimental unity or furious condemnation. We can remain anchored in the transcendent truth found in Scripture. Does this mean that pastors should not join inter-faith or inter-denominational services? For one thing, I don't think they should be called services. But knowing what the Bible says, how Jesus responded to a question on a tragedy, helps us navigate these difficult questions. Questions like, "Is 9/11 God's judgment on America?" Sproul did not approve of those who insisted it was. He just said, "I don't know" but he doesn't count it out either. Another question, which forms the subtitle of the book is: "Where is God?" And to that question, thanks to Sproul, we have certainty. God did not go on a holiday. God was not caught off guard when it happened. God knows, God is in control. He remains all powerful and all present. He is still God, and there is no other. Give praise to the Lord!ConclusionThis is a Reading and Reader's review of "When Worlds Collide: Where is God?" by R.C. Sproul. 96 pages, published by Crossway in September 2002. The hardcopy is available for USD6.14 in Amazon. For September, you can get the ebook in Logos for USD2.99. Last Day to get it!Another deeply discounted book for September is "The Grace of Repentance" by Sinclair Ferguson. It is USD6.49 via Amazon Kindle but USD0.99 via Logos in September. I read it, I like it but I don't know whether I will be able to review it. In case I don't, I will just say, I never knew how medieval our modern life was such that everything Martin Luther was upset about in his time so inexplicably speaks to our problems today.Hope you enjoyed today's episode. Thanks for listening. Bye bye. Book ListWhen Worlds Collide: Where is God? by R.C. Sproul. Amazon. Logos.

Do you know what are the Doctrines of Grace? If you are not a Calvinist, you might fumble and try to recall your pastor's sermon on grace. If you are a Calvinist, the Doctrines of Grace means something specific. Whether you are a Calvinist or not, this book has something to offer, and today's episode will give you one tidbit to take home.Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "The Doctrines of Grace: Rediscovering the Evangelical Gospel" by James Montgomery Boice and Philip Graham Ryken. 240 pages, published by Crossway in April 2009. It's available in Amazon Kindle for USD9.99 and it's a free ebook in Logos.com for September.R.C. Sproul wrote the foreword. This is how he opened the book: I have often wondered how my ministry would change if I were to hear a prognosis from my physician that I had a terminal disease and only months or weeks left to live. Would I retire from active ministry to care solely for my own needs? Would I try to continue ministry with a renewed sense of urgency? Would my messages be more bold?I don’t know the answers to these questions. But I do know what Jim Boice did when the above scenario became real to him. From the day he learned he was dying of cancer to his actual demise, the span of time was a mere six weeks. Forty-two days. The last two of those weeks he was bedridden and extremely weak. While the virulent disease was sapping his strength daily, Dr. Boice called upon a reservoir of strength in his own soul, a strength quickened and sustained by the grace of God, to continue writing hymns and this present volume. He did not live long enough to see this work completed but was encouraged by the assurance that his colleague Dr. Philip Ryken would complete it for him.This book was written by a man who called upon a reservoir of strength in his own soul, a strength quickened and sustained by the grace of God. It is fitting that Jim Boice breathed his last writing on the doctrines most dear to his heart. The Doctrines of Grace are also known by the acronym TULIP: T for Total Depravity, U for Unconditional Election, L for Limited Atonement, I for Irresistible Grace and P for Perseverance of the Saints. James Montgomery Boice was the senior pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jim Boice as he was known, passed away in 2000 and is still fondly remembered by many within Reformed circles. Philip Graham Ryken is the 8th president of Wheaton College and was the senior minister at Tenth Presbyterian Church. What a coincidence! Both men are respected pastors, teachers and theologians, well-positioned to write a book on the Doctrines of Grace. If the foreword by Sproul was an eulogy, then the introduction by Ryken is a rally cry. I quote:Readers will find that this is a polemical book. By this I mean that it argues for a theological position -- Calvinism as set over against Arminianism. It is our conviction that evangelicalism is in desperate need of the best kind of Calvinism. It was Dr. Boice’s intention for this book to mount a vigorous defense of Reformed theology while at the same time maintaining the highest standards of Christian charity.Throughout the book, the line is drawn. For example, on election, they summarise the Arminian position as thus:Therefore, the ultimate cause of salvation is not God’s choice of the sinner but the sinner’s choice of God.Part One: The Doctrines of GraceYou would think they would start the book with a thorough exposition of Scripture. Uncharacteristically, they make the pragmatic claim first. Calvinism is good for the church and thus, good for the world.Part One: The Doctrines of GraceWhy Evangelicalism Needs CalvinismWhat Calvinism Does In HistoryChapter one begins with a quote from B.B. Warfield:The world should realize with increased clearness that Evangelicalism stands or falls with Calvinism.And if I have any non-Calvinist listeners still listening, consider whether what comes next is more palatable. By “Evangelicalism,” Warfield essentially meant what German Lutherans meant when they first started using the term during the Protestant Reformation: a church founded on the gospel, the good news of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And when Warfield spoke of “Calvinism,” he was referring to the Protestant Reformation, with its insistence on justification by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone. And a bit later...What Warfield was really saying, therefore, is something that every Christian should and must believe: the gospel stands or falls by grace. If the authors equate Calvinism with grace, then would rejecting Calvinism mean rejecting grace? The chapter continues on with the five points of Arminianism, followed by the five points of Calvinism, which is unpacked in Part Two of the book. And to answer the question on Calvinism and grace, the authors write: Calvinism presents salvation as the work of the triune God—election by the Father, redemption in the Son, calling by the Spirit. Furthermore, each of these saving acts is directed toward the elect, thereby infallibly securing their salvation. By contrast, Arminianism views salvation as something that God makes possible but that man makes actual. This is because the saving acts of God are directed toward different persons: the Son’s redemption is for humanity in general; the Spirit’s calling is only for those who hear the gospel; narrower still, the Father’s election is only for those who believe the gospel. Yet in none of these cases (redemption, calling, or election) does God actually secure the salvation of even one single sinner! The inevitable result is that rather than depending exclusively on divine grace, salvation depends partly on a human response.In chapter two, they write:If Calvinism is biblical, then we should expect to discover that the church has flourished whenever the doctrines of grace have been taught and practiced. By contrast, we should expect to discover that wherever and whenever these doctrines have come under assault, the church has suffered spiritual, moral, and social decline.They lay out the evidence from history. We have Calvin's Geneva, sin city to God's city. The Puritans we love, they were Calvinists. The Great Awakening, they were Calvinists (except for John Wesley, that guy was Arminian). Do we have anything more recent and less church-y? Abraham Kuyper, theologian cum Prime Minister of Holland. Then the authors show once Calvinism receded as the primary theology, the good times left. They write:The pathway from Calvinism to liberalism -- and even atheism -- is well worn, and it usually passes through Arminianism.The problem with arguing from history is people can pick and choose. After all, what does flourishing mean? The Roman Catholics could say that everybody was united until the Protestants came and broke the church into a thousand pieces.The Pentecostals and Charismatics would point to the numerous churches flourishing all over the world as a sign that their theology is relevant today.And some might point out that the collapse of Reformed in history is evidence of its innate deficiency. Calvinism in history is just the opening. Just as how non-Christians only think of Christians as gay-hating anti-science bigots, and not know that Christians build hospitals, orphanages and schools, so in the same way, non-Calvinists only think of Calvinists as in-your-face debaters, and not know that Calvinists make up the Puritans and that Calvinists have sacrificed their lives to bring the gospel of Christ to the lost. Just being aware of the history might temper one's attitude to Calvinism and maybe that's enough for you to hear the main part of the book: the biblical argument for Calvinism.Part Two: The Five PointsIn Part Two of the book we dive into the Five Points of Calvinism. Part Two: The Five Points 3. Radical Depravity 4. Unconditional Election 5. Particular Redemption 6. Efficacious Grace 7. Persevering GraceThese chapters are solid presentations of the Doctrines of Grace, as you would come to expect from Jim Boice and Philip Ryken. The authors quote Scripture, expound Scripture and most importantly, consider opposing Scripture. For example, on the Calvinist insistence that salvation is solely God's choice and never Man's, some argue that the Bible clearly calls people to make a choice. Boice and Ryken know it. They quote Jesus in Matthew 11:28, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." And they respond by way of Augustine vs. Pelagius, Martin Luther's "The Bondage of the Will" and Jonathan Edward's "Freedom of the Will". Familiar name and books if you know the topic, and if you don't, Boice and Ryken give you good reasons to.The careful listener will note that the chapter headings are not TULIP. Limited Atonement is Particular Redemption also known as Definite Atonement. The authors comment that Christians balk at the word limited because it seems as if we are limiting God. A bit tongue in cheek, they suggest that if we call it Definite Atonement, the word definite declares that God had a definite goal and who would like to argue that God has an indefinite goal? For myself and 4-point Calvinists, we will not be satisfied by the name change. I have heard one argument for Limited Atonement that says God will not let one drop of Christ's blood go to waste. Therefore, Christ must have only died for the elect. In my mind, that tells me more about the speaker and not of God. God told Moses and the Israelites not to collect manna on a Sunday. But they did and the manna spoilt. If it was going to spoil, then God shouldn't have sent it from Heaven in the first place right? Or consider how Jesus feeds the 5000 and 7000 and there were basketfuls of leftovers. Or what about the healing that Jesus did in Bethsaida and Capernaum among people who did not believe in him. That's a waste of effort. Or an expression of God's bountiful grace and mercy. So I can agree with Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Irresistible Grace and Perseverance of the Saints, but I don't see why the blood of Jesus not cover the sins of the everyone. Boice and Ryken admit this is the majority view among Christians even amongst Presbyterians and Reformed.One of the things I like about this book is the authors are familiar with the argument so they are able to pre-empt objections, put aside the spurious ones and address the main issue. Early on, the authors clarify one common ground, they believe that the blood of Jesus was "more than sufficient to atone for all the sins of all the people in all the ages of this world." When I read this, I thought, wait a minute, I thought this was the main contention? Thus, I admit my ignorance of this doctrine. The authors then write: Unless a person is a genuine universalist, and believes that every individual eventually will be saved, he or she inevitably circumscribes the atonement. Either it is limited in its effects (Christ died for all, but not all get saved), or it is limited in its scope (Christ did not die for all, but all for whom he died will be saved). So people should not get hung up on the word limited because the atonement is either limited in effect or scope. I thought this was helpful. Continuing on.Loraine Boettner, who has written so many helpful books explaining Reformed theology, has compared the situation to two bridges. One is a very broad bridge, but it only goes halfway across the chasm. The other is a narrow bridge, but it spans the divide. When things are put this way, anyone can see that it is far better to have a narrow bridge that actually does the job. This is the Reformed position: that the narrow way of the Cross reaches all the way to salvation.What are your thoughts on that? I was surprised that the authors make this argument. First of all, the illustration of the very broad bridge is inaccurate because it's not a ten lane bridge that doesn't cross the chasm. It's a ten lane bridge where five lanes cross the chasm. Some do get saved. And the phrase, "Anyone can see that it is far better..." is making the illustration carry the heavy load of supporting the doctrine. And if anyone is convinced by that illustration, I would say you are too easily satisfied and I have other illustrations to sell you.They quote Spurgeon. I like Spurgeon. But the quote is heavy on polemic, not in substance. Surely, the authors can offer more than a half-way bridge and a Spurgeon quote. The authors tend to save the best for later. Listen to this: The real question is not whether the death of Jesus Christ has sufficient value to atone for the sins of the entire world, or whether his death benefits all people in some limited sense, or whether everyone will be saved. The real question concerns the design of the atonement; that is, what did God the Father actually intend to do in sending his Son to die for us?Later he summaries the three options as: Jesus’ death was not an actual atonement, but only something that makes atonement possible. The atonement becomes actual when the sinner repents of his or her sin and believes on Jesus.Jesus’ death was an actual atonement for the sins of God’s elect people with the result that these, and only these, are delivered from sin’s penalty.Jesus’ death was an actual atonement for the sin of all people with the result that all people are saved.We are not universalist, so we ignore the third option.So we are left to think what does the atonement actually mean, what does it actually achieve. Then Boice turns to how the Bible describes what Jesus did: Redemption, Propitiation, Reconciliation and Atonement.Boice then concludes: When we put these terms together, looking at their precise meanings, we see that Jesus did not come merely to make salvation possible, but actually to save his people. He did not come to make redemption possible; he died to redeem his people. He did not come to make propitiation possible; he turned aside God’s wrath for each of his elect people forever. He did not come to make reconciliation between God and man possible; he actually reconciled to God those whom the Father had given him. He did not come merely to make atonement for sins possible, but actually to atone for sinners.This is why I like reading these Reformed theologians, they corner you with these questions, then push the Bible under your noses, and needle you, "Come on, what say you?"And I'm forced to admit that reading what the Bible says about the atonement, I struggle to say that the atonement only gives the possibility of atonement, a possibility only actualised on the sinner's say so. While your mind is reeling from the blows, you grasp for some support, some way to push back and hold on to what you believed before. The writers help you find support. In this chapter, they title the section, "The Problem Texts". And there are three categories of problem texts.Passages that seem to teach that God has a will to save everyone.Passages in which it is suggested that some people for whom Jesus Christ died will perish.Passages in which the work of Jesus seems to be intended for the entire world.And as you would expect, the authors take the same passage and offer an alternate, equally plausible interpretation without ridiculing people who disagree. Wait a minute. What are the implications of this? If limited atonement is true, then how can we offer the Gospel to everyone? How can we say on the pulpit that Christ died for all of you when he did not. Once again, the good teachers know the question before you arrived at them and they zestfully answer it.Does this weaken the gospel message? Far from weakening the message, the doctrine of definite atonement strengthens it and alone makes it a genuine gospel. Suppose we go to the lost with the message that Jesus died for everyone but without the conviction that his death actually accomplished salvation for those who should believe. Suppose, in other words, that we proclaim a redemption that did not redeem, a propitiation that did not propitiate, a reconciliation that did not reconcile, and an atonement that did not atone? That would be a fool’s errand. But if we can say, “Christ died for sinners to restore them to God; if you believe on him, you are saved and can know that he has died for you,” then we have a message worth proclaiming and our hearers have a gospel worth believing.So that is a walkthrough on one chapter of this book, one chapter that deals with one of the five points of Calvinism.But wait... there is more!Part Three: Rediscovering God's GraceIf you have had the encounter to meet an enthusiastic Calvinist you may have walked away wishing you did not. Boice and Ryken know too well how some Calvinists carry themselves and Part Three offers correction and direction. Part Three: Rediscovering God's Grace 8. The True Calvinist 9. Calvinism at WorkI quote: The “Truly Reformed” are considered narrow in their thinking, parochial in their outlook, and uncharitable in their attitude toward those who disagree. They have a bad reputation, and sadly, perhaps some of it is deserved. There is a combative streak in Calvinism, and whenever the doctrines of grace are divorced from warm Christian piety, people tend to get ornery. Later they argue:This ought not to be. In fact, it cannot be, provided that Calvinism is rightly understood. The doctrines of grace help to preserve all that is right and good in the Christian life: humility, holiness, and thankfulness, with a passion for prayer and evangelism. The true Calvinist ought to be the most outstanding Christian -- not narrow and unkind, but grounded in God’s grace and therefore generous of spirit. Toward that end, this chapter is a practical introduction to Reformed spirituality. In the next chapter we will explore the implications of Calvinism for public life. The book begins with a survey of Calvinism in history. The book ends with Calvinism and a glorious future(?). They tend to save their best argument for the end, so don't be too quick to dismiss them. Read till the end of the chapter, or the end of the book.I went into the book thinking I understood Limited Atonement and was firmly against it. I now realised my ignorance and it does seem to make sense. Enough for me to reconsider my position on it.ConclusionWhich brings me to the question, Who is this book for? Calvinists would love the book. What about non-Calvinists? Well, it's always good to hear a well-presented argument from the opposing side. And Jim Boice and Philip Ryken have done a good job here. You know how in elections, there are candidates who have no chance of winning, but they are really good at rousing voters on a single issue. So much so that these candidates force all the other candidates to respond.Or consider heresies. If we can guess God's purpose for allowing heresies to happen, I would say heresies force people to respond, to clarify, to defend, what they believe. And so when it comes to Calvinists, they may come across as single-issue, or rather five-point-issue believers, or some believe that Calvinists have gone horribly astray in their theology. My thinking is, Calvinists force everyone to contend with what the Bible says of God's sovereignty, holiness or in this book, God's Grace. And surely, God's character is worth learning, because "Who God Is" is foundational to our worship and Christian life.And that is why I appreciate the Calvinists and Reformed, not because I want to pick a side. I am not looking for a football team to support. I am looking to understand the Bible better to know my God deeper.And wherever you land on the question of Calvinism, I think you will profit from the Doctrine of Grace. This is a Reading and Reader's review of "The Doctrines of Grace" by James Montgomery Boice and Philip Ryken.Book ListThe Doctrines of Grace by James Montgomery Boice and Philip Graham Ryken. Amazon. Logos.

Have you read those letters from John? He seems to repeat himself over and over again, love, truth, love, truth. Is it because he is old and can't remember what he just said or wrote? Or maybe, there is something deeper here that I don't get. It would be nice if someone could help me get into the meaning, help me understand the context so that I can apply it in my own life. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Letters of John" by Gary Burge. 280 pages, published by Zondervan Academic in October 2011. This is a volume from the NIV Application Commentary series. NIVACI love this series. The unique format just stands out from other commentary series. It takes a Bible book -- or in today's commentary, it takes all three of John's letters -- and breaks down the text into chunks of verses expounded in chapters. So far, nothing new, that's what every commentary does.The difference is every chapter starts with the Scripture passage followed by three sections: Original Meaning,Bridging Context andContemporary Significance.Original Meaning looks at the text and asks, "What would this text mean to the original audience?" Let's get into the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, the grammar, the historical, geographical, social, cultural background. Bridging Context makes explicit the transition from the people there and then, to us here and now. In those days, John was warning Christians of Gnostic teachers and their Gnostic ways. Okay, how do we bridge that to today when Gnostic people don't exist. Or do they? The final section, Contemporary Significance takes what we learn from the Original Meaning and Bridging Context sections to bring the passage home. What does this mean for our family, work and church. This is what I tell people, "Read any commentary from this series because it makes you a better Bible reader." There are many 'good' preachers out there, great with the feels, ticks all the boxes in the Tiktok crowd. That's an awesome(?) sermon but that's not what the text says. And people don't like it when you tell them that the sermon which they enjoyed so much is problematic, it's like you are putting down their children or they just ignore your comment, they shrug and say, hey, to each his own. But I am not commenting on the subjective experience which can be impressive, I am saying beneath all the boom-boom-boom, testimonies, dreams and visions is a faulty interpretation of the passage. If the passage was even expounded. Sometimes passages are just used in the beginning as a jumping point, somehow as a prop to legitimise it is a sermon. So we get feel-good emotions but we may not be getting the Truth of the passage.And knowing what is the Truth is important. Just ask John. The Apostle of Love was not a hippie singing "love, love, love", he was driven by the deep deep conviction of Who he witnessed and Who he followed, the God-Man Christ Jesus. BurgeAnd Gary M. Burge is here to tell us all about it. Burge is the Adjunct Professor of New Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary. Before that, he was a professor at Wheaton College for 25 years. He wrote his dissertation under I. Howard Marshall on the title, "The Anointed Community: The Holy Spirit in the Johannine Tradition". Since then he has written a lot on John including the 965-page NIV Application series commentary on the Gospel of John. And it's a good thing that Logos did not make that the free book for August, otherwise you wouldn't be getting a review from me. Instead today we get a review on the NIV Application Commentary on the "Letters of John" by Gary M. Burge.JohnThe three epistles or letters, are named 1, 2 and 3 John, even though the writer did not sign off on his letters. Burge acknowledges that the identity of the author is contested but insists we should take the writer to be the Apostle John, who wrote both the gospels and the letters, unless we have evidence that says otherwise.John is known as the Apostle of Love, yet, the Apostle of Love was not slow to condemn false teachers. In his letters, you can see how he warned Christians in the strongest terms of false teachers. This was how he showed love. But what was the dispute about? OpponentsBurge writes:John says that his opponents hold the following beliefs:they deny the Son (1 John 2:23)they deny that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (4:2; 2 John 7)they deny that Jesus is the Christ (1 John 2:22)These statements may be compared with affirmations in the letters that buttress John’s own Christology. It is likely that these verses are also connected to the opponent’s Christological error.Jesus is the Christ (5:1)Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (4:2)Jesus is the Son (2:23; 3:23; 5:11) or the Son of God (1:3, 7; 3:8, 23; 4: 9, 10, 15, etc.)Jesus Christ came “by water and blood” (5:6)From these statements a composite image of John’s opponents begins to emerge. They are no doubt Christians who have begun to deviate from the traditionally received understanding of Jesus Christ. They affirm the idea of Christ, but doubt whether Christ became flesh and whether the man Jesus was indeed the incarnation of God.You might be thinking, "Oh, nothing for me to read here. I don't believe any of those false teachings and I don't know anybody who does." But just because the false teachers of John's time have died nearly 2000 years ago, it does not mean their teachings have died. The warnings are still valid. We just need someone to build us a bridge.In ShortBurge does that for us in 12 chapters for 1 John, and a chapter each for 2 and 3 John. 2 and 3 John are really short, they are the equivalent of tweets today. You can read 1 John in one sitting, it's only 5 chapters long, and upon finishing 1 John (and perhaps 2 and 3 John), you can congratulate yourself for finishing 3 out of the 66 books of the Bible, that's 4.5%. If you are like me, you will be slightly perplexed with 1 John. It's not that I don't understand what he is saying, it's just that it's so repetitious and sometimes there is these imageries that he assumes the readers know? You get a sense that this is an important heartfelt letter, the stakes are high but you need some help to understand it.Burge divides the letter into two parts: "God is light" (1 John 1:5) and "God is love" (1 John 4:8). He makes a compelling connection with the Gospel of John which also has a two part structure, which is the first half is on the light that shined in the darkness and the second half is on Jesus caring and nurturing those who believe in him. SampleNow that we know how everything is laid out, I will attempt to bring out the essence of the book by taking one chapter as an example. I want a chapter that is self-contained so that we can understand it without referring to previous or next chapters. It should prove to you the usefulness of the three sections: Original Meaning, Bridging Context and Contemporary Significance, for this is the Unique Selling Point of the book. Other than these literary considerations, I want to offer you a biblical insight, a divine truth that you can take away from today's episode to pray, meditate, worship and delight in.I've taken the chapter on 1 John 4:1-6. The chapter begins with the verses printed in full.Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.Today we have the same problem. We have false teachers on the pulpit. People claiming to be prophets and apostles, entering our homes, teaching our children, writing books and signing autographs. What should we do, how do we test the spirit? Read the Bible. That's the answer. Know Jesus. Pray more. Get myself into a proper Christian community.Original MeaninWait... wait... wait... we have gone ahead of ourselves. Do you see what I did? As soon as I read the passage, I immediately thought of my situation today. And I can go on and on about the todays problems and how we should solve them. But isn't that the way we should read the Bible? Make it relevant in our lives? Yes, but not so soon. Consider how Burge does it. In the Original Meaning section, he explains the problem of those who call themselves prophets, but were frauds.Burge writes:It is important to pause and gain some appreciation for this problem in the early church. House churches were isolated in cities throughout the Roman empire. In the early years there were few formal creeds (such as the later Creed of Nicea) to give doctrinal guidance, nor were the Scriptures available as we have them today. No one owned a “New Testament,” and at best the early Christians only had random collections of letters from the apostles and collections of stories about Jesus. Therefore oral communication was essential. Churches relied on emissaries from their leaders, who relayed information from other communities and taught. Paul sent out Timothy and Silas in this capacity, and John sent out elders as his spokespersons (3 John 5). But problems came when prophets or teachers arrived claiming an authority that was not rightfully theirs. Paul had to address the problem of unauthorized teachers in Galatia and Thessalonica. Because some churches received false letters (see 2 Thess. 2:2), he even decided to sign his correspondence with recognizable markings (Gal. 6:11; Col. 4:18; 2 Thess. 3:17). This phenomenon meant that churches could fall prey to unscrupulous itinerant prophets and teachers, and John’s churches were no exception (cf. 2 John 7). Consequently, Christians had to be ready to assess the message they heard and the spirit that inspired it.So it's not about you (yet), it's about them. You need to travel back in time, and see the problems they faced. They didn't have Google. Not even a Bible. No seminary trained pastors with 2000 years of scholarship to back them up. In that situation, how can anyone know what is true? Without the Bible, with these prophets claiming divine inspiration, how can the early Christians test?John tells us how. Read the passage. There are two tests. The first test is what do they say about Jesus. The second test is how does the church receive their teaching. Burge summarises:If the incarnate Christ has been theologically removed, if Christology is not at the center of what someone says, we are right to be suspicious. In addition, if the community we have always trusted, if the church as the historic custodian of truth, refuses this prophesy, we should be warned. Moreover, if it finds a ready reception in the world, we should flee because it may be a message that has originated with the evil spirit that dominates that world."Okay. Now that I know what it means, tell me how to apply it in my life.""Not so fast!" Bridging ContextBefore we leave the past and rush to the present, there is an intermediate state, called "Bridging Context". In John's time, we have truth and falsehood. In our time, we have your truth, my truth, as many truths as we need and nothing is false.In John's time, the false teachers taught that Jesus was not truly human. In our time, false teachers can affirm what John said but they also say that Jesus was not the only man who can be divine.In John's time, he appealed to people who pursued truth. In our time, let me read what Burge writes:Among the students I teach I find that most of them are eager to tell how they feel about a particular question, but few of them are capable of giving a coherent, objective, carefully reasoned argument for or against it. The Bridging Context gives us space to consider what the text says and does not say. The last thing we want is to wrongly apply the lesson, and do something or believe something that is contrary to whatever John is saying. A spectacular example that Burge points out later in the book is how Oral Roberts healing ministry began from a misreading of 3 John 2. Contemporary SignificancSo it is only after we know the original meaning and the bridging context, that we can move to the contemporary significance. For this "test the spirits" passage, Burge outlines four application points:The church is called to the be custodian of the truth. He asks, "How do I cultivate a discerning spirit without becoming cynical?"The centrality of Christology. He wonders if John's concern is alive in our church today?How do we unmask false teachers? He writes:He has at least two concerns: (a) False teachers should not have access to the church as a platform for their teachings, and (b) people should not be deceived by what they hear in the church. This means at least that the church should be a spiritual refuge where experimental teachings or controversial points of view are checked. Practically speaking, when I send my daughters to Sunday school, I deserve the assurance that the teacher in the class is not there simply because she is the only one who volunteered. The church must guarantee that those who teach are theologically and spiritually qualified to do so.Where or who are these spirits today? Burge describes two types of spirits. One is spirits as in territorial spirits, demons, bondage and exorcism. He refers to Peter Wagner's book "Territorial Spirit: Insights on Strategic-Level Spiritual Warfare from Nineteen Christian Leaders". The other is spirits as in spirit of the age, a world that has no use for truth, God becoming human is not simply rejected but now it is incomprehensible. He quotes David Well's "No Place for Truth".Remember, there are as many application points from a verse as there are Christians in a church. Each could and should apply the verse in their own ways so what Burge does here are just helpful samples. Alright. So that is one chapter and I hope that gives you a good idea of how this commentary series can train you to separate interpretation from application and how this book in particular can you train you to separate truth from falsehoods.Burge vs WagnerLet me share some reflections. When I finished the book, I realised that my take on this book was surprisingly influenced by the previous book I read. In the last episode, I read Peter Wagner's commentary on the book of Acts. I did not expect Burge to mention him and mention him in a positive light. I don't know what is Burge's take on the controversial figure of Peter Wagner and his legacy but when I read the two books, they are so different. Speaking only of Wagner's commentary on Acts, Wagner exults in creative interpretation which leads to questionable application, which comes at the reader with the force of a biblical rule. If you can't distinguish between interpretation and application, the reader could take as Gospel truth what is merely a speculation, or on the other extreme, because of all the guess-work the reader cannot extract the missions and power ministry insights Wagner offers.You could overcome these problems if you can get to the original meaning, bridging context and contemporary significance of the passage. In contrast to Wagner, Burge is more careful, and I appreciate his prudence because it is a check on me that I don't make the text say what I want it to say or don't say. One last difference between Wagner and Burge and this is on the content rather than the approach. The main thesis of Wagner's book is that the best and perhaps the only way to evangelise is to through the indigenous community. According to Wagner when the Hellenistic Jews complained to the Hebrew Jews, there was an amicable church split. This insistence on a culture ministering to its own dominates his interpretation of events in Acts. Then I read this passage from Burge. He did not write this in response to Wagner. He was merely commenting on 3 John, but I thought it was funny how it was a strong counter point to Wagner. Burge writes:The names given in 3 John (Gaius, Diotrephes, and Demetrius) are all Greek; this fact suggests a cultural context far removed from Judea and Galilee. Thus when a traditional source of authority steps forward -— an apostolic elder -— some chafed at the thought of submission. “Our religion is working for us! It feels right! Why should we conform to a foreigner, someone who represents traditions and people we don’t even know?”First, normally I would not have noticed the Greek names. They are all Greek to me. Second, I would not have thought much of Burge's point here of how truth trumps culture. These are just two of the many points of, I wouldn't say difference but, engagement after reading first Wagner than Burge's commentary. ConclusionIn conclusion, the NIV Application Commentary series is a standout series. One volume from this series that I recommend is the commentary on Acts by Ajith Fernando. If you have to get a commentary on Acts get this Fernando's, not Wagner's.Every student of the Bible should learn how to separate interpretation from application. Don't rush to application. Put more effort in understanding what the text says. Because Truth matters. God is light. God is love. How Great is Our God.This is a Reading and Readers review of "Letters of John" by Gary Burge. 280 pages, published by Zondervan Academic in October 2011. This is a volume from the NIV Application Commentary series. The commentary was available for free in August but if you miss out on that deal, don't miss out on September's free book. I am reading "The Doctrines of Grace: Rediscovering the Evangelical Gospel" by James Montgomery Boice and Philip Graham Ryken. I hope to give you my review soon. Thanks for listening. Bye bye.

When you read the Book of Acts, you can't help but think, "Why isn't the church today like that?" Well, maybe it can and it should. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "The Book of Acts: A Commentary" by C. Peter Wagner. 526 pages, published by Regal Publishers in 2008. It's available in Amazon Kindle for USD16.99 but it was available for free, some time ago via Logos.com. C. Peter Wagner was a Fuller Theological Seminary professor, specialising in missiology. He became famous, or infamous depending on your position, for the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), a term he coined. Peter Wagner and the New Apostolic Reformation are big topics that go beyond the scope of today's book review. My review is focused on what is written here but first, let me explain my personal relationship with this book.15 years ago, I read this book and my eyes were opened. At that time, I had just became a Christian, having placed my skepticism aside. To my amazement, I came to believe that Christ walked on water, Christ raised the dead, Christ was crucified, he was resurrected on the third day and ascended and one day Christ will return. In those early days of my coming to faith, I read this book. And wow! I was electrified. Who said the Bible was boring! Not the way he tells it. Spiritual warfare. Gods and demons. What was true for Paul and the apostles is still true for us today. I can still remember the thrill of knowing all these things.That was 15 years ago and a lot has happened since. For one, I have read the Bible cover to cover, I have read more books after this one, listen to more sermons and engaged in many a great conversations on the biggest questions of the faith. For one thing, back then I had no opinion on the New Apostolic Reformation. Now, I do. As I review this book, I know that some love this book and treasure the life and ministry of Peter Wagner, who had passed way in October 2016. I can somewhat understand the enthusiasm because I had a taste of it 15 years ago. I take today's review as a sign of how far I have come and a wonder that I was so taken in by Peter Wagner's book. With that, let's turn to the Book of Acts: A Commentary by C. Peter Wagner.Chapter 1 is titled, "God's Training Manual for Modern Christians". Here he makes the case that the key verse to understand the book is Acts 1:8, which reads:But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.In this chapter, he asks the question, "There are 1,398 commentaries on Acts, what will mine offer?"He writes: It is in these two areas—power ministry and missiology -- that I feel I can make enough of a contribution to justify adding yet another commentary on Acts to our library shelves. I bring a degree of expertise in these areas that few of the biblical scholars who have produced the classical works on Acts could provide. In doing so, I have no illusions of grandeur. The classical works have a well-deserved reputation as classics.As a missiologist, Wagner brings out the cultural aspects that we may not fully appreciate in our first reading the Book of Acts. For example, in Acts 6, when we read how the Hellenist Jews raised a complaint against the Hebrew Jews, Hellenist and Hebrew may not mean much to us. Wagner helpfully informs us of the historical and cultural background so that we can fully appreciate the underlying tension between the two groups. By highlighting the cultural barriers, we become more sensitive, more aware, of how culture impacts our evangelistic efforts.The second major theme is Power Ministry. Wagner writes:How do we know that the kingdom of God is authentically among us? One way is to see healings and demonic deliverances as part of the ongoing ministry of the church.Even the most hardened cessationist, who believes the sensational acts of the apostles have ceased, even they would give pause as Wagner brings out passage after passage of signs and wonders, miracles and healings. These are all glorious events in Acts. And no Christian should be dismissed for wondering, "Why is it that our Christian life today does not resemble the days of the apostles?"But it can. And it does. That is Wagner's exhortation throughout the book. What you read in Acts, the healing, deliverance, power and authority is happening in Latin America, in China, it's happening, it's expanding and you can be part of it too. What Peter Wagner has set out to do with this commentary is to emphasise these two themes: Power Ministry and Missions. And he does it with style. He takes passages that we would just read through without a second thought and makes us see something that wasn't there before. To take a trivial, deliciously enticing, example, Wagner's commentary on Acts 16 includes these words: After many exciting events in Philippi, which we will see in detail shortly, the last place we find the missionaries, Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke, is in the house of Lydia where they had been lodged. But when they leave Philippi, the “we” suddenly changes to “they”! Luke obviously had stayed behind. Did he stay lodged in Lydia’s house? Could they have decided to marry each other and help form the nucleus of that wonderful church in Philippi that later sent substantial financial gifts to Paul and his missionary team?I bet you have never even considered that possibility. And you almost imagine the storyteller's eye twinkle and a massive grin. Just to be clear, Wagner doesn't make a big deal out of Luke's single or married status but it is a charming way to remind readers that the people we read about, Paul, Luke, Lydia were flesh and blood men and women much like we are. Wagner has a great imagination. Imagination is a good thing for bible readers, for us to get into the drama of the dogma. But Wagner takes it too far. The phrase "It could have been" occurs 43 times in the 24 chapters of this book.If those "could have beens" were limited to artistic license, suggestions to invoke wonder, nothing to be taken seriously, it would be okay. But Wagner goes too far. Let's look at the heart of the book, the two themes that he draws from Acts 1:8, namely power ministry and missiology.I appreciate how Wagner brings his expertise in missiology, the study of missions, to bring out the cultural aspects of Acts but he has allowed his expertise to bring his interpretations into the realm of fantasy or historical fiction.It starts out innocently enough. Remember the Hellenist and Hebrew Jews in Acts 6? The common understanding is the apostles appointed Stephen and other Hellenistic Jews to minister to the widows and all ends well. Everybody stayed together in harmony right? Right? Wagner writes:Although the term “church split” is harsher than Luke would use, this passage is an account of the first major church split.Now, it is a good church split. A harmonious one according to God's will. Stephen and the Hellenistic believers are now separate from the apostles. They have control over their own finances. They are free to minister to their own culture. Wagner justifies this church split idea from the word deacon. He names scholars like Derek Tidball, John Stott, Hans Conzelmann who each say what Stephen and friends did is more than waiting at tables. At this point, I did something which I did not do 15 years ago. I looked up the references. Sadly, two of the references were not available as ebooks so I couldn't get them with a click of the button. But I have John Stott's commentary on Acts. Without going into the details, Stott refutes Wagner's conclusion. At the end we still have one church. Wagner has a tendency to read his own experiences of multi-cultural missions into the text such that he exaggerates the tensions between cultures so that it can only be reconciled with a split.And he draws the lesson that the biblical way to do missions is to establish indigenous leaders to lead their own church. That is certainly a desire of every missionary but is that what happened in Jerusalem between the apostles and Stephen's group? And it doesn't stop at Jerusalem.Consider Antioch in Acts 13:1-3. Let me read from Acts:Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. Do you detect any tension in Antioch? I can't see any. Would you describe it as a united church? I would even wonder why you would suggest it.You will note that there are foreigners named in the list. Let's use our imagination of how that passage would look like. Maybe it would be something like how your church gathered together, everyone, rich, poor, young, old, men, women, black, white and every colour in between coming together to bless your church's mission team before they go off. There is a good chance someone would say you are doing the same thing that the church in Antioch did when they sent off Paul and Barnabas. Except according to Wagner, that's not what happened.The listing of foreigners in the passage gets Wagner to wildly speculate. He imagines these foreign missionaries served in the Cyprus and Cyrene Mission, or CCM for short. Because he can't seem to imagine two different cultures in the same church or mission organisation. He writes: ... it is inaccurate to say, as many attempt to do, that Paul and Barnabas were sent out by the church at Antioch.Enough about culture. Let's hear what Wagner has to say about the other big theme of his book: Power Ministry. And we should, we must, hear what he says because God told him to say it.In an earlier chapter, when he comments on God commissioning Paul, Wagner writes: I myself can testify that receiving such commissioning words as these, directly from Jesus, brings powerful spiritual sustenance later on, especially when difficult times arise. Jesus told Paul “how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake” (9:16). In 1989, at the massive Lausanne II Congress on World Evangelization in Manila, Philippines, God spoke to me in as clear, although less dramatic, a way as He spoke to Paul. He said, “I want you to take international leadership in the field of territorial spirits.”I want to say upfront that I don't believe Wagner is saying, "Thus says the Lord... This is what God says about spiritual warfare..." But I also want to say that by making such a big claim, it's not easy for Christians who want to be faithful to what the Lord says to ignore him. Or to question him. And question him, I must. Wagner says that Paul failed in Athens because there were so many idols there. He writes:I believe that Paul’s experience in Athens, although far from a success in evangelism and church planting, would have been a valuable learning experience for him, and by application for us as well. Paul learned important lessons about (1) the awesome power of the enemy, and (2) missionary methodology.None of the commentators I have checked raises the question of whether the demonic powers behind the idols and the festivals and the sacrifices in Athens could have been strong enough to frustrate Paul’s evangelistic intentions in the city. I personally believe they could have been and they probably were more than Paul could handle. This is reminiscent of Jesus’ ministry in His hometown of Nazareth. It is said, “He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matt. 13:58). Neither Jesus nor Paul did anything particularly wrong; they simply encountered powers that, at that particular time, were fortified enough to hold their position and to prevent the fullest penetration of the kingdom of God.Oh boy... I am so upset by the suggestion that Jesus encountered powers that were too strong for him but this is a throwaway statement from Wagner so I won't spend time here. But the fact that he doesn't substantiate this, he just throws a remark like that without needing to defend, just shows how he plays fast and loose with basic doctrine. He throws the King of Kings out the window to fit his spiritual warfare narrative, which is often informed by what he sees, what his friends sees and goes beyond what the Bible actually says. So anywhere, Athens is a failure because evil powers were too strong. Paul goes to Corinth. He succeeds there. Wagner lists the differences between Athens and Corinth, he points to Acts 17:16 "[Paul's] spirit was provoked within him when he saw the city [Athens] was given over to idols."Thus, Wagner concludes: Even a novice spiritual mapper in the first century would have been able to recognise that darkness lingered over Athens more than either Berea, Paul's previous stop, or here in Corinth.In short, Corinth is a success because the evil powers there were weak.Okay, then Paul goes to Rome. Wagner describes the strong Christian presence in Rome:How many house churches might have been located in Rome by this time we have no way of knowing exactly, but it is likely there were quite a few. In the Epistle that Paul wrote to these Roman believers a few years previously, he mentioned some house churches by name.Wagner describes Rome as "known for its extraordinary political power over a large part of the world." And finally let me get to my spiritual warfare question. Wagner says that in spiritual warfare just as in normal swords and shields warfare, victory is won by the stronger army. The Apostle Paul failed in Athens because the evil powers were too strong. The Apostle Paul succeeded in Corinth because the evil powers were too weak. Then how is it that a bunch of no-name Christians which suggests people without apostolic authority could have succeeded in establishing house churches in the very centre of Imperial religion. Wagner does not explain. He does not even see Rome as the counter argument to his thesis.And speaking of thesis, the central thesis of this book is flawed. Early in the book, Wagner asserts that the theme of Acts is seen Acts 1:8. Let me remind you of what it says:But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.Right after this, Wagner writes: Very simply, in His last recorded words spoken on this earth, Jesus highlights two themes: power ministries and missiology. That seems to me an unshakeable fact. Then Wagner does the most peculiar thing. He skips over a third of Acts.And he knows it.According to my calculations, I am devoting only 8 percent of my full commentary on Acts to chapters 20 to 28, which in turn comprise 32 percent of Luke’s original work. He explains why as follows: Five years pass from the time Paul is arrested in Jerusalem to the end of the book of Acts. In the seven-and-one-half chapters Luke uses to tell of this experience (about 27 percent of Acts), explicit accounts of power ministries are few and far between in comparison to the other three-fourths of the book. Wagner's commentary on Acts is short on last seven and a half chapters of Acts because it has too few power ministries. What does that tell us about the starting thesis of this commentary? Does Acts 1:8 describe a central theme for Acts? How can it be a central theme when it does not fit with the last 32 percent of the book? Let's say that it is the central theme because it is true. These were the last recorded words of Jesus. Let's read it again:But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.You shall be witnesses in Jerusalem to the end of the earth does fit with missions. But let's re-look at what it means to receive power. Wagner understands Holy Spirit power to mean signs and wonders, miracles and healings, angels and demons.I put to you that the power of the Holy Spirit also includes the power to preach. Wagner does not give Paul much credit for his Mars Hill sermon. Sorry, I got it wrong, Wagner gives the Holy Spirit no credit for Paul's Mars Hill sermon. Wagner puts it like this: In Athens Paul displayed brilliance in human wisdom; in Corinth he ministered with public displays of supernatural power.Likewise, Wagner does not see Holy Spirit power in Paul's defence in his trials. After all, nothing miraculous happened.But do you remember what Jesus said? Luke 12:11-12:When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.Rather than see Athens as a failure, it should be seen as the Holy Spirit's work through Paul. And how do I know all this? Because the Holy Spirit told me. Wagner claims God spoke to him. I, too, say that God speaks to me.I'll tell you now what the Holy Spirit is saying to you. The Holy Spirit speaks through the Word and this is what the Word says, in Acts 17:11:Now these Jews [in Berea] were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.The Holy Bible commends believers to refer to the Holy Scripture to see if what is taught by others are true. So when I say the Holy Spirit speaks to me, the Holy Spirit speaks to you too, through illumination of the Bible. And I put to you, if you read through Acts and if you consider that power from the Holy Spirit includes signs and wonders, yes, but also spiritual power to teach and receive the Word, if you do this, you will conclude as many Christians have, that we too live in the days of the apostles.If you are looking for a book that takes the Book of Acts as a source material for "it could have beens", speculative non-fiction, then Wagner's commentary is one of a kind. The best I can say is Wagner makes vivid the reality of spiritual warfare and inter-cultural missions but he does it by over-reaching. This is a Reading and Readers review of "The Book of Acts: A Commentary" by C. Peter Wagner. 526 pages, published by Regal Publishers in 2008. It's available in Amazon Kindle and logos.com. Speaking of logos.com, they have another free commentary for this month:It's the NIV Application Commentary (NIVAC) Letters of John by Gary M. Burge. In Burge's comments on 1 John, he writes: ... the problems in the church are essentially pneumatic. They stem from prophets who, under the alleged inspiration of the Spirit, are teaching false things. John’s first response when faced with such teachings is to train his followers that theology must be anchored objectively or else it will be shaped by any whim or inspiration.Thanks for listening. Bye bye.Book List"The Book of Acts: A Commentary" by C. Peter Wagner. Amazon. Logos.

If ever there was a category called the Theologian's Favourite Mystery Novelist, a serious contender would be Dorothy Sayers for her Lord Peter Wimsey series. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review the Lord Peter Wimsey series by Dorothy Sayers. All 11 books reviewed in one episode.The first book, "Whose Body?" was published in 1923. That's 100 years ago. The widespread acclaim led to more and more books, Sayers ditched her advertising day job to be a full-time writer. The Lord Peter Wimsey series concludes in 1937 with "Busman's Honeymoon".Dorothy SayersDorothy Sayers is a name that comes up often in the books I read. She seems to be a favourite for many theologians and Christian writers. But I didn't know anything about her or felt compelled to read her books until I listened to an Undeceptions episode where John Dickson interviewed Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing, who studied Sayers for her PhD at Oxford University. To my disbelief, in her day Dorothy Sayers was as famous, actually more famous, than Agatha Christie. Christie is my favourite detective writer so it shocks me to know there was someone better than her. Perhaps the reason for Christie's longevity is because she continued churning out detective novels while Sayers...Sayers put her writing talents to the drama of Christianity. She had the cheek to put everyday English into the mouths of Jesus and the disciples. Many Christians protested, preferring their Saviour to speak in King James English. In an essay titled, "The Greatest Drama Ever Staged", Sayers responded:[It’s as if] Christ wasn’t born into history – He was born into the Bible (Authorised Version) – a place where nobody makes love or gets drunk or cracks jokes, or talks slang, or cheats, or despises his neighbours ... no wonder the story makes so little impression on the common man.Sayers wrote theological books including: "The Mind of the Maker" which explores the nature of God and creativity and another book is titled, "Are Women Human?" which addresses the role of women in society. Sayers was notably one of the first women to graduate from Oxford University. Recognising the impact of her radio plays and books, the Archbishop of Canterbury wanted to award Sayers the prestigious Lambeth Doctorate of Divinity. She turned it down. Dr. Amy in that Undeceptions episode suggests it's because Sayers the famous crime writer and public theologian felt unworthy because she hid a secret sin. You see, Dorothy Sayers fell in love with a non-Christian who did not believe in marriage. Because of her faith, Sayers would not sleep with the man before marriage. Eventually they separated because the man told her that he would not get married on principle. A few months later, that man got married. She was devastated because she really, really loved him. Later, she got involved with a married man, slept with him, got pregnant, had the child. A child who was then brought up by her cousin. For more on Sayers her life and work, please go to the Undeceptions episode. One day I hope to review the books of Dorothy Sayers the theologian but for today I review the books of Dorothy Sayers the crime writer.LOTR of Detective NovelsLet us now turn to the Lord Peter Wimsey mystery novel series.Having finished the series, I would say that Lord Peter Wimsey is to mystery novels as the Lord of the Rings is to fantasy. "Surely not! Nobody knows Lord Peter Wimsey, so how can it be at Lord of the Rings level?"What I meant is you can see Tolkien's Christian faith bleed into Middle-Earth making the epic story seem real. In the same way, Sayer's faith bleeds into 20th century England and makes the people more real than the paper-thin characters you read or watch on TV. Consider Agatha Christie's books which are also set in post World War 1 England. People go to church, they fundraise to repair the church roof, there is even a murder in the vicarage. But Christianity here is nominal. We read the inner thoughts of a murderer but we never read the inner thoughts of a believer.Whereas in Sayer's world. Christianity is overt. It's almost in your face. Detective Parker Reads Commentaries (to Relax)In chapter 3 of the first novel, Lord Peter and Detective Parker are tracking a criminal through a little wood. Lord Peter says:I say, I don't think the human frame is very thoughtfully constructed for this sleuth-hound business. If one could go on all-fours, or had eyes in one's knees, it would be a lot more practical.Parker replies:There are many difficulties inherent in a teleological view of creation.When I read this I was laughing out loud with delight. For it is a line written by a theologian for readers who enjoy theology and mystery. No wonder, J.I. Packer lists Sayers among his favourite writers. No wonder, so many of the books I read cites Sayers.How does Detective Parker relax after a long day of chasing murderers. I quote:Parker was sitting in an elderly but affectionate armchair, with his feet on the mantelpiece, relaxing his mind with a modern commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians. He received Lord Peter with quiet pleasure, though without rapturous enthusiasm, and mixed him a whisky-and-soda. Peter took up the book his friend had laid down and glanced over the pages. "All these men work with a bias in their minds, one way or other," he said, "they find what they are looking for."Listen to Parker's response:"Oh, they do but one learns to discount that almost automatically, you know. When I was at college, I was all on the other side -- Conybeare, Robertson and Drews and those people, you know, till I found they were all so busy looking for a burglar whose nobody had ever seen, that they couldn't recognise the footprints of the household, so to speak. Then I spent two years learning to be cautious."Lord Peter then concludes: "Theology must be a good exercise for the brain."Reading Sayers is a good tickle for the theologian's brain. That conversation is about eisegesis, reading into the text what you want it to say. And Parker's response is a detective's rebuke to a theologians fault.Miss Climpson on Friendship and IdolatryLet's have a look at another character. Miss Climpson is a spinster who helps Lord Peter dig things up. In the course of digging things up, she strikes a conversation with a young lady about friendship. The young lady says:A great friendship does make demands. It's got to be just everything to one. It's wonderful the way it seems to colour all one's thoughts. Instead of being centred in oneself, one's centred in the other person. That's what Christian love means -- one's ready to die for the other person."Miss Climpson replies:Well, I don't know. I once heard a sermon about that from a most splendid priest -- and he said that that kind of love might become idolatry if one wasn't very careful. He said that Milton's remark about Eve -- you know, 'he for God only, she for God in him' -- was not congruous with Catholic doctrine. One must get the proportions right, and it was out of proportion to see everything through the eyes of another fellow-creature.Harriet Vane or Dorothy Sayers?Another great strong character is Harriet Vane. She appears in the novel, "Strong Poison". The character is a writer of detective novels. And if you think this is a bit meta-, you haven't heard the rest. So Harriet is on trial for poisoning Philip Boyes. Philip is a man who does not believe in marriage. Harriet agrees to live with him without marrying. Philip later changes his mind and decides to marry Harriet after all. Harriet gets angry and breaks off the relationship. Was she angry enough to kill him? I got a chill when I saw in Harriet Vane, the secret life of Dorothy Sayers. And the whole novel became a meta-mystery. Which is fiction and which is autobiographical? Peter UnpredictableThey are side characters. Parker, Miss Climpson, Harriet. I would love to talk about Bunter the faithful servant or the Wimsey family, his mother, brother Gerald and Mary. They are all important in the series. But I must now turn to Lord Peter Wimsey.British detectives are like superheroes. Sherlock Holmes, was after all, acted out by both Ironman and Dr. Strange. Armed with his smoking pipe and superior intelligence, Sherlock catches his man, "Elementary, my dear Watson". Lord Peter Wimsey has his monocle but take away his noble birth, his immense wealth, his service in the war, he would be a fairly ordinary man. In one case, it was not even he who solved it. It just somehow ringed a bell. Just because he is less of a super hero does not make him boring. Lord Peter Wimsey reminds me of another famously rash and unpredictable Peter. No, I don't mean the Apostle Peter. I mean, Peter Quill from Guardians of the Galaxy. Yes, it might be a bad idea to watch that movie and do this review because I am in danger of reviewing both and neither. If you have watched the movies, you have seen Peter Quill in the first movie. Despite every attempt to stop Ronan the Accuser, it looks like all is lost. The heroes are beaten. Ronan is giving his victory speech and then... Peter does the coolest thing ever... And if you have never watched the movie, you should watch it in disbelief. What is more, through out the movies we see in Peter Quill, beneath that devil may care cockiness, there is vulnerability and naivety that endears.If I could choose one fictional detective to be a friend, I would choose Lord Peter Wimsey. He would make a good friend, he is funny, unpredictable, loyal and such a sensitive soul. If you plan to pick up any of the Lord Peter Wimsey books, I suggest you read it in order. Otherwise you will miss out on the special events, the in-jokes, the callbacks. Just to take one example: you will miss out on the Wimsey family growing as a family. Sherlock has a brother, Mycroft. But really, other than that freakish Holmes genes, the brothers might as well be friends, colleagues or total strangers. Not so with Gerald and Peter Wimsey. Here we have history, undercurrents, family expectations and how they grow. They all grow. Parker. Climpson. Harriet. Bunter. Lord Peter Wimsey. That is what makes this such a compelling read.Write What You KnowThere is one thing that could keep people away from the series. While the language is a bit harder to get into for the casual reader, it is surpassable. A tougher barrier is the world she brings you into. You know how kids complain about getting dragged by their parents to someplace that they insist is fun but is not. In other detective books, the world is incidental. You could easily transplant the plot into a modern world. When Dorothy Sayers puts the story in Oxford University, we get the buildings, the dons, students, ceremony, the world is very real. In another book, the story is in an advertising agency. Again, we are immersed whether you like it or not into the nuts and bolts of advertising in 1920s England. Oh by the way, did I mention that Sayers studied at Oxford University and worked at an advertising agency? She writes what she knows and sometimes that means the details get in the way of the plot. Sometimes she makes a reference, she quotes something, which I just don't understand. If you like world-building in your books, Sayers is your writer. There are moments I would have given up reading if not for the ensemble of characters that I have grown to love and respect.Agatha vs. DorothyLet me conclude by putting Dorothy Sayers against her contemporary Agatha Christie. I have read all the Agatha Christie books. She wrote 66 detective novels, six times more than Sayers. Here is the difference between the two: Christie is plot-driven; Sayers is character-driven. Christie has a gimmick, the ABC murders, the Labours of Hercules, the Murder in the Orient Express. Sayers has Wimsey, Bunter, Harriet, Climpson and Parker. In Christie, it's "What will happen next?" In Sayers, it's "What will he do, what is she thinking, how does he feel?" In Christie, the world ends when the case is solved. In Sayers, the world seems to carry on.Of the eleven books, I liked the early books. They succeeded in hooking me in. The middle books can be a bit hard going. Sayers seems more confident and expects the reader to be able to go the distance with her in her world building. The series ends well. And makes the whole journey worth it. Sayers treats her characters with a lot of respect. Maybe because there is too much of her in them. Her secret sin, her life in Oxford University, working in an advertising agency. For Christians, the unique experience here is we get Dorothy Sayers the nascent theologian putting her faith into this world. A world that comes alive through the characters and the sincerity of their stories. ConclusionThis is a Reading and Readers review of the Lord Peter Wimsey series by Dorothy Sayers. I bought the 3 volume box set in Amazon Kindle for a hundred dollars. As we just heard, what Detective Parker's hobby is to read a Bible commentary. And what do you know, for August, Logos is offering a free commentary on the Letters of John. This NIV Application Commentary is written by Gary M. Burge and the series is accessible, for the busy detective seeking to wind down after a hard day's work chasing murderers, and also for you. So get this free book, while it's still August. Thanks for listening. Bye bye.Book ListThe Lord Peter Wimsey series by Dorothy Sayers. Amazon.

I know that Christ saved me. That happened 10, 20, 30 years ago. I know that Christ will save me. That may happen tomorrow, next year, or the next millennia. What I need to know is Christ is with me now. And he is because Jesus declared, "I AM". How do these two words, "I AM", assure us of his presence? Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "He Walks with Me: Enjoying the Abiding Presence of God" by Warren Wiersbe. 192 pages, published by David C. Cook in June 2016. You can get it via Amazon Kindle for USD9.99 or for the low, low price of USD1.99 via Faithlife and only in July.WiersbeWarren W. Wiersbe is a famous Bible teacher and writer. He wrote that commentary series that proves you can summarise any book in the Bible into two words. The commentary on Psalms is titled, "Be Worshipful". Galatians, "Be Free". Nehemiah, "Be Determined" and this goes for all 50 books. It tickles me that the name Wiersbe gives birth to 50 "Be ..." books. Today we are not looking at any of the "Be ..." books. Instead, we look an "I AM" book. Are you familiar with the seven "I AM" statements in the Gospel of John? If yes, how many can you remember? I am the Bread of Life.I am the Light of the World.I am the Door.I am the Good Shepherd.I am the Resurrection and the Life.I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.I am the True Vine.That's 7 "I AMs". But the book has 12 chapters. Chapter 1 is titled "Moses Asks a Question". Chapter 2 is "The Apostle John Provides Some Answers". Chapters 3 to 9 is the 7 "I AMs". Chapter 10 has the most enticing title of "The Neglected I AM". Chapter 11 is "I am Jesus". Chapter 12, the last chapter, is Living and Serving in the Present Tense. This title explains the purpose of the book. A purpose Wiersbe states way early in the preface. He writes:My past may discourage me and my future may frighten me, but “the life I now live” today can be enriching and encouraging because “Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).I Am The DoorI am familiar with the 7 "I AM" statements, having taught it in Youth Bible Studies. But I look forward to reading what Wiersbe has to offer. I hope to re-learn familiar truths and to discover new insights. And I did.Let's look at one of the statements that is often neglected. John 10:7-10 reads:So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.Twice Jesus says, "I am the door." But most people focus on what he says in verse 11, which is "I am the good shepherd."The Good Shepherd is personal, picturesque, he is the assuring figure in Psalm 23, "The Lord is my shepherd." Whereas a door... everyday we open a door. Be it our bedroom door, house door, car door and we have doors that open themselves. Doors are commonplace, mundane, and so absent from our Christian meditation. Yet Wiersbe dedicates a whole chapter to "I am the Door". Listen to this:Let’s consider first the physical aspects of the sheepfold, and then we will better understand the spiritual lessons Jesus wants to convey to us. The sheepfold was an enclosure surrounded by a wall of rocks that was too high for the sheep to jump over. The shepherds sometimes put thorny branches on the tops of the walls to deter thieves from trying to climb over. An opening in the wall allowed the sheep to enter and exit; and at night, the shepherd lay across that opening and became the door of the sheepfold.Just picture it. The Lord lies across that opening bordering life and death. The Lord has placed you and I on this side. He is the door of the sheepfold. Truth leads to praise. Praise the Lord!Now, there are people who can take that picture and run amok with it. To them preaching is creative writing and "I am the door" is a passageway to wherever the mind brings. Jesus said, "I am the door". And we all know that a door must open for it to be useful. There Jesus is telling us to be open-minded to all sorts of teaching. That's not what it says and that's not what Jesus meant. You can't just pick any Bible verse to be a doorway into whatever you want to say.By saying, "I am", Jesus is revealing who he is, and we can know who he is, by reading what else the Bible says. And that's what Wiersbe did. He models it for us. After describing how a shepherd becomes a door for his sheep, tapping into what it means for people in those times, he draws upon more than 20 Bible verses to show how the door means separation. John 7:43 reads:Thus the people were divided because of Jesus.Luke 12:51 reads:Do you think I come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.John 15:18-19 reads: If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. This is a Bible saturated book. You come away knowing that if you want to understand what the Bible says, you have to read more of the Bible and it is possible to access that understanding without specialist knowledge. But enjoying the presence of God is not just about understanding the historical and cultural context or connecting multiple Bible verses together. In the "I am the Door" chapter, he shares a children's Sunday School song:One door and only one, and yet its sides are two. Inside and outside—on which side are you? One door and only one, and yet its sides are two. I’m on the inside—on which side are you?I have never heard of this song before. There is no waffling. No ifs, buts, and maybes. On which side are you.He closes that section by writing: To stand before Jesus Christ, the Door, and make no decision at all is to stay on the outside of salvation! It means not entering the “one flock” of which Jesus is the Savior and the Good Shepherd. At the door you are in a place of decision, and to make no decision is to make a decision—the wrong one. The message is received loud and clear. Wiersbe takes what the Bible says and brings it right out to you. I Am a WormAs I read the book, one chapter after another, I was in familiar territory up till chapter 10. The mysteriously titled, "The Neglected I AM". The chapter opens with Psalm 22:6:But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. Wiersbe says it well:Up to this point, the I AM statements we have considered have all carried some dignity. There is nothing dishonorable about bread or light, shepherds or sheepfolds, resurrection or life, truth or vines; but worms are quite another matter. He then writes that he has meditated on this over the years and we have his thoughts in four sections: astonishment, adoration, shame and gratitude. Before this book, I have never thought of this "I AM" statement. But now I cannot forget it. In Genesis, God says "I AM". In Psalms, our Saviour says, "I am a worm". One is so high, one is so low. This is an example of what I love of the Bible and being a Christian. You can almost think you know enough of the Bible to no longer be surprised, but just by merely positioning one verse alongside the famous seven "I AM" verses and it opens up thought and wonder. Or as Wiersbe puts it astonishment, adoration, shame and gratitude. Book TitleI wished I read this book when I was teaching that series on the "I am" statements to my youth group. It's a great resource for any Bible teacher and Wiersbe never fails to land the lesson with an exhortation towards Christ. Love it. This is also an easy book for a group to read together. I think every Christian should study the "I am" statements. And this book might be the best book next to the Bible for that study.However, if I can make one small criticism, the title of the book does not convey what the book is about. "He Walks with Me: Enjoying the Abiding Presence of God" is not wrong but it does not tell us that this is a book about the "I am" statements. The title fails to distinguish itself from the many devotional books around. A better title is, "Jesus in the Present Tense: The I AM Statements of Christ". I didn't think of that title myself. That is the title of another Warren Wiersbe book, also published by David C. Cook. It's actually the same book with a different title. Can they do that? What happens if someone loved this book so much and he went out to buy another one, not realising it's the same book with a different title!The title "He Walks with Me: Enjoying the Abiding Presence of God" appeals to a wide range of readers, Christian or non-Christian. It's good marketing. On the other hand, "Jesus in the Present Tense: The I AM Statements of the Christ" is a title that only a Christian would love. I prefer this title. I think this title would attract the serious Christian who wants to dig deep into the I AM statements, because the life we live today is all the more richer, all the more encouraging because Christ lives in us. ConclusionThis is a Reading and Readers review of "He Walks with Me: Enjoying the Abiding Presence of God" by Warren Wiersbe. 192 pages, published by David C. Cook in June 2016. You can get it via Amazon Kindle for USD9.99 or for the low, low price of USD1.99 via Faithlife and only in June. I am a bit behind in my reviews. For the month of July, Logos is giving away Peter Wagner's commentary on Acts. I read this book more than ten years ago and was entranced, spellbound even!, by what I read. Re-reading it now, the spell has been broken. I am now somewhat annoyed, disturbed, with some of what he writes. After listening to my soon to come scathing review, you might want to read the book for yourself. So go download the July free book now in logos.com before August comes and takes it away.Thank you for listening. Bye bye.Book List"He Walks with Me: Enjoying the Abiding Presence of God" by Warren Wiersbe. Amazon. Faithlife.

As you listen to my voice, how do you know the real you is not hooked up to a machine feeding reality into your brain? Or when you go to bed at night how do you know that the world did not switch off and that when you woke up, the world switched back on. Today, dead philosophers tell us what is and what is not.Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Consequences of Ideas: Understanding the Concepts that Shaped our World" by R.C. Sproul. 224 pages, published by Crossway in 2000. In Amazon, it costs USD59.92 for the hardcover, USD19.99 for the paperback. I don't see a Kindle version. You can get it for free from Logos.com if you saw the deal last month in June. And if you didn't get the book then, I'm here to tell you what a great deal you missed.The Growl and Chuckle TeacherR.C. Sproul will be remembered in history for popularising Reformed Theology. Popularising not by bringing theology down to appeal to popular opinion but by bringing people up to gaze upon Heaven, to be in awe of the holiness of God. There are teachers who can communicate deep theology, e.g. Martyn Lloyd Jones. J.I. Packer. John Piper. But no one who can communicate and teach like Sproul, with a growl and a chuckle. One minute a profound insight, the next minute a rousing zinger. His impish jokes are classic, unforgettable, moments in church history. All this is to explain why I come to this book as a child would to his favourite teacher.Today's book is not about Theology but a close relative of it, Philosophy. In the past, I have tried to make sense of philosophy and failed. So I come to this book expecting Sproul to break it down, show us how philosophy relates to us today and all the while I want his trademark clarity and wit. Let's open the book. Hitler Does Not Want You to Read This BookThis is the introduction:"The summer of 1959: ... My biggest concern was summer employment. Many friends who were engineering students had found lucrative summer jobs that paid well above the minimum wage. My prospects were bleak: I was a philosophy major. I did not find in the newspaper a single want ad calling for philosophers. My only real option was a job for unskilled labor paying the minimum wage. Even at that I was delighted to be offered work in the maintenance department of a hospital.When the foreman heard I was a philosophy major, he handed me a broom and said, “Here, you can think all you want while you’re leaning on the broom.”I can literally hear his voice and see his grinning face when I read this. Let me continue to read from the introduction. Actually, are you interested in philosophy? Imagine that you are not. See how he hooks you in. Sproul writes: During my first week on the job, I was reaching the end of my sweeping territory. My zone ended where the main hospital driveway intersected the parking lot of the nurses’ home. I noticed another man sweeping the adjacent parking lot. He greeted me, and we exchanged names and pleasantries. When I told him I was a college student, he asked what I was studying. When I said philosophy, his face brightened and his eyes lit up. He fired a barrage of questions at me, inquiring about Descartes, Plato, Hegel, Kant, Kierkegaard, and others. I was astonished at this man’s knowledge. He obviously knew far more about philosophy than I did.My new friend was from Germany. He had his Ph.D. in philosophy and had been a professor of philosophy in Berlin. When Adolf Hitler came to power, the Nazis were not content to find a “final solution” for Jews and Gypsies. They also sought to eliminate intellectuals whose ideas were at odds with the “values” of the Third Reich. My friend was removed from his position. When he spoke out against the Nazis, his wife and all but one of his children were arrested and executed. He escaped from Germany with his young daughter.Sproul homes in to his point:I mused on something else that morning, which is why I am recounting the tale here. I was pushing a broom because I lived in a culture that sees little value in philosophy and gives scant esteem to those who pursue it. My friend was pushing a broom, on the other hand, because he came from a culture that gave great weight to philosophy. His family was destroyed because Hitler understood that ideas are dangerous. Hitler so feared the consequences of my friend’s ideas that he did everything possible to eliminate him -- and his ideas.As I did so often reading this book, I paused. I reflected on our own times. Sproul wrote this in the year 2000. At that time nobody knew critical theory or gender ideology. It was just an idea. Today, it seems to be the only thing everybody talks about. An idea with great consequence. And if you think along those lines, you can see how Marxism and Darwinism are also ideas that have -- and this is such a trite way to put it -- changed the world. Karl Marx appears in Chapter 10 of the book, Darwin in chapter 14. Marx and Darwin are known influencers. How about the less well known but no less influential? It's not just bad ideas that have consequences, how about some good ones? Who's Who of IdeasThe book starts from the First Philosophers: Thales, Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Parmenides, Zeno, Empedocles, Anaxagoras. Then we continue in the next chapters:Chapter 2: PlatoChapter 3: AristotleChapter 4: AugustineChapter 5: Thomas AquinasChapter 6: Rene DescartesChapter 7: John LockeChapter 8: David HumeChapter 9: Immanuel KantChapter 10: Karl MarxChapter 11: Soren KiekegaardChapter 12: Friedrich NietzscheChapter 13: Jean-Paul SartreChapter 14: Darwin and FreudConclusion: Gilson's ChoiceYou will note that the book is organised around individuals rather than philosophical ideas. So it's Thomas Aquinas, not Thomism; Karl Marx, not Marxism; Friedrich Nietzsche, not nihilism.And this way works. The best introduction to an idea is to understand the man. Why was Socrates forced to commit suicide? How did David Hume provoke Immanuel Kant? Soren Kierkegaard argued that in Denmark, (to quote Sproul) "the state church had reduced Christianity to an empty formalism and externalism, which in effect produces mere spectators to true Christianity." How did Kierkegaard go from here to be the father of modern existentialism?Another thing we can learn from the Table of Contents -- and by the way, if you don't know this, let me tell you, one of the best ways to figure out what a book is about is to simply look at the Table of Contents. You can get a lot from well-written, well-thought out Table of Contents. If you can't judge a book by its cover, you could very well judge it by its Table of Contents. So back to Sproul's book. From the Table of Contents we can also see that it is chronological. He starts from the Philosophers in Ancient Greece and stops at Darwin and Freud. I suppose if Sproul was alive today he might be tempted to write about critical theory. How I wish Sproul was here to explain to us how we got from philosophy professors making unintelligible prose to police arresting parents for demanding boys be boys and girls be girls. This just goes to show how philosophy never stops, there will be more ideas ahead, more consequences, thus more reasons to understand where all this is coming from. In merely 220 pages, you get a summary of this 2500 years conversation about god (small g) and reality. Some guy in Ancient Greece says something and Augustine refutes it and someone else refutes him and this continues all the way to our Postmodern World. Philosophy, not TheologySo this long conversation involves some reality-bending, mind-twisting, concepts. R.C. Sproul goes into it. He is not content to tell you amusing anecdotes, he means to teach you philosophy. He invites us to live the examined life. In Chapter 4, on Augustine, Sproul explains the big cultural influencers of the day: the Stoics, the Epicureans, the Skeptics and the Neoplatonist. On Epicureans, Sproul writes: Epicureans sought to escape the “hedonistic paradox”: The pursuit of pleasure alone ends in either frustration (if the pursuit fails) or boredom (if it succeeds). Both frustration and boredom are kinds of pain, the antithesis of pleasure. Thus Epicureans sought not the maximum pleasure but the optimum pleasure. They concluded that a wise man’s diet of bread and water will more likely bring happiness than a glutton’s diet of gourmet food.Epicureans have understood what many don't and you may be one of them. This is the “hedonistic paradox”: The pursuit of pleasure alone ends in either frustration (if the pursuit fails) or boredom (if it succeeds). If someone else wrote this book, he could at this point promote the Epicurean way of life. Epicureans have a solution to optimise pleasure and you can see their influence today in self-improvement books, gurus promote lifestyle changes, ancient wisdom packaged in bite-sized videos with click-bait titles. Yet, Sproul does not engage with the Epicureans. He could. He is an apologist. He could easily tell us the only real solution to the hedonistic paradox is the Gospel. But he doesn't do that.He introduces the Epicureans, not as a foil to tell us what we should believe and how we should live, but as the necessary background to understand Augustine, the man and his ideas. Sproul's focus throughout the book is to faithfully expound, not the Bible, but all these men and their ideas. A Philosophy Book by A ChristianFor example, it's easy to vilify Karl Marx. Marxist is a political slur. But name-calling does nothing to inform us of its attraction and frenzy-inducing power. You see, Karl Marx, with his PhD in Philosophy, has this ideal vision of society. And as we read from this book, this society makes sense. It all sounds so wonderful. Sproul tells us all of that but he is also compelled to speak up else you join the millions of people sucked into Marxism. He writes:Marx predicted that the condition of workers in capitalist societies would become steadily worse. The poor would become poorer while the rich would become richer, until the masses would revolt and take over the means of production for themselves. This was Marx’s greatest error. He assumed the myth that the rich can only get rich at the expense of the poor. One man’s gain must spell another man’s loss... No economic system has been as effective as capitalism in raising the human standard of living.The interesting thing is not that Sproul is against Marxism. If you read this book because of Sproul, you expect more arguments from Scripture. But against Marxism, he brings not the crucifixion but capitalism. This is a podcast dedicated to Christian book reviews. Surprise, surprise, today's book is not a Christian book. It is a book written by a Christian. R.C. Sproul gives us this introductory book on philosophy and so it only makes sense to counter Marxism, with the other working economic system, which is capitalism. It would be illogical to inject Christianity into the discussion because Christianity is not an economic system.However, Sproul is not conceding that Christianity should stay out of public discussions. In the first chapter, Sproul quotes Protagoras the father of ancient humanism, "Man is the measure of all things." Sproul then says, "From a biblical perspective, of course, the honor of being the first humanist does not belong to Protagoras. Indeed, it is accorded not to a man, but to a serpent whose maxim was ... “You will be like God” (Gen. 3:4). In chapter 12, Nietzsche distinguished between slave morality and master morality. The master is strong, the slave is weak. The master is his own judge, might makes right. The slave morality elevates sympathy, patience, kindness, humility and so forth. And Sproul makes a side remark that this sounds a lot like the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5. What I like about this book is how Sproul exemplifies how Christians can participate in public discourse. If you want to understand philosophy, you can get it from a Christian. You should not be worried that the author will invite you to say a word of prayer at the end of every chapter. You should be able to read a book on politics, biology, medicine, astronomy, or any other subject from a Christian writer. The Christian just like any other person has an opinion. And the Atheist who insists that his books say nothing about God is likewise expressing an opinion, and this is a consequence of an idea, traceable to a philosophy. Christian or not, you should give R.C. Sproul's book a try.Sproul guides us through the history of philosophical thought using every trick in the book: stories, diagrams, reasoning, drama and humour. And once in a while, he lets us know what he thinks. But the side remarks do not detract from what is an excellent introduction to Western Philosophy. ConclusionThis is a Reading and Readers review of "Consequences of Ideas: Understanding the Concepts that Shaped our World" by R.C. Sproul. 224 pages, published by Crossway in 2000. USD59.92 for the hardcover, USD19.99 for the paperback, no Kindle version. It was free in Logos last month, and it's now USD13.99. Is it worth paying for it? Well, that really depends on how you see value and how you see value depends on how you see reality and that is where philosophy comes in. Book List"Consequences of Ideas: Understanding the Concepts that Shaped our World" by R.C. Sproul. Amazon. Logos.

"When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." That chilling -- or is it sobering -- quote comes from Dietrich Bonhoeffer and today we will learn more about the man and more importantly, what he believes and why we must listen.Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Bonhoeffer Speaks Today: Following Jesus at All Costs" by Mark Devine. 192 pages, published by B&H Books in November 2005. It's available in Amazon Kindle for USD7.99 and through Faithlife for free. Only free in June. So you only have a few more days left for this deal. Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, SpyMark Devine is a professor at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. He has taught at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City and also served as a missionary in Bangkok, Thailand.In four words, who is Bonhoeffer? Bonhoeffer is a Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. That is the title from Eric Metaxas' biography on Bonhoeffer. I'll share more how Metaxas' book compares to Devine's later but for now those four words aptly describes the man Bonhoeffer. A man who should be more famous than James Bond. Hopefully that whets your appetite to know more about him and you can read all about him in Chapter 1 of this book, from his early childhood years to his untimely execution ordered by Hitler a few weeks before World War 2 ended. That's chapter one done so what are the rest of the chapters about?What Does He Believe?The book has five chapters:At All Costs. A one chapter biography on the man.Knowing and Doing the Will of God.The Community of BelieversWitness and RelevanceFreedom, Suffering and HopeThe question this book answers is not "Who is Bonhoeffer?", for good biographies abound, the standard in the field being Eberhard Bethge's, who was Bonhoeffer's close friend, fellow conspirator and husband to Bonhoeffer's niece. So the book does not answer, "Who is Bonhoeffer?", the book answers the question, "What does Bonhoeffer believe and how does it matter for us today?" This is primarily not a narrative. The narrative in chapter one serves as explanation and testimony for Bonhoeffer's belief, a belief which Devine analyses and calls the Church to listen. Worth Listening ToThis is Bonhoeffer's most famous quote:Cheap Grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession.Cheap grace. When someone says Christianity is very easy, no sweat, no trials, just smooth sailing all the way to Heaven, that's cheap grace. There is a cost to discipleship. That is the title of Bonhoeffer's book where that quote is found. Devine quotes this in Chapter 3: The Community of Believers. In that chapter, Devine also quotes from Bonhoeffer's booklet Creation and Fall:In man God creates his image on earth. This means that man is like the Creator in that he is free. Actually he is free only by God's creation, by means of the Word of God; he is free for the worship of the Creator. In the language of the Bible, freedom is not something man has for himself but something he has for others. No man is free “as such,” that is, in a vacuum, in the way that he may be musical, intelligent or blind as such. Freedom is not a quality of man, nor is it an ability, a capacity, a kind of being that somehow flares up in him. ... Freedom is not a quality which can be revealed—it is not a possession, a presence, an object, nor is it a form of existence—but a relationship and nothing else . ... Being free means “being free for the other.”I have not read Cost of Discipleship. I have not read Creation and Fall. But I know enough to know that when Bonhoeffer speaks, I should listen. Devine does not merely cut and paste the best bits from Bonhoeffer's writings. This is not a book of quotations.A Pastor Plots To Kill HitlerWhat is the sixth commandment? "Thou Shall Not Murder". Pastor and theologian Bonhoeffer was in a plot to assassinate Hitler. Some sought to cover Bonhoeffer by minimising his involvement in the plot. That might have worked if Bonhoeffer's own words did not incriminate him. Devine writes:When he speaks of having a clear conscience about his participation in the conspiracy to assassinate Hitler, he means something akin to the abandonment of self-justification in the matter. He means that he offers his decision to God for judgment. He means that he could no longer maintain a good conscience by attempting to keep his own hands “clean” while praying for the “success” of military and “secular” attempts to stop Hitler.This is explosive stuff. And it's not even the main part of the chapter. Bonhoeffer lives only to follow the will of God. What does following Christ and resisting Hitler mean? And dangerously, can Christians sanction violence?This assassination is just one example of how everything comes together. You have the dramatic background of Nazi Germany. You have the doctrinal rigour of a top theologian. You have the decision to follow Christ, no turning back, no turning back. Devine integrates all of them to discuss for example, church as a community, and when you talk about community, about living together under God's Word, we read Bonhoeffer starting an underground seminary. We read about his prison ministry. I quote:It is right for the Christian prisoner or missionary or exiled apostle to yearn for contact with fellow believers. The absence, not the presence, of such longings would call into question one's relationship to Christ. We were made for one another, and our relationship with Christ includes our divinely created and sustained connection to one another. It is a life-giving, mutually interdependent connection as described in 1 Corinthians 12.For Bonhoeffer, we misunderstand the constituent role of the community for the Christian life if we reduce it to a means for our individual enjoyment of other supposed blessings. Though not simply wrong, it is a distortion to think of the church as mainly the path to the benefits of knowing Christ. If you have never heard of Bonhoeffer, this could be the book that sets you off to read Cost of Discipleship, Life Together and other books. Whats The Problem With Bonhoeffer?So why do evangelicals reluctantly welcome Dietrich Bonhoeffer? Often times I read something, it mentions Bonhoeffer, then it would quickly provide a disclaimer, "But we don't believe everything that Bonhoeffer believes". I also remember R.C. Sproul commending Bonhoeffer and issuing that same disclaimer. Bonhoeffer holds to certain doctrines that we don't believe. When I came to Devine's book, I was hoping that a systematic analysis of Bonhoeffer's theology would answer this question, "Why are evangelicals so careful around Bonhoeffer?" Because this has been bugging me for a while.Devine writes of the "disproportionate welcome Bonhoeffer has received among progressivist Christians" and often times in the book shows how Bonhoeffer would have responded to such welcome. Devine writes:Theological liberals and progressives may chafe at the exclusive claims of Christ belonging to ancient, orthodox, biblical, Christian witness, but Bonhoeffer did not.Against sanguine and optimistic estimations of human nature so prominent within liberal and progressive theologies, Bonhoeffer took a dim view of humanity in its “natural” state. If I may say so, I come away from the book knowing what Bonhoeffer firmly believes, but I don't know how or why there is a disproportionate welcome for Bonhoeffer among progressivist Christians than among evangelicals. I feel that I have to read between the lines but it is not stated outright. The Dogma is the DramaI would have liked to be led down a garden path. Give me a Bonhoeffer quote. Then give me a liberal take on that quote. Make me uneasy. If this is true, then imagine the consequences. Does Bonhoeffer truly believe this? When the tension is at its peak, release me from my misery. Give me another word from Bonhoeffer that not just dismisses liberal theology but gives clear direction on how to resolve the tension. Give me the drama. And to some who think this is ugly showmanship, I quote to you Dorothy Sayers, "It is the dogma that is the drama." A writer who understands the drama of Bonhoeffer's life is Eric Metaxas. He wrote Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. Why not Theologian? It would ruin the catchy title. I give Metaxas' book an A for storytelling. It was my first introduction to Bonhoeffer and it made me cry and love him for his life in obedience to our God. I would give Devine a B or maybe a high C for storytelling. Having said that, Metaxas had a whole book to bring out the man's life, Devine had to do it in one chapter.Here is the thing, whereas the focus in Metaxas book is on the man, the focus in Devine's book is on the man's belief. And that belief is our belief, maybe. But if it is, then we must listen. Devine has given us substance, well-written, well-argued substance, and I just wished there was just a little more drama, the weighty consequence expressed as cliffhangers, cliffhangers in the Bonhoeffer past and also in our present life. Submersibles and James BondThis could be too soon to use Oceangate's submersible tragedy as an illustration -- we don't even know the cause of the implosion -- but because it's so vivid, I will do it with some assumptions.The tragedy illustrates how a man can have rock-solid conviction that innovation works, that his product is safe. Look, to prove that, he is in the submersible going down nearly 4000m under the sea. But all the talk, conviction and assurance is worth nothing when a flawed, untested, vehicle goes against the laws of physics.Similarly, a man can have rock-solid conviction on an interpretation, that his teaching is safe before the throne of God. All the talk is worth nothing when it breaks under great pressure. The story of Bonhoeffer is compelling because his life and teaching integrated so well, tested under unimaginable pressure. Before I end, I want to share with you a passage that provoked much thought in me: Many aspiring scholars pursuing the doctorate chafed at the ministry requirement then prevailing at Berlin and found ways to check off the ministry box as quickly and painlessly as possible. Not Bonhoeffer. Once his catechetical students outgrew the Sunday class, Bonhoeffer started a Thursday reading and discussion group in order to maintain his ministry among them. Papers on religious, historical, economic, and political subjects were presented by Bonhoeffer. They enjoyed field trips together, spending hours together during which these youth, many from Jewish families including several atheists, would speak their minds and challenge their teacher who patiently answered their questions. Many of these students continued to correspond with Bonhoeffer across the years. Nearly all of these students would die in Hitler's war or in the concentration camps, as would their kind teacher.How do you respond to that? Profound sadness, yes. But is it a tragedy? Or is it a triumph? Is this the outcome that we want our Sunday School teachers to aim for? Can you show me your lesson plan? Does it prepare our kids to die for Christ? If Bonhoeffer's teaching makes Christ's commands clear and compelling, do we want more of it? We are sad at the deaths of so few, but imagine if all of Germany at that time were as diligent in their Bible Study, and as committed to only Jesus is Lord. Hitler might never have been Hitler. The world's most famous spy would be James Bond. In a just world, Dietrich Bonhoeffer would be more famous than James Bond. Bond is make believe, Bonhoeffer is real. Bond got on machine gun cars against campy, creepy, sometimes even cool villains. Bonhoeffer got on radio and called Hitler a Verfuhrer, a misleader. Bond lives, dies, and comes back on screen. Bonhoeffer lives, dies and his reward for obedience is life forever more. So why does the world know and care about Bond when instead of listening to Dietrich Bonhoeffer? What more must a man do before the world will listen? ConclusionThis is a Reading and Readers review of "Bonhoeffer Speaks Today: Following Jesus at All Costs" by Mark Devine. 192 pages, published by B&H Books in November 2005. It's available in Amazon Kindle for USD7.99 and through Faithlife for free. Only free in June and there are only a few days left in June. Another free book is from Logos and that is R.C. Spoul's "The Consequences of Ideas: Understanding the Concepts that Shaped Our World". I won't be in time to release a review this month but I hope to do so next month. Wouldn't it be terrible if you heard my review and decided, "I would like to read that book" but the deal is over and I have to pay full price for it. Actually, that's not such a terrible thing. Until next time. Bye bye.Book List"Bonhoeffer Speaks Today: Following Jesus at All Costs" by Mark Devine. Amazon. Faithlife.

The way we read the Bible can affect what we get from the Bible. And since there are five ways to read the Bible there are five ways to feast on what the Bible offers. Find out more in today's episode.Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Five Models of Scripture" by Mark Reasoner. 311 pages, published by Eerdmans in August 2021. It's available in Amazon Kindle for USD19.17 and it was free last month via Logos. If you missed the free book, shame on you, but you can always make up for it by getting this month's free book from Logos and Faithlife. I'll tell you more about it at the end of the review.Roman Catholic and the ElephantIt has been said, "Seminary is where faith goes to die." There the Bible ceases to become a fount of comfort and becomes a document to dissect. Take heart, Mark Reasoner has written today's book to help everyone understand the five models of Scripture to nourish the faith. And when I say everyone, I am thinking of Protestants, Roman Catholics and Orthodox. Mark Reasoner got his MDiv and MA in New Testament from an evangelical Protestant Seminary. Then, tragically or fortunately, depending on where you stand, he became a Roman Catholic and is now teaching Scripture to undergraduates at a Roman Catholic university. Reasoner writes: I do my best to respect readers’ diverse ecclesiastical affiliations. It would have been easier to write this book simply for Catholic seminarians. But Scripture is too sumptuous a feast to limit a book like this to one branch of the family. Later he writes:Yes, I actually regard the Catholic hermeneutic, in which the Catholic Church’s teaching office provides the boundaries and referees on the field of exegesis, as preferable to the hermeneutic popularized by the Anabaptists during the Reformation, in which the individual believer marks the boundaries and functions as both player and referee. I also regard the Catholic hermeneutic with its millennia of tradition and conversations across time and cultures as preferable to approaches that have selected a single individual or limited body of believers as the arbiters of exegesis. And so there will be places where I point out the ecclesiastical stakes in a given approach to Scripture. It is better to name the elephant in the room than to proceed as if the church question does not matter in exegesis.That is a big elephant and one that jumps up every so often in this book. We will talk more about it in the second half of this review.Canon and InspirationThis is my first Roman Catholic book review. I just generally don't come across them in my reading radar. And I'm happy to read what they believe straight from the horse's mouth. For example, we know that the Roman Catholic bibles have extra books, the Apocrypha. Protestants removed them because they are not inspired. Roman Catholics and Orthodox know they are not inspired but have left them in. Why? Reasoner goes through the history of the biblical canon, how the early church dealt with the Apocrypha and amongst many points, he notes how a familiarity with the fantastic, fictive elements helps readers to:identify more non-historical elements in other narratives, such as the narrative of Jonah and the great fish or various episodes within the book of Daniel.We'll come back to what Reasoner calls fantastic and fictive elements in the Bible later. After explaining what is the Bible canon, Reasoner turns to the matter of biblical inspiration. And I like how he explains what biblical inspiration means for the Protestant (he was one before), the Catholic (who he is now) and the Orthodox. Reasoner wants to unite all Bible readers together. Is he successful? There are good reasons to be hopeful.Five Models of ScriptureHaving established what is the canon and inspiration from the perspective of Roman Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox, we go into the essence of the book: the five models of Scripture, which are:DocumentsStoriesPrayersLawsOraclesWithout knowing it, you actually employ one of those models every time you read the Bible. Reasoner tells you which model you are using. I quote:You know that someone is using the documents model when they seek to identify and argue that a specific human authored a book of the Bible ..., when they emphasise that eyewitness testimony is behind a given book of the Bible ..., when they seek to discover and prove the date(s) when a given book of the Bible was written or edited ..., when they seek to discover and prove what sources were used in the composition of a biblical book ..., when they seek to harmonise Scripture's differing accounts of the same event. Isn't that how everyone reads the Bible? No, that's how scholars read them. Children read the Bible as a story. Not just children but adults too!When you read the Bible as stories, which is the second model, you pay attention to the plot or the literary style. Even if what you are reading is not a story. What do I mean by that? The models Reasoner describes are not genres. Genres are categories of literature, they are fixed, e.g. Genesis is narrative, it is not poetry. Psalms is poetry, it is not narrative. Reasoner's models are about the way you read, while genres are about what you read. Adopting a Stories model, you can read Psalms as part of the bigger story of Israel relationship with God. The third model makes this quite clear. Everything in the Bible can be turned into prayer. If you read the Bible with that frame of mind, then you are using Reasoner's third model, the prayer model. You are not asking who wrote Psalms, when and where (that would be using the Documents model) nor are you wondering what is the plot (that's the Stories model) but rather you read the Bible in order to pray, to evoke the gift of God's revelation to touch the divine. Next is the fourth model, the laws model. Here, you think about what is right and what is wrong, you look for the moral lesson in what you read. The fifth and final model is oracles. The Fortune Cookie model. You open the Bible and a verse pops up and that verse is the answer to the problem of the day. Yes, it smacks of superstition and it breeds a consumer mentality. Initially, I rejected this as a valid model to read Scripture. But Reasoner addresses the abuses of this model. And he gently corrects me by pointing out that we all, at some point, read Scripture using the oracles model. Augustine's life was changed by one verse. You and I have stories of how that perfect verse was the answer in our time of need. I appreciate it when a book changes my mind, especially when it's backed by strong reasoning.These five "Models of Scripture" chapters are models of clarity. For each chapter, Reasoner starts with a definition and characteristics and specific applications of the model. If you still fail to understand what the definitions and characteristic means, his examples from the Old Testament and New Testament will clear everything up. Then he discusses the key issues of the model, the strengths and limitations of the model, before concluding the chapter with helpful suggestions, making a helpful distinction between the classroom and ministry. But that's only half the book! He then spends a chapter to discuss about literal and spiritual senses, another chapter on Sola Scriptura - a Roman Catholic speaking about Sola Scriptura, so much to say here but I will resist the temptation - and another chapter on metanarratives. There is - surprise, surprise! - more than one way to outline the grand story of the Bible. But these are controversial chapters.The least controversial chapters are the last, chapters 11 and 12. Scripture in Worship and Devotional, Academic and Professional Uses of Scripture. These are mild chapters in comparison and most of the time easily agreeable to all Christians.As he wrote in the introduction, Reasoner did not set out to write a book to defend the Roman Catholic faith but rather to share different ways of reading the Bible to enrich all Christians. Nevertheless, he does not shy away from asserting Roman Catholic views over Protestant's.I Beg To DisagreeI wonder whether does his interpretation of certain verses reflect the official Roman Catholic view or whether his views are even within the boundaries of acceptable Roman Catholic thought. Reasoner says that there was no big fish in Jonah, there are events in Daniel that are fictional, there was no conquest of Canaan and the list goes on.Let me pick an easy one to dismiss. Reasoner empathises with Origen's dilemma with Matthew 5:39, which reads "if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." Consider the problem. Since most people are right-handers, a slap would land on the left cheek, not on the right. Origen concludes that this means the command was not meant to be taken literally but spiritually. But I ask you, wouldn't it be easier to interpret the slap as a backhand slap, or that Jesus was looking at a left-hander when he was preaching, or maybe people that time used their left hand because they sneered, "you don't even deserve to be slapped by my right hand." Why take this command in the spiritual sense when the rest of the sermon is understood in the literal sense? At another point of the book, he writes:But once one has learned of some of the historical questions behind Scripture, such as the lack of any evidence for camels in the land of Canaan during the time of Abraham, the lack of any sign of military conquest of Canaan in the Iron Age, or the fact that Quirinius was not governor of Syria when Jesus was born (cf. Luke 2:2), then it is difficult to read the Bible simply as a compilation of time capsules. Indeed, if we are to love God with all our minds, then for those of us who have studied the Bible academically, we must read it both as scriptural time capsules and as artifacts of others’ faith. If we turn our minds off and seek to read it only as scriptural time capsules, we are not fully loving God with our minds (Deut 6:5).In Reasoner's mind, this is the best way to handle the difficulties in the Bible. If it doesn't make sense, just change the way we read it. The documents model does not fit so read it with a stories model. But Luke writes his gospel claiming it is an accurate historical record. We can't just ignore his claim, can we? So many seemingly historical inaccuracies in the Bible were later proven to be accurate! Archaeologists dig up pots, jugs and bullas, a shepherd boy throws stones into a cave and together they silence Bible sceptics everywhere. Who Shall Come To Our Aid?Looking at my long list of disagreements with Reasoner, how can we resolve this? The best way is to refer to the Roman Catholic Church.Listen to this:The Council of Trent responds to Protestant developments, and so begins its section on Scripture with an insistence that the gospel Christ proclaimed, described as “the source of all saving truth and rule of conduct,” is “contained in the written books and unwritten traditions that have come down to us, having been received by the apostles from the mouth of Christ himself.” Thus there is an emphasis that the inspiration of Scripture is not sufficient as a guide to all truth but is complemented by the traditions that have come down to us.Trent also emphasized the significance of reading Scripture with the church, instead of trying to interpret it on one’s own in ways that depart from what the church, including the church fathers, has taught. To me, this begs the question, if a church father or a pope flatly dismisses Reasoner's interpretation, what will Reasoner do? Does he meekly submit to tradition even though those people in the past never thought of or considered Reasoner's points? Or does Reasoner hold on to his convictions that depart from what the church, including the church fathers, has taught? Come on, did the early church believe that the conquest of Canaan was fiction, or that Jonah's big fish was a fisherman's exaggeration for spiritual effect? Reasoner mentions at one point that everyone, including Protestants have their own body of authority, their own traditions and church fathers to appeal to. Yes, but Protestants are brought up to believe that if any of our authorities got it wrong, then they are wrong! Are popes infallible? Smart Enough to Solve a Jigsaw PuzzleAlthough Reasoner does not say so in this book, I think Roman Catholics believes so. And Roman Catholics have a reason to believe that people in the past got things perfectly right. After all, they were wise enough to assemble the Bible together.Reasoner writes:It was the church that selected and canonized Scripture. And as we will see in the sola Scriptura chapter, the church is necessary for guiding our reading of Scripture. Catholic and Orthodox theologians are more likely to include the church in their discussion of the origin of Scripture’s authority. They emphasize that it is the church that has recognized Scripture as inspired and therefore invested it with authority. This leads to a more tradition-conscious way of reading Scripture. If one views Scripture as simply falling out of heaven, there is more of a tendency to use one interpretation of it as the only legitimate interpretation, which all people must heed. If one by contrast views Scripture as the church’s book, one will not accept only one interpretation as legitimate until one has considered how the tradition has handled the passage.Both Catholic and Orthodox churches view Scripture as the creation of the church. In their consciousness, Scripture was composed by, collected by, and canonized by the church. Protestants by contrast, ..., are more prone to treat God’s word as its own category, closer to the doctrine of God and not inside the doctrine of the church.Later on Reasoner writes: Catholic and Orthodox theologians prioritize the church over Scripture, emphasizing that this priority occurs in history and in logic. By “history” I mean the fact that the church came into being first, and then centuries later defined its canon of Scripture. By “logic” I mean the idea that the text of Scripture only functions as Scripture when it is read and interpreted within the church.In response, I quote Charles Spurgeon who said, "The church does not determine what the Bible teaches, the Bible determines what the church must teach."To illustrate, I ask that you imagine in front of you a pile of jigsaw puzzle pieces. A big glorious mess. Your job is to assemble the puzzle but there are some pieces that don't actually belong there. So you set to work. And you solved the puzzle. You deserve some credit for solving the puzzle, but you could only solve it because you recognised the colour, the lines and how each piece connects to one another, so that you can assemble it the whole thing, right? So the key to assembling the puzzle is because there was a final picture fixed beforehand, correct? Imagine another person who grew weary solving the puzzle. He decides to glue the pieces together, oh never mind if it doesn't fit, or if the picture doesn't make sense, just as long as I get something to fit the picture frame. At the end, he declares, "This is the final picture because I got it to fit into the frame!" If you believe that people can be smart enough, wise enough, to put together the Holy Word of God, then of course it is reasonable to give weight to tradition. But if you believe that God first established the Bible and it is a miracle of the first order that the early church recognised the pieces for what they were, the same Holy Spirit wrought miracle that got us to recognise the Word for what it is, then you would also believe that priority goes to that shining beacon of Truth, Scripture, not the Church. And we would be less inclined to see the Church and tradition as infallible or even as helpful as others do.A Better Book?How did we get here? We started with the problem that people only knew how to read the Bible in one way and didn't get the full nourishment it offers. Reasoner gives us five models with some discussions on how to read the Bible. Alongside the good, he gives what I think are bad interpretations. I make a list. He says interpretations should be subject to church and tradition. I say, "Oh dear". He says it was the church who established the Bible. I say "Ah, that's why everything is wrong." Would this be a better book if Reasoner wrote it without these Roman Catholic hot takes? You see, anybody could have written a book on the five models of Scripture and gave it a different spin. Instead of saying, "We should consider changing the model when things don't make sense", we could say, "Let's consider the genre of the book, does the genre demand from us to take it as a historical document?" By the way, this book really needs a discussion on literary genre. Instead of saying, "This doesn't make sense let us read it allegorically or spiritually", we could say, "Have we dug deep enough? Are we humble enough to wait?" Science, history, linguistics and divine intervention have made Bible skeptics eat humble pie.In conclusion, Reasoner's book is great as an introduction to this five models of Scripture. He seeks to unite but the thoughtful Protestant will meet resistance. What I tried to do in today's review is to identify the root cause of this resistance. It's ironic that the reason we differ so much is, ultimately, we hold to a different model of Scripture. ConclusionThis is a Reading and Reader's review of "Five Models of Scripture" by Mark Reasoner. 311 pages, published by Eerdmans in August 2021. It's available in Amazon Kindle for USD19.17 and it was free last month via Logos. For the month of June, the Logos free book is "The Consequences of Ideas: Understanding the Concepts that Shaped Our World" by R.C. Sproul. And in Faithlife, their free book for June is "Bonhoeffer Speaks Today: Following Jesus at All Costs" by Mark Devine. I'm a big fan of Sproul and of Bonhoeffer so I really hope I can review these two books before the deal ends. But really, why take that risk. Just get the two books now and figure out later whether you will actually read it. Go on. This episode is finished, so that you can get those free books. Bye bye!Book ListFive Models of Scripture by Mark Reasoner. Amazon. Logos.

If you are a Christian, have you ever wondered how life would be if you chose to an Atheist or if you were born in a Muslim family? If you are not a Christian, what would change if you had embraced Jesus as Lord and Saviour? Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "What's Your Worldview? An Interactive Approach to Life's Big Questions" by James N. Anderson. 112 pages. Published by Crossway in January 2014. This book was awarded World Magazine's 2014 Popular Theology Book of the Year. It's available for USD7.99 via Amazon Kindle and free via Faithlife for the month of May. Yes, for a limited time, you can get this book for free through Faithlife, so just stop whatever you are doing and do that. Before There Were Game MachinesBefore Gameboys, I played game books. Game books are page turners, literally. You are a warrior searching for treasure in the forest. A troll ambushes you. What do you do? To fight, turn to page 10; to flee, turn to page 37. You turn pages to eventually know how your story ends.Story books give you immersion. Game books give you immersion and decisions. Can we use game books, not to explore a make-believe world, but to explore beliefs and worldviews? You are a man, a woman, searching for meaning in the world. A Professor of Theology and Philosophy ambushes you. What do you believe? Is there a God? If you say yes, turn to page 10; if you say no turn to page 37. You turn pages to eventually discover your worldview.Who was that Professor of Theology and Philosophy who ambushed you? The writer of today's book, Dr. James Anderson, a Professor at Reformed Theological Seminary, is also an ordained minister in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He has two PhDs. The first PhD was in computer simulation. The second PhD explored the paradoxical nature of certain Christian doctrines and the implications for the rationality of Christian faith. With the power of his two PhDs, Dr. Anderson has seen a million possible worlds, a multiverse of madness, and reveals that there is only one worldview that truly explains the reality you and I live in. A Million Possible Worlds But Only One Is TrueThe first cosmic question he throws at you is: "Do you have the Power to Make Free Choices?" In just 200 or so words, Anderson takes is a head-spinning philosophical question and breaks it down to a street level. The chapter begins: "Chips or salad? Diet Coke or Dr Pepper? Dine-in or take-out?" He continues to give us just enough background for us to understand and attempt the question, "Do you have the Power to Make Free Choices?" Yes or no. Turn to the corresponding page. Once you have made your choice, you are set on a pre-determined path that branches off into more and more questions until you reach a destination. That destination is 1 of 21 listed worldviews. Based on your choices, this is what you believe. Or is it? Let's do one question in depth to see how this book works. Let's consider: "The Knowledge Question". "Is it possible to know the truth?" Anderson sets up the question: Most people would agree that we have intellectual faculties, such as reason and perception, that allow us to investigate matters of interest to us and to discover the truth about those matters. Even if we don’t have absolute certainty about most things, we can still know a great deal about ourselves and the world around us by using our intellectual faculties in responsible ways. Later he writes: Other people, however, take a much lower view of the human mind. They insist that even if there is objective truth about important matters, no one can really know what it is. Everyone has his own opinions, and some of those opinions may happen to be true, but no one’s opinions are more or less reasonable than anyone else’s. Certainly no one has any right to say she knows the truth. We’re all mired in ignorance, and the sooner we accept that the better.The question is: "Is it possible to know the truth -- at least some truth?"If you say yes, go to this page. If you say no, go to that page. What is your answer? I know your answer is yes, of course it's possible to know the truth or some truth, but just for fun, out of curiousity, let's explore the other answer. What if it's not possible to know the truth. I turn to that page and I am greeted in big letters, "Worldview: Skepticism". Anderson explains that Skepticism is attractive because it's humble to say, "I don't know" but skepticism is wrong because it's hubris to say, "Nothing can be known". First, what you say is not consistent with how you live. If you truly believe that there is no possibility to know things, then "our everyday decisions and actions would be pointless and worthless". Second, it is self-defeating. "If you want to be a consistent Skeptic, you should be as doubtful about Skepticism as you are about everything else." Do you want to re-consider your answer? That's easy because every worldview ends with an invitation to go back to the earlier question. Before I knew it, I finished the book, meaning I went through every possible path in the book. It's been a long time since I finished 100% of a game.Choose Your WorldviewI could read out all the questions you would encounter in the book but that will just spoil it, it would kill the fun. Not knowing what questions will come up is part of the reading experience. The experience of surprise and delight."Oh, I didn't expect him to ask this question." "Hmm... if I answer it this way, what will be the outcome?" "I didn't realise if I believe in this, then it also means I believe in that."Anderson is giving me enough rope to hang myself with, meaning his questions prompts answers where I incriminate myself. What I claim to believe is inconsistent with how I live. In the hands of another author, you might feel bullied by the incessant questions and manic compulsion to take a position but in the hands of James Anderson, it is all in good fun. It is a game. An intellectually satisfying puzzle where you can trace the logical cause and effect every step of the way. When he asks a question, he doesn't stack the deck to make you choose 'the correct answer', the Christian answer, but he poses it in such a way that all the choices are reasonable. Clear Christian BiasBut reasonable does not mean it's true. People have reasons to believe that the Earth is flat, that doesn't mean it's true. If you are worried that Anderson's book ends up like one of those small group session where everyone shares an opinion but nobody has a conclusion, then be assured that Anderson has a conclusion. As Anderson tells us upfront, everyone has biases. Anderson is a seminary professor and an ordained minister, but more importantly he is a Christian so he can't and mustn't end on all religions are true, all paths lead to God. That's pluralism, by the way, not Christianity. His Christian bias shows up not just in what he considers as the correct worldview, it also comes up when he evaluates other worldviews. Anderson asks, "Can a God that is less than purely good be worthy of the title 'God'?" In another place, he asks, "Would a God who is neither personal nor perfect be worthy of our love and our worship?" These are Christian presuppositions. If I was a non-Christian, I would argue, "Why not? Why can't God be flawed like the Greek or Norse gods. Why should God desire our love or worship? It is what it is." Hang on, would a non-Christian even open this book? It's so obviously a Christian book designed to challenge our worldviews. That sounds as enticing as jumping into a pool of thumbtacks. Boundary Markers For Non-BigotsThe appeal to non-Christians here is truth packaged in an interactive back and forth with a friendly tone and intellectual honesty. He sets up the question as briefly and as fairly as he can, then responds to your answer by admitting the attractiveness of the position but also the problems that arises. If you are not a Christian, you might object that Anderson has exaggerated the problems. But you can't expect too much from a short 100 page book that covers Atheism to Unitarianism. Or you might object that it's too simplistic or your worldview is not covered or some other objections. To his credit, Anderson pre-empts many of these objections in the Appendix of the book including a straightforward answer to those who question the Christian bias in the book.The intellectual honesty is not just in how he brings out opposing views and at the same time asserting his own convictions. That is hard to do but perhaps harder now than ever is being able to set boundary markers without being called a bigot. Is it possible to draw a battle line without engaging in battles? Yes, if you role play it. The same way how gamers can take turns playing Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists. So in a unique way, the format of the book allows non-Christians to explore worldviews, maybe discovering their own and understanding others, without being defensive or antagonistic about it.After finishing the book, I wondered whether a "Choose Your Adventure" approach could be used to explore the different cults and denominations within Christianity. But how would you arrange the cults and denominations so that you could separate them with one big question after another. What is the one question that would separate Roman Catholics from Baptist? Or one question to distinguish Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons. It's not easy to design a series of questions that would gradually put each group in its rightful place. After thinking how difficult, if not impossible to do it for groups within Christianity, I gained a new appreciation for Anderson's success here. He makes it look so easy. For The Explorers Among YouI mentioned at length how non-Christians would receive this book because I think the book's format makes it a curious novelty for even the most hostile reader. Let's turn now to the Christian. Christians in general will like the book because it affirms what you always believed to be true and it's always nice to have our Christian biases confirmed by err... other Christians. But I want to zoom in to a particular sub-group of Christians that I think will greatly benefit from this book. The people who grew up in Christian homes, Sunday schools, youth meetings, and churches who feel like they never had a real choice in what to believe. They are taught, some would say brainwashed, that other worldviews, beliefs and religions are not just wrong, but evil. Then they meet people outside of church who are kinder, smarter, more sincere and more open than the people they know in church. Maybe they have a reverse Road to Damascus encounter, a pagan epiphany. There is no progress for the pilgrim. They deconstruct their faith. They conclude that Christianity is irrational. They come out of the church and celebrate their de-conversion. What if before all that happened, they were able to explore other worldviews without feeling conflicted about reading the Quran or listening to Richard Dawkins. Maybe by making it forbidden, the church has also made those worldviews attractive and more powerful than they really are. This book allows you to enter so-called forbidden worldviews. You pick up a worldview, just as you would play a role in a game. And as you run through this simulation, you see how it ends and thus you save yourself from what was at first an enticing worldview, but in reality an intellectual, spiritual anti-climatic dead end. This book is good for the Non-Christian to enter the worldview of the Christian and see how Christianity does make sense and it is beautiful. It is also good for the Christian to simulate an alternate worldview without losing the soul. ConclusionThis is a Reading and Reader's review of "What's Your Worldview? An Interactive Approach to Life's Big Questions" by James N. Anderson. 112 pages. Published by Crossway in January 2014. This book was awarded World Magazine's 2014 Popular Theology Book of the Year. It's available for USD7.99 via Amazon Kindle and free via Faithlife for the month of May.If you like another book to share with non-Christians, turn to Episode 47 of Reading and Readers and listen to my review of "Why Believe?" by Neil Shenvi.If you want a big book answer to the Free Choice question, you can turn to Episode 7: "Providence" by John Piper.If you want to read something different, perhaps how to read the Bible in more than one way, subscribe to Reading and Readers to get the next episode where I review "Five Models of Scripture" by Mark Reasoner, a book free from Logos for May. So get in May, without delay.Thank you for listening. Bye bye.Book List"What's Your Worldview? An Interactive Approach to Life's Big Questions" by James N. Anderson. Amazon. Faithlife.

The loudest alarm clock, the most inspiring motivation speaker, even a world-ending earthquake can do nothing to get a tired, overwhelmed, sad soul out of bed. What all of them can't do, a humble, gentle, book can.Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review, "On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living" by Alan O. Noble. 120 pages. Published by Inter-Varsity Press in April 2023. It's available in Amazon Kindle for USD14.99. If not for this podcast, I never would have come across this gem. Last year, I reviewed "The Care of Souls" by Harold Senkbeil. Good book. Check out my review. I then followed Senkbeil in Twitter. March this year, he tweeted and brought to my attention Alan Noble's new book. In that tweet, I listened to Noble read the introduction. As soon as it came out, I got out of bed, I got out my wallet, I got out my device to read it. What a great chapter. I shared it. This is another great chapter and I shared that too. And I had to stop myself before I copied the whole book and get arrested for copyright.The book is so good that the professor of psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary, Siang-Yang Tan, writes:Alan Noble has given us another great gift in writing this short, honest, and deeply moving book on the powerful witness to the goodness of life and of God of simply getting out of bed each day, especially when we experience mental suffering or affliction. It contains many gems of wisdom and profound truth, such as living one day at a time, one step at a time, accepting God's love and grace and the help of others -- including mental health professionals and lay people -- and reaching out to others in community. Highly recommended.I might as well end the review here right? You already know what I think of the book, but stay so that I can tell you more about the book.This might be the book you never knew you needed to read. The Author's Great Existential Question For YouBe honest with yourself, there are days when you don't want to get out of bed. Maybe it's today! And you don't have to have a diagnosed debilitating disease to feel that way. You could have some something unnamed, probably trivial in the eyes of some people, and it's weighing heavily on you. It's nothing you need to see a doctor for, it's just the everyday stress and pressure of life. But sometimes it can be too much and you just want to stay in bed, hide under the covers and hope that the storm will pass. Bring a torchlight and take this book with you. Listen to Alan Noble. He knows what he is talking about. Alan Noble is a professor and professors know their stuff. He is an author of many books and articles. And I'll have you know that his dissertation title was, "Manifestations of transcendence in twentieth-century American fiction: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Carson McCullers, J.D. Salinger, and Cormac McCarthy." "Wait. What? Did you just say F. Scott Fitzgerald? American fiction?"Yeah! Alan Noble is Associate Professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University. He has two other books on Amazon, "You Are Not Your Own: Belonging to God in an Inhuman World" and "Disruptive Witness: Speaking Truth in a Distracted Age". And his latest book is on mental suffering. I know what you are thinking. If you have a plumbing problem you find a plumber. If you have a car problem, you ask a mechanic. If you have a mental problem, you need a mental health professional. What can one get from an English professor? Well, one hopes for a well-written book. And we have that. It's not high brow literature. It's eight chapters of soul food written for the common man. For the common man has a common ailment. Listen to this, I quote: We have many terms for the different types of mental affliction that humans experience: depression, anxiety, clinical depression, melancholy, despair, low self-esteem, trauma, lethargy, boredom, guilt, lack of ambition, laziness, mourning, a failure to launch, exhaustion, burnout, mental illness, mental disorder and so on. We have a massive medical field devoted to treating the problem through medication and therapy. We have a million self-help books and life coaches and social media mindset influencers to inspire us. But here's the thing: each morning it's you. Each morning you must choose to get out of bed or not. All the medication and cognitive therapy and latest research and self-care in the world can't replace your choice. This decision can be aided by these resources but never replaced by them. Which means that you have to have an answer to a fundamental question: Why get out of bed? Or, more bluntly, why live? There are so many ways to answer that question: Why live? Take any person, real or fictional, and imagine asking that question to him or her. Some dismiss it. Some get drunk. Some seize the day. Others hide in their beds. "Why live?" is the great existential question. And Noble answers it in a series of essays, or chapters. I don't want to quote too much from the book because it's only a hundred page long. So I'll give you my impression of the book without spoiling your potential enjoyment of it. Biblical WisdomOne way to describe it is to refer to the Bible's different genres. The Bible has historical narratives. This book is not telling a story of the author, of his struggles with mental suffering, and it's refreshing to read a book where someone does not feel the need to put himself in the book to make a point. The Bible also have epistles, letters written to the person or to the church. Noble writes in a conversational style, not in a dry detached voice of the lecturer. And like Paul, Peter and the epistle writers, Noble's intention are noble, he writes for the good of the readers. However, if we were to fit this book to a biblical genre, it would be the wisdom literature. It's like a cross between Ecclesiastes and the Book of Job, the quintessential book on suffering. Generally, the epistles start from theological truths and move towards praxis, how the believer lives according to the Word. If the epistles are top down, then Ecclesiastes and Job are bottom up. The readers meet them where they are hurting, where they are confounded. They bring up human observations, sometimes flawed, into the discourse. God and His Revelation is still above human thoughts, but you can see in the text people grappling with how to make sense of the world. I bring up the Bible genres because I want to show how the Bible itself validates an honest wrestling with the Word and the world. We know that the Gospel is the answer to all our suffering. Convinced of this great truth, some think that the only way to speak life to another is to preach and preach and preach until the pain is exorcised away. Alan Noble does not start at Genesis, then the Gospels, to end at Revelation. And how ironic it would be to comfort a suffering friend by preaching from Job. Job, of course, asked his preachy friends to be quiet, for that is wisdom.Unlike Job's friends, Alan Noble has better bedside manners. Whether you rely on psychologists or psychiatrists, or think of suicide or seek attention, he does not blame or accuse. A safe book for sensitive souls. American FictionAnother unique strand of this book is the American Fiction aspect. For a book on suffering, Noble does not tell Job's story, he mentions Job once, and assumes you know it. Instead, Noble tells us the story from Cormac McCarthy's book, "The Road". In chapter three, Noble writes that things can get so bad that "it feels rational to give up on life." And while friends "will remind you that you are wrong, that it's the illness talking and life is worth living," it is difficult to trust others because it's you who is suffering not them. Noble then writes:This is precisely the situation the nameless wife in Cormac McCarthy's novel The Road finds herself in. By every rational materialist calculation, suicide is the most ethical and appropriate response to a world of evil and suffering. She, her husband, and their young son are alive at the end of civilization. The sun is darkened by ash. Nothing grows. Everything and everyone has died or is dying. Every day brings a new horror. There is every reason to believe that even if they manage to fight off starvation and the elements, they will eventually be captured, raped and eaten alive by cannibals. When she lays out the case for suicide to her husband, he can offer no rebuttal -- because there is none. The facts are the facts. Staying alive will lead to greater agony. When you no longer have hope for a pleasurable life, when you have every expectation of increased suffering, suicide is logical -- unless the reason we choose to go on living is something greater than pleasure, or freedom from pain, or even hope for a better tomorrow. I was thinking of stopping here. But that would be an unbearable cliffhanger, and you should in this episode get a resolution, a partial one at least, for the full one, you would have to get Noble's book, or read the McCarthy novel. Noble continues: And yet her husband refuses to join her, and he prevents her from taking their son with her. Despite the persuasiveness of his wife's argument, despite all the evidence that seems to confirm her decision (the man and his son are very nearly caught by cannibals at least twice after she dies), the father chooses to keep his son alive. McCarthy forces us, through the father, to grapple with the question at the heart of life: Why is life worth all this agony? And while the father cannot verbally respond to his wife's argument that suicide is the least harmful response to suffering, his embodied answer is powerful and is validated by the ending of the novel.Thankfully, I didn't have to read the novel to know how it resolves. Through this book, Noble has kind of spoiled the ending. But he must reveal it. Because he uses that story as one of the vehicle to explore the question of "Why live?" and Noble must give us an answer or risk the wrath of his readers. And so he does. And his answer is familiar to Christians. It's familiar to anyone who reads the Bible. And yet, even though we know it, the truth remains comforting, lovely, motivating, sufficient for us to get out of bed, to do the next thing, to worship God in the small act of living. Semantic Differences AsideBefore I end this review, I do have one criticism, and it's the only one. And I will even say upfront that it's a difference in semantics. Noble uses a particular word with a particular meaning, while I use the same word in a different way. Otherwise, Noble and I should be in total agreement, I cannot imagine him disagreeing with me. I just have to point this out because some readers may walk away with a wrong understanding. Let me read and you try to detect what I see is the problem. This comes from chapter eight, where he wants to end the book by assuring the reader that God's love is not conditional on your usefulness. I quote: Usefulness is the sole criterion for the World, the Flesh, or the Devil. But you have no use value to God. You can't. There is nothing He needs. You can't cease being useful to God because you were never useful to begin with. That's not why He created you, and it's not why He continues to sustain your existence in the world. His creation of you was gratuitious, prodigal. He made you just because He loves you and for His own good pleasure.If Noble was only attacking usefulness as defined by the World, the Flesh and the Devil, then I would cheer him on. But when he claims that there is no aspect or sense of our usefulness to God, I say this is a marked contradiction of what Scripture teaches. 2 Timothy 2:20–21 (ESV) reads:Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.I cannot imagine Alan Noble rejecting the clear teaching of Scripture so I emphasise that he is directing his fire against our need to feel useful, to be useful, in order to be of worth, in order to be worthy to live. This is the deadly mind virus going around. And it harms people created in God's image: old people, sick people, depressed people. However, there is such a thing as godly usefulness. And it's not preaching, serving, church-planting, teaching, helping, doing whatever deeds great and small, because what then can we say to people who can't do any of them. We have merely listed all the things they cannot do, and have made them more worse off than ever. But if we read 2 Timothy carefully, receiving it to teach, reprove, correct and train us for righteousness, we see that what is needed to be useful is to be cleansed from what is dishonourable. That is what the text says. Later, we also read that what we need to be equipped for every good work is Scripture.And if I define usefulness in these terms, which I believe is how the Bible defines usefulness, then Noble and I are in total agreement because all the advice that he gives, all the reasons that he gives to carry on the burden and gift of living, are rooted in Scripture. In a way, he is using Scripture to cleanse us from dishonourable thoughts, dishonourable thoughts we have of God and of ourselves so that we can worship God for his goodness, and the goodness that he created in us. As I said earlier, Noble and I are not in disagreement, but the way he explains usefulness only considers worldly usefulness and not Biblical or godly usefulness. ConclusionIn conclusion, this is a book that I wished I had read when I was younger, going through my own existential demons. It's a book I am glad to read now, for there have been days, and there will be days, when I would say, "The bed is my refuge", when it should be God. I share Alan Noble's confidence that:suffering -- even profound mental affliction and personal tragedy -- is a normal part of human life.And since suffering is here to stay, will you not consider some wisdom to face it?This is a Reading and Readers review of "On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living" by Alan O. Noble. 120 pages. Published by Inter-Varsity Press in April 2023. It's available in Amazon Kindle for USD14.99.My next book review will be on "What's Your Worldview? An Interactive Approach to Life's Big Questions" by James N. Anderson. This book won the World Magazine 2014 Popular Theology Book of the Year. It's free for May from Faithlife. So please get it before the deal is off. I have the book. I have finished the book but it's so good that I bought ten hard copies just to give them away. I can't wait to tell you more about this interactive approach to life's big questions. Until then, bye bye. Book List"On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living" by Alan O. Noble. Amazon.

Do you know how to pray? In one of his books, A.W. Tozer wrote:Some of the churches now advertise courses on how to pray. How ridiculous! That is like giving a course on how to fall in love.And I got that quote from his book on prayer! How ridiculous! Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Prayer: Communing with God in Everything - Collected Insights from A.W. Tozer" compiled by W.L. Seaver. 224 pages, published by Moody Publishers in February 2016. It's available for USD1.99 in Amazon Kindle and it was the Free Book for April in Faithlife. And it's now May. Oops!Writing on Tozer and CatsIf you asked me, "Who is A.W. Tozer?" One answer would be, "He is your grandfather's Paul Washer." By that I don't mean that they hold the same doctrine. It's that they both don't pull their punches. Their words are daggers plunging into the all-too-comfortable Christian soul. Today's book is a collection of Tozer's writings compiled by W.L. Seaver. Seaver has another book on Tozer titled, "Fiery Faith: Ignite Your Passion for God" but, far more curious is a three book series titled, "Purring in God's Ears". Seaver, good man that he is, rescues wild and dumped cats. He writes:God used the cats I was caring for to care for me in this difficult time just as He used the ravens with Elijah. I felt as though the feral cats ministered to me more than I helped them.As I became acquainted with each cat, their unique purr, and their special story that covers many years, I was inspired to write about them.Cat-lovers out there, these three books are for you. I'm a dog-person myself so I will satisfy myself with Seaver's other great love, the writings of A.W. Tozer. So, let's turn to today's book, "Prayer: Communing with God in Everything - Collected Insights from A.W. Tozer" by W.L. Seaver.Seaver begins his introduction with these words: With fear and trembling, I approached this task of compiling Tozer’s words on prayer and praying. I tried to avoid it, but the Spirit kept drawing me back to the riches of the topic for myself and others.Later, Seaver explains how the book is structured:the first twenty-two chapters of this book focus on Tozer’s writings from sixteen books that deal with some aspect of prayer. The next three chapters are snippets from some sermons that deal with prayer and related topics. The last three chapters are excerpts from two major sermons that Tozer gave on prayer. To help us reflect and respond, each chapter concludes with a response section, “To Reflect and Apply,” which includes questions and action steps. In addition, chapters one through twenty-five have a transition section, “Exploring with Tozer,” that amplifies on Tozer’s thoughts on the specific prayer topic.Prayer Changes PeopleFor today's review, let me read from Chapter 13, titled, "Prayer Changes People -- And Things". This is one of the shorter chapters in the book, so I will read it out in full. No one who has read the Bible with any perception can fail to see that to God, men and women are more important than things. A human being is of more value than a thousand galaxies of stars or a million worlds like ours. God made man in His own image and He made things to serve man. His concern is with intelligent moral beings, not with lifeless matter.However, since every person has a material body and must live out his days in an environment of matter, time, and space, things are important to him. His earthly life is to a large degree interwoven with matter and the laws that control matter. He is often deeply affected by the report his senses bring him from the world around him. Situations sometimes develop where the welfare of the inner man is for the time allowed to depend somewhat upon outward circumstances. At such times it is altogether proper that he should pray to God to alter those circumstances and “change things” to afford a more favorable climate for the growth of the Spirit. A thousand promises are recorded in the Scriptures to encourage him to ask and seek and knock to the end so that unfavorable things might be changed or removed altogether. And the history of Israel and the church abundantly demonstrates that God does hear and answer prayer.In all our praying, however, it is important that we keep in mind that God will not alter His eternal purposes at the word of a man. We do not pray in order to persuade God to change His mind. Prayer is not an assault upon the reluctance of God, nor an effort to secure a suspension of His will for us or for those for whom we pray. Prayer is not intended to overcome God and “move His arm.” God will never be other than Himself, no matter how many people pray, nor how long nor how earnestly.God’s love desires the best for all of us, and He desires to give us the best at any cost. He will open rivers in desert places, still turbulent waves, quiet the wind, bring water from the rock, send an angel to release an apostle from prison, feed an orphanage, open a land long closed to the gospel. All these things and a thousand others He has done and will do in answer to prayer, but only because it had been His will to do it from the beginning. No one persuades Him.What the praying man does is to bring His will into line with the will of God so God can do what He has all along been willing to do. Thus prayer changes the man and enables God to change things in answer to man’s prayer.That was a selected extract from Tozer's book, "The Price of Neglect". And with that reading you have a sense of Tozer's way with words. He speaks plainly, meaningfully, powerfully. He makes us ponder on our spiritual life. It made Seaver ponder on prayer so much so that he collected those sayings and compiled a book on them. And he adds his own thoughts to the mix.Seaver reads "Prayer Changes People" and Abraham comes to mind. How Abraham lingered before the Lord and prayed for Sodom and Gomorrah. Seaver concludes this chapter's reflection by writing: This whole prayer experience changed Abraham, Lot, Lot’s family, and all the people in Abraham’s sphere of influence. But even more, it changed not only Abraham’s walk with the Lord but his prayer life (see Gen. 20:7, 17). May we be willing to embrace such change to further God’s glory!After we read Seaver's reflection, he invites us to join him, as if saying, "You have seen me do it, now it's your turn." He gives you a quote from Tozer, and asks: what do you think of this statement, how can you apply it, what is your experience in living out what Tozer said and so on. These questions are suitable for small groups and for the individual reader. And that's it. That's how each of the chapters are like. Let me now give you my thoughts on the book as a whole. Ridiculous! Ridiculous!If you know Tozer, you know that he gets quoted for outrageous things. The crowd roars with approval but some of us take a hesitant step back.Take that quote at the start of this episode. Is it so ridiculous to teach people to pray? Isn't it harsh to say that teaching people to pray is like teaching people to fall in love? If falling in love happens naturally, is Tozer saying that prayer should not be taught?But didn't a barber write to Martin Luther asking how to pray? Luther didn't rebuke him! Don't we have early church writings that instructed early Christians on how to pray? Wait a minute, the disciples themselves asked Jesus, 'Teach us how to pray' and Jesus did! How can Tozer say it is ridiculous to teach people how to pray, when the Master did so?And that is the thing with Tozer quotes -- and I should know, I have two books of Tozer quotes -- they are easily taken out of context. Do you know what he wrote before he ridiculed churches for advertising courses on prayer? He quoted Luke 11:1. He tells us that we need to learn how to pray from Jesus. Jesus was on his mind when he ridiculed what those churches were doing.And if you read the sentences that follow after, you will see that Tozer is not against teaching on prayer, he is for teaching on prayer with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit takes the things of God, translates them into language our hearts understand. Even if we do not know the will of God, the Holy Spirit does know and He prays "with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26).Modernism and Post-ModernismWhen you read Tozer, you need to remember that he is a man of his time. He lived back when Modernism was emerging. Modernism says that we can manage our faith like how we manage our factories. We just need the practical steps, an effective technique to teach them, an attractive way to advertise them, and all will be well. Today, Modernism is bankrupt like some banks we know. Broken cisterns without water. Churches without the Holy Spirit. Surely, now people will turn to the Truth. That didn't happen. After Modernism is Post-modernism. Whereas before, truth was material, practical and manageable, now, there is no Truth or Everything is Truth. The Lie is Dead. Long Live the Lie.This explains why Tozer still reads well today. We are children of Modernism living in a Post-Modern age. And Tozer calls out the delusion of both.Tozer vs. Classic Books on PrayerTozer didn't write today's book. Seaver selected and annotated Tozer's works. Therefore, by design, this is not a cohesive, focused, guide on prayer. For that you could read Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God by Tim Keller or The Hidden Life of Prayer by David McIntyre or Praying the Bible by Donald Whitney. If you are looking to be inspired you can read Piercing Heaven: Prayers of the Puritans, a collection edited by Robert Elmer. My personal favourite book on prayer would be the classic Power through Prayer by E.M. Bounds. So when stacked against classic books on prayer, masterfully written, is Tozer worth reading? If yes, why settle for a hodgepodge book instead of a real Tozer book? The Worth of a Collected TozerTo the first question, is it worth reading Tozer? If your prayer life has grown cold, then you need this book like a vampire needs a stake in the heart. Piercingly painful but a release from a tortured life is better than the alternative. See what I did there? That was my own Tozerism. A shocking line easily misunderstood without the follow up.There are many great writers on prayers and Tozer should be included among them. Tozer at his best shakes the Christian out of his spiritual slump.Then to the second question, if you decide to give Tozer a try, why not just pick up one of his books? The problem is you may not know where to start. And for that reason, I would recommend today's book. In this one book, you have extracts from sixteen Tozer books and two of his sermons. This is as good a place as any to start your journey with Tozer on prayer.And you have a good guide in Seaver. He has done more than cut-and-paste pages of Tozer together. He also includes his own personal thoughts. But why would anyone want to read what a 'nobody' like Seaver thinks when you can read the thoughts of great men like E.M. Bounds or the Puritans? Rather than comment on the writing quality of Seaver, and I think he would prefer I focus your attention on Tozer than on him, I want to commend the practice of engaging with what you read. This is what Seaver did: "I read what Tozer wrote and I thought of Abraham. Let me collect my thoughts and write them down." These written thoughts of his will not win Seaver any literary prizes. Perhaps he might win one in a Christian Cat-Lovers Convention. But I think the important point is he engages and shows us you don't have to be fancy to digest on what you read.How many of us can write a bestseller or a classic? But all of us can read and engage with what we read. Your reflections on your reading will probably not get you published. But if sharing your thoughts fires you up, then post it in social media, start a blog, or try your hand at a Christian book review podcast. I see in this book, a man who has gained much on prayer from Tozer and wants to introduce these good things to new readers or even those who know Tozer but have never seen his writings on prayer compiled together like this. Tozer was a plain-speaking man. I don't know whether Tozer liked cats but if he did, that would be an extra bonus that a cat-loving, plain-speaking man got the chance to write a book on Tozer and prayer. This is a Reading and Readers review of "Prayer: Communing with God in Everything - Collected Insights from A.W. Tozer" compiled by W.L. Seaver. 224 pages, published by Moody Publishers in February 2016. It's available for USD1.99 in Amazon Kindle and it's the Free Book for April in Faithlife. My next book review is "On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift Of Living" by Alan O. Noble. I know it's a good book when I find myself spamming screenshot after screenshot of the book. Book List"Prayer: Communing with God in Everything - Collected Insights from A.W. Tozer" compiled by W.L. Seaver. Amazon. Faithlife.

Today, according to the BBC, "There are currently around three to four million podcasts internationally, but just over half of those have more than three episodes, with only 720,000 podcasts comprising more than 10 episodes." Well, not to brag, but the podcast you are listening to has 70 episodes and is today two years old!Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host of Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. But not today. Today we take a Behind the Scenes look at the world's number one podcast dedicated to Christian book reviews. A Developing RelationshipI still remember the first year of podcasting. It was like jumping off a cliff. Exhilarating. Scary. Fun. I juggled with web hosting, podcast hosting, microphones, headphones, figuring out a workflow that worked and flowed with my already busy, busy, life. Now that I've just passed the second year, 70 episodes in, the feeling is different. It's like how the first year of romance drives boys and girls crazy, puppy love. It's when the first year goes on to the second year, that the relationship is challenged. This podcast, Reading and Readers, is it a Covid-induced fling or a long term, life-long, serving?I've lasted years and still going strong. I still love to read and I still love to share what I read. I've even got an idea for a special 100th episode. I have a special personal book in mind. And I can't wait to review it for the 100th episode. My only fear is that my review doesn't do the book justice. At the pace I'm going, the 100th episode will be in 2024. I don't want to say anything beyond the 100th but I'm thankful I still love what I'm doing in Reading and Readers.Wisdom For 2 Year OldsFor today's special episode, I'll do something simple. I'll read a portion of Proverbs 2. Then I will use what I just read to reflect on podcasts and book reviews. What better way to celebrate the podcast's second anniversary than to do a reading first, followed by thoughts from the reader. Before I begin, a trigger warning. If you are one of those poor souls who throws a fit whenever someone takes a passage of Scripture and starts talking about it or applying it without first expounding on it, then be warned. I'm not expounding, or preaching or even teaching here. So I don't intend to connect the dots. This is a devotional reflection. And I think this is a perfectly acceptable way to grow as a Christian, which is to read Scripture and ponder how Scripture relates to work, family, ministry, technology, society, all things in all creation including a podcast where I review Christian books for you. So let us open the Good Book.Proverbs 2:1–15 (ESV)My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.The passage is entirely about God's words and God's commandments. There are conditions with rewards, if you do this, you will gain, you will know every good path. Take heed, it is God who gives knowledge and wisdom. Beware of falling in with evil people their paths are crooked. One Book ManA man calls out, "I am a one-book man. I only read the Bible because that is all a person needs to be wise." And he quotes Scripture in support. The final chapter, final sections of Ecclesiastes, 12:11-12 reads:The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.Does that mean that the man was right. It is good to be a one-book man? Sounds like false piety to me. It sounds praise-worthy but it is not. How can I reconcile Proverbs 2, Ecclesiastes 12, with Reading and Readers, the podcast and its goals?Spurgeon To The PartyI'd like to invite a dear old friend to speak on this issue. He is Charles Spurgeon. Let me read from his "Lectures to My Students". He has a chapter on commentaries. What he says on commentaries I will later extend to Christian books. But first let's hear from Charles Spurgeon on commentaries:In order to be able to expound the Scriptures, and as an aid to your pulpit studies, you will need to be familiar with the commentators: a glorious army, let me tell you, whose acquaintance will be your delight and profit. Of course, you are not such wiseacres as to think or say that you can expound Scripture without assistance from the works of divines and learned men who have labored before you in the field of exposition. If you are of that opinion, pray remain so, for you are not worth the trouble of conversion, and like a little coterie who think with you, would resent the attempt as an insult to your infallibility. It seems odd, that certain men who talk so much of what the Holy Spirit reveals to themselves, should think so little of what he has revealed to others. My chat this afternoon is not for these great originals, but for you who are content to learn of holy men, taught of God, and mighty in the Scriptures. It has been the fashion of late years to speak against the use of commentaries. If there were any fear that the expositions of Matthew Henry, Gill, Scott, and others, would be exalted into Christian Targums, we would join the chorus of objectors, but the existence or approach of such a danger we do not suspect. The temptations of our times lie rather in empty pretensions to novelty of sentiment, than in a slavish following of accepted guides. A respectable acquaintance with the opinions of the giants of the past, might have saved many an erratic thinker from wild interpretations and outrageous inferences. Usually, we have found the despisers of commentaries to be men who have no sort of acquaintance with them; in their case, it is the opposite of familiarity which has bred contempt.Did you get all that? Commentators are a glorious army. People who have laboured before us in the field of exposition. The problem in Spurgeon's time, more than a hundred years ago, was for people to follow novelty of sentiment rather than accepted guides. How is it that what he says then is so applicable to us today? Anyways, I skip a bit and Spurgeon continues: who will deny the preeminent value of such expositions as those of Calvin, Ness, Henry, Trapp, Poole, and Bengel, which are as deep as they are broad? and yet further, who can pretend to biblical learning who has not made himself familiar with the great writers who spent a life in explaining some one sacred book? Caryl on Job will not exhaust the patience of a student who loves every letter of the Word; even Collinges, with his nine hundred and nine pages upon one chapter of the Song, will not be too full for the preacher’s use; nor will Manton’s long-metre edition of the hundred and nineteenth Psalm be too profuse. No stranger could imagine the vast amount of real learning to be found in old commentaries like the following:—Durham on Solomon’s Song, Wilcocks on Psalms and Proverbs, Jermin on Ecclesiastes and Proverbs, Green-hill on Ezekiel, Burroughs on Hosea, Ainsworth on the Pentateuch, King on Jonah, Hutcheson on John, Peter Martyr on Romans, etc., and in Willett, Sibbes, Bayne, Elton, Byfield, Daillé, Adams, Taylor, Barlow, Goodwin, and others on the various epistles.As I have said before, more than once, how privileged we are that there are top minds, spiritual giants, who give their life to study, in some cases, one book. How privileged we are to be able to tap on a life-time of learning. And do you recognise the illustrious authors that Spurgeon casually throws about? I don't. Because God has blessed not just one generation with gifted writers. God has seen fit to bless every generation with gifted writers to equip the church in its own time and setting. We have Dale Ralph Davis, Walter C. Kaiser Jr., D. A. Carson, just to name a few of the authors I have read and reviewed. One Friend Man?To the one-book man I ask, "Are you also a one-friend man?" Do you only need one friend, and one friend alone, whose name is Jesus? Well, Jesus calls his disciples his friends and we sing what a friend we have in Jesus. We can have many friends but only one friend has authority over us. He is God. Similarly, we can have many books but only one book has authority over us. That is the Bible. So this helps to explain the making of many books in Ecclesiastes. What about Proverbs 2 which clearly says wisdom and knowledge come through God's Word. So why waste time reading other books? I suggest to you that the making of many books within Christians is a physical manifestation of Proverbs 2. If we were to pile up all the Christian books, books written by believers to glorify God, the pile would tower to the heavens, demonstrating how seriously, how fervently, we treasure God's Word that we would spill so much ink and give so much time to wisdom and knowledge that ultimately stems from God.As Spurgeon says, these books do not have authority over us, but they offer great value. Faithful books are friends of the faith. All Books Not Just CommentariesAnd not just commentaries.Whether it's a comic book Action Bible or a funny novel of a soul-searching pastor or a systematic analysis on the theology of Lord of the Rings. A good Christian book in some way lead us to wisdom, righteousness and justice and equity, to every good path. When a community of believers come together, receiving and treasuring God's Word and commandment, isn't it the most natural thing, having received wisdom and knowledge to sing it, draw it study it, and write it to share with fellow seekers? Doesn't this holy activity deliver us from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, men whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways?So I reflect on Proverbs 2. As a reader, I read to the glory of God. Reading and interpreting what I read with a Christian worldview. As a podcaster, I create to the glory of God. I use the technology and reach that God has given to the people of my generation to be blessed and be a blessing. As a book reviewer, I review to the glory of God. I serve the community of believers, the authors, publishers and readers. My hope is in some small way my podcast can lead you to times of refreshing through a good book found.It's only two years. I hope you will join me in seeking, treasuring and sharing the wisdom, knowledge and understanding God gives.A heartfelt thanks from me to all who listen to Reading and Readers. I hope the podcast and the book reviews are as profitable to you as they have been to me. God bless you. Bye bye.

The Whole Gospel of Mark in a Single Verse. That's the title of Chapter 1 of today's book but it could just as well be the title for the whole book. Intrigued? Keep listening.

After nearly two thousand years, finally the answer we have all been waiting for arrives. The question is, "What is Paul's thorn in the flesh?" And the answer is found in today's book.Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Paul's Thorn in the Flesh: New Clues for an Old Problem" by Kenneth Berding. 280 pages, published by Lexham Academic in February 2023. It's available in Amazon Kindle for USD19.99 and in Logos for USD26.99. I got this book for free from Lexham Academic to review. They have no input in today's review. Mystery Novel and AuthorLong time listeners to this podcast will know that I love a good mystery novel. The detective finds clues, invites the readers to solve the mystery, and the story steadily moves towards that big reveal. In this book, we look at a real life mystery, what is Paul's thorn in the flesh? And our detective is Kenneth Berding. Kenneth Berding, according to Amazon, is:Professor of New Testament at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University where he has served since 2002. He teaches courses such as Life & Letters of Paul, Principles of Interpretation, Biblical Greek, Romans, and Apostolic Fathers. It is as if everything he taught prepared him for this book. When tackling a narrow subject like Paul's Thorn in the Flesh, I don't want a guy who is obsessed about this one mystery for 50 years of his life. He only has tunnel vision. I want someone who is aware of the broader picture, someone who knows Paul, his life and letters, someone who can survey the nearly two thousand years worth of attempts to crack the mystery. I want someone qualified and, on paper, Kenneth Berding is abundantly qualified. Qualification is one thing, can he pique the reader's interest? Can he banish the fog of incomprehensibility surrounding a topic that belongs more in seminary than in the public? And crucially, can he convince us that nearly every commentary is wrong and that his solution truly best explains this verse:2 Corinthians 12:7–9 (ESV) So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Nobody KnowsBefore I read this book, this is my interpretation: We don't know what is Paul's thorn in the flesh. Nobody knows. It is a mystery that will forever remain a mystery. And you know what? It is good that we don't know. Because this thorn in the flesh can represent any one of your pain, your suffering, your trial, your temptations, it can mean anything you want it to mean because, by God's great Providence, Paul has left it undefined. That's what I understood. I taught this because I believed it. Then along comes Kenneth Berding. He shatters all my presuppositions, and says that my interpretation is wrong. Wrong in the first premise. He makes this astounding claim that the Bible and other sources gives us enough clues to solve the mystery. So let's open the book, "Paul's Thorn in the Flesh: New Clues for an Old Problem" by Kenneth Berding.Pain Oh the PainHe begins with this introduction: Imagine with me a first-century house-church meeting. The apostle Paul is addressing a new group of Jesus followers that has recently sprung up as an extension of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus. Paul is passionately exhorting the assembled group about their need to view one another as brothers and sisters in the family of God. He is twenty minutes into his talk when suddenly—and without warning—Paul’s face grimaces, his hand moves rapidly to the side of his face just in front of his ear, he collapses into a sitting position, his breathing quickens as he leans forward, eyes shut, fighting to hold back the groans working their way out of his throat. The matron of the house rushes forward along with a half dozen others. She cries out, “Brother Paul, are you OK? What’s happening? What’s wrong?”Is that a great introduction or what? If this was a movie, the opening scenes shows the ending. What I just read, a snippet of a longer story, is Berding's solution to the problem, namely Paul's thorn in the flesh is a terrible pain, possibly intermittent, which he experiences in his face, perhaps around the ear or eyes. This is the big reveal. And he gives it to us in the first page. The rest of the book is a carefully written, methodical and enjoyably series of engaging and convincing arguments. And he needs those arguments because everyone else thinks it's impossible.In Chapter 1, "Why We're Skeptical", Berding gives a list of imminent scholars. Let me read the shorter comments from this list. C.H. Dodd says, "Diagnosis is impossible."F.F. Bruce states bluntly, "... no certainty is possible."Colin G. Kruse writes, "However, the plain fact is that there is simply insufficient data to decide the matter."Gordon D. Fee writes, "“Finally, even though we have no way of knowing what the infirmity was, Paul continued to be plagued by a physical problem, even after seeking relief from God.”David E. Garland writes, "In the end we must accept the fact that we will never know for certain what Paul’s stake in the flesh was."I'm glad to read that all of these guys agree with me. Berding is against the consensus. And he knows it. Nobody Knows But Many GuessesIn chapter 2, he gives us a list of people and their solutions. Tertullian says it's a pain of the head. Lightfoot suggests epilepsy. Ramsay says malaria. Chilton thinks shingles. These are just some of the people in a long list who think it's a physical ailment. Then we have another long list of those who think it's not something physical. Basil of Caesarea suggests the thorns are trials in ministry. Aquinas says sexual temptations. Luther says temptation to anger. Calvin plays it safe and guesses temptations of various kinds. For the scholar, this is a great chapter! You have footnotes after footnotes. The last item in the list is citation number 99! Yet Berding writes for the everyday Christian. Remember the introduction, how the story draws us in. He is writing with the everyday Christian in mind.When I read the two lists, in the back of my head, I was thinking why is it you have some who say its physical while some very strong theologians, I'm looking at Aquinas, Luther, Calvin think it's not physical but spiritual. I quote Berding here:When “sharp-pointed object in the flesh” (a literal English translation of the Greek skolops tē sarki) got translated as stimulus carnis meae into Latin, the subsequent use of that Latin translation opened the door to psychological and spiritual interpretations (such as sexual temptations or spiritual distress). This is because stimulus in Latin is more commonly used metaphorically for “incitement” or “stimulation” than is the Greek skolops. Don’t forget that the Latin translation of the Bible was the preferred version for both western priest and scholar for more than a thousand years, so such a translation carried the potential of wielding a far greater influence than was justified.I have spent more time than I should on the first two chapters. Mainly because I enjoyed them so much and I have not even reach the main section of the book. The clues!CluesAs I said earlier, the big reveal is given, the rest of the book is presenting the arguments for it. That would be chapters 3 to chapter 11, which cover clues from the historical context, clues from the book of Job, clues from the literary context and just on the literary context, there are three chapters. A masterly three chapters where he goes from the, here I simplify so that you can get the gist, he first unpacks the sentence, then the paragraph, then the chapter. He zooms in at the centre and steadily expand outwards.Moving on, in the other chapters, we have clues from the Suffering of Jesus, clues from Irenaeus and Tertullian, clues from Galatians and a whole chapter on clues from miscellaneous sources. I have learned so much from these chapters. Not just on the content but in the approach. If anyone ever wants to write a book or article to persuade readers on a point of view, or forget about writing, if you just want to be a clearer thinker, I highly recommend this book.He is gentle and respectful of differing opinions. He is not desperate to win your approval. He lays out the case, without any appeal to the emotions, he just communicates as clearly as he can the significance of these clues, trusting that the reader is intelligent enough to connect the dots. Let's look at one of those clues. From chapter 5, "Clues from the Literary Context (Part 1)", Berding states that the word Paul uses to describe his thorn in the flesh is a word that evokes a face-punch. I quote: Most of our translations translate the word with general terms, such as “torment,” “trouble,” “harass,” “buffet,” “beat,” or “hit.” This general usage is possible in certain contexts, but these renderings of kolaphizō mask both the word’s initial evocation and most common usage.Normally that would be the end of it and we readers would have to take the writer, the expert's, word for it because you don't know Greek. I don't know Greek. He knows Greek so he must be right. But Berding does not just want us to take his word for it. He wants us to understand so he explains. I quote at length, and I hope you can get a sense of the teacher's soul in Berding. Some words are more general but can be particularized using additional words if a speaker or author wants to limit the application of the word. In English, words like “hit” or “punch” are such words. But there exist other words that can be used generally, but still evoke certain associations even before being employed by a particular author in a particular sentence, because those words commonly have been used in particular ways in the past. That is, for some words, if you could ask people to define a word, even without a sentence, they would normally associate the word with a part of the body, because that is how those words are most commonly used. For example, in English, when you hear the word “stub,” you initially associate it with someone’s toe. When you hear the word “spank,” you normally think of a person’s rump. When you hear the word “slap,” you customarily associate it with one’s face. Without a qualifier (like “finger” for stub, “leg” for spank, or “arm” for slap), such words are of a category that a listener will initially associate with a particular part of the body unless the author uses additional words to instruct otherwise. Kolaphizō seems to be such a word. Its most common association appears to be with the face. OrganisationNext I want to talk about the organisation of this book. It is just simply brilliant. In the very beginning of the book, he introduces us to twenty criteria that we must consider to solve the murder, I mean, mystery. He shows us from the Bible, from the clues, how these criteria come about. For example, when we see that the word used Kolaphizō then what we gather is whatever this thorn in the flesh may be, it is impacting Paul's face (as a part of his head). That is Criterion number 7. From the clues, he extracts a set of criteria. And crucially, these criteria will narrow our list of suspects or possible solutions to a particular category.The Excitement of Reaching the EndingI want to explain the sense I got from reading this page-turner of a book.Coming back to the mystery movie idea. If you give the reveal away in the beginning of the movie, then the excitement is the events that lead up to the reveal. Tom Cruise dies. Oh my goodness. That's not possible! He is the star of the show! And you watch the rest of the movie to see how the impossible happens. When it comes to Paul's thorn in the flesh, we come to this book thinking, "It's simply not possible to know what it means. We don't have enough clues or data." Berding does his reveal. He claims it's a face-related disease, something like Trigeminal Neuralgia Type 1. We don't quite believe it. It's a guess, maybe even a good guess, but surely there is no way he can pull it off and make an overwhelming support for it. Throughout the book, it is as if he says to us, "I have nothing up my sleeves. I'm not doing any tricks. No appeals to the emotions. No great leaps of faith. Just twenty criteria drawn from different categories of clues." You could say some of his points are a stretch, and Berding often reminds us that by itself, the individual points do not mean much, but when taken together as an accumulated whole, it is no longer a just good guess but a very likely conclusion.At the end of the book, he brings out the twenty criteria we have extracted and collected as we processed the clues from history, from the Bible, from what the Apostolic Fathers said and so on. We are convinced that any solution should meet these twenty criteria. And he gives us three tables. For the first table he lists the non-physical solutions like maybe the thorn in the flesh is a demonic attack or it is Paul's experience of psychological pressure. Next, he lists the physical ailments like malaria or epilepsy, which seem to make better sense of the data. Lastly, he lists seven face-related diseases, any of which could be what Paul experienced in his day. Everything is so methodical, everything is so well put, it is a masterly piece of work.So What?At this point I can imagine Professor Berding taking a bow to the thunderous applause of admiring readers. Then someone in the back row asks, "So what? How does knowing what Paul experienced make any different to me, to us, today?"The professor has fully anticipated that question and gives us one more chapter, the last chapter, that addresses the implications of everything we have learnt. He goes through the implications of each item in the twenty criteria, but the title of the chapter says it all, "A Fuller Portrait of Paul". That is ultimately what we gain and the more we know who Paul is, the more accurate we can know what he is thinking when he wrote the epistles and the more accurate we can interpret his words for our spiritual gain. My final thoughts on the book. I got this book, wanting to be educated on this very narrow topic. I was open to changing my mind. I was educated and I changed my mind, I just did not expect the book to be so well-researched, so well-written, and thoroughly enjoyable. I have said it often in this review that this book has made me a better reader and thinker. I want to approach every problem in the Bible the way Berding has done so here. Thanks to this book, I will be reading Paul's letters being mindful of Paul's excruciating pain. Imagine suffering from an ailment that feels like being punched in the face, or pierced with an ice pick, over and over again. Then imagine saying this:Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. How can it be? And Paul directs us over and over again, only through the power of Christ.This is a Reading and Readers review of "Paul's Thorn in the Flesh: New Clues for an Old Problem" by Kenneth Berding. 280 pages, published by Lexham Academic in February 2023. It's available in Amazon Kindle for USD19.99 and in Logos for USD26.99. I got this book for free from Lexham Academic to review. They have no input in today's review. If you enjoy today's book, be sure to subscribe to this podcast for more book reviews. You can also visit readingandreaders.com and leave a note of encouragement through the contact form. Thank you for listening. Bye bye.Book List"Paul's Thorn in the Flesh: New Clues for an Old Problem" by Kenneth Berding. Amazon. Logos.

A man comes home from work and flops on the coach. His children runs and jumps all over their father, but he remains motionless. His lovely wife comes over and asks, "Dead tired?" And the man says, "Dad tired." Fathers everywhere, how is fatherhood going for you? Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Dad Tired and Loving It: Stumbling Your Way to Spiritual Leadership" by Jerrad Lopes. 192 pages, published by Harvest House Publishers in September 2019. Available in Amazon Kindle for USD12.99 and for USD3.99 at Faithlife, only in March. Every month, Faithlife has a new free book to offer along with a long list of deeply discounted books. The free book for March is No Reason to Hide: Standing for Christ in a Collapsing Culture by Erwin W. Lutzer. Normally, I consider the free book as an assignment, or a challenge, and I'll just read what ever Faithlife gives me. But as I scroll down the list of titles, this title just pulled me in. Dad Tired and Loving It. I'm a Dad. I'm tired. And I would love to hear someone tell me how they are loving it.So I pulled the trigger, got the book and finished all 192 pages to tell you all about it today. Who is the author, Jerrad Lopes? Let me read the biodata from his website:Jerrad Lopes is a best-selling author, international speaker, and host of the Dad Tired Podcast; downloaded over 5 million times by men from around the world.Lopes has become one of the most influential voices in the men's ministry space and has been featured on Focus on The Family, The Hallmark Channel, The Mike Huckabee Show, along with many other media outlets.​Through his speaking and Dad Tired ministry, he has partnered with thought leaders like Gary Chapman, Paul Tripp, John Mark Comer, and many more to equip men for the sake of the Gospel. He and his wife Leila live in South Carolina with their four children. Towel BoyWhat is this book about? Let me read a long excerpt from the introduction and I'll get to my thoughts. I quote:When I was a junior in high school, I landed my first-ever job at a local gym in town. I have to admit, as a sixteen-year-old boy, it sounded pretty cool to tell your peers that you worked as a gym employee. I never really told them exactly what I did at my job; I just wanted my friends to imagine that it was something amazing. In my mind, I hoped they pictured me lifting weights and teaching other people how to get in the best shape of their lives.The truth is, I was a towel boy.My job was to collect the nasty, sweaty, used towels from around the facility, throw them in a giant bin, wash them, fold them, and then hand them to the members as they walked in the front door.It was far from glamorous. In fact, most of the time it was completely disgusting, and I spent the majority of my shift trying not to vomit. But I was determined to convince my friends that I had the best job in the world—and, more importantly, that I was an expert in physical fitness.I wasn’t an expert in physical fitness, however. I was a towel boy.I didn’t possess the skills to get my friends in shape, but I could offer them a clean towel.Sometimes when I tell people I run a ministry for young dads, I secretly hope they think I’m an expert in parenting. In my mind, I imagine they look at me as a young father who has wisdom well beyond his years.The truth is, when it comes to parenting, I’m a towel boy.This tells us what to expect from the book. The tone is a I'm one of the boys, I'm just like you, I'm just a towel boy. So it's an invitational tone. Not a master-to-student but student-to-student conversation or rather a dad-to-dad talk. Your friend calls you up for coffee. You head over to meet. And over cups of coffee, he tells you a story. While you are still laughing, you didn't realise but your guards are down. Then your friend slips in a Biblical truth. Tells you about Jesus. Tells you that he knows how hard it is to be a good dad, a good husband. But God. He tells you about God. And you thank him for it. That's the whole book. That's how every chapter is.Color-BlindLet's take chapter one as an example. The chapter title is Color-Blind. Lopes tells us how watches videos of color-blind people who put on special glasses, and now they can see in colour. Then he tells us of his disappointments that despite all the test and eyeglasses, he still can't see in colour. He can't see the world as it should be. And he writes, "Sometimes I think none of us can see the world as it should be." And with that he segue ways to the story of Genesis, the Fall, Jesus, the Lord's Prayer and he closes the chapter with a personal note to the reader. Sometimes as tired dads, it can seem like our only objective is to survive the day. There have been many nights where I’ve laid my head on my pillow and tried to think about what I accomplished as a parent. It often feels like I spend most of my days saying “No!” or “Don’t touch that!” or “Not right now.” When I zoom in to the daily moments of my life and parenting, I am often discouraged. My guess is that as a dad, you’ve probably felt the same.As a follower of Jesus, I am convinced that there is more to parenting than simply surviving. If we get lost in the chaos of dirty diapers, grumpy bosses, and overflowing dishwashers, we’ll lose sight of the bigger story of God’s redeeming work around us. We’ll forget that God is relentlessly at work fixing the brokenness of our hearts and equipping us to be part of that same work in the lives of our children.If we miss that story, the rest of this book is pointless. On the other hand, if all you gain from this book is a bigger picture of the gospel and God’s work throughout the world, it will be worth it.The nine chapters in the book are divided into three equal parts. Part 1: The Kingdom of God Around YouPart 2: The Kingdom of God in YouPart 3: The Kingdom of God Through YouHonestly, I don't think the three part division really matters. The chapter titles don't say much. What can Football Jerseys (that's the title for Chapter 3) and Squirrel Food (the title for Chapter 6) tell you? But the subtitles, they reveal the substance behind the fun stories. The subtitle for chapter 3 is "What's the Goal of Parenting?" At the end of the chapter he says this to you:Your kids ultimately don’t need to have the best report card in their class. They don’t need to excel at a sport or master an instrument. Ultimately, your kids need Jesus. May we be fathers who aren’t just passionate about good things. May we be passionate about eternal things. Running toward anything else is running toward the wrong end zone.Dumb and Dumber, AgainWhen I read reached the last chapter, as I read the first sentences, I laughed out loud. Not because he said anything especially funny. The last chapter's title is "Headed to Aspen" and that title, which sets the scene for the entire chapter, comes from a scene from Lopes all-time favourite movie, Dumb and Dumber. This is the second time in less than a month, I have two pastors referencing Dumb and Dumber. The last writer who did it was Pastor Kees Postma and his book, "The Retreat". If I read a third Christian book that somehow references Dumb and Dumber, maybe it's a sign that I need to re-watch it. Maybe I am directed by divine providence by all these books to learn something profound from the movie. If I make Dumb and Dumber my favourite all time movies, I too can be a best-selling writer like Kees Postma and Jerrad Lopes. For DadsAlright, I finished the last chapter so I want to share my thoughts on Dad Tired and Loving It: Stumbling Your Way to Spiritual Leadership by Jerrad Lopes. This book does not tell me anything new. But sometimes, oftentimes, what we need is not to learn something new, but to be reminded of eternal truths. The Gospel. What Lopes offers is the Gospel in the hustle and bustle of being a dad. Yes, we know that Creation is Fallen but did you know that fatherhood is likewise fallen. Yes, we know that the World needs Christ the Redeemer. But did you know that as a father, as a dad, you need Christ the Redeemer. Are there are many Christian books for dads? I might be wrong but I imagine there is a bigger book market for mothers than there is for dads. I could be wildly wrong here. Would this be a good gift for a new dad? Yes! A Father's Day gift? Yes! Or a spontaneous gift for your brother, your friend, a buddy who really needs encouragement as a dad. Yes!If you are buying a book for someone, especially if that someone is not a reader, you want to get him something that is easy to read. Lopes begins his sentences saying, "Last year, something happened...", "Once my family did this...", "I remember when X, Y, Z happened." It's stories after stories. Easily digestible. Often amusing. Told with a purpose, he directs you to a Biblical truth. The first chapter is, "Why the Gospel Changes Everything", the second chapter is, "How Your Marriage Points Your Kids to the Gospel", the third chapter is "What's the Goal of Parenting" and so on. It's not preachy, it's story telling. Stories after stories. And many would like that. I know many people around me, who are not readers, who would appreciate getting this book as a gift. Not For Me, Why?And if you are listening carefully to what I'm saying, you will sense that I think this is a book for other people and not for me. I actually struggled with reviewing this book because it's not a bad book but I personally didn't gain as much from the book as I think I should. And that troubled me. Is it because I'm deeply suspicious of sermons, and hence books, that are made up overwhelmingly of stories? But I enjoy 27 Servants of Sovereign Joy, which is a collection of mini biographies. Is that because I'm impressed by great feats of heroism, sacrifices of great giants of the faith? No, I don't think so because I truly believe that God loves all creatures big and small. Jesus said that the whole world will remember the widow and her copper coins, and what he said came to pass.So why am I struggling with this fun, insightful and sincere book? Somehow the lessons are not sticking to me. And as I reflect, I think I have somehow conditioned myself, and this is not necessarily a good or a bad thing, it's just me reflecting on myself here, I have somehow conditioned myself to separate what the Bible says and what Man says. And I make such a sharp distinction, I put up all sorts of guards cause don't want to be sucked into the story, unless it's such a good story told so well that my guards just come down.What does all this mean? If I hear a sermon or read a book, and let's say this personal story or anecdote is not true, it's an exaggeration, hyperbole, or a bald-face lie, do I gain anything from the session? If it's a Bible-saturated exposition, even if the illustration is flawed, but the truth remains true, I am convicted of that truth. With today's book, Lopes tells me of God and Jesus, and everything he tells me is true, and he does draw upon Scripture, but much of the space is taken up by personal anecdotes that I end up listening to wonderful, amusing stories, but nothing convicting reaches me. I know he sincerely wants to encourage me, comfort me, challenge me, Lopes desires to draw me to Christ, but because of who I am, this book not for me or for the reader who over-thinks, or over-analyses and thus ruins a perfectly good movie, or as the case may be, a perfectly good book. If you are a dad, a tired dad, why not give this book a try. You might end up loving it. The stumbling towards spiritual leadership. And if you are not a dad, give this book to a tired dad.This is a Reading and Reader's review of "Dad Tired and Loving It: Stumbling Your Way to Spiritual Leadership" by Jerrad Lopes. 192 pages, published by Harvest House Publishers in September 2019. Available in Amazon Kindle for USD12.99 and for USD3.99 at Faithlife, only in March. Speaking of tiredness, there is one book that is coming out next month that I would like to read: "On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living" by Alan Noble. That book may make a good companion or comparison to today's book. It's coming out next month, I hope to read it and review it soon. Before that, I have another book to get to. It's honestly a thorn in my flesh. Tell you more about it next time. Until then, bye bye.Book List"Dad Tired and Loving It: Stumbling Your Way to Spiritual Leadership" by Jerrad Lopes. Amazon.Faithlife.

In a world that celebrates individuality and autonomy, too many of us struggle to form deep, meaningful relationships. Loneliness is the norm, rich friendships are rare, and the church is no exception. We long for real community but often don’t know how to get there. What will it take to develop healthy friendships?That's the description from today's book. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review, "The Sacred Us: A Call to Radical Christian Community" by Justin Kendrick. 240 pages, published by David C. Cook in September 2022. Available in Amazon Kindle for USD9.99 and in Faithlife for February it's at a deep discount of USD4.99. The free book from Faithlife is "40 Prayers for Lent: Prayers for Your Church and Small Group" by David Clowes. I didn't want to review a prayer book and I thought in the list of discounted books, this book, "The Sacred Us" to be the most pertinent to the church today.Justin Kendrick is the Lead Pastor of Vox Church, which he founded in 2011 with a small group of friends on the doorstep of Yale University. It's a young church in the least-churched region of the US that has grown to multiple locations. So its apparent success is explained in this book. Vox Church has three core values: Jesus at the CenterIntentional Community. There are 7 key elements to an intentional community.City MissionWhy am I spending so much time on Vox Church? Have they sponsored this podcast? No. It's because after I finished reading this book, I realised that the 7 key elements of Vox Church's core values are the 7 chapters of today's book. So I guess today's book is a required reading for membership classes at their church.Is the book any good for the rest of us? Let's open the book.The first three chapters gives the background and the need for radical community. The three chapters are: Friendly but FriendlessThe Theology of UsRe-Churching Your LifeThe next seven chapters are the seven key elements of Intentional Community, the core of the book. 4. Proximity Provides Opportunity 5. Vulnerability Creates Connection 6. Discipleship Sets Direction 7. Fun Amplifies Grace 8. Mission Drives Adventure 9. Sacrifice Matures Love 10. Boundaries Sustain GrowthThe last chapter, Chapter 11, is titled "A True Friend", where Kendrick concludes the book with a final call to the reader to join him in radical Christian Community. He gives a powerful exposition of Leviticus 14:1-7, directing the reader's attention to Jesus Christ. He shows how all 7 elements can be linked to Jesus. Proximity Provides Opportunity. He writes, "Jesus led the way by coming as close to us as supernaturally possible."This is how I'll do today's book review. I'll do the Good, the Bad and the Conclusion. I'll take one good chapter, one bad chapter and wrap the whole review. Each chapter begins with some introductory quotes, followed by the main text and ends with a few reflective questions. The GoodMy pick for a good chapter is Chapter 4, the first element in his list of seven. Proximity Creates Opportunity. He quotes in the beginning, Dietrich Bonhoeffer:The physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer.Now, for some of us, you are already convinced that physical presence is needed. You, like me, are convinced that online can never replace the physical, convinced not just from our experience of joining the chorus of praise and sitting side by side listening to the word preached, but convinced from the Old Testament assembly, the New Testament letters to the churches and the end times vision of the people gathered from every tribe and every tongue. That's not how Kendrick writes this chapter. Kendrick has lived out a more radical, unorthodox, counter-cultural and mildly invasive form of community.He writes:For most people today, the idea of being consistently present and available to other Christians feels pretty unrealistic. Take a few moments and consider the potential disruption it would cause to your schedule. You have your career, and you’re finishing up school. You’ve got young kids, and you still get together regularly with your friends from college. You have family commitments. Your son plays travel sports. You have a lot going on.Later he writes:When my wife, Chrisy, and I moved to Earl Street in the Westville section of New Haven, Connecticut, we were in our late twenties and already had two kids. We had just started our first church, but we’d been experimenting with living in intentional community for nearly ten years. Our family bought a house with a small backyard, and some friends we knew bought the house next door. Soon, friends from our church owned the houses in front, back, and on both sides of ours. I know that to some people, this might sound like a nightmare—and it certainly came with its challenges. But in that season of life, at that stage in our church, this experience was integral in teaching us the importance of proximity.We took down the fence. We invited people to take their kids on the swings in our backyard anytime. Before we knew it, proximity took on a whole new meaning. I would often get home from work and find thirty people in our backyard. Kids were running around. Someone was cooking on the grill. We would spontaneously start a game of Wiffle ball or football.And this is just an introduction to the Kendrick community experiment. He shares bits and pieces of those years in the chapters ahead. I like how the chapters are mildly flavoured by these anecdotes. Flavoured in the sense that he has experiences and stories that most of us do not have. Mild in the sense the stories do not over-power the content. For Kendrick is not calling for us to tear down our fences, and buy a hot tub in the backyard for neighbourhood baptisms. He wants us to move in our own ways from our own circumstances towards a community. You can see his heart in the questions he ask. Question 3 in the chapter is:Examine your living situation. Do you live alone? With friends? With family? Find one or two new ways you can use the space where you live to create greater opportunities for spiritual relationship. Should you host a small group? Should you rent a room?So even though Kendrick has lived what some of us would call a crazy life, and I invite you to read how that part of his life turned out, he does not present in this book a model. When a mountain climber tells us of his journey up Mount Everest, we gain life lessons from his experience. He does not call us to climb Mount Everest. Rather we learn to prepare for the journey, persevere and triumph.In this book, Kendrick presents characteristics and outcomes. Proximity Creates Opportunity. Fun Amplifies Grace.The BadFun Amplifies Grace is Chapter 7 in the book and it is my pick for the Bad Chapter. And I first of all, I want to say that it is a hard topic. I have heard John Piper criticise the idea that church should be fun. He qualifies, he explains but it is in response to a felt need from a fun-obsessed culture. So I was looking forward to seeing how Kendrick would support the idea of fun in the community. He starts the chapter with a prank. And maybe I'm a stick in the mud, but it's a prank that he and the friend he pranked think is funny, but I don't. So when we have different ideas of what is fun, that's not a good start.He gives biblical support from Proverbs 17:22, a cheerful heart. Proverbs 15:30, a cheerful look. Okay. Cheerful, joy and fun can be related. But it's still a stretch. I hope to see more substance.Kendrick describes how animals have fun, and Romans 1:20 does say that God's invisible qualities are seen in what has been made. To me, that's still a stretch. Let's read on. He writes:He's [God] is described in 1 Timothy 1:11 as the "happy God"...I don't ever remember reading "Happy God" in my Bible so I checked. In the ESV, it reads the blessed God. And that's also how it's translated in the NET, HCSB, NIV and NLT. And I checked in Biblehub for more translations, and none of their translations says "Happy". So I am not happy because he seems to stretch the word so that it can say what he hopes it means. It wouldn't be so bad if he said that the Greek word covers a multitude of meanings and he takes the view that it means happy here. But that would be too much work for the general reader. He is after all not writing for scholars or seminarians. He is writing for the Average Joe. But then, that means the Average Joe, would think that having fun is biblically supported on a verse that does not exist. Kendrick then paints a scenario from the Bible, Jesus, after the resurrection, calling out, "Do you have any fish?" And Kendrick asks us to see this as Jesus being playful.In another story, again after the resurrection, Jesus meets the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and he disappears. Kendrick writes:Finally, he opened their eyes and they recognized him, but as soon as they did, he disappeared. What was he up to? Once again, I'm pretty sure he was chuckling to himself. He was having fun. God has a sense of humour. I want to say that I believe God has a sense of humour. I believe fun is from God. I believe as Martin Luther did, in the quote to this chapter, Martin Luther wrote, "If you are not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don't want to go there." What I was looking for was solid biblical foundation. And what I got was a desperate clenching of straws. To his credit, Kendrick does go through the Bible. We have Abraham and Sarah laughing, Jesus making wine at a party, and he even manages to present a strong gospel message in this chapter. Because Fun Amplifies Grace. And fun and joy, he argues, is not boxed up in the individual, it's for the community. Biblical joy is a community experience. So as you can tell, there are positive parts to this chapter. And you may read this chapter and say, "I don't see the problem, I think he makes great points and has abundantly proven his case." I disagree. I still think you need a lot more to say on the pulpit that the Bible wants us to have fun. Have joy yes. Be blessed, yes. Have fun, the concept needs to be qualified so that we can distinguish the world's fun and Gospel fun. Spurgeon's fun. Piper's fun. Church fun. And I don't think this chapter has done enough to show us that distinguishing mark, that peculiar sense of fun, that God delights in. The ConclusionI have done the Good, the Bad and now the Conclusion.Kendrick got into this Intentional Community, this life together, having experienced it in a visit and then taking bigger and bigger steps to a radical Christian community. The way he writes, it is not "I read this, now I do", it's more of "I do, I experience, and I confirm by reading the Bible". That sounds harsh but I'm describing how the book reads. And even if it's true, there is nothing wrong with Christians doing and testifying that what they do is in accordance with the Bible. I just think that sometimes in the desire to confirm something good, he stretches the Bible to say what it does not say with the confidence that Kendrick says it does. Just like the Fun Amplifies Grace. It is not a good case study for hermeneutics. On the other hand, there are parts where I appreciate Kendrick tying in theology with practice. One notable example is how he explains God is a community. He explains the Triune God. And this is who God is. And from who God is, this is who we are and how we are to behave. And I wish he did more of that. And this is my main criticism of the book and with the entire approach. The approach is very much in line with the spirit of the age. Pragmatic and results focused. The seven elements all describe results. Vulnerability Creates Connection. Discipleship Sets Direction. Mission Drives Adventure. These are all result statements. It does not help us understand what the church is. Actually, although I say church, and Kendrick is thinking about the church, he is often describing community. Taking his words, God is a community. That is true. It is also true that God is Love. God is Just. God is Almighty and so on. So it would be a mistake to reduce God to just a community. I suggest in the same way, when we read this book, we should read this as describing one aspect of the church. The church is a community. But the church is also more than that. The church is the Bride of Christ. The church is the Royal Priesthood of Believers. The Bible has many more images of the church. Kendrick does unpack what it means for the church to be the body of Christ. But overall, it's too focused on the community and thus needs to be supplemented by other books or other aspects, otherwise you are at risk of a lopsided, distorted church. Let me explain using contrast. A famous book about church is "Nine Marks of a Healthy Church" by Mark Dever. And as I list them compare them with what you have heard from The Sacred Us. The nine marks are:PreachingBiblical TheologyThe GospelConversionEvangelismMembershipDisciplineDiscipleshipLeadership"That's not fair! If you put it that way then are you saying there is only one way of writing about church?"That's precisely my point. I think we should read more. And my go to book on the church is "Strangers and Sojourners" by Gregg Allison. I have found his book to be the most helpful and most clarifying in that I can think about church properly. I can recognise that Kendrick's approach to church is in what are the results. The telos. And the tension I experience when I read his book is I think of the church from what it is. Does that mean that you and I can't gain from Kendrick's book? Not at all. I think he has achieved most of what he set out to do. He aims to call us to a radical form of Christian community. Many have done so before, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Francis Schaeffer, and I welcome the many experiments and testimonies and lessons that we can learn from our brothers and sisters as they wrestle with obeying the Word.This is a Reading and Reader's Review of "The Sacred Us: A Call to Radical Christian Community" by Justin Kendrick. 240 pages, published by David C. Cook in September 2022. Available in Amazon Kindle for USD9.99 and in Faithlife for February it's at a deep discount of USD4.99.If you have not done so, please subscribe to Reading and Readers, a podcast where Reading Provides Opportunities and Readers Create Connection. Thank you for listening. Bye Bye.Book List"The Sacred Us: A Call to Radical Christian Community" by Justin Kendrick. Amazon. Faithlife.

Before I became a Christian, I thought Christians were not free to have fun. After I became one, I've been having the fun of my life. Somehow, strangely, as a Christian I have freedom to have fun. And in today's book, the author brings out the funhouse mirror so that we can poke fun and laugh at ourselves.Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "The Retreat: A lighthearted and humorous story about a soul searching pastor" by Kees Postma. 197 pages. I don't know who published this book, that information is not listed in the Amazon page. But it was published in January this year. It's available in Amazon for USD3.99. Challies, "New and Notable Christian Books"Normally I would never come across this book. I don't know the author. I read many far too serious books. And I didn't even know I needed this until I read it, that I needed a lighthearted and humorous story about a soul searching pastor. All thanks goes to Tim Challies and his blog. He has this monthly "New and Notable Christian Books", where he lists around 8 or 10 newly published books. I always look forward to his list for the unexpected gems. And that's where I got today's book. So go to challies.com. Hero's Journey from Holland to IrelandBack to the book. According to the author information in Goodreads:Kees Postma (1982) is a pastor and church planter. He and his wife and four kids live in the rural Northern part of Holland called Friesland where he pastors a Baptist church. Next to that he works for European Christian Mission, helping churches plant new churches. His favorite movie of all time is Dumb and Dumber and he loves the harmonies of the Everly Brothers, the thought provoking lyrics of Andrew Peterson and the fact that he is and always will be a sinner saved by grace.This is a lighthearted book so I will take a lighthearted approach for this review. This is also a spoiler-free review. I can tell you that this is a hero's journey, where the hero is a pastor. My fall took place in slow motion, away from the sight of others. No adulterous relationship with a church member or a financial scandal. No public outburst of anger or straying from sound theology. No, knowledge about God replaced knowing God. Academically intellectual Christianity replaced my times of prayer and my long walks in the Dutch forests interacting with the Most High. The ministry became a burden, people became a burden, and the cracks grew bigger and bigger. Pastor Case Parker needs help. And where do pastors go when they need help? They go to a pastors retreat, of course. And the book follows Pastor Case and his motley crew of fellow pastors as they travel from Holland to Ireland, to find something, someone, to help them in their hour of pastoral desperation. Big Bang ClergyWe sometimes wonder whether the author is revealing far more than he intended. I remind you, the author of this book is himself a pastor. And he reveals the sub-culture of the pastoral ministry. The closest pop culture reference I can think of is this is the Big Bang Theory for pastors. It's full of insider humour. In the Big Bang Theory we have jokes about science, science fiction, gaming, comics and all things in geekdom. In the Retreat by Kees Postma, we have jokes about denominations, hermeneutics, rituals and all things in Christendom.Listen to this. Pastor Case and his fellow pastors are on the plane heading to their destination:In Row 14, two of my Dutch reformed brothers have started an exegetical and hermeneutical debate on the application of Psalm 121. "Let me ask you this, Brother Vincent. Do you think we can still wholeheartedly pray Psalm 121, traveling at 30,000 feet? After all, we are not lifting our eyes to the mountain, but we are looking down on them." That may be too much theological geek for you. I thought it was funny. And if the insider, sometimes slapstick, humour is what Big Bang Theory and this book have in common, then satire is where they differ.SatireI have this quote from G.K. Chesterton:A man is angry at a libel because it is false, but at a satire because it is true. And as we read this book, we will laugh, maybe not laugh out loud, we will smile knowingly whenever Postma winks at us, we get the joke, it is nice to be in on the joke. But it is satire.Pastor Case observes and records his thoughts. And it's funny but it's true. I mean, it's funny because it's true. It can be uncomfortable as we see how Pastor Case squirms as he justifies certain actions. Or when we see the flaws and foibles of his fellow pastors and the people around them. It is sometimes cutting edge humour, cutting to the heart because it is uncomfortably absurdly true. So in that sense, there are moments in the book, where you wonder, "Hmm... what do I think about this? Why am I laughing?" Am I supposed to agree cause I don't know what to think. And that I think is humour at its best.Simultaneously Saint and Sinner and NarratorAnother feature of the book, and it is a feature, is the untrustworthy narrator. The narrator, Pastor Case, is sincerely reflecting on his past. He is honestly recording his observations. But he is also trying to justify himself. He is using the measure of the world, not the Bible, to interpret the world. We are reading, the inner thoughts, of a man who is simultaneously saint and sinner. For example, when Pastor Case is reading the reviews on the retreat, he makes this conclusion about the pastor in charge of the retreat: Funnily enough, I can't find anything about Cornelius online. Google, Instagram, YouTube, even the more debatable online platforms, none of them have any of this modern monk's sermons or seminars. Not even a biography of some sort. This makes me question if he is as good as other shepherds say he is. If you're going places as a spiritual giant, you should invest in online visibility, shouldn't you? Otherwise, you will never go global! What's the point of preaching if others can't praise you for it?Cue laugh track. Also cue cringe. We do think like that even though we shouldn't, and it's absurd we should even think in this way, hence why we laugh when our thoughts are outed in this book. Pastor Cases' companions are an unpredictable bunch. I don't want to say too much, this is a spoiler-free review, but Postma's all time favourite movie is Dumb and Dumber. And there are certainly scenes in this Christian book written by a pastor and church planter that would fit in a Dumb and Dumber movie. And that's a sentence you probably never heard before.I won't give you the context behind this paragraph, you'll have to puzzle it out or read the book for yourself. I'm quoting this because I like how the paragraph ends. And it's a sample of the zingers Postma throws at the reader:Although my co-workers knew about my acrophobia (fear of heights) and bathophobia (fear of depths), they had decided to save the best for last. The only alternative was to turn around and suffer in silence, walking all the way back. But since I suffer from monophobia (fear of being alone) as well (you'll never see me at prayer meetings in church for that reason) I decided that wasn't a viable option.So here, the jokes are thrown as an aside. And it throws us off guard. He confronts us as Christian who take pride at our immediate access to God through prayer, Christians who celebrate the formation of the church, and yet at the same time, make prayer meetings a scary place for the monophobic.Make It A SeriesWhen the book ends, I wish it didn't because I wanted to read more. I wanted more of Pastor Case. I wanted to know more about his best friend. What did he say to his wife? How did his church in Netherlands welcome him from his retreat? Did he ever own up to Father Henry on what happened that first night? Thank goodness, in the epilogue, Postma tells us there will be a sequel. The title is: "The Heaven and Earth Conference: The Wondrous Diary of An Ordinary Pastor". I don't know when it will come out but I'll definitely get it when it's out. I think this could be the beginning of a series. At least I hope so. There are lots of material in Christendom to mine. More awkward truths for us to laugh at ourselves. For fun, let me throw some ideas for future books. We have Book 1, "The Retreat". We will have Book 2 "The Heaven and Earth Conference". Maybe Book 3 can be titled "The Church Family Camp" or "The Vacation Bible School" or "The Christmas Concert". Many long time Christians can imagine the possibilities for humour and tragedy. And if dysfunctional get-togethers have lost their charm, Kees Postma can try 'dark humour' or perhaps more accurately, morbid humour? What about "The Funeral" or even worse, more deadly than a funeral, "The Split". Can our hearts take it if a satirist takes a hand at church splits? Kees Postma, if you are listening, I hope you continue to write a whole series. Show us how our conflicts are sometimes, maybe it has always been, absurd. Make us laugh so that we do not cry. Make Us Laugh, So That We Do Not CryIn the epilogue, Postma comments on the source material for this book. He writes:I would love to say that every similarity between you, your church, and your shepherd is based on mere coincidence, but maybe you've recognized a little bit more than you hoped while reading this book. Maybe you don't have the gift of exaggeration that I have myself, maybe your can't appreciate the satire. But I hope you will be able to read between the lines to discover a nugget of truth here and there. And that's why I think you should read this book. Sure, it's entertaining. It's lighthearted. But as is true for all great fiction, especially ones written by Christian authors, it is soul-enriching. I just had a thought. When John Bunyan writes Pilgrim's Progress, it's obvious that the reader is in that journey. For we are all pilgrims. I just realised when Kees Postma writes The Retreat, the reader is in need of a retreat, for the reader is also soul-searching alongside the hero of this journey. Read this and laugh, so that you do not cry.This is a Reading and Readers review of "The Retreat: A lighthearted and humorous story about a soul searching pastor" by Kees Postma. 197 pages. Available in Amazon Kindle for USD3.99. Once again, special thanks to Tim Challies for bringing this book to everyone's attention. You can and should visit his website at challies.com. The next book I'll review is the Faithlife Free Book of the Month, "The Sacred Us: A Call to Radical Christian Community" by Justin Kendrick. I've just finished it and you can listen to my thoughts on it soon. You can get this book for free from faithlife.com. Another website, logos.com has their own free books. The February free book is The Broadman Bible Commentary on Matthew and Mark. My church is going through an expositional series on Mark, so I told my pastor about the free commentary. So, tell your pastors. In the Logos free book page, there is a list of discounted books. 10-12 discounted books. I bought one book, "Puzzling Passages in Paul: Forty Conundrums Calmly Considered" by Anthony Thiselton. Looking at my schedule I don't know whether I'll get to review this book. But I put it out here so that you know there are good resources at good discounts out there. And if you like that, subscribe to Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Thank you for listening. Bye Bye.Book List"The Retreat: A lighthearted and humorous story about a soul searching pastor" by Kees Postma. Amazon.

The future King David is foreshadowed in the ending of the book of Ruth. Thousands of years later, a blind man calls out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." Who is David? Why is this name so important in the Bible and in my life and yours? Find out in today's book.Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "After God's Own Heart: The Gospel according to David" by Mark J. Boda. 208 pages, published by P&R Publishing in June 2007. P&R stands for Presbyterian and Reformed. Today's book is available in Amazon Kindle for USD7.99 and free in Logos. Yes, it's free but only for January. By the time this podcast is published, there will only be less than 2 days left in January. And if you did not subscribe to this podcast, you might have missed the free book deal. Oh no! So subscribe to this podcast. You never know, you might just hear about a book that you never considered reading that would convict, refresh, and inspire you in your Christian walk. That is the aim for this podcast. AuthorSo coming back to the book. "After God's Heart" is written by Mark J. Boda, who is the Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Looking at the catalogue of books he has written and edited, I see a commentary on Zechariah from the New International Commentary on the Old Testament series, a commentary on Haggai and Zechariah from the NIV Application Commentary series and another book that stands out is "Return to Me: A Biblical Theology of Repentance" from the New Studies in Biblical Theology. The NSBT is one of my favourite series. According to his biodata in Amazon, Boda has written 12 books and edited 19 collected essays, and you can clearly see a strong emphasis on the Old Testament. And this is important because today's book, "After God's Heart: The Gospel according to David" is not the story of David. It includes the story of David, which we can read in 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles, these three books covers the life of David, but this book is more than that. Let me list the thirteen chapter in this book and just by reading the title of the first chapter, you will know what to expect from today's book. Chapter 1: David and Biblical TheologyIf you don't know what is Biblical Theology, just hold on, you will get a sense of it and I will explain soon.Chapter 2: David, Abraham, and RuthConsider this, what does David have to do with Abraham and Ruth? Abraham and Ruth in their lifetime didn't even know of David's existence. Of course, David is the descendent. But if you were asked to write an essay on the title, "David, Abraham and Ruth" what would you write? What would you write if you were given the following chapter headings. Chapter 3: David and AnointingChapter 4: David and CovenantChapter 5: David and RuleChapter 6: David and FaithChapter 7: David and JusticeChapter 8: David and UnityChapter 9: David and WorshipChapter 10: David and TempleChapter 11: David and FaithfulnessChapter 12: David and SinChapter 13: David and MessiahYou have heard how the chapters are arranged by themes but I want to stress this is Biblical Theology. And how I love it so. Let me explain by saying what this book is not. The Way Not TakenLet's say I was assigned to write an essay on David and Worship. Okay, let me think, David plays the lyre with the sheep and later for the troubled King Saul and in the Psalms, he sings to God. Let me write about how music soothes animals, and psychological or spiritual effect of music on troubled souls, and what I write how the lyrics in the Psalms are so different from the lyrics in modern music today. Everyone loves a good trashing on Contemporary Christian Music (CCM). So three sections, all related to David and Worship, all interesting and relevant today.That's not Biblical Theology. Biblical Theology requires us to scour the books of the Bible to determine what each book says about the topic. Does Leviticus talk about how music soothes the animals? Oh dear, when animals are mentioned in Leviticus is not about soothing them but about sacrificing them. And if we move the essay towards a discussion on Contemporary Christian Music, we can, it is possible, but through Biblical Theology, you need to show that this is what this book says, directly or indirectly, but your eyes are looking at the Bible, and not so much with what is wrong with the world today. Biblical Theology with DavidSo, let's try again but let's invite Professor Mark Boda to write the essay. The title is "David and Worship". What does he write? He divides the essay or chapter into five parts.David Brings the Ark into JerusalemDavid Initiates a New Phase of WorshipMusical WorshipImplicationsFor Further ReflectionBoda does not assume the reader is familiar with the story. He explains how David put the Ark on the cart, how Uzzah touched the Ark and died, then David placed the Ark at the home of Obed-Edom. Obed-Edom was blessed, David didn't wanted the blessing, so he tried again, now doing it the right way, according to the instructions God had given the Levites. David dances on the streets of Jerusalem. Saul's daughter didn't like that. And David had choice words to say to her. The background is helpful for those who don't know the story. If you are new to the Bible you will like this. The best part is if you are familiar with the story, and even familiar with the entire Bible, Boda has something for you too.In the second part, he explains, he lists, how David's worship shows continuity from Moses time. What Moses did in Exodus and Leviticus, David also did in 1 Chronicles. But Boda also shows how David innovated. He introduced new elements: musical instruments, new sacred objects, new sacred personnel, and new functions to the Levites. I've always been told that our modern worship team are our Levites. But -- hey! -- it was David who first commissioned them as singers and musicians. And I like this. I like seeing how the Bible tells me things which are in plain sight. When God instructed Moses, He never said anything about music for the sacrifices. How to sacrifice, what to sacrifice, when to sacrifice, yes, but never the soundtrack. So David innovated. Doesn't this give us license to innovate? Boda writes: the breadth of musical media in David’s new phase of worship challenges us to remain open to new ways of worshiping God. For some it is easy to equate praise with the use of organ, piano, and choir, to identify true worship with these modes. For others, however, it is just as easy to equate worship with the use of drums, guitars, and worship teams and to see no value in any other forms of worship. David’s new phase of worship certainly stretched his community to adopt new modes of worship, but underlying all of this there was strong evidence of joy (1 Chron. 15:16, 25), showing a people who fully embraced the new forms.Christians have strong opinions of worship. And the worship debate is as old as time. So it's nice to read a new argument drawn from Scripture. I also note that this is a P&R book, a Presbyterian & Reformed publishing house. You would think they are church-organs-only or Psalms-only type of people. It is books like this that show the Biblical basis to decide whether drums are in or out. I Got A Question For YouThe last part of the chapter is the Further Reflection. Two to three questions, sometimes a bit more, to spur some thought. I like the open-ended nature of the questions. A small group could read this book and come together to discuss the answers to the questions. Or, you can read this book on your own, come across an interesting question, ponder on it, and bring it up in your next conversation with a fellow brother or sister in Christ. You could ask them, "What do you think about this?" Let me read a portion of Question 3 from the worship chapter. It's a long question, I'll just read the second half of it:It is interesting that although the majority of psalms in the Psalter are psalms of Disorientation (lament), most Christians find they rarely express their heart to God using the language that is found in the laments, that is, asking God questions like “why?” or “how long?” Try to broaden the ways in which you speak to God, even in some time alone with God today. If you are a worship leader in a church, reflect on the ways in which you can incorporate the laments into the worship of your church in the coming month.The way the question is phrased shapes the Christian way of life. He nudges us for time alone. He nudges the worship leader to include the laments. You have read the chapter, now do it. You know what the Bible says, now do it. Even the 'comprehension' questions are tough! Question 4 in Chapter 2 goes like this:I once heard a sermon that contrasted Boaz and the kinsman-redeemer as the contrast between Christ and the law. What is wrong with the logic of this sermon?If you don't even know how to begin to answer this question, that's what the chapter, what the book, is for. Past and Future KingBoda doesn't just bring us to the past to the times of Abraham, Moses and Ruth: when a Davidic Kingdom then would be a dream too good to be true. Boda also brings us to the future: when the great kings of Israel and Judah are but near-forgotten memories, as enemy nations occupy the land, the temple, the throne that God said would never end. In chapter 13, Boda blitzes through Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Amos, Micah, Haggai and Zechariah, showing us how David lives on in those books, ultimately in Jesus Christ.Boda is a Professor of Old Testament. His expertise and love for the subject shows in this book. "After God's Heart: The Gospel according to David" goes beyond the lifespan of David, beyond his 70 years in this life. As Boda tells the story of David through the millennia, it only makes us grow in awe at the wonderful Providence of God, the God above all History. On a more practical level, this book helps us to make sense of the frequent reference to David, allusions in Abraham, Moses and Ruth, generations before he was born all the way to unbelievable prophecies that King David will rise again. The Gospel According to the Old Testament SeriesWhen I finished the book, I realised that there is something missing in the book. If the intent was to do total Biblical Theology with David, then the New Testament was peculiarly left out. For example, there is no exposition of Blind Bartimaeus calling, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." Nor is there any elaboration on the most cited Psalm in the New Testament, which is "The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool." I chose my words carefully. I said there was no exposition, no elaboration. There was Scripture reference, and a slight mention. But these New Testament verses are so rich especially in the fulfilment of the Davidic prophecies that I was surprised. Was Boda, the Old Testament professor sticking to his lane? Or was he keeping it in the Old Testament to make the scope manageable, otherwise we would have double the page count?I sought to answer the question by reading the preface and introduction and I saw my mistake. I skipped the series preface because the series prefaces is always kind of the same, right? Well, no. This book belongs to the series titled, "The Gospel According to the Old Testament". That's the name of the series. And the series aims to:to lay out the pervasiveness of the revelation of Christ in the Old Testamentto promote a Christ-centered reading of the Oldto encourage Christ-centered preaching and teaching from the Old TestamentSo I'll just be quiet now and take this podcast as a reminder myself to always read the preface first. My rushed reading, the fact that I sensed the Old Testament was overwhelming the New Testament showed that Boda achieved the aims of the series. ConclusionIn conclusion, "After God's Heart: The Gospel according to David" is a good introduction to Biblical Theology. If you have ever wondered what is the big deal about King David, why do Christians from all around the world bother about a long-dead king in a faraway land? This book answers that question using history, law, songs and prophecy, organised through themes with straightforward application and thought-provoking reflection questions.If you will ever do a study on David, and you should, because David is all over the Bible, then this is, for you and your small group, a must-have resource.This is a Reading and Readers Review of "After God's Own Heart: The Gospel according to David" by Mark J. Boda. 208 pages, published by P&R Publishing in June 2007. Today's book is available in Amazon Kindle for USD7.99 and free in Logos in January. And I know there is less than 2 days of January left, so what are you waiting for? And if you like to hear monthly reviews of free Christian books, subscribe and stay tuned for February's free book, coming soon. Bye bye.Book List"After God's Own Heart: The Gospel according to David" by Mark J. Boda. Amazon. Logos.

What was the most important battle in history? Would you say a battle in Ancient Rome, or Ancient Egypt, or perhaps a battle in World War 1 or 2. What if I told you that the most important battle in history was a battle not fought with swords and spears or guns and tanks but it was a battle fought with words. The battle for the person of Jesus. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "For Us and Our Salvation: The Doctrine of Christ in the Early Church" by Stephen J. Nichols. 176 pages, published by Crossway in August 2007. It's USD10.99 in Amazon Kindle but it's free from Faithlife for January.AuthorReading from the author's page: Stephen Nichols is the president of Reformation Bible College, chief academic officer for Ligonier Ministries, and a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow. He holds a Ph.D. from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He is host of the podcasts 5 Minutes in Church History and Open Book. He is author of more than twenty books, including Beyond the 95 Theses, A Time for Confidence, and R.C. Sproul: A Life and coeditor of Crossway’s Theologians on the Christian Life series. Today's book, "For Us and Our Salvation" was written in the wake of the Da Vinci Code, the novel by Dan Brown. The book that was adapted into a Tom Hanks movie got a lot of people excited about the Council of Nicea and Chalcedon. The atmosphere was there was this great revelation, a two thousand year old conspiracy sudden broke, and the true story of Jesus was finally told. Except the book and the movie was a fictional story built on creative non-biblical and non-historical plot devices that were sold as the gospel truth. While it is true that there were disputes on the identity of Jesus -- from the very beginning until today! -- just because something is disputed doesn't mean it's a 50-50, even odds, on what is the true story. Isn't that how the serpent fooled Eve? He did not outright say God was a liar, he just suggested, "Did God really say that?" In order to clear up disputes on who Jesus was, Christian leaders came together to settle the matter once and for all. They did that in Nicea to give us the Nicean Creed. A couple more councils later, they assembled in Chalcedon to give us the Chalcedonian Creed. Because they felt, as we also do, that it is important to get Jesus right.Let us open the book.The Special SauceThis book has a unique format. The book is worth buying and reading because of the way Nichols organises the book. See if you can detect that unique feature this book offers. It begins with: AcknowledgmentsIntroduction: "Who Do People Say That I am?": Christ's Crucial QuestionChapter 1: In the Beginning was the Word: Christ in the Early CenturiesChapter 2: In Their Own Words: Select Documents from the Early CenturiesChapter 3: The Triumph of Athanasius: The Battle for Christ at NiceaChapter 4: In Their Own Words: Select Documents from the Fourth CenturyChapter 5: The Wisdom of Leo the Great: The Battle for Christ at ChalcedonChapter 6: In Their Own Words: Select Documents from the Fifth CenturyEpilogue Jesus: Yesterday, Today and TomorrowIn Their Own WordsThe unique feature is entire chapters dedicated to giving us the original words. In this age of fake news, where everyone can spin any short video clip or quote to say anything they want, I've become more appreciative, sometimes more demanding, to see the primary source. I want to read what they wrote and not what you say they wrote. The trouble is we don't have the time and sometimes the brain to gather, filter and read the primary sources. In the appendix to this book, Nichols shares some primary sources for further reading. You can read the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, the first series has 14 volumes, the second series also has 14 volumes. You could read all the primary sources on the Nicene and Chalcedon council or you could read the next best thing.This book is the next best thing. Nichols selects and extracts and frames the text in the theological and political context. The politics tells us who are the good and the bad emperors, who are friends, who are enemies and who were friends who became enemies. The theological context tells us the finer details of the argument, details that are important but sometimes not easily understood. Nichols tackles the question of "Who is Christ?" by writing for the modern reader while pointing to the ancient writers. Actually, he goes beyond pointing, as I have told you, half the book are quotes from the ancient writers.Nichols has written a book that does not assume the reader knows the background nor necessary the scholarly interest. For example, he writes:A fundamental doctrine of Platonic philosophy conflicts with the doctrine of the incarnation. For Plato, matter is bad, while the ideal is good. The body is bad, while the soul is good and pure. In Greek a catchy little jingle catches this well: Soma toma. Translated, it means: “Body, tomb.” If they’d had bumper stickers, this saying would have been on the chariots of the Platonist philosophers. Soma Toma. Catchy jingle, isn't it? You will probably remember that phrase long after this podcast has faded away. Stephen Nichols will later turn his talent of finding catchy little jingles into a podcast. If you haven't done so yet, I recommend you listen to Stephen Nichols' "5 Minutes in Church History". Listening to him there helped me looked forward to reading today's book.I tell you this to assure you that if you ever wanted to know about the Council of Nicea, Council of Chalcedon, the controversies and creeds for the Trinity and Christ - Truly God, Truly Man, Stephen Nichols is a good guide. He knows that reading the primary sources can be intimidating. Every ancient text is preceded by an introduction, and he explains how the introduction works:Introductions to these texts provide some information on the context of these selections. Notes are also included to help contemporary readers get a better handle on tricky points in these ancient texts. These samples are but the tip of the iceberg of the rich literary legacy of the early church. The early fathers went to great lengths to see that the church thought and believed properly about the person of Christ, so that it in turn accurately and persuasively proclaimed the gospel of Christ.You never feel like you are reading someone else's love for ancient word puzzles. It is always tied to the importance of 'accurately and persuasively proclaiming the gospel of Christ'.Still Powerful A Thousand Years LaterFor example, remember 'soma toma'? Ignatius has something to say about that. He [Jesus] was baptized by John, really and not in appearance; and when He had preached the Gospel three years, and done signs and wonders, He who was Himself the Judge was judged by the Jews, falsely so called, and by Pilate the governor; was scourged, was smitten on the cheek, was spit upon; He wore a crown of thorns and a purple robe; He was condemned: He was crucified in reality, and not in appearance, not in imagination, not in deceit. He really died, and was buried, and rose from the dead,Written nearly 2000 years ago. And we can still feel the force of his words. Let's hear from another author. Tertullian! ... if the worker were imaginary the works were imaginary. On this principle, too, the sufferings of Christ will be found not to warrant faith in Him. For He suffered nothing who did not truly suffer; and a phantom could not truly suffer. God’s entire work, therefore, is subverted. Christ’s death, wherein lies the whole weight and fruit of the Christian name, is denied although the apostle asserts it so expressly as undoubtedly real, making it the very foundation of the gospel, of our salvation and of his own preaching.Still Damning A Thousand Years LaterWe don't just read the words of the great defenders of the faith. We also read the words of the heretics. Is it right for us to call them heretics. Maybe they were misunderstood. Not so, their own words condemn them.This is a letter from Arius to Eusebius of Nicomedia, written around 319AD. I quote:To his very dear lord, the man of God, the faithful and orthodox Eusebius, Arius, unjustly persecuted by Alexander the Pope, on account of that all conquering truth of which you also are a champion, sends greeting in the Lord.Arius believes he is unjustly persecuted. But I wonder who believes that they are justly persecuted. That was the greetings. A few paragraphs later, Arius writes: We are persecuted, because we say that the Son has a beginning, but that God is without beginning. This is the cause of our persecution, and likewise, because we say that He is of the non-existent. Do you hear the error? If you hear it, is it a big deal? Perhaps everybody got bent out of shape over nothing. Nichols does a splendid job explaining the importance of these doctrines, my summary is this: If Jesus had a beginning, then he is not God. He would at most be a demi-God. Nearly God. Nearly infinite. And nearly infinite is not infinite, nearly God is not God. Let me jump to the practical implication of this. If Jesus is not God, then you cannot worship him, you can honour him, but you cannot worship him. Because we can only worship God, to worship another is to commit idolatry and idolatry is a sin. Of Two MindsIf you are familiar with apologetics or church history, you would be familiar with Arius and Athanasius. That famous controversy was settled in Nicaea. In contrast to Arius, most are not as familiar with Apollinarius, Nestorius or Eutyches. I was of two minds on which to choose, so let's talk about Nestorius. Nichols writes: As Cyril listened to Nestorius, he heard him saying that Christ is two persons, two “he’s.” What Cyril wanted to hear was that Jesus was one “he,” one person. Nestorius so stressed the humanity and divinity of Christ that he veered very near to saying that the two natures are so distinct in Christ that Christ is a divided person, a human person and divine person, that Christ is two “he’s” and not merely two natures. Nestorius would even point to specific instances in the Gospels where the human Jesus was present and to other places where the divine Jesus was present. For Nestorius, it’s not Jesus Christ is. Instead, it’s Jesus Christ are, which is both grammatically and theologically incorrect.Before this, I never really understood Nestorianism, but thanks to Nichols, now I do. And so I appreciate how Nichols explains these sometimes subtle differences in a clear manner. Do you? Or do you grow weary at what seems like theologians splitting hairs, I repeat myself.Some bishops in the council of Chalcedon felt as you do. They didn't want to hear more of this. They just wanted to go home.They had grown weary of the intricacies of debating Apollinarianism, Nestorianism, and Eutychianism. This group simply did not want to engage the matter of relating the two natures of Christ. Instead all they wanted to do was to reaffirm the Nicene Creed, suspending the discussion of how the two natures come together. The second group disagreed. They saw the dangers in not trying to somehow express, in language true to Scripture, how the human and divine natures relate in Christ. If not dealt with decisively, this group argued, then even more complex and subtle views would keep popping up. Now was the time to deal with this issue and complete the trajectory started by Athanasius and the Nicene Council by offering a statement of the orthodox view of Christ’s humanity and deity.It would take some work, this group acknowledged, but it was well worth the effort. The second group won out over the first, and the council pushed on.And thanks to them, we have the Chalcedonian Creed, which I think is a wonderful piece of writing. Following, then, the holy fathers, we all unanimously teach that our Lord Jesus Christ is to us one and the same Son, the self-same perfect in Godhead, the self-same perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man; the self-same of a rational soul and body; co-essential with the Father according to the Godhead, the self-same co-essential with us according to the manhood; like us in all things, sin apart; before the ages begotten of the Father as to the Godhead, but in the last days, the self-same, for us and for our salvation (born) of Mary the Virgin Theotokos as to the manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only-begotten; acknowledged in two natures unconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; It goes on. I think this creed, and the other creeds, are meant to be read out loud. When you read it, it's just squiggly lines on paper. But when I read it out loud, there is a sense of declaring Truth to the Universe. Jesus is truly God and truly man. Acknowledged in two natures, unconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably. I have not yet mentioned Leo the Great. In this book we read the letter from Flavian to Leo asking for advice on how to handle these controversies. And we read the reply from Leo to Flavian, a seven page letter which is printed in full in this book. It's known as the "Tome", and it shaped Chalcedonian creed. Read For YourselfAnd this just reinforces what I've been saying. There is a difference between Nichols telling us, or me telling you, versus you reading for yourself what Leo the Great wrote and seeing for yourself how familiar the words are that later appear in the final creed. And if you ponder it for a moment, you appreciate the urgency, the intensity of the moment. The emperors. The bishops. The words flying around. Basil of Caesarea wrote: To what then shall I liken our present condition.Later he continues:See the rival fleets rushing in dread array to the attack. With a burst of uncontrollable fury they engage and fight it out. Fancy, if you like, the ships driven to and fro by a raging tempest, while thick darkness falls from the clouds and blackens all the scenes so that watchwords are indistinguishable in the confusion, and all distinction between friend and foe is lost. To fill up the details of the imaginary picture, suppose the sea swollen with billows and whirled up from the deep, while a vehement torrent of rain pours down from the clouds and the terrible waves rise high. From every quarter of heaven the winds beat upon one point, where both the fleets are dashed one against the other. Of the combatants some are turning traitors; some are deserting in the very thick of the fight; some have at one and the same moment to urge on their boats, all beaten by the gale, and to advance against their assailants. Jealousy of authority and the lust of individual mastery splits the sailors into parties which deal mutual death to one another.There is more. But I have probably read too much. Settled and Never SettledI have two more reasons why more Christians should read this book. Especially if you are a nice Christian. Who loves peace. At any cost. The book will impress upon you the need for Truth and the willingness to fight for it. Especially in the life of Athanasius. If you want the life story of Athanasius, you can read a short biography in John Piper's "27 Servants of Sovereign Joy", a book I reviewed two episodes ago. What Nichols books offers over Piper's book is a study on the controversies themselves. And what I wish more people would know is this: any one of us can be a heretic. Meaning, it doesn't matter how nice you are, how sincere you are, it doesn't matter how much you love God and Men, you and I can still be a heretic because we believe in the wrong things about God. If you believed that Jesus had a beginning, you are a heretic in the eyes of Athanasius, Nicaea and churches today. Is it possible that you and I are heretics in a belief that we hold? I say this not to drive fear and doubt into your heart, but to drive you and I to the Bible. To constantly check whether our faith corresponds to the Truth revealed in Scripture. Because regardless of what you believe, you know there are false teachings out there. The heresies that Nicaea and Chalcedon settled were never settled, the heretics talk still spread like gangrene until today. In the epilogue titled, "Jesus: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" , Nichols offers a sobering summary of what has happened since those early church times. And he tells us frankly, he warns us, "The church is always one generation away from getting it wrong, from taking a misstep." And if you need a book to make that point clear, today's book is as good a book as any. This is a Reading and Reader's review of "For Us and Our Salvation: The Doctrine of Christ in the Early Church" by Stephen J. Nichols. 176 pages, published by Crossway in August 2007. It's USD10.99 in Amazon Kindle but it's free from Faithlife for January.The next review will be the free book from Logos. That's After God's Own Heart: The Gospel According to David by Mark J. Boda. This book is one volume in the "Gospel According to the Old Testament" series. This free book offer will end with January, so if there is even the slightest chance you might read it or refer to it, just get it. And, God willing, after a week, you can listen to my review to know whether the book was worth that one click of the button. Until then, bye bye. Book List"For Us and Our Salvation: The Doctrine of Christ in the Early Church" by Stephen J. Nichols. Amazon. Faithlife.

Do you love the Lord of the Rings? Doesn't everyone? Do you love Systematic Theology? Of course! Then today's book is perfect for you.Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Tolkien Dogmatics: Theology through Mythology with the Maker of Middle-earth" by Austin M. Freeman. 432 pages, published by Lexham Press in November 2022. It's available in Amazon Kindle for USD19.99 and Logos for USD23.99. I don't know much about Austin M. Freeman other than what is in Amazon. He is a lecturer at Houston Baptist University and a classical school teacher. He has a PhD from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, which explains a lot. Because a certain Professor Kevin Vanhoozer is from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School as well. But we will come to that in all good time.Tolkien the Public TheologianToday we are talking about Tolkien, a man who really needs no introduction. He launched the fantasy genre! Dragonlance, Forgotten Realms, Game of Thrones and many more fantasy novel could be blamed or traced to J.R.R. Tolkien. He is the author of The Lord of the Rings, a trilogy of books that Peter Jackson directed into a trilogy of movies. That worldwide success soon led to the filming of another Tolkien book, the Hobbit, a single book which Jackson stretched into a trilogy of movies. And last year, Amazon launched Rings of Power, a TV series of this fantasy adventure. Why has the Lord of the Rings, a book series that began in the 1930s, so capture the imagination of readers and viewers around the world across generations. This could be your great-grandfather's favourite book. Is it the plot, the characters, the world-building? Tonnes of ink has been spilled over decades analysing the film from all angles. But maybe, just maybe, the reason why Tolkien's world is so lasting is because it has so much resonance: there is something in that mythical world that perks up the realities of this present world. Maybe the reason Middle-earth pulls us in is because we are, by virtue of how God made us, attracted to Truth. Truth with a capital T. Today I am not reviewing Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, I am reviewing Tolkien Dogmatics by Austin Freeman. This is how the book's description begins: J. R. R. Tolkien was many things: English Catholic, father and husband, survivor of two world wars, Oxford professor, and author. But he was also a theologian. Tolkien’s writings exhibit a coherent theology of God and his works, but Tolkien did not present his views with systematic arguments. Rather, he expressed theology through story.And that is the premise of this book. Tolkien was a public theologian conveying theology through story. Freeman has scoured the literature, his gaze pierces books, letters, talks and journals, to reconstruct Tolkien's theology into a systematic form. And when I say systematic, I mean systematic in the technical, theological, seminary textbook sense.StructureThe book begins with a chapter titled Prolegomena that presents the background, scope, use and methodology. Then we have:Chapter 1: GodChapter 2: RevelationChapter 3: CreationChapter 4: HumanityChapter 5: AngelsChapter 6: The FallChapter 7: Evil and SinChapter 8: Satan and DemonsChapter 9: Christ and SalvationChapter 10: The ChurchChapter 11: The Christian LifeChapter 12: Last ThingsThese chapter headings are what you would expect from a Systematic Theology textbook, so when I first saw this I eagerly anticipated how Freeman would fit the Lord of the Rings as well as Tolkien's other writings, into these categories.The book ends with a couple of resources. We have a glossary of names and terms from Tolkien's fiction, just in case you don't know who are the Valar, they are the angelic rulers of the world. Or the Maiar, they are the lesser angelic spirits. Everyone knows, that Saruman, Gandalf, and the Balrog he fought in the Mines of Moria, they are all Maiar. (I'm joking, I didn't know that before I read this book.) We have a Bibliography which is divided into two sections Tolkien Sources (nearly 60 sources from Tolkien's own words, sometimes edited by his son Christopher Tolkien) and Secondary Sources (more than 200 sources from scholars, mostly on Tolkien, sometimes on theology apart from Tolkien).And no self-respecting textbook on systematic theology would be without indices. We have a name index, subject index and Scripture index. Theology From MythologyNow that we understand how the book is laid out, I want to spend some time challenging the entire premise of the book. Systematic Theology textbooks exist because we want to know what does the Bible say about specific categories or headings of God, Creation, Sin, Man, Jesus, Salvation, Holy Spirit, End Times. So I would read Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology or Millard Erickson's Christian Theology or Herman Bavinck's Reformed Dogmatics to better understand, let's say, Jesus Christ. I will know Bavinck's conviction because he tells me directly what he believes in his book Reformed Dogmatics. This is not so straightforward with Freeman's book. I read this book to know Tolkien's conviction, not through Tolkien's direct thoughts on these topics, but mostly through Freeman's compilation, selection and stringing together of Tolkien's writings. This is an audacious task. Perhaps this is an everyday task for the literature critic to reconstruct the man or woman behind the book, but I would be very careful to reconstruct J.K. Rowling's faith from the Harry Potter series or draw a line from the religious zealots in Battlestar Galactica to the personal faith of the creators of the show. So how far can we take Freeman's premise? First, that we can know Tolkien's belief from his stories. Second, that doing this, we can know God, for knowing God is the ultimate purpose of systematic theologies.Freeman takes the challenge to the premise seriously. In the Prolegomena, there is a section titled "Scope and Use of This Book" and "Methodology".The critical difference between J.K Rowling and Battlestar Galatica versus J.R.R. Tolkien and Lord of the Rings is Tolkien's faith truly undergirds his world. Tolkien believes that God is the Creator and that Men are created in the image of God, therefore we are sub-creators.Tolkien's faith is real, it is true, it corresponds to reality. That is why his underlying faith has resonance with readers and viewers in the real world. His elves and orcs makes our present reality more real. Let me quote Freeman:Many critics have tried to account for the effect a good story has on us with terms like “literary belief” or “willing suspension of disbelief.” But Tolkien demurs. We instead become successful sub-creators, making a secondary world that other minds can enter into. There are then things which are true within that world -- that is, which accord with its laws. That is why we believe it when we are inside it.As I read the book, I continually asked myself whether we could apply the methods Freeman uses here to Greek or Norse myths or Fantasy or Science Fiction stories. If you want to go in depth into the methodology, Freeman states upfront he does not have the space to explain but he invites readers to read Kevin J. Vanhoozer's book "Is There Meaning in this Text?" I have reviewed a different Vanhoozer book, "Everyday Theology: How to Read Cultural Texts and Interpret Trends" which you can check out in Episode 50. Special (Author's Only) RevelationNow, assuming you can for the moment accept the premise and purpose of the book, let's go to a rather revealing chapter, chapter 2. Let me read the second paragraph of this chapter:This chapter will be broken down into two major sections based on these divisions. We will first deal with general revelation -- here, with how much Tolkien believes pagans might know of the true God apart from Scripture. We will next address Tolkien’s views on special revelation in Scripture and his attitudes toward the Bible, then specific extraordinary revelations such as dreams and visions, and finally his views on the (perhaps) supernatural provenance of his own work.We have general revelation, special revelation, and supernatural provenance or origin of Tolkien's own work. This entire chapter is good but I will skip to the last part which is the sensation one. I'll quote the section at length: This section explores Tolkien’s views on one aspect of an extracanonical special revelation addressed to the world: his own writing. While grading student exams one day, Tolkien wrote down ten fateful words without any clear meaning behind them: “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” Whence did this sudden impulse come? Tolkien seems to have explicitly admitted he believed his work to have been inspired in some sense.In a letter from 1971, two years before his death, he recounts a strange visit. A man had come to see him with some old pictures which seemed to have been made to illustrate The Lord of the Rings ages before it was written. The man wanted to know whether Tolkien had drawn inspiration from such images. When Tolkien revealed he had never seen them before, the meeting took a strange turn. His visitor asked him whether he believed he had really written the whole work on his own. No, Tolkien had answered, not anymore. Tolkien then tells his correspondent that he has never since been able to believe that The Lord of the Rings was purely his own invention. Recognizing that this is a somewhat alarming and possibly arrogant conclusion, he reasons that God after all uses quite imperfect instruments all the time.We must make clear from the outset what Tolkien did and did not believe here. He did not believe his fiction was true in the primary world, though he did believe it was not entirely false. He did not believe he was writing Scripture, or some special basis for a new religion or teaching. He did not believe his work ought to be considered “inspired” in the same sense as the Bible or the church’s teaching. But he did seem to eventually believe that he received large portions of it from God by the ministry of angels operating on relatively normal authorial processes -- that is, not by means of an Islamic angelic delivery, but in a more subtle and synergistic manner.Authors often describe the creative writing process in this way: "The characters have a life of their own. The story wrote itself." It's said so often it's become cliche. But this matches with Tolkien's experience:He [Tolkien] says he no longer “invents,” but instead waits until he seems to know what really happened. This sort of independent development is a large impetus for his conclusion that parts of the story seem revealed through him rather than by him. He deliberately chose to work with archetypal motifs, and sometimes characters intrude out of narrative necessity. But he describes the full characterization of Aragorn in tones of awe as a revelation.I am still fascinated by the idea of theology through mythology. I can't let go. If we take Tolkien's impressions of divine revelation seriously, then we are compelled to ask, "Do we listen to him as a 'prophet'?". Yet both Tolkien and Freeman strenuously deny writing Scripture. Is it proper to credit God as the writer's muse? Bavinck never suggests that the hand of God was on him while he was writing Reformed Dogmatics. On the other hand, many are convinced that the hand of God was indeed on Handel when he composed Messiah. Let us, just for a moment, accept that God intended Tolkien to write Lord of the Rings for God's Divine Purpose. While saying that 'God intended for this to happen' is true for any author, Christian or not, for any piece of literature, fiction or not, let us assume God intended something special for Tolkien and Lord of the Rings, hence why Tolkien felt the story was revealed through him rather than by him. Let us explore, for a minute!, the divine purpose, for a divine purpose is worth teasing out, worth speculating on.I take my cue from what one Tolkien scholar, Claudio Testi, wrote: Tolkien’s characters live in a world that is chronologically pre-Christian but metaphysically Christian. That is, he has sub-created a fictional world in which Jesus Christ will one day become incarnate. Where do myths come from? From a Christian point of view, all myths are man-made, in the sense, they are fictional, they are stories, they are not materially real. We will not dig up the bones of a Medusa, or a Pegasus, or a Fairy. Men as sub-creators, created these myths. Christians recognise many or all(?) of these myths as pagan, non-Christian, because they convey a belief antithetical to the faith. If we wanted to be harsh, we could say they are lies inspired by the father of lies. On the other hand, if, big if, God positively wills Tolkien to write Lord of the Rings, then we have a sense that myths can be good, even if they are not real. They convey Truth even though the people never existed and the events never happened. Just like the Parables! The Parables in the Gospels are not materially real, we will not dig up the remains of the Prodigal Son or the Samaritan Man or the Sower, but the Parables powerfully convey Truth.Where does that leave us. Is God speaking Truth through Tolkien to us?Roman CatholicI found the solution to this question in Tolkien's Roman Catholicism.First I want to say that Freeman is very even-handed on Tolkien's Roman Catholic beliefs even as Freeman is a Protestant. Freeman doesn't shy away from them, it is a necessarily important part of Tolkien's conviction, and we can see that in his devotion to the Catholic faith in marriage, in parenting and his letters. Although Tolkien never speaks publicly as a theologian, Professor Tolkien of Oxford University has thought deeply of his faith and is not shy on expounding on them on specific occasions. Tolkien rejects the worship of Mary but insists she was sinless and ascended to Heaven. He believes the Roman Catholic doctrine on the Eucharist or the Lord's Supper, which is the bread transforms into the body of Christ and the wine transforms into the blood of Christ. And while Tolkien remains friends with C.S. Lewis the Anglican and other Protestants, he truly believes that the Roman Catholic church is the one true church of Christ, if only his friends would come to their senses. So I commend Freeman the Protestant for not feeling the need to educate the reader on the errors of the Roman Catholic church. He trusts readers would know enough of the difference and their positions. This makes this book a comfortable read for both Roman Catholics and Protestants. Unless you are a Roman Catholic who wished Freeman wrote more positively, or a Protestant who wished he wrote more negatively, you will probably be disappointed that Freeman doesn't go far enough.The good news is that once Freeman presents these Roman Catholic doctrines, then it's easy for us to think about how to receive this book of derived systematic theology and also Tolkien's musings that the stories were revealed through him rather than by him. Myth: Christian vs PaganIt's obvious when I say it and it is a repetition of what has been said, but this is the way to read this book: We should not read Tolkien or Tolkien's Dogmatics to establish our faith. We can learn from Tolkien because he writes as a Christian. His faith informs his fiction. He has bluntly said so in interviews. What this books shows us is how some men are gifted sub-creators. The Egyptians, Greeks, Indians and Chinese have their own Creation origin stories. These stories came about to fill the gaps on what they didn't know of the One God and His Creation. Even within the Christian Church, people have created sub-Christian beliefs, contrary to the Truth. Making things up to make things better. Contrary to Tolkien. Freeman quotes Priscilla, Tolkien's daughter who describes her father's belief:without our lives being seen as a journey to God, our artistic or other talents will come to nothing.In medieval Middle-earth, we have a modern day myth. Tolkien's myth informs by revelation. In knowing God, God the Father, who will send the God-Man in the future, Tolkien creates a world that co-exists with that revelation. And it is fascinating how the story, the people and the events in Middle-earth can shed light on that revelation.Have you ever read any Systematic Theology which considers Humanity in light of Elves, Men, Hobbits, Dwarves and Orcs? Have you read anywhere a chapter on Angels which compares Gandalf and Sauron?Have you studied temptation from the perspective of Frodo, Galadriel, Boromir, Gollum? How they failed and triumphed when tempted by the one ring?One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, One ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them. And a curious side-effect of writing fiction is because it is fiction, Tolkien is free to speculate on angels and demons, heaven and hell, without having to run the theological gauntlet.Who Is This Book For?And that leads me to the question who is this book for. If you don't feel a thrill in your heart when I mention Hobbits, Gandalf, Gollum and the one ring, then this might not be the book for you. Some of you might look at the cover of this book and think, "Hmm... I know a guy who loves Lord of the Rings. He is not a Christian. Maybe after reading this book. He will be more willing to consider the faith." Nope, that's not going to work. The idea is good, but not with this book. Not a Systematic Theology. You might want to try with another book, "Walking with Frodo: A Devotional Journey Through the Lord of the Rings" by Sarah Arthur. I never knew this book existed until Freeman cited it here. In fact, I never knew there was so much research from all angles on all things Tolkien until I picked up Freeman's book.Now, on the flip side, some of you may think, "Hmm... I know a girl who loves theology, Systematic Theology, she just goes on and on about Augustine, Bavinck, and Calvin, but I would like her to have a bit of love for Aragorn, Bilbo and Saruman. Maybe this is the book for her."Nope, that's also not going to work. Freeman freely assumes you know the main story, the people, the significance of the Ring and spoils the ending every few chapters.You see, you will not fall in love with Tolkien's stories by reading Tolkien's Dogmatics. You fall in love with Tolkien's stories by reading his stories or you could try watching the Peter Jackson movies with your friend. If the movies can't pull him or her, then I can't see how this book could. Unless your friend is someone like John Piper or some really serious theological geek. That goes wild-eyed at the prospect of reading another Theology book.Eagle's HymnIdeally, this book is for those who love theology and Tolkien. The one who needs to be validated in their love for both; to read what Freeman writes here and give thanks, "I knew there was something really deep and spiritual here but I just couldn't put my finger on what it was." Let me end with this quote from the book.Tolkien also offers a picture of the new heavens and the new earth in his own poetry and prose. He is in fact at his most eschatological (and biblical) when he writes of an Eagle that sings a hymn over the rescued city of Minas Tirith. It is here quoted in full, with biblical allusions footnoted:And the Shadow departed, and the Sun was unveiled, and light leaped forth; and the waters of Anduin shone like silver, and in all the houses of the City men sang for the joy that welled up in their hearts from what source they could not tell. And before the Sun had fallen far from the noon out of the East there came a great Eagle flying, and he bore tidings beyond hope from the Lords of the West, crying: Sing now, ye people of the Tower of Anor, for the Realm of Sauron is ended for ever, and the Dark Tower is thrown down. Sing and rejoice, ye people of the Tower of Guard, for your watch hath not been in vain, and the Black Gate is broken, and your King hath passed through, and he is victorious. Sing and be glad, all ye children of the West, for your King shall come again, and he shall dwell among you all the days of your life. And the Tree that was withered shall be renewed, and he shall plant it in the high places, and the City shall be blessed. Sing all ye people!Freeman's footnote traces the eagle's hymn to multiple Scripture references such as Revelation 22:5, where it says, "And night will be no more. They will need no light or lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light." Sing and be glad, all ye children of the West, for your King shall come again, and he shall dwell among you all the days of your life. This is a Reading and Readers review of "Tolkien Dogmatics: Theology through Mythology with the Maker of Middle-earth" by Austin M. Freeman. 432 pages, published by Lexham Press in November 2022. It's available in Amazon Kindle for USD19.99 and Logos for USD23.99.The next book I will review is by Dr. Stephen Nichols, "For Us and Our Salvation: The Doctrine of Christ in the Early Church". It's a Free Book from Faithlife. Only free available for January. So you can read along with me or you can listen to my review first. Until then, bye bye!Book List"Tolkien Dogmatics: Theology through Mythology with the Maker of Middle-earth" by Austin M. Freeman. Amazon. Logos."Walking With Frodo: A Devotional Journey Through the Lord of the Rings" by Sarah Arthur. Amazon.

RR62 DraftHi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you except for today. Today, I ask the question, "How did I get here?" I look back at the books that I have reviewed that have influenced my worldview, my actions, my affections, my life.Not Best Books of 2022This is not a best books of 2022 episode. I have not yet mastered the skill of ranking books. If forced to, I would choose Cur Deus Homo by Anselm of Canterbury because one can't go wrong with a thousand year old classic. And if you restricted me to books published in 2022, then I've only five books to consider out of the 30 books I reviewed this year.I'm not doing a best books of 2022 episode. I'm doing a reflection. I'm recognising that there are 'flash in the pan' books. Books that were so good when I first read them but had little lasting influence. On the other extreme, there are books that was just okay but unexpected led to long term changes. I'm looking for such long term changes. That is why I'm not restricting myself to books reviewed in 2022. If Reading and Readers continues for ten, twenty years, you will hear through my year end reflections how I have grown through the books, how one book leads to another, and how books are not just the filling of the mind but can lead to habits and pleasures.In today's episode, I will talk about books that have encouraged a Christian habit, books that have formed a Christian worldview, and finally and most significantly, books that unexpectedly change my way of life. The keyword being unexpectedly. Books That Encouraged A Christian HabitBooks that have encouraged a Christian habit. It's a habit that begins with the letter 'M'. We all know it's good for you but somehow think it's a habit for the super-holy-edifying-walk-on-water-people-sanctus. It's not meditation, it's memorisation. In last year's reflection, I shared how Chris Wright's book, "Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit" was helpful especially how he describe John Stott and his habit of praying the fruit of the spirit every morning. Before the book, I had memorised Galatians 5:22-23 but I didn't see how it could help me in maturing as a Christian. I am not disciplined enough to pray it everyday but I have found it helpful to pray it when I need to. Sometimes it's before breakfast, sometimes it's before I sleep, often it's before I am on the verge of saying something I shouldn't say. Instead of biting my tongue, I recite in my heart, "Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control." And wouldn't you know it, self-control is what I needed the most. Then in October this year, I read Andrew Naselli's book, "Romans: A Concise Guide to the Greatest Letter Ever Written". What impressed me the most was that he memorised Romans. I tried that before but gave up half way through. So challenged by Naselli's success, I attempted once more to memorise the greatest letter ever written. Nearly three months later, I have only managed to memorise Romans chapter 1. But that is because after memorising Romans chapter 1, I decided to memorise 2 Timothy because my need for it was more urgent. I was preaching on 2 Timothy and I knew if I had the letter in my head it would benefit my study and ultimately the church. And if you have never done this before, I invite you to try it. If you are going to teach on a verse, or a passage, try memorising the whole chapter. The act of memorising will make you familiar with layout of the land. And every commentary you read will make more sense because you are never lost in the details. And lest some think I am bragging, I am not. Chris Wright shared on John Stott's daily prayer as an encouragement to all. Andrew Naselli only mentioned memorising Romans because he wanted to thank his youth group for the challenge. I am so far away from Stott's maturity and Naselli's achievement, that the reason why I share my meagre success is simply to encourage you, dear readers in the habit, and to thank these servants of the Lord for their encouragement. Books That Formed A WorldviewNext, books that formed a worldview. Have you asked or gotten this question before, "Can I read or watch or listen to this book or movie or song?"The best answer I got is from Tony Reinke's book, "Lit!". "You can read anything you want as long as you hold to a Christian worldview." Which if you think about it is the same as Henry Ford saying of his cars, "You can have any colour you want as long as it is black." Because you hold a Christian worldview, you will filter out books you should not read. Because you hold a Christian worldview, you will interpret or learn to interpret anything you read or watch or listen to from the Biblical lens. Does that mean you can listen to edgy, aggressive rap like Eminem or bloody, violent war movies like Gladiator? Glad you ask. Because those are the examples included in Kevin Vanhoozer's book, "How to Read Cultural Texts and Interpret Trends". If you want more details on how to interpret Eminem, or Gladiator, or the many, many examples in this book, you can listen to Episode 50. I read that book and applied the tools to do cultural hermeneutics, tools that take every cultural artifact, whether a building or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as a text and bring out the World Behind the Text, the World In the Text and the World in front of the Text. For example, I'm reading Tolkien Dogmatics by Austin Freeman and I am conscious when Freeman speaks of the World Behind the Text. Behind the text we have Tolkien's belief in revelation, Tolkien claims the story came by revelation rather than by his creation. Freeman writes what Vanhoozer would label the World In The Text, the world of Tolkien's Middle-Earth, has revelation for example the prophecy of the Return of the King. Do we need cultural hermeneutics to enjoy books? No. You don't need to be steeped in knowledge of wine to enjoy wine. You don't need to distinguish sweetness, acidity or alcohol to savour wine. But the knowledge, the categories help you process the flavours and in its own way increases the pleasure. So rather than the boring question of "Can a Christian enjoy this or that?", we ask the more interesting question of "What is here for the Christian to enjoy?" When I put forward who I am as a Christian first, I realise there is more freedom to enjoy. And the beautiful thing is we can grow to have a Christian worldview. Just to complete my reflection on forming a Christian worldview, I'll add another book from Episode 35, "Redeeming Our Thinking About History" from Vern Poythress. Now whenever I consider historical events, I try to tease out God's purposes in those events. I speculate on God's purposes, not to gain certainty, but to continue to be mindful of God's hand. It's like going to a mystery theatre. I am not sure that my guesses are correct but that is not important because I am certain that all the pieces will come together to a dramatic conclusion. And this is not just casual armchair musing. This has pastoral effect. The other day I was trying to comfort someone who was going through very difficult trials. Trial after trial. What comfort can one give? There is much to offer from Scripture but the one I offered then was the truth that God's purposes will stand. No one could tell David Brainerd that his short life will lead to a missionary movement. No one could tell Adoniram Judson that his suffering will lead to a nation saved. But we can tell all believers that God's ways are higher than our ways, and that while we live, we keep on guessing, keep on wondering, knowing that we will all be surprised at the end, when the credits roll, the curtain calls, and all applause goes to God, who is Director of all.So whether it's books or culture or history, I am thankful for the books that I have read have helped me form a Christian worldview. Books That Unexpectedly Changed My LifeLastly, let's talk about a book that unexpectedly change my life. I stress on the word unexpectedly. You should prepare yourself for a surprise. When you pick up a Christian book, you can expect it to change your Christian way of life. When you read a book titled, "The Possibility of Prayer", you can expect to have a stronger prayer life. Last year, when I picked up John Dickson's "Bullies and Saints: An Honest Look at the Good and Evil of Christian History", I expected to be informed. I didn't expect to spend the year laughing out loud in my commute to work or pondering deeply on the Maid of Holland, the Ashanti Empire or the White Rose of Germany. My life is all the richer because of John Dickson's book but alas it's not because of John Dickson. Let me explain. I enjoyed Bullies and Saints. And you can listen to my review on that book. There was a historian by the name of Tom Holland who was not a Christian, who did not ridicule Christianity but credited Christianity for civilisation. Let me read from John Dickson's book:Holland has not had a "Damascus Road" experience. He is not a believing Christian. He has just come to realise that he -- like many atheist and agnostic Westerners -- is ethically Christian. In a controversial article announcing his shift in thinking, he explained: Today, even as belief in God fades across the West, the countries that were once collectively known as Christendom continue to bear the stamp of the two millennia old revolution that Christianity represents. It is the principle reason why, by and large, most of us who live in post-Christian societies still take for granted that it is nobler to suffer than to inflict suffering. It is why we generally assume that human life is of equal value. In my morals and ethics, I have learned to accept that I am not a Greek or Roman at all, but thoroughly and proudly Christian.It is fascinating when a non-believer declares himself, "in morals and ethics, a thoroughly and proudly Christian." Who Is This Guy?So I looked him up. Tom Holland has a podcast with some guy who I also didn't know Dominic Sandbrook. What is this podcast about, "The Rest is History"? I can't remember what was the first episode I listened to. I thought it was good. So I subscribed, which meant I got notified of new episodes. I listened to a few, a few became many, and many became, dare I say it, a daily experience. They don't publish daily unless it's for a special series but when I got into them, I had 200+ episodes to catch up with. Through Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, I got introduced to many books, including Sandbrook's "Adventures in Time" series, many podcasts like Empire, Battleground: Falklands and the World War 2 podcast, "We Have Ways to Make You Talk". Yet there is something special about "The Rest is History". It's not just their choice of topics. One day, I'm shedding tears because of a heroic pigeon, yes, pigeon the bird! Another day, I'm listening to the prostitute(?)-turned-Christian Empress Theodora of Byzantium who built the first hospitals for the poor. Another day I'm listening to a three part series on Australia Prime Ministers, a four part series on the American Civil War, a five part series on London. The Most Awesome Road TripThe topics are fascinating but it is the hosts that make the topics come alive. Tom and Dominic enjoy each others company. They exchange wits, they have their own in-jokes. They are experts in their sphere of history, both have written multiple bestselling books, and yet are transparently curious, so humble to learn from others. They are simultaneously podcaster and audience, because when one shares a fascinating fact, or plot twist, the other gasps. It feels like being on a road trip with two smart and witty fellows. I listen to them on the commute and I sometimes just sit in my car in the parking lot just to finish the episode. And my colleagues must be wondering what am I doing laughing or listening so intently. And who knew history could be so fun! In the news, history seems to be re-written as we speak. Angry people, pulling down statues, screaming at everyone. Before I have time to take a breath, rebut or even question, it's already an established creed. So it is incredibly refreshing to listen to Tom and Dominic, not because their politics matches mine. They make fun of both Biden and Trump. They make fun of both Boris and Corbyn. But their fun is good natured fun. Not cruel and not out to score points with a mob. Maybe I'm biased because of the way they handle Christian history. Neither are Christians. Although Tom Holland is a lot more receptive to Christianity than Dominic Sandbrook. These are guys who are quite willing to admit that Christianity has done some good in the world, something that used to be a lot easier to just accept, yet they are equally able to point out the really bad apples, and that's all I want from secular historians or any person, believer or non-believer. Christian WorldviewBefore their podcast, I didn't know that the word slave came from the Slavs, a people who are the ancestors of today's Central and Eastern Europeans. Maybe the Slavs should seek reparations. A dollar every time someone uses the word 'slave' in a movie, song or tweet. So I listen and ask, "How can I bring a Christian worldview into this?" There were slaves in Old Testament and New Testament times. For some, slavery is exclusively associated with the African American experience. Yet, history shows us that it's complicated. It does not diminish the evils of black slavery to recognise that there was white slavery, the Slavs. It does not diminish the evils of the African American experience to acknowledge that Brazil had more slaves than any other country. It does not diminish the evils of Western slave traders to say that it was Africans who invaded other Africans to capture slaves to sell to the West and also to the East. It does not diminish the evils of Christian slave owners to affirm that it was Christians like William Wilberforce and Christian theology like "All men are created in God's image" that overcame slavery.When it comes to evil, Christians understand evil better than the atheist, the secularist or any other religion. We understand evil because God defined it, God denounced it, God will judge it. But if we only knew what is evil, we would be a sad lot. It's like knowing what is cancer but know not the cure. Christians are a blessed people because we know evil, and we know good. God has saved us from evil, from slavery to sin, and called us to a holy calling, by the grace God has given us in Christ Jesus. Can we tease out God's purpose in all this? Dare we talk about a plan to bring out good from evil? I don't dare. At least not today. That's not the purpose of today's episode. In today's podcast I want share my growth as a Christian to encourage you. Because of the books I have read, I have gotten to be more intentional in having a Christian worldview and in pondering on God's purposes in all things.Before I go to the conclusion, I just want to say that I've enjoyed The Rest is History so much that I want to announce I have just, only just, recently become a card-carrying member of the Rest is History Club. If I had Netflix, DisneyPlus and Amazon Prime in one corner and The Rest is History in the other, I would pick The Rest is History. I learn more, laugh more and come away more educated after every episode. And since I value them so highly, I thought it was only proper to put my money where my mouth is and give them cold hard cash. So that's my year end reflection. Next year, make a resolution to read more good books. Why? First, you can be encouraged into a habit one book at a time. If I manage to memorise Romans by next year, it's only going to give me a rich annual dividend for the rest of my life. Second, through books, you can form a Christian worldview. Instead of Superman's X-ray vision, you have the far superior Christian true vision, the ability to see reality as it really is. And third, through books, you never know what you are going to get. One book, whether bad, average or good, may lead you to a whole new world of pleasures, experiences and relationships. I can't wait to see what God will reveal in the new year ahead.This is Reading and Reader's year end reflection. And if you would like to support this podcast, please visit www.readingandreaders.com and buy me coffee. And thanks to every one who has bought me coffee, meaning you have sent over cold hard cash. Your support means so much and helps keeps me and this podcast going. Have a Happy New Year and see you in 2023! Bye bye.

Whoever subtitled this book, "Faithful, Flawed and Fruitful", said more than he knew. For he was not only describing the saints in this book, he was also describing the book itself.Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today's episode is Part 2 of my review on John Piper's "27 Servants of Sovereign Joy: Faithful, Flawed and Fruitful." 1024 pages, published by Crossway in September 2022. This book is available in Amazon Kindle for USD34.99, and in Logos for USD35.99, but as I revealed in the last episode, you can get this Piper book, for free in desiringgod.com. That's desiringgod.com. (I feel like I'm revealing a secret, something publishers don't want me to tell anyone but Piper's books are free, legally free.)RecapA brief recap of the last episode. 27 Servants of Sovereign Joy is a collection of nine books. Each book consists of three biographies. In the last episode, I picked one man that best represents the theme of the entire book, and that man was Augustine. So if you are wondering whether you will like this book, you can listen to the last episode or even better you can read the 26 pages that make up Piper's biography on Augustine. I also pointed out that each book has a theme and that theme is conveyed from a Reformed base. Before these biographies were written books, they were first messages spoken in the Bethlehem Conference for Pastors, a 'conclave of Calvinists'. Piper tells these stories to teach and encourage those pastors first and later to all Christians how to live in joy, in endurance, in contending for the faith, in suffering and more, the more that we will see today. The Most Piper-Like BookIn Part 1, I looked at Books 1-5 now I look at Books 6-9. I thought I would have an easy time doing Part 2. I expected the remaining books to be the same well-written God-magnifying, Christ-exalting, Holy-Spirit-edifying reading that I enjoyed. Looking ahead to the final book, I expected a climatic conclusion with Jonathan Edwards (Piper's hero), Martyn Lloyd-Jones (my hero) and Bill Piper (Piper's father). Those were my expectations, but after finishing the book, I'm disappointed to say... well, let's not get ahead of ourselves. You must listen till the end.We have here the last four books in this collection.Book 6 is titled, "Seeing Beauty and Saying Beautifully", we have here the lives of George Herbert, George Whitefield and C.S. Lewis.Book 7 is "A Camaraderie of Confidence" with Charles Spurgeon, George Müeller and Hudson Taylor.Book 8 is "The Power of Doctrinal Holiness" with Andrew Fuller, Robert Murray McCheyne and J.C. Ryle.Book 9 is "The Passionate Pursuit of Revival and Christ-Exalting Joy" with Jonathan Edwards, Martyn Lloyd-Jones and Bill Piper.Book 6 is the most Piper-like book. Piper did not launch a Reformation like Martin Luther (Book 1), nor suffered in the Indian wilderness like David Brainerd (Book 2), nor contended against the world like Athanasius (Book 4). Book 6 is a special book because here, we have George Herbert the poet. Piper is a poet. We have George Whitefield the dramatic preacher. Piper is a dramatic preacher. We have C.S. Lewis, who makes Christianity simple and beautiful. Piper makes the faith simple and beautiful.Vividly Speaking of Spectacular RealitiesLet's focus on one man. George Whitefield, the Preacher of the Great Awakening. In an age without cars or planes, thousands upon thousands came from far away to hear him. Thousands upon thousands stood in the field under the night sky under the rain just to hear him. There were many preachers so why does Whitefield stand out? Because he saw beauty and expressed it beautifully. Piper quotes Benjamin Franklin who said:Every accent, every emphasis, every modulation of voice, was so perfectly well turned, and well-placed, that without being interested in the subject, one could not help being pleased with the discourse: a pleasure of much the same kind with that received from an excellent piece of music.Strong praise from a non-believer. But maybe it is damning praise. Piper quotes a critic, Harry Stout, who claims that Whitefield was plying a religious trade, pursuing religious fame, craving respect and power, driven by egotism and putting on 'performances' and 'integrating religious discourse into the emerging language of consumption'. Piper writes, "I do not doubt that Whitefield was 'acting' as he preached."If Piper himself concedes that Whitefield was acting on stage, is it wise of us to look up to an actor, no matter how gifted or devout the showman may be? Then Piper asks the crucial question, "Why was Whitefield 'acting'?" Piper quotes Whitefield. Whitefield is speaking.I’ll tell you a story. The Archbishop of Canterbury in the year 1675 was acquainted with Mr. Butterton the [actor]. One day the Archbishop ... said to Butterton ... “Pray inform me Mr. Butterton, what is the reason you actors on stage can affect your congregations with speaking of things imaginary, as if they were real, while we in church speak of things real, which our congregations only receive as if they were imaginary?” “Why my Lord,” says Butterton, “the reason is very plain. We actors on stage speak of things imaginary, as if they were real and you in the pulpit speak of things real as if they were imaginary.”Soon after that, Piper concludes: This means that there are three ways to speak. First, you can speak of an unreal, imaginary world as if it were real -- that is what actors do in a play. Second, you can speak about a real world as if it were unreal -- that is what half-hearted pastors do when they preach about glorious things in a way that implies they are not as terrifying or as wonderful as they are. And third, you can speak about a real spiritual world as if it were wonderfully, terrifyingly, magnificently real, because it is.So Piper takes the essence of Whitefield, the great preacher, and asks what does the man see and why does he express it the way he does. He does the same with the next person is C.S. Lewis. Romantic, Rationalist, Master Likener, EvangelistIn previous biographies, Piper showed us how the Reformed doctrine is the ground from which Bunyan, Machen, Paton would tower mightily and shine for Christ. But not all Reformed. For example, Piper makes a footnote that in one of William Wilberforce's letters, he writes, "I myself am no Calvinist." Yet Piper notes that many of Wilberforce's closest and admired friends were Calvinists. And when he looked for a church to attend, he often chose to sit under Calvinists. So we will always get a Reformed perspective on all these men, whether they are Reformed or not.And C.S. Lewis is not. Piper has a sub-heading that reads: "Lewis's defective views" which includes views on inerrancy of Scripture, salvation without Christ and atonement. Those are fundamental doctrines that fill up Piper's theology. Piper writes: Lewis rarely shows his exegesis. He doesn’t deal explicitly with many texts. He is not an expositor. His value is not in his biblical exegesis. It lies elsewhere. Piper shows that it lies in him as a romantic, rationalist, master likener and evangelist. What is a master likener? C.S. Lewis famously wrote:Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.I'm not sure whether Piper was the first to see Lewis as romantic, rationalist, master likener and evangelist, but those categories fit him well and I've taken to think of Piper on those terms as well. And in doing so, shows us how to distinguish the man from his doctrine, and that we can embrace one without the other. Why No Women?For the second half of this episode, I want to present two criticisms against the book. The first criticism is all too prevalent, especially in today's race- and gender- sensitive culture and it's a criticism I refute. The second criticism comes from my finishing the book and I want to express my disappointment because this should have been a much stronger book. Let's start with the first criticism. When I started the book, I went through the list and, without meaning to, noted that in this list of 27 people, they are all men. Not only that, they were all white men. And without any malice or hidden agenda, without being in one political party or denomination, or ideology or theology, one could innocently ask, "Pastor John, are there really no women or non-white people in all history who could make your list?" Nowhere in the book does Piper directly answer that question but I think I can draw out a reasonable response based on what he wrote here and the complementarian view I know he holds. The complementarian view is that God created men and women to hold different and complementary roles. For example, the role of the pastor is only for men, and not for women. This is not the podcast or the book to get into this debate. My purpose is not to persuade you the complementarian view, but it is to show how that view permeates the book and helps explains the all men list. Consider the genesis of this book. These were not messages to married couples, or to the family, or to the church in general. These were exemplary men that Piper picked to encourage and teach pastors. Only men can be pastors. So his examples are men. Does this mean that women have nothing to offer to pastors? No. Piper never says that. You would be making an argument from silence. He brings out men as examples because he believes men need to see men being manly. "To see men being manly?" Yes. And there is a chapter in Book 8 that proves my point. The title of that chapter is: "The Frank and Manly Mr. Ryle: The Value of a Masculine Ministry". As part of the lessons from the life of J.C. Ryle, Piper gives us 8 traits of a masculine ministry.Listen to the first one: "A masculine ministry believes that it is more fitting that men take the lash of criticism that must come in a public ministry, than to unnecessarily expose women to this assault."Piper goes on to explain how this masculine ministry is seen in J.C. Ryle. What about women? For this first trait, Piper ends by saying: Courage in the midst of combat, especially harsh and painful combat, whether with arms or with words, is not something a woman can’t exercise, nor even something she shouldn’t exercise under certain circumstances. The reason we call such courage “manly” is not that a woman can’t show it, but that we feel a sense of fitness and joy when a man steps up to risk his life, or his career, with courage -- but we (should) feel awkward if a woman is thrust into that role on behalf of men. She may be able to do it, and we may admire her for doing it, if necessary. But we wish the men were numerous enough and strong enough and courageous enough that the women could rejoice in the men, rather than take their place.And he does this for all of the 8 traits. First, what he means by it and how J.C. Ryle demonstrates it, followed by how masculine ministry works with respect to women, with the expectation that both men and women welcome it. You may agree or not agree with Piper's complementarian view but we have to agree that Piper is consistent within the confines of this worldview. Why All White?That explains why they are all men, now let's attempt to justify them being all white. Can you name me ten Christians who have impacted your faith? And if you can do so, praise God for surrounding you with ten witnesses of Christ! The question is should you be expected to pick names to fulfil a diversity quota? And how does that diversity quota even look like? Does Augustine fulfil it? He is from modern day Algeria. Or Athanasius from Alexandria in Egypt? Does Hudson Taylor count? A British man who gave his life for the Chinese. Does Adoniram Judson count? An American who gave his life for the Burmese. Because in his time, you couldn't find a Burmese Christian, so would he do?There is a place for diversity because God has created a diverse human race. But even though I'm not white, I find I have a deep connection to these men, not because of the skin colour or even gender, but because they are Christians. I saw a meme the other day where on the top you have a group of girls agonising over the right skin tone for Ariel in the Little Mermaid. While at the bottom, we have boys of all colours looking at a giant robot, thinking, "I am Optimus Prime." In the same way, all of us should look at these giants of faith and say, "I am a Christian." Ramming A Theme Distorts A LifeSo that's my rejection to what I consider as an invalid and unfair criticism against Piper's list of heroes. What I say next, is my criticism against what should be a stronger book.After completing the book, my conclusion is "Less is More". The book should have ended with 21 servants instead of 27. And if listened to Part 1 of this review, you will remember that it was 21 but it was expanded to 27, with the inclusion of Books 8 and 9.In Books 1 to 7, the theme works. For example, in Book 5, Tyndale, Paton and Judson suffered for Christ. In Book 6, Herbert, Whitefield and Lewis saw beauty and gloried in it. These themes jump at you. You would naturally group these men together. The problem I have is the theme for Books 8 and 9 don't work. Book 9 is titled the "Passionate Pursuit of Revival and Christ-Exalting Joy." We have Jonathan Edwards, Martyn Lloyd-Jones and Bill Piper. In order to make the theme work, Piper distorted the the life and ministry of Lloyd-Jones. It would be like describing the life and ministry of John MacArthur by Strange Fire, a cessationist position, rather than his crowning achievement of expounding through the New Testament book-by-book, verse-by-verse, and completing this task in 42 years. Or it would be like describing the John Piper's life's work by saying he objected to women being pastors. That's not wrong. But imagine reading a 40 page biography on Piper and the emphasis and concluding thought was John Piper doesn't like women pastors. Is that the emphasis? What about Christian Hedonism? Or you know... desiring God?So I am not saying that what Piper wrote on Martyn Lloyd-Jones is wrong. It is a possibly good analysis of Lloyd-Jones' position on revival, Pentecostalism and his practice. The section that ends the chapter is titled, "Did He Practice What He Preached?". And I would say that is not how the story of any of these 27 men should end. All of these men, including Martyn Lloyd-Jones deserves a better conclusion.Where Is The Conclusion?And that is the second part of my criticism. Where is the conclusion? In Books 1 to 7 we have a concluding chapter after the three biograhies. We have a separate chapter that ends the book. In Book 1, we have a chapter on Augustine. We zoomed into the life of Augustine, then we switched targets and zoomed into Martin Luther, then lastly we zoomed into John Calvin. The most important part of the book is when Piper zooms out and tells us how Augustine, Martin Luther and John Calvin all connect to the theme of the Legacy of Sovereign Joy. Piper puts these men side-by-side, standing shoulder to shoulder, we can see their similarities and differences with respect to, say, Sovereign Joy. Or Hidden Smile of God. Or The Roots of Endurance. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say the conclusion is what sets this series of biographies apart from all the other biographies you can get out there. So when I get to Books 8 and 9. It is missing. And I'm left guessing. The revival connection between Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Jonathan Edwards and Bill Piper is very tenuous. Do you know who would be a better replacement for Lloyd-Jones? Billy Graham. From what I heard and read elsewhere, Bill Piper and John Piper have a stronger personal connection to Billy Graham than they do with Martyn Lloyd-Jones. And that personal connection would work well with the personal touch that Piper ends with.21 is Better Than 27In conclusion, 27 Servants of Sovereign Joy is a splendid book. These are all men you want to know. They will encourage you. They will teach you many things. These short biographies will show you the wide spectrum of what it means to be faithful, some came to faith early, some late, for some their faith bloomed in a short life, some live a good long life of service. We see here flawed saints. We have depression, loneliness, sexual addiction, pride, it's all here. Whatever trials and temptations you face, you will find solace in these companions.And they were fruitful. Some saw their fruits while they lived by God's mercy, but some never saw any fruits. But how they would wonder to see what amazing things God has done to bring entire nations to faith and inspire missionaries, martyrs and ministers. We thank God that their faith is proclaimed in all the world. If I had a wish, it would be that Piper would re-write Books 8 and 9. This could have been a much stronger book. A go-to classic for biographies for everyone. If not for the fatal flaws in the last two books. Less is more. 21 is better than 27. But don't let that stop you from getting and reading and profiting from this book. You can always stop yourself at 21.This is a Reading and Reader's review of 27 Servants of Sovereign Joy: Faithful, Flawed and Fruitful. 1024 pages, published by Crossway in September 2022. Available for USD34.99 in Amazon Kindle, USD35.99 in Logos and free in Desiring God. You can check out all the links in the show notes of this podcast or you can go to the website at www.readingandreaders.com. That’s www.readingandreaders.com. The next episode will be a special episode where I do a long term reflection. Of all the books that I have reviewed, which books have made a lasting impression in my life? As we know, we could read a book and rave about it but it's forgotten after the next great book. On other other hand, we could read a book and didn't think much of it, at first, but later we could trace the unexpected impact of that book. And I have one book in mind. Let me tell you about it in the next episode. Why don't you join me in this reflection? It's the end of year, why not take a minute to reflect which books or book reviews you enjoyed and drop me a note. You can contact me at www.readingandreaders.com, that's readingandreaders.com. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for listening. Have a Merry, Merry Christmas!Book List27 Servants of Sovereign Joy: Faithful, Flawed and Fruitful" by John Piper. Amazon. Logos. Desiring God.

If you were on a deserted island, what one book would you bring with you (other than the Bible)? Think about it, if it's only one book, it should be a big, big book cause you might be spending a long time on the island. Seeing that you will have no friends on the island, you should bring some spiritual friends. How about bringing exactly 27 spiritual friends? Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "27 Servants of Sovereign Joy: Faithful, Flawed and Fruitful" by John Piper. A whopping 1024 pages, published by Crossway in September 2022. Available for USD34.99 in Amazon Kindle, USD35.99 in Logos, but listen to the end to get this book for free.A Collection for the GenerationPreacher, teacher, writer, poet. Pastor John Piper has made many, many grown men and women all around the world cry with joy through his sermons, books and podcasts. But what will be John Piper's most enduring work? Will it be one of his books? Perhaps "Desiring God"? It is after all the book that gave the name to his ministry. Or his magnum opus, "Providence", a book I reviewed in Episode 7. Another likely contender is today's book, "27 Servants of Sovereign Joy". This book is an update of his 2018 book titled, "21 Servants of Sovereign Joy". That book was a collection of 7 books. This book is a collection which adds the never before published Books 8 and 9. This is a great deserted island book. It's kind of like cheating cause it's 9 books in 1 but it's not because it is technically one book.In today's review, I'll review Books 1 to 5. In the next episode, I'll review the rest. You might think that it's because it's such a good book that it deserves two dedicated episodes. That might be true but real reason is I haven't finished it. I'm only up to Book 7. I don't want to delay the podcast release nor do I want to rush through the book. I'm taking Piper's advice here. To read good books, slowly. To get an idea on how these books are organised and how they can help you, let me ask this question: If you could phone three friends, who would you call to remember joy, to endure or to suffer well? Well here are the names Piper picked. Book 1: The Legacy of Sovereign Joy. Augustine. Martin Luther. John Calvin.Book 2: The Hidden Smile of God. John Bunyan. William Cowper. David Brainerd.Book 3: The Roots of Endurance. John Newton. Charles Simeon. William Wilberforce.Book 4: Contending for Our All. Athanasius. John Owen. J. Gresham Machen.Book 5: Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ. William Tyndale. John G. Paton. Adoniram Judson.Do you know those names? Do you have some idea on the richest men, or the prettiest women, or the strongest, fastest, smartest sportsmen in the world? Then it is only right and good that Christians know the saints who have rejoiced the most, endured the most and suffered the most. Though They Died, They Still SpeakIn the preface to this book, Piper writes:I think that what was said of Abel in Hebrews 11:4 can be said of any saint whose story is told: “Through his faith, though he died, he still speaks” (ESV). It has been a great pleasure as I have listened to these voices. But not only a pleasure. They have strengthened my hand in the work of the ministry again and again. They have helped me feel that I was part of something much bigger than myself or my century. They have showed me that the worst of times are not the last of times, and they made the promise visible that God works all things for our good.There is more but you get the purpose of the book, the reason why Piper presents these lives to the pastors in the Bethlehem Conference.This means that if you are looking for critical scholarship, if you are looking for a new perspective on George Herbert, or George Whitefield, or George Muller, this is not the book for you. Piper did a good study. The evidence is in the footnotes. Lots of them. Lots of quotes. Quotes from their own sermons and writings. Quotes from contemporaries, family and friends. Even quotes from critics and skeptics and modern scholars, but I repeat myself. In Piper's own words: Throughout the year before each conference, I would read about the life and ministry of some key figure in church history. Then I would decide on some thematic focus to give unity to the message, and I would try to distill my reading into an hour-long message. The messages -- and the edited versions -- are unashamedly hortatory. I aim to teach and encourage. I also aim never to distort the truth of a man’s life and work. But I do advocate for biblical truths that his life illustrates. You may ask, "Why read Piper?" You could read Augustine's Confession or David Brainerd's Journal. Why not get it straight from the saint's mouth? Because Piper takes what he reads in a year and distills them. Augustine's Confession is 161 pages long, Brainerd's Journal is 426 pages. And if Piper read what the saints wrote, he might even have read John Owen's commentary on Hebrews. All 3600 pages of them. For the rest of us mere mortals, we benefit from Piper's biographical portrait, each person has, give or take, 40 pages long. And after reading these short portraits, nothing would give Piper more pleasure than to know how you thirst to better know such true pilgrims. The Man Who Best Represents The BookLet's pick one man as an example. And I struggled at this! From Books 1 to 5, I have fifteen man to choose from. Do I choose my favourite? Oh, how can I choose? I can't even choose my favourite John! The book has John Calvin, John Bunyan, John Newton, John Owen, John G. Paton, John Charles Ryle (a.k.a. J.C. Ryle), John Gresham Machen. All the men have impacted me in different ways in different times of my life, it is an impossible choice. I was going to roll a dice until I thought of a different question. "Who best represents the book? Whose life crystallises the theme of the book?" And when I asked that, one name rose above the rest. And it's a name that I believe the other 26 men would agree with a smile on their face. Let me read the prayer he wrote in his most famous book, titled "Confessions". How sweet all at once it was for me to be rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose. ... You drove them from me, you who are the true, the sovereign joy. You drove them from me and took their place, you who are sweeter than all pleasure, though not to flesh and blood, you who outshine all light, yet are hidden deeper than any secret in our hearts, you who surpass all honor, though not in the eyes of men who see all honor in themselves. ... O Lord my God, my Light, my Wealth, and my Salvation.This man coined the phrase "Sovereign Joy", which is the title of the book and the theme of the whole series. Remember, before this collection was published as one big book, it was a series of small books. The series was titled, "The Swans Are Not Silent". You can read the origin story in Book 1. The man I'm thinking of is the swan, the original swan, in that story. Martin Luther was a monk in his order, John Calvin quotes him extensively in his writings, and John Piper listed him as the first of the twenty seven, he is none other than St. Augustine of Hippo. He coined the phrase "Sovereign Joy". What Sets This Book Apart From Other BiographiesThis sovereign joy is what sets this collection apart from other biographies. Someone else might tell a better story of William Cowper, or William Wilberforce or William Tyndale. A biographer like Iain Murray can undoubtedly do a masterful work of art with these subjects. Iain Murray inspired Piper to do this series.Even so I can't think of any one better than John Piper to tell the story of the sovereign joy in these 27 men, in their persevering, in their suffering, in their contending. I can't think of anyone better than John Piper. Merely because his entire life and ministry is an extension of Augustine's.Piper writes:Few people in the history of the church have surpassed Augustine in portraying the greatness and beauty and desirability of God. He is utterly persuaded by Scripture and experience “that he is happy who possesses God.” “You made us for yourself, and our hearts find no peace till they rest in you.” He will labor with all his might to make this God of sovereign grace and sovereign joy known and loved in the world.And what may turn some readers off is the Reformed flavour of the book as captured in Piper's quote of Augustine here:A man’s free-will, indeed, avails for nothing except to sin, if he knows not the way of truth; and even after his duty and his proper aim shall begin to become known to him, unless he also take delight in and feel a love for it, he neither does his duty, nor sets about it, nor lives rightly. Now, in order that such a course may engage our affections, God’s “love is shed abroad in our hearts” not through the free-will which arises from ourselves, but “through the Holy Ghost, which is given to us” (Romans 5:5). Unabashedly ReformedIf your blood pressure goes up every time you see a tulip, then allow me to put things in perspective. John Piper is unabashedly Reformed but Piper does not set out to be tribal or controversial. I say this because of how he groups the people. In Book 4, Contending For Our All, the theme is to contend, to fight! Piper could be tribal here. He could have rallied people to the Calvinist cause. In the blue corner, George Whitefield the Calvinist. In the red corner, John Wesley the Arminian. Piper could have called us to join Charles Spurgeon to contend against the Arminian belief. Instead, Piper puts George Whitefield in Book 6: Seeing Beauty and Saying Beautifully, where he brings out Whitefield's preaching power. Every Christian can celebrate Whitefield's preaching prowess. Piper puts Charles Spurgeon in Book 7: A Camaraderie of Confidence, where he brings out Spurgeon's common man ministry. And who does he put in Book 4? He introduces to us Athanasius who contended against Arianism, the belief that Jesus was not truly God. He picks John Owen who contended for holiness, public and private. And lastly he gives us Machen who contended against modernity a.k.a. liberalism. As he tells the story of all these men, he brings out the Reformed doctrine -- not to persuade you to take Reformed, he doesn't want you to take the Reformed doctrine, he wants you to take Jesus. The doctrine is the bedrock from which they grasp Jesus and they contend, they fight. You may ask, "How can Piper ask us to take Jesus and not the Reformed system if he brings out the Reformed system to present Jesus?" Piper articulates it better than I ever can. Let me read what is currently my favourite paragraph. Piper starts Book 4: Contending For Our All, with these words.Some controversy is crucial for the sake of life-giving truth. Running from it is a sign of cowardice. But enjoying it is usually a sign of pride. Some necessary tasks are sad, and even victory is not without tears—unless there is pride. The reason enjoying controversy is a sign of pride is that humility loves truth-based unity more than truth-based victory. Humility loves Christ- exalting exultation more than Christ-defending confrontation—even more than Christ-defending vindication. Humility delights to worship Christ in spirit and truth. If it must fight for worship-sustaining truth, it will, but that is not because the fight is pleasant. It’s not even because victory is pleasant. It’s because knowing and loving and proclaiming Christ for who he really is and what he really did is pleasant.And to the Christian who thinks that the time spent on endless arguments about doctrines should be better spent doing good. Or for Christians who cannot see how doctrine can be a bedrock to faith. Piper says this:There are more immediately crucial tasks than controversy about the truth and meaning of the gospel. For example, it is more immediately crucial that we believe the gospel, and proclaim it to the unreached, and pray for power to attend the preaching of the gospel. But this is like saying that flying food to starving people is more immediately crucial than the science of aeronautics. True. But the food will not be flown to the needy if someone is not doing aeronautics. It is like saying that giving penicillin shots to children dying of fever is more immediately crucial than the work of biology and chemistry. True. But there would be no penicillin without such work.Thus the Reformed doctrine is not an ends but rather a means to seeing Jesus. And that's why I think this book is useful for all Christians. Piper's enthusiasm for Jesus is contagious and as you read, you wish you can see Jesus the way Piper sees Jesus. You wish that you can live wholeheartedly for Jesus the way these 27 men lived for Jesus. Don't you wish for that? Finding Joy in SufferingEspecially, and this is my final point for this episode of this review, when we see them persevering, enduring and suffering. As is my custom when I read a good book, I shared excerpt with people I who I think can benefit.On the life of John G. Paton, a name I didn't know before this book, Piper writes: Over and over this faith sustained him in the most threatening and frightening situations. As he was trying to escape from Tanna at the end of four years of dangers, he and Abraham were surrounded by raging natives who kept urging each other to strike the first blow. Then Piper quotes from Paton's autobiography:My heart rose up to the Lord Jesus; I saw Him watching all the scene. My peace came back to me like a wave from God. I realized that I was immortal till my Master’s work with me was done. The assurance came to me, as if a voice out of Heaven had spoken, that not a musket would be fired to wound us, not a club prevail to strike us, not a spear leave the hand in which it was held vibrating to be thrown, not an arrow leave the bow, or a killing stone the fingers, without the permission of Jesus Christ, whose is all power in Heaven and on Earth. He rules all Nature, animate and inanimate, and restrains even the Savage of the South Seas.The story of John G. Paton is far more exciting than any Marvel or DC or Hollywood movie. This is a true story of our brother in Christ battling the kingdom of darkness. It's not a scriptwriter's comic book adaptation where an actor pretends to be a god of thunder in front of a green screen. I tell you, on that Day, many who ridiculed Christians worshipping Jesus, those people will be ridiculed for idolising men and women who pretended to be gods.My life is richer as I read of William Cowper's depression, David Brainerd's loneliness and Adoniram Judson's lost after lost after lost. One of Adoniram Judson last words were, "How few there are ... who die so hard!"The movies you watch, the books you read and the music you listen to can be inspiring, but where does your hope come from? In Piper's book, for these 27 men, their hope comes from the Lord.Ending Part IThis is the end of Part I of this book review. It's a 1000 page collection of nine books of 27 servants of God picked by John Piper to encourage Christians to savour joy, to endure, to contend, to suffer and so much more. There are plenty of biographies out there, but what you get here is a determined expression of sovereign joy from a poet-writer whose whole ministry is caught up in that heavenly joy. You know those shows where a soldier reviews war movies and he tells you things that you never noticed or consider those behind the scenes clips where we see the movie makers produce their work. In this book, we have John Piper, himself a servant of sovereign joy reviewing the lives of other outstanding servants of joy and as he rejoices and his joy bleeds out from the pages, we also rejoice. And he also shows us what goes on behind the scenes. We see their flaws, struggles and pain. They have every reason to reject God, except for one, they know him and love him. So that's all for this episode. Give me two weeks to finish the book and put my thoughts in order. In the next episode we will see how Piper deeply admires and firmly disagrees with C.S. Lewis. Something for us to learn there. Looking ahead, Piper has saved the best for last because the final book lists Jonathan Edwards, Martyn Lloyd-Jones and Bill Piper (his father). I can't wait to get there.This is a Reading and Readers review, Part I, of "27 Servants of Sovereign Joy: Faithful, Flawed and Fruitful" by John Piper. A whopping 1024 pages, published by Crossway in September 2022. Available for USD34.99 in Amazon Kindle, USD35.99 in Logos and free in Desiring God. You can check out all the links in the show notes of this podcast or you can go to the website at www.readingandreaders.com. That's www.readingandreaders.com. Thank you and I'll see you for the next episode.Book List27 Servants of Sovereign Joy: Faithful, Flawed and Fruitful" by John Piper. Amazon. Logos. Desiring God.

"Do you want to be possessed by a Spirit that is like Jesus -— a Spirit that is pure, gentle, sane, wise and loving?" That's a quote from A.W. Tozer. And if you want to take him up on his offer, keep listening.Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "The Counselor: Straight Talk about the Holy Spirit" by A.W. Tozer. 192 pages, published by Moody Publishers in May 2015. Available in Amazon Kindle for USD7.99 or you can get it for USD1.99 in Faithlife.Every month Faithlife gives away a free book, and for November the free book is "Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy" by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth. Along with a free book, they give a list of generously discounted books. And in that list, for this month, we have "The Counselor" by A.W. Tozer for USD1.99. And I thought it would be nice to review Tozer, one of the most quoted authors in the Christian world. He is so quotable, I have two books, "The Quotable Tozer I" and it's sequel "The Quotable Tozer II". Aiden Wilson Tozer was born in 1897 and died in 1963. He did not graduate from any seminary, university, not even a high school. He only had a sixth grade education. He was self-taught and he read widely. Tozer served as a pastor for more than 40 years. He published 12 books while alive. Another 40 books, minimum, were published after he died. Today's book, "The Counselor: Straight Talk About The Holy Spirit" is one of them. He has books on holy living, discipleship, worship and many others but in all those books, he is a straight talker. I hope you have a band aid ready because Tozer's words might just cut you to the heart.So let's open the book.StructureThe book has ten chapters. I'll read the titles for the first five chapters, so that you get a sense of what the book is about and it's tone.Chapter 1: "Whenever Jesus Christ is Glorified, the Holy Spirit comes"Chapter 2: "The Holy Spirit is Not Known through the Intellect"Chapter 3: "The Presence and Ministry of the Holy Spirit: All That Jesus Would Be"Chapter 4: "Pentecost: Perpetuation, Not Repetition"Chapter 5: "The Promised Filling of the Holy Spirit: Instantly, Not Gradually"Through these ten chapters, Tozer tells reader who is the Holy Spirit, our need for him and how we can be filled by him. He does this by unpacking Scripture, rebuking wrong ideas -- he is not afraid of calling them out -- and he does all this with fiery passion, like an Old Testament prophet. The book doesn't have a preface or introduction, but from what I understand after Tozer's death, publishers have collected from Tozer's sermons and writings and published them in book form. This explains why the chapters in this book are self-contained. They don't deliberately move the argument from one chapter to the next. I commend the editors though. First for the organisation. The first chapter is a good chapter to begin a book on the Holy Spirit and the rest flows quite well, considering Tozer did not preach a series. Secondly, the editors did a good job of selecting a broad range of materials. Tozer's words are rapier-sharp, they are like weapons of war, wielded by many Christians from all denominations. Even from opposite sides of the topic. By reading this book, you will get a clearer sense of what Tozer meant by those quotes. Those favourites quotes of yours might not mean what you think they mean. Straight Talk It IsWhen we study the words of a biblical prophet, like Ezekiel, Amos or Jonah, it is necessary to study the time and place so that we know why they said what they said. Why such strong words? Why the intensity? Similarly, when we read Tozer on the Holy Spirit, it helps to remember that Tozer lived in the early 20th century. It was at this time that the Pentecostal or Charismatic Movement kicked off. Every church was forced to consider (or reconsider) what they believed of the Holy Spirit. In those turbulent times, Tozer offered sorely needed guidance. He was unquestionably zealous for the Holy Spirit. Every Christian must have the Holy Spirit. Tozer rebuked the churches at large, "You don't even know that the Holy Spirit is absent!" A fiery prophet calling God's people back to God. He called out the craziness, and instructed Christians to not let the craziness impede their pursuit of God. Let me read a long quote here: This is a crude illustration, but let me tell you what we did after planting a field of corn when I was a young fellow in Pennsylvania. To save the field of corn from the crows, we would shoot an old crow and hang him by his heels in the middle of the field. This was supposed to scare off all of the crows for miles around. The crows would hold a conference and say, “Look, there is a field of corn but don’t go near it. I saw a dead crow over there!” That’s the kind of conference that Satan calls, and that is exactly what he has done. He has taken some fanatical, weird, wild-eyed Christians who do things that they shouldn’t, and he has stationed them in the middle of God’s cornfield, and warns, “Now, don’t you go near that doctrine about the Holy Spirit because if you do, you will act just like these wild-eyed fanatics.” Because there has been a lot of this weird stuff, God’s children are frightened, and as soon as you start to talk about it, they run for cover. They say, “Oh, no, none of that for me! I have seen dead crows out there in the middle of the field.” Well, my brother, I will not be frightened out of my rightful heritage. I will not be scared out of my birthright because some others didn’t know what to do with the birthright or have found something else that has nothing to do with the birthright. I want all that God has for me!Even if you did not live in those confusing and fearful times -- those events were a long time ago -- if you have been a Christian for any length of time, you know battles were fought. Questions on the Holy Spirit still come up, as they should with every new generation of believers, but thankfully we have sort of settled many of those questions today. Where ever you fall on the question, churches have main settled on their beliefs. Many were helped by Tozer and his writings. When it comes to Tozer, the danger is people read a few pointed quotes and believe they know everything they need to know about Tozer. They pick his teachings up like a loaded pistol, not realising that they are holding the wrong side of the gun.Intellect, Creed or NotConsider, for example, the second chapter titled "The Holy Spirit Is Not Known through the intellect". In the second paragraph of the chapter, Tozer says: It is quite plain in the scriptural revelation that spiritual things are hidden by a veil, and by nature a human does not have the ability to comprehend and get hold of them. He comes up against a blank wall. He takes doctrine and texts and proofs and creeds and theology, and lays them up like a wall—but he cannot find the gate! He stands in the darkness and all about him is intellectual knowledge of God—but not the true knowledge of God, for there is a difference between the intellectual knowledge of God and the Spirit-revealed knowledge.Someone hears this and says, "Yeah man! Preach it brother. What a hilarious image. Lay up the creeds and theology and the guy can't find the gate. They are so blind!" On the need for spiritual illumination, Tozer writes:... Bible study does not, of itself, lift the veil or penetrate it. The Word does not say, 'No one knows the things of God except the man who studies his Bible.' It does say that no man knows the things of God except by the Holy Spirit.""Exactly. We are wasting time with Bible study!" They clap their hands vigorously, celebrating the comeuppance of those Bible study nerds with their highlighters, then we can imagine Tozer turning around to say, "Why are you clapping? I don't agree with you!"If you only read a quote, you might not know that Tozer also says in that same chapter:We ought to read everything we can read about Him [Jesus], for reading about Him is legitimate and good -- a part of Christianity.And if you think Tozer ditches the creeds, you are in for a surprise. To explain who is the Holy Spirit, Tozer quotes the Athanasian Creed. After he quotes it at length, Tozer concludes:These old saints of God were learned scholars who knew the truth, and they came there and wrote these things and gave it to us for the world and for the ages. On my knees I thank God for them!When someone says, "Tozer says we need more Holy Spirit, not more Bible studies!" And another says, "No! Tozer says we need more Bible study, how else will we know who is the Holy Spirit." They might just be reading their favourite Instagram or Twitter quotes. If you read this book, you can come in like a boss and settle the argument. Quote Tozer right back at them:He [The Holy Spirit] is Light to the inner heart, and He will show us more of God in a moment than we can learn in a lifetime without Him. When He does come, all that we have learned and all that we do learn will have its proper place in our total personality and total creed and total thinking. We won’t lose anything by what we have learned. He won’t throw out what we have learned if it is truth -- He will set it on fire, that’s all. He will add fire to the altar.Tozer doesn't dismiss Bible study, he dismisses the notion that you can read and understand the Bible without the Holy Spirit. Instant, Not GradualOverall, I find this book helpful and I find myself applauding his straight talk. Oh! He cuts to the heart! However, I advise discernment because there are parts where his rhetoric exceeds what he can prove. I give you one example. In the whole book, I have minor points of disagreements with him here and there but this issue, the one I'm going to talk about, is not peripheral to Tozer. He dedicates a whole chapter to it. This is a contentious one, it affects how we look at the Holy Spirit in our lives. And he doesn't mince words. He believes that anyone who takes a different position to him is on the side of carnality. The chapter is Chapter 5: "The Promised Filling of the Holy Spirit: Instantly, Not Gradually". Early in the chapter we read: ... none of the persons in the Bible and none that I can find in Church history or biography was ever filled with the Holy Spirit who didn’t know when he was filled. I cannot find that anyone was ever filled gradually.And he continues:Now, as I said, Satan opposes the doctrine of the Spirit-filled life about as bitterly as any doctrine there is. He has confused it, opposed it, surrounded it with false notions and fears. The devil knows that if we will just say that we want to be filled gradually, he will have no more worries from us—because that process is so slow. You might encourage yourself: “Well, I am a little fuller today than I was yesterday,” or at least, “I am a little fuller this year than I was last year.” This is a place for carnal creatures to hide. It is a place for carnal church members to hide. In the Scriptures, it was never a gradual filling. It says that He fell upon them, He came upon them, He filled them -- it was an instantaneous act.When I read something I disagree with, I highlight it in red. This was bright red. So I looked forward to see how Tozer would substantiate his claims. The next big question he answers is, "Are you sure you can be filled?" Next, "Do you really want to be filled?"Next, "Do you really need to be filled?" Then, the rest of the chapter is answering the question, "How do I be filled?"Those questions don't address the topic: Gradual vs. Instant filling of the Holy Spirit. "Can you? Do you want to? Do you need to?" "Yes. Yes. Yes."Tozer does share his experience.It is probably quite generally true that any Christian who has not been filled with the Spirit since his conversion does not have genuine Christian joy. I know this was my experience. I had a lot of joyful feeling when I was first converted. I was a happy Christian. But if this is the kind of happiness that is half carnality and animal spirits, God will want to deliver you from it. Brother, sister. Have you experienced genuine Christian joy? Because that is the experience of the Spirit-filled Christian. You might be happy before you were Spirit-filled, but whatever happiness you had before pales in comparison with what comes after. Tozer later write: Not everyone who listens to me is going to be filled with the Spirit. Some are going to be filled, for every once in awhile someone comes with a shining face and says, “Well, it happened! God has done it!” From that time on, that life is transformed. Spirit-filled Christians are changed people.Maybe I'm one of those Christians who are not Spirit-filled. Tozer will not deny that I am a Christian. He would just deny that I am Spirit-filled because a person who is Spirit-filled knows it.Let me briefly respond to his claim. Tozer says that, "Nobody in the Bible has a gradual filling of the Holy Spirit. Everyone's experience was instant." We tend to report the spectacular, the dramatic. The New Testament doesn't have a longitudinal study. It doesn't track the people from spiritual birth to physical death, reporting on their spiritual state and breakthroughs. But Paul did write in Romans 7, my paraphrase: "I do what I should not do, I don't do what I should do." I believe Paul is writing as a Christian, as a Spirit-filled Christian. Paul writes, "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say rejoice." (Philippians 4:4)Peter writes, "... you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory..." (1 Peter 1:8)When the apostles speak of joy, they point believers to the gospel and not on a singular, one-off, spiritual experience. In the Parable of the Sower, does Jesus say of the seed that fell in good soil, "As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience." (Luke 8:15) Can we bear fruit without the Holy Spirit? We are to bear fruit with patience.Jesus commands us to take up our cross daily. Can we take up our cross without the Holy Spirit? We are to take up our cross daily. Bearing fruit and taking up our cross is a command and experience of all Christians whether they experienced an instant filling of the Holy Spirit or, as I argue, a gradual filling.The problem with Tozer's claim is that it can be true for some. Tozer and many others can truthfully, claim that they experienced such an amazing filling of the Holy Spirit that transformed them forever more. But just because Paul was struck blind on the way to Damascus doesn't mean that you and I should be struck blind on our way to the mall. Just because Tozer had his experience doesn't mean we all have to. If you read this chapter, you will see that Tozer's emphasises an instant filling of the Holy Spirit because he sees believers are complacent. They say, "It's okay to sin because I am gradually growing in holiness." This should not be! Christians, by the very definition of the word, must make a full and immediate commitment to Christ. There should be no lingering with sin. Or acceptance of it as simply a part of life. However, Tozer's good intentions here, intentions that are wholesome and righteous, has pushed him to an unsustainable position. Thus, in Chapter 5, Tozer does not make a strong case for an instant filling of the Holy Spirit. He makes a strong case for a full and immediate commitment to Christ. That I welcome. ConclusionIn your Christian journey, you will meet Tozer. You might welcome him, you might push back against him, but before you do either, you should read a bit more broadly on him. Go beyond the quick quotes. I hope from this review, you hear how sharp his words can be. Sometimes sharp words are needed for correction and healing. But sometimes, they can inflict unintentional wounds. Which is why I spend so much time on that one chapter, I don't want you to miss out on Tozer, but because Tozer is such a forceful writer, if you are not careful you might be carried away by his candour and passion. He cuts. And when you are bleeding from a heart wound, sometimes the head gets a bit woozy and can't think straight. Tozer's teachings on the Holy Spirit were very much needed in his time. And I believe the peace the church enjoys today regarding the Holy Spirit is partly due to his teachings then. If I can make an over-exaggeration, when it comes to Tozer's influence, the churches took the parts they liked, claim Tozer as a friend, and no longer neglected the Holy Spirit. So they accepted Tozer's cutting criticism and have learnt to passionately teach about the Holy Spirit and to embrace him as the Third Person of the Trinity. Let me close this review with a Tozer quote:The only Christian you want to listen to is the one who gives you more of a hunger for God.And the reason why Tozer is so widely read today is because he gives us more of a hunger for God. This is a Reading and Readers review of "The Counselor: Straight Talk about the Holy Spirit" from A.W. Tozer. 192 pages, published by Moody Publishers in May 2015. Available in Amazon Kindle for USD7.99 or you can get it for USD1.99 in Faithlife for the month of November.I hope you have enjoyed this podcast, but more than that, I hope that by listening to the Christian book reviews, you have more of a hunger for God. One book can change the trajectory of a man or woman, boy or girl, Christian or non-Christian. If any of my reviews have helped you or led you to a book that has made an impact (hopefully for good!), please let me know. As you know, encouragements can go a long way. You can email me at [email protected]. You can find me on Twitter if you search for readingandreaders. Or you can contact me via the website at, you guess it, www.readingandreaders.com. Happy reading. Thanks for listening. Book List"The Counselor: Straight Talk about the Holy Spirit" by A.W. Tozer. Amazon. Faithlife.

What is the best way to do missions? That is possibly the wrong question to ask. The right question could be, "What are the ethical means and goals of missions?" Or "How does missions produce virtuous Christians?"Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Virtuous Persuasion: A Theology of Christian Missions" by Michael Niebauer. 320 pages, published by Lexham Academic in July 2022. This book is part of the Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology series. It's USD19.99 in Amazon Kindle and USD26.99 in Logos.I got this book for free to review. Lexham the publisher has no input in this review. Author and EthicsMichael Niebauer is a pastor of Incarnation Church, Pennyslvania, a teaching fellow at Trinity School for Ministry and a podcaster for the Christian catechesis podcast, "This We Believe". He was a church planter for 15 years in North America. He has a PhD in Systematic Theology from Duquesne University and specialises in Christian Ethics and Missiology. You may wonder: "Christian Ethics? That's about abortion, or capital punishment, or the future of A.I. in war, isn't it? How is it used in missions? Oh! Is it used when missionaries do bad things like taking away children from their families? Or when people kill twin or albinos because they believe the babies are demonic or kill widows because they believe wives should follow their husbands into the afterlife?"That is a narrow and limited view of what ethics is. And nothing to do with this book. Niebauer quotes Herbert McCabe's definition for ethics which is, "the quest of less and less trivial modes of human relatedness." Don't you want a less trivial life? Of course you do, that's why you are listening to this podcast. Let's open the book.The Critical and the Constructive TaskApart from the Introduction and Conclusion, the book has seven chapters divided into two parts. Part I is titled, "The Critical Task: Three Models, Three Problems". Chapter 1: Mission and the Missio DeiChapter 2: Mission as GrowthChapter 3: Mission as DialoguePart II is titled, "The Constructive Task: Mission, Virtue and The Practices of Proclamation and Gathering". The chapters are:Chapter 4: Mission as Virtuous PracticeChapter 5: ProclamationChapter 6: GatheringChapter 7: Entering into the Craft of Mission: Tragedy, Tradition and TelosThree Attractive Yet Flawed ModelsI'll briefly, very briefly, explain what are the three models. In the first model, Mission and the Missio Dei, the idea is mission is God's activity. God the Father sent Jesus the Son, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, and the Trinity sent the church into the world. So the church's mission is inseparable from God's mission. The problem is when the church's mission is indistinguishable from God's mission. Where does the work of God begin and end? Where does the work of Man begin and end? By conflating the two, we cannot meaningfully speak of Man's role in mission. We have here a problem of distinction. In the second model, Mission as Growth, the idea is the success of mission is measured by numerical growth and the activity of mission is to achieve that numerical growth. Niebauer write: For the mission as growth paradigm, the controlling image is the advancement of God’s kingdom through the increase of the number of Christians to the ends of the earth. This exerts a control over the types of Scriptures used (parable of the sower, Peter’s speech in Acts 2) and also how such missiological texts are construed. Here, because the goal of mission is the increase of converts and churches, and such goals are advanced through an understanding of the mechanics of human nature, biblical texts related to mission are construed as missional contrivances—they provide replicable models for how to produce effective mission.You might not see a problem here. "Problem, what problem? The Great Commission means we need to go save all the souls out there. And if we are not thinking this way, the problem is not here the problem is you." Let me put it this way. When a mission effort fails, how do you respond? If you are thinking: "What went wrong? What went right? How can we improve? What can we do next?", then whether you realise it or not, you are pinning your hopes to the yet-to-be-discovered method. If only you could discover it, or tweak what you have, then you would win those souls. You just need to push the right buttons, pull the right levers, and all these souls will come tumbling out of Hell into Heaven. Niebauer points out that the mission as growth model diminishes agency, the ability to make a choice, of both the missionary and the people he is reaching out to. The problem here is agency. Finally, in the third model, Mission as Dialogue, the idea is missionaries of the past did terrible wrongs: colonisation, Westernisation, forced coercion. That's not what the Bible teaches. According to this model, rather than trying to convert unbelievers into Christianity, Christians should be having respectful dialogues with unbelievers. The purpose is to self-convert, to be a better person at the end of the day. How can this model be Christian? Where is the Great Commission? How can its criticism of persuasion stand in light of Peter's sermon to convert thousands, Stephen's defiant speech or Paul's testimony before kings. King Agrippa recognised Paul's attempt to convert him. He asked, "In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?" Paul did not reply, "I am just having a dialogue." Paul said, "Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am -- except for these chains."Since persuading unbelievers to convert is obviously part of missions, why did Michael Niebauer include this model? At first, I thought he needed a foil to contrast with his definition of mission, which includes proclamation. I just cannot see Christians accepting the mission as dialogue model. Which got me thinking. Instead of trying to locate ourselves in one of these models, it may be better to see how these models have influenced how I think of missions.Because Mission as Dialogue seems to be what most Christians are doing. Many think it is better to dialogue than to proclaim. Better to delay proclamation indefinitely. So we profess the Great Commission and are righteously indignant when it is set aside but we set it aside in practice. So just because we don't recognise the name of the model, we don't know the people who invent it, teach it or promote it and we would never identify ourselves with the model, it doesn't mean the model is not in us.For instance, everyone agrees that everyone is created equal but many don't know that this from the Bible, Man are created in God's image. People who would never describe themselves as Christian nevertheless take that Christian concept and have made it their own.So if you do read this book, it is not helpful if you think tribally. You will not see yourself in any of these models. And reject them. And thus, not hear what Niebauer has to say. Perhaps you can think of it this way. We can describe models of government in Ancient Rome, or Israel, or the Byzantium Empire. It should not be difficult for us to admit that our system of government may be influenced by those models. And we can critique those models. And that's what Niebauer helpfully does. He uses theological ethics to criticise models that may simultaneously influenced at varying degrees our understanding of missions.Begin With AquinasSo that's Part I: The Critical Task. Now we move to Part II: The Constructive Task. Niebauer writes:In highlighting the ways in which the problems of distinction, agency, and persuasion perpetually recur throughout these various models of mission, I am suggesting that the potential solutions to these issues lay outside of dogmatic and anthropological approaches to mission, and that the field of missiology lacks the resources to adequately solve them. While the discipline of theological ethics has provided the primary critical tools for identifying the perpetual problems of mission, it also provides the resources for solutions. The answer, and main takeaway from this book, is this: Mission is a virtuous practice. Mission is a virtuous practice. It sounds axiomatic, "Of course! Mission is virtuous! What can be a more virtuous practice than missions!" Stop. Stop. We can't just assume things. We need to unpack what mission is a virtuous practice means and then what are the implications. Niebauer does that in four chapters. Along the way, he addresses the problems in the three models. Just taking one example (because we don't have a lot of time to do the rest), in the Missio Dei model, we had the problem of distinction because we conflate, we merge, the mission of God and the mission of the church. In missions, where does God start and end? Where do I start and end?Niebauer shows us how Thomas Aquinas, that really smart guy from 800 years ago, how he would resolve that tension. Aquinas saw the relationship between God and creation as asymmetrical. That is the key.Niebauer writes: God is not in space or time and, as such, can act in created things without displacing created things. God’s agency is thus not competitive with human agency: “Because of God’s infinity, the two agencies are not competitive, as if God acts 75 percent and the creature 25 percent.” The activity of God is differentiated from the activity of human beings: God is able to send himself in ways that human beings cannot. God’s agency functions in a way that human agency cannot. God can go to where he already exists; humans go to where they do not exist. God can act without displacement; human beings act through displacement.As I reflect on this answer, I thought about breathing. We breathe. We say God sustains life. Without God, there would be no air, no oxygen. But when we say God sustains life, we mean more than God providing the air we breathe. We believe that without God, we cannot breathe. Not that God and I are taking turns to work my lungs like a ventilator but in a way that I don't yet understand, God's work is differentiated from my work, so that I can say I breathe yet it is God who makes me breathe.Even though I don't understand the mystery of how God and I come together for me to breath, my ignorance doesn't stop me from breathing. In a similar way, I don't understand the mystery of how God and I come together for missions, but my ignorance doesn't stop me from doing missions. With that I echo what Niebauer says here: God exercises divine agency in a way that is different from and only analogous to human agency. For Aquinas, God exists in all things: “God exists within all things and intimately so.”And that's not all Aquinas has to say. Niebauer writes:A key assertion by Aquinas is that the ultimate goal, or telos, of the human being is the vision of God. God is the greatest good, and since the good is that which is desirable and the terminus of desire, God is what human beings are created to desire, as well as where their desires terminate: “Final and perfect happiness (in Latin beatitudo) can consist in nothing else than the vision of the Divine Essence.” Aquinas here quotes St. John: “When He shall appear, we shall be like to Him; and we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2)I am shortcutting the discussion to reach the conclusion, if you want to see how the argument unfolds, you have to read the book. So from 1 John 3:2, we get our goal which is to see God, to know Him, to glorify him. In this life, we are moving towards that goal and so what we do today, what we do now, matters because we are moving towards that goal.Niebauer writes:All activity that is deliberate bears a moral character, providing the opportunity for human beings to act according to their good and move toward their final end. This is a big claim. Read the book to see how he substantiates it. We will assume it's true, that all deliberate activities bear a moral character. This thus leads us to Niebauer's next step to show that mission is a virtuous practice. Stir In Some McIntyreAnd that next step is the definition of a virtuous practice. Alasdair McIntyre defines it as:Any coherent and complex form of socially established cooperative human activity through which goods internal to that form of activity are realized in the course of trying to achieve those standards of excellence which are appropriate to, and partially definite of, that form of activity.Sounds like gobbledygook. Niebauer breaks down each part of that definition, but I'll only pick out one because it's the most striking. A virtuous practice is an activity through which goods internal are realized. Not external. Money is external. When people commend you for your good deeds. That commendation is external. When many people come to church, get baptised and be faithful Christians, as good as that good is, it is external. What is an internal good? Niebauer gives examples of temperance, prudence and faith. And so a virtuous practice is one in which goods internal are produced.Do you see how that unanimously agreeable description of mission as a virtuous practice is not so agreeable now? It clashes with the mission as growth model? There are still missing pieces, and so we come to the next point.Proclamation and GatheringNiebauer adapts Kevin Rowe's analysis of the Book of Acts to conclude: mission is proclamation with the hope of confession of Jesus as Lord, and mission is the gathering of those who confess into Christian community. He says: My assertion is that proclamation and gathering are the two essential missional practices because the removal of either renders mission (particularly as it is portrayed in Acts) incoherent.And that's it. We put everything together. This is Niebauer's thesis: Mission consists of proclamation and gathering, activities that produce virtue in the missionary that orients him toward the goal of his life, God.And this definition makes an impact. It's not just another entry into a dictionary. It guides us on how to think of missions. He unpacks them in one chapter on proclamation and one chapter on gathering. Even the most anti-intellectual would appreciate what Niebauer does here. Proclamation start with prayer. Can I get an amen to that? Then preparation, communication, the response and finally a return to prayer. Niebauer takes everything we have talked about, the models, the problems, Christian ethics, and shows us how proclamation should be best understood as a virtuous practice. And if my review so far gives you the impression that this book is very dry, listen to this:And so the missionary actively delights in what God has done through the act of proclaiming the gospel. They delight in the opportunity to speak about the resurrection, they delight in convincing others of its validity to the best of their ability, they delight in the responses to the affirmative, and they even delight in their fidelity to the gospel in the face of its rejection.To participate in God’s mission is to participate in the fullness of God. Delighting in the act of proclamation sediments God’s goodness in the soul of the missionary, and because God’s goodness is an infinite and inexhaustible plenitude, it spurs the missionary on to further proclamatory actions. Do you hear in that joy, delight, doxology, the echoes of everything we have been talking about? And that theology climaxing with doxology can also be seen in the next chapter on gathering. Niebauer writes: The joy is not in seeing simply a community established, but a community that is in communion with God and each other, a community that is growing in their love and knowledge of God through Jesus Christ, and a community that has been given every spiritual gift needed to thrive.The Robust ModelAnd that brings me to my next observation. To me, a model is robust when you can take that model, put it under conditions it was not designed for, burn it, freeze it, throw it into space, and if that model survives, it is robust. Niebauer convinced me on the power of this virtuous model because it is robust enough to answer questions that other models can't. How should the missionary learn his craft? Are there professional and amateur missionaries? How does a missionary handle being simultaneously a citizen, a son or daughter, a parent and a pastor? Can you hear the tension in that last question? Well, if you reflect on the virtuous model, you can actually come up with an answer yourself, the models gives you the tools to answer it. And I suspect your answer will not be too far off from Niebauer's here. Among all the implications of this virtuous model that Niebauer has written here, the one that jumped out to me was this. I quote:... my conception of mission and virtue calls for a recovery of a now faded literary genre, that of the missionary biography. When I read this, I was so happy. I imagined for myself, "What would the other models say about missionary biographies?"The Missio Dei missionary would say, "These stories show God's sovereignty and purposes coming to pass. They are a call to worship God. Stop looking at the missionary, he didn't do much."The growth missionary looks at these books and say, "These guys, were great guys, but they did what they did a 100, 200, 500 years ago. The world, people, technology, culture, has changed so much since then, that there is little we can learn from them. Stick to the mission guys."The dialogue missionary is aghast at these books. He will either hide them or apologise for them. The virtuous missionary he looks at these stories. "Oh! How they honoured God!" John Allen Chau died alone on a beach because he wanted to share the gospel to the Sentinelese in India. Jim Elliot was speared to death by the Huaroni tribe in Ecuador. He wrote these haunting lines, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." Their lives, their stories, can only resonate, call us forward, because Christians share the same goal, and we should recognise and applaud that virtue that is in their lives. Virtues that all the other models are blind to.In the Hands of EveryoneIf you are a missionary or a serious student of missions, you must read this book. And if you are reluctant because you like what you are doing in missions and you don't want Niebauer giving you grief, don't think that way. These are all models, they are not tribes. Nobody is asking you to change citizenship, and I honestly think mission is important enough that does who can, should reflect on the theology of missions. But other than missionaries, this book is also for you. Let me ask you: "Are you a virtuous person? Do you see what you are doing now, right now, whether you are driving, drinking coffee or getting ready for bed, do you see your actions as moral actions?" These are alien questions. And here I recall that Socrates quote, "The unexamined life is not worth living." That's a bit much but the point stands. And here is the beautiful part. The offer in this book is saying, you should live a virtuous life. You can live a virtuous life. This book applies Christian ethics into missions but as I read it, you and I can, with some effort, apply this robust virtuous model into our non-missionary work. My recording this podcast episode for a book review, is a virtuous practice. And that is an eye-opening, soul-enriching realisation of Colossians 3:17: "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus..." Let me end this book review with this quote. D. Stephen Long, Cary M. Maguire University Professor of Ethics, Southern Methodist University wrote an endorsement for this book, it goes like this:Virtuous Persuasion is the most important work on moral theology and missions that currently exists. It should be in the hands of everyone, scholar, clergy or lay, involved in missions.That is an outstanding endorsement, one I heartily echo.This is a Reading and Readers review of "Virtuous Persuasion: A Theology of Christian Missions" by Michael Niebauer. 320 pages, published by Lexham Academic in July 2022. This book is part of the Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology series. It's available in Amazon Kindle for USD19.99 Kindle and USD26.99 in Logos.I got this book for free to review. The publisher has no input in this review. OutroAnnouncement. The free books for Logos and Faithlife are out. We have two commentaries from Logos, the Preacher's Commentary on Luke and Jon Courson's Application Commentary on the New Testament. That commentary is 1824 pages and I won't be reviewing that. Instead I will be reviewing a discounted book from Faithlife. The Counselor: Straight Talk About The Holy Spirit by A. W. Tozer. So if you like Tozer or have never heard of Tozer, be ready to listen to my review of his book in the next episode of Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Bye bye!Book List"Virtuous Persuasion: A Theology of Christian Mission" by Michael Niebauer. Amazon. Logos.

Proverbs 1:5-6 reads: "Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles." Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Proverbs: Wisdom That Works" by Ray Ortlund. This volume is part of the Preaching the Word commentary series edited by R. Kent Hughes. 224 pages, published by Crossway in March 2012. It is available for USD24.99 via Amazon Kindle or free from Logos in October. The author is Raymond C. Ortlund Jr. He is in his 70s, having spent most of his life as a pastor and served for a season as professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has written several books, most recently "The Death of Porn: Men of Integrity Building a World of Nobility" which I reviewed and recommended in Episode 25. Writing must be in the Ortlund gene. His father and his sons wrote many books. I have Dane Ortlund's "Gentle and Lowly" in my Kindle. I have read Gavin Ortlund's "Finding the Right Hills to Die On", which you can listen to my review in Episode 34. I haven't counted but I think it's possible to find a hundred books written from the Ortlund household. More noteworthy and praiseworthy than the amount of ink they have spilled is their faith. Ray Ortlund, who is in his 70s, is still going strong in the faith, he is a pastor to pastors. His parents finished well. And his children are going strong as well. If only we could tap on what has worked so well in the Ortlund household. What wisdom can Ray Ortlund share with us? And as we will see, Ortlund would say, any wisdom he has is not his but God's and it is available to all, if only we would seek it. So let us seek it. Let us open today's book "Proverbs: Wisdom That Works" by Ray Ortlund. StructureProverbs the book in the Bible is a difficult book to outline. Compared to Genesis, a child could pick out the stories of Adam and Eve, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as self-contained stories. Or compared to Romans, an attentive reader could outline Romans as a series of logical arguments. But Proverbs? The short sayings seem random. They are not grouped into any discernible topic. Ortlund guides us. First he shows us that chapter 1 is where we read God's purpose for this book. Proverbs 1:7, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." He explains that chapters 1-9 is:a series of poems selling wisdom to us, motivating us to get into the book and receive its teaching with an eager heart.Then you turn the page to Proverbs 10:1 and read, "The proverbs of Solomon" and this kickstarts the collection of proverbs from Solomon, Agur, King Lemuel and other unnamed wisemen which culminates in Proverbs 31, the wisdom of a godly woman.In writing a commentary on Proverbs, there are two approaches. Ortlund could comment chapter by chapter, verse by verse. Or he could group the proverbs into key themes. And in his wisdom, Ortlund chose to do both. Ortlund's commentary has 21 chapters. The first 14 chapters is a slow and steady exposition of the first 9 chapters of Proverbs. He dedicates three chapters on Proverbs 1. That's laying down the foundation. And later three chapters on Proverbs 3, an integral part of the book.You may wonder why Ortlund takes so much time to unpack what seems obvious: "Of course, wisdom is important!" But just look around you. Do you see more fools or wise sages? Is the world suffering from an oversupply of wisdom? Wisdom calls out but no one heeds her. After we understand what is wisdom, only then does Ortlund give us samples of what wisdom offers. He does this with 7 topics in 7 chapters:Chapter 15: The Tongue (18:21)Chapter 16: Humility (22:4)Chapter 17: Family (22:6)Chapter 18: Emotions (15:30)Chapter 19: Friendship (18:24)Chapter 20: Money (10:22)Chapter 21: Life and Death (12:28)The book then ends with a scripture index, general index and index of sermon illustrations. Long Term Review, Ten Years LaterI have told you that this book is available for free from Logos in October but I have not told you that I have, in my hand right now, a physical, hardcover of this book. I bought this book ten years ago, when it first came out. So this is my second time finishing this book. This is a rare opportunity for me to do a long term review of a book. Ten years later, how has this book influenced me?To be honest, I don't remember much of it. I remember thinking this was a good book and that it made a lot of sense. That's not exactly a ringing endorsement of this book. Now, after finishing this book for the second time, I have to say, this is a good book and it makes a lot of sense. You know how it is that you don't appreciate good advice until after you messed up? Wise people tell us, "don't go into debt" and we only see the wisdom of it after we get out of terrible debt. Then you look back and you write a post with the title, "10 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was 20 years old". Well, ten years ago, I was a young Christian. I didn't have as many decisions to make (compared to now), children were still young and 'easily manageable' (diapers are easier than discipline). I hadn't seen the dark underbelly of the church. I shouldn't say that. My church is not a bad one, the people are a blessing. It's just that as a young Christian, I had to grow to understand that Christians are simultaneously saints and sinners. And I confess I didn't, I don't always handle the interpersonal relationship problems well. Anger is an issue. One which I didn't fully appreciate was a problem in my heart.So ten years ago, I read Ortlund's chapter on emotions, specifically on anger. Let me read it for you:Conquering a city is child’s play compared with ruling the turbulent, demanding, upset world inside us. The one is only the battle of a day. The other is the conflict of a lifetime.In those days, I read that and I nodded my head. Yup. Sure. I agree 100%. Now I read the same passage and I recognise this. I know this!It's like how war veterans see war movies differently from the rest of us. They can tell what is real and what is Hollywood. In a somewhat similar way, after I have lived life a little more -- only ten years -- I recognise folly and wisdom, not the theoretical but the hard realities of it. I have grown to know people who have wrecked their lives with alcohol, adultery, drugs, very poor life decisions which if I had only one word to describe what they all had in common, it would be folly. Foolishness. A lack of wisdom. And may the Good Lord protect me from the folly of my ways!So in terms of a long term review of this book, what is amazing is how little I cared for what is here at that time. I liked the book. I agreed with the book. But it did not resonate as much then as it does now. Learn and liveAside from the long term review, another way to look at this book is it's the only self-help, self-improvement book you ever need. Consider the seven topics Ortlund has: the tongue, humility, family, emotions, friendship, money, life and death. Psychologists, counsellors, publishers, gurus, social media influencers, family therapists, sex therapists, life coaches, the list goes on. Their existence and proliferation just demonstrates how utterly useless we are in handling the tongue, humility, family, emotions, friendship, money, life and death. If you want to make friends, do you read "How to Make Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie or "Proverbs: Wisdom That Works" by Ray Ortlund? Don't get me wrong. Dale Carnegie's book is helpful. But does it offer the wisdom of the world or the wisdom divine? This is why the first 14 chapters of Ortlund's commentary is so important. What is wisdom? You have a long line of people knocking on your door offering wisdom. But what is it? Repeat after me:The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Sure you can memorise it, repeat it but do you embrace it? Does that fear of the Lord, that beginning of wisdom grip you? Ortlund writes:Biblical wisdom is more than what we find in a fortune cookie. It is more than an optional add-on for people who want to upgrade their lives from, say, 4 to 7 on a scale of 1 to 10. This wisdom from Christ is a matter of life and death.Life and death. That is what is at stake. Later he writes: If we have love but not wisdom, we will harm people with the best of intentions. If we have courage but not wisdom, we will blunder boldly. If we have truth but not wisdom, we will make the gospel ugly to other people. If we have technology but not wisdom, we will use the best communications ever invented to broadcast stupidity. If we have revival but not wisdom, we’ll use the power of God to throw the church into reverse gear.After Ortlund convinces the reader on the source and importance of wisdom, he presents the seven topics. And I'm not saying that these seven chapters are the final word on the topic, by all means, read Dale Carnegie, read whatever the world's experts or fellow Christian writers offer, but read them knowing what is true wisdom. GaladrielFor much more can be written on these topics. Ortlund knows that. That's why he wrote a whole book on pornography, "Death of Porn". Just a quick aside, I've only read two of Ray Ortlund's book and in both books he uses Galadriel, the elf queen in Lord of the Rings, as an illustration. In Proverbs, wisdom is personified, wisdom is pictured as a woman. Ortlund casts Galadriel in that role, because as he says, she is, "lovely, dignified, wise". In "Death of Porn", Ortlund invites us to see every woman as Galadriel, so that we would treat every woman as royalty. Then we have the "Rings of Power", the Amazon series that centres on Galadriel. I wonder what Ortlund thinks of that show. If anybody knows, please tell me. Do You Need A Commentary To Read Proverbs?Coming back to the book, his commentary on Proverbs. Has it occurred to you, "Why would I want to read a commentary on Proverbs? It's so easy to understand.""Sure, maybe you need a commentary to understand the history or culture behind Genesis. Or a commentary to get to grips with the theology in Romans. But Proverbs? You don't need a commentary for that."And this is the part where the book shines. You are right. The book of Proverbs is incredibly accessible. It's so practical, so easy to read that one almost makes the mistake of forgetting that it's actually part of the Bible. It's a part of the historical-redemptive story in which Christ is the key.And it's not so obvious to see how Wisdom, or wisdom applied in the tongue, humility, family, emotions, friendship, money, life and death, can be traced to Jesus Christ. And I think this is where Ortlund's book really shines because every chapter just overflows with Jesus Christ. You don't just learn how to live a godly life, you must want it and you must have Christ who enables you to live that godly life. Oh, what a contrast this book is to the last one I just reviewed. Even after the episode was published, it's done, I was still second guessing myself. Was I too harsh? The book, "Living in Christ's Presence" by Dallas Willard is in essence his life's work and I dare suggested there was a fatal flaw. But I was not the only one who saw it. Someone heard him define the gospel and asked, "Why does your definition of the gospel not have forgiveness of sin in it?" I don't want you to misunderstand, Dallas Willard does not deny forgiveness of sin, he affirms it. He says it's central. It's essential. But, the way he frames it, the church has done a good job explaining the forgiveness of sin but not as good a job at explaining how to live in grace, which is where, to him, the spiritual disciplines come in.I quote: "The idea is not to grow in being forgiven for your sins. It's to grow in learning how to live by grace..." The book puts a contrast when it should be a basis. Dallas Willard and his ministry is much beloved and endorsed by many Christians. Am I too insistent with the way he defines the gospel? Does it really matter if the cross of Christ is there but not on the exact spot that I think it should be? Then I read Ray Ortlund. In Chapter 14, he asks: Do you have a taste for sin, vulgarity, and folly? We all do. We all know what it is like to be stuck down there in that abyss of Self where we cannot even choose Christ. What do we do then? How can we choose him as the passion of our lives when we are passionate for lesser things, even wrong things? How can we jump out of a hole that has no bottom? There is only one way. We hear the gospel again.I don't think we can ever hear enough of the Gospel. Maybe the problem is we don't know how the Gospel works in our lives. Ortlund explains: For your sake, Jesus lived a perfect life, he chose wisdom every time, and against intense seduction. Then Jesus died on the cross a death he did not deserve, a sacrificial death for the stupidity of the rest of us. That is what the gospel announces. If you will receive this Jesus by mere faith, he will give you his perfect record as a gift. He wants your conscience to be happy and free again. Why? Because in the strength of being forgiven, you will change.Did you get that? "In the strength of being forgiven, you will change." I have read so much from this chapter, I'm just going to go ahead and read the final paragraph. Knowing that Jesus covers your sin when you deserve to be exposed, but he accepts you and rejoices over you—that stunning new awareness will lift your heart and take you further with him than you have ever dreamed of going. His love creates your wise choice, moment by moment. Look up to him by faith, see his love for you right now, and receive it. Then, whatever might be your next step of obedience, that bold new step that maybe you have been putting off, you will take it. You will be able to choose, and you will choose wisely, to the praise of the glory of his grace.When you have these two books in front of you, the contrast between the two is stark. I don't know how Raymond Ortlund sees the ministry of Dallas Willard. For all I know, the two of them were best pals, speaking at each other's churches, recommending each other's books. But from where I'm sitting, in Willard the cross of Christ is placed in the background but in Ortlund the cross of Christ is front and centre. ConclusionLet's wrap up. First, the book was good the first time I read it 10 years ago. And it was even better reading it the second time. Second, we mess up in so many places. We obviously need wisdom, not the world's wisdom but God's wisdom. And Ortlund shows us where it's at. Third, Christians who know Proverbs -- They hear Wisdom calling and they come running -- will get from this commentary, a clear line from Lady Wisdom to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a Reading and Readers' review of "Proverbs: Wisdom That Works" by Raymond Ortlund Jr. This volume is part of the Preaching the Word commentary series edited by R. Kent Hughes. 224 pages, published by Crossway in March 2012. It is available for USD24.99 via Amazon Kindle or free from Logos in October. It's available for free only for this month, you would be a fool to miss this deal! Subscribe to Reading and Readers to hear reviews of free books, good books and often, free and good books. Thank you for listening.Book List"Proverbs: Wisdom That Works" by Raymond Ortlund Jr. Amazon. Logos."Death of Porn: Men of Integrity Building a World of Nobility" by Raymond Ortlund Jr. Amazon. Logos.

This is the situation: You accepted Christ, you affirm everything your church believes but you are not growing spiritually. In fact, what does growing spiritually even mean? Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Living in Christ's Presence: Final Words on Heaven and the Kingdom of God" by Dallas Willard. 192 pages, published by InterVarsity Press in, according to Amazon, 2017. But this is a mistake because Amazon also describes this book as the: Logos Bookstores' 2014 Best Book in Spirituality2014 Readers' Choice Award Winner2014 Leadership Journal Best Books for Church Leaders (The Leader's Inner Life)The publication year will be important as we will soon see. The book is available for USD9.41 in Amazon Kindle at the time of this recording but you can get this book for free through Faithlife's Free Book of the Month programme. For the month October, and only October, you can get this book for free. Last Word(s)When I saw the book's title I thought the author was a tad presumptuous. The final word on Heaven and the Kingdom of God? The final word as in nothing else needs to be said? That's a big claim cause Heaven and the Kingdom of God are not straightforward topics. I soon discovered how wrong I was in my premise. Let me begin by reading the author's biodata, found in the last pages of the book: Dallas Willard (1935-2013) was a professor in the School of Philosophy at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. A highly influential author and teacher, Willard was as celebrated for his enduring writings on spiritual formation as he was for his scholarship. His books include The Divine Conspiracy, The Spirit of the Disciplines and Hearing God.Today's book, "Living in Christ's Presence" is based on a conference titled "Knowing Christ Today". That conference was held on February 21-23, 2013. According to Wikipedia, Dallas Willard died after a short battle with cancer in May 8, 2013. When was the book published? 2014. So the book was published posthumously. That is not the noteworthy part.When I finished the book, I went back to the title of the book and I was confused. The book made no attempt to be definitive, to make the case on Heaven and the Kingdom of God as to silent all other views. How is this the final word? Then I re-read the subtitle. It's not "Final Word on Heaven". It's "Final Words on Heaven". The book is not offering the final word on the topic. The book is offering the final words of a man who came to a conference to encourage pastors and believers, knowing that he has cancer and would soon die.In the Amazon page for this book, John Ortberg writes:I've known Dallas for about 25 years, and he has impacted me like nobody else has. His writings, his book Spirit of the Disciplines ― outside of the Bible has had the biggest impact on my life. And so the chance to do this conference together was really powerful. Then when he got sick and it was clear that barring a miracle he was not going to be on earth for a real long time, it took on a whole added dimension of substance. We actually thought about, just given his health, should we not do the conference? And Dallas said, "Nope, I want to do it. There are things that need to be said, and this is the chance to say it.""There are things that need to be said, and this is the chance to say it."Let's now look at the last words of Dallas Willard on Heaven and the Kingdom of God.Seven Chapters, Seven TalksThe book starts with the preface written by Gary W. Moon, explaining that this book was created from the transcripts of a conference. He writes:The primary passion for the conference was to provide an overview of Dallas’s writings and ministry—his most impassioned ideas. The conference was built around the theme “Knowing Christ Today” and as a way to present the golden thread that runs through all of his primary writing: that it is possible to know the Trinity intimately and to step into their glorious kingdom.Thus, the seven chapters correspond to seven talks given in the conference. Dallas Willard is the speaker for chapters 1, 3, 5 and 7. John Ortberg is the speaker for chapters 2, 4 and 6. The chapter titles are:How to Live WellWho Are the Experts on Life Transformation?How to Step into the Kingdom and Live ThereExperiential Knowledge of the TrinityUnderstanding the Person: Including the Invisible PartsThe Importance of Christian DisciplinesBlessingIn each chapter, you will first read a prayer prayed at the conference, then the transcribed talk, and lastly a Q&A with Dallas Willard and John Ortberg. At the end of the book, we have a discussion guide, written by Gary W. Moon. It's not just a list of questions, he goes into details on what you need to prepare, how to organise the sessions and what to cover in each session. Although the book lists Dallas Willard as the author, John Ortberg and Gary Moon are significant contributors. Let me briefly introduce them.John Ortberg is the senior pastor for Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. The conference was organised in his church. He is a close friend and mentee of Willard, knowing him as he said for about 25 years. Gary W. Moon is the founding executive director for the Martin Institute for Christianity and Culture and the Dallas Willard Center for Christian Spiritual Formation. The centre provided funding for the "Knowing Christ Today" conference. Now that we know the structure of the book and the authors, let's get into the content.Grow SpirituallyThere is a good reason why there is a centre bearing Dallas Willard's name. He is a giant in the spiritual formation movement. Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster and The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard have helped generations of Christians escape from stunted religiosity. Even if you have never heard of Willard or his books, there is a good chance that your understanding of Christian spiritual formation can be traced to him. In the book, Ortberg recounts asking Willard, "How can I help people in my church grow spiritually?" Willard's answer was, "You must arrange your life so that you are experiencing deep contentment, joy and confidence in your everyday life with God."Willard exudes warmth and care. Ortberg here honours Willard, not just for his teaching, but for the cherished friendship between the two. And that warmth and care extends to the reader and to Christians everywhere. They want to see believers flourish. They see many Christians just waiting for death to come so that they can go to Heaven. "Oh finally! Now I'm in Heaven. I can get to the good part of my faith." Willard says: Heaven is not someplace way out there, far away; it’s the range of God’s effective will. It can be right here, closer than the air we breathe. That’s good news.According to Willard, Christians should ask themselves, "What is my gospel? What is my central message?" Is the gospel only "an arrangement made by God through Christ that involved his death on the cross"? Willard asserts:Isn’t this the gospel: that when others not only hear the content of it but also see how we live it and present it, they say, “I want that. I want to be a disciple of Jesus. I want to be one of his students, learning how to live in the kingdom of God now as he lives in the kingdom of God”?Willard believes Heaven and the Kingdom of God are present abiding realities that Christians need to know in order to live in Christ's presence. Even though the book title says Christ's presence, Willard rightly emphasises the Trinity. He writes:The advantage of believing in the Trinity is not that we get an A from God for knowing the right answer. The advantage of believing in the Trinity is that we then live as if the Trinity is real, as if the cosmos around us is actually beyond all else a community of unspeakably magnificent personal beings of boundless love, knowledge and power.The underlying hope for this book is that readers experience breakthroughs. Here are the problems in the church. This is you struggling to grow to be more Christ-like. Listen to the glorious truth, have a mind in Christ, believe, obey and be. The conference was designed to bring out Dallas Willard's impassioned ideas. I have not read Willard's other books but just from this book alone, the passion is evident; the passion for the Triune God and spiritual formation for His church. Transitional vs. FoundationalThus, it gives me no pleasure to say what I have to say next. Willard said, "I try never to criticise the church, because I know who is in charge of it." In the same spirit, I say, "I try not to criticise a servant of God, because I know who is his master." Yet, both of us criticise, him the church, me him. Not out of malice, but to build the Kingdom of God. There are a few concerns but I'll stick to one, the most serious one. It's not easy to see it and for a while I could not put my finger on why I was so uneasy. I have hinted at it. It's regarding Willard's good news and gospel. Listen to these passages. Do you hear a problem? Ortberg writes:This gospel of Jesus, of course, includes the free promise of the forgiveness of sins by grace alone. It includes the promise that death is not going to be the end. It includes all of that. There’s a corporate dimension to it, but it speaks to individuals very, very deeply as well. But it is more than the forgiveness of sins, and it is more than just what will happen to me after I die. A lot of people think the only real reason Jesus came was to die on the cross. That is not the only reason. Jesus came as the kingdom bringer. His gospel was the availability of the kingdom. His purpose was to manifest the kingdom. His one command was to pursue the kingdom: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God.” His one plan was to extend the kingdom.Can you see where there might be a problem? If you didn't, someone did. In the conference, Willard was asked: as you lay out the gospel, the simple gospel of the availability of life in the kingdom of God, it doesn’t include, as you put it, the phrase “forgiveness of sins.” Where does the forgiveness of sins fit in the gospel? Do you make that less central than other formulations of the gospel make it?Willard answers:I wouldn’t say it is less central. It is essential, and you will not enter the kingdom of God without the forgiveness of sins. It’s like the story of Abraham, see? He believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. When you put your weight on Jesus and the kingdom, all of that is taken care of. One of the things that made people maddest about Jesus was his talk about how easy it is to forgive sins. Well, if I may say so, and I hope I don’t mislead anyone, to forgive your sins is a load off God’s mind. He is happy to do it.You can imagine the crowd nodding their heads. Pastors, church leaders, Christians who are deeply invested in helping their flock mature in Christ listening and thinking, "What he said makes sense."I would say Willard is making the same error that he criticises the church making. In another question, someone asked Willard about doctrine. Willard answers: So, doctrine properly understood is tremendously important, but if we think about doctrine as a separate, abstract series of statements that people need to affirm to get an A on their theology exam, but they become divorced from how it applies to actual living, it does no good at all. No pastor worth his salt would think that doctrine should be a separate, abstract series of statements divorced from how it applies to actual living. But it does happen. Willard is correct here. It is a problem. We are to be doers not just mere hearers of the Word. The solution is grace. Listen to what he says:we often think that it’s sinners that need grace so much, because we have shrink-wrapped grace into the forgiveness of sin, but grace is way more than that. It is the power of life, and the reality is that saints burn more grace than sinners ever could. He asks, "How do we receive grace?" It's difficult to quote the passage in full, so I will summarise. We receive grace through the spiritual disciplines. There are other means like suffering or other experiences but spiritual discipline is a fundamental way. In them, the spiritual disciplines, we receive grace. Let me quote this sentence: The idea is not to grow in being forgiven for your sins. It’s to grow in learning how to live by grace, to receive the power of God in your life to do what you can’t do on your own.Okay, let me pull everything together. The book consistently trickles the idea that there is more to the gospel, more to the good news, more to forgiveness of sin, more to doctrine, more to grace. Come on! The Kingdom of God is available! Live life to the full in Christ! To Willard, what Jesus has done on the cross is central, it is essential, but it is a pre-condition, pre-requisite, first step to the next, once you have reached the cross, you need the 'more'. As I picture it, to Willard, the cross is like a door. You enter it, you don't stay at the door, you walk forward. The cross is transitional. In contrast, to me, what Jesus has done on the cross is foundational to all Christian living that comes after. The cross is like the ground I stand on. Without the ground, there is nothing for me to build up. Do you get it? This is not a small matter. If I'm right, then we must keep bringing up forgiveness of sin and the cross in order to obey what Jesus commanded. If Willard is right, then we should spend less time dealing with doctrines we already know and move on to more mature things like the Kingdom of God. If I'm right, then the Bible will repeatedly speak of the cross, atonement, the forgiveness of sin and present it as foundational to obedience, holy living and the abundant Christian life. And here I'm fighting a temptation to preach a sermon. But I'll constrain myself and just say the whole Bible centres on the cross. I'm not saying the cross is the only thing but it is the focal point. Read the Old Testament, the tabernacle (and later temple), holy priesthood and sacrifices is everywhere. What do they mean, read Hebrews. What does the name Jesus mean in Hebrew? What does John the Baptist say on seeing Jesus? "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!" (John 1:29) Read the Gospels, what does Jesus says of himself? If forgiving sins is easy, then God was dumb to send his Son to die on the cross and Jesus was dumb to do it. He should have lived out his natural life as a good teacher, die of old age, and be resurrected three days later. He didn't, why? Read Isaiah 53, Psalm 22 for a start. What is the relationship of the cross to spiritual formation? Is the cross foundational or transitional? Read the epistles. Who were the epistles written to? Believers or non-believers? Believers! How are the epistles structured? The first half is often theological. "We preach Christ crucified." (1 Cor 1:23) The second half then builds on the first. Therefore, walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called (Ephesians 4:1). Paul teaches the cross of Christ to believers and he doesn't say, "now moving on to the next item" as if what he taught before were separate, abstract series of statements. He says, "therefore". This is the clear pattern in the epistles for anyone who cares to check. Why Do Christians Praise It and Benefit from It?Is my criticism valid? I guess for you to know that for sure, you should read the book for yourself. You can ask, "If there is such a fundamental flaw in Willard's teaching, then why do so many Christians praise it and benefit from it?"With no data or proper study, this is my answer. First, Christians praise it because it highlights a problem many Christians do not wish to admit. And Willard is a gifted speaker and writer, kind and caring, these are praiseworthy qualities.Second, is the premise in the question valid? Did many Christians benefit? It may look beneficial now, but will it last? For the individual and for the churches? Let's assume some do benefit. I think any Christian who has legitimately benefited in the long run has consciously or unconsciously have looked at the cross as foundational and not transitional. I say this because I believe that if you take the cross as a transit point to more things, greater things, you will lose everything. Third, maybe I'm wrong. Not wrong in the cross being foundational but wrong in my interpretation of this book. Maybe Willard or Ortberg are not clear as writers. They write as hands on practitioners and not as precise theologians. Many things written here are correct. The book tells readers to be humble in learning. That's what I am trying to do now. Other Books That Hold The Cross DearAnd if you are learning about spiritual formation, there are various other books to consider: If you are a pastor who wants to do soul care, I recommend "The Care of Souls" by Harold Senkbeil.If you are a believer who wants to mature in Christ, I recommend "Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit" by Christopher J. H. Wright.If you love the church and want an alternate view to Willard's on what is the problem in the church, I recommend "The Real Scandal of the Evangelical Mind" by Carl Trueman, published around the same time as Willard's book.You can read my reviews of these books in the show notes below. The big difference between today's book and the ones I mentioned is Willard believes Christians have spent too much time on the cross, thus not enough time doing soul care. The truth is you can believe the latter without believing the former. You can build on doctrine to do soul care. That's how the Bible teaches it.In conclusion, "Living in Christ's Presence" is an answer to a genuine problem amongst Christians, offered with much love from the late Dallas Willard and John Ortberg. I think the book is best read by taking the good and spitting out the bad but it can be difficult to discern which is which. There are less complicated books out there. The ultimate goal of the book is that we should live in Christ's Presence, that we can all agree. We disagree on the fundamental role of the cross of Christ, I say it's foundational not transitional, but those are my words, not Willard's. I doubt proponents of Willard's teaching agree with my description and assessment. But I hope, whether or not I misunderstood Willard, we can all affirm that the cross of Christ is the ground on which we live out the Kingdom of God. That means we must continually come back to it, not move past it, if we are to live in Christ's presence.This is a Reading and Readers review of "Living in Christ's Presence: Last Words on Heaven and the Kingdom of God" by Dallas Willard. Available in Amazon Kindle for USD9.41 and free for October from Faithlife. Today's book review can be contentious. I would love to hear from you, especially if you have read the book or follow Dallas Willard's teaching. You can contact me via email: [email protected] or Twitter: @readingnreaders or the website's contact form at www.readingandreaders.com. The website also contains all my contact details. For past book reviews, I have received comments from listeners, some critical, but always conveyed in Christian love and truth. I look forward to them. Thank you for listening to Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Bye bye. Book List"Living in Christ's Presence: Last Words on Heaven and the Kingdom of God" by Dallas Willard. Amazon. Faithlife."The Care of Souls" by Harold Senkbeil. Amazon. Logos. Review."Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit" by Christopher J. H. Wright. Amazon. Faithlife. Review."The Real Scandal of the Evangelical Mind" by Carl Trueman. Amazon. Faithlife. Review.

Martin Luther said of the Epistle to the Romans:This epistle is really the chief part of the New Testament, and is truly the purest gospel. It is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but also that he should occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul. We can never read it or ponder over it too much; for the more we deal with it, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes.Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Romans: A Concise Guide to the Greatest Letter Ever Written" by Andrew David Naselli. 232 pages, published by Crossway in August 2022. It's available in Amazon Kindle for USD22.49 and in Logos for USD23.99. I got a review copy from the publisher for free. Crossway has no input on this review. The Author Andrew or Andy Naselli is, to quote his website:the associate professor of systematic theology and New Testament for Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis and one of the pastors of Bethlehem Baptist Church. Since 2010, he has written or edited on average a book a year. Most of his books are on theology as you would expect from a professor of systematic theology. I want to highlight a book here that gives some perspective on today's book. In 2012, Naselli wrote "From Typology to Doxology: Paul's Use of Isaiah and Job in Romans 11:34-35". This a 214 page book on two verses in Romans. Two verses in Romans. This book came from a dissertation. That dissertation came from a paper presented to the Evangelical Theological Society. That paper came from D.A. Carson's PhD Seminar where each student was asked to write a paper on the use of the OT in a NT passage. Naselli could choose any passage and he chose Romans 11:34-35 because those two verses were attached to his favourite verse in the Bible: Romans 11:36, which:For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.So we know that Naselli loves Romans. We know that he can write 200 pages on two Roman verses.There are 433 verses in 16 chapters in Romans. Can Naselli write on the whole letter and be concise? That is a bigger challenge than you might think. The Challenge to be ConciseJust to shed light on the challenge, let me share with you the longest book I have ever read, or more precisely the longest audio book I have ever listened to. Some years ago, I got a free audio book voucher. I could pick any book I wanted from the catalog. Wanting to get the biggest bang for my buck, I picked the longest book. I didn't know at the time that John Piper's Romans was not a book but a compilation of his sermon series on Romans; all 8 years, all 225 sermons. Before I listened to his sermons, Romans was impenetrable to me. I knew it was important, I just could not figure out what Paul was saying. After completing Piper's expository series, I was most satisfied in the beautiful truth I now hold so dear in my heart. That sermon series has been a life-changing experience.So much so that I wanted more. Soon after, I bought Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones Romans set, his sermon series spanning 12 years set into 14 volumes. I started it but didn't finish. It sits on my shelf as my retirement project.In Naselli's book, he frequently refers to top Roman scholars, Douglas Moo and Tom Schreiner. He even describes his own book as Moo-lite or Schreiner-lite. Now, since he said that, you might as well read Moo or Schreiner right? Why go for lite when you can go for the original? You go for lite, when the original is too heavy. Douglas Moo's book from the New International Commentary on the New Testament weighs in at 1184 pages. Tom Schreiner's from the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament weighs in at 944 pages. What's my point here?Great preachers John Piper and Martyn Lloyd-Jones saw Romans as so substantial that they dedicated 8 and 12 years respectively of their lives to preach from it. Top Roman scholars, Douglas Moo and Thomas Schreiner wrote around a 1000 pages on this one letter.So when Naselli says his book is a concise guide, it is against this backdrop: the Epistle to the Romans has so much to offer to the Christian. Can a one page summary do it justice? Can a 200 page guide? Can Andrew Naselli capture in his little book what makes Romans great? Let's find out.OutlineIn the preface, Naselli tells us that there are six ways to use this book. Those ways include reading this book with, on the side, a bible, or more than one bible, or with other bible resources; I recommend his Phrase Diagram book which I will speak more on later. In the introduction, Naselli answers questions like "How Important is Romans?", "Who wrote it?", "Where did he write it?", "When?", "To Whom?", "Why?" and so on. If you are new to Romans, this gives you the motivation and the broader context to Paul's letter to the Romans. Before we get to the main content of the book, we have a three-page outline. Here, we get our first hint of Naselli's love for outlines. His book is an outline of outlines, as you will soon see. Let me list the 7 chapter headings: Introduction (1:1-17)The Universal Need for God's Righteousness (1:18-3:20)The Means of Obtaining God's Righteousness (3:21-4:25)Benefits of Obtaining God's Righteousness (5:1-8:39)The Vindication of God's Righteousness (9:1-11:36)Living in Light of God's Righteousness (12:1-15:13)Conclusion (15:14-16:27)This book could be titled, "The Righteous God Righteously Righteouses the Unrighteous" except Naselli has taken that clever title for another essay. Near the end of book, we have Recommended Resources on Romans, which includes resources: Intermediate/Advanced and Introductory. There is a Study Guide which has questions for the individual or the bible study group. And a chapter titled, "Acknowledgments", which is the only chapter that reveals Naselli's personal life. The book closes with the General Index and Scripture Index.I said that this book is an outline of outlines. Now, I'll explain why.Chapter OneLet's look at chapter one. The chapter title reads "Introduction (1:1-17)". Chapter begins with:Paul introduces the letter with a greeting (1:1-7), a thanksgiving (1:8-15), and the letter's theme (1:16-17).Naselli gives us an outline of his chapter. There are three parts. Now let us read the paragraph that follows:1:1-7 The letter’s opening introduces Paul as the author and the Christians in Rome as the addressees. Several themes bookend the letter: the gospel, the Son, the Old Testament, Paul, the obedience of faith, and the nations (see 16:25–27).So here, we see that Naselli breaks down verse 1-7 into three smaller parts. And in the three subsections that follow, he rapidly unpacks verse 1-3a, verse 3b-4 and verse 5-7. Boom. Boom. Boom.But the pace changes when he reaches verses 16 and 17. He writes three pages, half the entire chapter to expound on Romans 1:16-17:For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”He does so because these two verses are key to understand the rest of the book. And that is Naselli's method. He takes a chunk. Then he breaks it down. He breaks it down until we get to easily digestible chunks. When he reaches a difficult to digest chunk or an important chunk, he spends time on it. You Need the BibleIf you are a guy who has ever thought, "Can someone please slowly explain to me what is the book of Romans about? Slowly, step by step. I don't want to hear your opinion. What I want is to see for myselfhow the verses progress, how they come together. I want to see how the argument flows." If you are that guy, then this book is for you. Naselli takes the chunks that he broke down for us and shows how they come together. In fact, he insists that you follow the flow of arguments. He does this at the expense of making his book more readable. For example, let me read his commentary on three verses, 6:6-8.6:7 This sentence supports the previous one(6:6) as a parenthetical statement. When we died with Christ, God set us free from sin’s power.6:8 This sentence continues the argument in 6:6. We are identified with Christ. If we died with Christ, we will also live with him.6:9 This sentence supports the previous one (6:8). Since Christ rose from the dead, he “will never die again” (unlike how Lazarus died again after Jesus raised him) because “death no longer has dominion [i.e., any power] over him.”In order for me to even understand what he wrote, I need the Bible. He forces me to open up Romans to read those sentences and see the flow for myself.This means that if you are going on a trip, and you are looking for a book to read on the plane or on the beach, if you are looking for something edifying to read as you kick back and relax, this is not the book for you. Kicking back and relax is not how Naselli wants you to read this book.Naselli wants you to lean forward with pen, coloured pencils, highlighters, with a Bible in hand, more Bibles the better! He wants you to trace Paul's argument. Naselli's concise guide to Romans is for the serious adventurer not the Instagram tourist. But, if I dare say so myself, there is another book better than the Bible. Oooh... heresy. Listen as I finish my sentence, there is another book better than the Bible to read alongside Naselli's book and that is his companion book: "Tracing the Argument of Romans: A Phrase Diagram of the Greatest Letter Ever Written". In his blog, Naselli writes:Each book can stand on its own, but I designed the book with Logos to supplement the book with Crossway.A phrase diagram is in simple terms diagrams of the text indented to outline or break down the clauses, where the text is coloured, highlighted, boxed and marked with arrows, so that we can see the relationship of the clauses. Or to trace the argument of the passage. In Naselli's words:It's the most respectful and fruitful way I know of to take God's word seriously. So if you read Naselli's concise guide to Romans, you must have, at minimum, the Bible next to you. Ideally, you would have the Romans book on the left part of your screen and the Phrase Diagram book on the right, so that you can closely follow Paul's arguments.Following Paul's argument is the most important goal for Naselli. The way he has written this book, his priority is not to make the case for his views (he does) or to make you understand the minute details of various interpretations (for that he points you to scholars in the footnotes). His primary goal is to make you see the outline, the argument, of Romans.Once you get that, you can fill the rest of the details from the scholars. ScholarlyDouglas Moo, a distinguished scholar on Romans, endorsed this book. He wrote:“Naselli’s book on Romans gives believers a brief and accessible overview of Paul’s great letter to the church in Rome. While written for a general audience, this book is rooted in a broad acquaintance with the many issues in recent interpretation of the letter.” I would qualify what Moo means by general audience. His general audience is a tad different from my general audience. Naselli has a long list of books he has written and edited for an academic, scholarly audience. So relatively speaking, in contrast, this concise guide on Romans is for a general audience. Relatively speaking. In contrast. You see, the general audience in my circle do not read books with some Greek words. This book doesn't require you to have knowledge of Greek but Naselli does think it important to explain some of them. This book has tables that clearly lay out: Faith vs Works in Romans 4 and James 2, Adam vs. Christ in Romans 5:12-21, Flesh vs. Spirit in Romans 8:5-13 and there are ten more tables where that came from. And let's talk about the footnotes. There are some pages where the footnotes cover half the page. They often cite academic works from Moo, Schreiner, Carson, Beale, Hodge and Murray, to name a few. In one footnote, Naselli writes: "I am condensing and paraphrasing Anthony A. Hoekema, Created in God's Image." In another, he writes: "This paragraph condenses and updates Moo and Naselli's work" and he cites the publication. All this means is readers are getting the best scholarly answer to the question posed in the text. And there are many questions to be found in Romans. For example, in Romans 9 is Paul speaking about corporate or individual salvation? This has giant implications on how one reads the rest of the letter. Naselli doesn't go into the details. Understandably so. He can't write a concise guide that is also comprehensive. But he suggests that if I want to know more on this question, I should read three articles: Thomas R. Schreiner, "Does Romans 9 Teach Individual Election unto Salvation".Brian J. Abasciano, "Corporate Election in Romans 9: A Reply to Thomas Schreiner".Thomas R. Schreiner, "Corporate and Individual Election in Romans 9: A Response to Brian Abasciano".So I did. I put down Naselli's book and downloaded those articles from the Journal of Evangelical Theological Society. And had a really good time reading the exchanges between Schreiner and Abasciano, which I would never have known existed if not for Naselli. So one way to think of this concise guide is Naselli curates the best and most thoughtful resources on the questions that come up as we read Romans. What I Unexpectedly GainedAnd that's the weird thing about this book. I gained lots of new things but not so much about Romans. I love Romans. You can't listen to 8 years worth of Piper sermons and not love how Paul's argument flow. And since then, I have read for myself, studied and argued with others about Romans so I am somewhat familiar with the various questions. If you are new to Romans, Naselli's book will guide you to glorious treasures. As for me, let me outline for you what I gained from Naselli's book:Martyn Lloyd Jones sermon series on Romans. As I read Naselli's book, I was dissatisfied because I have been spoilt by Piper. When it comes to Romans, I want expository exultation. Naselli reminded me of the thrill of discovery. Because of this book, I downloaded the Martyn Lloyd Jones app to listen to his sermon series on Romans on my work commute.Memorising Romans. In his acknowledgements, Naselli thanked his youth leaders in high school for encouraging him to memorize Romans. I once tried to memorise Romans. (Piper makes you try things you normally would not do.) Naselli has spurred me to make the attempt once again.Biblearc. I didn't know this tool existed. As soon as Naselli introduced it in his books, the phrase diagrams and all, I went to the website, subscribed and I'm using it for my next sermon. Once I've familiarised myself with it, I plan to introduce and teach it to others.In conclusion, Naselli's concise guide to Romans is a great book if you are looking for someone to break down Romans into easily digestible chunks. He shows you how they come together and points you to in-depth answers to the questions that invariably come up. This is not a book to kick back and read. You need to lean forward as the book guides you to study Romans. And as you read it, I hope you will gain, as I did, a great appreciation of the great truths Paul writes in the greatest letter ever written. This is a Reading and Readers review of "Romans: A Concise Guide to the Greatest Letter Ever Written" by Andrew David Naselli. 232 pages, published by Crossway in August 2022. It's available in Amazon Kindle for USD22.49 and in Logos for USD23.99. I got the review copy from Crossway. They had no input on the review.Let's see whether you can follow this line of argument. You have friends. Friends tell friends of good things. Reading and Readers is a good thing. Therefore, you should tell your friends of Reading and Readers, the podcast where I review Christian books for you. I hope you enjoyed this book review. Thank you for listening. Book List"Romans: A Concise Guide to the Greatest Letter Ever Written" by Andrew David Naselli. Amazon. Logos."Tracing the Argument of Romans: A Phrase Diagram of the Greatest Letter Ever Written" by Andrew David Naselli. Logos.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's the amazing, fantastic, incredible, book that inspires children all over the world to read the Bible and enjoy reading it. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review "Action Bible: God's Redemptive Story" by Sergio Cariello. 832 pages, published by David C. Cook in September 2020. Available in hardcover for USD18.79 and in Kindle for USD9.99 in Amazon. Or you can get it via Faithlife for USD4.99 as part of their discounted books in their Free Book of the Month programme. By the way, the Faithlife's Free Book of the Month is "Knowing God the Father: 52 Devotions to Grow Your Family's Faith". Normally I take the free book as an assignment and just review no matter what it is but I've been reading too many devotionals lately, and I just want to read and review something else. Not to mention, I saw a comic book amongst the discounted books. I don't see that often. I'm a big comic book and manga fan, so I was happy to pay USD4.99 for the Action Bible, to enjoy and review. A comic book Bible has obvious appeal. It's visual, easy to read and attractive to children, all of which your King James Version Bible is not. How often do you hear your children say, "Oh Mom, can I read another page of the KJV, please?" If you are listening or reading this review in front of a bookshelf wondering whether to get the Action Bible for your children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces, I won't waste any more of your time. Yes, get it and get it for all of them. And while you are at it, you can get one for yourself too. Now, my strong endorsement should not be understood as a universal endorsement of all picture book Bibles. There are picture books supposedly for children, with the Bible in the title, but are in fact subversive attempts to turn readers away from the Christian faith. And I'll give you one example at the end of the episode, after I review today's book. Let's get to the book.Origin StoryFrom the website, David C. Cook, the publisher announces: The Action Bible family of products has more than 85 million units in print worldwide since it launched in 2010. The original The Action Bible has sold more than 2.3 million copies and has spent more than 515 weeks on the ECPA Top 50 bestseller list. It is available in 27 languages globally, with 10-15 additional language translations to be completed in 2020.They have a family of products. They have a curriculum. You go to the website, sign up and they have resources you can download. It's a mini industry. And all that started with a humble little comic book that has gotten a second edition in 2020, which is what I'm reviewing today.As befitting a comic book, let's do an origin story. This is my dramatised version taking some artistic liberties from the original source material. This is my comic book adaptation of what really happened.It was a dark and stormy night, Sergio Cariello was hunched over, brush and ink in hand when the doors burst open. It was a summons from David C. Cook. They needed a wizard artist to rejuvenate the ageing Picture Bible. Sergio Cariello looks across the desk at his Portuguese translation of that very Picture Bible. The book was old, faded and well-thumbed. That Picture Bible was like the spider in Spiderman, the bat in Batman, the iron in Ironman, what turned the young Cariello into the Christian comic book artist he was today. How could he deny the chance to make a comic book Bible for a new generation?And so Nick Fury, I mean David C. Cook, recruited Sergio Cariello, the man who drew among many others, the X-men, Batman, Superman, Ironman, he will now draw Adam and Eve, David and Goliath, Peter, John and Paul, not to mention the Lord Jesus Christ. Never before, has he faced a challenge as great and as noble as this. And thus we have the Action Bible. It has more than 230 stories from Genesis to Revelation in 800 plus pages. A very motivated reader can finish it in a day and once he is done, he can go back and read it over and over again. Personal Testimony on the Power of ComicsThat's what happened to me. My grandmother gave me comic versions of Bible stories. At that time, her faith was not as strong as it is now. She just knew the Bible was a good thing. At that time, I had no faith at all. I knew nothing of the Bible. I read those comics over and over again. If I close my eyes I can see Elijah riding in the chariots of fiery horses towards heaven. To me, these were just stories. They didn't make me a believer but they did make a claim that God was good, just, almighty and that he loves all. And these ideas of God came back to haunt me when those simple days of reading comic after comic have passed. When life is not filled with comic book villains but with much troubles and despair but in the real world there is no Superman. Parents can't protect you. You have to make your way in the world and leave childish things behind. Unless those childish things have planted a grain of truth in your heart.And that's why people buy and give these books. In the hope that a grain of truth, seeds of faith, may be sown in young hearts. Waiting for the day of harvest. Because of this, it's important that what is planted is true. It is biblical. Is it Biblical?As far as I can tell, the Action Bible is not based on any translation. Then where does the text come from? It says here that the copyright for the text belongs to David C. Cook, the publisher, while the copyright for the illustrations belongs to Sergio Cariello. I don't know why the publishers didn't use a translation. There are children's translation or very simple English translations around, which could be included in the text. Maybe it's because they had to modify many verses to fit it into a comic book format with the pictures and a need for snappy dialogue. Christians who know their Bible will quickly see artistic license, liberties, taken with the original Bible passage. In the first page, it says:In the beginning, there was nothing. Except God. "Except God" is in bold. Subtle. No 'Kapow'. Also that is not how Genesis 1:1 goes.I am not nitpicking. Nor am I a purist. When you turn the Bible into a 800 page comic book, some things will not be in it and what is in it will be modified to fit the medium. As it should. The question is whether the omissions and changes produce a work that remains true to the original source, to the Word of God. Because sometimes they don't. In the 2nd and 3rd centuries, Marcionites ditched the Old Testament. They saw it was incompatible with the New. Thomas Jefferson, no less, edited his own version of the New Testament. He removed the supernatural and dogma to bring out what he thought were the true and good parts. Today, in China, the Chinese Communist Party limits the distribution of Bibles and according to Voice of the Martyrs, the CCP is writing a translation. I wonder what they will remove and modify.And just in case you think you will never face the threat of a distorted translation, have you heard of The Passion Translation? That translation looks like it belongs on a shelf with other legitimate Bible translations, but one day it will jump out and yell, "Hail Hydra". This not the time, nor the place to explain why I say there is something wrong with the Passion Translation, but if you have it, I ask that you read up the problems with that translation. Not are changes to the Bible potentially dangerous, but when we visualise the Bible, you can have the wrong picture in mind. Wrong Picture in MindFor example, in the Action Bible, in the story of Abraham interceding to the Lord on Sodom's behalf, Genesis 18:22-33, the Action Bible has Abraham speaking before an altar with burning, smoking, sacrifices. But if you read the Bible, we see that Abraham is speaking to God as one who appeared as man. A theophany which is concealed in the illustration. If you didn't know before, you now know that there is a potential danger when people remove parts or change the Bible to produce a new piece of work. There is a potential danger when pictures can wordlessly convey a meaning apart from the text. And I am glad to report that I could not find any signs or hint of a problem with the Action Bible. And I was looking for trouble but there was none. While I wished it would use a known translation, the comic sticks to telling the Bible stories. When it gives an interpretation, whether in the text or visually, it is safely within Christian understanding. Every Book in the Bible Except OneAlso, the reader knows that there they should refer to a Bible. Every story has a title. In the title, it clearly states where the story comes from. A Rainbow Promise based on Genesis 8-10. A Babbling Tower based on Genesis 11:1-9. Eat Your Vegetables based on Daniel 1. When moving to a new historical period, it introduces the relevant books, for example:The books of 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles record the same period of history -- the reign of David, Israel's greatest king. 2 Samuel is the original history, as written down by the prophets, while 1 Chronicles fills in gaps from the perspective of the priests. That's quite informative. More informative than you would expect for a comic book for 8 year olds. I give you another surprise. The Action Bible could have skipped them and no one would notice, but they intentionally include the minor prophets and epistles into the comic. There is one page titled "Four Prophets". The page is divided into four parts: Hosea, Amos, Joel and Micah. Under Hosea, we see a man looking at us with a kindly smile. A woman stands front of him, frowning or unsure of herself. The text above the two reads: Hosea loves his wife Gomer, very much. But one day she leaves him. The Law says Hosea can divorce his wife, but he chooses to stay married to her. He tells the people of Israel that they have treated God the same way. God loves his people, but they have run away to worship idols. The man in the picture, Hosea, says:Don't you see how much God loves you, even though you don't love him back? If God can love an unfaithful people, then I can love an unfaithful wife. It's hard to bring out the epistles in a comic. In one scene, we see Paul giving Epaphroditus a scroll. On the side, we see an open scroll with the headings: Paul's Letter to the Philippians, and to the Colossians, and to the Ephesians. Under the Colossians, we read: But Christ wasn't just a man. He was truly God -- but in human form. Jesus is all we need. When I read that, I wondered whether quoting a verse from a translation would have been better than a rough summary. It's not wrong. If I make a bigger deal out of this than I should, it's only because I'm impressed by scale and effort put in. So I speak as a fan, not as a hater.It covers the whole Bible so well, they even include a Scripture index. 13 pages at the end of the book listing Bible verses book by book and its corresponding page reference. I went through it book by book and the only book that was not covered is Song of Songs. That is amazing, fantastic, incredible!And More Than The BibleThe Action Bible does not only give a good coverage of the Bible, they even went beyond the Bible. I was delighted to read the story titled, "Years of Waiting: Between the Old Testament and the New Testament". The opening sentence to this story is:The land of Judah is still under the rule of the Persians when Alexander, the young king of Macedonia, sets out to conquer the world, riding his famous horse, Bucephalus, he leads his army against the countries of the mighty Persian Empire. One after another, they fall. Here we read about Alexander the Great's approach to Jerusalem, the Maccabee revolt and the rise of Herod. The inter-testamental period is not covered in other bible books. I know because I have a few. So it's a nice addition. In a few situations, they add to the Bible story. Imagining moments that are not explicitly in it. For example, there is a scene where Daniel sits together with his three friends. One asks, "Why are we studying the Babylonian history, their gods and astrology? We don't believe in any of it." Daniel answers, "For better or for worse, this is the culture we live in. It's good to understand their ways, just not to follow them." That is a commentary. Is it in the Bible? No. Is it helpful? Yes, it can be. So there we have it. The Action Bible picks up many of the familiar Bible story, covers every book except for Song of Songs and occasionally, adds elements like the intertestament period, the death of Paul and some light applications. Enough about the text. In comics, there are two parts. The words and the art. Let's now move to the art.The Art, What More Can You Ask For?You get what you would expect from an artist who has worked for DC and Marvel. Good quality stuff. But I know art is subjective, some would love it more than others. For me, all I ask is that the art properly and clearly convey the story in the Bible. And it does. The storyboarding is clear. He draws simple facial expressions and gestures that set the tone and move the story along. People look sad and happy when they are supposed to be sad and happy. Then, there are the parts of the Bible which are notoriously difficult to imagine, much less draw. The prophecies of Daniel, the vision of Ezekiel and apocalyptic writings in Revelation for example. Truthfully, I was a little bit underwhelmed by Cariello's portrayal of these scenes but after some reflection, I realised that I am looking at something that is meant to be much larger than life. When I read these passages I am supposed to shake and tremble with fear and confusion, and I should not fault him if I do not. In terms of illustrations, I like Samson's story. His battle armed with a donkey's jawbone and enemies flying off the page is like a page from the Incredible Hulk. Another one I liked was Blind Bartimaeus. He hears Jesus calling. He leaps from the ground and runs like the Flash. Give you one more of my favourites: it is the Valley of Dry Bones in Ezekiel. We see an ancient battlefield of dry bones. God tells Ezekiel, "Prophesy to them, Ezekiel. Tell them that I will knit them back together again." A box above Ezekiel reads, "Feeling a bit silly, Ezekiel obeys." Ezekiel speaks, "Bones! Hear the word of the Lord! He will bring you back to life!" We see the bones moving, tendons and flesh appear and skin covers the body. This scene made me ponder more than I expected it to probably because I never visualised it happening in my head. Now that I have seen it visualised, I am amazed at it. And amazed because I know what that passage means for Christians today. Actually, there were more than a few occasions where I put the comic down just to think about the story. Wow. This is what the Bible says.The Action Bible's NemesisIf the Action Bible is a superhero, then let me tell you of the imposter. The Bizzaro to Superman, the ManBat to Batman, the Venom to Spiderman, no... a better example would be that time when Dr. Octopus took over Peter Parker's body and became Spiderman. You can read that in the Superior Spiderman comics. Okay, back to imposter Bible comics. What toy evokes childhood fun and innocence? Can you think of any toy better than Lego? Now, what if you see on the shelf a two volume hardcover titled "Lego Bible"? It uses Lego figurines to tell the Bible stories. It has obvious appeal right? Better or the same level as the Action Bible right? No.The Lego Bible is not what you think it is. It does not build up the Christian faith, it attempts to show how ridiculous and violent the Bible is.You have pictures of Lego figurines beheading other Lego figurines with blood spraying out of their necks. Supposedly the author wants to tell the Bible as it is but it is not. And if you pause just for a moment and read the reviews in Amazon, you will be horrified.In pointing out the Lego Bible's deceitful nature, I remind us that we should not take for granted the illustrators, storytellers and publishers who give us books, picture books, to read to our children that build their faith. Also, we must always be vigilant. Lego is not always a go. Villains do not always look like monsters.Physical Beats Electronic and Not Just For ChildrenCouple more things before I end the episode. I am reading the Logos version of the Action Bible, which is the cheapest of all the options. I said this in the beginning and I'll say it again, if you are standing in front of a bookshelf wondering whether to get this for children, get it. A paperback or hardcover comic is much better than an electronic version. Trust me. I have spent many years huddled with a comic, reading and re-reading it. I love it when I see my children reading although it is occasionally frustrating when we try to call them to dinner. "Wait mom, dad, I just want to finish this page."Don't get the electronic version. I don't know how it works in the Kindle or pdf versions but I can tell you that double page spreads don't work well in Logos. You are supposed to flip the page and be treated to a panoramic scene. You are not supposed to scroll down and figure out, "Oh... wait, this picture is cut off... oh this is the left page... cause when I scroll down, I get the right page... so all I got to do is merge the left page and the right page in my mind..." That doesn't give the same effect. I have said that comic book bibles have obvious appeal to their target readers. Children. Preteens. But it is also appealing to adults. Especially those who are new to the faith. We live in a society where we cannot assume people know who is Adam, Moses or David. They don't know the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Give a new believer a comic book and they will catch up as fast as Quicksilver. Get the main redemptive story right and every sermon and bible study will make sense. In conclusion, the Bible we hold so dear is a treasure, more precious than gold, more precious the first Action Comic. The Action Bible, is not the full Bible, but it introduces children and adults to our treasure, and we pray that it marks the beginning of many newcomers in their Christian journey.This is a Reading and Readers review of the Action Bible by Sergio Cariello. 832 pages, published by David C. Cook in September 2020. Available in hardcover for USD18.79 and in Kindle for USD9.99 in Amazon. It's available in September from Faithlife for the low, low, price of USD4.99. Do you want to feel like a superhero with a superpower for just one moment? Hit the subscribe button. You just don't know how much power you have on the future of this podcast. Hope you enjoyed listening to this book review as much as I enjoyed making it. Tell all your friends about Reading and Readers, the podcast where I review Christian books for you. Thank you for listening. Book List"Action Bible: God's Redemptive Story" by Sergio Cariello. Amazon. Faithlife.

The book of Ruth is a beautiful story centred on Naomi, Ruth and Boaz. We see God and God's people reflecting God, his kindness and redemptive work. If you want to dig deeper into the text, you need to keep listening. Hi, my name is Terence and I'm your host for Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. Today I review Ruth, a volume from the Anchor Yale Bible Commentary or AYBC for short, by Edward F. Campbell Jr. 188 pages, published by Yale University Press in May 2003. It's available in Amazon as a paperback for USD31.99, strangely there isn't a Kindle version. If you want an electronic version, you can head over to Logos, which is offering this book for free for September. I'm quite excited for today's review. This commentary on Ruth is the free book for September and I just concluded a sermon series on ... guess what... Ruth(!). In the month of August, there are four Sundays, four sermons for the four chapters in Ruth. My head is still living in the barley fields of Bethlehem. If you are a new listener, I just want to quickly say that while I try to spend equal time reviewing light and heavy books, my aim is to make sure you gain something out of the review, no matter where you come from. Whether or not, you are familiar with the book of Ruth or the technicalities of studying the Bible. There will be some technical terms ahead which is true for any field, whether it's photography or dress-making but don't let the photographers, dress-makers or theologians' technical talk detract you.Alright, with that, let's get to the book. The first thing to note is the Anchor Yale Commentary Series describes itself as:a project of international and interfaith scope in which Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish scholars from many countries contribute individual volumes. The project is not sponsored by any ecclesiastical organization and is not intended to reflect any particular theological doctrine. Unlike other commentaries, the AYBC is an interfaith project. You ask, "How useful can a commentary series be if there is no theological tradition to bring them together?" Surprisingly useful as you will hear. The book is divided into two main parts, the introduction and the commentary. In the introduction you will find among many things, a discussion on the genre of the book. Campbell says it's a novelle which implies the Ruth is fictional. He tells us about the original manuscripts related to Ruth. This tiny little four chapter book is not as simple as it seems. All these technical talk on the literature, history and theology can be very dry if not for the clarity and enthusiasm Campbell brings to this commentary.At one point, Campbell writes in spontaneous praise: I stand in awe of this author. He was a genius.And that he is in awe throughout the whole commentary. Look at how the author has structured the story. Look at how he uses word-play. Look at this amazing piece of literature! Campbell's genuine love for the subject, getting into the mind of the author, makes it easier for readers to overcome the technical hurdles along the way.Yet, you may not like how Campbell begins his book. And be tempted to close the book, not willing to read any further. Because Campbell who stands in awe of this genius, also thinks that the book of Ruth is not historical. In the introduction, he tells us how other scholars have tried to draw out earlier versions of Ruth. For example, one scholar suggests that initially the story only had Naomi. Ruth was added later. Another scholar says the story of Ruth came from a piece of poetry, "perhaps an old nursery tale". To me, this discussion is so bizarre because it's so speculative and I was relieved to read Campbell's conclusion that trying to trace the development of Ruth is a blind alley. However, in a subsection titled, "Historicity", Campbell says the better question is not whether it's historical but whether it's plausible. After affirming there is much historical accuracy in the book, he concludes: This in no way diminishes the judgment that the Ruth book contains a fictional story; it is simply a plausible one, and its information is a good guide to life and custom, and to realistic expectations about human living under the rule of God.And it is after this paragraph that he says, he stands in awe of the author. He was a genius. A genius not for the history that he recorded but for the story that he made up. I disagree with him. And I hope you do too. At the same time, I hope you will get this book, read it and use it as a resource. Campbell believes Ruth is not historical. I believe it is. So consider this: what does it mean if our starting position is different but our conclusions on some passages are the same? It could mean that these conclusions are not dependent on prior assumptions but stand alone based on the text itself. On the other hand, what does it mean if our conclusions are different? It could prompt us to study why we differ and how did we arrive at those conclusions. Everybody who reads a commentary should know this, but my repeating this is a good reminder for all. When we read a commentary we are joining a conversation with knowledgeable people. We are not going under an authority, in addition to Scripture. The big test is whether you can trace the steps to reach your favoured theological position without naming names. The introduction is surprisingly spicy, but we still have the main dish, which is the commentary. There are seven chapters in the commentary. Each chapter is divided into three sections: Translations, Notes and Comments. Campbell did his own translation of the original manuscript, which is different to other translations in some parts and he explains and defends his translation in the Notes. The Notes is where you get the fullness of his scholarship, he gets into the original manuscript, the Hebrew, the grammar and meaning and cites and engages with fellow scholars on these matters. If you don't know your Qumran and Syriac manuscripts, J and E narrative, masculine plural ending and reflexive Niphal form, then you can skip them and go to the Comments section. If you only read the Comments section, you will finish the book quite quickly and you will know what Campbell thinks of the book of Ruth. If you want to know how he substantiates them, just go to the Notes. If you are using this book as a reference, you are not reading this book cover to cover, then you can zoom into that word or verse and see what scholars are saying about it. I've given you a broad layout of the land, and now like Ruth, I'll go into the field, I will glean some fruit of the land and share them with you. Knowing What You Didn't KnowThe first thing I want to check in any commentary on Ruth is how does the commentary writer understand Naomi's complaint. Naomi has lost her husband and her two sons. She asks her two daughter-in-laws to leave her and return to their father's house. Ruth refuses to leave her and follows Naomi home. When the people in Bethlehem see her and call out, "Is that Naomi?", Naomi says in Ruth 1:20–21 (ESV): “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”Campbell's translation is more colourful:“Don’t call me ‘Sweet one,’ Call me ‘Bitter one.’ For Shadday has made me bitter indeed. I was full when I went away, But empty Yahweh has brought me back. Why call me ‘Sweet One’? For Yahweh has testified against me And Shadday has pronounced evil sentence on me.”Naomi says very strong words. How do you take it?Is Naomi wrong to say such things? Do we say she is speaking out of her grief and thus out of kindness we should not take her words seriously? Or do we say she is speaking clearly on who God is, there is Biblical truth here, and thus we must listen carefully to understand the believer's relationship to suffering.In his commentary, Campbell analyses the use of the Hebrew word return, how the Ruth story-teller understands God's activity and hesed kindness, and covenant, and the legal aspect of Naomi's complaint, which leads him to assert: ... not only is complaint tolerated by God, but it can even be the proper stance of a person who takes God seriously! Anyone who ascribes full sovereignty to a just and merciful God may expect to encounter the problem of theodicy, and to wrestle with that problem is no sin, even when it leads to an attempt to put God on trial. Petulant Jonah, earnest Jeremiah, persistent Job -- Naomi stands in their company.A commentary is helpful when you know what you don't know and you go to the relevant page to find the answer to your burning question. A commentary is especially enlightening when you don't know what you don't know. Not Knowing What You Didn't KnowDid you know that Ruth uses different words for servant? In chapter 2, when she responds to Boaz's kindness to her, for letting her glean in the field among many other kindnesses, she says "you have spoken kindly to your servant." The word for servant here is siphah. In chapter 3, when she comes to Boaz in the night to ask him to be her redeemer, she says, "Spread your wings over your servant." The word for servant here is amah. You couldn't tell this from the English translation. And there is probably nothing to Ruth's changing words for servant. Translators and commentators say the two words are synonymous, they carry the same meaning. But Campbell shares a fascinating bit of trivia: Over a century ago, a damaged inscription was found on a tomb facade nearly buried beneath a home in the village of Silwan, across the Kidron valley from the temple mount in Jerusalem.Campbell tell us that a scholar by the name of Avigad was the first to make sense of it. The inscription on the tomb reads: “This is [the sepulcher of …] yahu who is over the house. There is no silver and no gold here, but [his bones] and the bones of his ʾāmāh with him. Cursed be the man who will open this!” Avigad translated ʾāmāh here as “slave-wife.” Surely this is correct; it is more likely that the ʾāmāh was indeed a beloved slave-wife than that she was buried with her lord simply in order to serve him in the netherworld!Personally, I think this begs more questions than it answers but if there is a shift in meaning, there is an intentional suggestion of marriage from Ruth to Boaz, then Boaz is one of the few men who got the hint. This is an example of coming to this book, not knowing what you don't know, and profiting from the labours of scholars. They have done the hard work of digging up a tomb, translating the inscription, and connecting a word found there to what Ruth says to Boaz and adding flavour to the scene. All we do is just read and benefit. However, this is an inconsequential piece of trivia. It has no major impact to the big story one way or the other. Let me share the one part of the book that made me most uncomfortable. Let's Talk about SexAs I mentioned, Ruth went to Boaz at night to ask him to be a redeemer. The way she did it is not something pastors would tell young vulnerable single woman to do. She went to Boaz at the place where the men were working in the middle of the night, uncovered his feet and laid down by his feet. This is sufficiently scandalous. Campbell tells us there is more! He tells us that as the storyteller tells the story, Hebrew listeners will hear words with double meaning. For example, when a man lays with a woman, it can have two meanings in English and also in Hebrew. Ruth lay at Boaz's feet. Another word with double meaning is peculiar to the Hebrew that is "to know". For a man to know a woman can be to know her in an intimate manner. Naomi told Ruth to not make herself known to Boaz until he has finished eating and drinking. There are others which got me uncomfortable. For thousands of years, Ruth and Boaz have been examples of a chaste and pure relationship. Is Campbell telling us that's not true? He writes:Does this roster of double entendres mean that the story-teller is simply seeking to titillate his audience? Emphatically not. His intent is much more serious than that. Having led his audience to participate in the mystery and ambiguity of the scene, he obviously means to say that it is of extreme importance whether or not here at the threshing floor things will go forward according to what Israelite custom and Israelite ḥesed-living calls for. Thanks to Campbell, that passage is a lot more mysterious and ambiguous than before because he highlights the Hebrew words. So did they or didn't they? And thankfully, Campbell uses the Hebrew to set our hearts at ease.Once again, the story-teller signals us: the verb he uses is not “lie down,” that ambiguous term, but Hebrew lwn/lyn, “to lodge,” the same term Ruth had used in her avowal to Naomi in 1:16. No ambivalence here! This term is never used in the Hebrew Bible with any sexual undertone. The dark ambiguity gives way to the clarity of the kinds of human commitments which characterize this story. Now it becomes clear that both of these people are worthy, and will do things in righteous fashion.Imagine how complicated life would be if the storyteller had opted to say Ruth lay down with Boaz while waiting for the sun to rise. Or if Boaz to Ruth said, "Since we are here, let us get to know each other." Even if it was all innocent, the choice of words would compromise their reputation or give license for loose living. Round Up and Other RecommendationsSo just to round up, this commentary on Ruth from the Anchor Yale Bible Commentary Series is great to get into the Hebrew, grammar and literary aspect. I would use it as a reference but not as a main commentary. Call me old-fashioned or nit-picking, but I think it's important we both look at Ruth as a historical record rather than a fictional story, no matter how well-crafted the story may be. I used a bunch of commentaries for my sermon prep, including the New International Commentary on the Old Testament by Robert Hubbard, Jr., Tyndale's by Leon Morris and I've always enjoyed reading the Reformed Expository Commentary and for Ruth it's by Iain Duguid. But I want to make special mention for the one from the New Studies in Biblical Theology. The title is "Unceasing Kindness: A Biblical Theology of Ruth" by Peter H. W. Lau and Gregory Goswell. It's not a verse by verse commentary like the others but it helped me pay attention to God's kindness and hiddenness and Ruth's place in the canon.If a commentary on Ruth deserved a Razzie award for being the worst, I nominate the one from Berit Olam series by Tod Linafelt. Compare Linafelt against Campbell. Campbell, in the Anchor Yale commentary, said we should take the characters as the story-teller presents them and not see Ruth as a "scheming woman trying to butter up a vain old man." Linafelt, on the other hand, in the Berit Olam commentary, wrote this: Boaz the kindly and pious pillar of the community slips easily into a blustering paternalistic figure who is caught off guard by the surprisingly quick-thinking and mock-deferential Ruth. When Ruth appears next to Boaz in the middle of the night in chapter 3, he is clearly flustered, more than a little frightened, and acquiesces to her suggestions quite easily. I have little patience with Linafelt's creative and highly speculative analysis. So if you are going to study Ruth, get the New Studies in Biblical Theology one by Peter Lau and Gregory Goswell and stay away from the Berit Olam one by Linafelt, unless you are in the mood for alternate history novels. This is a Reading and Readers review of Ruth, from the Anchor Yale Bible Commentary | AYBC series by Edward F. Campbell Jr. 188 pages, published by Yale University Press in May 2003. Available in Amazon as a paperback for USD31.99 and free in Logos for September and only September. So if you want to listen to reviews on books that you never intend to read, subscribe to Reading and Readers, a podcast where I review Christian books for you. I read them so you don't have to. Joking aside, the books I review are not always so heavy, it's a 50-50 thing. So the next book, should hopefully, be a bit more light-hearted and fun. Maybe. Subscribe to find out. Thanks for listening. Book ListRuth (Anchor Yale Bible Commentary | AYBC) by Edward F. Campbell Jr. Amazon. Logos.Unceasing Kindness: A Biblical Theology of Ruth | NSBT by Peter Lau and Gregory Goswell. Amazon. Logos.