Stepping Heavenward

Be sure and check out my husband's new post below.

UPDATE: Don't take my word about how great this book is. Go here (Girl Talk Review) and here (my sweet friend's review).

For starters, Stepping Heavenward is a book for the ladies and this blog has more male readers/writers. :)

Stepping Heavenward is a historical fiction that is a quaint and wonderful read for women. Elizabeth Prentiss (author of the hymn, "More Love to Thee, O Christ") tells the story of one woman's life beginning with her first journal entry on her 16th birthday (1831). It takes you nearly to the woman's death through all of her journal entries. You will laugh. You will cry. :) The gal is feisty, reminding me of a Christian version of Anne in Anne of Green Gables. She struggles with controlling her thoughts, temper, moods, but you see her mature in inner beauty as she journeys through life from a single gal to courtship, from marriage to motherhood. The book is rich with theology and you especially catch a glimpse of a mother's heart for her husband and children through the most devastating of trials while keeping a firm faith in the steadfast promises of God. At times, she wrestles with assurance of salvation and you see a very honest depiction of her soul's turmoil. You learn some tips about mothering on the way. Readers will also feel as if they have been let in on valuable secrets that this mother shares from her wisdom towards the end of her journey looking back. "If only I had known this..." statements become your precious knowledge for the taking, except you got to learn from just reading about the trial instead of participating in it. Does that make sense?

I've heard that some gals don't like this book because the main character is so incredibly moody and up and down. I find it humorous and telling though, an honest expression of what many of us gals deal with in taming our wild emotions and passions as we grow in maturity, ever so slowly it seems.

There are many quotes I could share, but I will just choose one. This is one example of what you might read that provides insight or keen observation, although the entire book doesn't read this way. Some of it is just plain humorous.

"People ask me how it happens that my children are all so promptly obedient and so happy. As if it chanced that some parents have such children or chanced that some have not! I am afraid it is only too true, as someone has remarked, that 'this is the age of obedient parents!' What then will be the future of their children? How can they yield to God who have never been taught to yield to human authority?"

Elizabeth Elliot has a blurb on the back that also encourages men to read it who want to better understand the wives they live with. However, I know Dustin strives to understand me, but I'm doubting he'll be plopping down on the couch to read this book any time soon and that's fine with me (although I did read him several good quotes from it)! Enjoy, ladies. :)

The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C.S. Lewis

The Narnian by Alan Jacobs is, in Jacobs's own words, "almost a biography in the usual sense of the word." The 'almost' is important because the book isn't filled to the brim with dates and events, nor is it completely chronological. Rather, The Narnian details "the life of a mind, the story of an imagination." That story is one of the most fascinating things I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

Jacobs is, like myself, an admitted Lewis fan, but it does not come through in his writing as one might think it would. He does not portray Lewis as some sort of super-Christian, nor does he shy away from the unpleasant and undesirable details of Lewis's life. The picture Jacobs paints seems to be a well-rounded and balanced one (I use the phrase 'seems to be' because The Narnian is the only Lewis biography I have read).

I struggled with how to present the contents of the book in a way that did justice to all of Lewis's life and, in the end, decided it was impossible. How could I sum up a man's life in a few words? The task took Jacobs 314 pages, and he left out a great deal of information. Therefore, instead of trying to summarize the book, I am going to offer up a couple of its more interesting and thought provoking passages.

When asked to provide Macmillan with a biographical sketch of himself in 1944, Lewis wrote the following:

I was a younger son, and we lost my mother when I was a child. That meant very long days alone when my father was at work and my brother at boarding school. Alone in a big house full of books. I suppose that fixed my literary bent. I drew a lot, but soon began to write more. . . . I wrote the books I should have liked to read if only I could have got them. That's always been my reason for writing. People don't write the books I want, so I have to do it for myself. . . I loathed school. . . . I gave up Christianity at about fourteen. Came back to it when getting on for thirty. An almost purely philosophical conversion. I didn't want to. I'm not the religious type. I want to be left alone, to feel I'm my own master: but since the facts seemed to be the opposite I had to give in. My happiest hours are spent with three or four old friends in old clothes tramping together and putting up in small pubs---or else sitting up till the small hours in someone's college rooms talking nonsense, poetry, theology, metaphysics over beer, tea, and pipes. There's no sound I like more than adult male laughter. (p. xviii-xix)

And, in concluding a talk on apologetics, Lewis said:

I have found nothing is more dangerous to one's own faith than the work of an apologist. No doctrine of the faith seems to me so spectral, so unreal as one that I have just successfully defended in a public debate. For a moment, you see, it has seemed to rest on oneself: as a result, when you go away from that debate, it seems no stronger than that weak pillar. That is why we apologists take our lives in our hands and can be saved only by falling back continually from the web of our own arguments . . . into the Reality---from Christian apologetics into Christ Himself. [emphasis added] (p. 229)

Like I said earlier, the book was a fascinating read. I would recommend The Narnian to anyone interested in learning more about C. S. Lewis.

When the Kings Come Marching In

I have only read two of his books, but I like Richard Mouw. 'When the Kings Come Marching In: Isaiah and the New Jerusalem' is an interesting book. In it, Mouw basically walks the reader through Is. 60, which is filled with new earth imagery. He discusses the relevant data concerning the new heavens and new earth, and what bearing it has for us here and now, particularly as it pertains to culture. He shows the importance of culture, and our role in redeeming it. Heaven is one of the most misunderstood truths among evangelicals, which is crazy, considering the importance of it. This book is a joy to read and will help correct any Platonic notions of heaven that have influenced Christian doctrine.

----Quotes:

----"God intended from the beginning that human beings would 'fill the earth' with the processes, patterns, and products of cultural formation. And this intention has in no way been canceled by human sin. God will redeem and transform that which is presently perverted and distorted by human disobedience to his will." (11)

----If we think of the future life as a disembodied existence in an ethereal realm--which is not, I have suggested, our ultimate goal--then it is difficult to think of our present cultural affairs as in any sense a positive preparation for heavenly existence. but if we think of the future life in terms of inhabiting a Heavenly City, we have grounds for looking for some patterns of continuity between our present lives as people immersed in cultural contexts and the life to come. The Bible, I think, encourages us to think in these terms." (19)

----"Jesus shed his blood to rescue the creation from the curse of sin. And the cleansing blood of Christ must reach not only into the hearts and lives of individuals, but into every corner of the creation which the curse has affected." (110)

Total Truth by Nancy Pearcy, Part 1

world·view (wûrld'vyōō')
n. In both senses also called Weltanschauung.

1. The overall perspective from which one sees and interprets the world.
2. A collection of beliefs about life and the universe held by an individual or a group. (Dictionary.com)
   

Well, there is no easy way to do justice to the weight of this work by Nancy Pearcy. In fact, I'm gonna have to post in two parts. This post will consist of "What is This Book For?" and "My Recommendation." Part 2 will be the "Quotes" section and "Key Chapters and Summaries." So, let's move on.

This book is one of those books that you wish you could just memorize and have with you always ready to go. Unfortunately, the book is right under 400 pages and thus, the only real option is to just read all or parts of it again and again. After you read this you just want to walk into a secular university and go straight to the Dean of Philosophy's office and prove to them that they can't live out their worldview, and then leave. Okay, well, it at least makes you want to buy them a copy to read. Here's why:

What is This Book For?
Let's start with the title: Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From It's Cultural Captivity. The concept behind "Total Truth" is that the truths of Christianity are not to be contained as strictly private beliefs only to be kept for personal meaning and fulfillment. Instead, Christianity is itself a worldview that interprets all of reality. To put it another way, Christianity is a lens by which all areas of life (work, music, art, business, ethics, science, food, sex, math, etc.) are to be explained, namely, through the Biblical themes of Creation, Fall, and Redemption. Unfortunately, in the minds of unbelievers and believers alike, Christianity has become neutered to a secondary voice that only is sought for things like personal spiritual inspiration or a moral benediction for secular events. Even for Christians, Christian truth is not a starting point when it comes to life, it is the afterthought that follows what all the experts have found to be true in their secular study. To put it another way, for example, even the most committed Christian is educated in college under the assumption that he or she is learning science, business, art, or music under what is commonly accepted by all as the plain, unbiased facts of life that exist separate from any underlying worldview. The truth: There is no such thing as unbiased facts of life! Every so-called "fact" actually fits into larger worldview schemes that are all anti-Christian. Every Algebra I problem taught to the college freshman has an agenda attached to it, whether the professor is aware of it or not. (Either mathematics is the study of how a purposeless world has come to be ordered by chance, or a rational God subjected the universe to particular logical patterns that have come to be studied under the umbrella called "math.") Yet, the truth of the matter is, even computer programming can be seen in a Christian worldview through the lens of Creation, Fall, Redemption. Thus, it is the duty of the Christian to not reserve his or her belief in the Lord Jesus Christ for church or family, but to extend it as an overarching worldview that binds and interprets every facet of existence--Christianity is not just personal, spiritual, church, or family truth, it is total truth.

The idea of Liberating Christianity from It's Cultural Captivity simply means that in America, the secular mindset is that "science" rules the day. (In most cases, when people say "science" they usually really mean "scientism," which is more a philosophy than true science.) Whatever is not considered hard fact is really a non-necessity in terms of reality. Things such as values, morals, and religion are reduced to personal (un-scientific) wishes upon how things are or should be, and are stripped of their influence beyond the individual. Pearcy surveys world history to show how this fact/value dichotomy has solidified in our day. Christians are called to liberate Christianity from the realm of private knowledge and present it as the only consistent interpretation of reality.

Overall, Christianity is a worldview that interprets all worldviews. There is only one true interpretation of reality, and that is the one that is in accord with God's revelation found in Scripture. Only God's revelation to us explains life as it is, and any worldview that is contrary will always be guilty of inconsistencies and contradictions. Only the Christian worldview, interpreting the world through the lens of Creation, Fall, and Redemption, can make sense of all the facts found in the universe. The Darwinist cannot live out their worldview. The Nihilist cannot live out their worldview. The Hindu cannot live out their worldview. And on and on.

Pearcy, drawing heavily on Francis Schaeffer and presuppositional apologetics, discusses the current cultural issues such as the ubiquity and influence of Darwinism, the influence of feminism, and the anti-intellectualism of evangelicalism, and traces through history how we came to be where we are with Christianity embedded deeply in it's cultural captivity. Pearcy's strategy is to equip Christians to take a Christian worldview into the public sphere, presenting it as objective (total) truth, and using it to show how other worldviews are inconsistent and are thus, self-defeating. Dang.

My Recommendation
This book is a beast. I probably would only recommend it to those who already have a grasp on some basic Christian history, philosophy, and worldview discussion and terminology. I have somewhat of a decent grasp on these issues and it still required me to have an alert mind. Although Pearcy is a great writer, and she is careful to be understood by not being overly academic, the various discussions require detailed development and are thus complex. I feel confident that the average person can stay with her for the whole 400 pages, but the moment you check out mentally is the moment you will get buried--there can be no skimming or reading late at night. The average chapter is about 25 pages, but it took me about an hour or more to read each. However, I would recommend that if any feel the need to identify and combat the secular "isms" of the day with a Christian worldview--which is speedily becoming a pressing need for all Christians--then this is a book to read at some point. Don't let size intimidate you.

Next episode:
Quotes
Key Chapters and Summaries


Till then, cultivate a Christian worldview.
Peace.

Plowing in Hope

Due to time, this won't be much of a review. David Hegeman has written an interesting book called 'Plowing in Hope: Toward a Biblical Theology of Culture.' Noting that the Bible begins with a garden and ends with a city, Hegeman walks through the Scripture showing the importance of culture, and our role in it. It is his prayer that " this book will help the bride of Jesus Christ recover her vital call to rule, fill, work, and preserve the earth as a high and indispensable priority. Culture-making is not optional; it is a command which from the very beginning has never been revoked" (23). This book is helpful for anyone desiring to know what the Scripture says concerning culture.

----Quotes:

----This is the goal of the culturative enterprise. We rule as vice-regents of the Creator, bringing the whole earth under human subjection so that we in turn may present the creation to God. Our rule of the earth has its ultimate fulfillment in Christ's perfect rule." 43

----"We are redeemed so that we may work! The human race is brought back to a state of righteousness so that we might return to our Edenic calling to develop ('work') the earth into a glorious garden-city and finally take possession of our long-awaited inheritance." 71

Coming Soon:

This bad boy (or, really, girl) is where I've been the past week and a half. It'll be up by Wednesday for sure, maybe sooner! It's a bruiser: 396 pages of text and I've got only about 100 pages left. (But, with marginal notes and underlining it takes me about an hour to read 20 pages!)

See you then.
Peace.

Creation Regained

Creation Regained: Biblical Basics for a Reformational Worldview (143 pp & first published in 85') is a great intro to worldview studies, and in particular Neo-Calvinism (Kuyper et al). It is a great read. I would recommend reading this one, then beelinin' it to Pearcey's book, which Plevan will review this summer, hopefully! Most Christians are ignorant of the fact that Scripture calls us to commitment to Christ in more aspects than our private faith. Christ's Lordship is much more comprehensive than your thirty minutes before work. As Kuyper famously put it, there is not a square inch of planet Earth over which Christ does not say, Mine! This has implications for how we live our life, how we engage culture, how we work, and how we think about virtually everything.

----Here are the contents:

I. What is a Worldview

II. Creation

III. Fall

IV. Redemption

V. Discerning Structure and Direction

Conclusion

Post-Script: Worldview between Story and Mission

----Wolters lays out the basic biblical worldview, examining creation, fall, and redemption. In the chapter on Redemption, there is a section called 'Salvation as Restoration' which is worth the price of the book! Christ comes as the Last Adam to restore our humanity and return us to the original state, the way it was supposed to be. The new humanity is to be about renewal. We are to renew and reform all aspects of life in obedience to Christ (societal, cultural, political, and personal). In chapter 5, Wolters analyzes the following themes as test cases on how to apply our worldview: aggression, spiritual gits, sexuality, and dance.

----The Post-Script was written by Michael Goheen, and was excellent. It was basically a chapter on Biblical Theology and Mission, following the missional ecclesiology of Newbigin. We are in the era of witness, between the two comings. In the overlapping of the ages, the new humanity is to be about being Christ's ambassadors. In many ways, this chapter is this book, chopped down to 24 pages. I highly recommend this one to all believers.

Answering the Call

This book will make a pro-choice person become both pro-choice and pro-active. It will challenge a pastor and His church to become more active in the pro-life movement, and shame those who overlook abortion as just another issue instead of murder. About three weeks ago I helped my dad on a little demolition job (construction) for a Crisis Pregnancy Center that was beginning in Leander, Tx. That experience, plus recently listening to some Piper sermons on abortion have raised my interest level quite a bit. Piper highly recommends this book and you can purchase it on Amazon.com for $0.01. That's right, a penny. In "Answering the Call: Saving Innocent Lives, One Woman at a Time" John Ensor does an amazing job portraying the Church's need to get involved in saving the innocent lives and speaking out for those who cannot speak for themselves(Prove. 3:18). Obviously we are taking about babies who may be aborted. The parents of these babies are our neighbors and we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Ensor does an amazing job portraying God's love for the innocent, especially innocent children, God's call on believers to act in love and cherish and defend life since God is the author, giver and creator of life. Ensor says that to remain quiet on the subject of abortion is to condone it and further condemn those who are under the guilt of previous abortions. With a message of hope, that God will forgive all whom come to Him, Ensor displays that abortion is the greatest moral evil of our time and that it must be confronted by the church. The scriptural mandate for protection of pre-born babies is clear and Ensor lays it out beautifully. He also gives the historical background of God's people constantly fighting for the lives of the innocent who cannot speak for themselves. There is truly nothing new under the sun, abortion, infanticide, exposure and abandonment have existed since sin plagued the world. And God's people, who are faithful to Him and His word, have always rigorously opposed it. ATC also gives a vast amount of resources for those interested in possibly starting their own Pregnancy Crisis Center or for those who just want to volunteer their time and serrvices. The affects of this book will no doubt prod me towards activity in the pro-life war on abortion, it will enhance the ministry of a church that I am serving in the future, and it currently gives me great pain and empathy for those who have had an abortion and a desire to offer them a message of hope.

One Quote - this quote comes from the chapter that demonstrates abortions remarkable parallel to the war against slavery:

"If we follow the law of love, one day, as a nation, we will look back on abortion the way we currently look back on slavery. As we courageously speak up and wisely direct God's people toward compassionate intervention, we should go forward recalling the timeless words of William Wilberforce: Never, never will we desist till we...extinguish every trace of this bloody traffic, of which our posterity, looking back to the history of these enlightened times, will scarce believe that it has been suffered to exist so long a disgrace and dishonor to this country (pg. 116)"

Read this book. Read it while you are alone so that if you do get emotional, your heart will be fully affected by the grotesqueness of abortion. I am shamed at my former lack of interest and flat out ignorance.

The Book on Leadership

The Book on Leadership by John MacArthur was a solid read. I had to get past the title of the book because it seemed a little over the top. I could just see some guy who hates MacArthur holding up a bible and saying, "Excuse me, but I think THIS is the book on leadership!!" But other than that, it was amazing.
The entire book is a character study of Paul with insights into other biblical characters as opportunity presented itself. The book is split into 4 sections.
1) Paul in Chains: Leadership in Action
2) Paul in Corinth: Leadership Under Fire
3) An Approved Workman: Leadership Held to a Biblical Standard
4) Epilogue

1) "Paul in Chains" is a look at Paul's trip to Ceasarea from Rome because of Paul's appeal to Ceasar (Acts 27). This shows how Paul rose to a position of leadership from his imprisoned state at the bottom of the ship, rowing with other slaves and prisoners. Throughout all the trials he endured and the shipwreck, Paul proved himself to be a leader.
2) "Paul in Corinth" is a look at how Paul served the Corinthians and cared for them in the midst of their doubting his apostleship under the guidance of false prophets. This demonstrated a leaders ability to be gentle or firm depending on the circumstances and what they require.
3) "An Approved Workman" demonstrates that the chief attributes needed in a leader are discipline, self-control and integrity (all of those are interdependent on one another). This was my favorite part of the entire book. More on that later.
4) "Epilogue" puts forth the different people that will be in a leaders life. Some will come alongside to serve, some will come alongside to learn and be equipped, then be sent out, and some will betray you after you have poured into their lives.

Chapter 10, "How Not to be Disqualified" was by far my favorite chapter. It spoke of self-discipline and training your body. I felt like I was sitting in a room with John Macarthur as I read this chapter. He gave some practical helps for self discipline and I will share those with ya.
-Get organized - organize everything from your desk to your time throughout the day. Make a plan and follow it.
-Use time wisely - Simply put, a leader doesn't waste time. "See then that you walk circumspectantly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Eph. 5:15-16
-Find ways to be edified rather than merely entertained - "Devote yourself specially in your leisure time to to the task of cultivating humility, repentance, holiness, and fear of God."
-Pay attention to small things - don't overlook what seem like mundane tasks. See it and get it done.
-Accept extra responsibility - in other words, don't hesitate to volunteer if something needs to be done.
-Once you start something, finish it
-Keep your commitments
-Tell yourself no from time to time - "Gain control of your own appetites by denying yourself pleasures you are otherwise entitled to (ice-cream anyone?)

This book has shaped the way I view life; no kidding. Mac is sweetly pastoral as he writes this and I immensely enjoyed it. I found myself recognizing the values mentioned throughout the book in many other people, including myself (not prideful, just identifying what gifts the Lord has given me). One of the things that really hit home was the need for a leader to recognize that he is a leader and that he has been called. If you aren't confident in your calling from God and in your role as a leader, you will never fulfill what you are called to.

I absolutely loved the way that MacArthur pulled all of the leadership qualities directly from the life of Paul. I feel like I know Paul better, the New Testament better, and I feel like I am more equipped to be a leader in a church after reading this book. This book really enables you to get into the life of Paul. You can almost feel his pain and understand what he was going through. Mac really helps by filling in the gaps of Paul's life that the NT doesn't contain. It is truly an engaging book and of course it is saturated with scripture. As you read, you know that you are learning from the life of MacArthur, and all that he has endured as a leader and a pastor. If you think that the Lord is calling you to a leadership position anywhere in life, this book is for you.

Reasons (for Faith)

K. Scott Oliphint's book 'Reasons (for Faith): Philosophy in the Service of Theology' (363 pp) is a difficult read. That and the fact that Scott is unaware that I don't know Latin, are my only two negatives.

--The book is broken up into 4 Parts and 16 chapters:

1. Introduction and Survey

2. Epistemology

3. Metaphysics

4. Implication and Application

--This is basically an addition to philosophy of religion. It serves as an 'offensive' apologetic, laying out the philosophy the Bible presents. This being the case, it is close to theology, but Oliphint is very conversant with the major philosophers. In the preface he writes, "Thus my goals are (1) to set forth a theological structure, for epistemology and metaphysics, that shows the relevance of Reformed thought, centrally set forth in Van Til's works, to current discussions in philosophy and philosophy of religion (natural theology); (2) to demonstrate that Reformed though has already broached virtually every discussion now in play in philosophy of religion; and (3) to interact with (at least some of) the main proponents in philosophy of religion.

--What was great about this book is that Oliphint is not your normal philosopher of religion. He is first and foremost a Reformed theologian. Scripture, not reason, is his ultimate commitment. Philosophy is the handmaid to Theology. Reason is ministerial, not magisterial (following Turretin). He argues for a dual metaphysic (creature/Creator), and a covenantal epistemology (Revelation). Parts of this book are tough to wade through. Maybe I should take some philosophy electives and come back to this one in a few years.

Looking At Philosophy

Donald Palmer's book 'Looking At Philosophy: The Unbearable Heaviness of Philosophy Made Lighter' (402 pp) is a very helpful intro to the history of Western thought. This book is hard to review because of its comprehensive scope. The author has a good sense of humor, which makes the book easy to get through. He is a good teacher, making some of the somewhat abstract ideas in philosophy understandable, while not dumbing it down too much. This book is filled with drawings to help illustrate (usually in a very sarcastic manner) the truths being taught. The only downside is that Palmer is pretty antagonistic towards Christianity. Instead of a review, I would just commend the study of philosophy (and theology) to all, but pastors in particular. Those practically minded who chide the abstract-minded should be careful that they don't cut the very rope they are walking on. Ideas have consequences. Just as theology informs methodology, so theory informs practice. While the average person in the pew may have never read Derrida, Foucault, or Rorty, they do watch shows such as Oprah and are much more influenced by these thinkers than they realize. It is good to be aware of where ideas come from.

Relationships: A Mess Worth Making

Last night (Wed), I finished this book and was sort of sad that it came to an end. Let me tell you why:

What is this Book For?

This book is a great reminder that all relationships, ranging from co-worker to spouse, are God-ordained and used by the Lord to bring out in us His perfect will for our hearts and character. Let me discuss this by using the book's very own subtitle:

A Mess

We all struggle with relationships. Whether it be a relationship with a roommate or with a boss. The reason why we struggle with relationships is 1) we are sinners, and 2) other people are sinners. There is no such thing as a perfectly sanctified relationship--and if we actually have something close to one, it's probably because it is only superficial. The best relationships are those that get past trivial acquaintance and stir up who we really are (marriage, anyone?). At some point we all wish someone thought, acted, or lived like us; we tend to be the center of all our relationships. Because we all naturally drift toward our own interests in our relationships we often find ourselves in conflict with people over idiosyncrasies (small peculiarities that tend to annoy us) and things that would promote our own comforts, preferences, and schedules. Yeah. A show of hands, anyone? The worst thing about relationships, they are not an option! Thus, the next point. (You can put your hand down now.)

Worth Making

The best and worst thing about relationships: God designed us to live our lives in community! Relationships are not something we can throw away without doing damage to who we were created to be. To resist relationships is to become subhuman. So, in the great sovereignty of God, He has ordained all of our relationships to reveal who we are so that we can identify the areas in our character that need the most work. To put it another way, superficial acquaintances are not really that helpful when it comes to character development. The problem: We all tend to go after the easy-to-manage, low stress, relationships with people who are like minded and similarly gifted. Show of hands? By doing this we retard our sanctification. Relationships are a mess worth making because through relationships we are trained to become less self centered and more Christ-like. The application: 1) Understand that any meaningful relationship is going to take work, 2) intentionally go after hard relationships, and 3) be thankful for the [God-ordained] annoying people at work, the spouse who you love but just can't seem to keep peace with, the boss who is egotistical, the parent who wants to run your married life, the sibling who is grown but still acts like a teenager, etc. God is sovereign. You can only see your relationships in this way if you are a Calvinist...or close to being one... ;)

Quotes

"We would prefer that God would just change the relationship, but he won't be content until the relationship changes us too. This is how God created relationships to function. What happens in the messiness of relationships is that our hearts are revealed, our weaknesses are exposed, and we start coming to the end of ourselves. Only when this happens do we reach out for the help that God alone can provide" (12).

"You can't take the Gospel seriously and not take your relationships seriously" (45).

"God chooses to surround us with people who are different from us because he knows it will promote his purpose" (47).

"Each of us has tried to be the Holy Spirit in another person's life, trying to work spiritual changes that only God can accomplish" (54).

"What do you think God typically uses to regain our affection? Ironically, he uses other people! That is one of the blessings of conflict. He uses the difficult seasons in our relationships to allow us to see what we typically live for besides him" (84).

In reference to serving those with whom we have difficult relationships:

"If our relationships are going to produce Christlike character in us and if Christian community is going to flourish, it is going to take lots of people who relish being demoted in the eyes of the world."

Criticism

The only criticism I have is that there were many missed opportunities to use scripture in support of a statement or idea. Overall, this book is great! However, there was not one verse from Proverbs quoted, and there were many places that one could have been used.

My Recommendation

This will be a book that I refer back to again and again. I think it is a must read for ministers who will find that church is one big heap of people with relationship problems. I think the average person will see themselves in what is described. The authors use great examples, and they do so a lot (this is probably the greatest strength). Readable. Enjoyable. Practical.



Thoughts? Comments? Concerns?

(You can put your hands down now.)
Peace.

The Church - One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic

The Church - One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic by Richard D. Phillips, Philip G. Ryken, and Mark E. Dever was a great read. The book itself was derived from sermons given at the Philadelphia Conference on Reformation Theology, in April 2003. It is based on the 4 adjectives used to describe the church in the Nicene Creed (AD 381). It is a short book (145) but very enjoyabel and encouraging to read if you see a future in the church. This blog is really long so if you are not up to reading it, at least read the quote at the end.

Richard D. Phillips starts of the book with an explanation of Matt. 16:13-20. His overall thrust is that Christ is going to build His church on the profession of the word concerning Himself (Gospel), and no matter what the gates of hell will not prevail against her. The word concerning Christ is explained to be found in the word of God alone, based on the apostolic description of who Christ is and the message concerning Him. Then Richard does a wonderful job esplaining that the church will sometimes be defensive it it's efforts to keep the gates of hell from prevailing against it; but at other times, the church will be offensive in their efforts to keep the gates of hell from prevailing (2 Cor. 10:3-6).

Chapter 2, "One Church" by Richard D. Phillips, was extremely encouraging. It was an appeal to the realization that the Church is ONE (Eph. 4:1-6). We are unified in Christ to the fullest extent that we could ever realize; we are ONE. Whether you are a methodist, baptist, any denomination; if you stand firmly upon the Christ we know from the scriptures and believe in His work, than you are a member of the one true church. In doing this, he shows that denominations are not such a bad thing; in fact, they are a good thing. Denominations don't compromise the unity of the church because the church is one. Rather, denominations allow people to stand firm in their doctrinal beliefs, worshiping with likeminded brethren, without the constant arguments about non-salvific doctrinal viewpoints. Throughout the chapter Phillips described the boundaries that we must set in order to discern Christian unity. The gospel is the key here. You must maintain an orthodox view of the gospel if you want to be in the one true Church. Any other docrine that is disagreed upon is not one to break unity. Denominations do good things to define who people are in the one true church.

Chapter 3, "A Holy Church" by Philip G. Ryken, was an insightful look at the righteousness of Christ credited to the Church as a whole. She is Holy in the sight of God because He views her through the lens of Christ. BUT, if you look around at the church today, you don't see a holy church. This is another example of the already, not yet tension that is evident elswhere in the Word of God. Ryken takes a good look at 1 Cor. 6:11 "washed, sanctified, justified." As a church we were one thing and now we are another. The emphasis was on the fact that this holiness comes by faith through grace, right now it is a process, but in the future we will be glorified with Christ. This left me with hope. As a preacher in the make, I know I will need to think on this often as I try to shepherd a flock of God toward pastures of holiness.

Chapter 4, "A Catholic Church" by Mark. E. Dever, introduced the most thought provoking information in the entire book (Gal.3:26-29) This use of the word "catholic" has to denominational strings attatched to it. In the context of the Nicene Creed the word "Catholic" meant whole, entire, complete, general, universal. So the church's catholicity means that the church is not confined to any one place, time or people. Dever does a great job giving the historical background of the word "catholic." Historically the term "catholic church" developed a grew to mean several things. The "Catholic Church" originally meant that it extends to every land and people regardless of class or race. It then developed to mean what we would call "orthodox" today. It was a term used for exclusion and definition of the true church; like "evangelical" and "cult" today. Ultimately it means that the church extends through all time to all people who stand upon the true Christ of the scriptures.
With an exegetical look at Gal. 3:26-29, Dever shows that the Catholicity of the church helps us combat 4 things. 1) Contra Provincialism (narrow mindedness). This is referring to the phrase you hear so often, "but we've always done it that way." Maybe so, but that doesn't mean that we must do it that way or that your way is the most biblical. We must have a comprehensive view of the church throughout all time to examine how we are to conduct ourselves in the present age. 2) Contra Sectarianism - denominations and distinctives should never become ultimate. 3) Contra Racism - every person regardless of race or heritage is welcome to the church. 4) Contra Churches becoming Parachurches - This argues against churches becoming consumed with one focus group (college kids, elderly, widows or orphans), and calls for a balanced approach to ministry, evengelizing all people regardless of distinctions.
"The Church's catholicity is rooted in and bounded by the gospel's catholicity. Anytime, anywhere, anyone can be forgiven his or her sins by faith alone in the one and only Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ. That is the true catholic doctrine of the true catholic church(pg. 92)."

Chapter 5, "An Apostolic Church" by Philip G. Ryken, was an appeal to the five sola's of the reformation. He defended all five sola's from the apostolic teaching arguing that this is what the apostles taught and that we should continue to teach them today. The apostolic teachings of the church can be summed by saying that the church comes into existence by grace through faith in Christ alone, understood from the scriptures alone, for the glory of God alone. Ryken also showed that the apostolic teachings are the foundation for the church today. But Christ is the conerstone; even more important than the foundation because it keeps the foundation square. So the apostles were commisioned by Christ, Christ sent His Helper (Holy Spirit) to lead the Apostles into all truth, which the Church is built upon.

Chapter 6, "Christ and His Church" by Richard D. Phillips. Ahhhh, this was a good chapter. An exegetical look at Eph. 1:20-23 that gives great hope and satisfaction. First, with a view to Christ's exaltion to the right hand of God which displays God's satisfaction with Christ's work; we know that Christ is exalted in dignity and dominion. He reigns at His Father's right hand, far above all rule and authority. Secondly, Christ is exalted for the church, His body. Christ, who rules at the Father's right hand, does not rule over us, but in us. And Christ who is greatly exalted is given to us as a gift. And what a gift that is!!! Third, the Church as the fullness of Christ. " There cannot be a Redeemer without a redeemed, a Shepherd without sheep, a Bridegroom without a bride, a living Head without a body. He is her fullness as the Lord of life and grace; she is His fullness since by means of the glory He has put upon her He will hereafter be magnified (A.W. Pink, pg. 130)." Fourthly, God cares about the beauty of His bride, and will promote holiness in her and preserve her till the end.

This book offers a good foundation for understanding the Church, where she came from and where she is going. At first I was a bit worried that this book would focus on the creed more than the scriptures but I was wrong. Each chapter had an exegetical view of the Nicene creed as well as a historical view. This book is extremely balance and offers a wonderful explanation of the essentials for Christ's church.

I'll leave you with one loooong quote:
"There is therefore no greater privelege than membership in the church. There is no greater calling than the Christian's calling to offer his gift's and talents, time and money to the work of the church. A Christian who gives all his energy to his job, or uses his or her talents only for personal gain, or spends his money all on himself, neglecting the the work of the church, which will last forever, is simply a fool. Such a person does not recognize that the church is the body, the temple, the bride of Him who is exalted on high. In the end it is what Christ has done through the church that will matter most, will most shine in glory, and will have been most worth the offering of our lives. Therefore a Christian who is not involved in a church's ministry, who does not pray regularly for the work of the church, who is taking but never giving to the church, should seriously ask if he really understands what this life is all about, if she really sees this Christ who is exalted, and if so, what kind of response is appropriate to that faith. (Phillips, pg. 128-9)"

Preaching and Biblical Theology

Ed Clowney's book 'Preaching and Biblical Theology' is a classic. It was first published in 1961. Clowney recently passed away (2005) and was Professor Emeritus of Practical Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, where he served for 30 years, 16 of them having been as president. Clowney unashamedly stands on the shoulders of Geerhardus Vos, writing, "The preacher who takes up Vos's Biblical Theology for the first time enters a rich new world, a world which lifts up his heart because he is a preacher. Biblical Theology, truly conceived, is a labor of worship" (18-19). Here is the Table of Contents:

I. What is Biblical Theology?

II. Biblical Theology and the Authority of Preaching

III. Biblical Theology and the Character of Preaching

IV. Biblical Theology and the Content of Preaching

Chapter 1 lays out what Biblical Theology is, isn't and what it involves. Chapter 2 interacts with Dodd, Bultmann, and Barth, and sets forth a brief theology of Scripture. Chapter 3 is about the importance of Biblical Theology, and noting the time and place in which we preach. This section has some good insights on preaching to edify and evangelize.

Clowney has a high view of Scripture, and a high view of preaching, writing, "It is an act of worship. Our preaching often lacks the punctuation of the exclamation point of praise. Unlike the Scriptures, our sermons are so centered on men that they neglect to bless God. The doxologies that burst from Paul in the midst o his expositions never trouble our placid pools of prose (73). . . . Most important of all, biblical theology serves to center preaching on its essential message: Jesus Christ. . . . He who would preach the Word must preach Christ" (74). He also has some helpful exhortations on the usefulness of preaching moralistically from the OT (cf. James 5.11, 5.17, 1 Cor 10.11). He closes the chapter with some examples from OT biblical texts.

He finishes the book focusing on the text in its historical period and broader biblical-theological context, the text in God's total revelation, and some points about symbolism, typology, and several examples.

Overall this is a good book for preachers, although it is a bit outdated. Dennis Johnson's new one, may serve the same end, but may be a better resource. Also see Clowney's 'Preaching Christ in All of Scripture' which is a book of redemptive-historical sermons.

Quotes:

"On all sides it is recognized that any who would take the New Testament seriously must be confronted by eschatology. . . . Preaching that has lost urgency and passion reveals a loss of the eschatological perspective of the New Testament. . . . He is not aware that he ministers in the time of the ascended Christ, the time of the fulfillment of all the prophets in his saving rule" (67).

"Once the necessity and the fruitfulness of the method is recognized, however, no worthy workman in the Word can refuse the effort it requires. He is called as a scribe of the kingdom to bring forth treasures new and old, and any labor that issues in a fuller preaching of Christ has its reward" (112)

"Yes, to Jesus we come, for with richness of figurative language, wealth of ethical insight, and depth of redemptive-historical grasp we are brought by the Scriptures to Jesus. God spoke in diverse manners has spoken in a Son. What focus in brought to our preaching in this approach" (121).

The God Pleaser

It has been interesting talking to people about what I learned from Priolo's book. More people seem to struggle with this than I thought. However, there are those of us who have such a deep-rooted addiction to fear of man, worrying about the rejection of friends, how we appear, what others think, pleasing people that our perspectives are sorely out of whack. This book is for us. I think that, for the most part, this sin starts out quite innocently (James 1:14-15). Approval addicts start off with love for God that leads to love for man. So, they love people. They love the Great Commission. They love their family and friends. They love their co-workers and the lost. However, if they get headed down the dangerous slippery slope of pleasing people inordinately (beyond or against the commands of Scripture) this is where danger begins. This is a danger to avoid for pastors, moms, dads, friends, siblings, employees, PEOPLE!!

Part 2 of Priolo's timely book provides Bible-saturated hope, strategies, put off-put on principles, etc. Furthermore, he contrasts the God pleaser and how he thinks, lives, reacts to the life of the man pleaser.

He begins the last half with a beautiful Gospel presenetation. Apart from being a Christian, you can NOT please God. I recommend that chapter to any and all who keep trying to be good and please God in their own strength. From there, Priolo walks the readers through a change of mind that must occur. Your desire, the aim of your life, must be to please God (including the God-given commands to please people) and glorify Him.

Priolo gives tons of advice for people pleasers. This includes studying Scriptures carefully to understand exactly what it takes to please God.

Unlike the people-pleaser, who spends his time studying the interests, aversions, words, inflections, and body language of people, this man invests his time studying those things that please God. This means that he spends plenty of time in the Word and plenty of time getting the Word into his heart.

Sanctifying this inner man, who no one but the Lord sees, is the ambition of the God-fearing Christian.

He provides several lists of thoughts or motives the People-Pleaser has compared to the thoughts of a God-Pleaser in various situations.
I'll give a few examples.
People Pleaser - "Will I embarass myself?"/God Pleaser - "Will I sin against God?"
People Pleaser - "Am I as _____ as she?"/God Pleaser - "Am I as godly as Christ?"
People Pleaser - "I wonder what he'll think of me."/God Pleaser - "I wonder what his needs are."
People Pleaser - "I've got to learn how to stop putting my foot in my mouth."/God Pleaser - "What is it in my heart that tempts me to say such foolish things?" and "What can I say that will edify others or bring glory to God?"

(The God Pleaser) doesn't allow the thought of unpleasant consequences to keep him or paralyze him from loving God and loving others.

At the end of the book, Priolo offers a worksheet dubbed "The Heart Journal" which basically helps you if you recognize a people-pleasing thought you have. You walk through 5 questions about it that probe at the real issues, what the Bible says about that sin, and how to handle the temptation next time.

Ironically, Challies was reading this book at the same time I was and has 2 great posts on it here and here. He even posts a great chart from the book!

Priolo devotes an entire chapter (Ch. 10 - What Are You Wearing?) to clothing yourself with humility, since the love of man's approval is rooted in the sin of pride.

I loved the steps and example conversation he gave in this chapter for seeking forgiveness biblically. This is so important in any relationship and the whole book is worth getting for this, found on pg. 173.

He also provides specific ways to esteem others better than yourself.

This book biblically covers issues such as your conscience, daily warlike mentality with sin, leaving your reputation to God, getting your priorities straight, trials, overvaluing friendships, etc.

I just want to leave you with a few of my favorite quotes.

Behind closed doors, he worships God, thanking Him for who He is and for all He has done. He confesses his sin to God, and repents of it. He agonizes in intercessory prayer. He gives of his money and material possessions in secret (if not anonymously). When he fasts, he does so in such a way that no one will know what he's up to. He prepares his heart for worship before he goes to church. He reads and studies the Bible regularly. He meditates on Scripture. He cooperates with the Holy Spirit in the sanctification process. He cares for his soul and for the souls of those for whom he is responsible. And if anyone tries to pressure him into additional public service, he will not accept it if, in his heart, he knows it will keep him from fulfilling his private obligations. Moreover, he behaves in an upright way when he is in his own home. His attitude is, 'I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart' (Ps. 101:2b). He flees temptation, resists the devil, and controls his temper and his appetites when no one is around just as he does when people are looking.

By keeping your heart filled with thanksgiving and your mind focused on worshipping God, you will gradually weaken the grip that people-pleasing has on you.

And finally... a helpful quote for a danger of people pleasing I hadn't considered lately. This one may be good for church leaders to keep in mind...

Another danger of overvaluing friendships has to do with doctrinal purity. Our churches are full of cowardly Christians who will not objectively study the Scriptures because they are afraid they might change their views and consequently face rejection from their family, friends, and church leaders.

I didn't know where to start and I don't know where to end. Just trust me. It's been really helpful so far. Now, by God's grace, the application begins... I definitely recommend it. If it isn't too stereotypical, I want to especially recommend this to the ladies. We are so relational. That is good. But we worry, fear, apologize, fret, compare, gossip, don't we? Much of that is rooted in THIS sin making THIS a very helpful tool either for ourselves or as a counseling resource.

N.T. Wright: The Challenge of Jesus

[We'll, it's been a while since I've posted a review. I've been lapped by Blake now like 5 times. I'll catch him though. I've had other things on my plate. Nevertheless...]

Let's start with a quote or two from this book, with more to come.:

"If we really believe in any sense in the incarnation of the Word, we are bound to take seriously the flesh that the Word became. And since that flesh was first-century Jewish flesh, we should rejoice in any and every advance in our understanding of first-century Judaism and seek to apply those insights to our reading of the Gospels" (26).

And,

"It takes certain courage, of course, to be prepared to read familiar texts in new ways. It is abundantly worth it. What you lose in terms of your regular readings will be more than made up for in what you will gain" (28).

What Is This Book For?

To combat people's fear of the historical Jesus. Because of the Jesus Seminar, The DaVinci Code, and various secular television documentaries and "discoveries" all having to do with "the Historical Jesus," many Christians are for the most part suspicious, intimidated, and down right scared of looking into to past to discover what Jesus might have actually been like. N.T. Wright submits, as in the above quote, that Christians have nothing to fear about good historical investigation that is faithful to Scripture, but everything to embrace.

This book is a succinct, very clear and readable exploration into the Jewish first-century in which Jesus ministry took place. The thing about such succinct, very clear and readable exploration: It almost changes everything about the way we view Jesus and His words as recored in the Gospels! (This, of course, is what makes people get clammy.) By "changes everything" I don't mean that it changes orthodoxy--it just changes everything but orthodoxy (save, well, justification and how to be saved and all). For the most part, Jesus lived and spoke a little over 2000 years ago. For many this gargantuan time gap makes no difference and the narratives about Jesus are still interpreted as if Jesus was an American and thought and spoke in our contemporary 21st century, western English culture. When we are able to piece together what 1st-century Judaism was like, along with and especially the expectations that the Jews had of the Messiah and the kingdom of God, Jesus' work and ministry take on a much deeper meaning than "believe in Me so in the afterlife you go to heaven and not hell."

In this book one gets a different, deeper, more historical spin on most of the major works and sayings of Jesus: His call to repent, His parables, His miracles, His cleansing of the Temple, His self awareness as God, His death, His resurrection, and His on going work through the Holy Spirit--so, pretty much all of Christianity in a nutshell is expounded on and expanded--not in a way that necessarily changes what we believe as much as deepens what we would already know to be true.

Key Chapters and Quotes

1 - The Challenge of Jesus
The gist of this chapter is to assure Christians that it would be okay for them to pull their heads out of the ostrich hole and look at the historical Jesus.
"I see the historical task...as part of the appropriate activity of knowledge and love, to get to know even better the one whom we claim to know and follow. . . . I believe...that the historical quest for Jesus is a necessary and nonnegotiable aspect of Christian discipleship and that we in our generation have a chance to be renewed in discipleship and mission precisely by means of this quest" (14).

Regarding Jesus' call to "repent and believe": "Jesus was summoning his hearers to give up their whole way of life, their national and social agendas, and to trust him for a different agenda, a different set of goals. This of course included a change of heart, but went far beyond it" (27).

2 - The Challenge of the Kingdom (Or, I would call it, Enter: Biblical Theology)
This chapter is primarily about what Jesus meant when He announced that the kingdom of God was near. It builds off of the previous chapter and discusses what people had in mind concerning the coming of the kingdom of God.
"When [the Jews] longed for the kingdom of God, they were not thinking about how to secure themselves to a place in heaven after they died. The phrase, 'kingdom of God'...does not refer to a place, called 'heaven,' where God's people will go after death. It refers to the rule of heaven, this is, of God, being brought to bear in the present world" (37).

3 - The Challenge of Symbols** (this is a great chapter)
This chapter was great and interprets how many of Jesus actions and sayings serve as symbols to the kingdom (The sabbath, foods, nation and land, the Temple.) This is also a great chapter in Biblical Theology.

4 - The Crucified Messiah
What is the kingdom meaning behind Jesus' crucifixion. Atonement? Yes. But, also a prophetic symbol as well.

5 - Jesus & God
Did Jesus believe that He was the second person of the Trinity? Yes, but no.

6 - The Challenge of Easter
What did Jesus' resurrection mean? A thought provoking answer.

7 - Walking to Emmaus in a Postmodern World**
8 - The Light of the World**

These two great chapters are, I think, worth the book. In these Wright becomes a pastor to the reader and lays out the implication of his findings. He handles the Emmaus text in Luke like a true expositor. These chapters give you that feeling of being in the presence of profundity. I would have loved to been there to hear these preached (they were originally lectures). These chapters can be summarized by the following quote:

"I live in a world where Christian devotion and evangelical piety have been highly suspicious of and sometimes implacably opposed to serious historical work on the New Testament, and vice versa. I believe passionately that this is deeply destructive of the gospel, and I have done my best to preach and to pray as a serious historian and to do my historical work as a serious preacher and pray-er" (192).

My Recommendation

This book had profundity for me on almost every page. This, of course, is because in my mind Jesus is an American wearing a flat-billed fitted NY hat backwards with an Ipod and drinking Starbucks. It is a must read for anyone who would be interested. More of Wright's books will for sure be placed on the wishlist.

Concerns
The primary thing that concerns me revolves around the question of how much history is too much history. What is more, as Blake noted a few posts back about Wright, he is a biblical theologian (a big picture guy), and at times you kinda get the feel that the individual aspects of your faith are drastically reduced. That is, that salvation is primarily corporate, and that the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus were important more for what they meant as historical symbols for Israel rather than what they mean for the guy who's tatted up on the street. Also, I can easily see how Wright's historical emphasis paves the way perfectly for his "New Perspective on Justification."

Wow. That was long. Thanks for reading. Consider it my returning debut.

Peace.