Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvinists

Chance? Coincidence? Providence. I just happened to pull up this blog tonight, ready to compose a review of the most recent book that I have read, and behold, Eron reviewed a book that deals with somewhat the same topic. While my review may not satisfy your tastes as much as Plev's, I hope I can do the blog justice. 

Since I first saw this book in the "Coming Soon" section of Monergismbooks, I pretty much knew that I wanted to read it. Mainly out of curiosity, I wanted to see what the author had to say about young people "discovering" reformed theology. Since coming to the doctrines of grace, even though I know there are many Christians who believe the same way, it seems as if there are just a small number of people who hold to the same view of scripture.

Collin Hansen, the author of the book, does a great job in traveling across the nation, visiting with young people and seasoned people alike at conferences, in their offices, at Starbucks, etc. Essentially, his purpose is to try and find out why there is such a resurgence among young people yearning for doctrine in the place of easy-believism. 

The Places We Will Go

Hansen hits all of the major hotbeds for reformed theology, both in the present age and in times past. He visits with young people attending a Passion conference in Atlanta. He makes the journey to Louivsille, twice, to attend T4G and NA. He is invited to Piper's personal home for supper. He travels back to Yale to see where Edwards taught and where reformed theology is still preached. He hits up Driscoll in Seattle and Sovereign Grace in Maryland. There aren't many more places that he could go in order to flesh out the reason that youngsters are yearning for some meat. 

The Peope You Will Meet

As the author travels to each destination, he is constantly in conversation (I feel all emergent writing that! =D) with those who have come to the doctrines of grace, and even some who do not agree with them. At each place the author reveals some reason why young people are wanting scriptural teaching. Some he talks to come from a church background, but yet were never taught Scripture. Others come from a drug/criminal background and truly understand what it means to be saved by a sovereign God. And he visits those who were taught liberal doctrine in seminary, but the Lord lead them into a biblical view of Himself.

Why The Resurgence?

Overall, it seems to me that young people are tired of being spoon-fed Christianity. They are tired of having the Gospel presented as a set of rules. The theatrics of "religion" are not as relevant as some leaders would like to believe. A desire to know the transcendent God is bringing people, young and old alike, to a high and right view of God and a low view of man which is really at the root of reformed doctrine.

Who You Won't Meet...Directly

There were only a couple of complaints about this book that I could find. One being Hansen is not able to talk to more conservative leaders of the resurgence. There is no direct interview with MacArthur or Sproul or Dever. I would have liked to see him delve deeper into those who are influenced by their teaching, which leads to my next "complaint": Where are the interviews with those who are drawn to traditional worship?

I know this is knit-picking, but I firmly believe that there are those young people who are drawn to traditional, conservative worship, I being one of them. I love old hymns. I love the deepness and richness of the doctrine found within them. I love their view of God and man. I prefer traditional, and I think that there are a number of people who feel the same way. I felt like the book is missing something because of this. The author leaves you with the impression that a transcendent God can only be found in praise music, which is not the case.

My Thoughts

Would I recommend this book to others? Yes. I think it provides important insight into why young people are drawn to "old doctrine" and true study of scripture. Would I like to see more in terms of what I mentioned above? Of course. We all have our preferences. I am just "old fashioned."

Why We're Not Emergent: (By Two Guys Who Should Be)

First of all, you can check the official website here. And, you can read a good review by Phil Johnson at Pyromaniac, here. Phil Johnson has highlighted much of what I wanted to highlight about this book--the same quotes and everything! Nevertheless, I will briefly give my two cents on this helpful work.

What Is This Book For?
Basically, DeYoung and Kluck are young, Reformed, and convinced that you don't have to jump on the emergent bandwagon to save Christianity. I agree. There is so much in this book that it would be difficult to summarize it briefly. I will just say that they cover all the bases. From the vague notion of spiritual "journeying" to the disdain for dogmatic propositions, I think this work puts its finger square on the defining issues that characterize the EC. If you've ever tried to have an opinion about what the EC does, you've realized that it's hard and frustrating. Interacting with those who are full-blown emergent can get opinionated and emotional very quickly. One usually winds up chasing provocative wording rather than actually grasping the substance of what the EC is about. Yet, for a movement that is known for its ambiguity and anti-dogmatism, Kluck and DeYoung do an exceptional job hitting the nail on the head.

Quotes
Check out quotes from Pyromaniac (link above). But, I will say that these guys bring it. They are quotable often, and word their thoughts in a piercing kind of way. You'll definitely want to memorize some of their statements and keep them handy as you think through issues with the EC. They are right on and very helpful.

My Recommendation
I would recommend this book to all who are interested in a good, biblical, Reformed argument against some of the more dangerous corners of the EC. These guys are gifted writers and posses the ability to articulate their position with clarity and biblical conviction. They are quotable on almost every page. It is clear that they have done their research. They have read most all of the major books by most all of the major authors of the EC, and have spent time in emergent churches. I have found that when it comes to reading McClaren, Bell, and others, you have to really spend time reading them charitably and listening to what they are trying to say. Otherwise, you will read them, but you won't read them. You'll wind up wasting your time chasing after their provocative wording yet all the while thinking you have something to say about the EC. I think this work is trustworthy and offers critiques that one can feel safe making their own. The approach is humble, but firm and intellectual. Go out and getcha one.

Further Thoughts
Now, I and my wife joyfully attend an Acts29 (emerging, though not emergent) church here in Louisville. (I am a HUGE Mark Driscoll and Matt Chandler fan.) Though our church is on the more conservative, Reformed end of the emerging church spectrum, there are many similarities that our church shares with those of the less conservative end (i.e., an emphasis on community, cultural engagement, etc.). We have learned a ton and have been sanctified tremendously. We feel that our church has done a work in us that is unique and honoring to Christ. The EC is primarily a reactionary movement against some of the dead-traditionalism that indeed exists in evangelicalism. There are those who stand guilty of over-correcting, while others stand guilty of not taking such reactions seriously. The EC should be called out for where they endanger the Christian faith, but I am of the opinion that they should be heard out and sometimes heeded. The key is balance and discernment. This book can help you think through all that.

Thoughts? Comments?
Peace.
EP

Aaaaaaaand We're Back: Wanting to Be Her: Body Image Secrets Victoria Won't Tell You

I wasn't even looking for this book when I found it. I was supposed to be doing research for a paper for a theology class when this book caught my eye. Turns out, this accidental read had a more profound effect on me than the book I got for my paper.

I have thing for beauty--the topic that is. Knowing where we get our standards of beauty, how beauty (or a lack thereof) affects day to day living (and it does!), and gaining insight on how to uphold healthy and biblical notions of beauty have become a topic of interest to me. I now notice articles, talk shows, news segments, and books that speak on the subject of beauty. Basically, our culture is obsessed with having perfect looks. As a result, countless females loath their bodies and starve themselves while self-centered, lust-filled boys encourage them by having supermodel standards, holding off on relationships (or getting into tons of them) until they score that perfect-10 babe. And let's just be honest, the Christian scene isn't all so different from the culture in this respect. So...

What is This Book For?

Michelle Graham is writing to help girls have a biblical view of their bodies in light of Scripture's standard of beauty. She writes from experience and is very apt to make the challenges she does. From the back cover:

In this book Michelle Graham reveals how we have fallen into the trap of viewing our bodies through the lens of culture rather than through the eyes of God.

And that, I would say, is done well. She has a good grasp of our culture, and she argues from a sound theological framework that isn't afraid to call out sin and idolatry. She exposes the heart's lean toward finding satisfaction and affirmation in things other than God. In the end, females are challenged to evaluate their beauty in light of their intimacy with Christ, knowing that external appearance is only part of the package. Her use of Scripture is good, though there are some interpretations that I wouldn't have forced (For example, that Eve's "desire for her husband" [Gen. 3:16] meant that she would "hunger for acceptance from men" [p. 94]. Eh, not so much.). Otherwise, she is right on most of the time.

Key Chapters and Quotes:

Chapter 1: The Lie We Buy: Beauty and Culture

"How have you been affected by the lie that your body must fit a certain standard in order to be accepted? Check all the following statements that apply to you:

-I am critical of my body

-When I look in the mirror, I first notice the parts of my body that I think are inadequate

-When I see images of "beautiful women" in the media, I compare myself to them.

-As I get dressed and ready in the morning, I consider what others will think of my appearance.

-I weigh myself frequently and am emotionally affected by the results.

-The thought of being seen without makeup or hair done is scary to me.

-When others compliment my appearance, I have a hard time believing it's true.

-When I eat in front of people, I wonder what they are thinking about me.

-I tend to wear clothes that are baggy to hide my figure or tight clothes to show off my body in hopes of receiving attention.

-If money were no object, I would have plastic surgery in a heartbeat.

-I have often thought that becoming more beautiful would be the solution to some of life's challenges--my desires for romantic relationships, career success, popularity among friends or self esteem. (p.24)

"When we understand the gift of our God-made body, we will respond. . . with contentment and without embarrassment. We will take care of our body well by eating healthy foods and giving it the exercise of an active lifestyle. We;ll keep ourselves clean and enjoy pampering our body, without crossing the line onto body obsessions or comparing ourselves to other women." (p. 37)

Chapter 3: When Beauty Becomes a Beast: Beauty and Consequences

"There was an unspoken equation that I learned as a single woman: my chance of getting married correlates directly with my physical attractiveness." (p. 50)

Chapter 4: Who's the Fairest of Them All?: Beauty and Ethnicity

**This was probably the best chapter in the book. Basically, we are ethnocentric when it comes to beauty. Just read the whole chapter. But, here's a quote:

"The more European one's features, the more beautiful one is considered to be." (p. 62).

Chapter 6: Can I Still Keep My Favorite Lipstick? Beauty and Balance

"I would suggest that a desire for plastic surgery is rooted in body obsession." (p. 106).

"The less modest our clothing, the more we invite others to fill in the blanks and complete the picture of our naked body." (p. 112).

My Recommendation:

I highly recommend this book. It is an easy read and it keeps you engaged--I read almost half the book in one sitting! This would be a fantastic study for women to do. I would also recommend it to guys who are interested in how our culture of non-beauty influences our views of women and choosing a mate. It was beneficial to "listen in" on a girl-to-girl conversation. I gained some good insight into the minds of females as they battle with their bodies. After I read this I wanted to start being more careful to encourage my wife and help her combat the false views of beauty that she is bombarded with day to day. Overall, I would rate this book at 4/5 stars. Whether guy or girl, you should consider Amazoning this one.

Thoughts? Comments?

Peace

Praise Her in the Gates

So, I've read a few books lately, but have not added them to the Booked Blog.  No reason why, so I'm going to try and play catch up. 

It's been a while back, but I read Praise Her in the Gates, The Calling of Christian Motherhood, by Nancy Wilson (wife of Douglas Wilson).   It was a small book, easy read.  I'm not very good at summaries of books, but I'll give it a shot.

The book begins by laying out the misconceptions and biblical truths about conception, pregnancy and childbirth.  What God desires from these things and how our minds should be trained to think on these things.  It is also encouraging for those who are unable to have children or who have miscarriages.  God doesn't give us the why; we must trust in His kindness, goodness and His Sovereignty-- knowing that He works all things for our good and His glory.

The book then goes into very practical applications of what living out Proverbs 31:31 looks like:

Chapter 4: When the kids are sick

Overreacting vs. Under reacting

A time for teaching cheerfulness and patience

Teaching our kids to trust God in our illnesses

Chapter 5: Loving the Kids- Dinnertime, Bedtime and Holidays

Loving children when they aren't lovable

"You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;

You shall be blessed and it shall be well with you.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;

Your children will be like olive shoots around your table.

Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord. " Psalm 118:2-4

Hospitality

Table time-- a foreshadowing of the fellowship we will have in heaven

Reading around the table and at bedtime

Fluffy pillows and warm comforters

Chapter 6: Manners: Church Behavior, Friends, Family

Love for one another, protection of each other's names and reputations, sensitivity to needs of brothers

Church manners: 

Worship and fellowship

Trained and taught all week long

Sitting together as a family

Creative ways to keep the little ones quiet and the older ones paying attention

Courtesy is  a Christian characteristic

Chapter 7: Respecting Sons

Bring them up in their full stature both physically and spiritually

Treat them in a way that their soul prospers

Teach them to be providers

His need for respect from mothers and sisters

Not taking sides between Dad and son

Teach respect by respecting husband

Praise your husband to your son

Praise your sons achievements and accomplishments

Give him responsibilities and fully expect him to fulfill them

Good behavior receives respect and honor from parents

Courtesy-- do not humiliate or point out flaws in public

Do not expect male piety to look like female piety

Chapter 8: Loving Daughters

A critical spirit is destructive

Teach them about meekness, submission, respect, courtesy and holiness

They need love and security

Dads should fulfill the need for male approval

Teach them to control their emotions--not to use them to manipulate

Teach them to be home-centered

Model and teach biblical femininity

Chapter 9: Setting Standards: God's Rules and House Rules

"Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds." Prov. 27:23

Take care of business at home first, before you get involved in other Christian affairs

Our children are our disciples

Godly discipline is focused on a long-term goal, not a short-term goal to make life easier

Be consistent

Chapter 10: The Importance of Education

Parents are responsible for the godly education of their children

Chapter 11: The Pleasant Home

A pleasant home should be full of joy and beauty-- the beauty of holiness

Perform duties cheerfully and patiently

Tidy, well-managed home

Chapter 12: The Domestic Arts

See domesticity as a duty and calling, not an option

Childrearing, cooking, cleaning, sewing, gardening and decorating

Chapter 13: Letting Them Go

Train them to leave productive, godly lives on their own

As you can tell from the titles alone, it will be a book I will soon be picking up to reference.

Laura

Rejuvenile: Kickball, Cartoons, Cupcakes, and the Rienvention of the American Grown-up by Christopher Noxon

What are the necessary, non-negotiable changes one must undergo to be considered a responsible, functioning adult? Everyone (including Christopher Noxon) agrees that no one should stay a naive, temper-tantrum throwing, un-potty trained child forever. Most people can detect immaturity in someone quite quickly and will display various levels of irritation based on the age appropriate stages that many intuitively expect from all people. But are these age appropriate expectations universal for every time, age, and society? Are there re-definable aspects of adulthood that people must embrace as simply a part of constantly changing cultures? In light of the Industrial Revolution, the explosion of technology, the absence of economic hardship, and the increase in life expectancy among American adults, is there a legitimate (and therefore, acceptable) challenge to the modern definition of the term "adult?" Good question. In Rejuvenile, (a term coined and used by Noxon himself to describe those who have life interests of those younger than themselves) one is forced to wrestle with these tough issues as one cannot deny the ubiquitous emergence of new, non-traditional adult norms. For Christians, this area must be addressed. We must know how the Bible defines "adult," and what we are to expect from our young brothers and sisters in regards to true aging and maturity. Pastors must recognize that confusion about issues of gender, sexuality, and adulthood abound in our secular culture, and the average church attender is no exception to being subtly influenced by this confusion.

Noxon, who is not writing from a Christian worldview, writes:

Evidences of the presence and influence of rejuveniles is all around. The Cartoon Network boasts bigger overall ratings among viewers aged eighteen to thirty-four than CNN, Fox News, or any cable news channel. Half of the visitors to Disney World are childless adults, making the Magic Kingdom the number-one adult vacation destination in the world. Department stores stock fuzzy pajamas with attached feet in adult sizes. . . . The Entertainment Software Association reports that the average age of video game players is twenty nine, up from eighteen in 1990. (3)

Also, from the back cover:

Once upon a time, boys and girls grew up and set aside childish things. Nowadays, moms and dads skateboard alongside their kids, captains of industry pose for Business Week holding Super Soakers, and young people delay marriage and childbirth longer than ever--in part to keep family obligations from interfering from their fun.

Noxon also makes a distinction between "childlike and childish" (223), with the former being the acceptable alternative to traditional adulthood. For him, even amidst a lifestyle characterized by late night hours of video gaming, moving back in with parents after college, and remaining deliberately single or childless, one may still be considered an adult. He argues that because they are able to maintain complex relationships and display responsibility (even if it is to manage a mass tournaments of adult dodge ball), rejuveniles are qualified adults who have indeed grown up, just not in the way our parents and grandparents did. In his most defining statement, he writes:

[Rejuveniles] might not be married, they might not have kids, they might build their life around values older people find self-serving, but they're still adults--they're just a different sort, less mature in some ways, but, it must be said, far more in others. Yes, they're less self-sufficient, but they're also more self-aware. Yes, they're less dependable, but they're also more adaptable. And yes, their crisscrossing career paths can look like proof of indecisiveness or all-around flakiness. But these same qualities can also be seen as evidence of an open and adventurous spirit, one that would rather explore and experiment that settle down, stick to it, and hope for the best. (162-163)

As I read this book I thought of a lot of people by name, many of whom are Christians. Whenever I get that cringe feeling in my soul when I hear of directionless believers spending their money selfishly and who are celebrating a whimsical, "adventurous" life, should I just pass it off as a cultural difference? Should I just come to terms with the fact that my age appropriate expectations are a relative product of the place I was raised? Or, are there certain mindsets and behaviors that we can truly urge young adults to change their minds about? There is nothing intrinsically childish about taking a lengthy trip to another country or playing video games, but defined by the individual in context, they can be.

I do think we can say that adulthood universally boils down to two non-negotiable characteristics: Gospel-marriage (for those who are not called to gospel celibacy) and Gospel-parenthood. Now, I realize that being married, per se, and having children, per se, does not make one an adult any more than being unmarried makes one childish. But, there is a clear Scriptural distinction between childhood and adulthood (e.g., 1 Cor. 13:11) and, it is sinful to not grow out of the former. Thus, it is crucial to recognize the things that keep one in childhood and prevent one from becoming a respectable adult in the eyes of Jesus.

Noxon is right when he points out that the widespread presence things like divorce and the ability to travel anywhere in the world at a relatively cheap price all contribute to the molding of a culture. He is quite helpful for my thinking on some of the things he says. I think there are some changes taking place in our minds regarding what it means to grow up, and not all are sinful. But, in the end, I think adulthood belongs to and is defined by God. There are non-negotiables, namely, marriage and parenthood, and the reality of selfishness is not something to be taken lightly, especially for Christians. Youth pastors need to know how their young people are growing up, and they need to have an understanding of what promotes true maturity and what keeps it from flourishing.

I enjoyed this book. Blake, I know you will get to it soon. I can't wait to talk about it with you.

Peace. Comments? Questions? Differing viewpoints?

(Sculpture found at Rednose Studios)

Mohler's Booked Blog

Dang it! Mohler just started a book blog for reviews and such. Not only will this put The Booked Blog out of business, but it will also make us look like children given that he will post about 7 posts a week. Thanks a lot Al.


You can find his new blog here. If anything, you know where he got his inspiration... ; )


Peace.

Why Small Groups?: Together Toward Maturity

You can find this book in full-text at Google here.

Why Small Groups?: Together Toward Maturity is edited by C.J. Mahaney and includes a compilation of articles on small groups from many seasoned pastors across the nation. This book is primarily geared toward equipping leaders to lead small groups, but is certainly beneficial for those who want deepen their current small group involvement. Also, those who are still considering or questioning the small-group (aka, home-group, care-group, family-group, etc.) rout and it's biblical foundations will find no better Scripture-centered discussion of small-groups than here.

Main Thesis

Small groups provide an environment that cultivates biblical fellowship and sanctification. Biblically, the Christian faith is designed to thrive in a community setting. Though fellowship certainly occurs in many ways and at many times, small-groups are a way to ensure consistent, long-term, gospel-focused meetings between members of a local church. In most churches going to Sunday School and hearing a sermon in "Big Church" (even if they are sound, expository studies) is an inadequate means of sanctification. Small groups are not bible studies. They are geared to create a climate that allows for Christians to meet with the intention of walking together in faith. From serving one another to serving with one another; from rebuking sin to applying the weekly sermon; from praying together for a lost parent to accountability for one's private struggles; from grieving together over the loss of a sibling or parent to celebrating the arrival of a new baby; from providing a meal for one who is sick to sharpening spiritual gifts; from personality conflicts to biblical reconciliation--small groups get people into real community and challenge those who would otherwise only relate to their Christian friends on a superficial level. Fellowship is essential to the Christian life. Talking doctrine once a quarter over a styrofoam plate of fried chicken, green bean casserole, and rolls does not create the type of fellowship envisioned in Acts 2. Small groups are a way to become skilled at experiencing true fellowship with those of your local church.

Quotes

"Genuine fellowship isn't practical in a crowd of 200 or 2,000. That's why I feel so strongly that churches must create small groups where Christians can develop intimate relationships, where they can 'know and be known.' A church following a biblical model will not just 'have' small groups. It will not merely 'offer' small groups. Rather, it will be built with small groups." (Mahaney, 3)

"Opportunities to fall in love, get married, procreate, pursue a career, go bungee jumping, play baseball, or go to school are all open to humanity in general. But only Christians can experience fellowship. For this reason alone, this unique quality of Christian existence should be exceedingly precious to us." (Loftness, 19-20)

"Small groups provide an excellent context in which to pursue many of the vital goals of church life that are difficult, if not impossible, to pursue on Sunday mornings." (Mullery, 47)

"Small groups can provide excellent opportunities for us to die to excessive love of comfort by embracing the changes and challenges God brings our way." (Butler, 77)

"The most important decision one will ever make is whether he or she will be devoted to Jesus Christ. And devotion to Jesus Christ cannot be effectively implemented without a devotion to the local church." (Harvey, 92)

"[It] is absolutely essential to realize that [para-church] ministries exist largely because local churches have fallen short of their biblical mandate. Truly, para-church ministries are evidence of the unpaid debt of the local church." (Harvey, 103)

"I find no New Testament examples of ministries that operated independently of local churches." (Harvey, 104)

Overall Conclusion

Anyone who is leading a small group needs to read this. There are crucial chapters on small group leadership filled with wisdom and insight on how to maintain a healthy small group. This was a great read. It's easy to read and can be read in one day. Check it out.

Thoughts? Comments? Questions?
EP

Next post: Rejuvenile: Kickball, Cartoons, Cupcakes, and the Reinvention of the American Grown-up by Christopher Noxon. Get a preview here.)

Living the Cross Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney

Well, over the weekend I read Mahaney's Living the Cross Centered Life. It was a refreshing and enriching read. I won't post a detailed review of it, but I will give you some quotes and main points.

Basically, the work of Christ on the cross is something we should never move away from. The cross does not function merely to get one into heaven, but it serves as an anchor that sustains the entire Christian life. The realities that flow from the cross are the foundation for every Christian act henceforth. This book reflects on the gravity of sin, the fierceness of God's wrath, the justice of God, the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ, the love of God, and reconciliation that occurs as Christians are justified by the imputed righteousness of Christ. From there, Christians are to no longer fear the condemnation of God. They are to live a life of joy knowing that God has welcomed them into fellowship by the work of His Son. As moods come and go, the work of Christ remains the same. As those who have been purchased by His blood, we are to always remember from where we have been rescued and never depart from the mercy and grace God has shown us in making us His own.

Quotes:

"Never be content with your current grasp of the gospel. The gospel is life-permeating, world-altering, universe-changing truth. It has more facets than any diamond. We will never exhaust it's depths" (142).

"How easily we fall into the trap of assuming that we remain justified only so long as there are grounds in our character for justification" (111). (Quote from Sinclair Ferguson)

"Nothing in all creation is more steeped in the miraculous than the fact of your forgiveness and mine" (95)

"A cross-centered life is made up of cross-centered days" (132).

This book is short and sweet, but dense and challenging. It would do anyone good to grab a copy and soak it in. Praise the Lord for sending us the Christ.

Peace.
Comments? Thoughts? Questions?

We Now Return to Your Regularly Scheduled Blog...

Well, the semester at Southern has officially ended, and with some free time and an accumulated book list ready to go, the Booked Blog is currently back on track. I'll try to get a post up soon. For now, here are some books that I read this semester that I would recommend.

The Work of Christ, by Robert Letham was an enjoyable read. Letham is very clear and makes many good points concerning the work of Christ.

"All things--education, politics, business, sports, the arts, family, life, economic conditions such as inflation and unemployment, scientific inquiry, the legal system and so on--are to be seen from the perspective of the creation mediatorship of Jesus Christ. This presents us not just one way of looking at the world. Since he made it, to view the universe from any other perspective will result in distortion." (209)

The Nature of the Atonement, a very helpful read for me. Southern's own Dr. Tom Schreiner contributes the essay arguing for penal substitutionary atonement.

This book is helpful for anyone who wants to define what they believe about the work of Christ.




The Cross of Christ is a must read for...well, everyone. Seriously, no one who is serious about studying the work of Christ can go without this one. What a work it is. Though a beast of a work, COC is pastoral and easy to read. Stott is a gifted writer with much insight into the cross. Go getcha one.






Evangelical Ethics tackles a wealth of topics and critical issues that the church faces today. Ranging from contraceptives and cloning, to euthanasia and environmentalism, J. Davis offers great discussion on the most current issues that every congregation must face sooner or later. With up to date research and statistics, Davis informs and equips the Christian with a sufficient knowledge to take a stand on some complicated issues that abound in our day. Readable and informative.



Aight. Who's next?

Peace.
EP

Family Driven Faith

All summer long and now into the fall, I have been increasingly disappointed in my lack of a book review on this blog. It is not that I do not have the time, nor do I think I lack the mental capacity to complete a book, but simply due to the fact that I like starting as many books that I can and then leaving them unfinished on the bookshelf. After many months of delay, and some encouragement by my wife, I completed Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham.

Christian Instruction
As Christians, there is an ever-increasing need for instruction and guidance in the area of rearing a family in a God-centered home. Voddie Baucham attempts in this book to equip his readers with the tools and instruction they need to rear children in an anti-family, anti-Christian world.

There is Work to be Done
The statistics show that we as Christians, and especially as Christian parents, have our work cut out for us. Recent studies show that between 70 and 88 percent of "Christian teens" are leaving the church by their second year in college. A failure rate of around 80 percent is staggering! While many in the church may attempt to blame pastors, youth pastors, children ministries, or even nurseries, the responsibility for preparing, disciplining, and discipling children lies squarely on the shoulders of parents.

This book provides readers with insight into how seriously Dr. Baucham approaches the task of giving his children a home that is focused on glorifying God first and foremost.

Cultivating a Biblical Worldview
One of the main components of preparing our children is to give them a proper worldview. This word is being tossed around a lot lately, but what it boils down to is that we act upon what we believe. How you react to different things in the world is based upon your system of beliefs. As parents, we are responsible for giving our children a Christian worldview, one that is based upon scripture. Reading this book has convicted me of my own shortcomings when it comes to "always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you." (1 Peter 3:15) If I or my wife or my children have a conversation with someone who wants to know the biblical, theological, and philosophical foundations upon which we make ethical decisions, we must be prepared.

We are Accountable
Our children must be surrounded by a God-glorifying home. It is not enough for us to merely worship at church, but it is something that is essential to the Christian home. How are they to learn by simply attending church for 2-3 hours every week? How can one be expected to defend their faith, or even share their faith with others if they are not immersed in a home that is God-centered? Christians, and especially Christian men, must be leading their family. We will be held accountable for what we have done with our families, and it is a responsibility that we should take lightly. One day we will answer to God and God alone for what we have or have not done.

Be Prepared
After reading this book, I have come to realize that the blessing of being a parent does not come easily. We must be prepared. We cannot put off our responsibility onto someone else's shoulders because ultimately, we will be responsible.

Is it worth reading? Most definitely. Will you have a new outlook on homeschooling, family worship, and the importance of the church in the life of your family? You should.

Biblical Womanhood in the Home

This is my first contribution to the booked blog. I recently finished this book entitled, "Biblical Womanhood in the Home" edited Nancy Leigh DeMoss with the following contributors: herself, Barbara Hughes, Susan Hunt, Mary A. Kassian, Carolyn Mahaney, Dorothy Kelley Patterson and P. Bunny Wilson. Some of which may or may not ring a bell.

The books aim was to bring the focus back to what women are called to. The joy and fulfillment found in being a Biblical Woman is being destroyed by the world and its expectations and definitions of what a woman should be and look like.

Here was the overview:

I. The Glory of Womanhood as created by God
II. The Challange of Biblical Womanhood in a Fallen World.
III. The Freedom of Women as Helpers.
IV. The Joy of Women as Bearers and Nurturers of Life

One of the authors used Mary as a Biblical example of what a goldy woman should look like. I had never really heard or thought about some of the points she brought out:

Mary was an ordinary woman.

• She was not from a wealthy faimly; Jesus gave her significance.

Mary was a pure woman.

• He chose to plant the seed of His Son in a pure vessel.

Mary was an undeserving woman.

• She marveled at God's grace in choosing her.

Mary was a chosen woman.

• Chosen by God for a task of eternal significance.

Mary was a Spirit-filled woman.

• Enabled by the Holy Spirit.

Mary was an available woman.

• Her response, "May it be to me as you have said."

Mary was a believing woman.

• She took God at His Word.

Mary was a praising woman.

• In response, "My sould glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior."

Mary was a woman of the Word.

• The Word was hidden in her heart; her prayer quoted in the OT dozen of times.

Mary was a reflective woman.

• After His birth, "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."

Mary was a humble woman.

• She was about making Him known, not her.

Mary was a trusting woman.

• She did not push her husband to believe, but trusted God to speak to him and work in his heart.
  

Mary was a submissive woman.

• Embraced the will of God; let her husband lead (protect from Herod).

Mary was an influential woman.

• Wedding feast--directed others to Him; teaching her own children.
  

Mary was a praying woman.

• Woman of prayer, as seen in Scripture.

Mary was a devoted woman.

• Followed Jesus throughout his ministry--all the way to the cross.

Mary was a loved woman.

• He made sure His mother would be cared for.

Mary was a wounded woman.

• "A sword will pierce your own soul too," She gave up her son as well.

Another section focused not a godly, biblical woman as an example or inspiration for Christian women; but the foolish woman in Proverbs 7 to show what women of the world today look like and how we should contrast that.

Anyway, the book hit home some great points and great encouragement. These were only a few things I pulled out. Here are a few Scriptures to ponder on:

"The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears her down." Proverbs 14:1

"It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Gen. 2:18

"Your beauty...should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is teh way the holy women of the past who put their hope in Gd used to make themselves beautiful." 1 Pet. 3:3-5

"Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at h ome, to be hind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God." Titus 2:3-5

"A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life...
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband alos, and he praises her:
'Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.;
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."
Prov. 31:10-12,26-31

Encouraging, yet challenging.

BB Summer Review

Well, folks, the Booked Blog turned out to be very utilized indeed! Thanks for all who contributed this summer. Books from all different genres were read: theological, philosophical, historical, cultural, educational, etc. That means a lot of self-education was going on over the summer--good!

(Overall, around 40 books were read and reviewed--that's a lot of sitting!)

However, out of the 10 contributors only 6 contributed. Hmm. Should we trim the roster? Since seminary is back in full swing I wouldn't expect many new posts here until around December (at least from the main contributors). So, non-seminary contributors, it's your time to shine. Just grab a book, devote to one chapter every 2 days or so, and before you know it, bam! a book is finished and your reflections on it are often crystallized when you explain it to someone else (i.e., a review on the BB!). Do it, if not for the BB, for yourself!

Nevertheless, it's been real for now.

Suggestions? Contributor Requests? Contributor Resignations?

Peace!
EP

Revelation and Reason

Revelation and Reason: New Essays in Reformed Apologetics (360 pp) is a collection of essays edited by Scott Oliphint and Lane Tipton, two profs from Westminster Philly. This is an outstanding resource. Here are the contents:

----Part 1 Reformed Apologetics: Exegetical Considerations
1. Some Epistemological Reflections on I Cor. 2:6-13-Richard B. Gaffin
2. Resurrection, Proof, and Presuppositionalism: Acts 17:30-31-Lane G. Tipton
3. The Irrationality of Unbelief: An Exegetical Study-K. Scott Oliphint
4. The Case for Calvinistic Hermeneutics-Moises Silva
5. Paul’s Christological Interpretation of Creation and Presuppositional Apologetics-Lane G. Tipton
----Part 2 Reformed Apologetics: Theological Foundations
6. Divine Aseity and Apologetics-John M. Frame
7. Consistently Reformed: The Inheritance and Legacy of Van Til’s Apologetic-Michael S. Horton
8. A Confessional Apologetic-Thom Notaro
9. Theologia Naturalis: A Reformed Tradition-Jeffrey K. Jue
10. The Eschatological Implications of Genesis 2:15 for Apologetics-Bill Dennison
----Part 3 Reformed Apologetics: Methodological Implications
11. The Old-New Reformed Epistemology-K. Scott Oliphint
12. The Fate of Apologetics in an Age of Normal Nihilism-Michael Payne
13. Turn! Turn! Turn! Reformed Apologetics and the Cultural Dimension-William Edgar
14. Van Til and Transcendental Argument-Don Collett
APPENDIX - Cornelius Van Til and the Reformation of Christian Apologetics-K. Scott Oliphint.

----This is a fairly technical book. It is great, but I would only recommend it to those with a little background in Reformed apologetics. It is in some ways, simply more exegetical, theological, historical, and methodological ammunition to support Van Til's presuppostional method of apologetics. My favorite parts of the books were chapters 2, 5, and 10 where the contributors combined the insights of Cornelius Van Til and Geerhardus Vos, two of my favorite theologians.

----This is my last contribution to the booked blog. It has been fun and hopefully fruitful. I wanted to review a few more(one on new covenant theology, living Christianly in this world, and biblical theology), but time is gone. I would recommend all three though. Enjoy the Fall. Learn.

Rob Bell: SEX GOD

Well, let me take this opportunity to exhort many of my fellow Christians to take the time to occasionally read those with whom we don't see eye to eye. Many people will miss out on the depth and insight of this book simply because it is written by Rob Bell. Although I would surely differ from him on some important issues and might not recommend all of his material, I will refer to this book again and again for pastoral reminders of the Gospel-centered wonders of human sexuality.

Here's why:

What is This Book For?
The subtitle of this book is Exploring the Endless Connections Between Sexuality and Spirituality. Basically, Rob Bell discusses what a lot of churches and pastors won't: Sex and God. Many don't even think the two words should even be mentioned in the same sentence, much less have any connections. That fact about sex is that God created it and it brings Him glory. Sex doesn't make God blush. God intentionally designed sex, with all of its biological and emotional pleasures, to create a special connection between a married man and woman, which in turn points to a special connection between God and His people. Thus, sexuality is never an end in itself. When the divine design of sexuality is misunderstood or misused (like in fornication or homosexuality), the soul satisfying intention is also lost. In reality, only Christians can understand what sex is truly about. Unfortunately, sex is often considered taboo in church or Christian discussions. Yet, humans were created as sexual creatures. To partake of sex outside of its marital design is destructive and will wrench the soul of true sexual satisfaction; yet to reserve any discussion of sex for only married people can likewise have adverse affects. There should be a healthy balance of sexuality in the lives of people of all ages, namely, acknowledging that God is for sex and has created humans to be sexual, yet to explain that God has wisely designed that sex is to have its fullest Gospel expression in Christian marriage. Rob Bell's overall emphasis in this book is that sexuality was created by God to ultimately be a spiritual act that serves as an image of Him with His people. Very good. Rob Bell talks about sex to Christians, and he does well.

Key Chapters and Quotes

"You can't talk about sexuality without talking about how we were made. And that will inevitably lead you to who made us. At some point you have to talk about God" (15).

Chapter 3: Angels and Animals
These two words describe the extremes that people go to when it comes to sexuality. "Angels " are those who abstain totally from acknowledging sexuality in any form until marriage. His idea comes from Matt. 22:30 that basically mentions that in heaven there will be no more marriage or sexuality. "Animals" are those who indulge in sex and are lead along unhindered by sexual impulses. Good chapter with good discussion.

Chapter 6: Worth Dying For
This is Rob Bell's chapter on leadership and submission. This is maybe one of my favorite chapters. Basically he wraps up leadership and submission by saying both husband and wife are to submit to each other (though the husband as head) with the mindset of Christ's selfless death, hence the phrase, "worth dying for." This chapter is partly geared toward women. He challenges them to not give themselves away (or to fill the void of wanting to be loved) to a man who will not treat them as if they were worth dying for. Good.

"The husband's waiting for the wife to submit is actually a failure to lead" (117).

From chapter nine, Whoopee Forever:

"If you are single, and you've been sent messages or it's been hinted at or even said to your face that you are somehow missing something, that you [as unmarried] aren't good enough, that you don't fit-that's not true. It's not just that you're fine single. The premise of the Scriptures is that you are able to serve God in ways that those who aren't married can't. The tilt is for being single, not away from it" (164).

There are more things to quote, but they are connect to larger ideas apart from which would just seem dumb. Read the book.

Concerns

My main concern obviously revolves around the things he says that are questionable. One should definitely be ready to spit out some bones here and there. Bell speaks a lot by asking questions, which is somewhat indicative of an attitude of uncertainty in truth. There were times where I saw how my thinking drastically differs from his. For instance, he would say that sex equals marriage, and that, say, a cohabiting couple might be married in God's sight (137, notice the uncertain approach). I don't agree. For one, Jesus didn't recognize the woman at the well (John 4:18) as having a husband even when she was living with a man (and most likely having sex). Also, if God viewed sex as creating a marriage then the Bible would not speak of fornication, only adultery. Things like that. I think Bell is inclusive in his view of denominations, considering things like the Protestant ordinance of the Lord's Supper to be the same thing as a Roman Catholic Mass (28). Then there is the fact that he presents God's love as God taking "a giant risk" (97) and making Himself vulnerable to heartbreak by creating people. He stresses that God lets us make the move when it comes to loving Him, and would never "override our freedom" by His power (98). All the 5 points of Calvinism in me cringe at such a human view of God's love. Those are a few examples. But, I think any discerning reader may see through these issues, for they don't necessarily undermine is whole point.

My Recommendation

Rob Bell is very gifted, clear, readable, and pastoral. I enjoyed reading this book. His writing style is very, well, bloggish (if that makes sense). He writes his book as if he were writing a blog, that is, with very simple expressions that model a casual conversation. A whole paragraph might be the word, "Yes." It will keep your attention and you will get through a chapter in no time. Yet, I am not sure that I would recommend it to all indiscriminately. There are things that I would want someone to have strong convictions about first before picking this up. This book is definitely useful and should be considered, but I would have people begin their notion of Christian sexuality by first Googling the word "sex" with the name "C.J. Mahaney" or "John Piper."

Ok, well, that is probably the last book for me this summer. School starts Monday. I will have a summary of this summer's activity on the Booked Blog in a few days. Keep it locked.

Peace.
EP

Persuasions

I really enjoy reading Douglas Wilson. I agree whole-heartedly with him 80% of the time. Unfortunately that other 20% of disagreement is on the doctrine of justification, a notion that is bound up with the very heart of the gospel as evangelicals have formulated it since the time of the Reformation. This book is great though.

It is a fictional account between Evangelist and several objectors to the Christian faith. Evangelist is on his way to the City and along the way tries to warn and persuade people who are heading to the Abyss. Wilson is a great writer, very witty, sharp, and satirical at times. Wilson is also a Van Tilian presuppositionalist. This book is all example with no theory. It is a very refreshing and easy read. Here is the table of contents:

The Road
Randy--Immorality
John--Antinomianism
Janice--Feminism
Jack--Agnosticism
Rev. Howe--Empty Scholarship
Mark--Atheism
Robert--Election
Jim and Sarah--Marriage
Dorothy--Hypocrisy in the Church
Bill--Salvation and Sanctification
Miriam--Pantheism
Paul--Evolution
Michael--Roman Catholicism

Shopping for Time

This 94 page book is an easy read, so there's no excuses, ladies. I finished in 2 settings, one being a long Sunday afternoon on the couch. :) It will be most helpful to those who have not spent much time on the Mahaney's website (www.girltalk.blogs.com), because much of the material is covered there. However, it is a terrific reminder to all of us with more details then you'll get on the blog.

AND, if you live in Louisville, you can order it from the Book Nook at $9. Get out, right!?! We love the Book Nook!

Okay, here's the idea. God has called us to many things concering our time - make the best of it, redeem it, use it, etc. Biblical wisdom on our stewardship of our days on earth is plentiful. The Mahaney gals make an analogy of shopping. We gals are savvy shoppers. I didn't know how much fun it would be to work on getting nutritious and yummy meals on the table for increasingly LESS money by learning savvy shopping tricks. Yet, we cruise along life spending our time on this or that without planning, thinking, or considering carefully the best "bargains", if you will. With this analogy of shopping carefully for time, the Mahaney gals maintain the regular Sovereign Grace Ministries' balance between rich theology and precious practical living tips.

Some of it is just plain funny. Dustin and I get a huge kick out of some of their advice for the first tip (Rise Early).

Be prepared to feel absolutely miserable for about ten to fifteen minutes. But the misery soon turns into pure gladness as you experience the delight of meeting with God and reap the benefits the rest of the day. Fifteen minutes of misery is certainly worth fifteen-plus hours of peace and productivity.

So with school rolling around shortly and our newly reinstated "rising early" goals, Dustin and I are beginning a new night routine. It's funny. To us, anyway. We'll say our good nights and include, "Hey babe, you ready?" "Huh?" "Are you ready to feel awful in the morning? Man, we're going to hate it. We're going to curse our alarm clock and feel like crud. Terrific!" "Can't wait. Good night." It goes something like that anyway.

On a different note, this book gets at your motives. Of course, it hits on the things I always need to hear. For this topic, WHO am I trying to please with how I spend my time? Myself? My co-workers? My house guests? My LORD is the only answer that is sufficient.

"Only God gets His to-do list done," was the loving reminder that C.J. gave his gals awhile back. I love it. One of my church friends has the entire quote written on a note card in her kitchen.

Each chapter contains tips about the why's and how's of being savvy shoppers of time. It's geared towards women, but I think this one would be a good read for the guys, too. Dustin and I just love the Sovereign Grace Books. They are so helpful to marriages, families, etc.

I don't want to ruin the book for you, but another neat part was when they talk about interruptions as sovereign deliveries (based on a Lewis quote.

What about you? When was the last time you had a visitor when you were trying to finish your reading for seminary? When was the last time you got stuck in traffic that made you late and annoyed? When did you map out your to-do list only to have circumstances change everything? WHO caused these things to "interrupt" your plans? That's right. Your Maker and Sustainer.

Those are just a few of my favorite sections, although I loved everything they said about taking the time to plan out your year, your week, your day, your relationships, etc. There are a million needs out there and we women want to tackle them all. But we can't and we shouldn't. What things should we choose based on what season we are in as women? If you don't know, go grab this book.

And don't forget the most important tip in the book: sit still.

A much more thorough review can be found here. I've kept this short for the sake of time. :)

Buy it here.

Read an interview with the Mahaney gals here, here and here.

Philosophy & The Christian Faith

The author writes that the aim of this book is to make a survey of the main thinkers and intellectual movements of western thought of the past thousand years, with a view to showing how they affect Christian belief" (9). He writes, "There are many people who have heard of such names as Kant, Hume, Aquinas, and Kierkegaard and keep coming across terms like empiricism, rationalism, Existentialism and Logical Positivism, and who want to know what they mean and how they affect Christianity" (10). This is the book for those people. He divides the book into 4 sections:
1. Medieval Philosophy
2. From the Reformation to the Age of Enlightenment
3. The Nineteenth-Century Ferment
4. Philosophy and Faith in the Twentieth Century
-----In just over 300 pages, Brown covers a lot of ground. This is a great intro to philosophical theology, or for a general overview of the history of philosophy.
Quotes:
-----"to go through life putting off thought about ultimate questions is to miss the whole point of human life." 30
----"As we saw when we were looking at theological trends in the nineteenth century, Evangelicals made great contributions to evangelism and even to biblical scholarship; but they contributed little or nothing to the philosophical defence of their faith. For many, scholarship had a largely negative value. It was useful to defend the faith against hostile criticism. Few Evangelicals seem to have considered the philosophical implications of a faith based upon God's revelation of himself and their significance for apologetics." 245

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.

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Till then, cultivate a Christian worldview.
Peace.