The Explicit Gospel

Not sure if you've heard about it yet, but I wanted to alert you to a new book by Matt Chandler with Jared Wilson entitled The Explicit Gospel. I've not read it yet, but Matt and Jared are two guys who love the gospel and love to proclaim it, and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of this book as soon as it becomes available this month! Check out the short video below to get a feel for the book.

Book Review: The Last Enemy by Mike Wittmer

In recent weeks, I've shared a couple quotes from Mike Wittmer's The Last Enemy: Preparing to Win the Fight of Your Life. Mike is a friend of mine and he had the publisher send the book to me for free, so perhaps I am a little biased. Even if I were not though, I would enthusiastically recommend this book.

Mike begins this look at his subject matter communicating what we all know to be true, but would rather ignore: "YOU ARE GOING TO DIE. Take a moment to let that sink in. You are going to die." He continues to speak quite candidly throughout the book about this much neglected topic.

The first three chapters are written to a general audience. After all, we all die, right? The remainder of the book though is directed specifically toward Christians in helping them to understand what exactly is an appropriate attitude to have toward death, and what we can expect after it. Death is indeed evil, Mike points out, and the last enemy. As such it is understandable why one should fear it. But as Mike puts it, "fear is no match for faith," as the one on whom we really is stronger than even death.

Each of the book's 23 chapters is short (approximately five pages) and followed by four "Questions for Reflection." This structure makes the book not only suitable for individual reading, but ideal for group study. I recommend it for anyone who wants to be prepared for what they inevitably will face.

Parenting By God's Promises: Raising Children in the Covenant of Grace

Check out the promotional video below for the book Parenting by God's Promises: How to Raise Children in the Covenant of Grace by Joel Beeke. It looks to be a wonderful offering on the subject. I especially want to draw your attention to the 30 seconds between 1:47 and 2:17 in which Beeke quite succinctly states the basic idea behind gospel-centered parenting.


Parenting By God's Promises - Joel Beeke from Ligonier on Vimeo.

Kevin DeYoung Reviews Love Wins

In recent weeks, somewhat of a firestorm erupted on the internet in regards to Rob Bell's new book, Love Wins.  For those who are unaware of Bell or of the controversy, he is the wildly talented and creative pastor of Mars Hill Church in Grand Rapids.  A few weeks ago this video was released to promote the upcoming book.  Many in the evangelical community were quick to denounce Bell, some (in my opinion) in ways that were perhaps not as well thought through as they ought to have been.

That being said, based upon the video (as well as Bell's track record) I suspected there might be some pretty major things that I would find theologically objectionable in the book.  Bell is absolutely right when he says, "What we believe about heaven and hell is incredibly important because it exposes what we believe about who God is and what God is like."  The problem is that it seemed that Bell was swerving away from what the Bible clearly teaches about heaven and hell.

In all fairness, I have NOT read the book.  But Kevin DeYoung, who regular readers of this blog will know I greatly respect, has read it, and he posted a thorough review today at his blog.  Though it is twenty pages long, it is well worth reading.  If you're absolutely not going to devote the time necessary to read it though, please at least read this paragraph from his "Concluding Pastoral Postscript."  In it, DeYoung points to the fact that when we try to get rid of or minimize hell, we lose a whole lot more in the process:

No doubt, Rob Bell writes as a pastor who wants to care for people struggling with the doctrine of hell. I too write as a pastor. And as a pastor I know that Love Wins means God’s people lose. In the world of Love Wins, my congregation should not sing “In Christ Alone” because they cannot not believe, “There on the cross where Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied.” They would not belt out “Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned he stood.” No place for “Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted” with its confession, “the deepest stroke that pierced him was the stroke that Justice gave.” The jubilation of “No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in him, is mine!” is muted in Love Wins. The bad news of our wrath-deserving wretchedness is so absent that the good news of God’s wrath-bearing Substitute cannot sing in our hearts. When God is shrunk down to fit our cultural constraints, the cross is diminished. And whenever the cross is diminished we pain the hearts of God’s people and rob them of their joy.

You can click here to read the whole review.

Pujols: More Than the Game

As I mentioned in a post last week, I am a huge fan of the St. Louis Cardinals in general and of Albert Pujols in particular.  For this reason, I was excited today to read about a new biography entitled Pujols: More Than the Game.  The book tells the story of baseball's biggest star.  Not satisfied to focus merely on the incomparable success that Pujols has enjoyed on the diamond, the book also delves into his life off the field and the Christian faith that stands behind it all.

I haven't read this book yet, but I look forward to doing so.  In the meantime, you should feel comfortable with the recommendation of noted blogger and book reviewer (among many other things), Tim Challies.

By the way, I strongly recommend that you check out Tim's blog, Challies.com.  Subscribe to it, like it on facebook, follow it on twitter or simply come back to it daily.  It is a treasure trove of information and wisdom.

Anyway, he had the following helpful thoughts in his review of the book:

This book is a wee bit formulaic...and it is occasionally a bit melodramatic...But it’s well-written and, for this baseball enthusiast, an interesting read.

Pujols is a baseball player and a Christian. This biography is likely to appeal largely to those who love Christ and (not or) those who love baseball. Being a fan of Pujols or the Cardinals will make it even more enjoyable. The season-by-season descriptions of Pujols’ feats are interesting to baseball fans, but will not play so well with those who who have no love for the game.

Suffice it to say, given these facts, I am sure to enjoy the book.  I hope you will too.

Younger, Restlesser, Reformeder

Much has been made in recent years of Reformed Theology's increasing place in the evangelical community.  I suppose this was most prominently highlighted by Time’s 2009 list of “10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now” with their inclusion (at #3!) of “The New Calvinism.”   This followed on the heals of Collin Hansen’s book on the Reformed resurgence, Young, Restless, Reformed and his 2006 article in Christianity Today by the same title.

Who better to comment on this boom than the people who brought you Kinda Christianity: A Generous, Fair, Organic, Free-Range Guide to Authentic Realness?  You’ll recall that Kinda Christianity was a sardonic look by Ted Kluck and Zach Bartels at the emergent church, styled after Brian McLaren’s A New Kind of Christianity.  Well, now they've aimed their satirical wit in a new direction with the latest offering from Gut Check Press: Younger, Restlesser, Reformeder, a self-described "Good-Natured Roast" of the New Calvinist movement.

Ted and Zach are friends of mine.  Ted and I met at a conference a couple years ago and though Zach and I have never actually met, we’re friends on facebook.  That counts, right?  Anyway, I’m going to give you basically the same type of advice I gave when I reviewed Kinda Christianity.  There are plenty of people who won’t like this book.  You might be one of them if you:

• Don’t like satire
• Don’t have a sense of humor
• Can’t stand to have someone point out many of your own idiosyncrasies and foibles

If these words decribe you, you can stop reading right here.  Certainly don’t waste their time by reading the book.  You’ll note I said don’t waste their time.  The reason I say their time is, I know what will happen if you are the aforementioned type of person and you read it.  You will get upset.  You will write Ted and Zach a nasty letter or write a terrible review on your blog.  Nice guys that they are, they will feel compelled to respond, and you will have wasted their time.

On the other hand, there are some of you who are Reformed in your theology and willing to have a hearty laugh (no, those are not mutually exclusive categories).  If you are among this number, and are still willing to laugh even if you’re the butt of the joke, then you might want to check out Younger, Restlesser, Reformeder.

In this book they make fun of us young Calvinsts (okay, so maybe I’m not quite so young anymore) in ways that could often be labeled “over-the-top generalizations” (read: good satire).  As I read the book and considered their jabs, I vascilated between two reactions.  At times, I would somewhat condemningly chuckle to myself, “That’s so true.”  At other times, I would find myself painfully admitting, “That’s so true about me!”

They lampoon the teachers we learn from, the books we read and the conferences we attend.  The media we take in and our use of the internet are also fair game, as are our attitudes toward politics, pyramid schemes and anyone who thinks differently than we do (i.e., the right way).

Take this example from their section on being obnoxious, which far too often is a descriptor that fits us Calvinists to a “T.” (Though Kluck and Bartels insightfully point out that “New Calvinists” are not nearly as obnoxious as new Calvinists.)

"Here’s the thing: Once you’ve come right out and said that God himself has chosen who will be saved, nothing else you could say could be more offensive, from the world’s perspective, so go ahead and celebrate the Crusades, justify the Salem witch trials, and hand out anathemas like they’re Bit O’ Honey bars left over from when you used to celebrate Halloween.  What have you got to lose?  Really, how innocent are doves?"

In the end, if you are young, reformed and especially if you live in Michigan, this isn’t just the book for you…it’s the book about you.  Don’t take yourself so seriously.  Sit down, take an hour and read it, and have a laugh at your own expense.

No Cross = No Gospel

I mentioned elsewhere that I recently got the book Don't Call it a Comeback. It is essentially a compilation of articles written by various pastors, authors and theologians, each chapter dealing with a different facet of evangelicalism.

As the author of What is the Gospel?, Greg Gilbert displayed a love for the gospel and a realization of the need for the cross to be at its center. It is these same things that he brings to his chapter, "The Gospel: God's Self-Substitution for Sinners."

Gilbert doesn't mince words, often dealing with unpopular truths. Many people want to believe in a feel-good "gospel" that primarily promises them comfort, ease and affluence. The message of the Bible is nowhere near this pleasant though.

"In the face of the worst cultural prejudice imaginable, (Paul) fixed the entire gospel squarely and immovably on the fact that Jesus was tacked to a stauros and left to die. If he had been trying to find a surefire way to turn first-century people off from his 'good news,' he couldn't have done better than that.

"So why did he do it? It's simple. He did it because he knew that leaving the cross out, or running past it with a glance, or making it peripheral to the gospel, or allowing anything else to displace it at the center of the gospel would make it, finally, no gospel at all."

The reason that a real gospel must have the cross at its center is the fact that each one of us is unmistakably a sinner. And when Gilbert speaks of sin, unlike many, he doesn't minimize what that actually means:

"Throughout Scripture, sin is not simply falling short of one's true meaning or purpose, nor is it merely a broken relationship or external systemic corruption. Rather, it is a personal, blameworthy transgression of the law of God and a rejection of his authority as Creator and King."

In light of this truth, I found quite Gilbert's treatment of "the gospel of the kingdom" to be especially helpful. So many today seem to want to separate "the gospel of the kingdom" from the "gospel of the cross." We are told that "the gospel" is primarily about the coming of Christ and the inauguration of his kingdom, over which he will rule with all righteousness. Gilbert pleads with readers not to follow in the footsteps of those who would make such a stark division, pointing out that the only way into the kingdom is through the cross.

"So by all means, preach about the kingdom, talk about Jesus' conquest of evil, write about his coming reign. But don't pretend that all those things are glorious good news all by themselves. They're not. The bare fact that Jesus is going to rule the world with perfect righteousness is not good news to me; it's terrifying news, because I am not righteous! I'm one of the enemies he's coming to crush! The coming kingdom becomes good news only when I realize that the coming King is also a Savior who forgives sin and makes people righteous--and he does that through his death on the cross."

Book Review - Mile Marker 825

In the spirit of full disclosure, let me say this: Jason Mirikitani is a friend of mine. Last month I mentioned him and his new book a couple times here and here. Were Jason not a friend though, I am quite certain that I would find his story no less amazing, no less compelling, no less inspiring.

Mile Marker 825 is the story of how Jason survived and recovered from an automobile accident that took the life of his wife.  Jason writes in a down-to-earth, conversational manner.  Therefore, as you read the book, it feels more like you're sitting across the table from him, listening to him tell his story.  And as you hear him speak, he tells you of how his recovery was not only physical, but also emotional and spiritual as well.

Jason shares how everything he has endured has been a small part of God's larger plan.  Part of that plan was that he might learn some lessons along the way for the purpose of sharing them with others.  Among these are the fact that Christ's power reaches its perfection in our acknowledged personal weakness and a realization that far too often churches fail to be "suffering-safe" places.

Among the most meaningful passages of the book for me was when Jason points out, "Throughout all of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, the most often asked inquiry is, 'How long, O Lord, how long?'...Ironically, though, the most repeated command from God is 'Do not fear' or 'Do not be afraid.'  God does not give a direct answer to the 'How long' question.  Instead, he responds with His own imperative which, in essence says, 'Trust me.  I've got everything under control.'"

This seems to be the heartbeat of Jason's message -- not that bad things won't happen, but that even when they do, our loving God is still in control.  Jason speaks of how he was "scarred by grace" and is convinced that he is called to be "a wounded healer."  Read Mile Marker 825 and you're likely to be convinced as well.

Book Review - Generous Justice

Tim Keller’s most recent book, Generous Justice: How God’s Grace Makes Us Just, is a short, helpful book on the area of social justice. In this book, Keller examines the connection between the grace of God and the resulting justice exhibited by those who are his.  “A true experience of the grace of Jesus Christ,” he argues, “inevitably motivates a man or woman to seek justice in the world.”  When he says this, Keller uses the term justice to essentially mean “care for those who are vulnerable.” 

He argues that just as Christ Jesus did not give us what we deserved, but rather poured out his mercy on us, so too we must not condition our “justice” on whether a person (in our eyes) deserves it.  In fact, the thrust is that I must not consider primarily what I’ve earned a situation, but rather must consider first and foremost the dignity that is owed to all as those who are created in the image of God.

Though I sometimes disagree with how Keller gets there, I almost always appreciate where he ends up.  This is certainly the case with this book.  He challenges my notions of individualism and instead calls me to think in communal terms.  “The strong must disadvantage themselves for the weak, the majority for the minority, or the community frays and the fabric breaks.”

While Keller focuses this book on deeds of mercy, he is careful not to conflate them with gospel proclamation, saying that both are necessary in the church.  But he does make the point, “People who strongly believe in the doctrine of justification by faith alone will have this high regard for God’s law and justice.  They will be passionate about seeeing God’s justice honored in the world.”

And this is, essentially, the challenge Keller presents:  “If you are a Christian, and you refrain from committing adultery or using profanity  or missing church, but you don’t do the hard work of thinking through how to do justice in every area of life – you are failing to live justly and righteously.”

Book Review - Republocrat

With election day nearing, Republocrat: Confessions of a Liberal Conservative by Carl Trueman seemed to be quite a timely read.  Lately, I’ve been noticing some of Trueman’s blog entries at Reformation 21 and have appreciated both his thoughtful approach as well as the sharp wit displayed in his writing.

Trueman, the Departmental Chair of Church History at Westminster Theological Seminary, fails to fulfill certain caricatures, in that he is a very conservative Christian with very liberal politics (on most issues). In fact, Trueman’s goal in this book seems to be to highlight the truth that too often the line becomes blurred between Christian conservatism and political conservatism. “The gospel,” he rightly contends, “cannot and must not be identified with partisan political posturing.”

He does spend some time in Republocrat arguing for his political perspective. In this, I imagine that many (most?) political  conservatives will find Trueman’s arguments unpersuasive, the occasional strawman sneaking into the mix. But I am quite sure he would make the point that his goal was not to argue for his view on issues, but rather to simply point out that we need to realize that whichever way we vote, there are certain trade-offs we are making. In light of this truth, Christians need to engage the political process in what is truly a counter-cultural way.

“I look forward to the day,” Trueman states, “when intelligence and civility, not tiresome clichés, charater assassinations, and Manichaean noise, are the hallmark of Christians as they engage the political process.”

In Republocrat, Trueman has succeeded in writing a very thought-provoking book which I would heartily recommend to any Christian who takes their political views seriously. I do not agree with all of his positions; one could scarcely hold to an identical combinations of views. But then again, that is pretty much the point of the book; we should critically examine all of the issues and not simply default to what a certain political party tells us is the appropriate liberal position, the appropriate conservative position, or (most especially) the appropriate Christian position.

Book Review: What Is the Gospel?

Yesterday I posted a video in which Kevin DeYoung, Ryan Kelly and Greg Gilbert discussed the mission of the church.  I had neither heard Gilbert speak nor read anything by him before this.  It just so happens though, that last week I ordered his book What Is the Gospel?, which I was pleased to have the opportunity to read this week.

Gilbert recognizes that we live in an age of much gospel confusion.  Both inside the Church and out there are varying views as to what exactly we mean when we speak of the "gospel."  It is this problem which he strives to address.  As D.A. Carson states in the book's forward, "This book does not so much claim to break new ground as survey afresh some old ground that should never have been ignored, much less abandoned."

What Is the Gospel? has much to commend it.  It deals with the deepest and most meaningful of truths, yet does so in a way that is eminently readable.  Gilbert clearly loves the gospel and it comes through in his writing.  A number of times I was forced to simply stop reading, ponder the great truths that he had expounded, and worship the God of whom they spoke.  And just as he maintains that the life, death and resurrection of Christ is the heart of the gospel, he makes sure that the Bible is at the heart of his argument.  As a quick perusal of the Scripture index will show, in just over 100 short pages of writing, Gilbert makes almost 175 distinct Scripture references.

I often speak with others about the necessity to keep the gospel at the center of all we do.  In fact, it must inform not only our actions, but our very identity.  And if this is to be true of us, then we must be sure that the gospel that is doing this is the true gospel.  Therefore we must hold fast to the gospel by which we have been saved, the gospel Paul considered to be of first importance: "that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures..." (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

Greg Gilbert has done this, and What Is the Gospel? will help others to do the same.

Book Review: Hipster Christianity

Brett McCracken’s recent book, Hipster Christianity is a study of what happens, as its subtitle tells us, when church and "cool" collide. While at times humorous, it is not a satire, and while at times critical, it is not an ivory tower lampooning. Rather it is a critique from the midst of hip, as McCracken is a young, cool Christian, in tune with what’s “in,” both in the church and in culture at large.

The first third of the book deals with the history of hip, first in terms of the culture at large, then as it has applied within Christianity. It reads a little slowly as McCracken lays the necessary sociological and historical groundwork for a discussion of this type. What I found to be most key in this section though was his observation that if ever there was a culture born to aspire toward the hip, it is indeed America with our emphasis on individualism and personal freedom.

The second section deals with hipster Christianity in the church today, giving examples of what types of things this group of people is drawn to (and repelled by). I have heard some criticism from others in regards to this section (i.e., “I’m hip, but I don’t like some of the things he says hipsters like…”), but I assume that his examples are meant to be broad-stroke generalities, not absolutes. Taken this way, they paint what I would consider to be a fairly representative picture.

Finally, McCracken contrasts what he terms as “Wannabe Hip Churches” and “Authentic Christian Cool.” This is where many who are a part of the hipster movement within Christianity will take issue. I am not terribly (read: at all) hip. It is probably in no small part thanks to this that I found this to be the most important and helpful section of the book. I didn’t take McCracken to be condemning all of hipsterdom, after all, he is a self-professed hipster himself. Rather, he was recognizing that we all (hipster and traditionalist square alike) have a tendency to be too concerned with how others see us, and we must make sure that we fight against this urge, not fan it into flame.

In the end I took the main point of the book to be that nothing is really more cool than the Gospel of Jesus Christ itself. It is truly relevant and truly lasting. Christianity needs to be creating culture, not reacting to it, and if we are to have a hipster culture within our church, it must bubble up from within, not be some façade that we’ve built so as to appease desired consumers.

Hipster Christianity is an interesting study. There were no doubt parts that would offend people on both ends of the spectrum, which I suppose is one indication that in this book, McCracken must have done something right.

Book Review: Your Jesus Is Too Safe

Perhaps the most important question we will ever be asked is the one which Jesus posed to his disciples in Luke 9:20: “Who do you say that I am?”

Against the backdrop of all sorts of inadequate responses, Jared C. Wilson offers twelve appropriate answers to Christ’s question in Your Jesus Is Too Safe: Outgrowing a Drive-Thru, Feel-Good Savior.

Early on, Wilson makes the point that, “No message has been more used and exploited and appropriated than Jesus Christ’s.” In this book he speaks out against these perversions of the gospel in an effort to present a truly biblical Christ.

It is definitely written for a popular audience and he regularly injects humor into his writing. Some may find this style to be irreverent; I just found it to be fun. For instance, I don’t know which I liked more: the fact that he referred to Mark’s account as “the Die Hard of the Gospels,” or the fact that he followed it with a footnote asking the reader if they were angry yet.

That being said, it is not just a fluffy, feel-good book. That is precisely the kind of message that Wilson is trying to counteract. As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, Wilson makes sure we do not lose sight of the Cross, nor of the blood that washes us clean of our sin. And while light-hearted at times, the book is heavily grounded in Scripture. I didn’t count, but Wilson included what must have been hundreds of footnotes referring the reader to the various biblical passages to which he was alluding.

I have long enjoyed Wilson’s blog at www.gospeldrivenchurch.com. I can truly say I enjoyed this book as well.

Book Review: Decisional Regeneration vs. Divine Regeneration

I recently received the book Decisional Regeneration vs. Divine Regenration by James E. Adams as a gift from one of the members of our church who spends his winters in Arizona. While there, he attends the church pastured by Adams. I was excited to receive it as I had been very impressed with the other book by Adams which I had read: War Psalms of the Prince of Peace. I found this second work by Adams (which is actually an updated version of his work from almost 40 years ago) quite helpful as well.

This short, very readable book is not a theological treatise on the level of Calvin's Institutes, but then it is not intended to be. It is very purposefully accessible to all audiences and is very neatly organized into concise, to the point chapters. Adams lays out a clear, biblical argument against the concept of decisional regeneration, beginning with the observation that “the ‘Christian’ segment of our society seems to be much more a reflection of our culture than a light to it.” He suggests that what lies behind this is the fact that many who may call themselves "Christians" have nonetheless never actually experienced the new birth.

What lies even deeper at the heart of this issue is an understanding of how exactly one comes to be born again. Adams speaks against the idea of “Decisional Regeneration,” that is that human beings bring about the new birth through a decision to follow Christ. Instead, he argues, such a decision could never even be made without the regenerating work of God already having taken place in their heart.

Adams does a good job of displaying that this is not just some unimportant theological argument that has no real practical implications. He does this, examining the impact of a theology of decisional regeneration on such areas as our worship, our preaching and our evangelism.

Some of the quotes in the book (especially those of Dr. Martyn Llloyd-Jones) are pure gold and throughout, Adams is tethered to the Gospel of Grace. He reminds us, “The brilliance of God’s power in saving sinners can be appreciated only against the gloomy backdrop of people’s desperate condition, their inability to please God.”

In light of such, he concludes with these words from John 1:12-13: “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

Book Review: The Good News We Almost Forgot

"The only thing more difficult than finding the truth is not losing it. What starts out as new and precious becomes plain and old. What begins a thrilling discovery becomes a rote exercise. What provokes one generarion to sacrifice and passion becomes in the next generationa a cause for rebellion and apathy..."

With these words, Kevin DeYoung begins The Good News We Almost Forgot, which serves as both an overview of (and a sort of love letter to) the Heidelberg Catechism. I say this, because DeYoung's love for the Heidelberg Catechism shines brightly throughout the book, outshone only be his obvious love for our Savior.

The book follows the pattern of the Catechism with 129 question/answer combinations, divided into 52 groups, intended to be covered one per Lord's Day. DeYoung begins his chapters with a simple statement of the questions and answers to be covered and then goes on to provide commentary for that material.

Those who are unfamiliar with the Heidelberg Catechism will be blessed as they follow it's gospel trajectory of "guilt...grace...gratitude" as it covers the Apostles' Creed, the Ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer. Those who already love it will be pleased to find in DeYoung a kindred spirit, who describes the Catechism as "trustworthy and beautiful, simple and deep." And those who grew up memorizing the Heidelberg but remember it as a dry, lifeless, rote obligation, just may be surprised to see the Catechism come to life as DeYoung presents it with a passionate zeal.

Too often a high dedication to theological precision leads to a cold crustiness which neglects the Christ-like love that we are to possess, and instead leads us down a pharisaical road of smugness and superiority. What I appreciate about DeYoung (and about the Heidelberg too, for that matter) is the fact that he is quite passionate about theological depth and precision, but at the same time he maintains a winsome, lively and active faith. He sees it this way:

If it is worth anything, our theological heart will pulse throughout our spiritual bodies, making us into people who are more prayerful, more godly, and more passionate about the Bible, the lost, and the world around us. We will be theologically solid to the core, without the unecessary crust. Kind of like the Heidelberg Catechism. And kind of like Jesus too.

Book Review: Filling up the Afflictions of Christ

Filling up the Afflictions of Christ is book five of John Piper’s series “The Swans Are Not Silent.” Each of the books in this series is a set of three short, introductory Christian biographies tied to a certain theme. In this installment the theme is Colossians 1:24, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.”

Piper contends that, “Afflictions are not merely the result of missionary fruitfulness, but also the means,” and that, “Paul’s sufferings fill up Christ’s afflictions not by adding anything to their worth, but by extending them to the people they were meant to save…So the afflictions of Christ are ‘lacking’ in the sense that they are not seen and known and loved among the nations.”

He goes on to introduce the reader to William Tyndale, John Paton and Adoniram Judson, three men whose afflictions God used to make know the afflictions of Christ to many. His telling of their stories is by no means in-depth biographical work, and is not intended to be. Rather each is a brief sketch of the sorts of trials faced by these men in their lives as missionaries for the cause of Christ.

Piper concludes the book by calling us all to examine God’s calling on our lives. For most of us, he states, our calling is “radical obedience for the glory of Christ right where (we) are.” For others though, he suggests, perhaps God is calling us to fill up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, the church.

All in all, this short book is worth the read, especially for someone unfamiliar with its three subjects.

Book Review: Hello, I Love You

Hello, I Love You: Adventures in Adoptive Fatherhood is the most recent book from award-winning author Ted Kluck. Ted and his wife Kristin have adopted two sons from Ukraine, and this book is a memoir of their experiences dealing with the highs and lows of international adoption.

Full disclosure here: I know Ted and I like Ted. We’re friends. Maybe not the closest of pals, but certainly more than just facebook friends. I admit, my opinion may not quite reach the standard of complete objectivity. But I not only know and like Ted, I also know and like his writing style, his sense of humor and his heart. Having enjoyed his work as an author before ever having had the opportunity to meet him, this is not merely the effect of bias. As such, I’m convinced that even if I didn’t know and like Ted, I would definitely like this book. This sense was buoyed when my wife read Hello, I Love You. She’s never met Ted, but she enjoyed the book very much as well.

It’s a funny book as Ted’s ironic sense of humor is on full display. It’s a painful book as Ted openly and honestly talks about his own sinful attitudes (specifically lack of trust in God) as he and his wife dealt with the struggles of infertility and international adoption. It’s a convicting book, causing me to recognize my own lack of gratefulness for all of the blessings that God has poured out upon me. But most of all, it is a good book, a memoir in which he manages to somehow seamlessly weave together deep theological truths with the occasional reference to the classic film, ¡Three Amigos!

Those who have gone through infertility or adoption will no doubt find this book compelling. I would recommend it though, whether or not you’ve ever dealt with either of these, as Ted’s treatment of them stands to teach us all a number of lessons. Among these are the beauty of our adoption as children of God, how very much God has blessed us as such, and the glory of the gospel.

Book Review: The Four Loves

In his book The Four Loves, C.S. Lewis takes a look at four different types of love: Affection, Friendship, Eros, and Charity. Click on the four headings to see some of my favorite quotes from each of these sections.

To be certain, I found some parts of the book to be more helpful than others. The section on Friendship quite frankly did not do a whole lot for me. Not quite sure why, it just didn’t. I found the chapters on Affection and Charity both helpful. The chapter on Eros, I found to be fantastic. In fact, I plan to incorporate it into future pre-marital counseling that I do. On the whole, it was an enjoyable book filled with Lewis’s trademark wit and wisdom.

Book Review: The Trellis and the Vine

The controlling metaphor of this book is that of the relationship between a trellis and a vine (hence the title). The function of the trellis is secondary. That is to say that it, in and of itself, is not important. Its importance, rather, is found in its ability to support the vine. It is the vine that is ultimately important.

Colin Marshall and Tony Payne suggest that the framework, structures and committees, of the church serve as the trellis to the vine of proclaiming and applying the Gospel to the lives of people. Far too often though, we spend all our time and efforts focussing on "trellis work" while not paying enough attention to the vine.

The answer to this problem, they suggest, comes through training disciples to train disciples. While this might not be quite as easy as they sometimes make it seem, there are any number of good suggestions in this book as to how it is practically done.

I personally feel that Marshall and Payne are on the right track and I highly reccommend this book to pastors, elders, and other ministry leaders. If you'd like to hear about this book from a far more authoritative source than myself though, check out what Mark Dever has to say below.



UPDATE...Click here to download a free discussion/study guide for The Trellis and the Vine.

Book Review - The Shack

I read Tim Keller's review of William Young's The Shack today and found it to be balanced, fair and helpful. The review is well worth reading whether you've read the book or not, or even whether or not you intend to read the book.