Tag: Christian Apologetics

by J. Gresham Machen

Paperback, 101 pg.
Westminster Seminary Press, 2017

Read: March 19, 2017

If it’s J. Gresham Machen, it’s gotta be good! Yeah, that might be an oversimplification, but it’s true.

This book is made up of part of a series of radio addresses Machen gave in 1935 — this selection, obviously, focusing on the Person of Christ — his Deity (and what it actually means to describe him as such), what He says about Himself, and what He demonstrated about Himself. These are warm chapters that must’ve been easy to listen to (at one point Machen apologizes for technical language in a way that brought a smile to my face), but rich in teaching. I only wish we had the recordings. I don’t know how, but even with these addresses coming from eight decades ago, they feel like the could’ve been delivered last week.

My favorite chapter, probably, was on The Sermon on the Mount — it’s a long-standing favorite of liberal theologians, and other non-Christians as a way of talking about the “ethics of the New Testament” apart from anything supernatural, miraculous or theological. Machen directly takes on this idea and shows how it’s baseless and impossible to actually do.

These addresses were given towards the end of this life, after he’s gone through “The Presbyterian Conflict” and all the associated drama and trials. Through that experience, he’s a bit more direct. In Christianity & Liberalism Machen’s no less forthright, but he talks about Liberal Theologians, or “other teachers”, etc. Here, he doesn’t waste time — he just calls them “unbelievers.” It’s the same thing, as he demonstrated in his earlier work, but he doesn’t do that here.

This is how apologetics should look — easy to understand and follow, yet rich in doctrine and the Bible. Welcoming and winsome while not giving an inch to his opponents. As always, with Machen, this is how we should all be doing it.

—–

5 Stars

Why I Still Believe by Mary Jo Sharp: Mark 9:24 Lived Out

By HCNewton

On August 8, 2021

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Why I Still Believe:
A Former Atheist’s Reckoning
with the Bad Reputation
Christians Give a
Good God

by Mary Jo Sharp

Kindle Edition, 240 pg.
Zondervan, 2019

Read: August 1, 2021

What’s Why I Still Believe About?

For the sake of time, let me lift this from Sharp’s website:

With fresh and thoughtful insights, Why I Still Believe offers a spiritual narrative that presents relevant answers to haunting questions like:

Isn’t there too much pain and suffering to believe?

Is it okay to have doubt?

What if Jesus’ story is a copy of another story?

Is there any evidence for Jesus’ resurrection?

Does atheism explain the human experience better than Christianity can?

How can the truth of Christianity matter when the behaviors of Christians are reprehensible?

At once logical and loving, Sharp reframes the gospel as it truly is: the good news of redemption. With firmly grounded truths, Why I Still Believe is an affirming reminder that the hypocrisy of Christians can never negate the transforming grace and truth of Christ.

Sharp presents herself—warts and all—and her struggle with doubts, and some of what she’s found to address them. I want to stress what the description says about “a spiritual narrative”—that’s what this book is, and along the way, that narrative will touch on those bullet points. I’m not sure what the claim about “reframing the gospel” is about—how does it need “reframing” to be “the good news of redemption”? And as important as a reminder along those lines would be, this is more of an assertion about the hypocrisy of believers being unable to negate anything than it is a reminder (or defense of the faith for it).

Ultimately, I think this is a story about a woman being let down by the shepherds of Christ’s Church—she needed help, she needed guidance, she needed pastoral care and aid in finding the answers that she needed. In the absence of that shepherding, she had to help herself.

So, what did I think about Why I Still Believe?

The chapters that follow are snapshots of my experience in the church and how those experiences shaped me and my beliefs. If you feel the ever-present tension of the beauty of salvation alongside the ugliness of human hypocrisy and evil, you’re not alone. If you are uncomfortable in the church but feel the risk of commitment calling, this book is for you. It is for those who’ve wondered if they’ve been left a cosmic orphan, and wondered again if there’s more to this unshakeable longing to belong. I can’t promise any tidy endings, but there’s still an irresistible Hope.

I’m not going to talk about all the problems I have with what Sharp presented, but there were many. The above quotation is the concluding sentences of the Introduction. Set against those goals, I think she succeeds—she shows that the reader who matches those qualifications isn’t alone, she doesn’t deliver any tidy endings (and the tidy things she does present aren’t really that tidy), and she does assert that there’s an irresistible Hope. What she doesn’t do is give much of a reason for faith against the tension between the beauty of salvation and the ugliness; she doesn’t assure anyone that there’s every reason to commit to Christ’s Bride despite the weaknesses and personal discomfort—nor does she tell the reader much about the Hope she asserts to point to.

What we do get is an honest account of one woman’s stumbling through life, looking for the certainty of faith, looking for answers the Church should provide “to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15), and who doesn’t find much. Yet there’s still faith to be found, which is commendable, it is relatable—it is good to know that as we stumble along the path that we’re not alone.

There’s value in this, but that’s not what the book promised, so I can’t get that excited about what it delivered. There’s not a lot of apologetics, there’s not a lot of Bible, there’s not a lot of biblical justification for assurance—there’s almost no Gospel. There are some arguments for the existence of a Deity, but not for the Triune God of the Christian Scriptures. There’s some arguing about some facts about the Resurrection of Christ—but not about what that means.

A lot of what’s labeled (by others or itself) “Evangelicalism” today is really some sort of “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism”—and that’s about as close as we get to Christianity in these pages. Although, I’m not convinced Sharp actually delivered that much of anything “Moralistic”—Therapeutic Deism is about it. I’m not saying Sharp isn’t an orthodox believer—I’m just saying that I don’t see much along those lines in this book.

Here I said I wasn’t going to get too deep into my problems—and I really haven’t, but I’ve gotten further along the path than I meant to. So I’m going to stop.

When it came to assigning the nearly-obligatory Stars, I was torn—just what do I rate this? I ended up looking at my own definition of my ratings, and read: “Don’t bother. It’s not bad per se, it’s just not good.” That about sums it up for me.

Can someone read this and benefit? I can’t say that there’s no chance of it, I’m just not sure what grounds there would be for claiming it’s useful. The dross to gold ratio doesn’t give me a reason to recommend this.

2 Stars

Catch-Up Quick Takes None Greater by Matthew Barrett; Alive by Gabriel N.E. Fluhrer; The Song of Songs by G. I. Williamson; The Ten Commandments of Progressive Christianity by Michael J. Kruger

By HCNewton

On May 31, 2020

In Theology/Christian Living

The point of these quick takes post sto catch up on my “To Write About” stack—emphasizing pithiness, not thoroughness.
—

None Greater: The Undomesticated Attributes of God

by Matthew Barrett
Kindle Edition, 304 pg.
Baker Books, 2019
Read: December 22-29, 2020
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

(the official blurb)
This is a popular-level, very approachable introduction to the Attributes of God—Incomprehensibility, Aseity, Simplicity, Immutability, Impassibility, Eternity, Omnipresence, Omnipotence, Omniscience, Omnisapience, and a few others. He does so using the works of Augustine, Anselm,— and Aquinas to define Classical Theism—with help from Charnock and Bavinck.

Tackling all that in 300 accessible pages is no mean feat. I cannot tell you how many times I thought as I read this that this is the book that R.C. Sproul would have written about the Attributes of God. Sure, the illustrations aren’t the ones that Sproul would’ve used—but they’re of a kind. In my books, that’s a high compliment—we need someone who can communicate like Sproul. Barrett will do fine if he continues to put out this kind of work.

This is a really helpful and useful work—I recommend it strongly to everyone.
4 Stars

Alive: How the Resurrection of Christ Changes Everything

by Gabriel N.E. Fluhrer
Kindle Edition, 167 pg.
Reformation Trust, 2020
Read: April 5-12, 2020
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

(the official blurb)
The book starts with a look at the evidence for the Resurrection of Christ, and why it’s important to wrestle with it and to be ready to defend it in our current culture. Then Fluhrer moves on to looking at the way the Resurrection was foreshadowed in the Old Testament, described in the Gospels, preached in Acts, explained in the rest of the New Testament, and serves as the basis for our sure hope. He covers all the bases and does so well.

Fluhrer has an apologetic goal for this book, it’s not as compelling as he seems to think it is. Which really describes the book as a whole. In the end, it’s too surface-level. It’s helpful, the theology behind it is the kind of thing we need more of—a robust Redemptive-Historical approach à la Vos and Gaffin—and it’s approachable. I just couldn’t sink my teeth into it. I liked it, I just wanted to like it more.

3 Stars

The Song of Songs

by G. I. Williamson
Kindle Edition, 112 pg.
P&R Publishing, 2020
Read: April 26, 2020
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

(the official blurb)
This is a great and helpful collection of sermons. This particular book of the Bible is often misinterpreted, so having someone bring careful clarity to the text is valuable. It’s not the final word—Williamson would never claim to be. But it’s helpful.

It’s also Christ-centered. Something far too often neglected when approaching this text. Yes, there’s a focus on love, marriage, sexuality. But with the goal of bringing glory to God through that.

I really appreciated this book and will be returning to it.
3.5 Stars

The Ten Commandments of Progressive Christianity

by Michael J. Kruger
Paperback, 54 pg.
Cruciform Quick, 2019
Read: May 24, 2020
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

(the official blurb)
There’s part of this that’s a tribute to Machen and Christianity & Liberalism, while being an update to it, too. To see how Liberalism is alive and well (running under the moniker of “Progressive” now), he uses two contemporary works to respond to. He stresses repeatedly that the tenents taught in these books aren’t wholesale departures from the faith. However, these half-truths are so misleading they amount to the same. Being half-truths, they’re all the more dangerous and will easily fool some.

The analysis and critique are sharp, spot-on, and easy to read. Well worth your time.

But…

I know that the point of this imprint is “quick,” but this was just too brief to be really valuable. I’d have liked some more depth, for Kruger to use more than just the two works he’s critiquing, that sort of thing. It was an appetizer—and it turns out that after a couple of bites, I wanted a meal.
3.5 Stars

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase from any of them, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

Christianity and Liberalism: Legacy Edition by J. Gresham Machen: A Timeless Classic is Given a New Edition with Some Nice Bonuses

By HCNewton

On November 10, 2019

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Christianity and Liberalism: Legacy Edition

by J. Gresham Machen

Paperback, 266 pg.
Westminster Seminary Press, 2019

Read: October 20-27, 2019

Man…this is hard. Back in 1995, I heard a reference on a radio show to this book, and the hosts talked about how even though it was written over 50 years ago, it felt like it was written for the Church today. I figured I’d give it a whirl (not sure if I read it in 1995 or ’96, it was one of the two). I still remember being blown away by it, and wondering why I never heard anyone talk about it. I’ve since found myself in circles where people are familiar with it—but still not enough talk about it.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read this book. I know I’ve talked before about the author here, but not as much as I should/could have. Anyone who’s read what I’ve written about my son’s kidney transplant will have noticed that he was named after Machen. It’s because he’s a great writer, but it’s Who and what he writes about that makes me such a fan. Sure, he’s a fallen man, and has feet of clay (at the best of times), but he’s one we should all heed.

So clearly, there’s no illusion of a hint of objectivity to be found here.

Machen’s essential argument is this: Liberal Christianity is a different religion. It’s not the faith once handed down, it’s not that which was defined in the Ecumenical Creeds, it’s not that communicated by the Church Fathers, nor the Reformers, nor anyone else with a legitimate claim to Christian. It’s rank unbelief that isn’t honest enough to call it that. He’s clear—he wouldn’t waste as much time talking about them and their teaching if they’d just be honest about their goals, ends and beliefs. But as long as they persist in claiming they belong in the Church, he can’t do anything but oppose them.

Having set forth his thesis, he goes on to demonstrate it looking at the teachings of both Christianity and Liberalism as they are seen in the central areas of God and Man, The Bible, Christ, Salvation, and The Church. He doesn’t just lay out the problems of Liberalism, it’s not just a critique—he presents a positive case that the Bible teaches Christianity. While his criticisms still hold in Liberal Christianity (and can easily be applied to much of “Evangelicalism” today), it’s in his positive presentations where the text comes alive. The closing paragraphs of his chapter on The Church felt like they were written just for me (this time through the book anyway, other passages had that impact previously). For any part of a book to have that kind of impact after reading it (at least) a dozen times? That’s something special.

Machen has a tendency in his writing to lay things out in a pattern. My opponents say this thing over here, most of their critics say something over there, and all act like those are the two positions; but I propose to you a third way to look at the idea. But he doesn’t do that once in these pages. It’s very cut and dry—there are these men (theological liberals) teaching something they call Christianity, but it’s not it. On the other hand, there are actual Christians—yeah, there are important differences (and Machen has no problem identifying and discussing them), but on these issues we’re united. Unbelief vs. belief, period.

Each time I’ve read it, it feels fresh. Not like I’ve read it for the first time, but there’s something about his style that just jumps off the page. Yes, despite being 96 years old, it might as well have been published for the first time in 2019 (although the theological schools might have to get a new name). Clear, thoughtful, persuasive, it’s everything you should want (and get) in a book of this nature.

So aside from putting it out in a new, attractive cover, what’s the Legacy Edition have to offer? Seventeen brief essays about Machen, this book and how they live on in the work of Westminster Theological Seminary (which was founded by Machen and others as a result of the controversies addressed in this book which made it impossible to remain at Princeton Theological Seminary). This edition was produced both in the ninetieth year of the seminary and the first year that the book entered the public domain. So these essays commemorate both the book and the institution. My only complaint about them is the way that some shoehorned both the school and the book into the same essay, it just felt awkward. Most of the time that wasn’t a problem, but when it was . . . bleh. Other than that, these essays are helpful and good reading (some more than others, but none are bad). As I said, these essays are brief—I’ve written longer blog posts than some of them, so don’t let the number of them intimidate you. Also, it’s very possible to read the book and ignore them if that’s your thing.

This book has had such an impact on me and continues to do so, it’s really unfair to try to assign it stars. Five isn’t enough. The new essays are a nice little bonus, but it’s not like they improve on the classic, but they might help the reader appreciate what they read a little more. Get this edition, the older edition from P&R, or find an old, used copy. Just get it and read.

5 Stars 5 Stars

The Person of Jesus by J. Gresham Machen

By HCNewton

On March 26, 2017

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

The Person of Jesus: Radio Addresses on the Deity of the Savior

—–

5 Stars

No Uncertain Sound: Reformed Doctrine and Life by Reformed Forum

By HCNewton

On March 26, 2017

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

No Uncertain Sound: Reformed Doctrine and Life

by Reformed Forum

Kindle Edition, 102 pg.
Reformed Forum, 2017

Read: March 26, 2017

I’ve been listening to podcasts from Reformed Forum for years now — not as long as I should’ve, no doubt, but for quite awhile — and their guests, discussions and related materials have provided a lot of fodder for my reading lists (both accomplished and planned). So I was excited to hear that they were taking their first steps into book production, not just promotion. Their first book, No Uncertain Sound: Reformed Doctrine and Life is a collection of essays attempting to “set forth the salient features of [their] Reformed identity” and “facilitate the spread of” the gospel. It’s definitely a winner regarding the former, and in the right hands, will help the latter.

Following a brief history of the Reformed Forum, there are six essays from regular contributors to the podcasts, conferences and website sponsored by the Forum. Lane G. Tipton writes about the Redemptive-Historical approach to the Scriptures, focusing on Jesus in the Old Testament’s progressive revelation of the Messiah — this essay also provides some critical interaction with Peter Enns as an added bonus. Camden M. Bucey, writes about the need for theology (professional or personal) to be both Biblical (as in Vosian) and Systematic — an approach I applaud and wish I saw more of. Jeffrey C. Waddington addresses the doctrine of has a great essay on union with Christ and the ordo salutis. Glen J. Clary writes about worship and our need to approach it correctly. James J. Cassidy’s ecclesiastical essay is very helpful and probably not what most people expect from the idea of an essay on ecclesiology. Waddington closes the book with an essay on Reformed apologetics — what’s known as Van Tillian presuppositionalism, or Covenant Apologetics.

All the essays are thought-provoking, and will help those new to thinking in these terms as well as those who’ve been down the path a time or two. At the end of each essay is a listing of podcasts/lectures from the Reformed Forum archives so readers can dive deeper into the topics — a great, and very useful tool. For myself, the essays on the Christ in the Old Testament, Union with Christ and Worship were the more profitable in the collection, but I can easily see where other readers will gain more from the others.

The suggested reading list is great — I’m not 100% convinced that I agree with the levels they assigned to some of the works (some are easier than they suggest, others more difficult). But a great list to have on hand without having to go dig around the website to find it.

This is in many ways an advertisement for their podcasts and website — and it’s good at that. But it is more — thankfully. There’s a lot of meat on these bones for people to chew on — whether they’re regular listeners/readers of the Forum’s output or not. Yes, the material basic, but it’s foundational — both for one’s understanding of what Reformed Forum is about, but for establishing an understanding of Confessional Reformed thought in the Twenty-First Century. This is a good first step into the world of books for Reformed Forum, and I look forward to seeing what they do next.

—–

4 Stars

One of the Few by Jason B. Ladd

By HCNewton

On August 14, 2016

In (Auto)Biography, Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

One of the Few: A Marine Fighter Pilot’s Reconnaissance of the Christian Worldview

by Jason B. Ladd
Kindle Edition, 318 pg.
Boone Shepherd, 2015

Read: June 10-17, 2016

Jason Ladd served as a Marine pilot and is a father and husband. In his early adulthood, he became a Christian. This book talks about the process he went through to become all of the above, and what he thinks and believes about Christianity. This is an interesting approach to a book — it’s mostly a collection of autobiographical anecdotes from childhood through adulthood, with a focus on his military training and service. These anecdotes are then used to illustrate spiritual insights/teachings/beliefs of the author. The earlier portions of the book are more obviously connected — a clear storyline can be seen.

I’m only saying this because Ladd told me that his book was “especially relevant to Reformed Protestant Theology Nerds.” But the theology in this thing is a mess, there isn’t a coherent Christian Worldview put forth in this book — there are portions of Christian(ish) Worldviews, but not one. And if there’s a Reformed Protestant view mentioned here, I missed it. I’m not saying that Ladd’s not a Christian, or that he doesn’t have a coherent Worldview, but he didn’t do a great job of displaying that Worldview in these pages — instead, we get a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and a dash of something else. If this was the kind of blog that critiqued theologically oriented works, my critique of Chapter 12 (for example) would be at least three times as long as his chapter. I think we’re all relieved that this isn’t that kind of blog.

The later in the book we go, the less the organization makes sense to me — clearly Ladd had an organization in mind, I just didn’t see it. He kept saying “Now it’s time to talk about ____.” What made it time to do so is beyond me, there was rarely an obvious link between topics when he said that. It doesn’t take away from the worth of the material, but the scatter-shot approach makes it hard to follow.

I recommend this with reservations — and have actually recommended it to a couple of people who I thought would appreciate it more than I did — the writing is crisp, the autobiographical/military training anecdotes are well-written and interesting, the theology needs a lot of work, but isn’t wholly without merit. If you like the concept, you’ll probably find it worth your time.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest thoughts about it. I thank him for his patience — this is horribly overdue.

—–

3 Stars

Unshakable by K. Scott Oliphint and Rod Mays

By HCNewton

On June 19, 2016

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Unshakable: Standing Firm in a Shifting Culture

by K. Scott Oliphint and Rod Mays

eARC, 160 pg.
P & R Publishing, 2016
Read: June 12, 2016

In the preface, after a brief sketch of Newton’s life and his career as a hymn-writer, the authors talk about how they’re going to use one of his hymns as a framework for their discussions. Because older hymns help us remember that we’re not the first believers to have to deal with certain aspects of life — and they help us remember those things that are important and distinguish them from those that are fleeting. Now, why of all the Newton hymns one could choose, they picked “Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken,” I don’t know. I looked, and realize I may have missed their explanation (and will feel pretty embarrassed when it’s pointed out to me). I don’t think it’s a bad choice, I just don’t understand why this one.

Don’t get me wrong, this is not an interpretation of or meditation upon Newton’s words. But each chapter draws on the themes of the verses of the song, and shows some of the ways you could talk about those issues and themes today. I guess you could label this an application of Newton.

Thanks to the framework of the hymn, the book covers a range of issues – the foundation of knowledge/understanding, the nature of authority, technology’s effect on our thinking, cutting, God’s promises, sin — and from time to time, I stopped reading and wondered how they started at X and ended up at Y, but the transitions were all so seamless that the text flowed easily from one to the other — and honestly, it turns out that X was related to Y, after all. Not only do they address a wide range of topics, they do so using the whole of Scripture, so you get a range of Biblical perspectives.

The authors use illustrations that should be familiar to many — you don’t have to be steeped in Evangelicalism to follow their arguments — A Christmas Carol, Neil Postman, Shakespeare, The Man Who Wasn’t There, for example. Chapter 4’s discussion of redemption begins with an extended look at a portion of Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I’m not sure I needed the close reading of the White Witch’s plot to kill Aslan in exchange of Edmund, I’m not sure anyone over the age of 6 needs it to see how it applies to Christian redemption. But that’s a minor complaint.

It is really a deceptively easy read. The prose is smooth enough that you can get through the text without noticing the deep thoughts you’re encountering. I remember looking down and wondering how I could be 25% with a Oliphint book so quickly. It has to be Mays’ influence.^* But when you read closely (as you really ought), Mays and Oliphint are dealing with important topics that everyone needs to think about, and they don’t do so in a cavalier or surface-level manner. An easy-to-read manner, yes, but not surface-y.

I even liked the discussion questions – I almost never like them and wonder why authors/publishers bother. But, these were helpful and I think would be great fodder for discussion groups.

Unshakable is a very useful, thought-provoking work that’s pretty accessible for a wide-ranging of readers: believer, unbeliever, student, older-than-typical student. I heartily recommend it.

Disclaimer: In exchange for my honest thoughts, I received this book via NetGalley and P&R Publishing. Thanks very much!
—
^*that’s not a criticism of Oliphint, just underlining how easy a read it was. My only criticism of Oliphint’s work is that there are so few of them.

—–

3.5 Stars

Christ Of The Bible And The Church’s Faith by Geoffrey Grogan

By HCNewton

On June 16, 2013

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Christ Of The Bible And The Church by Grogan, Geoffrey
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

It’s tough to know what to say about this, it’s a wholly carefully-written, exhaustive, entirely orthodox look at Christ as set forth in Scripture and in the doctrines of the Church. It’s an apologetic for the Faith once delivered as well as an explanation of it.

However, wow. It just didn’t work for me at all. The points I liked, I’ve seen better developed, better explained elsewhere. His most evangelical moments seemed half-hearted and perfunctory (although I don’t think they were, it just struck me that way). He is far too concerned with unbelieving scholarship, and does not respond to critics with as much force and thoroughness as he ought. There’s just doesn’t seem to be much heart to this work.

Your results may vary, certainly any book carrying the cover blurbs on it that this does would catch my eye, and I’d expect to be well worth the time, but this just didn’t work for me.