Tag: Christian Living Page 6 of 16

This Is the Word of the Lord: Becoming Confident in the Scriptures by Daniel R. Hyde: A Sound and Basic Defense of Scripture

DETAILS:
Publisher: Christian Focus Publications
Publication Date: January 17, 2023
Format: Paperback
Length: 121 pg.
Read Date: February 26, 2023

As yearly surveys and our own experience shows, we are living in a time of famine of the true Word of God. The ancient prophet Amos spoke of such a coming famine in his day: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord God, when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord’ (Amos 8:11). How true is this still? We are living in that day. This is why when we find the Word, we need to mine it for its riches, cultivate it for its food, and drink from it like a well in the desert. Sadly, Amos says in those days that ‘they shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it’ (Amos 8:12). This describes our time. The apostate church blindly wanders from the sentimentality of Protestant Liberalism to the so-called authoritative and immovable word of Rome or Orthodoxy, to the relativistic Emerging Church, to the skeptical Bart Ehrman, to the happy Joel Osteen, and the list goes on. There is a lot of searching but no finding. Yet in the Word written, our searching turns to resting as the silence of our hearts is filled with His living voice.

What’s This Is the Word of the Lord About?

Very simply, the book is Hyde’s response to that quotation—that’s the book’s thesis—everything else is the details. The primary concern of the work is to build and establish the reader’s confidence in the Scriptures—and that from that confidence the reader would build their life, faith, and sanctification on those Scriptures.

He covers topics like the revelation, inspiration, authority, canonicity, sufficiency, and perspicuity of Scripture—largely the typical points focused on in books about the Doctrine of Scripture. His last chapter, “Experiencing the Word,” tackles something I haven’t often seen in this kind of book, however. He calls his reader to “consider how the presence and power of the Spirit works causing us to experience the Word.” This is done particularly “to effect my recognition of in my life,” “to effect my reception of the Savior,” and “to effect my realization of sanctification.” Knowing everything in the previous nine chapters is all well and good—but if it remains an intellectual exercise, it’s pointless—the element of the Scriptures impacting your life—causing you to see your sin, need of a Savior, and resulting in sanctification (roughly the outline of the Heidelberg Catechism, to the surprise of no one), is essential.

So, what did I think about This Is the Word of the Lord?

As much as I appreciated the tone and urgency Hyde displays through the book, his obvious earnestness, the much-needed emphasis in the last chapter, and the overall soundness of every point he makes…I found the book to be adequate. But not much more than that.

Perhaps I’ve just read too many books written on this level for this general purpose, so it feels like so much of a retread for me.

I liked it but wanted and expected more. Hyde generally delivers that for me, but here he didn’t. Would I recommend this to anyone wanting a good foundation in the doctrine of Scripture? Absolutely. But for me, it fell a little flat.

3 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

Patrick of Ireland: His Life and Impact by Michael A.G. Haykin: A Little Light on Info, but Does a Lot With It

By HCNewton

On March 19, 2023

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Patrick of Ireland:
His Life and Impact

by Michael A.G. Haykin
Series: The Early Church Fathers
Publisher: Christian Focus Publications
Publication Date: February 02, 2018
Format: eBook
Length: 112 pgs.
Read Date: February 19, 2023

I came to the people of Ireland to preach the Gospel, and to suffer insult from the unbelievers, bearing the reproach of my going abroad and many persecutions even unto bonds, and to give my free birth for the benefit of others; and, should I be worthy, I am prepared to give even my life without hesitation and most gladly for his name, and it is there that I wish to spend it until I die, if the Lord would grant it to me.

The Series

In case you hadn’t read what I thought of the other books I’ve read in this series, let me start with the thumbnail description of the series I came up with:

I literally stumbled on this series, The Early Church Fathers, a few weeks ago and thought it sounded like a great idea. It looked kind of like a mix of Crossway’s Theologians on the Christian Life and Oxford’s Very Short Introductions (incidentally, that’s what it ended up being).

What’s Patrick of Ireland About?

Like the other books in this series, Haykin starts with a biographical sketch of Patrick—noting the difficulties around that due to the small bibliography we have from him and the large number of myths and hagiography surrounding him. He then moves into considering Patrick’s Trinitarianism, his vision for evangelism/missions. Finally, he looks at “the balance of the Word and Spirit in Patrick’s thinking and experience.”

His Life

…there are a number of aspects about his life that are not at all clear- cut. There is no agreement, for example, about the date of his birth or the location of his childhood home, or about the place of his captivity in Ireland or whether or not he had formal theological education; nor is there any agreement about the dates of his ministry in Ireland.

We do know some things—mostly from his own hand—but scholars have to wade through a lot of chaff. R.P.C. Hanson is cited as summarizing it as: “Patrick’s life has become subject to a large amount of hagiographical embroidery and fictitious enhancement.”

That fictitious enhancement is where a lot of what I grew up “knowing” about Patrick, and I’d wager it’s the same for a lot of you.

…from the Middle Ages onwards, his mission to Ireland was depicted as one astounding miracle after another. For example, Jocelin of Furness (fl.1175–1214), the English Cistercian hagiographer, explained the absence of snakes in Ireland to be the result of Patrick’s destruction of them all on the peak of Croagh Patrick (St Patrick’s Mountain) in County Mayo. Jocelin also tells us that Patrick as an infant was baptized by a blind priest who got the water for the baptism by causing Patrick to make the sign of the cross over some earth, from which a well of water immediately issued. The water cured the priest of his blindness and enabled him, though illiterate, to read the rite of baptism. According to other miracles ascribed to Patrick, he was able to pass through doors, like the risen Christ, and could turn butter into honey.

At the end of the day, however,

Unlike the otherworldly miracle worker depicted by later biographies of Patrick, the two authentic writings from Patrick reveal a typical fifth- century bishop who was involved in preaching, baptizing, celebrating the Lord’s Supper, confirming new converts, and ordaining ministers.

Because of—or maybe despite—the dearth of information we have about him, what can be established is all the more interesting.

His Theology

Haykin focuses on two primary areas—Patrick’s Trinitarianism and his Missiology. Thankfully, we have his two written works to learn from here.

Without any references to the shamrock (thankfully), Patrick’s full-orbed Trinitarianism shines through his writings. After the last couple of entries in this series were so filled with controversy over the doctrine, it’s so refreshing to read one absent it.

I also appreciated the simple and straightforward nature of Patrick’s missiology and doctrine of the Church. He lived the kind of life he described and called others to. The fact that, in his mind, evangelizing the Irish was bringing the gospel to the literal end of the earth and thereby he was helping to bring in the Last Days, makes his work all the more remarkable. He didn’t call people to a temporary faith, he actually established believers and churches that lasted.

So, what did I think about Patrick of Ireland?

This is the best one of these books since the Augustine volume (maybe even better than it).

I enjoyed it—it helped increase my understanding and appreciation of the subject, and I learned a little bit about how little we know. (I read his Confessions more than a decade ago, and need to dig it out again)

I don’t think I got as much from this as I did from some of the others in this series—but that’s a quirk of the source material, and that has its own charm. Seeing what others have established, and what Haykin has synthesized here is the impressive bit.

3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

The Freedom of a Christian by Martin Luther, Translated by Robert Kolb: A Pastoral Gem from the Reformer

By HCNewton

On March 12, 2023

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

The Freedom of a Christian: A New Translation

by Martin Luther, Translated by Robert Kolb Carl R. Trueman (Foreward)

DETAILS:
Series: Crossway Short Classics Series
Publisher: Crossway
Publication Date: February 21, 2023
Format: Paperback
Length: 86 pg.
Read Date: February 26, 2023

Some Thoughts on the Series as a Whole

The point of this series is to take classic short works—sermons, tracts, articles—package them attractively, edit a bit (modernize language, eliminate footnotes, tweak grammar, etc.), and make them widely available. Each is given a short introduction to help the reader get the context and a bit of information about the author.

They published seven books in this series last year, and I discussed them here. Two have come out this year (so far), but I’m hoping for more.

What’s The Freedom of a Christian About?

A Christian is a free lord of everything and subject to no one.

A Christian is a willing servant of everything and subject to everyone.

This is Luther (early in the Reformation) laying out his vision for good works for the believer–how they are to be performed, why they are to be performed, and their place in the life of the believer. I’m sure there’s more to say, but that’s basically it.

That quotation gives his two theses–the rest of the book is his working out the thinking behind them. It’s penetrating, it’s convicting, and it’s inspiring to watch him work. Whoops, I seem to have stumbled into the next section.

So, what did I think about The Freedom of a Christian?

From all of this comes the conclusion that a Christian lives not in himself but in Christ and in his neighbor, in Christ through faith, in the neighbor through love. Through faith he rises above himself in God, from God he descends under himself through love, and remains always in God and in divine love. It is as Christ said in John 1[:51]: “You will see heaven standing open and the angels ascending and descending over the Son of Man.” Behold, that is the proper, spiritual Christian freedom, which liberates the heart from all sins, laws, and commands. This freedom exceeds all other freedoms, as high as heaven is over the earth. May God grant us that we truly understand that and retain it.

I wasn’t sure about reading this–it’s one of those works I’ve read so much about. I’ve seen it cited, heard descriptions of it in lectures, and read about it, but I haven’t gotten around to reading it. A lot of the times I read something that I know about like this, it doesn’t work out (I’ve never been able to get past page 40 of Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death, for example). But this is exactly what it should’ve been.

Martin Luther being pastoral is just great. Luther coming alongside those believers so often neglected in the Church and saying, here’s what to do–free of burden, free of guilt, free to live and love as they ought, as they’ve been called to.

This little read is a gem. I’m glad I took the chance on it and so glad that Crossway’s series brought it to us.

4 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

Crossway Short Classics: Selected Sermons by Lemuel Haynes: A Great Collection

By HCNewton

On March 5, 2023

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Selected Sermons

by Lemuel Haynes, Jared C. Wilson (Foreword)

DETAILS:
Series: Crossway Short Classics Series
Publisher: Crossway
Publication Date: February 21, 2023
Format: Paperback
Length: 139 pg.
Read Date: February 26, 2023

Some Thoughts on the Series as a Whole

They published seven books in this series last year, and I discussed them here. Two have come out this year (so far), but I’m hoping for more.

What’s Selected Sermons About?

As is obvious from the title, this is a collection of sermons by Lemuel Haynes. Born in 1753, Haynes is known as the first African-American ordained to the ministry.

The foreword serves as an introduction to Haynes as well as the included sermons, and we also get a quick biography of him before diving in.

The four sermons cover the idea of Universal Salvation, a sermon on John 3:3, a description of ministers, and a sermon against slavery.

So, what did I think about Selected Sermons?

The middle sermons—on the necessity of being born again and ministers were good examples of latter-Puritan-ish sermons, along the lines of Edwards and Whitfield. They were good, and solid, but not necessarily the kind of thing I’m coming back to.

The other two, however? Wow.

Sure, it’s easy from our vantage point to shake our heads and wonder how so many Christians could be comfortable with American slavery—it’s good to remember that it wasn’t true of them all. With “Liberty Further Extended,” Haynes delivered a powerful sermon against the practice, and you can only wish that more people were exposed to it—there’s a lot to be appreciated from this sermon, even if it’s not as timely as it once is (thank God).

“Universal Salvation,” the first sermon in the collection, blew me away (and may have set my expectations too high for the rest). The rhetoric was dynamite (there’s probably a better way to put it, but this is the most appropriate), the doctrine sound, and the conclusions were important. When you take the comments by Wilson into account, this must’ve created quite a stir when he preached it. I’d have paid the purchase price for the volume for this sermon alone.

I don’t know that everyone will agree with my evaluation—actually, I’m pretty sure many won’t—but I don’t see that anyone with an affinity toward Puritan-ish sermons, (First) Great Awakening sermons, or just good sermons not appreciating this little gem of a book.

4 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

The Nature and Work of the Holy Spirit by Ra McLaughlin: A Broad and Capable Introduction to the Holy Spirit

By HCNewton

On February 5, 2023

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

The Nature and Work of the Holy Spirit

by Ra McLaughlin

DETAILS:
Series: Christian Essentials 
Publisher: P & R Publishing
Publication Date: April 26, 2022
Format: Paperback
Length: 153 pg.
Read Date: January 29, 2023

What’s The Nature and Work of the Holy Spirit About?

As I said about the second volume of the Christian Essentials series, one of its advantages is that I can largely recycle what I said about the others.

This is a basic and broad introduction to Pneumatology—the doctrine of the Holy Spirit from a broadly Evangelical perspective. There’s a good mix of foundational theology and application of it to the Church and the individual believer. The book is adapted from curriculum using language that’s easy to translate—particularly into languages that don’t have a well-developed theological vocabulary—so the English is kept basic, too. There’s almost no academic or technical theological language used, and those that are used are well-defined (including in a handy glossary).

The chapters are short (most around fifteen pages) and well-organized. Each contains a handful of side-bars consisting of a paragraph or two with the contents of interviews with pastors and theologians on the topic under discussion. These interviews were with people from a variety of theological perspectives helping broaden the text so that it’s not exclusively from a reformed perspective.

The Organization of the Work

One thing that really jumped out at me while reading this book is that it wasn’t organized the same way as similar works are—which is refreshing because you get tired after a while of reading remixes on a topic. But mostly refreshing because I thought this was a really good way to approach the subject.

We start with the role of—and revelation of—the Spirit as a member of the Trinity—as seen in the Old Testament, then the New, and then as it was worked out in Church History. Those are three quick chapters that should probably be longer but did the job for the scope of this book.

Then we get chapters dealing with the Spirit’s work in the world—providence, creation, revelation, and common grace. Followed by His work in the Church—through special revelation, covenant grace, and gifts. The last two chapters focus on His work in individual believers—in conversion and sanctification.

So, what did I think about The Nature and Work of the Holy Spirit?

Solid teaching, an effective and helpful organization, all in all, a good book.

Like the rest of this series—the big problem with this book is that it works so hard to not take a particular position that it gives a watered-down presentation on areas of controversy. If they’d only taken a firm stance on (for example) cessationism, and then went on to give a fair presentation of non-cessationist views, that’d be different. Instead, we’re given descriptions of the views written in a way to explain them, but with the aim to avoid particulars and the offense they may carry—and really leads to it being almost useless.

When it’s not discussing intra-mural debates or disagreements, it’s a very useful and helpful work (like the other two books in this series). It’s good on the essentials—although exactly how “essential” is defined might be quibbled with.

For the series, I think this might have been the strongest entry. For just an introduction to the doctrine of the Spirit, it’s a pretty solid one. There are better books about Him and the theology surrounding Him, sure—but they’re of a nature and depth that this doesn’t want to achieve. Like the rest, I’d happily pass this volume on to someone who is just getting their feet wet.

3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

The Sexual Reformation: Restoring the Dignity and Personhood of Man and Woman by Aimee Byrd: There’s a Lot to Commend, but Maybe not Enough

By HCNewton

On January 29, 2023

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

The Sexual Reformation:
Restoring the Dignity and
Personhood of Man and Woman

by Aimee Byrd

DETAILS:
Publisher: Zondervan
Publication Date: March 7, 2022
Format: Paperback
Length: 207 pg.
Read Date: January 1-15, 2023

The Back of the Book

Protestants have confessed that the church is always reforming.

But has this been the case when it comes to sexuality?

What if, in trying to be faithful to the beauty of God’s design for man and woman, the church has instead latched onto a pagan concept of our nature and missed the theological meaning of our sexes? We’ve inadvertently robbed both men and women of the dignity of personhood as created in the image of God. Then we miss the beautiful message that our bodies, and our whole selves as men and women, tell: the story of the great joy in which the Son received the gift of his bride, the church.

Through an exploration of the Song of Songs, Aimee Byrd examines what this often-ignored book can teach us about Christ, his church, man, and woman. The Church is ripe for a sexual reformation, and recovering a good theological footing is imperative to it. Byrd invites you to enter into the Song’s treasures as its lyrics reveal the point of it all—not a list of roles and hierarchy, but a love song.

The Song

Like many (most?) contemporary believers, I struggle with The Song of Songs. A lot of the allegorical interpretations seem a little off to me, but I can’t rule them out. I definitely can’t buy the idea that it’s simply an erotic poem and/or erotic manual smack in the middle of the Old Testament.

Byrd draws on both older allegorical interpretations and more recent versions—shaped by the insights of Biblical Theology to come up with her observations on the Song. I found this material fascinating and wanted much more of it. I really should grab some of the works she footnoted and study them.

Call to Reformation

Along with—intermixed with—the Song material is Byrd’s continuing work on re-evaluating the way that men and women relate to themselves in the Protestant Church—particularly the ways that groups like the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood or the Council on Biblical Equality call for. She critiques both poles of these disputed ideas (although she seems to have more to say about CBMW).

Her goal for the book is to bring insights from the Song to the ideas of roles, relations, and treatment of people of both genders—but primarily for women, because that’s where most of the controversy lies.

Her contention is that as we better understand the Song, we’ll better understand the telos of both sexes, which will lead to better—and more harmonious—relations between all the members of the church.

So, what did I think about The Sexual Reformation?

If this book was only the material (expanded) on the Song of Songs, I think I’d really have enjoyed it. If the book was only the other materials, it’d have been thought-provoking—and maybe convincing. But the mix of the two…ehhhhh. I’m not sure. It felt like two half-books that didn’t necessarily belong together. If one (or both) of them got a chance to be fully baked, that’d have been so much better.

Historically, the interpretation of the Song is so varied that it can easily be seen as a wax nose that can be used to say whatever an author wants. I’m not saying that Byrd did that. But I can see where it could be seen that way—yet another reason for the two books to be split.

It’s an accessible read, relatable, and the issues it wants to focus on are very important for believers to wrestle with. Making this the kind of book we need more of (both those that agree with her and those who differ, so we can think about these things). Although we got a little more about what’s going on with Byrd personally than the book really needed, and a lot of the sexual reformation material is a reiteration of her last couple of books, just presented through a different prism.

Ultimately, the Song gives me enough trouble that I’m not really sure what I think of what she says—but I liked it and want to read more like it to see it better. I’m generally on-board with her reformation ideas in broad strokes. So, I’ve got every reason to like this book, but I’m not wholly sold.

Still, I recommend the book for those who want to wrestle with these ideas—or to get pushed on the content of the Song.

3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

I Have a Confession: The What and Why of The Westminster Confession of Faith by Nathan Eshelman: You Get More than Your Money’s Worth in this Small Book

By HCNewton

On January 22, 2023

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

I Have a Confession:]
The What and Why of the
Westminster Confession of Faith

by Nathan Eshelman

DETAILS:
Series: The Bedrock Series 
Publisher: Grassmarket Press
Publication Date: December 12, 2022
Format: Paperback
Length: 136 pg. 
Read Date: January 15, 2023

What’s I Have a Confession About?

This is an introduction to the Protestant practice of confessions—specifically The Westminster of Confession of Faith.

Eshelman starts out by describing the need for confessions, and what the ecclesiological landscape in the US is like without them. Chapter two lays out “the pillar of confessionalism”—the Scriptures themselves. It’s those Scriptures that give the warrant (chapter 3) for the development and use of confessions. This is what I expected from the book, and when that ended just a little past the halfway point, I was more than a little surprised.

What comes next is truly impressive—Eshelman gives a quick, yet thorough, review of the English Reformation from Henry VIII to the 1640s and the composition of the Westminster Confession of Faith. Then he gives a very brief overview of the contents of the Confession—chapter by chapter.

So, what did I think about I Have a Confession?

Let me start with a minor and really unimportant point—I really like the look and feel of this book. It’s like a field notebook in size, weight, and feel. It works really well for the series.

I’d intended on kicking off this year by rereading R. Scott Clark’s Recovering the Reformed Confession, but a couple of things derailed that (hopefully by the year’s end), but if I couldn’t get into that work, this is a good replacement.

The design of the series is to provide “clear, concise” works on faith and life from a Reformed perspective. Eshelman gives the reader precisely that—clear and concise. Concise, easy to read, and surprisingly thorough for a book of its size.

I was very impressed with this little book—it was everything I expected and more. I’d quibble with a point or two (a couple of his illustrations made me wonder), but only minor things. This is something I’d pass out to people without a second look—and would encourage anyone looking into the idea of Protestant confessions to give it a read.

4 Stars

My Favorite Theology/Christian Living Books of 2022

By HCNewton

On January 8, 2023

In News/Misc., Theology/Christian Living

My Favorite Theology/Christian Living Books of 2022
Finally, we’re at the end of my 2022 wrap-up. Thanks for sticking with me for so long! (assuming you have). At a certain point this year, it felt like I was reading a set all around similar/related ideas. The Kapic-Noble-Horton-Zahl books weren’t written in that way, but they hit me that way. I can’t think of one anymore without the others—that’s not the entire reason they all made my favorites list, but I can’t deny there’s a link. The rest are varied enough to show that I didn’t have tunnel vision all year.

As always, re-reads don’t count for these lists.

(in alphabetical order by author)

What is Christianity?

by Herman Bavinck, Gregory Parker, Jr. (Translator)

My original post
These are two short works by the noted Dutch Theologian newly translated into English. Bavink is clear and convincing without being combative in this pair of brief apologetic pieces. Typically for him, he displays a catholicity in his approach—he’s clearly Reformed Protestant, but he doesn’t disparage other views. I don’t know he accomplishes all he does in so few pages—there’s a lot of subtle theological and apologetic work, here. But there’s also a lot that’s just easy to digest, clear and helpful. Bavinck gives his readers a Christ-centered, Christ-focused definition and description of Christianity (you’d think that’d be a given, but…). As Warfield put it, “We cannot imagine how the work could be done better.”

4 1/2 Stars

In the Fullness of Time: An Introduction to the Biblical Theology of Acts and Paul

by Richard B. Gaffin, Jr.

I haven’t written about this yet, and I’m pretty intimidated to try. I loved every second of it—I felt like I was a beginning student and at the same time, like I was understanding texts with a depth I’m not accustomed to. There’s a lot of depth to Gaffin’s thinking—as one expects every time you read the man—but I thought this work was a bit easier to work through than some of his shorter works. There’s a strong focus on Pentecost and what it means for the rest of New Testament theology (as there should be). Gaffin also sketches out a way to approach Paul’s theology that’s so helpful you wish that it was at least twice as long so he could develop it more and give more examples (although everything in the book is sufficient, I’m just greedy). I’m likely returning to this book this year.

5 Stars

In Divine Company: Growing Closer to the God Who Speaks

by Pierce Taylor Hibbs

My original post
A great work on prayer. Grounding our need for it not in our limitations or sense of need. Nor in the command to do so. Instead, Hibbs focuses on the nature of God as a communicative God and us as His image bearers. Hibbs being Hibbs, this is one of the better-written books on this list.

4 Stars

Recovering Our Sanity: How the Fear of God Conquers the Fears that Divide Us

by Michael Horton

My original post
Horton seeks to address several issues facing contemporary American Christians through the filter of the fear of God—the basic thesis is that if we are maintaining that fear as we ought, it’s easier to maintain a proper perspective on our problems and concerns (as real and as valid as they are). There’s a lot of wisdom in these pages, a lot to chew on (and a handful of things to disagree with).

4 Stars

You’re Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God’s Design and Why That’s Good News

by Kelly M. Kapic

My original post
Kapic seeks to apply the doctrine of Creation to remembering that we are created with limits—and, as such, we need to be dependent on one greater than us to help us when we are pushed beyond those limits. There’s a freedom in this realization—we can’t do it all and need to cut ourselves (and others) some slack. Although Kapic states it better than that. The book is a great combination of careful theology and careful application. It’s challenging and reassuring.

4 Stars

What Are Christians For?: Life Together at the End of the World

by Jake Meador

My original post
Meador wants to address American (specifically) and Western (generally) politics from a confessional and Natural Law perspective. He challenges positions and foundations of the Right and the Left calling us all to something deeper and better. And more Biblical. This is a careful book, one that I’m not convinced I completely understood on a first read, but I really appreciated what I did glean from it.

4 1/2 Stars

The Imputation of Adam’s Sin

by John Murray

My original post
This is a very brief work—but as is typical for John Murray, he doesn’t need a lot of words to make his point. He focuses his arguments for the Imputation of Sin on a careful look at Romans 5:12-19. This book is typical Murray—crisp, clear, concise, and convincing. Sure, there’s the drawback that his prose is dry and empty of all personality. The book doesn’t need them (and I’d think it strange to read Murray with it). It’s easy to see why it’s still so heavily used this many years after publication.

4 Stars

You Are Not Your Own: Belonging to God in an Inhuman World

by Alan Noble

My original post
American Christians are too prone to think of themselves as their own, Noble seeks to remind us that (in the words of the Heidelberg Catechism), “I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ.” Noble points the believer to recalibrate their understanding of human nature—particularly redeemed human nature—to begin to understand what being the possession of Christ means to our life, our future, our identity. Noble’s writing flows—he’s engaging, compassionate, and relatable. It’s easy to understand even the more complex points he’s making, and his illustrations give the reader plenty to hang on to. Noble’s diagnosis and advice were sound—they seemed to match up with the world around us and the problems we see. More importantly, he points to the One whose grace, mercy, and care offer any true hope and help in this broken and dying world.

4 1/2 Stars

Christ of the Consummation: A New Testament Biblical Theology Volume 1: The Testimony of the Four Gospels

by O. Palmer Robertson

My original post
This is the first of a three-part exercise in applying the method of Biblical Theolgy for the New Testament as outlined by Vos. This volume focuses on the Gospels (obviously) and is a treasure from beginning to end. It’s not “here’s a whole new way to read/think about the Gospels”—and Robertson would be the last to want something like that. Instead, this is a “here’s a way to profitably consider the way these things were revealed” and “here’s how the Gospels build upon one another and build up each other.” It’s one of those books that mid-way through, you’re already trying to figure out when you can schedule a re-read.

5 Stars

Low Anthropology: The Unlikely Key to a Gracious View of Others (and Yourself)

by David Zahl

My original post
Zahl’s concern is the way we think about human nature—our anthropology—not in some academic sense (or just that), but how, individually, what we believe about human nature impacts the way we live and think. A Low Anthropology remembers that we are dust, we are broken, we suffer, in short—we aren’t perfect. This is an engaging, frequently humorous, and grace-filled look at human frailty and how remembering we are that way (and that others are, too).

4 Stars

Reread Project: Faith & Life by B.B. Warfield: 41 Brief Bursts of Profundity

By HCNewton

On January 1, 2023

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Faith & Life

by B. B. Warfield

DETAILS:
Publisher: Banner of Truth
Publication Date: Dec 1, 1974
Format: Clothbound
Length: 458 pg.
Read Date: January 2-December 25, 2022

N.B.: I’ve revamped and slightly updated this from the last time I reread this.

What’s Faith & Life About?

Back when Princeton Seminary was the crown jewel of biblical Presbyterian training in the US, notable professors like Archibald Alexander, Samuel Miller, and Charles Hodge would have informal addresses for students on Sunday afternoons. B. B. Warfield, the lion of Princeton, continued this practice. These 41 chapters come from some of these addresses to the students.

They are roughly 10 (+/-2) pages long (the pages are on the small side, it should be noted), short, and to the point. They’re expositions of small pericopes of Scripture (primarily one or two verses, but he’ll often address the immediate context). Three chapters are from the Old Testament, with the rest from the New—the chapters are organized by canonical order, not by any particular themes or lines of thought.

So, what did I think about Faith & Life?

I went skimming over the Table of Contents to pick out a few highlights—and I’m having a real problem. Almost every one is a gem. “Prayer as a Means of Grace” and “Prayer as a Practice” were very helpful—the latter was slightly better. “New Testament Puritanism” was great. Despite the reputation men like Warfield have, the chapters involving the work of the Holy Spirit were all tremendous. “God’s Holiness and Ours” was fantastic. I could keep going here, but it wouldn’t be long before I copied the Table of Contents.

For being the exemplar of “old Princeton,” with all the rigor and scholarship that entails—these addresses help us remember that even stalwarts like Warfield, who are known for strong stances on doctrinal issues—were men with vibrant faith, even a sense of humor.

With a couple of breaks for illnesses, travel, etc. I read a chapter each Lord’s Day. It was like sitting down with a trusted friend to talk about the Bible for a couple of minutes. I’m going to miss doing that going into the next year. I last did this back in 2013, and won’t let myself wait as long for the next time through.

Faith & Life is everything Christian scholarship should be—warm, Christ-centered, practical, and doxological. It’s also everything that Christian devotional material should be—careful, sound, and deliberately orthodox. Highly recommended.

5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

12 Things God Can’t Do by Nick Tucker: 12 Reassuring Truths

By HCNewton

On December 25, 2022

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

12 Things God Can’t Do:
…and How They Can Help
You Sleep at Night

by Nick Tucker

DETAILS:
Publisher: The Good Book Company
Publication Date: May 31, 2022
Format: Paperback
Length: 184 pg.
Read Date: December 4-18, 2022

What’s 12 Things God Can’t Do About?

A lot of Theology Proper is negative*—God can’t do this, He can’t do that, He won’t do another thing. This has been the case since the beginning and is still true today.

* A lot of the rest is the omni- attributes. Theology Proper is really an all-or-nothing kind of thing.

Nick Tucker wants the believer to consider 12 of the things God cannot do. No, we’re not talking about foolishness like “Can he make a rock so heavy that he can’t lift it?” These are the big things—the stuff a faith (collective and individual) can be built on.

But…God…

Along with these 12 things, Tucker pauses for five interludes. These interludes look at things the God-man, the Incarnate Word, could and did do. He could learn, He could be tempted, and He did sleep. As He took on humanity, The Son was now capable of these things—and that’s proof of His humanity. He became truly human—and as such, He could (and did) redeem us.

So, what did I think about 12 Things God Can’t Do?

I’ve read a handful of books on the attributes of God over the last few years (and have one more scheduled), but this one approaches the idea from a very different perspective. Well, most of the other books touch upon Tucker’s purpose, but they have other things going on—Tucker’s more single-minded.

Most books on the topic are about advancing or defending orthodoxy, buttressing right thinking about God (and it is right to do so). Tucker’s focused on what the believer is to do with orthodoxy. What’s the whole point of understanding who God is? It’s for the reassurance, confidence, hope, and comfort of the believer—look at the way the Psalmists, prophets, and apostles used these doctrines. Reflecting their priorities, Tucker points the reader to these can’ts.

We can sleep well at night, knowing that God will not slumber. We can trust His promises because He can’t change or lie. And so on. Which makes this book one of the more rewarding reads I’ve come across lately.

Tucker writes in a simple, clear, and straightforward style. There’s a little gentle humor in his illustrations and style—but the book isn’t a showcase for Tucker’s writing. He writes to point the reader to God. This book is encouraging, devotional, and should lead to doxology. It’s wholly sound, and easy to read and, in turn, to lead to trust. It’s well worth the short time it takes to read and re-read.

4 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.