Tag: Christian Living Page 8 of 14

Unlike 2020, when I posted about almost nothing I read in this category, I was much stricter with myself and posted about everything. I don’t know if anyone else appreciated or benefited from it, but I sure did. It also made this post a lot easier 🙂

As always, re-reads don’t count for these lists. It’s a self-imposed rule, so I don’t feel too bad about playing fast and loose with the rule for a couple of these entries.

(in alphabetical order by author)

The Wonderful Works of God

by Herman Bavinck

My original post
Bavinck boiled down the material covered in his four-volume Reformed Dogmatics into this “simple explanation of the Christian faith in a book of modest scope.” It’s a pastoral work, a compassionate work, and one that will repeatedly point to the Gospel as well as the Majesty of the Triune God.

5 Stars

Faith in the Time of Plague

Edited by Stephen M. Coleman and Todd M.Rester

My original post
This is an anthology of “plague writings” from (primarily) Reformation and post-Reformation era pastors and theologians, to show how leaders in the past dealt with times of widespread communicable disease. Those looking for easy answers to “how would the early Church or Reformers” deal with COVID-19 (or the like)”, will be disappointed. There are no quick and easy answers here. But this can remind readers that the Church has been through similar—and worse—times before. She likely will again. There have been careful, pastoral responses to it in the past, and that can be true again. We don’t have to have a snappy, one-size-fits-all approach at the first sign of trouble, but we are called to gracious, Christ-honoring, people-serving responses.

4 Stars

On God and Christ, The Five Theological Orations and Two Letters to Cledonius

by Gregory of Nazianzus, Translators: Frederick Williams & Lionel Wickham

My original post
These sermons were pivotal in the development of the position behind the modification to the Nicene Creed at the Council of Constantinople. It’s full of technical Trinitarian language, so it’s not the easiest thing to read. But with a lot of care, it’s rewarding. These sermons have lasted since the Fourth Century because they’re useful, educational, approachable, and understandable. The translator calls them “as much high art as high theology” in his introduction. This is a man who cares about what he’s talking about—this is important to him, important to his opponents, important to his audience, and therefore it must be dealt with carefully, with precision, and clearly. All of which translates well to us today.

5 Stars

Finding Hope in Hard Things: A Positive Take on Suffering

by Pierce Taylor Hibbs

My original post
The central thesis of the book is: hard things are going to shape us in ways easy things can’t. He develops this thesis through a collection of essays about the death of his father, his anxiety disorder, and his struggles with self-doubt. These case studies are just that, things that his readers can relate to, sympathize with, and find similarities in their lives. After that, Hibbs points to finding Christ and His purposes in the hard things, and that’s where we find hope. This isn’t a book that comes to say “here’s a bunch of things you need to know to deal with suffering,” instead it’s “here’s what I’ve learned while through these trials, maybe you can learn from what I’ve been through, too.”

3.5 Stars

What Happens When We Worship

by Jonathan Landry Cruse

My original post
This is not a manual for the “how-to” aspects of worship, nor does it wade into the “style” debates and conflicts, he doesn’t look into the “why” we do certain things in worship (although he brushes against the idea). This is about the supernatural aspect to the ordinary, weekly event. It’s about what God does to and for His people in worship, what’s happening as we worship. Edifying, educational, orthodox, and even devotional—this book will introduce you to the vital topic or will gently remind you of the things you’ve been taken for granted.

5 Stars

Things Unseen: A Systematic Introduction to the Christian Faith and Reformed Theology

by J. Gresham Machen

My original post
These are transcripts of weekly radio addresses Machen made presenting a systematic approach to Christian teaching. Flying in the face of the mode of the day, Machen gives a strong presentation of Reformed distinctives, as well as a whole-hearted belief in a supernatural Christianity. He’s succinct, pastoral, accessible, and even witty. These are not talks for scholars, or dumbed-down–they’re straightforward presentations of the topics for everyone. This is one of the most rewarding books I’ve read in a few years. Even when Machen is merely restating what generations before him taught, there’s a freshness to his presentations that really are appealing.

(I’m thumbing my nose at my “only new to me” rule here–I’ve read these talks in other collections several years ago–but not organized like this in one volume)

5 Stars

The Trinity: An Introduction

by Scott R. Swain

My original post
This is an introduction to the classical Christian doctrine of The Trinity. He’s not trying to re-invent the wheel, he’s definitely not trying to innovate, but to provide a concise jumping-off point into deeper studies by providing a solid foundation. While Swain never seems to be leaving out details or avoiding the complicated ideas (although he obviously has to), he keeps things short and sweet.

This is one of those books where my notes keep saying “Chapter X is likely the highlight of the book,” “the section on X is likely the most valuable in the book.” It appears 60-70% of the book is a highlight—and I may not have written all of those parts down. Which is to say, there’s a lot of gold here. Helpful, insightful, and useful—it also achieves its end for leading on to further study for me. It’s accessible, but not easy, reading. At the same time, it’s a challenging, but not difficult, text.

5 Stars

The Trinity and the Bible: On Theological Interpretation

by Scott R. Swain

My original post
Rather than one overarching topic, this is a collection of previously published papers that seek to show both how the Bible reveals the Trinity and how the Trinity shapes our reading of the Bible. This is not an easy read, but it was worth the effort, every bit of it. Like a lot of the more scholarly theological books I read, I was reminded frequently while reading that I’m not an academic and this is above my weight class. But it wasn’t inaccessible, just difficult and required a little commitment. Like all good academic theology, there were moments of the most doxological writing—or doxology-inspiring writing (or a mix). There are paragraphs and paragraphs that I wish I could commit to memory, so I could use them at the drop of my hat in conversation and in prayer.

5 Stars

Foundations of Covenant Theology: A Biblical-Theological Study of Genesis 1–3

by Lane G. Tipton

My original post
I’ve read several introductions to Covenant Theology in the last couple of decades. This is a different way of covering these concepts and it’s a very effective one. It’s also a different way of looking at Genesis 1-3. Almost every time I’ve seen these chapters explained and exegeted, it had to do with the doctrine of Creation, the Fall and the Promise of the Seed in Genesis 3, and so on. But Tipton’s approach—while addressing all that—focuses on the Big Picture, looking at the purposes behind Creation, the protoevangelium, the Covenants of Work and Grace, and how those are worked out in history (particularly in the last two chapters about Christ as the Promised Seed and the Second Adam).

It’s a self-described “brief and non-technical” book, building on the work of Geerhardus Vos and Meredith G. Kline. Maybe a bit too brief, a little more expansion would be beneficial, but a fascinating and helpful read.

4 Stars

Grace and Glory

by Geerhardus Vos

My original post
Another version of this book made this list a couple of years ago, but this version has more sermons. It’s easily the best collection of sermons I’ve ever read. Yes, there’s rich theology behind these sermons, but they’re primarily expositions and applications of the texts for the hearers. And, yes, the audiences of these sermons were students at Princeton Theological Seminary (before the downgrade that led to the creation of Westminster Theological Seminary), but these were not airy, academic addresses. Sure, as the initial hearers were largely future ministers, there are portions that are more applicable to preachers than to laity. But there’s not a lot of that, and even in the midst of one of those sections, there’s still a lot of gold to be mined.

5 Stars

Faith in the Time of Plague Edited by Stephen M. Coleman and Todd M. Rester: Reformation and Post-Reformation Voices Speak to Our Moment

By HCNewton

On December 26, 2021

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Faith in the Time of Plague

Edited by Stephen M. Coleman and Todd M.Rester

Hardcover, 309 pg.
Westminster Seminary Press, 2021

Read: November 7-December 12, 2021

The main point? Two rocks must be steered clear of: stupid boldness and exceedingly vicious fear. On the first, one does those things that while we fear nothing—would often lose ourselves and others. On the second it happens that as we would look to our own life, we would desert the work of Christ. Therefore, let us fear what can happen if we fail to avoid those evils. But let us be confident in the Lord and let us remain as steadfast as possible—even to the point of death—in our calling and in the work of Christ.

What’s Faith in the Time of Plague About?

The Editors describe the book like this:

The body of extant plague writings is vast and much of it remains unavailable in English. The selections in this book were determined to a great extent by the treasures that came to light in translating the 1655 pamphlet Variorum tractatus theologici de peste, which makes up Part I of the book. This collection of tracts is an unparalleled Post-Reformation treatment of the plague, from pastoral and scholarly points of view. Part II consists of those Reformation and Post-Reformation works that Beza, Rivet, Voetius, and Hoornbeeck [the authors in Part I] engaged with frequently (Zanchi, Abbot, and Ursinus). Alongside those pieces are additional contemporary works that we felt would be especially useful for pastors, scholars, and interested readers to have available in book form (Zwingli, Luther, Lavater, and Rawlet), and which give the reader a more complete picture of the Reformed tradition’s branch of plague writings. Each of these eleven authors addresses the unique questions posited by the plague in distinct ways, yet each does so by definitively Reformed methods—grounded in Scripture, historically informed, and always with the issue of faith in Christ at the forefront.

There are also two appendices, On Mortality by Cyprian of Carthage—a work that multiple authors in the main texts refer to (and likely shape even those who don’t) and the section Prayer and Thanksgiving from the Book of Common Prayer—an application of all the theology of the main texts.

Part 1: Variorum tractatus theologici de peste

The various works in part one are careful, methodical, Scriptural, and thorough—they cover all the bases. The treatise by Beza seems to both reflect the thinking of the rest of the Reformation as much as it shapes everything that comes after (or at least everything in the book).

Some parts of this took some work to get through, but it was worth it.

Part II: Reformation and Post-Reformation Plague Writings

Others sin on the right hand. They are much too rash and reckless, tempting God and disregarding everything which might counteract death and the plague. They disdain the use of medicines; they do not avoid places and persons infected by the plague, but lightheartedly make sport of it and wish to prove how independent they are. They say that it is God’s punishment; if he wants to protect them he can do so without medicines or our carefulness. This is not trusting God but tempting him. God has created medicines and provided us with intelligence to guard and take good care of the body so that we can live in good health.

For me, this part of the book (roughly a third) was the most rewarding. Luther’s Whether One May Flee from a Deadly Plague covered most/all of the points in Part I, but in a pithier and more digestible fashion. Which is what you expect from Luther, right?

Zwingli’s Plauge Hymn is great. I really don’t know what else to say.

The most moving, the most personal entry in the volume is John Rawlet’s A Letter to my Mother is clearly part of that preparation for death mentioned in the post last week. In this printing, it’s an eleven-page letter* written by an Anglican minister in London sure he was soon to contract the plague and die. He was wrong about contracting the plague and never sent the letter—but he was ready for it.

* Hard to fathom in the age of texts, tweets, and email.

An Unimportant Observation

I’m pretty sure I’ve never run into the word “licit” as often as I have in this work. Like most people (especially those who read a lot of Crime Fiction), I run across “illicit” all the time. But “licit”? Almost never.

Maybe it’s a quirk of the translators, but I doubt it. It’s just refreshing to see the word—and it’s one I’m going to try to use more often.

So, what did I think about Faith in the Time of Plague?

One thing that struck me was how often these Reformation authors appealed to earlier theologians (like Cyprian). But largely not about plagues or other diseases. Instead, it was how they approached the response to persecution—could believers flee from it, or do they have to run toward it or simply wait for it? Both persecution and disease come from the Lord—as both trial and result of sin.

I have to say, I’m not sure I’d have approached it that way before.

Those looking for easy answers to “how would the early Church or Reformers” deal with COVID-19 (or the like)”, will be disappointed. There are no quick and easy answers here. But this can remind readers that the Church has been through similar—and worse—times before. She likely will again. There have been careful, pastoral responses to it in the past, and that can be true again. We don’t have to have a snappy, one-size-fits-all approach at the first sign of trouble, but we are called to gracious, Christ-honoring, people-serving responses.

These are some excellent examples of how to do it. This isn’t the easiest, breeziest thing I’ve read this year—it might even be the furthest from it. But it’s an invaluable resource and I’m glad Westminster Seminary Press brought it to us.

A Sheep Remembers by David B. Calhoun: Remembering Psalm 23

By HCNewton

On December 19, 2021

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

A Sheep Remembers

by David B. Calhoun

Paperback, 137 pg.
Banner of Truth Trust, 2021

Read: December 12, 2021
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

All the circumstances of the pilgrimage—want, weariness, journeyings, wanderings, perplexities, the shadowed mysteries of the valleys, the thronging enemies, and the infinite beyond—are present; and the singer knows them. They are, however, only mentioned to sing of their negation by the graciousness of the Shepherd. Want is cancelled. For weariness he has green pastures of rest. On journeys he leads by pleasant ways. From wanderings he restores. Through perplexities he guides, and that by right ways. In the valleys of death’s shadow his presence cancels fear. In the presence of enemies he makes a feast, and he is a host royal in bounty.

What’s A Sheep Remembers About?

RIght out of the gate, Calhoun cites Spurgeon: “I cannot say anything new on this text…But I can remind you of old and precious truths,” and that’s pretty much Calhoun’s mission statement, reminding readers about Psalm 23. He’s not trying to shake things up with a new understanding, he’s not going for bold scholarship, or something along those lines. It’s simply an exercise in taking a slow look at what we already know, to remember the old and precious truths.

Each chapter takes a verse (or less) and reflects on it—the chapter starts with a version of the Psalm or a hymn based on it, then there’s a commentary on the phrase(s) examined, something written by a shepherd to help the reader understand (literal) sheep and their ways, illustrations from others to help understand the theme of the chapter and then a part of his own life story. The commentary sections are largely strings of quotations from other writers of various theological persuasions and varying degrees of orthodoxy, with a little addition from Calhoun–mostly to tie them together.

Preparing to Die

Calhoun talks about this in the book a bit—the Puritans had a practice to prepare for death, when terminally ill (or at least when they would suppose they were), they’d meditate on death, and the state of their soul as they neared it. In many ways, that’s what this book was for him.

Calhoun had been battling cancer for years, and he knew his death was imminent—he actually died shortly after delivering the final version of the manuscript to the publishers. You can tell from the latter chapters that he was very aware of the shortness of his time. Which adds some poignancy to this work—particularly the chapters concerning “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death” and “And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Supplementary Material

I don’t typically talk about this kind of thing—because, why would I? But these merit a mention.

Calhoun includes an Addendum of Additional Versions of Psalm 23—the versions included in the text were good, but I guess that there just weren’t enough chapters for everything he wanted to use. I haven’t seen most of these before and I’m glad I was exposed to them.

The Bibliography is your standard bibliography, but Calhoun includes some personal notes describing the works—that’s a nice touch, and I wish more people would do that.

So, what did I think about A Sheep Remembers?

How could I be joyful when my body was slowly, perhaps not so slowly, dying? I have lost sight in one eye and the other eye is failing, as is my hearing. I have been hospitalized seven or eight times in the last three years with pneumonia. I can no longer swallow food or talk very well. And, most disturbing, my mind is letting me down. How could I be joyful when all this was happening to me? In the valley I learned that joy comes, not from my feelings, nor from my daily experiences, but from the inner conviction that my life is going according to God’s plan. Joy is a gift of God. David wrote, ‘You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound’ (Psa. 4:7).

This book isn’t just about Psalm 23 in the abstract, it’s about Calhoun’s Shepherd guiding him through his cancer. The latter is what made this book worth reading.

Like the other book I’ve read by Calhoun, In Their Own Words, the bulk of the text seems to be tiny quotations—that quotation I open this post with isn’t Calhoun, it’s G. Campbell Morgan—and it’s one of the longest quotations Calhoun uses, many are a single sentence long. It takes a certain genius to have these various sources on hand and be able to cite them together in such a way to present an argument. But really, Calhoun seems to use these to frame his argument, rather than to support it.

I appreciated the work, I profited from it—but I think it could’ve been stronger. If there was more of Calhoun, and less a medley of other writers—I think it would’ve been.

Still, it’s hard to walk away from time in this Psalm and not be refreshed. And the quotations, sayings, metrical versions, and paraphrases assembled here all help that endeavor. It’s hard to say anything bad about that.

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, opinions are my own.

Psalms that Curse by Sean McGowan: A Primer on Controversial Prayers

By HCNewton

On December 5, 2021

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Psalms that Curse

by Sean McGowan

Kindle Edition, 90 pg.
Reformation Zion Publishing, 2021

Read: November 28, 2021

What’s Psalms that Curse About?

Simply put:

…in our modern day some psalms have seemed to not “make the cut.” To say it another way, some would argue that not all the psalms should be sung or prayed today, particularly the ones that speak out harshly against enemies. Some popular approaches would say that these psalms were for a different time, or only to be used by the old covenant people of God. But the burden of proof rests on them to demonstrate why some of these psalms cannot be sung or prayed today, while the others can. Should the psalms that present “harsh language” and make us uncomfortable at times still be considered relevant for the church today? Should we still be able to sing, and specifically pray, these kinds of prayers today?

McGowan first sketches out the role of the Psalms and then ends with the question above, then he spends a chapter focusing on the imprecatory psalms and various views about them floating around the Church. He then focuses his attention on Psalm 137 and uses the exegesis of the psalm to establish his view on the purpose of imprecatory psalms. Then he spends a chapter on the use of them in the New Testament—or are they even compatible with a New Testament ethic? (short answer: yes)

This is short work, and the depth of each chapter reflects that—but McGowan covers the essentials in each.

Comparing This to Others

I don’t typically do books on similar topics back-to-back like this, but I saw this talked about on a couple of podcasts I listen to after I read The Morality of God in the Old Testament, and was curious about another take on it.

McGowan’s take is different from similar works I’ve read here in the past—like The Morality of God in the Old Testament and War Psalms of the Prince of Peace—he quotes the latter, labeling it “inadequate” (along with other views, he didn’t single it out). McGowan’s thesis is more straightforward and less nuanced than Beale’s (not superior or inferior, just more direct).

This is a primer—as McGowan reminds the reader—so he doesn’t spend time analyzing or critiquing differing views, he mentions them briefly to distinguish his—but the focus of this short book is on his take.

Would I have preferred analysis and critique? Seeing how his views match up against others? Yes. But I’m not going to fault a guy for writing the book he wanted to rather than the one I wanted (at least until I’m wealthy enough to act as a patron).

Besides, this gives me a chance to chew on the ideas myself.

So, what did I think about Psalms that Curse?

We are not saying that the only way to respond to intense persecution is to call down God’s vengeance. In fact, the normative response should be to pray for God to convert them…what we are arguing for is a recovery of the prayer of imprecation. We are arguing for the category. We are arguing that the prayer of imprecation should have a seat at the table, not for it to be the only thing at the table.

Hard to argue against that.

I don’t know that McGowan convinced me with his position about the—but he impressed me with the argument. It’s a short work, but he does the work. First, he established his thesis from a noteworthy example of an imprecatory psalm, and then after showing his thesis at work he tactfully and pastorally lays out how the believer ought to apply it. Hard to ask for more.

I really appreciated the chapter exegeting Psalm 137 and the concluding chapter, focusing on the way the Christian ought to pray imprecatory prayers. It was an important chapter and one that I hope many encounter. I think there’s some good overlap there with some of what Adams suggested in his work, too.

Not a perfect book, but a good one, a helpful one, and a thought-provoking one. A work that should lead the reader back to the psalter for study and reflection.

3.5 Stars

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Faith in the Time of Plague Edited by Stephen M. Coleman, Todd M. Rester

By HCNewton

On November 14, 2021

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Life events and questionable time management have left me without anything new to post today. So, I’m just going to put up a Spotlight post about one of the works I’m working my way through. I’m also not sure how I’m going to have anything to say about this when I’m done, so this may end up being my only post about it. It’s the kind of book that as you read it, you hope that other people are aware of it so they can benefit from it, too. It’s fascinating and (sadly) timely.

This is pretty much just material I’ve copied and pasted from the publisher’s site. I hope they don’t mind.

Book Details:

Book Title: Faith in the Time of Plague Edited by Stephen M. Coleman, Todd M. Rester
Publisher: Westminster Seminary Press
Release date: September, 2021
Format: Hardcover/Ebook
Length: 400 pages

Book Blurb:

We often hear the Covid-19 pandemic described as “unprecedented”, yet for Christians of earlier times, plague was nothing new. For generations, Church leaders regularly faced the sorts of ethical questions that still prove divisive today.

Selecting from the great “plague writings” of the historic church, Todd M. Rester and Stephen M. Coleman have translated and assembled a one-of-a-kind anthology. The wisdom of the past collected in this book offers much needed and trustworthy illumination for pastors, leaders, and laypeople in times of crisis and uncertainty.

Many of the works appearing in Faith in the Time of Plague have never been available in English until now. Included in this volume are the writings of Martin Luther, Theodore Beza, Ulrich Zwingli, Cyprian of Carthage, Zacharias Ursinus, Gijsbert Voetius, and many more.

Introduced by Peter A. Lillback, Faith in the Time of Plague also includes a Foreword from Mayo Clinic Virologist, Dr. Gregory A. Poland.

Book Trailer:

Purchase Link:

Westminster Bookstore

About the Editors:

Stephen M. Coleman (PhD, The Catholic University of America) is assistant professor of Old Testament and biblical languages at Westminster Theological Seminary, co-editor of the Westminster Theological Journal, and senior research fellow at the J. Alan Groves Center for Advanced Biblical Research. A graduate of Grove City College (BA, 2002), Westminster Seminary California (MDiv, 2005), and The Catholic University of America (MA, 2010/PhD, 2016), he previously served as associate pastor at Wallace Presbyterian Church in College Park, Maryland (2008–2017) and Assistant Pastor of Valley Presbyterian Church in North Hills, California (2005–2008).

Todd M. Rester (PhD, Calvin Theological Seminary) is associate professor of church history at Westminster Theological Seminary. Dr. Rester is a post-doctoral research fellow at Queen’s University Belfast (September 2016–present). During his time as a research fellow at Queen’s University Belfast, Dr. Rester has served the institution as a guest lecturer in the Master of Arts, History of Religion department as well as various undergraduate history courses. In addition to his time at Queen’s University Belfast, Dr. Rester has taught as an adjunct professor at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary (2010–2016), Kuyper College (2013–2015), and Calvin Theological Seminary (2011–2015). He also works as a translator for the Dutch Reformed Translation Society (2009–present). Dr. Rester’s academic interests include but are not limited to: the history of the doctrine of Scripture and its reception; early modern and Enlightenment conflicts between theology and philosophy on general and special revelation; and early modern and post-Enlightenment models of missiology.

The Glorious Feast of the Gospel by Richard Sibbes: An Entirely Okay Collection of Sermons

By HCNewton

On November 7, 2021

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

The Glorious Feast of the Gospel

by Richard Sibbes

Paperback, 166 pg.
The Banner of Truth Trust, 2021

Read: October 31, 2021
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

What’s The Glorious Feast of the Gospel About?

The subtitle to this when originally published was “or Christ’s Gracious Invitation and Royal Entertainment of Believers,” it’s a series of nine sermons on Isaiah 25:6-9.

Banner of Truth reprinted the original title page, which does a better job of summarizing the book than I could. It states that among other things, “these Comfortable doctrines” are addressed in the book:

1. The Marriage Feast between Christ and his Church.
2. The vaile of Ignorance and Vnbeliefe removed.
3. Christ’s Conquest over death.
4. The wiping away of teares from the faces of Gods people.
5. The taking away of their Reproaches.
6. The precious Promises of God, and their certaine performance.
7. The Divine Authority of the Holy Scriptures.
8. The Duty and comfort of waiting upon God.

So, what did I think about The Glorious Feast of the Gospel?

I was genuinely excited when I saw that the Banner would be publishing a new Sibbes book, but it didn’t live up to my hopes. I’m going to go with the assumption that this wasn’t the right time for me to read this book. I just didn’t connect with it—I’m not saying it was bad, it just left me with a feeling of “meh.”

Sermons 5, 6, and 9 did grab me—proving that I’m not totally dead inside. Sermon 5, in particular, on the comforts of the Gospel as seen through “And all tears shall be wiped away from all faces” (v. 8), made the experience of the book worthwhile.

Once upon a time, Richard Sibbes was my “go-to” Puritan, so I do find it surprising when I don’t connect that well with a book by him. So, my assumption is that when I read this again in 2023-5, my reaction will be different. But for today, this was an okay book, but not a must-read.

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, opinions are my own.

The Church: An Introduction by Gregg Allison: Tries to Do Too Much and Falters

By HCNewton

On October 24, 2021

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

The Church: An Introduction

by Gregg Allison
Series: Short Studies in Systematic Theology

Paperback, 164 pg.
Crossway, 2021

Read: October 10, 2021
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

What’s The Church: An Introduction About?

Allison starts with a good Introduction, sketching the ambiguity of the current English term “church”—driving home the need for a book like this. He then spends two chapters with the foundation—outlining both the relationship between the Trinity and the Church and then with a broad overview of the Scriptural doctrine of the Church.

Then he moves into the bulk of the book:

I will present the church in terms of its local expression according to the following topics: identity, leadership, government, ordinances or sacraments, ministries, and future. For each topic, the first section—mere ecclesiology—presents the common ground shared by most churches throughout history. This aspect addresses the essence, or core, of the church’s identity, leadership, government, ordinances or sacraments, ministries, and future. The second section—more ecclesiology—describes how this essence expresses itself in the actual identity, leadership, government, ordinances of sacraments, ministries, and future of particular churches.

So, what did I think about The Church: An Introduction?

In summary, ecclesiology properly begins with a consideration of the doctrine of God. Specifically, it is grounded in Trinitarian theology, which leads to this conclusion: There is one people of God, who from eternity past has graciously elected all those who will believe in him by faith and walk with him in obedience, worship, love, and service. This one people of God consists of two aspects: the people of Israel in old covenant relationship with him and the people of the church in new covenant relationship with him. Specifically in regard to this second aspect, the church is the body of Christ and temple of the Holy Spirit. As the body, the church submits to its head, celebrates its diversity of people and gifts, lives out its siblingship in all purity, and portrays and fosters its unity by participation in the Lord’s Supper. As the temple of the Holy Spirit, the church in which he dwells is birthed, empowered, gifted, directed, sent, and sanctified by the Spirit.

The first couple of chapters got me excited for the book, and then after that, each chapter annoyed me more. He totally squandered that start—the “Mere” portions of the chapters were generally decent, but far too short. The “More” portions on the other hand…didn’t belong in a book like this (for the most part)—to get into all my problems would involve getting into the nitty-gritty of the arguments. They seemed to be what he wanted to write about more than the “Mere” bits and aren’t really introductory ecclesiology.

Also, and this is just one of those things, one chapter felt like it was written in response to my pastor’s sermon that day—each point seemed to be counter one of his (or vice versa). I was already having issues with the book, but that might have been the straw that broke the camel’s back for me. (not that I think my pastor is infallible, it was just bad timing—and a bad take on the text)

If this was the first book in the Short Studies in Systematic Theology that I’d read, I probably wouldn’t have come back for more. But, as it’s the fifth, I can keep going, trusting that this was a fluke.

In the end, I think this book tried to do too much. It tried to be all things to all people rather than embracing a confessional point of view as well as getting hung up on the structure, and ends up not accomplishing much at all. Focusing on and fleshing out the “More” portions would’ve made for a better read, a more profitable read, and a less problematic read. File this one under “don’t bother.”

2 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, opinions are my own.

What God Has to Say about Our Bodies by Sam Allberry: The Body and the Christian

By HCNewton

On October 17, 2021

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

It is frequently difficult to remember that this is a book blog and not a theology blog and I’m frequently tempted to engage with the teaching presented in a book, rather than talking about a book as a book. This is one of those times…I ended up deleting about 5 paragraphs from this (and was gearing up to write more when I remembered what I was supposed to be writing).

What God Has to
Say about Our Bodies:
How the Gospel Is Good News
for Our Physical Selves

by Sam Allberry

Paperback, 185 pg.
Crossway, 2021

Read: October 3, 2021
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

What’s What God Has to Say about Our Bodies About?

At the center of the Christian faith is the belief that by coming to earth as one of us, Christ could die for our sins, rise to new life, bring us into fellowship with God, and begin the process of putting right all that’s gone wrong. But at the center of that claim, tucked away where we don’t always see it, is the notion that to become one of us, Jesus had to become flesh. To become a human person, he needed to become a human body.

Become a body, not simply don one for a few years…

Bodies matter. Jesus couldn’t become a real human person without one. And we can’t hope to enjoy authentic life without one either. That his body matters is proof that mine and yours do too. He became what he valued enough to redeem. He couldn’t come for people without coming for their flesh and without coming as flesh.

From the foundation that bodies matter, that humans aren’t just souls trapped in bodies, but are bodies with souls, Allberry sketches out a theology of the body. Something that the Western Church just hasn’t thought a lot about recently.

He discusses things like: identiry, sex, gender, disease, death, the body and discipleship, resurrection. There isn’t a lot of Law in these pages (though it’s not antinomian), as the subtitle says, it’s about the Gospel and what it means for our bodies (both in weakness and in promised renewal).

High Points

Hardwired into most of us is some sense that we all get what we deserve. So it is easy to apply that mindset to sickness and infirmity and wonder if the suffering isn’t some sort of payback for sins. But Jesus is unequivocal in his response: “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents” (John 9:3). We’re not to extrapolate from someone’s suffering what they might have done to deserve it. It doesn’t work like that. The main connection between suffering and sin is at a general, humanity-wide level rather than at an individual level. It is not that one person’s suffering is a sign of his or her sin, but that anyone’s suffering is a sign of everyone’s sin.

While reading the book and when I sat down to write this, I had in mind two specific chapters to mention, but flipping through it, I almost doubled the list (and there was a danger I’d have gone further). Basically, I’m saying there’s a lot to like here.

But let’s get back to the highpoints of the book—I’m going to stick with my original plan and mention chapters 1 and 5.

Chapter 1, “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: The Body and its Creator,” is one of those things that I wish everyone would read. It’s foundational for this book, and a vital reminder that our bodies are made and made for a purpose.

“Subjected to Futility: The Body, Affliction, and Shame,” Chapter 5, is similarly foundational—in a fallen world, each of us is confronted daily by the weakness of the body—affliction, sickness, and even shame. Some of the problems discussed in this book aren’t things that we all struggle with—and even with the certainty of death for all of us, it’s clear that in the West we’re pretty good at denying that. But weakness? Sickness? Infirmity? We’ve all dealt with that—deal with it all the time, and seeing that in Scriptural light, in terms of the Gospel, is just so helpful.

So, what did I think about What God Has to Say about Our Bodies?

We need to know this. In too many areas of our discipleship we have separated our Christianity from our bodies. There are areas of our physical life that we think are irrelevant to our faith, and there are parts of our Christian life that we think have nothing to do with our bodies.

The truth is that the New Testament often speaks of discipleship in bodily terms, and in ways that tend to surprise us…These things are not trivial or spiritually irrelevant. The problem many of us have is that we are oblivious to their spiritual significance; we don’t see them as part of our discipleship and service to God.

I’ve read a few books by Allberry (and my wife owns a couple I haven’t gotten to yet), and this is noticeably longer and goes a bit deeper than he normally writes, but still, it’s an introductory volume. So I’m left wanting a little more.

That said, it’s an introductory discussion The Church (and others) need. The contemporary Church’s teaching on the body, on physical-ness is so narrow, so negative*, so deficient that it’s pointless. This is a good corrective. It’s only a first step, but we need to start somewhere. Regardless, Allberry’s writing is crisp, clear, engaging–the prose flows smoothly and the ideas are clear.

* Basically “taste not, touch not” kind of things.

I do wonder if Allberry had gone a little deeper if I’d quibble more or even downright disagree with him on some things, but here? I just spent time appreciating that he was addressing topics and ideas that I haven’t really seen done before. I do strongly recommend this—not as a final word, but as the beginning of a course of study (now I just have to figure out where to go from here).

Introductory and basic or not—I really commend this to your attention.

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, opinions are my own.

Opening Lines: The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes

By HCNewton

On October 10, 2021

In News/Misc., Non-Fiction, Opening Lines, Theology/Christian Living

We all know we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover (yet, publishing companies spend big bucks on cover design/art). But, the opening sentence(s)/paragraph(s) are fair game. So, when I stumble on a good opening (or remember one and pull it off the shelves), I’ll throw it up here. Dare you not to read the rest of the book.

from The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes:

The prophet Isaiah, being lifted up and carried with the wing of a prophetical spirit, passes over all the time between him and the appearing of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Seeing with the eye of prophecy, and with the eye of faith, Christ as present, he presents him, in the name of God, to the spiritual eye of others, in these words: `Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth’ (Isa. 42:1 3). These words are alleged by Matthew as fulfilled now in Christ (Matt. 12:18 20). In them are propounded, first, the calling of Christ to his office; secondly, the manner in which he carries it out.

CHRIST’S CALLING

God calls him here his servant. Christ was God’s servant in the greatest piece of service that ever was, a chosen and a choice servant who did and suffered all by commission from the Father. In this we may see the sweet love of God to us, in that he counts the work of our salvation by Christ his greatest service, and in that he will put his only beloved Son to that service. He might well prefix it with `Behold’ to raise up our thoughts to the highest pitch of attention and admiration. In time of temptation, apprehensive consciences look so much to the present trouble they are in that they need to be roused up to behold him in whom they may find rest for their distressed souls. In temptations it is safest to behold nothing but Christ the true brazen serpent, the true `Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world’, (John 1:29). This saving object has a special influence of comfort to the soul, especially if we look not only on Christ, but upon the Father’s authority and love in him. For in all that Christ did and suffered as Mediator, we must see God in him reconciling the world unto himself (2 Cor. 5:19).

What a support to our faith is this, that God the Father, the party offended by our sins, is so well pleased with the work of redemption! And what a comfort is this, that, seeing God’s love rests on Christ, as well pleased in him, we may gather that he is as well pleased with us, if we be in Christ! For his love rests in a whole Christ, in Christ mystical, as well as Christ natural, because he loves him and us with one love. Let us, therefore, embrace Christ, and in him God’s love, and build our faith safely on such a Saviour that is furnished with so high a commission.

See here, for our comfort, a sweet agreement of all three persons: the Father gives a commission to Christ; the Spirit furnishes and sanctifies to it, and Christ himself executes the office of a Mediator. Our redemption is founded upon the joint agreement of all three persons of the Trinity.

A recent bit of shopping led me to flipping through a few Sibbes books on my shelf—there’s something about his language (especially those first two sentences) that no one today could (should) get away with, but feels entirely appropriate from him.

Also, both his language and subject make me want to keep on reading (and I’ve read it at least 4 times). Your results may vary, but this is catnip to me.

Deeper by Dane C. Ortlund : Ends Up a Bit Too Shallow and Vague

By HCNewton

On October 3, 2021

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners

by Dane C. Ortlund
Series: Union

Kindle Edition, 144 pg.
Crossway, 2021

Read: October 26, 2021
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

What’s Deeper About?

The goal of this book is to call believers to grow in Christ, to experience a deeper kind of Christian life. Ephesians 4:15 and 2 Peter 3:18 call for the Christian to grow, and that’s where Ortlund wants to focus.

He eschews the typical calls for greater discipline, certain acts/habits, intellectual pursuits, or behavioral changes for this aim. Instead, Ortlund wants to pursue this through a focus on Christ we are changed as we look to Him and his benefits.

Growing in Christ is not centrally improving or adding or experiencing but deepening…deepening is that you already have what you need. Christian growth is bringing what you do and say and even feel into line with what, in fact, you already are.

To point the believer to looking to Christ, he focuses on nine different aspects of that action—with one chapter per aspect (that I’ll gloss over because I get into it later).

Sources/Influences

Early on, Ortland makes several references to Henry Scougal’s The Life Of God In The Soul Of Man, which just made me happy. Introducing contemporary readers to Scougall’s classic is a great thing—also, it reminded me that I need to dust off my copy. I’m far overdue for a re-read of that.

I also assumed that the whole book was going to be along those lines. Instead, he seemed to lean primarily on Martin Luther, C. S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer—not a slouch among them, but none of them are really all that well-known for their work on sanctification.

I’m not saying that’s bad, I’m just wondering if his influences led to some of my ambivalence about the book as a whole.

So, what did I think about Deeper?

I do not have nine things to say. I have one thing to say. Look to Christ. You will grow in Christ as you direct your gaze to Christ. If you take your eyes off of Jesus Christ and direct your gaze to your own growth, you will prevent the very growth you desire…

The nine chapters of this book are not sequential steps in growing; they are different facets of the one diamond of growth. In order to grow, we need to see who the real Jesus is (chap. 1), collapsing into his arms and continuing to do so all our lives long (chap. 2) as those united to him (chap. 3), drinking down his undeserved love (chap. 4) and full legal exoneration on the basis of his own finished work (chap. 5), being therefore freed up to walk in the light (chap. 6) and receive the anguish of this life as the gentle hand of God to help us rather than to punish us (chap. 7), seeing the love of Christ by inhaling the Bible and returning our love to him in exhaled prayer (chap. 8), and actually experiencing the love of heaven through the indwelling Spirit (chap. 9).

It is, no question about it, better than the previous volume in the Union series. But for a book called Deeper, it really leaned toward the shallow, he needed to expand every one of those facets—if for no other reason than to do a better job of showing how they’re facets of the one idea. Because as much as he claims he had one idea in the book, not nine, I really never got that impression. Like the Reeves book on Fear of God, if this is intended to be the “full treatment” of the idea for pastors and other leaders, it falls short.

I liked everything that he had to say, I appreciated the wisdom of it, and I agree these things, as they are rooted in the gospel, need to be emphasized in the believer’s attention and life. But…I always felt like something was missing. Both in his thinking and his presentation—it’s likely just the latter, but without the more thorough presentation, it seems like it’s his logic.

I think most people will find some benefit to this book—not as much as Ortlund aimed for, perhaps–and I’m glad I read it. I just wanted something deeper.

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, opinions are my own.