R. C. Sproul - The Irresponsible Reader

Moses and the Burning Bush

Kindle Edition, 103 pg.
Reformation Trust Publishing, 2018

Read: August 15, 2021
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

What’s Moses and the Burning Bush About?

One of the church’s biggest problems is that we don’t understand who God is. But in that one revelation—the theophany in which God appeared to Moses—the transcendent majesty of God was partially unveiled. What had been invisible became visible through the theophany.

Sproul examines—briefly—just what God says about himself when he revealed himself to Moses. He shows His holiness, His glory, His Aesity, and more—here is even, as Sproul puts it, “A Shadow of Christ.”

In ten short chapters, Sproul opens up the account of Moses’s encounter with the Lord in the bush that was on fire, but was not consumed.* He doesn’t just camp out in Exodus 3, but spends time in Isaiah, Genesis, and other places, although he brings it all back to this point.

* I’ve learned to appreciate Scott Oliphant’s point that calling it a “burning bush” misses the point, it’s only supernatural to call it an “unburning bush.”

So, what did I think about Moses and the Burning Bush?

… in the burning bush we see the revelation of the person of God, of the power of God, and of the eternality of God. We see the revelation of the compassion of God, the redemption of God, and now, finally, the truth of God.

It has been ages—or at least it feels like it has been—since I’ve read an R. C. Sproul book (at least for the first time). There’s a clarity to the prose that’s almost untouchable by anyone else. He can express deep thoughts in a way that anyone can understand—not that there were a lot of tricky concepts this time out, but that voice is still there. And I’m going to miss it.

This is a nice book, as a sketch of these ideas. I think Sproul was capable of more, he could’ve got into all of these areas with more detail, could have fleshed out the concepts more—and given the reader something to chew on. I’m sure he had his reasons for not, I just wish he’d done more.

Still, if all you’ve thought of is the event itself—not what it meant beyond God calling Moses, it’s probably a good way to introduce yourself to it, but beyond that, there’s probably limited value.

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.

R. C. Sproul: A Life

by Stephen J. Nichols

Hardcover, 306 pg.
Crossway, 2021

Read: May 2-16, 2021

Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

Why Did I Pick Up R. C. Sproul: A Life?

If you were to go into any (confessional) Presbyterian or Reformed church in the U. S., you would have a very difficult time finding anyone there who hasn’t read a book or watched/heard a lecture by R. C. Sproul, usually several of either/each. The Holiness of God and Chosen by God were monumental in my life—and so many of his other works were huge, too. I saw him live twice, and couldn’t tell you how many videos and audio tapes/mp3s I learned from.

Basically, this guy was as close to a contemporary giant as we’ve had (whether having a giant in the church is a good or bad thing is a different discussion), so of course, I had to jump at a chance to learn more about him.

What’s R. C. Sproul: A Life About?

It’s all there in the title, really. This is a look at the life of Robert Charles Sproul, author/teacher/minister. Nichols covers it all—from his childhood to university days (and conversion), his post-graduate education, and early work. Then he moves into the founding of the Ligonier Study Center and how that led to Sproul’s books, radio show, and the rest of his work, culminating in the planting of Saint Andrews Chapel and the founding Reformation Bible College. The history of Ligonier Ministries in its various stages of development is also traced throughout. The last chapter serves as an extended eulogy for Sproul, recapping the major points of his life’s work and glancing at his legacy.

In many ways this serves as an intellectual biography and Nicholls will examine the background, main points, and impact of some of Sproul’s major projects and works in addition to the account of his life and work. These portions of the book are the highlights for me—serving both as a reminder of things I’d forgotten and a handy summary of Sproul’s major contributions.

Some Complaints

Nichols’ use of R. C. throughout, rather than Sproul, rubbed me the wrong way. I realize full well that the two had been friends for years, but I guess I expect a bit more formality from a biography.

It’s his friendship that colors this work, I think. There’s no critical eye on anything—personal choices, ecclesiastical acts, writing, public teaching, alliances with people in and out of the church—Nichols covers it all as if everything was inarguably positive and well done. While I’m sure Nichols would affirm that Sproul was fallible and capable of error, there’s no evidence of that in the book.

The discussion of Sproul’s thoughts on apologetics irked me. It’s stated that Sproul went to seminary a convinced presuppositionalist, and then Dr. Gerstner showed him the error of his ways on that issue, as well as Reformed Theology. So that his later critiques of Van Tillian apologetics come from the pen of someone who knows “both” sides and has seen the error of his ways. Well, if he didn’t become Reformed until after he shed his presuppositionalism, he wasn’t Van Tillian. Van Tillian presuppositionalism is rooted and grounded in Reformed (“Calvinistic”) theology, so Sproul was never in that camp. And frankly, I’ve listened to and read Sproul talking about Presuppositionalism, and as brilliant as he was, I just don’t think he ever really understood it. Is it that important? Not really—it just irked me, especially the way that Nichols used Sproul’s apologetic methodology in the book.

So, what did I think about R. C. Sproul: A Life?

Ultimately, this is more of an extended tribute than a biography. Nichols is no Iain H. Murray. And when I was about halfway through this book, I realized that’s what I wanted—a book roughly equivalent to Murray’s The Life of Martyn Lloyd-Jones (although I’d have been satisfied with something closer to his work on Edwards). But there’s no way anyone could have something of that scale ready less than four years after Sproul’s death, so that’s unrealistic. But I’m not going to be satisfied until we get that.

Nevertheless, I do recommend this book—it’s a good look at the man, his life, and his work. It helps understand where he came from, what led to various books and themes in his work. I do think I know Sproul better after this and that’s a good thing.

Also, if anyone deserves a 300-page tribute, it’s R. C. Sproul.

3.5 Stars