Book Review: When Words Matter Most

In When Words Matter Most, Cheryl Marshall and Caroline Newheiser remind Christians of the importance of speaking God’s truth into the lives of those around us. The premise of the book is that every believer can be used by God to minister to their fellow believers during the different seasons of life. In the first chapter, the authors stress how each believer is called to mutual encouragement so that the family of God is built up. Not only do we need to take hold of every opportunity that comes along to speak but we also need to learn to speak words of truth rooted in God’s Word. In our interactions with others, our aim ought to be focused on attaining unity of our faith, knowledge of Christ, and Christlike maturity. In the next chapter, the topic is getting to know the ones we are trying to help so that our counsel is timely, wise, and relevant. The authors identify three types of individuals as found in 1 Thessalonians 5:14 namely the unruly, the fainthearted, and the weak. The first group of believers are those who are sinning against God of which we are to admonish them by gently showing them how their actions contravene God’s commands in Scripture. The fainthearted are those who need words of encouragement and hope as they sink low in discouragement and despair. The last group are the physically or spiritually weak who need uplifting words or a helping hand in times of need. Moreover, we are also called to care for unbelievers around us by sharing with them the hope we have in Jesus and how salvation through Him enables us to persevere in the midst of the struggles we face. In chapter three, Marshall and Newheiser discuss how critical it is to dispense grace to those we give counsel to. Genuine grace that is life-giving and transforming comes from God alone so we ought to first properly grasp His justifying grace, sanctifying grace, and glorifying grace. In our conversations with others, we need to constantly remind those who are distraught and dismayed that the grace of God saves them from their sins, empowers them to grow in holiness, and provides them with hope for the future. The next chapter further expands on the qualities, conversations, and conduct of a gracious friend such as forgiveness, humility, and wisdom. However, despite our best efforts to reach others with grace and love, not all of those on the receiving end react positively. Thus, in chapter five, the authors analyze how to love and care for those who are withdrawn, angry, defensive, struggling, or rebellious. The last chapter in part one then moves on to illustrate how our grace-filled conversations also need to be informed by the truth of Scripture in order to be effective and God-glorifying. The Bible is God’s inerrant, authoritative words which are sufficient and clear enough to allow believers to live godly lives that glorify Him according to His will. Thus, we ought to faithfully study God’s Word for ourselves first and then carefully apply the truths of the Bible to exhort, correct, and encourage fellow believers to greater spiritual maturity. In the second part of the book, the authors pinpoint several Scripture passages particularly useful in encouraging those who are weary, worried, wayward, and weeping. In addition to highlighting the key points of each passage, Marshall and Newheiser also provide succinct explanations that help apply those truths to the receiving party.

I recommend this book as an accessible resource for believers who are hesitant to provide counsel to those who are struggling or suffering around them. Many Christians often shy away from either confronting or comforting other believers perhaps due to not knowing what words to speak or being afraid of hurting the other party. However, Marshall and Newheiser emphasize that it is God’s will for every believer to build each other up to greater holiness, unity, and knowledge of Christ. God has placed people with different circumstances and challenges in various areas of our lives so that we may be the very people God intends to use to dispense His grace, love, and mercy. Moreover, God’s Word is the primary means by which we exhort, teach, and correct other Christians. This is in contrast to relying on our own methods or techniques to try boosting someone’s self-esteem or coaxing others to change from their sinful habits.It is not our ability or wisdom that enables us to help others but it is God who chooses to use us to speak truth in love for the benefit of those around us. Thus, when we attempt to encourage the downtrodden and weary, it is the power of the resurrected Christ in us through His Spirit that gives us courage and knowledge to say the right words in the right way. This enables us to lovingly comfort, guide, and uplift those who are discouraged, apathetic, or distraught with gentleness, patience, and hope.

In compliance with Federal Trade Commission regulations, I was provided a review copy of this book from Crossway.

Book Review: Deeper

In Deeper, Dane Ortlund explores the fundamental elements that enable us to grow in our faith and knowledge of Christ. Such growth does not come from merely accumulating more knowledge, gaining spiritual experiences, or imitating external practices. The author’s premise is that genuine growth comes from going deeper into the depths of Christ Himself. In the first chapter, Ortlund examines several different perspectives of the person of Christ that we often overlook. For example, we seldom consider the friendship that Jesus offers us or the tenderness that He lavishes on all who are weak. Although we can never fully fathom the unsearchable riches that are found in Christ, we grow in our love and worship of Him when we commit to stretching our understanding of the person and work of Christ. Next, the author considers how despair is instrumental to helping us recognize how sinful we are and how desperately we need Christ. When we accept our utter inability to transform ourselves, we can come in repentance and faith to Christ who is always ready to embrace us in our weaknesses. In chapter three, we consider how union with Christ is the encapsulating doctrine that undergirds other essential tenets of our faith such as justification, sanctification, and adoption. Without being united to Christ, all the benefits and blessings of our salvation remain inaccessible to us. However, with our new identity in Christ, we can be assured that we will grow because Christ is in us and we are in Him. Furthermore, we need to advance in our understanding of Christ’s love for us since His love is what invites us to experience His divine fullness in ever increasing ways. Regardless of how many times we fail, we can always count on God’s inexhaustible love to draw us back to Him. Moreover, the author states that spiritual growth comes by constantly reminding ourselves of our justification achieved through Christ. Even after conversion, we often try to justify ourselves through our own efforts to grow in holiness yet the gospel tells us that our righteousness comes from Christ alone. Our sanctification progresses only when we no longer try to make ourselves right with God through our own performance. In chapter six, Ortlund advocates for the necessity of spiritual companionship on our road to growing in Christ. When we confess our sins to one another regularly, we tangibly experience the freedom that comes through the cleansing of our sins by Christ’s blood. Another avenue of spiritual growth is the reality of pain and suffering in our lives. Although we try to avoid pain, the trials we undergo are part of God’s plan to eradicate the remnants of our fleshly desires and re-align our heart’s affections towards Him. The next chapter discusses the two central tools that aid our spiritual growth namely Scripture and prayer. By constantly immersing ourselves in God’s Word and praying to God, we progress in our understanding of who God is and how we fit into His grand design. Lastly, Ortlund highlights the role of the Holy Spirit as being the One who opens our spiritual eyes to behold Christ in all His fullness in order that we can grow in Christlikeness.

I heartily recommend this book to those who feel discouraged or confused in their journey in knowing Christ. Some Christians may think that sanctification depends on our own effort such as through taking theology courses or listening to sermon podcasts. Others may think that it is inconsequential whether there is any growth at all since we have already accepted Christ and have a free ticket to heaven. Ortlund argues that growth is natural and necessary for the regenerated believer and the good news is that we already have all we need to grow in Christ. The book does not attempt to cover all the different facets of sanctification but aims to pinpoint what is vital for a progressively transformed inner life filled with the joy and love that comes from the triune God. Readers will benefit greatly by heeding the author’s call to dig deeper into what the Father has already given to us through His Son and experienced by His Spirit. We can grow when we take hold of what is most basic to the Christian faith such as savouring the gospel and its manifold blessings, meditating on Scripture, praying continuously, and fellowshipping with other believers. Nevertheless, we need to remind ourselves that our growth does not depend on our commitment or ability but on the love and faithfulness of God who desires for us to become more and more like Him.   

In compliance with Federal Trade Commission regulations, I was provided a review copy of this book from Crossway.

Book Review: Praying in Public

In Praying in Public, Pat Quinn provides basic guiding principles and practical examples on how to offer corporate prayer that is biblical and God-honouring. Drawing from decades of experience leading worship services, Quinn establishes the building blocks to effective public prayer in the first part of the book and then provides dozens of sample prayers to give readers ideas on how to construct their own prayers. In the first chapter, the author introduces three types of corporate prayers including adoration, confession, and supplication by identifying key characteristics of each category of prayer. Next, Quinn argues that prayer must be Bible-saturated as the Bible is God’s Word thus making its contents the most suitable material to pray back to God. The author describes two ways of speaking Bible-filled prayers with the first being scripted prayers in which passages of Scripture are woven into the public prayer or actual recorded prayers within the Bible are recited. On the other hand, developed prayers adapt biblical truths and themes to pray for present needs of the congregation and community. The next chapter discusses the need for prayers to be directed to the triune God as all three persons of the Trinity are equally worthy of glory and praise. Quinn states that not all three members of the Trinity need to be addressed every time but we ought to draw attention to the Father, Son, and Spirit at appropriate times. In chapter four, Quinn reminds that public prayer ought to be reverent and thoughtful instead of rambling and repetitive. In particular, the author pinpoints the temptation to pray overly familiar prayers that oftentimes decimates the reverence that we ought to have when praying to the God Most High. Instead, we ought to approach God with humble hearts while also understanding our identity as children that can come to our Father for all our needs. Furthermore, our prayers should bring out the gospel and its many implications such as election, adoption, justification, sanctification, and glorification. By doing so, we praise God for His grace and mercy as shown through Christ which enables us to inherit every spiritual blessing. In addition, Quinn emphasizes that prayer should be theological not in the scholarly sense but that our prayers should direct our congregation to the vastness, majesty, and glory of God. The author highlights Scripture, liturgies, and creeds as the main sources by which we can synthesize essential truths of our faith when praying out loud. The final chapter of part one focuses on the delivery of public prayer such as whether to write out our prayers, how fast to pray, the vocabulary we should use, the timing of our prayers, and the context of our prayer in the worship service. The second half of the book contains prayers that the author and his ministry partners have prayed in various settings at their church. These prayers serve as a useful starting point for those who want to put the author’s advice in action.

I recommend this book as a handy resource for those looking to invigorate their public prayers for the glory of God and the edification of the church. For many Christians, praying consistently in private is challenging already let alone offering prayer to God on behalf of the congregation. Perhaps we ought to first practice what Quinn suggests in our personal prayer life as our public prayers should be a natural outflow of how we pray to God in private. As the people of God who are members of His household, we ought to delight in having the honour and privilege of bringing our adoration, confessions, and supplications to our Father. Quinn urges readers to be well-prepared to offer Scripture-saturated prayers that point our hearts and minds to the glory of the triune God and the beauty of the gospel. Corporate prayer is a key element of the worship service and the community life of the church so we ought to take every effort to grow in praying publicly with reverence, zeal, and love.

In compliance with Federal Trade Commission regulations, I was provided a review copy of this book from Crossway.

Book Review: The Reformed Pastor

In The Reformed Pastor, Richard Baxter exhorts pastors to approach their calling with seriousness, diligence, and passion. In this abridged version, Tim Cooper seeks to provide the essence of Baxter’s message by removing lengthy passages, updating the vocabulary to contemporary English, and revising sentences to improve the flow of the material. The book is based on Acts 20:28 in which the apostle Paul urges the elders in his presence to keep watch of them and their flock as the church of God has been purchased through the precious blood of Christ. In the first chapter, Baxter outlines the reasons to take heed by focusing on how a pastor must preserve his own salvation and ministry. The next chapter highlights how a pastor ought to take care of his flock such as the ideal size of the congregation, methods in engaging different congregants with varying needs, and practical strategies of pastoral ministry such as visitations and church discipline. In addition, Baxter describes the essential characteristics of a pastor by emphasizing the need to balance between zeal and patience, severity and mildness, conviction and humility. Furthermore, the author places special emphasis on the need to avoid pride in every aspect of life and ministry may it be fashion, speech, or actions. Moreover, other common pitfalls include sowing dissension amongst God’s people, falling into lazy and lackluster behaviour, and hoarding one’s monetary resources for selfish means. Baxter then considers in greater detail the role of an overseer of God’s flock and the sacrifice of Jesus who redeems the elect through the pouring out of His blood. In addition, the author provides advice as to how a pastor ought to undertake his calling such as by taking care of his own spiritual health, ensuring that his tone and vocabulary is inviting and warm, and striving to set a good example of holiness for his flock through his daily interactions. In the seventh chapter, Baxter concentrates on his suggestion that private instruction is a crucial component of preaching that works alongside the proclamation of God’s Word on the Lord’s Day. Although preaching the Bible in a formal setting allows for a large number of attendees to hear God’s Word, Baxter contends that one-on-one instruction is more effective in bringing lasting transformation as the material can be adjusted to the congregant’s particular learning style and circumstances, pressing questions can be answered thoroughly, and the believer’s spiritual condition can be monitored closely over time. Next, the author discusses the challenges that pastors often face in guiding their church may it be due to the pastor’s own weakness or the flock’s stubbornness or unwillingness to change. In spite of these setbacks, Baxter argues that we ought to expend greater efforts to shepherd the flock well because of the high calling of pastoral ministry, the excellent example of Christ’s ministry on earth, and the weightiness of the people’s souls. To further prove his points, Baxter formulates answers to possible objections that pastors may raise against his counsel such as the lack of one’s personal and recreational time, the degradation of one’s health, and the apparent futility in dealing with believers who are disinterested or discouraged. In the final chapter, Baxter further stresses the need for pastors to take upon themselves the private instruction of their congregants through the use of catechisms and personal conversations.

I greatly recommend this book as a timeless resource for pastors and lay leaders as it is no simple task to take care of God’s church. Although the context of Baxter’s pastoral ministry seems distant, the observations and suggestions that the author provides is very relevant to the church today. Baxter employs the signature combination of seriousness, fervency, and zeal of the Puritans that cuts to the heart of every servant of Christ. At first glance, Baxter’s exhortations may seem harsh and critical but his pithy advice comes from a deeply held conviction and love for God’s truth as found in Scripture, the grace of God in allowing His servants to take care of His bride, and the importance of the eternal state of the people’s souls. One of the major takeaways is the humility of Baxter as he mentions many times of his own guilt and failings as a pastor. Another important point is the author’s insistence on personally tending to each of his congregant which stands in stark contrast to our contemporary culture’s obsession with efficiency, marketing, and social media. Lastly, Baxter’s reminder to consider the enormous value of the human soul as being purchased through the precious blood of Christ ought to be a constant motivator to tend to our own spiritual health as well as those around us with utmost care and fervor.

In compliance with Federal Trade Commission regulations, I was provided a review copy of this book from Crossway.

Book Review: Marriage

In Marriage, Paul Tripp provides helpful principles in navigating the journey through what is likely the most intimate relationship we can share with another individual in this lifetime. This book is mainly carried over from Tripp’s earlier work, What Did You Expect?, which has been a valuable resource for pre-marital and marital counseling for over a decade. In this new book, two additional chapters and a study guide help readers process the material more deeply. Tripp asserts that marriage is held together by the grace that is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. When two sinful individuals cleave together to form a family, there are bound to be many areas in which sin becomes an obstruction to experiencing the joy and love of marriage. It is only when both individuals have come to experience the grace and forgiveness found in Jesus that they learn to dispense the same grace to each other. Furthermore, the author emphasizes that unity is not synonymous with uniformity. With an infinite number of combinations involving culture, language, race, and other variations in upbringing and family structure, differences in opinion are a given. What makes for a fruitful marriage is when both individuals engage each other to work out these differences through humble, sacrificial love that willingly subjugates one’s desires for the benefit of the other party. Another essential point Tripp makes is that marriage requires a consistent work ethic. Just as gardening requires daily effort, a strong marriage needs both individuals to pursue maturity and growth by regularly taking steps to draw near to God and each other. Although marriage can be challenging at times, Tripp suggests that marriage is one of the tools that God uses to transform us to become more like Him. Rather than aiming to change one’s spouse through threats or coercion, true change comes through the Spirit’s work in convicting us to confess our own sins. Tripp reminds us that to fix our horizontal relationships, we need to first address our vertical relationship with God. Only when we first focus our worship on God Himself can we then properly engage in building grace-filled marriages that display the power of the gospel to the world. Another observation that the author highlights is the tendency for couples to slowly drift away from each other out of apathy, neglect, or laziness. When the two sides are disinterested in working together to tackle issues, the ensuing result is oftentimes much more serious problems down the road.

I heartily recommend this book as an invaluable resource for Christians who are dating or are already married. Although some may hope to find tactile steps to improve their marriage life instantaneously, marriage is a lifelong pursuit that is unique to each couple thus offering advice that encompasses every situation is an impossible task. Instead, Tripp offers the foundational pieces to building a godly marriage that glorifies God by pinpointing the heart issues that ought to be corrected and sanctified by the work of the Holy Spirit. Marriage allows us to work out our salvation in the care of a loving Saviour who knows our weaknesses and a loving spouse who receives the same grace and mercy in Him. Moreover, the union between husband and wife is a sign that points to the perfect marriage between Christ and His bride in the future. When we fail to love our partners, we can fall back on the righteousness of Christ which has been imputed upon us so that we need not worry about God being disappointed in our shortcomings. On the other hand, we ought not to expect our spouse to be a perfect husband or wife because all of us still battle with sin every day. Tripp calls us to realign our expectations for marriage as being one of the most precious tools God uses to transform us as His image bearers and co-heirs with Christ. When disagreements and tensions arise in marriage, we ought to use these opportunities to draw nearer to our precious Lord who enables us to overcome every difficulty that we encounter through His perfect love and lavish grace.

In compliance with Federal Trade Commission regulations, I was provided a review copy of this book from Crossway.

Book Review: U-Turns

In U-Turns, Tony Evans explores the pathway towards reversing the negative consequences in our lives. Evans states that no matter how dire the situation, we can find grace and mercy in God who is always faithful despite our faithlessness. The author analyzes different areas such as financial, emotional, and spiritual aspects of our lives in which our sinful actions and decisions lead to hopelessness and despair. Evans begins the book by stressing that every day we need to reckon with the choice of choosing between God’s ways and our own ways. When we find that chasing our selfish ambitions result in failure and fruitlessness, we often reap the fruit of pain and suffering. The author states that the key to reversal is by returning to God’s ways through His Word and Spirit which enable us to truly repent of our sins. The first area that the author tackles is the issue of idolatry as being any person or thing that robs our loyalty to God. When we allow any object to take the place of God, we are travelling down the way of destruction as nothing can satisfy our heart’s desires except God alone. Next, Evans focuses on addictions as strongholds of lies that we cherish instead of the unchangeable truths found in Scripture. We need to be set free from the shackles of falsehoods that perpetuate through our addictions by having God’s truth penetrate and permeate our hearts and minds. Furthermore, Evans addresses anxiety as another avenue by which we attempt to take control of our own lives. Instead of increasing our fears through anxious thoughts, we ought to shift our minds to focus on God and His kingdom by asking God for daily strength as opposed to fretting over earthly things. Next, the author speaks to emotional strongholds that imprison us such as guilty feelings, addictions, and codependency. Rather than finding our self-worth and identity in external things, our identity ought to be in Christ alone through whom we have died to sin and now live resurrected lives in the Spirit’s power. Another area that we can experience turmoil is demonic influences as Satan is always looking to deceive and lead God’s people astray. To prevent the work of the devil, we need to avoid being entangled in sin no matter how trivial as Satan can use any weakness to lure us away from God’s ways. In addition, Evans points out generational consequences can become a blame game that robs us of the joy and freedom we receive as children of God. To combat this, we ought to walk in the Spirit and allow His indwelling power to permeate our hearts and minds with the resolve to cast aside sinful patterns and endeavour to produce spiritual fruit. Next, the author examines financial consequences that we reap when we do not wisely steward God’s material gifts to us. Instead of amassing vast amounts of debt, we ought to use our material possessions to further God’s kingdom while also prudently saving and spending within our means. Another aspect of negative consequences comes from sexual sin which damages our very souls and the relationships we have with God and others. Although we cannot go back to undo the damage that we have inflicted, we can find comfort knowing that all who come to Christ face no shame, guilt, or condemnation. The final chapter is a reminder that no matter how irreversible consequences may seem, we can take action today to repent and realign our lives to be in sync with God and His truth.

I recommend this book as a hopeful reminder that when we repent and turn back to God, we find our loving Father with His arms ready to embrace us. Although we may feel unworthy of mercy and grace, God’s love for us as demonstrated by His Son shows that no sin is too great that God cannot forgive. The author emphasizes that sin is at the root of all the brokenness and suffering that we experience when we choose to follow the ways of the flesh. Repentance is the first crucial step that we need to take to begin the reversal of the negative consequences that we reap as a result of our sinful desires. Besides confessing our sins before our gracious and merciful Father, we also need to align ourselves to God’s will and rule instead of being controlled by the chaos and conflict of our circumstances. The key step is to immerse ourselves daily in Scripture by meditating and studying God’s Word fervently so that we know what God requires of us. Furthermore, we ought to do whatever it takes to delineate our lives from any person, place, or thing that may tempt us to fall back into sin. We are not alone in our journey as God provides His Spirit to empower and indwell us as we grow in holiness and obedience with the encouragement and companionship of fellow believers. Moreover, Jesus intercedes for us with the Father despite our backsliding and weaknesses assuring us that we can find grace and mercy when we return to Him. 

In compliance with Federal Trade Commission regulations, I was provided a review copy of this book from B&H Books.

Book Review: Lies My Preacher Told Me

In Lies My Preacher Told Me, Brent Strawn aims to dispel ten misconceptions of the Old Testament that are common amongst both believers and nonbelievers. As an Old Testament professor, Strawn often hears objections and comments about the OT that are either untrue or misconstrued. In the first mistruth, the author argues against the idea that the OT is reading “someone else’s mail” since we are not the original recipients of the text. Although the OT Scriptures may seem irrelevant to believers today, Christians are to receive the whole counsel of God which includes both testaments as God’s inspired word binding on all generations of believers. The next mistruth centers upon the complaint that the OT is a boring history book. Strawn argues that OT Scripture contains a number of different genres other than history and the selective recorded historical narratives are purposeful and enriching. Another common remark is that the OT is no longer binding given that the New Testament has become its replacement. The author points out that Jesus read the OT Scriptures as God’s Word and stated that He did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. Although many OT traditions and stipulations no longer apply to Christians today, the OT is indispensable in that many NT concepts and content are inextricably linked to the OT. The next mistruth centers upon how the OT portrays God as being mean, violent, and angry. Strawn responds to this be highlighting that God’s wrath is the outflow of His divine justice to those who practice unrighteousness and demonstrates His great love for us to turn from our sinful ways. In addition, others may point to the acts of violence in the OT such as the Canaan conquests as being problematic and irreconcilable. Strawn purports that the violence God commanded was necessary in terms of carrying out God’s justice on sinners, limited in scope as opposed to outright annihilation in every circumstance, and do not serve as examples for Christian imitation as these acts serve as part of God’s redemptive plan in a specific time period. Next, the author shifts gears to address the issue of biblical authorship and other historical assertions that some people make to support their understanding of particular passages of Scripture. Strawn agrees that contextual and background information is essential to studying the Bible but the reality is that we do not have all the data to make irrefutable claims on historical facts. The next two mistruths are closely linked in that many Christians find the OT to be irrelevant to their spiritual and physical lives as opposed to NT teachings. Indeed, many of the laws, traditions, and narratives may seem distant to us but the OT is God’s written revelation for us to learn who God is and how He interacts with His creation in redemptive history. Moreover, there are some who see the OT’s statutes to be too restrictive and burdensome for contemporary Christians. On the contrary, Strawn points out that we are not told anywhere in the NT to abandon the OT Scriptures but rather to strive towards greater holiness of which both testaments are essential reading. The final mistruth is on the common refrain that everything in the Bible is ultimately about Jesus. Strawn finds this assertion to be distracting as the entire Bible is the revelation of the triune God of whom we are called to praise and worship. In most cases, the author provides intriguing observations, analogies, and examples to provide counterarguments against the mistruths. However, there are also places in the book where the author seems to not fully interact with the mistruth being addressed. The most significant example is the last mistruth which is that everything in the Bible is about Jesus. This is indeed an often-repeated refrain among conservative evangelical preachers encouraging believers to read the Bible through Christo-centric lenses. Strawn seems to suggest that those who subscribe to this perspective as having two issues. Firstly, this perspective elevates Christ over the two other persons of the Trinity and is unfaithful to the Christian belief in a triune God. On this point, the aforementioned preachers would undoubtedly disagree with being labelled as being anti-Trinitarian. Secondly, the author is painting adherents to this viewpoint as being ignorant to the fact that large amounts of Scripture does not directly or indirectly link to Jesus. Again, it would be farfetched to imply these pastors are trying to claim every single verse in the Bible to be at least a muted reference to Christ. I appreciate that the author is attempting to correct erroneous views of the OT; however, without fully engaging the perspective held by the other party, the exercise is more akin to utilizing straw man arguments rather than constructive dialogue.

I recommend this short book as a lighthearted yet important reminder to those who view the Old Testament as irrelevant or unhelpful to Christians today. It is tempting to try avoiding the OT for its passages containing bloody battles, outdated hygiene rules, or lengthy genealogies. However, Strawn illustrates by combating ten mistruths that the OT is part of God’s written word to us which provides vital spiritual nourishment and fellowship with the triune God. It is worth noting that the mistruths being addressed in this book have some element of truth in them or else such misconceptions would not prevail through multiple generations of believers. The solution to avoid falling into these traps lies in growing our appetite to read, study, and meditate on the whole counsel of God. To do so requires dedication and discipline in addition to constant prayer for the Holy Spirit to guide and enlighten our hearts and minds.

In compliance with Federal Trade Commission regulations, I was provided a review copy of this book from WJK Books.

Book Review: The Need For Creeds Today

In The Need for Creeds Today, J.V. Fesko argues that confessions still play a vital role in the spiritual health of the church in the twenty-first century. Written from a Reformed perspective, the author examines this theme from several different angles including biblical evidence, historical examples, and practical considerations. Despite our culture’s disdain for institutionalized religion and doctrinal frameworks, Fesko states that by adhering to an established set of Christian beliefs, believers can remain steadfast against doctrinal attacks from inside and outside of the church. Moreover, by drawing on the collective wisdom in the past centuries of Christian thought, we guard ourselves against novel conjectures that may result in outright heresy or sow divisiveness within the body of Christ. Fesko highlights Scriptural references in both Old and New Testaments that reinforce the command to faithfully relay core Christian truths to each ensuing generation. What is important to note is that the essentials of our faith do not change but Christians in each era will often have to actively focus their attention on responding to certain areas of doctrine being challenged. This is best demonstrated in the Reformation in which dozens of versatile, robust confessions were written as a result of disagreements with the Roman Catholic Church and even amongst the Protestants themselves. Although the Reformers were against Roman Catholic traditions that contradicted Scripture, they were largely in agreement with the early church fathers’ teachings and saw the Reformation as a movement to return to the roots of true Christianity. Furthermore, Fesko points out that creating and defending confessions was a serious business in that era to the point that one may have to sacrifice their own lives. Thus, we see how confessions can be instruments by which the people of God mature as believers have to faithfully contend for what they believe. Conversely, confessions can also become weapons by which we malign fellow Christians who may hold the same core truths but differ only on non-essential doctrines as evidenced by the bloodshed in the Reformation and post-Reformation eras. Fesko emphasizes that theology and practice ought to always be joined together such that we cannot declare our adherence to God’s truth while denying grace and mercy to fellow believers with differing views. Against the claim that confessions breed conflict and snobbishness, Fesko states that well-constructed confessions such as the Westminster Catechism allows for a certain degree of doctrinal freedom within the bounds of Christian orthodoxy. Instead of excluding everyone that is not of the same theological persuasion, confessions serve as buoys that clearly delineate what is off limits while still allowing ample room for believers of different theological traditions to dwell in harmony.

I gladly recommend this book as the importance of confessions is often overlooked in the church today. Creeds and prayer books are often seen as dead documents that have no significance to the Christian life beyond being recited on Sunday mornings. Fesko hopes that Christians can embrace confessions as trustworthy companions in navigating our current culture that prizes individualism, relativism, and personal happiness. Furthermore, the author encourages readers to utilize and adapt these historic confessions when passing on doctrinal truth within one’s family and church community. Confessions do not bear the same weight as Scripture but serve to systematically organize biblical truths in a concise manner that allows believers to reliably test whether some new teaching is compatible with orthodox Christianity. More importantly, confessions highlight the essential truths that ought to energize one’s walk with God so that orthodoxy results in orthopraxy. When we find ourselves drifting from the clear markings outlined in the historic confessions, we ought to reorient and realign our hearts and minds to once again be in tune with God’s truth as revealed in His Word.

In compliance with Federal Trade Commission regulations, I was provided a review copy of this book from Baker Academic.

Book Review: Men and Women in the Church

In Men and Women in the Church, Kevin DeYoung provides a broad overview of the complementarian position of male and female roles as part of God’s design. DeYoung begins the book by surveying the first chapters of Genesis to establish basic principles and observations of God’s mandate for the human race collectively and for men and women specifically. As God’s image bearers, Adam and Eve are called to rule over all creatures and to be fruitful and multiply thereby establishing God’s kingly rule over the earth. However, God’s charge to each gender is also specific and unique. For Adam, he was created first before Eve, given the duty to name the animals, and explicitly commanded to avoid the forbidden fruit. Thus, the male role can be generally defined as being responsible for leading, protecting, preserving, and providing. As for Eve, her primary role was to be a suitable helper to Adam which is chiefly seen in nurturing, caring, and supporting her husband, family, and community. In the next chapter, DeYoung examines the Old Testament broadly for further examples of how these general patterns are actualized such as how leadership roles including priests, prophets, and kings are almost exclusively served by males. Although we have female characters such as Deborah and Esther who also embody heroic and noble traits, the calling of prominent females including Sarah, Rebekah, and Hannah center upon bearing children and supporting her husband and family in God’s redemptive plan. Next, the author focuses on the gospel narratives to gather evidence of how male and female roles play out in Jesus’ life and ministry. Firstly, DeYoung asserts that Jesus viewed women highly as shown in the many interactions He had ministering to females and the large number of women who followed Him regularly. Nevertheless, we cannot ignore the fact that Christ was incarnate as a male and all His disciples were men which solidifies the pattern of male leadership. Furthermore, the author delves into the passages concerning hair and head coverings by studying the contextual situation of Paul’s teachings and then drawing out practical implications for us today. In summary, the historical context of the passages appears to involve women attempting to assert authority in the church and engage in authoritative teaching which is not in keeping with the creation mandate of male headship and leadership. Thus, in our contemporary church setting, DeYoung contends that women should also refrain from authoritative teaching over men but pastors and leaders should look for ways to creatively involve women such as giving a testimony or offering a prayer in the worship service or less formal settings. The next chapter focuses specifically on the roles of husbands and wives with the former being one of sacrificial, loving leadership while the latter is marked with gentle, willing submission. DeYoung stresses that just as Christ and His bride assume different roles in their spiritual union, marriage between men and women should also be differentiated in keeping with God’s design. In the following chapter, the author conducts a detailed analysis of 1 Timothy 2:8-15 and explains how the recurring themes of loving leadership and gentle submission carry over into life in the church for men and women. Furthermore, the following chapter highlights the two offices of the church and elaborates on circumstances in which women can or cannot participate. In terms of the eldership, the role specifically involves authoritative teaching thus women would not qualify to serve as ordained ministers or elders. On the other hand, deacons serve the congregation’s physical needs in various ministries of which teaching is generally not involved except in denominations where deacons possess spiritual authority or receive teaching responsibilities. Thus, depending on the denominational stance and the polity structure, DeYoung is open to the possibility of female deacons as there is no clear biblical teaching against women serving in this capacity. The three final chapters focus on the practical applications of biblical manhood and womanhood consisting of a collection of answers to common objections to complementarianism, advice to parents on teaching and modeling biblical gender roles to their children, and exhortations to believers in using wisdom and discernment to faithfully live out God’s design for men and women in His kingdom. The book’s appendix is an analysis of whether women can preach during worship services. DeYoung argues against doing so as preaching would involve asserting authority over men in the congregation. Although some scholars view teaching in the New Testament as being different in nature than contemporary preaching, the author points out that the apostles’ teaching is much more than simple transmission of Jesus’ instructions but involves exhorting and expounding. Moreover, preaching today is more than merely sharing one’s devotional reflections but carries authority to correct, rebuke, and encourage the flock.

I recommend this book to Christians who are looking for an introduction to complementarianism that is concise, lucid, and convincing. In our current culture, issues concerning family, gender, and sexuality are frequently challenged thus believers need to take the effort to develop a well-informed, biblical position on what God’s design is for men and women. Although one may not agree with all of DeYoung’s observations, it is immensely helpful to engage with an accessible, logical presentation of what biblical manhood and womanhood means. We can all agree that God views both males and females as equally valuable and co-heirs of the glorious inheritance that we have received through Christ. Moreover, God has chosen to create two genders of which both are complementary partners in caring for His creation and expanding His kingdom until Jesus returns. As such, it is a given that God has endowed both males and females with different strengths that allow them to serve Him in various areas. DeYoung urges us to consider the numerous way that men and women can serve God in ways that are faithful to Scripture’s teachings and patterns on male and female roles. Indeed, there are many ministries of which it may be inappropriate or undesirable for men to be leading such as counselling young women and visiting widows. It is vital for us to avoid seeing gender roles as being oppressive but rather as being part of God’s grand design to bring fruitfulness and joy. Furthermore, we ought to be mindful that how biblical manhood and womanhood is approached in our local churches requires considerable wisdom, discernment, and prayer as each context varies may it be denominational, practical, and cultural aspects. What is of first importance is that we seek to glorify and honour God by being faithful to what has been clearly revealed to us in the Bible while having humility to be guided by the Spirit in how we apply those principles in our church communities.

In compliance with Federal Trade Commission regulations, I was provided a review copy of this book from Crossway.

Book Review: For the Body

In “For the Body,” Timothy Tennent seeks to construct the foundations of a theology of the body for a post-Christian world. Tennent argues that recent struggles on issues involving gender identity, sexuality, and body image, both inside and outside of the church lies in the lack of a robust, biblical understanding of God’s multifaceted design for our physical bodies to experience and glorify Him. The author compares the current cultural wars on the body as akin to the false teaching of Gnosticism in the early church era. In Gnosticism, the physical body is seen as an empty, rotting shell that traps the soul from liberation and freedom. Similarly, our society today see the body either as an obstruction to fulfilling our inner desires or an accessory to be employed based on one’s personal tastes and preferences. The first part of the book concentrates on God’s original design in creation and specifically focuses on God’s mandate for human beings. Tennent underscores how we were made to reflect God’s image primarily through our good and fruitful physical bodies. Moreover, the physical body is the chosen instrument by which God’s own Son comes to dwell with us in His incarnation. Next, Tennent analyzes marriage as a sacred physical and spiritual union that brings forth fruitfulness, stability, and life to the human race. This one-flesh union is a sign that points towards the greatest marriage of all which is between Christ and His church. Furthermore, God’s design for marriages to bring forth children is another icon by which we come to greater appreciation of the interrelationships within the three persons of the Trinity. Even for those who are single, the author points out that celibacy is also a present-day harbinger to our future eschatological state in which human marriage no longer exists. Tennent then pivots to study how the body is a means of grace by which we experience the grace of God such as through the Lord’s Supper and baptism. Moreover, our bodies serve as God’s instruments by which we project God’s grace and love to the world around us in a missional manner so that others can taste and see the goodness of God. In practical terms, our daily acts of sacrificial service through menial, physical tasks enable others to see how our bodies are productive and fruitful. The second part of the book highlights the different ways culture devalues the human body and how Christians ought to respond. The author first addresses how images play a pivotal role in shaping us such as pornography and sexualized media. Next, Tennent ponders several key passages on homosexuality and common arguments made by those who seek to soften the Bible’s teaching against same-sex behaviour and self-identity. In response to culture’s attacks, many churches often either water down biblical doctrine to appease opponents or blatantly reject those struggling with sexual immorality in unloving ways. Part of the solution to these responses is the need for churches to reclaim the authority of the Scripture as the inerrant Word of God and hold fast to its teachings. In addition, we ought to change how we interact with those outside the church from a stance of hostility and fear to a posture of love and gentleness as we firmly proclaim and defend the tenets of our faith. Furthermore, the author argues for stronger discipleship within the local church that interweaves a theology of the body in its instructional material. Churches ought to establish a systematic discipleship framework for new believers and mature Christians so that the congregation is well-equipped to face culture’s countercurrents. Tennent wraps up the book with suggestions to pastors and church leaders on how to lead their congregation towards greater spiritual maturity on this subject and engage with nonbelievers who question the beliefs we hold.

I gladly recommend this book to Christians seeking for a solid primer to understanding God’s intent for our physical bodies. Nearly every day across the news and Internet, we observe society’s battle against the Christian worldview on issues such as gender identity and sexuality. In such circumstances, it is tempting to grow increasingly discouraged and confused as we struggle to witness faithfully without being labelled as being bigoted or old-fashioned. Tennent suggests that instead of trying to defend Christianity’s claims passively against the world’s attacks by either trying to appear less offensive or vehemently denying claims of intolerance, it is more fruitful and effective to assert the beauty and loveliness of God and His design in positive and missional ways. Doing so comes first by gaining a concrete understanding of what the Bible says about our bodies and how we can fulfill God’s mandate for us as His creatures. Without grasping God’s will for us to live as embodied image bearers, we cannot show nonbelievers the compelling and transformative power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Moreover, we need to live faithfully as the community of God in the midst of persecution by radiating the grace, mercy, and love that is found in God alone through our physical bodies in word, thought, and deed. Examples of such living include growing strong marriages, rearing God-fearing children, fostering fruitful friendships, and serving the community sacrificially. Instead of viewing our bodies as hindrances to happiness or tools for self-advancement, we ought to embody God’s truth in and through our physical bodies so that we become a means of grace to bring glory, honour, and praise to the triune God.

In compliance with Federal Trade Commission regulations, I was provided a review copy of this book from Zondervan.