Listening to the Giants

This book is a collection of essays, focused on the Decalogue, its interpretations and devotional usage throughout the centuries. Many of the great Christian thinkers are examined such as, Calvin, Luther, Owen, Aquinas and Karl Barth. The book is edited by Jeffrey P. Greenman, who is the Associate Dean of Biblical and Theological Studies and Professor of Christian Ethics at Wheaton College and Timothy Larsen who functions as the Carolyn and Fred McManis Professor of Christian Thought at Wheaton College. I will admit from the start that this type of book is difficult to review. Each chapter interacts with a “giant” of the Christian thought and boiling down his or her musings on the Decalogue is a challenging task for each of the 14 contributors. Therefore, I am striving to highlight certain chapters, which grabbed my attention for either positive or negative reasons. Please forgive my trendy, categorical approach to this review.  The Most Interesting Chapter To ...

Is setting resolutions for 2013 wrong? Did the men/women of old participate in a similar activity? Well, to be honest, no they didn't. The reason is New Year's Day is originally based on a pagan holiday and therefore, Christians of old didn't celebrate such days. Does that mean we shouldn't have a party or make resolutions? Ultimately, each Christian must act according to their conscience. That being established, America is not Rome (where New Year's Day originated) and there is no church/state government-regulated worship. Therefore, it is apples and oranges, as the saying goes. Actually, I strongly agree with the sentiment of Burk Parsons (editor of Tabletalk magazine and co-pastor at St. Andrews Chapel), who states that Christians should be resolving to be resolved . In his post, he encourages Christians to be   resolving sensibly, dependently, humbly and for the sake of Christ . To read the whole article, click on  http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles...

Facts about John Knox:  He remarried a woman named Margaret Stewart (age 17), who was 33 years younger than Knox . 1/5 of his writings were about predestination . John Calvin was his primary mentor. Knox wrote none of his sermons down (only two sermons survived). He was his spiritual father’s bodyguard and carried a broadsword . His son-in-law was in prison for insubordination to the throne. The king asked Elizabeth (Knox’s daughter) to persuade her husband to submit to his authority. Her response: “Please your Majesty, I’d rather have his head here.” Knox is one of the four reformers on the wall of Geneva. The words next to the Scottish reformer, “One man with God is always in the majority.” 

He was a minister of the Christian gospel who advocated violent revolution. He was considered one of the most powerful preachers of his day, but only two of the hundreds of sermons he preached were ever published. He is a key figure in the formation of modern Scotland, yet there is only one monument erected to him in Scotland, and his grave lies beneath a parking lot. John Knox was indeed a man of many paradoxes, a Hebrew Jeremiah set down on Scottish soil. In a relentless campaign of fiery oratory, he sought to destroy what he felt was idolatry and to purify Scotland's religion. Biography  John Knox was born around 1514, at Haddington, a small town south of Edinburgh. Around 1529 he entered the University of St. Andrews and went on to study theology. He was ordained in 1536, but became a notary, then a tutor to the sons of local lairds (lower ranking Scottish nobility). Dramatic events were unfolding in Scotland during Knox's youth. Many were angry with the Cath...

Dr. John D. Currid is Professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has a PhD in archaeology and has authored several commentaries (e.g. The Pentateuch, Habakkuk). In his introduction, Dr. Currid breaks up the book of Ruth into five sections: Part one—Setting the scene (1:1-5), Part two—Naomi and her Moabite daughter-in-laws (1:6-22), Part three—In the fields of Bethlehem (2:1-23), Part four—The scene at the Threshing Floor (3:1-18) and Part five—Redemption (4:1-22). These sections encompass the majority of the commentaries’ brief 136 pages. Also, the introduction contains the author’s valuable thesis statement, “Thus the book is serving a greater purpose than merely being a moral story of human goodness: it points to the future reality of the coming King ”. I would label Professor Currid’s commentary somewhere between an exegetical commentary and a devotional one. To be clear, both elements are beautifully integrated throughout. T...

#1—Godly people can get depressed. Jonathan Edwards writes in the introduction of Brainerd’s memoir, “There is one thing in Mr. Brainerd, easily discernible by the following account of his life, which may be called an imperfection in him, which -- though not properly an imperfection of a moral nature, yet -- may possibly be made an objection against the extraordinary appearances of religion and devotion in him, by such as seek for objections against everything that can be produced in favor of true vital religion; and that is, that he was, by his constitution and natural temper, so prone to melancholy and dejection of spirit …..But that Mr. Brainerd's temper or constitution inclined him to despondency, is no just ground to suspect his extraordinary devotion to be only the fruit of a warm imagination….As to Mr. Brainerd in particular, notwithstanding his inclination to despondency , he was evidently one of those who usually are the furthest from a teeming imagination; being ...

The author is Brian H. Cosby, who is the lead Pastor at Wayside Presbyterian Church in Signal Mountain, Tennessee. He is the author of the youth ministry best-seller, Giving up Gimmicks and has also published biographies on John Bunyan and David Brainerd.  Cosby begins the book by asking an important question, “What is Reformed Theology?” In this introductory chapter and/or introduction, the author sets the course for this brief 112 page book. His goal is simply stated on page 3, “This book is an introduction to Reformed Theology with a particular view towards teenagers”. How does Cosby plan to achieve such a lofty goal? To begin, he purposely makes the book ascetically relevant. The front cover is bright red with funky lettering and a title that attracts the rebellious teenager, Rebels Rescued . Also, the graphics of the chapter titles remind the reader of paintbrush strokes and possibly a subtle graffiti theme. For all of his anti-gimmick language, Cosby is keen to dra...

***The article was taken and adapted from  David Brainerd: A Constant Stream  by David B. Calhoun, Ph.D. Brainerd’s influence grew remarkably within the transatlantic evangelical community through The Life of David Brainerd , Edwards’s most frequently reprinted and widely read book. It was the first American biography to reach a large European audience. It became the best-selling religious book in nineteenth-century America (with more than thirty different editions) and remains in print to the present day. John Wesley prepared an abridged version of Edwards’s book and recommended it with the words:  “Let every preacher read carefully over The Life of David Brainerd. Let us be followers of him, as he was of Christ, in absolute self-devotion, in total deadness to the world, and in fervent love to God and man.” In 1769 John Newton wrote:  “Next to the Word of God, I like those books best which give an account of the lives and experiences of H...

The subtitle reveals the simple premise of the book: 15 tectonic shifts that transform churches, communities and the world . As expected, each chapter deals with one of the fifteen tectonic shifts. What are these tectonic shifts? In a word, these shifts interact with the concept of mission , missional living or the more technical term, missiology . It is the belief of the authors that most churches are unaware of these shifts and therefore, are less effective in reaching the world for Christ. So this book boldly seeks to inform a generation of church leaders through the experimental lens of Granger Community Church (a megachurch in Northern Indiana where the author, Rob Wegner, is one of the lead pastors). It is not in the scope of this review to critically interact with each tectonic shift, but extensive comments on a few key shifts are necessary. Let’s begin with the Shift #1: Saved souls to Saved wholes . The authors contend that many churches preach an incomplete gosp...

David Brainerd was special. Not because he was a missionary (every Christian is a missionary), but because of how he lived as a missionary. His words below reveal his heart:  "All my desire was the conversion of the heathen... I declare, now I am dying, I would not have spent my life otherwise for the whole world." I want to live like David Brainerd. I want to love others like David Brainerd. I want to have the heart of God for the lost. Do I need a specific people group to do this, to "live on mission"? Nope. Just obey and follow Christ. He was very clear before He left to tell His followers what we should be doing until He returns.  Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. " Recently, I wrote the post below for a friend's blog. In it, I dealt with a few practical ways to engage our culture. Sometimes we need ju...

The author, Dr. Iain D. Campbell, is from Scotland. But where is lives is not as important as who he is. Dr. Campbell is a pastor and as a good preacher, his small book harmonizes the theological and practical in a seamless way. In the introduction, the premise of the book is clear: The seven ‘I AM’ sayings of the gospel of John are unique to the other gospels and therefore are worthy of exclusive study.  So just like a good sermon, Campbell provides an introduction, seven chapters and a brief conclusion. In my opinion, this is 122 pages of pure delight. Each chapter begins with a brief historical sketch of the particular ‘I AM’ saying. Understanding the context is crucial to interpretation and in a winsome way the Scottish preacher diligently transports the reader back to the ministry of Jesus through the eyes of the apostle John. The most excellent example of this is found in chapter two, Jesus the Light . The author states, “The other feature of the Feast of Tabern...

**This excerpt is taken from John Piper's mini biography on David Brainerd                    Brainerd struggled to love the Indians. If love is known by sacrifice, then Brainerd loved. But if it is also known by heartfelt compassion then Brainerd struggled to love more than he did. Sometimes he was melted with love. September 18, 1742: Felt some compassion for souls, and mourned I had no more. I feel much more kindness, meekness, gentleness and love towards all mankind, than ever (181). December 26, 1742:  Felt much sweetness and tenderness in prayer, especially my whole soul seemed to love my worst enemies, and was enabled to pray for those that are strangers and enemies to God with a great degree of softness and pathetic fervor (193). Tuesday, July 2, 1745:  Felt my heat drawn out after God in prayer, almost all the forenoon; especially while riding. And ...

David Brainerd Quotes: "I bless God for this retirement: I never was more thankful for any thing than I have been of late for the necessity I am under of self-denial in many respects." "The all-seeing eye of God beheld our deplorable state; infinite pity touched the heart of the Father of mercies; and infinite wisdom laid the plan of our recovery." "Once more, Never think that you can live to God by your own power or strength; but always look to and rely on him for assistance, yea, for all strength and grace." "I love to live on the brink of eternity." "Be careful to make a good improvement of precious time."

David Brainerd died at the young age of 29. Early death in itself is not unusual, but might the young missionaries’ death been preventable? Jonathan Edwards (author of Brainerd’s diary) explains, “Another imperfection in Mr. Brainerd, which may be observed in the following account of his life, was his life, was his being excessive in his labors; not taking due care to proportion his fatigues to his strength.” Yet I would encourage the reader to not be too critical of Brainerd’s imperfection. I believe there are three reasons for Brainerd’s recklessness. Life was short at that time. I have dealt with this issue in a previous post, addressing the grim realities for John Calvin and most humans in the last two millennia.   “It is hard for the 21st century Christian to truly grasp the regularity of death for the 16th century person. Most children did not make it to adulthood (Calvin’s only son died two weeks after birth) and therefore, time for Calvin was against him an...

The author of Man Alive  is a smart guy. Dr. Morley graduated from Harvard, Oxford and completed a stint at Reformed Theological Seminary. Yet he is better known for the ministry he created, The Man in the Mirror , which strategically focuses on biblical masculinity. He begins this book with one of his many inspiring stories, directing the reader to his thesis statement: Every man has seven primal, instinctive needs (each need is unpacked within a specific chapter). Morley believes that most men they lead “lukewarm, stagnant, often defeated lives”. Because these primal needs are neglected, men default into physical isolation and spiritual indifference. This book grandly proclaims that it will bring hope, healing and practical help for such a man. I am pleased to state that Dr. Morley succeeds in his literary purpose. Each chapter is embedded with sagely advice and anecdotal offerings. In addition, each of the seven primal needs are addressed with levity and simplistic l...