Books Read In August

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A surprisingly good novel. A catholic, Chinese bishop has been in jail in China for decades. His life is one of regular torture and solitary confinement. In Rome, the Pope wants the Chinese bishop released covertly. Using a former Naval Seal and other former CIA people an operation is planned to go in and get the chinese bishop out. But the Pope dies before the operation begins. They have only the time it takes for a new Pope to be chosen to complete the operation. A fun, well written novel.

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Another ‘church’ book by Thom Rainer (and co-authored by Ed Stetzer). Very disappointing. Lots of old material in this book. Nothing new. Nothing that has not already been analyzed and published by Mike Riddell, Gerard Kelly and others. My church in London was following these practices in the early 90′s in the UK.

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As a minister, read this book. The hardest part of this book will be the conflict between the freedom you will experience as you read and the realization that you MUST, MUST put it into practice, NOW.

Highly Recommended.

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This was my night-time reading with my 7 year old son. Although just beginning 2nd grade, Sam has a reading level of a 4th grader and we read through this wonderful. short biography of John Newton.

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We must not confuse busyness with spiritual growth. Far from it. Busyness may be preventing us from growing and leading us to a place where our identity is consumed with what we do, not with who we are. Fil Anderson has written a book which should be a warning to ministers not to immerse themselves into their work but to immerse themselves into Christ and prayer. Two many confuse the two with disastrous consequences.

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Another book which my 7 year old and I read together. This is a good book, if not a little biased. I need to do some correction while reading it with Sam. It says it has a reading age of 9 years old. Sam is two or three grades ahead with his reading but even so, I think it was still a little older than that. But an enjoyable read still.

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See my review HERE

Disunity In The Body Of Christ

This challenging quite comes from James Payton Jr’s book Getting The Reformation Wrong:

Even so, the multitudes of church splits which have ensued in Protestant ranks – beginning already in the 16th century, increasing in frequency subsequently and achieving breakneck pace by the early twenty first century – have unquestionably managed to undermine the integrity of the gospel. The converse of what Jesus Christ prayed for (John 17) has come to pass: our lack of unity has rendered the gospel less credible in the eyes of the world. In this regard, we have sown the wind and have reaped the whirl wind.  pg 257

Clement of Rome A.D. 95

Be contentious and zealous, but only about the things that relate to salvation.

Clement of Rome Letter Of The Romans To The Corinthians 45:1

Getting the Reformation Wrong: Correcting Some Misunderstandings by James R Payton Jr

Please notice the title of the book – it does not say that the reformation was wrong, but that there is misunderstanding about the reformation, especially in the Church today, which needs to be acknowledged. The author is a protestant evangelical scholar and he is not seeking in any way to undermine the (important) successes of the reformation. However, to view the reformation as nothing but a success is a problem. To assume that the reformation is beyond criticism or critical analysis is quite simply nonsense which is why , in my opinion, this book has been a longtime coming.

Payton’s analysis is simple. The reformation was a success. The medieval church had obscured the apostolic message and the reformation pulled back the curtain to reveal once again the gospel message. However, there is a tragedy to the reformation, and that tragedy is that the reformation is by nature schismatic. Even from the earliest times the reformers were divided amongst themselves. Eventually Lutherans denounced Melanchthon, Zwingli’s followers entered conflict with Bucer’s followers. Lutheran and Reformed camps viciously criticized each other, eventually claiming the truth for their side. This has continued in the aftermath of the reformation. We now have 26,000 Protestant denominations.

This is more than a historical issue for Payton. He challenges the reader to examine the words of Jesus in John 17:20-23 (I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in Me through their message. May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one  in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me. I have given them the glory  You have given Me. May they be one as We are one. I am in them and You are in Me. May they be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved  them as You have loved Me.)

Payton writes, “If as Christians (of whatever denominational stripe) we believe that Jesus Christ had some insight into what would affect the reception of the gospel as proclaimed by his apostles, then we cannot bypass the correlation he explicitly declares here (John 17). According to Jesus Christ himself, for those who would come to faith in him through the apostolic message to be one would constitute a compelling argument to the rest of the world that God the Father had, indeed, sent his son into the world. Conversely, for such believers not to be one would offer the world at least an excuse not to believe the gospel.

Too often, Protestants have divided over non-salvation issues such as the Lord’s Supper, predestination versus free will, eschatology, church governance, charismatic gifts, creation vs evolution, ordination of women, resulting in the fragmentation of the body of Christ. Payton’s book raises the question – is the church today really what it should be? 26,000 or more denominations fighting over small issues of theology?

This is a wonderful balance to reformation studies and a book which should not just be read but thought through. Yes, for some, this may be a provocative read. But it will be a worthwhile and challenging read. I would recommend this book as required reading for reformational studies.

Highly recommended.

From Scott Hahn On The Eucharist

The Epistle to the Hebrews sees the Mass in light of the Temple’s animal sacrifices (Heb 13:10). Many modern scholars have noted parallels between the Mass and the most commonly offered sacrifice of Jesus’ day: the thank-offering (in Hebrew, todah). The todah was a sacrificial meal of bread and wine, shared with his friends, given in thanksgiving for God’s deliverance. The Talmud records the ancient rabbis’ teaching that, when the Messiah has come, “all sacrifices will cease except the todah sacrifice. This will never cease in all eternity.” When the Jews translated their Scriptures into Greek, they rendered the word todah as eucharistia, the word from which we get “Eucharist.”

From ‘The Martyrdom of Polycarp’ 177 AD

For all those who belong to God and Jesus Christ are with the bishop, and all those who repent and enter into the unity of the church will belong to God, so that they may be living in accordance with Jesus Christ. 3 Do not be misled, my brothers and sisters: if any follow a schismatic, they will not inherit the kingdom of God. If any hold to alien views, they disassociate themselves from the passion.   4 Take care, therefore, to participate in one Eucharist (for there is one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, and one cup that leads to unity through his blood; there is one altar, just as there is one bishop, together with the council of presbyters and the deacons, my fellow servants), in order that whatever you do, you do in accordance with God.

The Rise Of Evangelicalism: The Age of Edwards, Whitefield and the Wesleys by Mark Noll

What exactly does it mean to be ‘evangelical’? Today the term is so disputed that it is even being called irrelevant. Others prefer to call  themselves ‘post-evangelical’. Roger Olson (whose writings, while I do not agree with him, I enjoy) has written that the term “evangelical” is an essentially contested concept without boundaries. This is in contrast to David Bebbington’s classic view that there are four key ingredients to evangelicalism – conversion; focus on the Bible; life of service for God; Christ’s death as the crucial matter in providing atonement.

Mark Noll and this book, would disagree with Roger Olson, and side towards David Beggington. The Rise Of Evangelicalism is the first of five books which will examine the development of evangelicalism through the ages. This volume looks at it’s beginnings (1730′s – 1790′s)

Noll shows us that evangelicalism came out of a convergence of three main movements – the Anglicanism; the puritan movement (which did not think the established church was reformed enough) and European pietism. Profiling Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield and John and Charles Wesley, Noll shows how one of the key elements (and boundaries) of evangelicalism and the Revivals experienced at this time was the emphasis and proclamation of the new birth found in Christ Jesus and the power of godliness & individual transformation.

This book is not just a helpful introduction to the roots of evangelicalism and what evangelicalism looked like, but it is also a wonderful introduction to the key men who were instrumental during the great revival of the 18th century. Noll’s scholarly and well written style makes this an enjoyable and informative read. One additional feature of this book is the wonderful bibliography at the back of the book.

Highly recommended.

The Five Paths Of Repentance by John Chrysostom

Would you like me to list also the paths of repentance? They are numerous and quite varied, and all lead to heaven. A first path of repentance is the condemnation of your own sins: Be the first to admit your sins and you will be justified. For this reason, too, the prophet wrote: I said: I will accuse myself of my sins to the Lord, and you forgave the wickedness of my heart. Therefore, you too should condemn your own sins; that will be enough reason for the Lord to forgive you, for a man who condemns his own sins is slower to commit them again. Rouse your conscience to accuse you within your own house, lest it become your accuser before the judgment seat of the Lord. That, then, is one very good path of repentance. Another and no less valuable one is to put out of our minds the harm done us by our enemies, in order to master our anger, and to forgive our fellow servants’ sins against us. Then our own sins against the Lord will be forgiven us. Thus you have another way to atone for sin: For if you forgive your debtors, your heavenly Father will forgive you. Do you want to know of a third path? It consists of prayer that is fervent, careful and comes from the heart. If you want to hear of a fourth, I will mention almsgiving, whose power is great and far-reaching. If, moreover, a man lives a modest, humble life, that, no less than the other things I have mentioned, takes sin away. Proof of this is the tax-collector who had no good deeds to mention, but offered his humility instead and was relieved of a heavy burden of sins. Thus I have shown you five paths of repentance; condemnation of your own sins, forgiveness of our neighbor’s sins against us, prayer, almsgiving and humility. Do not be idle, then, but walk daily in all these paths; they are easy, and you cannot plead your poverty. For, though you live out your life amid great need, you can always set aside your wrath, be humble, pray diligently and condemn your own sins; poverty is no hindrance. Poverty is not an obstacle to our carrying out the Lord’s bidding, even when it comes to that path of repentance which involves giving money (almsgiving, I mean). The widow proved that when she put her two mites into the box! Now that we have learned how to heal these wounds of ours, let us apply the cures. Then, when we have regained genuine health, we can approach the holy table with confidence, go gloriously to meet Christ, the king of glory, and attain the eternal blessings through the grace, mercy and kindness of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Roger Olson On Open Theism

I mentioned in a previous post that theologian Roger Olson has begun blogging. Yes he is an Arminian. He has also written a great systematic theology called The Mosaic of Christian Belief: Twenty Centuries of Unity & Diversity. Good theology requires that we read people we may disagree with, even those who are brothers in Christ. I like Olson’s writings because he forces you to think.

His latest post is provocative. Conservative evangelicals need to hold onto their hats – but it is well worth engaging and wrestling with what he says.

READ IT HERE

The Reason Why A Mosque Should Not Be Built At Ground Zero

Rev. Peter Moore has written an excellent piece about why a mosque should not be built at ground zero.

READ IT HERE

A Catholic Response To Ligon Duncan’s “Did the Fathers Know the Gospel?”

This is a simulating and interesting response to Ligon Duncan’s presentation at T4G. These guys are former reformed theologians / believers and have converted to Catholicism. Their perspective is fascinating!

READ IT ALL HERE

Stop Complaining About The Times – Life Was Not Rosier In The past – by Augustine

Whenever we suffer some distress or tribulation, there we find warning and correction for ourselves. Our holy scriptures themselves do not promise us peace, security and repose, but tribulations and distress; the gospel is not silent about scandals; but he who perseveres to the end will be saved. What good has this life of ours ever been, from the time of the first man, from when he deserved death and received the curse, that curse from which Christ our Lord delivered us?

So we must not complain, brothers, as some of them complained, as the apostle says, and perished from the serpents.What fresh sort of suffering, brothers, does the human race now endure that our fathers did not undergo? Or when do we endure the kind of sufferings which we know they endured? Yet you find men complaining about the times they live in, saying that the times of our parents were good. What if they could be taken back to the times of their parents, and should then complain? The past times that you think were good, are good because they are not yours here and now.

If you have now been delivered from the curse, if you have now believed in the Son of God; if you are now well versed or trained in sacred scripture, I am surprised that you should reckon Adam to have had good times. Your parents carried the burden of Adam as well. Indeed it was Adam who heard the words: In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, and you shall work the ground from which you were taken; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you. He deserved this, he received this, he was given this as the result of God’s just judgement. Why then do you think past times were better than yours? From that Adam to the Adam of today, toil and sweat, thorns and thistles. Have we forgotten the flood? Have we forgotten those burdensome times of famine and wars? They were written about to prevent us complaining of the present time against God.

What times those were! Do not we all shudder to hear or read of them? So we have rather cause for congratulating ourselves than grounds for complaining about our own times.

Why Busyness Is Not Usually Godly…

Fil Anderson has written a fascinating book called Running On Empty. It tackles the dangers of busyness in ministry. He writes…

My life—like the Learjet on autopilot—had become a ghostly journey as I maintained a deadly course with an incapacitated soul. My ability to see clearly had become nil, outside efforts to get me to change course were refused, and my last bit of fuel was being depleted. I was obsessed with helping others have the kind of relationship with God that I had never known. I wasn’t able to name my longings or express my yearnings. My life was filled with doing things for God rather than pursuing intimacy with God. I had perfected busyness but failed miserably at stillness. I worked constantly, averaging seventy to eighty hours per week, but I didn’t have a clue who my Boss was. Although I knew facts and ideas about Jesus, I didn’t know what it meant to be his friend. I had confidence in my ability to do the work of God, but I was clueless when it came to letting God work in me. I could talk easily with others about Jesus, but I knew nothing about how to sit still long enough for Jesus to talk with me. I was comfortable around others who knew God, but the thought of being alone with God was enough to keep me occupied with the demands of ministry. The idea of sitting alone in a room with God made me nervous.

I was in over my head, but I would rather die than admit that, so I learned a simple lesson that seemed to provide the direction I needed: Just stay busy. In the church, as long as you appear busy, people rarely question your knowledge or effectiveness. They assume wherever there is a cloud of dust, meaningful activity must be just ahead of it. So I started kicking up perpetual clouds of dust..

As I kept busy, I also learned that ceaseless activity earned me tremendous praise. Desperate for recognition and approval, I worked even harder. But by the end of my first year I was suffering from fatigue and constantly feeling overwhelmed and inadequate. But I kept at it, and by the end of my second year I got a promotion. I was named the pastor of a fledgling church. At age twenty-one I was unable to distinguish between my activity and my identity—and so my activity determined my identity.

Roger Olson Is Blogging

Roger Olson is a professor of theology. He once taught on the same faculty as John Piper. His book, The Mosaic of Christian Belief: Twenty Centuries of Unity & Diversity is a wonderful introduction to Systematic Theology (Dallas Theological Seminary – one of the most conservative of seminaries, uses this book as a text book for their distance theology course). And Roger Olson is one of the most articulate defenders of Arminianism.

Check out his blog even if you disagree with his position. This godly man who loves Jesus is very thought provoking and will challenge you to think deeply about faith even in the areas you disagree with him in.

Check him out HERE

And check out THIS post – very interesting

Whose ‘Guy’ Are You?

Another interesting post from Glen at Christ The Truth….

Just had a really refreshing and encouraging conversation with a guy in ministry.  We spoke about being trinitarian and being biblical and how the bible guys and the trinity guys don’t always seem to be in the same camp.  And then there’s the Spirit dudes who fall into these and other camps.

I went away from the conversation thinking – “Be a Jesus guy.”

Don’t be a trinity guy.  Don’t be a bible guy.  Don’t be a Spirit guy.  Be a Jesus guy.  To be sure you must be trinitarian and Scripture soaked and Spirit filled to be a Jesus guy – and self-consciously so.  But not first and foremost.

I don’t want to be known for trinitarianism. I don’t want to be labelled a trinity guy.  I want to be a Jesus guy. He’s the Centre.

The Ten Best Bible Translations

This Lamp Blog has just published his top ten Bible translations. I totally agree with his list. They are:

1. Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

2. New Living Translation (NLT)

3. NET Bible (New English Translation)

4. New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

5. New American Standard Bible (NASB)

6. Good News Translation (AKA Today’s English Version; GNT/TEV)

7. The Message

8. New Jerusalem Bible (NJB)

9. Revised English Bible (REB)

10. Today’s New International Version (TNIV)

Check out his reasonings for each translation HERE

The Steward Leader: Transforming People, Organizations and Communities by R. Scott Rodin

There are literally thousands of books on Church leadership on the market. More than you can probably read. Which makes it tough for another book on Leadership to get noticed. R. Scott Rodin’s book The Steward Leader, should be noticed. Don’t let this book pass you by.

Writing in the same vain as Henri Houwen did in In The Name Of Jesus (Rodin quotes from this book a number of times) we are challenged about how we do leadership in the church. Too many leaders are what Rodin calls ‘owner-leaders’, that is leaders who have a drive to succeed in the belief that they own their ministry, own their employees and own their vision. Such a leader will place value almost exclusively on what is accomplished, regardless of the consequences for those around them.

You may say that you are not that kind of leader. Really? Haven’t we all fallen into this thinking? In fact, is it not, to some extent, the dominant thinking in Church leadership, if not implicitly then explicitly?

Rodin does not dismiss the notion of ‘results’ but the question is from where does the motivation and practice for results come from and what form does it take.

Rodin says that his definition of the godly steward is:

As God’s people, we are called to reflect the image of our creator God, through whole, redeemed relationships at four levels – with God, with ourself, with our neighbor and with creation – bringing glory to God and practicing in each the ongoing work of the faithful steward.

The book revolves around these four levels, or as he calls them in the book, transformations and trajectories. The focus of this book is that a steward leader nurtures his relationship with God first and foremost. That is the first priority of a leader – nurture, develop, grow and be steeped in your relationship with God, recognizing that this is not about you but about Him (God) – that it’s His Church, not yours, His vision, not yours. We must let go of our reputations and our desire to be ‘successful’. We do not make it happen – God does. We are not building our kingdom but God’s kingdom. What a steward leader does is to help cultivate people into godly people who are also godly stewards. That is the success mark. A Steward leader joyfully lives life in obedience to God. A Steward Leader knows the correct priorities of life and ministry.

Reading this book made me feel both excited and free. The insidious burdens and pressures of  Christian leadership which are heaped upon ministers MUST be broken. Ministers MUST feel free to spend LARGE quantities of time  in prayer, contemplation and the scriptures. Vestry’s and Leadership Boards must stop seeing days spent by the minister in quiet retreat as ‘extra days off’ or ‘slacking’ but as a vital component of serving God in his Church. The extreme over-busyness of current leadership models are not just ungodly but they are destructive.

As a minister, read this book. The hardest part of this book will be the conflict between the freedom you will experience as you read and the realization that you MUST, MUST put it into practice, NOW.

Highly Recommended.

Would Your Spiritual Life Nourish others?

Over at Christ The Truth Glen muses on a wonderful hypothetical. He asks a very penetrating question:

What if preachers had to feed their congregations Sunday by Sunday with the nourishment the Lord’s been providing for them personally?

How would we do if all we could take into the pulpit or even the Youth Room was our weeks relationship with God? Check out the post HERE

Do Americans Need To Learn To Chill?

The United States now leads Japan as the longest-working nation in the advanced industrial world. It’s interesting to note that if you are German and you work more than thirty seven hours a week and take fewer than five weeks vacation per year, you’re considered a workaholic. Ours is the most vacation starved country in the world.

Fil Anderson, Running On Empty: Contemplative Spirituality for Overachievers.

Even More Books For Sale

Again, $5 each. All books are like new – read only once 0 no markings!

God Marriage and Family

Rediscovering relational Youth Ministry

Visioneering

Reforming and Conforming

God’s Secretaries

Four Views On The LAw and The Gospel

Unfashionable

Canon of Scripture

A Basic Guide to Interpreting The Bible

Apologetics For The Glory of God