A Needed and Timely Book

I just finished a deeply insightful and convicting book by Erwin Lutzer, Is God On America's Side?. With releases in both May and October of 2008, this work could not come at a better time for Christians in America (and Europe). Dr. Lutzer attempts to ask and then biblically answer questions concerning evangelicals' role in America's political scene.

The thesis of Is God On America's Side? is that Christians must impact the United States through the Good News and living its implications, not through political advancement; we must reach Americans, not America.

Chapter six carries a heavy "punch" as it brings into light many areas in American culture where the church simply falls short of God's commands. This affordable little book has left an impression on me, and will hopefully affect how I live from now on.

So I recommend this book to any and all believers (Lutzer's book is now added to my Recommended Books list). Here it is Is God On America's Side?

May growth and fresh thinking ensue!

Why We're Not Emergent: comments on DeYoung and Kluck's work

Finally. A couple of days ago I finished We We're Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be) by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck. DeYoung is a pastor at University Reformed Church in Lansing, MI. Kluck is a sports journalist and member of DeYoung's congregation.

(I Know. I took forever finishing the book.)

In order to facilitate two completely different writing styles, DeYoung and Kluck rotate chapters, each writing every-other (mostly). DeYoung's chapters are lengthy, and could be considered "heavy" for the book's target audience. Kluck, as a sports journalist and church layman, writes much shorter and "readable" chapters. I found both authors engaging and informative, and I enjoyed the change-of-pace between two distinct methods of writing.

Why We're Not Emergent reveals many dangerous aspects in the Emerging Church. Rightly, however, DeYoung and Kluck celebrate the positives coming from the movement, although the two authors are decidedly against the Emergent Movement as a whole. The most glaring negative of the book is that the authors (understandable though it may be) cite only the most egregious examples of poor theology within the Emerging Church. However, the authors do commend, even recommend, Scot McKnight's works as examples of good theology from a(n) (semi)Emergent voice.

I found myself agreeing with almost everything in Why We're Not Emergent, and I highly recommend it to anyone who reads Bell, Sweet, McLaren, Kimbell, etc.

Here is a review of Why We're Not Emergent by Amy Sondova on TheOoze, which is the flagship website of the Emerging Movement. The review is surprisingly positive. Here.

And here is the book: Why We're Not Emergent

May growth and critical thinking ensue!

A Move Toward Hope

Dr. Mohler published a post yesterday concerning news which is shifting the paradigm of the Episcopal Church in America. 

In 2003, the Episcopal Church elected an openly-gay Bishop, which caused a firestorm both within the Anglican and Episcopalian Church (Europe and America respectively) . Yesterday, however, news came that conservative Episcopalians have broken away from the church and are officially forming the Anglican Church of North America. This new denomination intends to hold highly Scriptural authority, specifically regarding the biblical position on homosexuality. 

Perhaps the most significant (and most exciting) aspect of the new ACNA is that the divisions will not be determined by territory, but rather theological unity.

Here is the article from Dr. Mohler: Theology Not Territory

Remember to thank God for our fellow believers who are taking a courageous stand for biblical teaching!

God's Man Won: toward a biblical perspective of the election

America has elected a new leader. And God should be praised. 

Most of you could guess that I am not an avid Obama supporter. In fact, I may not have even voted for him (I'm being neutral). But whatever side of the political coin we land on, we must recognize that God raises nations up, and God causes nations to fall; God ordained President-elect Barack Obama to become America's next president. Scary or not, we have to be thankful that God has placed us in this particular place and time, for his specific purposes. 

So as we pray for our nation, let us be thankful in all things, recognizing that God is active and deliberate in the lives of his people.

New List

I have recently added a list of recommended books to my blog. I am reading or have read all of the books listed. Each book has much to contribute to our conversation of Culture and the Christian (I threw in some of my favorite literature as well). I will continue to update the list as I encounter books which, I feel, are significant to our confessing evangelical community; I will take the time to review some books here.

(Though I may review books which contribute negatively, I will list only books which I feel are thoroughly helpful.)

Rob Bell's Sex God

As promised, I just finished Mars Hill Bible Church pastor Rob Bell's second book, Sex God. As I expected, this second volume has its pros and cons; I will try to highlight examples of both.

The counter-orthodoxy which intrigued me in Velvet Elvis, disturbed me in Sex God. For example, Bell's opening chapter seems to paint heaven and hell as metaphors, or perhaps spiritual realities of some sort rather than literal locations.

Chapter two, I think, is a flop; Bell simply misses his own point. "Sexy on the Inside" (the second chapter), spends a great deal of time developing the idea that nature, people, and creation as a whole, are disconnected. Bell consistently claims that humans need to be connected back to each other, nature, and to reality (I think by reality, he means some kind of creational harmony). I agree that creation is disconnected, but I think Christ is the one who connects us to God's true reality. So, I think Bell makes a good diagnosis, but completely misses the prescription.

Also, throughout Sex God, Bell seems to intertwine Christianity and "true reality" with eastern religion-feeling spirituality. Much of this work deals with balance--sexual, spiritual, communal, etc. I found these references to be, well...scary. Further, Bell writes statements, most indirectly, which make me wonder if Bell is propagating theistic evolution (?).

WAIT! As with most of life, we cannot "throw the baby out with the bath water." Bell's second book does have redeeming qualities.

"Under the Chuppah" (chapter seven) is a very helpful chapter on the emotional and social intimacy of marriage/relationships. Bell illustrates how allowing family, friends, hobbies, work, etc. into relationships can be detrimental; keep the relationship between two people, don't air your dirty laundry, etc.

As in my comments on Velvet Elvis, I maintain that Rob Bell is more orthodox theologically than his writing paints him to be. There is no question that Bell's methods (even his vocabulary) are UNorthodox, and the paradox between how he writes and how he preaches raises serious questions.

Sex God left me craving more (much more) theological substance.

Overall, I do not think that Sex God carries nearly the impact which does Velvet Elvis. However, if one is able and willing to read attentively and discerningly (as we should read everything!), Bell's second work presents some helpful and insightful material.

But such material is few and far between.

Here you go(Sex God), may growth ensue!

Five Sacred Crossings: a review

About a month ago I read a new book by Craig J. Hazen called Five Sacred Crossings. In which, Hazen works a thorough examination and defense of Christianity into a novel. The novel is set in southern California, where a middle-aged Christian college professor agrees to substitute teach a professional friend's religion class (at a secular college). The Christian college professor introduces a book to this class which he received as a gift from a tribal community during the Vietnam War. The book, The Five Sacred Crossings, teaches five philosophical/spiritual propositions which the reader must unpack through communal discussions and wise direction from an elder.

Hazen uses each "crossing" to address different worldviews, and to explain and defend the Christian worldview. Five Sacred Crossings addresses these issues through the questions and responses posed by the students at the secular college.

The only odd aspect of the novel was that Hazen had his main character, the Christian college professor be a smoker who enjoys watching the Simpsons. I am not sure why Hazen would go out of his way to involve his character in two semi-controversial actions when neither is important to the story line. Perhaps I missed some hidden reason.

Regardless, I found the work to be extremely helpful and informative (I learned quite a bit about eastern religious beliefs). Dr. Hazen is pioneering a new form of apologetics which I think, in a quality works such as this, should be embraced. This new book made a great addition to my library.

I highly recommend Five Sacred Crossings to any and everyone! I would add that Hazen's book might be particularly good for nonbelievers and young Christians.

Here it is (Five Sacred Crossings), may growth and enrichment ensue!

Atheist Encounter: a confirmation of non-evidential apologetics

Yesterday, I had the immense pleasure of dialoguing with a professing atheist. This atheist is a student at the University of North Florida studying sociology (I am not even going to try to spell her name; she is German, and has only been in the States for about two years).

She told me that her best friend is a Muslim, her parents (who I think are still in Germany) are Christians, and she and her husband are atheists.

I asked her why.

She began telling me that atheism is the only ideology that makes sense, that she does not need to believe in anything, and that those who believe (she would simply use the word believe) only do so because they think they are missing something in their lives.

I turned the conversation to creation. She could not believe that I did not believe in Evolution. She kept saying things like, "Wow", "of course", and "it's been proven" (I am still not sure what it is, or what has been proven). We continued to discuss everything from creation to meaning of life to defining good and bad for about twenty minutes. When I told her that creationism is valid because nothing we experience is not created, cars, clothes, meals, etc., she simply told me that that doesn't make sense.

As I was driving away from work, I began to see that it didn't matter what I said, my new friend was not going to see my point of view. Her mind is completely bent toward atheism and utter disdain for anything religious. I could have argued for hours alongside Josh McDowell, Bill Craig, and Ken Hamm, but my atheist co-worker's mind would not have changed. She is set on error.

However, if the Holy Spirit moves in her life, a simple ray of sunshine could change her eternal destiny!

My encounter with atheism starkly reminded me of how insignificant I am. I can do nothing for this poor, confused college student. Conversely, the Holy Spirit's can open her mind to the love of God, and to renew her through the atoning work of Jesus Christ.

We should continue to dialog with atheists, agnostics, and other nonbelievers, I only mean that our human words and reason cannot bring people to a saving knowledge of Christ aside from the distinct work of the Holy Spirit.

May the conversations continue!

"The Christian Life;" I'm sick of it...the term, I mean

I very often hear people refer to the "Christian life." What is that? I have been at church and seen two people interacting: "How are you?" asks the first. "Doing well," is the reply. The first continues, "and how are you doing spiritually?"

I don't get it.

Why do we separate being a Christian from...well...living? I should not be able to tell someone that I am doing well if I am living in a broken relationship with the Father.

Further, being a Christian should completely permeate my life, every single aspect. So my "Christian life" is more properly, my life!

So no more making references to the Christian life, spiritual walk, etc. From now on let us be thoroughly Christian in every single aspect of our lives, and let everything be completely Christocentric.

Gay-and feeling God's love: reaction to the Times-Union

The Sunday (June 8) Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville, FL) news paper ran an article entitled "Gay-and feeling God's love". The article is outlined by the story of Sondra Best's journey from faithful church girl, to confused teenager, to bitter-against-God homosexual, to openly gay, active church member. The article also includes several pastors and church leaders who are openly gay and who lead churches which primarily "minister" to the homosexual community.

Jeff Brumley writes, "there is an array of organizations founded to help believers integrate homosexuality and faith and pushing for same-sex blessings and equal opportunity for church leadership and pastoral positions. ...[Gays], like heterosexuals, have gifts from God that can benefit the church and society."

So we are being more and more boldly addressed with the question of homosexuality on Christianity's main stage. How do we react?

One aspect of the article which I found sad, was the seemingly deep-seeded anger towards orthodox Christianity on the part of the gays quoted. Where does this bitterness come from?

I think the answer is two-fold:

1) God has instilled a sense of right and wrong (sensus divinitatis, in a sense) within everyone. Therefore, when a person is living an ungodly lifestyle, homosexuality, that person often becomes defensive, even angry, towards anyone who said person perceives to be threatening his or her way of life.

2) I also believe that we, as Christians, contribute to the bitter attitudes many in the homosexual community seem to have toward believers. Many times the Church seems to react to the sin of homosexuality as, somehow, an unforgivable sin. Homophobic christians can do much damage to the task of evangelizing the gay community.

Answering these two matters becomes increasingly complicated. I was just listening to comments by Dr. Al Mohler (check out his blog) on the issue of homosexuality, and Christians' place in the conversation. Dr. Mohler claimed that our dilemma is complicated by the fact that we can easily say too little, and thereby condone homosexuality by avoiding it; we can also say far too much and thus fail to love those in a homosexual lifestyle as we love ourselves.


In conclusion, we must take a strong stand against the progression of the gay community. However, we must also love as Christ loved, and care for people as Christ cared for people. I think that we should treat homosexuals in the same manor which we treat alcoholics and or drug addicts, liars, and even people who consistently loose their tempers. Sin is sin.


My fear, after reading Brumley's article, is that there is a growing contingent of people who think that God accepts their homosexual lifestyles. How plenteous is the harvest?


God be with us as we address homosexuality as a growing cultural phenomenon.

(More to come in the future...)

Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis

A little over a month ago, I finished a book by Mars Hill Bible Church (Grandville, MI) pastor Rob Bell. I would like to make a few comments.

I recommend Velvet Elvis to anyone who has been a Christian for longer than about three years.

Bell makes several statements and suggestions which are extremely counter-orthodox. For example, in the fifth chapter of Velvet Elvis, Bell explains what he sees as the correct understanding of Jesus use of the term "Gates of Hell." He claims that a large crack in a cliff at Caesarea Philippi was a place surrounded by much superstition and cult activity, and thus the cliff was referred to as the gates of hell. Whether or not the history is correct ( I have no reason to believe that Bell is incorrect), the assertion of the sections seems to be that hell may not be an actual place, but rather a cultural response to local beliefs. Also, throughout the book there is not one reference as to how a person actually finds new life (if there was such a reference, it was either too vague or too foreign to recognize).

For such reasons, I do not think Velvet Elvis is healthy for young believers to read.

However, I highly recommend the book to those of you more grounded in your doctrine! Much of Bell's book was extremely helpful to me.

A large portion of the book is dedicated to what might be called a social gospel. In many circles (including my own broad circle) the social gospel is somewhat looked down on; people maintain the promotion of works and needs waters down and or hinders the "true" gospel. Bell, I think, masterfully integrated the two. He explained that following Christ leads to evangelism, discipleship, and social reform; helping people individually and communally overflows from seeking Christ.

Perhaps Bell leans harder on "social issues" than many conservative evangelicals, but what he promoted in Velvet Elvis deeply affected the way I think about such aspects of being a Christian.

Chapter four was by far my favorite chapter of the book. Titled "Tassels," the chapter is a thorough examination of the Christian's life being focused on God as opposed to self.

I should add that I have listened to Rob Bell (Sermon Podcasts -free subscription) for a few months now, and I have found him to be much more conservative and committed to expository preaching (though neither traditional nor familiar) than many believe. In fact, in endnote (footnote) 24, Bells suggests reading "everything John Piper has ever written...."

So while Velvet Elvis should be read critically, we cannot throw the baby out with the bathwater!
I hope all of you attain a copy of the book and read it thoroughly! May growth ensue: Velvet Elvis.

(I am looking forward to reading Bell's second book, Sex God, this summer.)

Philosophy of Life

I am excited to articulate my personal philosophy of life. However, I should note that I never want to set anything in stone, concerning my walk with Christ—which is life as a whole, for me. I desire to continually be reforming my life to the image of Christ, and not to allow my self to become stagnate or even comfortable. In essence, this is my philosophy of life: reformation of my life and transformation of my mind.

I think that theology must shape my life if I am to be faithful to Scripture’s call to Christocentricity; how I view God is fundamental to who I am and who I become. I believe that faith in God is essential for salvation, and that salvation can only take place through the atoning work of Christ crucified. My philosophy on this matter, then, is to abide in God’s grace, and to live a life of repentance and faith in Christ. I believe that in His infinite wisdom, God chose to save me by no merit of my own, whatsoever. Knowing this I must continually be humbled by my utter dependence on and in Christ, and never stop thanking and praising Him for His love and grace; thanking and praising Him with words and actions.

Seeking God to the best of my ability will greatly affect my view of ethics. Ethics, for me, is not (or should not be) about what or what not to do. Rather, ethics is the outworking of an internal relationship with God. My opinion is that if I have a healthy, growing relationship with the Father, major and minor decisions are worked out naturally though a Christ-shaped mind.

I think missions should be a primary focus in every Christian’s life. I think a common misconception of missions is that missionaries, foreign or abroad, are full time, vocational mission workers. If I give money to support missions work, I am participating in the work just as much as those who are carrying out the physical work; all of the money I earn is a gift from God, and giving part of it to furthering the Good News and discipleship only seems fitting and natural.

So I arrive at my goal—not arriving at my goal! My life philosophy is also, and more correctly, my theology: to live a life reformed, and reforming.