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!