Category: Article

If you have ever been around religious skeptics, you have probably heard attacks on the biblical account of the flood. One such opposition to the flood narrative is an argument that other religions have similar flood stories. Clearly, the skeptics will argue, if multiple religions have the same sort of flood story, we can understand that all religions are the same with all the same sorts of myths.

 

I believe that there are three responses to this sort of skepticism. First, I would argue that it makes perfect sense that multiple ancient religions would have a flood story. If a global flood actually took place around 2300-2400 BC, one would expect that this story would have been passed down through more channels than inspires Scripture. After all, both American and British history books tell of the war of 1776 even if they might call it by a different name or have a different opinion of its causes. Thus, the existence of flood narratives in other religious texts is no argument against the Bible.

 

Looking to the other side of the coin, I would argue that the second thing that we need to grasp here is that the flood narratives from these other religions is not at all the same as the Bible’s telling. For example, the Bible is quite clear that it is the sin of man in the face of a holy and just God that is the cause of the global flood. But, as we read in the New International Commentary on the Old Testament:

 

According to a related flood story, the Atrahasis Epic, twelve hundred years after man’s creation his noise and commotion has become so loud that Enlil starts to suffer from insomnia. Enlil sends a plague to eradicate boisterous humanity, only to have his plan thwarted. Next he tries drought and famine, which are also unsuccessful. Finally a flood is sent, which Atrahasis survives by building a boat. To call this noise moral turbulence or, to understand the clamor of mankind as man’s chronic depravity reads into the text far too much. The problem is simply that there are too many people, with the result that there is too much noise. There is a limit on Enlil’s auditory capacities. It really should not surprise us that in a system of thought where the gods are not necessarily morally superior to human beings, and where the line between good and evil is blurred, there is no recording of the fact that man is to be drowned because he is a rebel and a sinner.[1]

 

Others compare the ancient myth of Gilgamesh to the Noah account. But there are significant differences. Gilgamesh survives the flood floating in a vessel that is a perfect cube—a shape unlikely to float or to remain upright. The biblical ark is shaped with perfect ship’s proportions. In Gilgamesh, the flood was a week-long event whereas the biblical account takes over a year.

 

In Scripture, God is clearly sovereign over the world. He is fully in control of the flood and its horrors. But see the following descriptions of how the flood terrified the false gods of the Gilgamesh tale (:

 

The gods were frightened by the Flood,

and retreated, ascending to the heaven of Anu.

The gods were cowering like dogs, crouching by the outer wall.

Ishtar shrieked like a woman in childbirth,

the sweet-voiced Mistress of the Gods wailed:

‘The olden days have alas turned to clay,

because I said evil things in the Assembly of the Gods!

How could I say evil things in the Assembly of the Gods,

ordering a catastrophe to destroy my people!!

No sooner have I given birth to my dear people

than they fill the sea like so many fish!’

The gods–those of the Anunnaki–were weeping with her,

the gods humbly sat weeping, sobbing with grief(?),

their lips burning, parched with thirst.

Six days and seven nights

came the wind and flood, the storm flattening the land.

When the seventh day arrived, the storm was pounding,

the flood was a war–struggling with itself like a woman

writhing (in labor).

The sea calmed, fell still, the whirlwind (and) flood stopped up.[2]

 

A fair look at these accounts says that, while there are understandable similarities, there is no way to see the Bible’s account as just the same as other ancient myths. Noah’s account is far less fantastical, far less confused, and far more simple and logical.

 

The third response, the one which is most important, is that the flood narrative is part of Holy Scripture, a Bible which speaks for itself of its own inspiration. Jesus believed in the flood. The witness of the Holy Spirit throughout the generation speaks of the truthfulness of the flood. The tone and feel of the Bible’s narrative has a far more realistic and honest smell about it. Thus, for the simple truth that “All Scripture is inspired by God” (2 Timothy 3:16) is why we believe the truth of the flood of Genesis.

 

 

I will often post articles on my Twitter feed and Facebook page which contain ideas or arguments I find interesting. Seldom will I post an article with the intent to stir controversy. And, truthfully, I often do not post articles I know will annoy people. However, from time-to-time, it is worth it to pass along something I read which, though controversial, contains some thoughts that we should at least consider.

 

Recently, I shared the following on Twitter: Another controversial one–thoughts? – Why Your Pastor Should Say “No More to Beth Moore” – http://tinyurl.com/hwymypy. In the piece, as the title suggests, Josh Buice recommends that pastors of churches not endorse the use of Beth Moore resources in the church’s women’s ministries. The author suggests that Beth Moore and her studies should be avoided because of three reasons. First, the author argues that Beth Moore violates biblical commands regarding women teaching men. Second, he suggests that Moore utilizes faulty hermeneutics (standards of biblical interpretation). Finally, Buice believes Moore to be an ecumenical charismatic.

 

The post received several comments on my Facebook page, including some pretty offended folks. Since I’m not one who is out to offend, I decided I’d like to reread the article and actually offer my opinion of the author’s arguments.

 

In general, I believe that Buice has some very valid points that need to be considered by pastors and laypersons alike. How could I say that? Lots of people love and are inspired by Beth Moore’s teaching. How dare I attempt to invalidate their experiences? While I mean no disrespect to Moore or those who have greatly benefited from her studies—which I certainly know many have done—that does not mean that Buice’s points are totally invalid.

 

Addressing the three arguments Buice makes is the only way to fairly evaluate his article. Any other reaction to it is going to be one based on emotion—I like her so Buice is wrong or I don’t like her, so Buice is right. I have no use for either opinion based on emotion.

 

One more disclaimer is needed. The three points that Buice makes are based on three significant theological positions. If a person disagrees with those theological positions, they will disagree with Buice’s evaluation of Moore. If one is egalitarian, they will disagree with the first point out of hand. If one is given to mystical or allegorical interpretation, they will disagree with the second point out of hand. If one is open to charismatic gifts or more ecumenical in their theological bent, they will dismiss the third point out of hand.  In actuality, I believe that most of the strongly offended commenters on Buice’s post are people who disagree with at least one of the three theological positions, and thus are not going to go along with Buice’s argument regardless of whether it was made well or poorly, cruelly or respectfully. Add in those who will reject Buice’s article because of personal experience and fondness for Moore’s studies, and he faces long odds against being well received.

 

I will not attempt to make an argument in general for complementarianism, conservative hermeneutics, or cessationism. Someone who disagrees with these out of hand will disagree with the article. I think, however, that Buice is writing for pastors who actually agree with the three theological principles he lists, but who do not understand that Moore, in Buice’s opinion, could lead church members to the opposite side of each position. Thus, the article should be evaluated, not on whether or not you are complementarian, non-allegorical, or Cessationist, but whether or not you believe that Buice actually has a point that Moore’s teaching could lead church members away from those beliefs.

 

When I read the piece the first time, ,I was disappointed with the sweeping and unqualified statements Buice made in describing the complementarian position. Buice writes, “The point of the Bible is clear, women are not permitted to have authority over men, and how is it possible to teach the Bible without authority?” While many complementarians will agree with Buice here, the statement is less nuanced than is helpful. Does Paul mean that a woman could not teach a class on church history, which will inevitably include the Bible, in a small group, mixed setting? Does Paul mean that a woman cannot teach the Bible in writing that will be read by men? Is this about only the pulpit? Complementarians have thought these issues through, and sometimes disagree among themselves, but Buice does not have either the time or inclination to help clarify that this is a more complex issue than it might appear at first glance. Unfortunately, his lack of nuance here prevents Buice from being persuasive to those struggling with a desire both to be fully biblical and to value the wisdom and gifts that God has granted many women in the church.

 

With that all said, Buice has a point. Complementarians should be concerned about some of the actions of Moore. Her willingness to attend Lakewood church when a female friend of hers was preaching to a mixed congregation must be seen as a tacit approval of the action. Moore’s influence is so great, especially among women in the Southern Baptist Convention, that she rightly should be challenged for publically affirming a woman acting as a preacher.

 

The author’s second point is that Beth Moore employs a faulty interpretive framework for Scripture. Buice argues that Moore often uses an allegorical method of Bible interpretation. He also suggests that she practices Lectio Divina, emptying one’s mind in order to allow God to speak directly to the individual during Bible meditation. Sadly, Buice does not cite examples of these allegorical interpretations as proof of his point. The Lectio Divina practice is easily documented from this Youtube clip.

 

The level of agreement that one will have with the second point of the article, then, will be divided into two parts. Is Moore really guilty of improperly allegorizing texts? Is allegorizing texts improper? If a pastor is a proponent of historical, grammatical exposition, he will likely find himself uncomfortable with some of the ways that Moore handles Scripture. No, it will not be the case in everything she teaches, as very much of what she teaches will be sound. But, if a pastor is concerned with church members finding meanings and allegories in texts that may not have been intended by the author, they must check Moore’s work carefully in order to see if she is engaging in this type of interpretation.

 

The third point has to do with ecumenism and charismatic practices. Again, a pastor who embraces the continuation of spiritual gifts such as divinely given words of prophecy will have no problem with the charismatic side of this discussion. However, a pastor who is not interested in his people being taught by a person claiming to be given personal visions from God will want to recommend his church members not follow Moore, who has clearly claimed that she has visions given to her by the Lord and who has claimed to have others speak to her words from the Lord that are not words of Scripture.

 

In one such vision that Moore claims to have been given from God, she expresses an ecumenical desire. Of course many believers want the church to be united and for denominational differences to disappear. However, many pastors know better than to mislead their congregations by acting as though denominational differences are unimportant. The truth is, the church must be divided over issues such as the use of charismatic gifts, baptism, or the doctrine of the atonement. So long as groups believe diametrically opposed things regarding central doctrinal issues, there will be differences in congregations and denominations.

 

So, what do I think of Buice’s article? I wish he had written it better. I wish he had been able to cite more of what he claims. I wish he had expressed an understanding of the need for nuance and kindness in the complementarian discussion. But none of those things invalidate his concerns regarding Moore’s ministry.

 

As a pastor, I have not, for a long time, recommended Beth Moore studies to our women. This is not out of any sort of personal rancor. I simply would far prefer that our women learn from teachers who are more faithful to exposition, who are less open to the charismatic, and who are less emotionally driven in their presentation. I do not condemn anyone who has loved a Beth Moore study in the past or who will happily buy the next one out there. But, I would suggest that concerns about Moore’s interpretative method, her recounting of visions and words of knowledge, and her association with false teachers like Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen as well as her embrace of the Roman Catholic Church—a group which denies salvation by grace alone through faith alone—are valid reasons to think twice before starting that next group study.

Journaling, writing something down about what you have read in Scripture, is thought by many to be a helpful spiritual discipline. It certainly is for me. Of course, all of us are different. Some will love writing while others will find it a chore. The Bible does not command that we journal, so this is not a spiritual requirement.

However, if you would like to give journaling during your time in God’s word a try, I want to share with you a model that is easy to learn and helpful to me. This is how I’ve been journaling for years, and I recently saw it defined with a nice acronym in the book Growing Up: How to be a Disciple who Makes Disciples by Robby Gallaty. Gallaty uses the word “H.E.A.R.” to help us to remember four categories of writing:

·         H – Highlight

·         E – Explain

·         A – Apply

·         R – Respond

Highlight – The first thing that I do when journaling is, after reading, highlight the one verse or passage that most got my attention during the reading. I write that verse down (well, copy and paste from my Bible program) at the top of the page for my journal for the day.

Explain – I will next write a paragraph or a few simply explaining the verse. I’ll try to give a little context and a little summarization of what is going on or being said. I may also point specifically to what made the verse stand out to me.

Apply – Once I have explained the verse, I will write about what major spiritual truth is coming through to me because of the passage. This is different than simply explaining what the author meant. Now I want to write about how this impacts believers today. Sometimes the application is obvious, the following of a direct command. Sometimes the application is more broad as I find a general truth in a passage.

Respond – Finally, I will try to write something of a response to the passage. It may be something I specifically intend to do or to think differently because of the passage. I might write a prayer that is a response to a truth that God has shown me in his word.

Truly, these categories are only there to be helpful. Sometimes explanation and application will blur. Sometimes sections will be longer or shorter. And, remember, God never commanded us to journal at all, much less did he command us to journal in a particular way. So, do not let yourself feel any requirement to follow this pattern or follow the categories slavishly.

If you would like to see examples of my daily reading journal entries, visit my personal blog site: http://pastortravislv.com . Most of the entries on that site are entries from my daily readings. I often will journal only on weekdays and leave weekend reading to be a little more restful, but others will find that they journal most on Saturday. Certainly do not think you need to do what I do. However, if any of this is helpful, take it and put it to use as you are helped.

Today we celebrate Good Friday. What happened?

 

In the early hours of the morning, just after midnight, Jesus and his disciples would have been in the garden where the Lord went to pray. There Jesus was arrested by a group of soldiers and temple police led by the treacherous Judas Iscariot. Over the next several hours, Jesus went through no fewer than six trials, all of which were illegal, none of which produced any actual evidence of wrong doing. Three times, Jesus would be pronounced innocent by Pilate before the Roman governor gave in to mob mentality and sentenced Jesus to death.

 

Yet, what was most important happened mid-morning. After being abused by soldiers, Jesus was led out to a hill where he was crucified. So many of us are tempted to dwell on the physical details of this brutal form of execution, but these are not the focus of this day. The central focus of this day is the drama going on in the spiritual realm.

 

As Jesus was dying on the Roman cross, God the Father and Jesus, God the Son, were involved in the most important exchange in history. The Father looked at his Son, and he counted Jesus guilty of all of the sins that he would ever forgive. Then over the period of those six hours one Friday nearly two thousand years ago, the Father punished Jesus with his full and just wrath for the sins of all of his children.

 

As Jesus died, he declared, “It is finished.” In that declaration, the Lord told all who would hear those words that the price for sin had been fully paid. The Father’s wrath had been fully satisfied. Jesus’ mission of living a perfect life and dying a sacrificial death was accomplished. And then, the Savior died, willingly giving up his spirit in order to complete the transaction.

 

When Jesus died, the curtain in the temple in Jerusalem was torn in two from top to bottom. God was clearly telling the world that no longer would the sacrificial system be the way that people would approach him for forgiveness. Afterward, Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb, and many wondered what had happened.

 

How does all of this work? God is perfect, infinitely so. Our rebellion against God is, therefore, an infinite offense. The just punishment for the crime of offending the God of the universe is rightly one of infinite consequence. Jesus, the infinitely perfect Son of God, willingly took upon himself the judgment of God for all of the sins that God would ever forgive. This means that, in the end, all sins will be justly punished by God. Those of us who find ourselves under God’s grace because of faith in Christ have our sins paid for because the Father poured out the judgment that we deserve on Jesus. Those who refuse this offer of God’s grace will personally face the right wrath of God for their sins.

 

Why is today Good? It is Good Friday because, in the most loving act of human history, the Son of God suffered the wrath of God that we deserved in order that we might be forgiven. None of us could survive the punishment we deserve. Jesus took that punishment for all who will come to him, reject their sin, and embrace him as Savior and Lord. 

Can I use my personal testimony as a way to share the gospel with others? This is a difficult question, because it totally depends on what kind of testimony you give. There are some testimonies that only focus on the person and their experience. Other testimonies interweave my story with the biblical truth claims of the gospel. Only those which make clear the truth claims of Scripture—the universal need of all people to repent and turn to Jesus—are truly evangelistic testimonies.

 

Consider the following 2 paragraphs from Mark Dever, 9 Marks of a Healthy Church (Wheaton: Crossway, 2004), 133:

 

Some think of a personal testimony as evangelism. Certainly a testimony of what God has done in our lives may include the Good News, but it also may not include it. In telling other people how much Jesus means to you, you may not have told them the Gospel at all. Have you explained what Christ did by dying on the Cross? It is good to share your own testimony of what God has done in your life, but in your testimony, you may not actually make clear what Christ’s claims are on other people.

 

Testimony is, of course, very popular in our postmodern, “that’s good-for-you” age. Who would object to your thinking you’ve gotten something good from Christ? But wait and see what happens when you try to move the conversation from what Jesus has done for you to the facts of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ and how that all applies to your nonbelieving friend. That’s when you discover that testimony is not necessarily evangelism.

 

Simply put, if all I do is tell a person that trusting Jesus made my life better, all I have done is made an experiential claim with no demands on the life or beliefs of another. It is little different than telling someone that, since I began taking a certain kind of vitamin, I have a great deal more energy. My conversation partner is likely to say to me that they are glad that my experiment with religion worked for me, even though they have no intention of trying that. They may walk away from that conversation assuming that they are free to try their own way and it be just as valid as my experience.

 

How then do you use your testimony and actually include enough Scripture to follow it up with a call for another person to respond? I would recommend using Ephesians 2:1-10 as a base text that you can pattern your testimony around. If you have a Bible available, you can actually use the text to help a person see your testimony and their condition before God. If you use Ephesians 2:1-10, you can share your testimony in 4 steps:

 

1.      Who I was (v1-3) – Begin your testimony with what God says about all of us before our salvation. We were dead in sins and trespasses (v1). WE all followed our own desires, the pattern of the world around us, and the tricks of Satan himself (v2-3). Because of your sin, you were under the curse of God’s wrath, and rightfully so (v3). Had nothing changed, hell would have been your ultimate destination, as it is the ultimate destination for all who are not forgiven by God.

 

2.      what God did to make you alive. God, the perfectly holy Creator, sent his Son to earth to pay the price for our sins. Jesus died and then rose from the grave to grant forgiveness to all who will come to him. For all who become God’s child, God will grant eternal life and forever kindness.

 

3.      How you responded (v8-9) – Jesus did all the work, but he requires us all to respond to him in faith. We are saved by God’s grace through trusting in Jesus Christ. You did not do anything good to be saved. God graciously allowed you to place your trust for your eternity in the finished work of Jesus. This is how any will be saved.

 

4.      What is different (v10) – God not only forgave your sin if you are a Christian, he also changed your life. Now you live to do the good works for which God created you. These works do not contribute to your salvation at all. Instead, the good things that you do now give you joy as you give glory to your God.

 

It would be wise to construct your testimony, your true story, around the points above and Ephesians 2:1-10. Don’t spend a great deal of time dwelling on the gory details of your sinful past—this tends to glorify your sin rather than God. Instead, get to the cross and help them to know how you trusted Christ, received forgiveness, and now have joy in following him. Don’t make yourself look perfect; be honest. Simply tell the truth and use the Scripture as your authority for the truth of the change in your life.

 

Then, as you wrap up your testimony, point out to your friend that Ephesians 2:1-3 says that all of us are in need of God’s grace. Verses 4-7 tell us that Jesus has done the work for all who will trust him to be forgiven. Then let them know that, if they wish to become God’s child and be forgiven of their sin, they too must come by God’s grace through faith in Jesus as verses 8-9 say. If they will come, they will be able to live out their ultimate purpose that God planned for them from before the dawn of time as we read in verse 10.

How about joining me in a plan to read through the Bible in 2016? I’ve found that I read better when I know that others are joining me. I’ve chosen the CCV plan from my YouVersion app on my iPhone. Here is the description:

 

The Bible in ONE Year Reading plan was designed by Christ’s Church of the Valley to help you read through the entire Bible in one year. Each week day you will be provided with readings from the New Testament, Old Testament and Psalms or Proverbs. There are no readings on the weekends to allow you to catch-up or get ahead.

 

You can use the web site or the YouVersion app to do your own readings. Then, we can discuss what we are learning together as we work through the plan.

Besides reading books on history, theology, and Christian living, I love to read fiction. Of course, no people will likely have the same taste in fictional escapes. But, I thought it would be fun to share with you a few series that I enjoy enough not only to have read once, but to read more than once. Do not take this as a recommendation, as I do not know your taste. However, if you find something you enjoy, I’d love to know about it.

 

 

David Eddings, The Belgariad and The Malloreon

 

Set in a fantasy world, this ten novel series has all of the elements of an epic. There is a young commoner whose mysterious family history may lead him to greatness. There are events that are much bigger going on in a wide world that young Garion will spend a long time learning to deal with. And, above all, there are characters that I have grown to love as much as any fictional folks.

 

J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter

 

I was hesitant to read these books when I first heard of them. It seemed a little childish and a little too popular. However, when I began this series, I could not stop. And, when I reread the series, I saw just how skilled Rowling is at hiding little clues all through the books to show how she has been telling a grand story with a dramatic climax from the very beginnings of book 1. As in my love of the Eddings novels, the characters here are people readers grow to love, flaws and all.  

 

J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion 

 

It should be no surprise, given that I just mentioned two epic fantasy series, that these books from Tolkien would make the cut. These are probably the best out there for a clear cut depiction of good against evil, of friendship and loyalty, and of grand battles. I will (sad as this may seem) intentionally read the Silmarillion   along with the history recorded in the appendices of Return of the King simply to enjoy Tolkien’s massive history that he developed for this masterpiece. Yet, unlike the two series above, I do not love the characters in this set as I do the others. Tolkien’s characters are a little too perfect, and they just do not feel as real to me. 

 

Tom Clancy, Jack Ryan and John Clark novels

 

Because I cannot live in fantasy worlds all the time, it is at times fun to slip off into the secret world of war, espionage, terrorism, and the battle for America. Tom Clancy is simply the best in this arena. His characters are great. His stories are surprising and riveting. His knowledge of weapons, the military, and strategy is amazing. In these books, the bad guys are really bad, and that leads to some ugly scenes—which I am not always ready to read and which I would not recommend to others—but the stories are outstanding and the characters are very human.

 

Patrick O’Brian, Aubrey/Maturin novels

 

Set during the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries during the time of the Napoleonic wars, these novels of the English sea captain, Lucky Jack Aubrey, and his friend and spy, Dr. Stephen Maturin, have been described in an article I read as “Pride and Prejudice for dudes.” The concept here is that they are so well written that the language, the conversation, and the relationships often outweigh the major conflict and action in the books. These are fun and quite easy to read, though you may find the naval terminology a bit thick from time to time.  

 

Terry Pratchett, Discworld novels.

 

Pratchett’s fantasy world is fun simply because it, unlike the others above, is twisted with a British sense of humor. However, though they are laugh-out-loud funny in many places, these novels always tell a solid story. Another thing these books have going for them is that Pratchett had the ability to write from a variety of characters’ points of view, telling stories focusing on city life or the rural mountains, on the rich or the poor, on the magical or the common. My one recommendation to a person reading a novel in this series is not to start in the beginning. It seems that Pratchett did not pick up the real feel and tone of the Discworld until he had already finished several novels.

 

C. S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia.

 

Of course I love Lewis’ novels. I will read them over every couple of years because of their sweet allegory and the view of heaven that Lewis paints for us. My only drawbacks come in the fact that these are really children’s books, and the language and the story telling demonstrates that fact. Lewis wrote something that Kids could grasp, and he did it well. I would also suggest that readers be very careful to realize that Lewis did not have all of his theological points correct as he told the grand story in the best way that his considerable talents would allow.

 

There are certainly other novels and series that I either have or will reread, many of them with my children. The above list is a great starting point, however, to share some of my favorite fictional escapes.

 

What are some of yours? 

Here is my own little contribution to the endless stack of “best of 2015” lists. The following are some of my favorite reads of the year. The rankings are not that significant. But I would certainly recommend these to anyone.

 

1.      Jared C. Wilson. The Pastor’s Justification: Applying the Work of Christ in Your Life and Ministry. Wheaton: Crossway, 2013. 192 pp. $14.12. (My Review)

 

Wilson’s book was unquestionably my favorite read of the year. It is full of grace, full of gospel, and wonderfully realistic about the joys and pains of ministry. Give this book to a pastor your care about.

 

2.      Jessalyn Hutto. Inheritance of Tears: Trusting the Lord of Life When Death Visits the Womb. Adelphi, MD: Cruciform Press, 2015. 108 pp. $9.99. (My Review)

 

No book will be perfect, especially not one on a topic as personal and painful as this one. However, Hutto does the best I have ever seen at combining comfort, understanding, and the sovereignty of God to write a short and powerful work that will help believers who have walked a very difficult road. This is a book you should have on your shelf and be ready to give away. 

 

3.      David Gibson. From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective. Wheaton: Crossway, 2013. 704 pp. $35.44. 

 

This one took a while, but it was worth it. Gibson and his fellow authors have done a solid job of helping us to look over the issues of the doctrine of particular redemption (limited atonement) and to think about it from a pastoral perspective. Few books doing this level of theology can offer as practical and helpful a set of insights as are found at the end of this work.

 

4.      Edward T. Welch. Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest. Greensboro, NC: New Growth Press, 2007. 324 pp.  $15.99.  

 

Welch has always been a favorite author of mine. This work on wrestling through personal fears and worry is yet another example of why. This is the kind of book that any believer would benefit from and which pastors should have ready to loan out or give away.

 

5.      Eric Metaxas. Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2011. 624 pp. $11.52.

 

By now, I would guess that most believers have seen enough solid reviews of this biography to know it is worth the read. I was encouraged.

 

6.      Rosaria Butterfield. The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert: Expanded Edition. , Pittsburgh: Crown & Covenant Publications, 2014 208 pp. $13.00.  

 

This book is a helpful look at one believer’s journey out of the gay community and into a new life of faith. Butterfield is refreshingly honest. Her insights into the kindness and hospitality of the gay community will do much to help believers to see the humanity in a community that many Christians ignore. It was also interesting to read Butterfield’s views on church life and even her rationale for her belief in the regulative principle of worship (I don’t totally agree with her there, but it is interesting nonetheless).

 

Jim Lacey and Williamson Murray. Moment of Battle: The Twenty Clashes That Changed the World. New York: Bantam, 2013. 496 pp. $30.00. 

 

Good history books are worth a lot. This one, which walks readers through crucial conflicts throughout the course of human history is fascinating.

 

 

7.      Tim Challies. Do More Better: A Practical Guide to Productivity. Minneapolis, MN: Cruciform Press, 2015. 120 pp. $8.85. (My Review)

This was one of the more simple and practical books I read this past year, and I am enjoying incorporating the advice Challies has offered. If you need to be a more organized person, and if you do not want to wade through a 300 page treatise on business and life management, this is a great place to start.

 

Of course I could add several more, but this list is among my favorites. I also enjoyed rereading Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy with my children. In a future post, I will share some books that I regularly reread for pleasure or for edification.

 

What are your favorites of the year?

The following quote is a well-written description of expository preaching that I found in a book review article.

 

***

 

At the same time, evangelical preachers will want to take note of Packer’s strong words of caution (which have a wider application than just to the preacher). He assumes the content of preaching will come from Scripture, and insists a preacher know it and instill in his congregation a desire to learn it; the preacher, after all, is “there to teach from the Bible.” Packer, then, is critical of preaching that promotes anything besides Scripture as central. He prefers expository preaching—preaching that exposes the text. In topical preaching, on the other hand, preachers “take a topic, they appeal to one or two Scriptures to illustrate the topic, they tell stories from their experience and other people’s experience to illustrate the topic.” The focus of a topical sermon therefore shifts constantly from Bible to preacher—and the authority by which a listener is expected to believe and obey is “the human authority of a knowledgeable person,” and nothing more.

            Many people, both pro-abortion and pro-life, have been appalled by the Internet videos showing leaders of Planned Parenthood and other organizations allegedly haggling over the prices of fetal tissue. Much has been written. Much more will be. But I think there is another thought that needs to be expressed that I’m not often reading out there.

 

            The common debate going on has to do with whether or not the people from Planned Parenthood are actually “selling” baby body parts or if this is merely medical research and reimbursement. Are we dealing with Frankenstein-like grotesqueness, or is something more supposedly noble at the heart of the transactions? Is the video staged or edited to tilt the intent of those communicating? Are laws being broken? Again, I say, something more important needs to be said.

 

            Even if the entire thing were a hoax and the folks were being completely taken out of context, there is still an issue here. Even if the activities of Planned Parenthood are completely legal, even if, in fact, body parts are not being shipped out from facility to facility, there is something more important here. What is it?

 

            Regardless of all the accusations and the pandering going on, one fact remains: Babies are being dismembered and destroyed. We must see that, regardless of whether body parts are on the market, people are looking and seeing that intact hearts, eyes, livers, and legs are, in fact, being ripped out of baby bodies for the sake of the freedom or “health” of a woman who does not wish to be inconvenienced by a whole, human child.

 

            Is it bad to think that we may have become a body-part-marketing people? Yes, it really is. But it is worse to realize that we are a people who, for years, have tolerated the dismemberment of healthy humans for the false ideal of “reproductive freedom”

 

            I’m not anti-woman. I want freedom and equality in our society. But I do not want the freedom to dismember and destroy a child. Neither do I want anyone else to have that freedom.

 

            I do not want anyone to stop writing and speaking out against the ghoulish practices of Planned Parenthood. I believe that the videos are likely accurate, the evidence is damning, and that Planned Parenthood really is the kind of organization that would collect funds trafficking in aborted baby organs. I believe that this practice should be stopped and those responsible for this monstrosity should be prosecuted. I believe that the organization responsible for so much human death should be immediately defunded by the American people. But, and this is important, I also believe that this should not horrify us nearly so much as the fact that those body parts, parts of real babies, have been ripped apart to begin with. We must continue to speak out against the whole process in which people, made in the image of God, are shredded for the sake of convenience.

 

            Let me add, I am a sinner. I deserve the wrath of God for a million and more failings in my own life. I’m not claiming the personal high ground. My only hope is the grace of Christ. That grace is available for every woman who has made a wrong decision regarding human life. That grace is available for every man who has pressured a woman to do what so many now see as unthinkable. That grace is available for every abortion doctor and body-part-trafficker who is willing to turn from his or her sin and embrace Christ and his finished work.

 

            My heart breaks for women who have found themselves walking back out of an abortion clinic with one less life to be carried. My heart breaks for those who have done things they wish they had not, and for those who have no regret for the things they have done. We are all guilty of sin and we all need forgiveness in Christ. By the grace of God, he commands all people everywhere to repent and to turn to Jesus for salvation. Let us embrace that salvation while graciously and firmly standing against the murder of children.