Kevin DeYoung, Impossible Christianity (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2023), 140 pp.
There appears to be a growing confusion these days about historic Christianity. A few questions help bring this uncertainty to light:
Does following Jesus mean we have to change the world?
Do we have to be experts on every subject?
Are we destined to feel miserable on most days?
Do we need to accept spiritual failure?
Kevin DeYoung addresses these kinds of questions in his recent book, Impossible Christianity.
Dr. DeYoung addresses a critical aspect of the Christian life at the outset: “Ordinary Christians and ordinary churches can be faithful, fruitful, and pleasing to God. In short, Christianity doesn’t have to be impossible.” The central task of the book is to make the case for this assertion.
The author successfully defends his thesis in eight brief chapters. These chapters are simple enough for new Christians to understand, but “pack a punch” for seasoned believers. DeYoung is quick to dismantle the legalistic tendencies we all possess. He likewise affirms the graciousness of the gospel and the joy that should be a part of our Christian lives.
Impossible Christianity is an encouraging book that Christians should enthusiastically devour. It is a helpful antidote to the false notions of spirituality that have crept into the church.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
John Owen, Apostasy from the Gospel (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2023), 422 pp.
Crossway Books deserves a great debt of gratitude for republishing The Complete Works of John Owen, including his magisterial treatment of Hebrews. Lee Gatiss and Shawn D. Wright edited the series. The volumes are bound in beautiful hardcovers and include an attractive slipcover.
Apostasy from the Gospel (volume 14) is introduced and edited by Joel R. Beeke. The fitting introduction is basic enough for first-time readers of Owen, but will also satisfy Owen scholars. The volume under consideration includes thirteen chapters that draw hearts and minds to the Savior and also warn them of the sin of apostasy.
Owen begins his treatment with a rather comprehensive definition of apostasy and exposition of Hebrews 6:4-6. The message is clear: “And until the word in the heart be mixed and incorporated with faith, it will not advantage us (Heb. 4:2), and there is nothing hereof where there is a taste of the word only.”
The Puritan divine builds upon this framework and explains how various people are prone to apostasy. He highlights various causes of apostasy and admonishes readers to steer clear from an evil heart of unbelief.
The closing chapter contains several ways to safeguard ourselves from falling into apostasy:
Labor for a real sense of the glory of God.
Keep watch over your hearts to maintain duties and to guard against dangers.
Beware of merely resting in the outward privileges or ordinances of the church.
Beware of the influences of vices prevalent in your nation.
Avoid the errors of professing Christians who alienate others from the gospel.
Apostasy from the Gospel is a vivid reminder to remain close to the Savior and guard our hearts from sin. It is not only a warning to stand strong but contains gospel treasures throughout.
Beauty Is Your Destiny by Philip Ryken aims to “awaken a longing for beauty and the eternal love of God that can be fully satisfied only in the face of Jesus Christ.” Ryken’s book is a timely offering as our world appears to be crumbling at the seams.
The author establishes the boundary lines of beauty in the opening chapter by reinforcing the biblical truth that God is the most beautiful Being in the universe. “Beauty” as they say, “is in the eye of the beholder.” The statement is true so long as the Beholder is God himself.
Ryken carefully builds his case by focusing on several themes from the Trinity to creation, and creatures made in the imago Dei. Each of these themes is explored in detail and biblical examples are cited.
The author also explores the beauty of purity and by highlighting Christ’s invitation for all people to life a “beautiful life – a chaste life – from this moment forward and every time we fall … When we live into the cleansing, sanctifying, justifying grace that God has for us in Jesus Christ, our lives – including our bodies – help tell the beautiful story of the gospel.”
The book cultivates acute interest and awe by exploring three beautiful realities – Christ, his cross, and his church and urges readers to look forward to the day when Christ will make all things new!
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
John Piper, Foundations for Lifelong Learning: Education in Serious Joy (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2023), 171 pp.
Foundations for Lifelong Learning: Education in Serious Joy is designed for Christian readers who love growing spiritually. “This book,” according to the author, John Piper, “is for anyone at any age, who refuses to stagnate intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally.”
Anyone familiar with Dr. Piper’s writings will quickly recognize the emphasis on joy. And while some are quick to belittle his passion for joy, their critiques fall flat in seconds. Piper points readers to the glory of Christ and shows the tie-in with Christian education. He writes, “That is the deepest foundation in serious joy: all things were made by Christ, belong to Christ, and exist for Christ … Therefore joy, serious joy, is at the heart of Christ-exalting education.”
The book is arranged into six short chapters that emphasize lifelong learning for Christ’s glory and revolve around six habits of heart and mind. Readers are challenged:
to observe the world and the word accurately and thoroughly
to understand clearly what we have observed
to evaluate fairly what we have understood by discerning what is true and valuable
to feel with proper intensity the worth, or futility, of what we have evaluated
to apply wisely and helpfully in life what we understand and feel
to express in speech and writing and deeds what we have observed, understood, evaluated, felt, and applied in a way that glorifies the Lord
Dr. Piper carefully unpacks the six habits and helps Christians see how lifelong learning has an ultimate end, namely, glorifying Christ.
In some ways, Foundations for Lifelong Learning is a follow-up to the author’s 2010 book, Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God. Each book makes a solid contribution to an area that has been neglected by many Christians. My hope is that Piper’s newest release will serve as a catalyst for many people and catapult them into the stratosphere of lifelong learning.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
Owen Strachan, The War on Men: Why Society Hates Them and Why We Need Them (Washington D.C.: Salem Books, 2023), 201 pp.
The animosity toward men is heating up in the academy, the church, and culture at large. What used to be heard on the periphery is now commonplace at every turn. For this reason, Owen Strachan’s latest book, The War on Men: Why Society Hates Them and Why We Need Them has arrived at a strategic time.
Dr. Strachan’s work is both descriptive and prescriptive. First, he offers a critical analysis on the state of men – both how and why they struggle. The biblical portrait of men is clearly articulated with specific examples of men who followed God faithfully and those who failed along the way. Men who desire to obey God have much to learn from both.
True manhood is found ultimately in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is presented as tough and tender, kind and gentle, and One who serves the Father and ministers to the people of God. Ultimately, this warrior-King dies for the church and rises again victoriously on the third day, conquering death, and forgiving the sins of everyone who believes. Strachan writes, “Like Christ himself, a strong man of God must be many-sided and multi-dimensional. He can only live in such a way if God works in his heart and supplies the grace for such godliness, as He does and will do for all of us imperfect and naturally weak men.”
One of the many strengths of this book is the distinction between men and women, and the high calling of men in particular. Strachan doesn’t waste time here. He tackles the important matter of manhood by expounding the biblical roles of men, challenging them to faithfully fulfill the creation mandate with wives by their side, fulfilling their God-given role as “helpers.”
While much of the book is descriptive, the author also includes helpful prescriptions for men who seek to faithfully follow the Lord Jesus Christ. The concluding chapter offers “a plan for boys and a way back for men.” The principles that Strachan offers are challenging, much-needed, and biblical. These principles fly in the face of our pragmatic-driven culture that is more geared to paganism than piety.
The War on Men is a gospel-salve for a sick and dying culture. It is a battering ram against the pagan lies of feminism and “toxic masculinity” that pervades the contemporary milieu. Strachan’s biblical wisdom and practical sensibility are a breath of fresh air in a world drowning in compromise. The message of this book cannot go unheeded or we pay a terrible price.
Drop everything now and read this book. Tell other men about it. Encourage men, both young and old to read it and re-read it. Challenge feminists and egalitarians to read this book. Gift a copy to your pastor. Read this book with a group of college-age students. Allow the message of “The War on Men” to enter and impact your theological bloodstream. The end result will benefit men and lead to spiritual health and gospel-centered obedience.
Joe Rigney, Courage: How the Gospel Creates Christian Fortitude (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2023), 139 pp.
Courage has been eclipsed by cowardice in our culture. Christian courage in particular is lacking in men and women. Joe Rigney’s book, Courage: How the Gospel Creates Christian Fortitude is filled with encouragement and challenge for anyone who has ears to hear.
The author rivets the attention of his readers on three qualities that explode off the pages of Philippians chapter 1 – boldness, courage, and fearlessness. Rigney develops the cultural context in the first century and challenges readers to emulate the courage of Paul and the first-century Christ-followers.
The important principle that runs throughout the book is this: “Seeing courage spreads courage. Seeing boldness awakens boldness. Seeing fearlessness overcomes fear.” In other words, as Rigney writes, “Courage is contagious. Boldness spreads. Fearlessness is infectious. And when these virtues are caught, Christ is magnified.”
Rigney rightly says that Christians tend to preach aspects of Scripture that are agreeable to people but neglect more difficult topics. These topics, the argument goes are in the realm of “discipleship” and should be avoided in order to prevent offending anyone. (If I deposited a dime every time I heard something similar in the church, I’d be very wealthy). The author opposes this approach to the Christian life:
When we call people to repent of their sins and idolatries, we cannot avoid the ones that we know will make them angry … You can’t preach the gospel to a practicing homosexual and not call him away from practicing homosexuality. You can’t preach the gospel to contemporary egalitarian progressives and not call them away from their commitment to a false view of human nature and marriage and men and women and sex.
Courage, then, should be a regular part of the Christian life. This courage is enabled by the Holy Spirit and grows when other believers participate and encourage us to be bold, even in the face of adversity or persecution.
Courage: How the Gospel Creates Christian Fortitude is a much-needed book as believers have been marginalized and discouraged from boldly declaring the truth of God’s Word. It is a clarion call to Christians to pick up the mantle of leadership and be instilled with boldness, courage, and fearlessness.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
This gripping book explores a struggling man who tries to make sense of a confusing world. The Jonah Complex proclaims the unwavering sovereignty of God, exalts the Creator of the cosmos, and calls all creatures to stand in awe of his regal majesty.
Rosaria Butterfield, Five Lies of our Anti-Christian Age (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2023), 344 pp.
The devil is the great deceiver. Jesus says the devil “was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44, ESV). The world believes these lies and is blind to the truth of God’s Word. Rosaria Butterfield addresses some of these lies in her most recent book, Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age.
The author is quick to point out that her book is not a comprehensive description of all the lies in our world. But the five lies she surveys are an accurate representation of the kind of deception that has our culture by the throat. These lies have fooled the world and tragically as Butterfield writes, “have found a home in evangelicalism.” The five lies include:
Lie #1: Homosexuality is normal.
Lie #2: Being a spiritual person is kinder than being a biblical Christian.
Lie #3: Feminism is good for the world and the church.
Lie #4: Transgenderism is normal.
Lie #5: Modesty is an outdated burden that serves male dominance and holds women back.
Butterfield reveals what these lies have in common: “They don’t think that God had a plan and purpose when he created men and women.” Of course, the stated purpose of men and women is summed up in the first chapter of Genesis:
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” (Genesis 1:27–28, ESV)
The author writes with a two-fold strategy: First, she summarizes and defends the biblical role of men and women. In the end, as Dr. Butterfield writes, “We are of no good to God or our loved ones if we believe the lies the culture feeds us about what it means to be a man or a woman.”
Second, she exposes the five lies and subjects them to the truth of Scripture. Each lie is explained and exposed through a biblical framework. As a former lesbian activist, Dr. Butterfield brings a depth of perspective and understanding that most people simply don’t possess. She is eager to confront the five lies and offer hope to people who have been deceived by the evil one.
The Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age is a much-needed response in our age of religious pluralism and compromise. The arguments are clear and compelling. The reasoning is sharp and biblical. The author’s heart for hurting people shines on every page. This is required reading for every follower of Christ!
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
Once there was a day when the nib of a pen would intersect with a piece of paper, revealing the contemplations of a thoughtful person. The end result would yield a letter that would inspire a willing recipient and breathe fresh courage into a human soul.
Less than 200 years ago, letter-writing flourished in the American colonies. Yet, the convenience of technology has all but extinguished the power of the pen. The convenience of text messages and emails have replaced the personal touch of the letter. Indeed, the art of letter writing is nearly dead. For this reason, it is time to revive the lost art of letter writing.
A Rekindled Friendship
The strained friendship between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson is well known and documented. Thankfully, Dr. Benjamin Rush intervened and convinced Adams to renew his friendship with Jefferson. The second president of the United States responded with a letter to Jefferson. Subsequently, the two men exchanged letters back and forth until their respective deaths, which occurred on the same day – July 4, 1826. The power of pen and ink combined with some thoughtful words supercharged a friendship on the brink of collapse.
A Rekindled Art
A handful of letters have arrived in my mailbox over the past several years that left a meaningful mark and provided much-needed fuel to propel me in a Godward direction:
An affirming letter from my father
A letter of personal counsel from Dr. John Piper
A letter of encouragement from my grandfather, Samuel Barger
A letter from Pastor Wayne Pickens, who mentored me in the defining years of pastoral ministry
One letter from my 89-year-old friend, Bruce who recently went to be with the Lord sits permanently in my study:
“Knowing you is to learn, as our Lord measures it, more than just the message of Scripture. You sow also of yourself in His name. More than His word you teach by example, tireless sacrificial giving for His glory and in furtherance of His love …”
Each of the letters above are safely preserved and serve as a permanent reminder of a special time in my life.
Opening a timely and encouraging letter is like receiving oxygen at the summit of Mt. Everest after a grueling climb. It is like salve on a wound in need of healing. A letter is a welcome guest that is never turned away.
It is not too late to revive letter writing in our generation. I suggest we revive the art of letter writing for at least five reasons.
1. Personal Touch
First, a letter is personal. Taking time to compose words on a page, sealing the letter in an envelope, and dropping it in the mail involve a series of additional steps and effort but the payoff is worth it. The personal touch of a letter deeply impacts the one who receives it.
2. Powerful Memories
Second, a letter helps enshrine memories that preserve friendships, provide a permanent record of significant thoughts, and instill hope for the future. When I read a memorable letter, it helps recall significant thoughts and feelings that may have otherwise been forgotten.
3. Permanent Keepsake
Third, a letter becomes a personal and powerful memento. An email can be cataloged in Evernote or saved in some other digital format. An email can even be printed and tucked away for future reference. But an email can never replace the special quality of the written letter.
4. Portrays Selflessness
Next, a letter is an act of selflessness. It takes a certain amount of discipline, time, and creativity to craft a meaningful letter. Such a pursuit, then, involves an intentional act of kindness or selflessness as the one composing the letter must think of others before herself. One might say that letter writing is a way of fulfilling the Golden Rule: “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12, NLT).
5. Proclaims a Blessing
Finally, a letter is a way of proclaiming a blessing. At the heart of a blessing is the need for acceptance. “Genuine acceptance,” writes John Trent, “radiates from the concept of the blessing.”1 A letter has a way of unleashing a person to become all that God intends them to be. It is a way of communicating the kind of support that is empowering and life-changing. A letter has a way of inscribing an indelible seal of blessing on the soul of one of God’s image-bearers.
A simple letter has the power to inspire hope, instill confidence, and initiate action. A letter communicates devoted love and lifts the human spirit. A letter unshackles the hands and feet, inspires hearts and minds, and communicates love and support to the people we care about.
Reviving the lost art of letter writing begins with you. Who will you influence or encourage today with a simple letter? Who will be the recipient of your timely wisdom or counsel? Who will be inspired to take a step into the great unknown because they received a letter from you? Who will be challenged by your courageous words? Whose life will be changed forever because you took the time to craft a well-thought-out letter? Let us, then, revive the lost art of letter writing – one letter at a time.
John Trent, The Blessing (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1986), 28. ↩
John Piper, All That Jesus Commanded: The Christian Life According to the Gospels (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2023), 400 pp.
Day by day, our culture grows progressively more averse to the law of God. Even in some churches, any demands are written off as narrow, petty, and legalistic. Some professing Christians, in an effort to be gracious, make the mistake of saying that the Word of God doesn’t contain imperatives. Nothing could be further from the truth. Kevin DeYoung reminds us, “There is nothing sub-Christian in talking about obedience to God’s commands. There is nothing inherently anti-gospel in being exhorted to keep the imperatives of Scripture. There is nothing ungracious about divine demands. Just the opposite, in fact – there is grace in getting law” (The Hole in Our Holiness, 52). He adds, “Both the indicatives of Scripture and the imperatives are from God, for our good, and given in grace” (The Hole in Our Holiness, 55).
In John Piper’s newly revised work, All That Jesus Commanded: The Christian Life According to the Gospels (formerly, What Jesus Demands from the World), the author demonstrates (much to the chagrin of some evangelicals) that Jesus not only makes demands, he does so many times in the gospels. The central theme is this: ”God gives the grace for what he demands.” In other words, whenever Jesus commands or makes a demand, he doesn’t leave God’s people without the necessary resources to carry out his commands. He gives grace for what he demands!
Piper’s work includes fifty demands that emerge in the pages of Scripture. Each chapter clearly outlines the demand and presents the pertinent theological rationale behind the demand. As already noted, readers are encouraged by the fact that God’s grace is granted which enables them to obey.
All That Jesus Commanded is a weighty book. It is a book that is designed to be read slowly and reflectively. Some may be surprised that instead of being burdened with guilt they will be confronted with the power of the gospel. Yes, readers will be challenged. Yes, readers will be convicted. Yes, they will be confronted with the many ways they fall short of God’s glory. But in the final analysis, they will be comforted with the fact that God grants grace for everything his Son demands!
This book should be required reading for new believers and those who have walked with Christ for many years. It is an entry-level book for beginners and a much-needed tool for those who are veterans of the Christian faith. Tole lege!
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
Veritas et Lux 