Arguing With Idiots

Glenn Beck is becoming more and more popular everyday. And it seems that with his growth in popularity and influence, Beck's publication of books grows. His recent political book, "Arguing With Idiots: How to Stop Small Minds and Big Government" is one in which Americans need to take seriously. Sadly, most will not.

Arguing With Idiots is a serious book is frequent jokes and jabs. This is not a book of jokes, but the author offers a serious argument about serious things. I have read very little that is as articulate regarding the conservative/libertarian worldview than this. Beck writes on things such as Capitalism, health care, economics, gun control, and the Constitution. Throughout its many pages is humor, but at its core, it is a serious book that should be taken seriously.

I was really surprised by this book. Though I was impressed with Beck's "Common Sense" book, I was hesitant towards this one. For one, the title is unfortunate. The title carries the notion of mocking and calling the opposing side names. But it isn't. It is rather an attempt to show the logic of his point of view and the illogical arguments of liberals, socialists, and progressives. Furthermore, Beck writes in a way that is easy to understand yet profound. I constantly found myself saying, "that's a good point" and "he's on to something here."

I do not agree with Beck on everything, but this is certainly a book we should take seriously. What is most shocking is how much I learned about our Constitution. I consider myself fairly knowledge about our nation's highest document, though I am certainly no expert. To make it worse, I feel that I know more than the average citizen of this nation. Perhaps this is why we are too often too willing to give up our freedoms. Beck walks the reader through the Constitution, what it means, and how it should be interpreted.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. For those who lean conservative, this is an invaluable tool. For those wanting to understand conservatism, this is an excellent resource. I encourage everyone to take Beck a little seriously. The White House is and the million of listeners/viewers that listen/watch him every day do as well.

Evangelicals Engaging Emergent

I have read a lot on, from, and about the Emerging/Emergent Church. Many pastors, theologians, and scholars have sought to define, explain, and critique the movement and virtually all have failed. Many of those books have been reviewed on this site (see panel on the right of this page). But one book that perhaps gives the best scholarly/academic critique of the movement is "Evangelicals Engaging Emergent: A Discussion of the Emergent Church Movement." The books editors, Dr. Adam Greenway and William Henard (both from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) have assembled the greatest voices in Evangelicalism to write on various aspects of the Emerging/Emergent Church movement.

One of the things I enjoyed about the book, outside of its scholarly credentials, was its tone. This is not just another book bashing the ECM but rather a careful critique of various aspects and persons in the movement. The chapters cover a whole range of topics such as evangelism, preaching, Christology, salvation, hermeneutics, truth, and much more. In each chapter is a careful thought-out and defended argument made by the contributors. It is tempting with movements like the ECM to simply bash them and move on, but the contributors here are honest enough to say that the ECM is asking the right question, but coming to the wrong conclusions (though sometimes they don't come to any answer at all).

Furthermore, I found many of the chapters quite detailed, yet precise. Perhaps my personal favorite chapters that gave me further insight into the movement were the chapters on Christology, salvation, and preaching. I had never seen a review of Emergent Christology before and very few seem to be discussing it in great detail, though clearly it is a front-burner issue. Likewise, the chapter on salvation provided one of the best survey and summary of the subject. But each chapter is commendable. Then again, what would one expect from this class of scholarly contributors? All of the contributors were thorough in their study and precise in their critique. In one chapter, each contributors managed to cover the topic they were given in great detail, yet without chasing rabbits.

I also found a common theme throughout the book from the contributors that was helpful and much needed. They were careful to note that the arguments they were presenting was not mere modernism. They were mindful to go out of their way to debunk such a myth. Usually Emergents critique detractors as merely resembling remnants of modernism.. It must be convenient to be Emergent when all one has to do to ignore criticism is to write such criticism off as remnants of modernism. But what the contributors bring here is not more modernism, but an honest response that the ECM needs to hear.

But as I was reading the book I was struck with this question: will Emergents listen? By this I mean, is this a forum that Emergents want to enter? The book is presented in a typical Evangelical way. Each chapter covers a specific subject. It does not tell a story. To an Emergent, this immediately must be written off (primarily because it is just too modernistic). Unfortunately, Emergents are all too often so connected with narrative, poetry, and myth that they forget the value of propositions and theological discourse. This is why I raise the question. Will Emergents care?

But that is not the only point of the book. The editors write with a sense of concern for the Church. As Dr. Greenway makes clear in his conclusion, the ECM is history repeating itself. Yesterday it was Protestant liberalism, now its the ECM. The Church must be aware and careful what voices they are listening to. The editors and contributors seek to lay out clearly and definitively the arguments proposed and the dangers of the ECM and they succeed in doing just that.

To the average believer this is not the easiest read, but a necessary read nonetheless. The ECM is one of the greatest challenges the Church is/will face. It is necessary that she realises the threat and responds accordingly. The main concern here is the gospel and the ECM has long abandoned it. Let us not make the same mistakes of the past. For those who want to know more about the ECM, its dangers, its beliefs, and how we should respond, I can think of no better, definitive book than this.

Proclaiming a Cross-Centered Theology

I have had the blessing of attending the Together for the Gospel conference both in 2006 and 2008 and have signed up to go in 2010. The sermons/lectures have been excellent each year and I continue to go back and listen to them (even the panel discussions) and I continue to learn from these great men of God.

After the conference, the talks were put into book form and recently the talks from the 2008 conference were published in a book called, "Proclaiming a Cross-Centered Theology." For those at the conference, there isn't much that is new here. Although the chapter by Greg Gilbert in the middle of the book (who was not one of the speakers at the conference) was new, that is about it. But each chapter gave insights into some important subjects.

Perhaps the two chapters I found most interesting were written by John MacArthur and R. Albert Mohler, Jr. MacArthur wrote his chapter on depravity and Mohler wrote his on substitutionary atonement. What I found most interesting about both of them is how timely they are. As one who has studied extensively the Emerging Church and postmodern theology, these books were very insightful and important.

But each chapter was its own blessings. Piper's reminder that all those who follow Christ will suffer was both challenging and encouraging. Sproul's chapter on the curse motif in Scripture was insightful and oftentimes something that pastors and amateur theologians all too often overlook.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and that was a bit of a surprise. I almost didn't pick it up because I had heard all of the chapters before. You can download them online for goodness sakes! But I was grateful nonetheless that I picked it up. The chapters and the book itself was something I needed. I encourage everyone to pick it up and read it and enjoy it. Be challenged and encouraged by it. And hopefully, I will see you next year at T4TG 2010.

For More:

Preaching the Cross

Together for the Gospel

T4G Blog

Download and Listen to each talk from 2008, Click here

"Five Who Changed The World"

One of the best way to refresh your soul and to challenge one's spiritual life is to read a good biography. If one can't make it through an entire biography, a book with a number of short biographies is just as helpful. I recently picked up and read Dr. Daniel Akin's book, "Five Who Changed the World." The offers biographical insight into five important missionaries in recent centuries from William Carey (the father of the modern mission movement) to Lottie Moon.

But this is not just five short biographies. They are biographical sermons. Akin takes an important text of Scripture and shows how it played out in the life of these great believers. So rather than a dry historical sketch full of dates and dead people, Akin writes an insightful and applicable book that all should read. One is drawn closer to God through both the words of Scripture and the examples of these great men and women of faith.

The lives that Akin writes about are fantastic. Whenever I read about such faithful Christians, I am encouraged and humbled. Will I ever have the faith and concern for the lost like Bill Wallace? Will I have the drive of William Carey. Will I be as steadfast as Lottie Moon? Will I be able to withstand such persecution and death like Jim Elliot? Akin calls us to re-evaluate our own lives in light of how God used these great Christians.

I really enjoyed this short book. Though it has not been widely published, I highly recommend it. It is important and helpful for Christians to read such books and be encouraged and challenged by their lives. My wife and I both read it and really enjoyed it. And I encourage you to read it as well.

"Men in Black"

To every conservative, there is no more suspicious branch of government that the judiciary. Over the decades, conservatives believe that the liberties and freedoms that have made America great have been under attacked by the judiciary in America and the Supreme Court especially. And they have good reason to think so.

In his book, "Men in Black: How the Supreme Court Is Destroying America" Mark Levin lays out the argument that the Supreme Court has undermined, ignored, and betrayed their Constitutional expectations. Levin is well-known in Conservative circles. Rush Limbaugh wrote the forward and Sean Hannity offers an endorsement on the back. His book was a best-seller and needs to be taken seriously.

In each chapter, one theme runs supreme: the Supreme Court has abused its power by usurping the Constitution. In short, the Supreme Court is guilty of legislating from the bench. But do not be fooled, this is no mere right-wing conspiracy book. Levin writes with legal experience and scholarship and understands the issues, the history, and the Constitution thoroughly. This is no hit job where the author has an Ax to grind or a complaint to vent. Levin, of most leading conservative voices, is the most qualified and the right voice to raise the issues here.

Levin discusses a number of important judicial decisions and how they have shaped cultural debate. Sadly, he argues, most of the cases the Court took and the decisions they made were made apart from any Constitutional right they had to make such decisions. In short, they should have never offered an opinion on those issues. Levin argues that the Court repeatedly overstepped it bounds by legislating and determining law through judicial decree. This is the sort of power that the Founding Fathers warned us about and sought to prevent. But by ignoring the Constitution, few have noticed the tyranny of the Court.

Levin raises headlining legal issues such as abortion, gun rights, homosexual marriage, elections and voter fraud, and the rights of terrorists. All of these defining issues, Levin writes, the Court has gotten wrong.

But this is not just a book of complaints, but a book where the author offers hope. Can Americans repeal the overstepping bounds taken by the Court. Yes. The answer is simple; return to the Constitution and restore liberty to her rightful heirs: the people.

Overall, I found this book very well written and intriguing. The issues raises here need to be read and understood by all Americans. Sadly, most consider the church infallible and free from mistakes when the truth is the opposite. Levin offers a historical and legal analysis that is easy to read and yet full of depth that begs the readers attention. I recommend this book because it raises an issue that we need to take seriously. America has abandoned the Constitution and thus has given up many of her liberties. It is time we take some of them back.

"The Journey"

I recently recommended Billy Graham's book, "The Journey: Living By Faith in an Uncertain World." I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. To read my recommendation, click here.

"Set Apart" by Jennifer Kennedy Dean

Every Christian should study and understand the Beatitudes. Matthew puts them at the start of Jesus' infamous Sermon on the Mount and they really lay out the gospel and gospel living. Author Jennifer Kennedy Dean describes and leads her readers into the Beatitudes in her new book, "Set Apart."

The book is a 6 week study guide that guides the reader verses-by-verse, and at times, word-by-word through the important passage. One of Dean's greatest strengths is her ability to give her readers all of the necessary background material needed to correctly understand the meaning of the text. Her willingness to put everything in context is appreciated. Dean spends a good amount of time in the Old Testament just to help the reader better understand the text.

The biggest weakness of the book is that at times, the reader is left distracted. Dean, because she is so good at giving background material, leaves the reader chasing rabbits that could be left alone. The material she gives is good, but at times, distracted. At times I found myself saying, "let's get back to the text."

But overall, the author provides a great study guide with excellent questions for the reader to answer and with plenty of explanatory notes. She is thorough and leaves no rocks unturned. The issue here is the gospel and Dean goes out of her way to show that the gospel is not just about saying a prayer and getting to heaven, but involves humility (poverty), repentance (mourning), and an unquenching desire to be more like Christ (hungering and thirsting).

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For more:
"The Family God Uses" by Tom and Kim Blackaby
"Compelled By Love" by Ed Stetzer and Philip Nation"Nehemiah Factor" by Frank Paige"Trolls & Truth" by Jimmy Dorrell
"The Life-Changing Power in the Name of Jesus" by Jennifer Kennedy Dean