"The Mighty Weakness of John Knox"

One of my favorite theologians and Christians in history is the Scottish Reformer John Knox.  Knox changed the world and was used mightily by God to proclaim the gospel and to reform His church.  Knox is without a doubt controversial and since his death has been perceived in very clear negative light by Scotland's dominant secular culture.  And that's a shame.  Knox boldly proclaimed the gospel to everyone, whether farmer or Queen, without shame.

I recently read the book The Mighty Weakness of John Knox by Douglas Bond.  The book is part of the A Long Line of Godly Men Profile series edited by Stephen Lawson.  The series includes similar books including The Expository Genius of John Calvin by Dr. Lawson and The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards (Long Line of Godly Men Profile) also by Dr. Lawson. 

Bond's take on Knox is a great read.  The first chapter covers briefly the biography of Knox.  It is an excellent source for an overview of Knox's life and ministry.  Though brief, Bond highlights the highlights revealing Knox the man and how he changed history through his ministry and preaching.  Clearly a lot of detail is left out, but Bond offers a great introduction to the new reader.

From there, Bond highlights Knox's legacy.  What made him such a great man and what insights can we gain from his life?  One of my favorite chapters regarded Knox as a man of prayer.  It begins with the quote from Charles H. Spurgeon:  When John Knox went upstairs to plead with God for Scotland, it was the greatest event in Scotland (33).  That about sums it all up.  Bond shows how feeble Knox was and how much he depended on his Lord through prayer.  O that more men and women of God would drop to their knees and trust in their Sovereign Lord. Just like Knox!

I also enjoyed the chapter surveying Knox as a preacher.  This ought to be Knox's greatest letter even though we only have two manuscripts of his sermons.  Just two.  Hard to believe!  When Knox preached, people listened, some got angry, but many were changed.  Knox preached the gospel and God changed Scotland through such bold preaching.  But even here Knox was a rather weak man.  As the quote at the beginning of the chapter from Knox reveals, The person of the speaker is wretched, miserable, and nothing to be regarded, but things that were spoken are the infallible and eternal truth of God.  Our weakness.  God's greatness.  Our infallibility.  God's infallibility.  Knox, as Bond shows, was Christo-centric in his sermons.  He preached Christ and read Christ in every text.  Thus the power of preaching was made known. 

Overall, this is a great book.  I love Knox and virtually love anything written about or from him.  Though Knox's memory has fallen on hard times, Bond shows why Knox ought to be appreciated and remembered.  The title says it all, though Knox was a weak man, God made him strong.  Through this faithful servant, God saved Scotland.  The gospel went forth and society was changed.  He really does make foolish the wisdom of the world and He did it through Knox.

Though the biography could have been longer, this book is well worth the read.  Bond is a great reader and writes with a heart that speaks to the reader.  This isn't dry history, biography, theology, or academia.  Bond seeks to apply the lessons of Knox's life to the reader.  If God made Knox mighty though he was weak, He can do the same with us.


________________________________________________________________________

I am currently working my way through a Scottish catechism written by John Knox's colleague John Craig (my ancestor).  Here is what I have thus far:

An Introduction of the Life and Works of Scottish Reformation John Craig - Part 1 
A Short Summary of the Whole Catechism - Introduction
A Short Summary of the Whole Catechism - Chapter 1
A Short Summary of the Whole Catechism - Chapter 2
A Short Summary of the Whole Catechism - Chapter  3
A Short Summary of the Whole Catechism - Chapter 4.1
A Short Summary of the Whole Catechism - Chapter 4.2
A Short Summary of the Whole Catechism - Chapter 4.3
A Short Summary of the Whole Catechism - Chapter 5.1
A Short Summary of the Whole Catechism - Chapter 5.2
A Short Summary of the Whole Catechism - Chapter 6.1 
A Short Summary of the Whole Catechism - Chapter 6.2  


For more:
Blogizomai - Douglas Bond on the Legacy of John Knox 
Reviews - "John Knox" by Rosalind K. Marshall  
Blogizomai - Was Calvin a Calvinist?  Helm Weighs In 
Blogizomai - He Turned the Water Into Wine: MacArthur, Alcohol, & Christian Liberty
Blogizomai - Theology Thursday | Calvin on the Redemptive Necessity of the Resurrection
Theology - Calvinist Baptists and the Many (False) Misconceptions
GBC - "Without the Gospel": A Gem From John Calvin
GBC - Calvin on God in Theology and the Christian Life
GBC - Calvin on Providence
GBC - Calvin on Treasures in Heaven
GBC - Calvin on Fasting
GBC - Calvin on Prayer: Why Bother?
Reviews - "Young, Restless, and Reformed"
Reviews - The Theology of the Reformers  
Reviews - The Unquenchable Flame  
Reviews - "On the Necessity of Reforming the Church" by John Calvin
Reviews - John Calvin:  A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, & Doxology 
Reviews - Christianity's Dangerous Idea 
Reviews - "Five Leading Reformers"  

"Desiring God" by John Piper

One of the classic works written in recent decades is without a doubt John Piper's book Desiring God, Revised Edition: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist recently republished and updated.  Books like this become a class for a reason.  This book has characterized Piper's growing popularity and ministry.  But the subtitle sums it all up, Desiring God is a book of Meditations of a Christian Hedonist.

Piper sets forth his case for Christian Hedonism, a term that is on the surface rather unfortunate, but still remains an adequate one.  Piper begins by suggesting that This is a serious book about being happy in God and he sets forth his case.  He finds his case for Christian Hedonism is the old creed, The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.  Here we see the connection between God's glory and our joy.  These two realities permeate the book.  God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.  Piper shows how God's glory in our lives leads to real joy in our lives.

This is a pleasant book.  I am pleased that Piper admits some of the criticism he has received in his argument and defends his case for Christian Hedonism.  But what makes this book such a classic isn't his defense, but his argument.  I have found it critically helpful for us to see that glorifying God in our lives leads to our joy.  If only Christians would understand that basic fundamental point even without the hedonist label.

Overall, this is a classic pure and simple.  Piper walks us through various aspects of the Christian life such as love, marriage, worship, etc. and shows how Christian Hedonism is the answer.  But even if you don't favor the label or even think the same way as Piper, this is a crucially important book and a classic for a reason.  Joy can be ours if we will glorify God in our lives.  We need both.


I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.


Other Piper Books:
Reviews - "Finally Alive" 
Reviews - "A Sweet & Bitter Providence" by John Piper 
Reviews - "The Supremacy of Christ in a Post-Modern World" 
Reviews - "When I Don't Desire God"
Reviews - "The Supremacy of God in Preaching" 


Other WaterBrook Multnomah Titles;
Reviews - "Radical Together" 
Reviews - The Next Christians" 
Reviews - "Start Here" by Alex & Brett Harris 
Reviews - "Angels" by David Jeremiah 
Reviews - "Dug Down Deep" by Joshua Harris 
Reviews - "Treasured" by Leigh McLeroy
Reviews - "God Gave Us Christmas" by Lisa Bergren 
Reviews-  "God Gave Us Love" by Lisa Bergren 
Reviews - "Every Sing Man's Battle" by Stephen Arterburn & Fred Stoeker 

"King Solomon" by Philip Graham Ryken

The story of King Solomon of Israel is a fascinating one.  The child of King David and Bathsheba whose husband was essentially murdered as a result of a one night stand.  He grew up, then, with the promise of being the next King of Israel, in the palace and watched his father be blessed and favored by God.  He takes the throne and only increases the nation's (and his own) wealth, their land, their allies, and builds the most magnificent temple and palace in the world all the while leaders of other nations are flocking to learn from you.  And it is all thrown away in the vain pursuit of more money (didn't he have enough), more sex, and more power.

In his new book King Solomon: The Temptations of Money, Sex, and Power (Crossway, 2011), Wheaton College President Philip Graham Ryken tells this fascinating and heartbreaking story of one of Israel's greatest kings.  Solomon had everything, but it still wasn't enough in the end.  How many of us could tell the same story in our own lives?

Ryken is a scholar, but this book is not written in such a way.  Ryken tells the story of Solomon with the purpose of pointing the reader to Christ.  It is a classic example of what Spurgeon encouraged:  read and exegete the text and then make a beeline to the cross.  Ryken seeks to do just that.

I say that this isn't a scholarly book, but that does not mean that Ryken is unwilling to do with some of the difficulties of the text.  Ryken does shy away, however, from letting such difficulties from distracting him. His purpose is to show the reader how the temptations of money, sex, and power consume us all.  The story of Solomon is too often our story.  Here we have a guy who had everything and was blessed by God in ways we can only dream of.  But slowly, the narrative shows how easily Solomon surrendered all of it in his pursuit of more.  We do the same today.

For those who love biblical biographies that are very practical, much in the tradition of Charles Swindoll's Great Lives Series, then this is a good one to read.  This is not a book in Old Testaments studies, but a practical book to guide the reader through how God blessed and then judged the son of David and how we can fall into the same traps.  It is also a book about Christ and makes it well worth the read.


This book was given to me free of charge for the purpose of this review.


For more:
Reviews - "Life's Biggest Questions" by Erik Thoennes 
Reviews - The Old Testament Documents: Are They Reliable and Relevant?  

Reviews - "History of Israel"  
Reviews - "A Sweet & Bitter Providence" by John Piper 
Reviews - "A Theological Introduction to the Book of Psalms"   

"Life's Bigget Questions"

As a pastor, I am always looking to see how to articulate the many doctrines of the gospel and of the Christian faith.  I am also always looking for resources that are easy to understand and applicable for the average believer.  Without a doubt, one of the best resources I have come across thus far is Erik Thoennes helpful book Life's Biggest Questions: What the Bible Says about the Things That Matter Most (Crossway, 2011). 

The book is essentially a systematic theology text.  Through the means of questions, the author lays out in a systematic way the doctrines of the faith.  For example, "What is a Human Being?" regards anthropology.  Likewise, "What is God Like?" discusses theology proper and God's many attributes.  I find this to be a helpful approach. Beyond the more dry attempt to simply lay out what Scripture says on a given doctrine, Thoennes pulls he reader in driving them to see that doctrine affects who we are, how we live, what we believe, etc.  Why does it matter that God is Immutable, that we are sinners by conception, the Holy Spirit is Divine, and Jesus will return?  Unless pastors, and theologians as well, can answer these questions, they haven't done their job. 

This is a very easy book for those new to Christian doctrine and systematic theology to read.  He begins with the existence of God and ends with eschatology, thus covering the whole spectrum of theology.  He offers easy-to-understand charts, graphs, figures, and illustrations to guide the reader to understand his argument all the while writing with clarity and articulating what Scripture says on each doctrine.  The author does not overlook difficult doctrines, but instead explains them. 

This is a helpful resource that every pastor and believer should invest in.  For pastors, we must continually seek ways to better articulate theology.  For many of us, we take the collective sign of boredom from our congregation as a sign that theology isn't for the average person.  We ought not do that.  Theology is critical and all of us are theologians, thus it is the job of the pastor to shepherd his flock to better theology.  Thoennes has given us a helpful resource that is short (only 176 pages), thorough, easy-to-understand, practical, biblical, and Christ glorifying.  You can't ask for much more!


For more:
Reviews - "Godly Jealousy" by Erik Thoennes  
Reviews - The Top 5 Essential Works of Theology of the Past 25 Years 
Reviews - "Doctrine" 
Reviews - "The Good News We Almost Forgot" 
Reviews - "Dug Down Deep" by Josh Harris
Reviews - "Heresy" 
Reviews - "Making Sense of the Trinity" 
Reviews - "The Sovereignty of God" 
Reviews - Reviews in Brief:  The Doctrine Divine Providence 
Reviews - "Christianity's Dangerous Idea" by Alister McGrath 
Reviews - "The Theology of the Reformers"  

"The Baptist Reformation"

The Southern Baptist Convention is the only major Christianity denomination to come back from the brink of liberalism/progressivism.  And it is a fascinating tale.  In his book The Baptist Reformation: The Conservative Resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention seeks to tell the story of how the nation's largest Protestant denomination went from theologically schizophrenic, to theologically and whole-heartedly conservative.

Begining in the 1970's, Sutton walks the reader through the various events and stages of the Baptist Conservative Resurgence.  He documents what was said, what was written, what persons argued, believed, articulated, etc.  Furthermore, Sutton shows just how far the liberal turn had gone in the SBC.  Quoting from pastors, convention leaders, and seminary professors and presidents, the author shows that the need for a theological, orthodox resurgence was desperately needed.

Sutton not only tells the broad story of the turn towards conservatism, but highlights how the turn back towards orthodoxy happened in various SBC institutions like Lifeway, the seminaries, and the executive committee.  The most fascinating of the stories, and the one that affects me personally the most, is the story of the turn from liberalism to conservative Calvinism at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  The change from liberal to conservative at SBTS is a tale that I never grow tired of hearing.  Faithful men of God persevered through it all and now have the legacy of saving mother seminary of the SBC from the grip of theological liberalism.

Sutton clearly has an agenda and rightfully so.  He favors the conservative "takeover" of the SBC and it shows in the book.  Sutton doesn't write as one bitter over the theological changes, but as one who celebrates it.  The move backs towards conservative theology was necessary and Sutton writes with the tone of victory.

Sutton has done his homework.  Quoting from countless articles, press releases, books, sermons, interviews, etc., Sutton chronicles in some detail the history of the SBC resurgence.  This will undoubtedly be an invaluable tool for future authors.

But at the same time, this was probably my main complaint about the book.  Sutton writes a fascinating tale, but much of it is clouded by endless quotes and documentation.  Both are necessary, but sometimes there can be too much of it. At times it would have been helpful if he just summarized or just told the story rather than offering entire quotations and speeches verbatim. 

But overall, this is a good book.  But it is sad that there aren't more books that tells this story.  This is an important part of the history of Baptist and there seems to be a shortage of those who have done the homework that Sutton has done. Though Sutton's book was good, it seems as if there is more that could be added by others.

Nonetheless, for those interested in the "Baptist Reformation" (a great title), this is a must read.  For those bitter about the turn towards conservatism, you will not like the tone.  For the most part, it is easy to understand and a great book to dive into. 


For more:
Reviews - "Southern Baptist Theological Seminary: 1859-2009"
Reviews - "Esteemed Reproach"  


Reviews - "Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches"  
Reviews - "James P. Boyce:  Select Writings" 
Reviews - Faithful Witness: The Life and Mission of William Carey  

"Why God Won't Go Away" by Alister McGrath

Remember the New Atheists?  It was only a few years ago that they dominated the religious, theological, philosophical, and cultural debate.  The works of men like Richard Dawkins, Samuel Harris, Christopher Hitchens, and Daniel Dennett became international best-sellers and seemingly over night atheism was evangelistic and winning - at least in the cultural conversation.  But strangely enough, just as quickly as they rose to popularity, they have descended into obscurity.  Why?  In his book Why God Won't Go Away: Is the New Atheism Running on Empty?, theologian, philosopher, and historian Alister McGrath tells us why.

Simply put, the New Atheist is bankrupt and always has been.  Their rise to fame, McGrath suggests, begins with the attacks on 9/11 where radical Muslims turned commercial airplanes into missiles and managed to kill almost 3,000 people.  The New Atheists argued that Islam has its radical faction because religion, all of it, is evil.

That is the basic premise, and really the depth, of their argument.  Religion is evil and kills, atheism is good and heals.  Thus religion must be destroyed and atheism, reason, and science must reign supreme.  McGrath surveys the leading voices of the New Atheist and their basic arguments and shows just how bankrupt the movement always was. 

The best part of this wonderful book is part 2 where the author critiques and engages the basic arguments of the movement.  Though he does not offer a full critique of them in great detail, he does offer some great and adequate insight into how empty their arguments are.  The first chapter of this section regards violence.  One cannot deny that violence has been committed in the name of religion whether Islamic or otherwise.  However, the atheist conveniently overlook the fact that the rise of political and cultural atheism in the 20th Century led to the murder of over 100 million innocent people.  McGrath shows how loosely the New Atheists play with the historical evidence caricaturing religious groups and persons.  The New Atheists repeatedly resort to strawman and weak philosophical arguments to make their point.  The rhetoric sells, but the logic is lacking.

McGrath shows how easily the New Atheists overlook the good that religion does.  Even Christopher Hitchens has demonized Mother Theresa as an evil woman.  The disconnect between reality and the historical record is clear.  Regarding Hitchen's words regarding Mother Theresa, McGrath asks the reader, who would you rather meet in Calcutta, Hitchens or Mother Theresa?  The answer is obvious.

There is also the point that removing religion from society does not eliminate violence for the simple fact that the problem isn't just religious ideology, but human nature.  McGrath rightly notes that humans are very good at creating their own factions and using such groups as a means to demean, threaten, and to attack other groups.  Religion is just one group oftentimes used for violence.  Atheism, as with the Soviet Union, does the same.

What I found interesting in the book regarding atheism and violence is McGrath's survey of New Atheist online communities and the violence language frequently used.  The New Atheist movement has become its own religion with its own adherents who are called to proselytize.  The New Atheists consider anyone with spiritual faith to be foolish, ignorant, and unreasonable.  Thus they attack Christians and adherents to other faiths.  Thus, like atheist before them, resort to violence rhetoric and threats.  Again, the problem isn't with religion, but with human nature.

The rest of the book is just as good and I cannot recommend this book enough.  I have read many of the New Atheist writings and books and I have read many critiques of their arguments and this is among the best.  The book is not a full critique of the movement, but, as the title suggest, surveys why theism continues while the New Atheism continues to erode.  But in it, McGrath offers an honest critique and survey of the movement.  McGrath himself has written several works on the movement in his own right and this short volume shows the bankruptcy of their arguments and why Christian theism is simply better.

For those wanting to understand the New Atheist movement, this is where I would say begin.  It is easy to read without a lot of deep science or philosophy.  McGrath offers a simple and straightforward critique that most readers could follow and in the end theism is defended and atheism is shown to be what it is - nothing more than its own empty religion that drowns in its own shallow arguments.


I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


 


For more:
Review -"Atheism Remix" by Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
Review -"The Delusion of Disbelief" by David Aikman
Review -"The End of Reason" by Ravi Zacharias
Review -What's So Great About Christianity? by Dinesh D'Souza
Blogizomai - On Why Darwin Still Matters
Blogizomai - Expelled: A Film About Freedom, Evolution, and Intelligent Design
Blogizomai - Expelled:  A Movie We Must Take Seriously 
Blogiozmai - D'Souza:  Ben Stein Exposes Richard Dawkins
Blogizomai - Collision:  An Important Documentary About Faith and Atheism  
Blogizomai -The Atheist Debates
Blogizomai -Atheism Is Not Great - The D'Souza and Hitchens Debate
Blogizomai -John Lennox: The New Atheism and the Gospel 
Blogizomai - Causation and the Existence of God:  How Scientists Continue to Prove Aquinas's Point  
Blogizomai - Creation or Manipulation:  The Limits of Man and the Evidence for God
Blogizomai - Natural Morality:  The Disconnect Between Darwinism and Morality  
Blogizomai -D'Souza: Are Atheists Cultural Christians
Blogizomai -Survival of the Moral: Can Man Be Moral Without God?
Blogizomai - Re: Survival of the Moral: Can Man Be Moral Without God?
Blogizomai -Freud's Wish Fulfillment: Why Atheism Can't Explain Atheism


Other Thomas Nelson Books:
Reviews - "Billy Graham in Quotes" 
Reviews - "No He Can't" by Kevin McCullough
Reviews - "Washington: A Legacy of Leadership" by Paul Vickery  
Reviews - "Max on Life" by Max Lucado 
Reviews - "Slave" by John Macarthur
Reviews - "The Jesus Inquest" by Charles Foster 
Reviews - "Finding Our Way Again" by Brian McLaren 
Reviews - "Outlive Your Life" by Max Lucado
Reviews - "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns 
Reviews - "Saint Patrick" by Jonathan Rogers
Reviews - "A Century Turns" by William Bennett
Reviews - "Sir Winston Churchill"
Reviews - "On this Day in Christian History"
Reviews - "Storm Warning" by Billy Graham