The In-Between—Goins

***(It’s ok but…)

The In-Between: Embracing the tension between now and the next big thing
by Jeff Goins
Moody, 2013, 164pp.

Jeff Goins has earned his audience as a blog writer aimed at helping writers write.  With this second paperback he edges into the publishing world beyond blogging with the conviction that the greatest growth in our lives comes in the lulls between the 'big things'. He reminds us that growth comes imperceptibly, as we learn to slow down and relish the mundane moments that make up most of life.

To illustrate, Jeff candidly shares experiences from the growth seasons of his own life: a semester of study in Spain, a year traveling with a Christian band, proposing and getting married, the birth of his first child… Though these narratives are of mixed quality from a strictly literary standpoint, each is a vulnerable opening of Jeff's heart to the reader. He walks us introspectively through his own 'in-between's reflecting on what he has gained from each. His hope is that we too will slow to notice the growth in our own souls in the waiting seasons of life.

His retelling of his wedding ceremony brought tears to my eyes. Other sections, particularly the final two scenarios, were unduly drawn out and unconvincingly presented-- as though they were necessary filler to round out Part Three.

The book is light reading and, like blogging, can be picked up and put down in those waiting moments every day holds. It is best read in this way, as too analytical a reading will disappoint.

The light copy-editing throughout contrasts sharply with the professional cover and formatting of this book. Under scrutiny numerous passages are unclear, cumbersome or otherwise awkward:

"Maybe it was the fact that he didn't grow up with much money or maybe he just liked looking good, but Al was a precise, clean-cut man."

"…I swaddle our son in the dark, wrapping him in thin sheets we bought at Target for more than a glorified blanket should cost."

"…and I'd often pull out my parents' cell phone, which I rarely used, and call my friend Ashley."

"The train had to be going half the pace as the ones in Europe,…"

Whether this is a book directed to 'believers' or 'non-believers' is also unclear and problematic. "God" is mentioned throughout but often in the most apologetic of ways. Those who don't share Jeff's faith are offended (as per the Amazon reviews), or assume any 'god' will do. Those who may in fact share his beliefs are uncertain what he actually believes and why he is so reticent to say so… This fence-sitting position in hopes of appealing to a greater audience is unlikely to have a life-changing impact on anyone. For this reason I was disappointed that Moody would carry it under their publishing banner, but grateful to receive it free-of-charge in exchange for an honest review.

Considering the fine job Jeff does as an up-and-coming blogger to would-be writers of all kinds, the lax copy-editing of this book seems an unfortunate decision. Though his informal, self-doubting 'voice' is preserved, his reputation as a serious writer is called into question. On the other hand, perhaps this is just the book to illustrate the need for long waits between the 'big things'--such as getting published. Some things should not be rushed. It does indeed matter what a writer does with the 'in-between' stages in his career.

--LS

The Bible Savvy Series—Nicodem

This series consists of four volumes:

Epic: The Storyline of the Bible
Foundation: The Reliability of the Bible
Context: How to Understand the Bible
Walk: How to Apply the Bible

by James L. Nicodem
Moody Publ, 2013, 576pp

This is a fantastic little set of books to increase your Bible Savvy, whether you are a newbie or an old-timer when it comes to God's Word. They are not only good-looking in four tidy little volumes, but they are user-friendly reading besides! My first impression was that they would be ideal for youth and new believers as the language seems geared to them. This is especially true of the first volume, Epic, which is an overview of the Bible around the theme of Redemption. But wait, here is an excellent presentation of the Gospel taken from the book of Genesis! Could you do that? This first volume, Epic, and the second one, Foundation: the Reliability of the Bible would be strategic for seekers and skeptics who have never understood the cohesive and trustworthy nature of Scripture.

But Volumes 3 and 4, WALK and CONTEXT are written as tools specifically for believers and in my opinion are sorely needed tools in the Body of Christ at large, whether among new believers or well-seasoned ones. Too few of us give priority to the personal reading and study of the Word. These two volumes spur us on to dig in and apply what we find, but not before heeding the Context!

The volume on Context is a 'must read' for every believer who has not been instructed in how to interpret the various genres of Scripture. You don't have to look far to see that these principles are not widely heeded, even among people who profess to teach the 'truth' of Scripture. Here is a call back to the basic ground rules. No one should teach or preach or lead a Bible study without understanding these principles! These are not volumes only for 'beginners'!

For more detailed reviews, please see my reviews under the individual volumes. Thx. I received this set of books free of charge from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

--LS

CONTEXT: How to Understand the Bible

 

CONTEXT: How to Understand the Bible
by James L. Nicodem
Moody Publ. 2013, 152pp

(Book #3 in the Bible Savvy Series)

--Without context any text can become a prooftext for a pretext!--

The Bible can be difficult to understand but every believer can learn to read it with confidence once they know the ground rules. That's what this little book is about—the principles that must be applied to interpret the various genres of Scripture accurately. In my opinion this topic is essential for every believer to understand, and Nicodem tackles it in such a user-friendly down-to-earth way! He breaks the study of context down into four aspects of setting that must be considered to properly understand any text: The historical setting, the literary setting, the theological setting and the immediate setting.  Then for each he suggests two or three guidelines to follow in interpreting each.

Historical setting is important because the Bible is based on objective historic facts. Knowing the 'who, what, when, where and why' of the cultural setting is the starting point for getting the most out of any passage.

Noting the literary setting is the second factor. It makes a difference whether we are reading laws, history, poetry, proverbs, prophecy or epistles. Each is governed by different principles. For instance reading a figurative passage of poetry will require different skills than deriving a lesson from a historical account. Making sense of Old Testament laws will be easier when you recognize some are civil, others are ceremonial while others can be classified as moral laws applicable for all time. And realizing the nature of a Proverb is to show how life generally works will keep us from 'claiming' Proverbs as though they were promises with guarantees attached.

Pastor Nicodem does an exceptional job of presenting a few basic rules for each genre. But this is not dry theoretical reading. He gives clear examples throughout, humorous anecdotes and even a chance to practice with the study questions that follow the chapter!

His discussion of theological setting is essential reading! Following this principle would prevent so much bad teaching from being propagated. Essentially the point is that any truth gleaned from one verse must be supported by the rest of Scripture. We are not free to interpret verses randomly without reference to the rest of Scripture. Because the Bible is inspired by God we can expect it to be consistent with itself, or as Nicodem says repeatedly: "the Bible must always agree with itself because it all comes from the same Mind." This chapter includes a careful explanation of progressive revelation with the great example of polygamy vs. monogamy in Scripture. He then demonstrates letting the Bible interpret itself with three topic overviews: prayer, hell and baptism. He's not afraid to step on toes here or expose teaching that does not follow this principle!

The final setting to consider is the immediate context. Words may have multiple meanings and should always be understood in their contexts. The larger context of sentence, paragraph, chapter and even book may need to be considered as well. In this chapter Pastor Nicodem gives some common sense cautions regarding word studies and choosing a balanced Bible translation. His strong preference is the NIV Study Bible, but he recognizes other legitimate and excellent choices. Once again his illustrations are compelling and will challenge the reader to consider whether he may have disregarded the context in his own understanding of various texts.

I highly recommend this short but comprehensive book for every believer who has not been specifically taught principles of Bible interpretation. Knowing and practicing these principles will safeguard the reader from deceptions and confusion of all sorts that pass as 'Bible truth'. New believers or old-timers will find great profit here! Too often people assume pastors and teachers are the only ones who need to know this 'stuff'. Not so. In my opinion, this is the most crucial book in this series. Don't miss it!

--LS

WALK:How to Apply the Bible—Nicodem

WALK: How to Apply the Bible
by James L. Nicodem
Moody Publ. 2013, 132pp

(Book #4 in the Bible Savvy Series)

--Practical steps for moving from text to life--

In this concluding volume of the Bible Savvy Series, Pastor Nicodem lays out a step-by-step guide for applying the Bible to one's own life. He stresses that it is not enough to know Bible facts; they must transform the way we live. For this to happen will require the Holy Spirit's illuminating work and a willingness to submit to what is taught. A valuable preliminary chapter is devoted to these essentials before Nicodem unfolds his nifty methodology for Bible reading and application. For apart from the Holy Spirit's indwelling the Bible will be intelligible but lack personal significance.

The remainder of the book is devoted to teaching believers how to handle the Word as a tool that will change the way they live. Using the acronym COMA Pastor Nicodem lays out four steps that can be used with any Bible passage to gain understanding and apply it personally:

Know the CONTEXT of what you're reading.

Make OBSERVATIONS of the theme, repeated words or concepts, anything striking, facts about God

What MESSAGE is God communicating to you; Is there a timeless principle?[Hint: Is there a Sin to confess? a Promise to claim? an Example to follow? a Command to obey? a Statement about God?]

What APPLICATION can I make to my life. (Be personal and specific. Write it down. Pray about it.)

This methodology is thoroughly introduced with extensive personal examples and numerous practice opportunities both in the text and in the Study Guide following this chapter. Nicodem's "mantra", as he puts it, is: "It's not how much of the Bible you get through that matters, but how much of the Bible gets through you!"(38) So he stresses NOT to hurry through the reading of this book but to stop and try out the COMA steps on a variety of suggested passages and then compare them with his own examples in the appendix until the method is clear and practicable.

Only then does he go on in the concluding chapter to discuss factors that contribute toward spiritual growth: the Holy Spirit, Personal Effort, Godly Habits, and Role Models. I especially appreciate his explanation of the Holy Spirit's work vs. our own efforts. While acknowledging that "The Holy Spirit is the wind in the sails of your spiritual growth" and "The daily discipline you need to apply God's Word to your life…must come from the Holy Spirit"(99) he insists this does not mean no personal initiative is required. Just as in physical training, training in godliness involves rigorous exercise. We must 'make every effort' to be effective and productive in our knowledge of Christ. (II Pet.1:5-8) This includes being intentional in our Bible reading habits.

I highly recommend this little book for any young believer needing to establish a foundation of Bible reading and study. But it would be equally valuable for even long-time Bible readers who may need the nudge to be intentional in applying what they read to life. This simple, yet effective COMA paradigm would be an excellent way to revive a waning (or absent) Bible reading habit for all ages and stages of believers!

--LS

P.S. The Bible Savvy website offers additional helps, a wonderfully do-able  4-year Bible reading schedule!  and a blog by the book’s author demonstrating his real-life practice with COMA.

Oh, and forgot to mention, I received The Bible Savvy series of books from the publisher in exchange for writing an honest review of my impression of them.  I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them for every youth in your life and copies for your church library and yourself as well!

FOUNDATION:The Reliability of the Bible—Nicodem

FOUNDATION: The Reliability of the Bible
by James L. Nicodem
Moody Publ. 2013, 139pp.

(Book #2 in The Bible Savvy Series)

--A user-friendly guide to the origins of the Bible—how it came to mankind and what to make of it!--

This second in the Bible Savvy Series focuses on the nuts and bolts of how the Bible came to be the Bible. What sets the Bible apart from all other books? How do we know it is true? Can we rely on it as an authoritative, fool-proof message from God to us? How do we know the books it contains are not mistakenly included, or that some are not missing? What about the Apocrypha?

Whole textbooks and courses in seminary are devoted to answering these questions, but Pastor Nicodem once again captures the essence of this material for the layperson and devotes four short chapters to the topics of Inspiration, History of the Canon, and Revelation with one final chapter urging the reader to READ this Book that he has now demonstrated to be the inerrant and inspired revelation of God to man. Though the coverage of each topic is necessarily brief, there is always space for anecdote and for clarifying important distinctions and mistaken notions. For instance what exactly does it mean for the Bible to be 'inspired'? Is it the writers who were 'inspired' as they wrote? Or is it perhaps the reader that becomes inspired as he reads, implying that the Word of God is only the Word of God when God speaks through it in a fresh way...Or is there a third option?

And what about all those alleged 'mistakes'? How can we trust a book that contains errors? After offering solutions to a sampling of these supposed errors Nicodem points any unsatisfied reader to a more comprehensive resource for further clarifications while holding to his position that because God is a God of truth, the Bible is true in all facets and therefore worthy as a final authority in matters of life and godliness.

The chapter on the doctrine of revelation deserves a careful reading, as there are many ideas 'out there' about how to get to know God, many of which would decry the Bible as insufficient or outmoded or just not essential for a relationship with God. "I have my own ideas about God" is a commonplace opinion and defense against hearing anything absolute, especially from Scripture. But the author maintains that God has purposely given us the Bible so that we can know Him. It is God's revelation of Himself to man. Without it we cannot accurately know what God is like or comprehend His offer of salvation or our sin problem that necessitates it. Nor can we know what God requires of us apart from God's revelation to us. 'Knowing God' in nature is a limited revelation, demonstrating that He exists and that He is powerful, but not detailing the means of relationship with Him. For this the 'special revelation' of the Word of God is essential.

I also appreciated the advice in this chapter on revelation, regarding knowing God's will. Though the Bible may not contain explicit advice for every conceivable decision we must make, the author states if we will saturate our lives with the Word of God, we will be prepared to make wise decisions, because we will be becoming wise people. Otherwise we'll be scrambling like an ill-equipped football player to study the playbook when it's time to be on the field playing football. This is a great reason not to delay getting to know the Word of God personally.

This potentially theoretical discussion of the Bible's origins is brought down to very practical terms in the closing chapter of this little (139pp) book. In a chapter called 'Get a Grip' Pastor Nicodem comes back to his reason for underlining the reliability of the Bible. He wants the reader to read it! He goes so far as to say that "If we are not voracious readers of God's book, our relationship with God and our spiritual growth are going to be seriously stunted." (107) He then commends five essential practices: Listen to it regularly, attentively and discerningly with intent to put it into practice. Read it daily and completely. (He recommends the NIV Study Bible here and throughout his other volumes.) Study it (This point is covered very minimally here; one would hope to at least be pointed to resources detailing the 'how-to'; perhaps his further volumes will elucidate this point). Memorize it (with a simple 'here's how) and Meditate on it.

It's impossible to read this volume without gaining a fresh appreciation for the supernatural nature of the Word of God and a renewed resolve to dig in and live it out!

--LS

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I haven’t seen anything so compellingly readable on this topic!  Highly recommended!

EPIC: The Storyline of the Bible—Nicodem

EPIC: The Storyline of the Bible
by James L. Nicodem
Moody Publ. 2013, 139pp.

(Book #1 in The Bible Savvy Series)

Epic, the first in the Bible Savvy series, is an overview of the Bible built around the theme of Redemption. In easily readable, (even interactive!) prose Pastor Nicodem lays out all 66 books under six memorable headings roughly according to genre, (e.g.: history, prophets, gospels, epistles and apocalyptic literature) He then describes what's in each set of books and how they all relate to each other and to the theme of redemption. Timely samplings of Scripture are included to whet the reader's appetite, and many common complaints and troubling questions are answered in a straightforward style along the way... Why read Leviticus? What's all the ethnic violence in Joshua about? What are the prophets trying to say? And is it possible to make sense of Revelation?

This user-friendly little volume does a terrific job of showing the big picture of what the Bible is all about, with just the right mix of specifics, personal anecdote, and theological explanation to keep the text relevant and interesting. For anyone who has yet to read the Bible through, or who has bogged down in the attempt, this little book will revive your interest! For new believers or willing skeptics this is an excellent aid to understanding the Bible.

Following each chapter are review questions to encourage retention of what was read. These would be ideal for turning this book into a small group study or for individual reflection.

The first chapter is particularly outstanding in its careful discussion of why redemption is necessary in the first place! The essence of the Gospel is here alongside the story of sin's entrance into the world as seen in the opening chapters of Genesis. Frame by frame the treachery in the Garden of Eden is examined. This is essential reading for believer and seeker alike and foundational to an understanding of the Bible and the God's plan of redemption.

Many will also appreciate the final chapter devoted to an overview of the book of Revelation. In just twenty pages the scope of the book is presented and a smattering of divergent interpretations introduced. Although the presentation is necessarily brief and all will not agree with the author's own points of view, I appreciated his inclusion of views other than his own and his attempt to simplify this difficult book. His efforts provide a launching off point for any reader keen on pursuing a deeper study of Revelation.

Although billed as a book for all ages, because of its casual, I-write-like-I-talk style, I would recommend this book especially to young people not yet familiar with the whole Bible, but curious.  It contains an especially good introduction to the meaning of the Gospel as seen in Genesis, so would be great for ‘seekers’ too… Though not a substitute for Bible college or more focused study, it is an excellent stepping stone into Bible study, a great place to begin!

--LS

I received this book free of charge from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.  What a wonderfully readable synopsis of the Bible! Highly recommended to newbies and skeptics especially.  This presentation of the Gospel is super clear!

Christ-Esteem: Where the Search for Self-Esteem Ends

                         *****

Christ-Esteem: Where the Search for Self-Esteem Ends
by Don Matzat
Harvest House, 1990. 102pp.

This review pertains to the online pdf version of this book, July,2007.
Available online at: http://pastormattrichard.webs.com/ChristEsteem.pdf

Here is an out-of-print book that is noteworthy for its rare perspective on the 'self-esteem' movement that has become commonplace thinking in western culture since the closing years of the 20^th century.

Having often grappled with making sense of self-esteem from a Biblical viewpoint, I was delighted to read this author's counter-cultural perspective that "Biblical Christianity teaches us to know ourselves so that we might turn away from ourselves and discover our life and identity in Christ Jesus." (p.20)

His premise is well-supported from Scripture, from historical Christianity (often quoting Martin Luther), and from life experiences (his own and those he has counseled). Matzat contends that until 'we come to grips with the depth of sin within our hearts, our relationship with Jesus will remain superficial.' (p.19)

Regarding cultivating a positive self-image, he wisely points out that: "Contrary to popular opinion, how I think about myself will not change the situation nor adjust what I am. Embracing a positive image of self will not, in the long run, make any difference, because I am still wrapped up in myself. I simply become a self-centered sinner who is trying to like himself. Even if I feel bad about myself and [do]not like myself, I am still focusing upon myself, and "myself" is the problem. The corrupted condition of my human "self" is not a mere figment of imagination which can be adjusted by thinking differently." (p.34)

Instead, Matzat points out that God intends to free us from the tyranny of pre-occupation with ourselves and to give us instead the very life of Jesus, such as Paul speaks of in Gal.2:20—"I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me, and the life I live here in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God."

Although the distinction between the self-life and the life of Christ lived through me is not a simple thing to fathom, and even less straightforward to put into practice, it is clearly called for in Scripture. This book offers practical counsel and guidance along these lines for anyone who is ready to trade self-esteem for 'Christ-esteem'. Sanctification is not about my self improving, but about learning to deny self and abide in Christ who is my righteousness…

Because it was first published in 1990, some of the references to current popular teachers are outdated. But the thoughtful reader will identify other modern teachers that have merely changed their labels but teach much the same things in the guise of preaching truth. It is sad to see how little positive self-talk teaching has really changed but how much more widely it is accepted among even believers with the passing of time.

One disclaimer I would make is that Matzat uses a couple of terms repeatedly which in my opinion are poorly chosen. He speaks of the necessity to 'accuse' oneself, and to 'detach from' oneself in order to be joined to Jesus. In light of the devil's job description as 'accuser of the brethren' this seems a less than ideal depiction of 'death to self'. Given their contexts however, I believe he has the right idea but has not expressed it as accurately as he might have. For this reason I still highly recommend his book for its courageous call to "turn away from 'self' and find our identity in Christ Jesus."

Only then will we "be HIS witnesses. We will no longer show forth what great, wonderful people we are. Rather, we will demonstrate what a great, wonderful Lord and Savior we have in Jesus Christ. To HIM be the glory....."

--LS

If you're not sure you have time for another book right now, do at least consider these valuable quotes…

"Contrary to popular opinion, how I think about myself will not change the situation nor adjust what I am. Embracing a positive image of self will not, in the long run, make any difference, because I am still wrapped up in myself. I simply become a self‐centered sinner who is trying to like himself… The corrupted condition of my human "self" is not a mere figment of imagination which can be adjusted by thinking differently." (34)

"I would challenge anyone to demonstrate where the Bible teaches us to be consciously concerned with our self-image. Urging Christians to become engrossed in self by seeking to develop self-esteem is not a part of the solution to the human dilemma. Since I am the problem, focusing attention upon myself merely magnifies, activates and compounds the problem. Jesus tells us to deny ourselves. Such self-denial is not the giving up of ice cream for Lent but is the actual denial of "self" itself. "(34)

"Centering and focusing attention upon self is merely digging up the corpse, so to speak. If you know that you have died with Christ, how can you feel good about yourself? A funeral director may make‐up and neatly dress a corpse and the family may gather around the open casket and say, "Doesn't he look good," but the cold facts are, the corpse is dead no matter how good it may look. "(38)

"Because of this failure to identify "self" with Christ Jesus in his ascension, many today boast of their new identity here on this earth. They strive to build their self‐image upon what God has done for them. They talk about "their spiritual gifts" and their victorious Christian lives. They seek to build and defend their great ministries and so that they might be known as "great men of God." Nothing has changed! They are still become wrapped up and indulged in 'self' ". (44)

"This is a very important principle. When you look at yourself, you must see your sin. When you look away from yourself to Christ Jesus, you see your new identity, your perfect righteousness, your glorious position with God in the heavenly places." (44)

"The person of Jesus Christ IS OUR SPIRITUALITY. Rather than speaking of "becoming more spiritual," we should rather think in terms of growing in our daily faith relationship with our Lord Jesus. This is as spiritual as we can get." (52)

"Our human pride would like to have spiritual benefits and experiences in order to enlarge ourselves and be identified as "deeply spiritual people." God does not offer to us forgiveness, righteousness, love, peace, joy, gifts, ministries, wealth and prosperity as separate entities. Since our identity is in the heavenly places, we can not claim anything that comes from God as belonging to us. God has only given to us one thing: His Son Jesus Christ who is our life." (53)

"This separation of the content of the Christian life and experience from the person of Jesus Christ is no small matter! It will inevitably lead to numerous distortions such as humanism, mysticism, occultism, or legalism." (54)

"We don't talk about the 'great men of God' on this earth, for there are none. No matter how high and lofty a position a person attains in the Church of Jesus Christ or how much influence he is able to exert upon a large number of people, he remains a little, sinful man in whom is being manifested a great God and Savior, Jesus Christ!" (56)

"We do not pull ourselves up by our boot straps by declaring how good, wonderful, and talented we are. Instead when we look at ourselves we declare, "I am the problem. I am a sinner. Nothing good dwells within my sinful nature." But we don't stop there, we look up to the throne where Jesus is seated at the right hand of God and confess, "my God has redeemed me in Christ Jesus. He has granted to me the very righteousness of Christ and has already lifted me up and seated me in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. My God is able to do far more abundantly above all that I ask or think." (74)

"We do not speak forth the Word and promises of God in order that they might be brought into reality. We declare God's Word, because it is reality. … Whether I declare the truth or deny the truth does not change the truth. "(75)

"Depending upon Jesus as our life means that we are no longer depending upon ourselves, and this is not easy. It is very difficult to give up on ourselves and to arrive at the conclusion that Jesus is the only source of our peace and joy. We always want to hang on to our own lives and maintain the hope that somewhere, somehow, just around the next corner, we will discover the key to happiness, contentment and peace of mind in ourselves, but nothing ever changes. We become trapped in a way of life. It is in giving up on ourselves and turning to Jesus that we discover his life in us." (90-91)

"Of course, it is impossible to totally put away the personal emphasis upon "self," the defense of "self," or the desires of "self." If this were the case, we would experience heaven on earth. But this is the goal that needs to be clearly expressed "up front" within the life of the Christian community." (102)

The Explicit Gospel—Chandler

The Explicit Gospel
by Matt Chandler
Crossway, 2012. 237pp.

“How can you grow up going to church every week and not hear the Gospel?” This book is the result of Pastor Chandler’s wrestlings with this very question. Is it possible that the Gospel has been distorted to be more about self-fulfillment than reconciliation to a holy God? More about being the best you can be, or at least feeling good about yourself, than being reconciled to a holy God? Do we really see the Gospel as central to life and godliness or is its importance just 'assumed'?

In The Explicit Gospel, Matt Chandler takes the reader back to the nitty-gritty of the Gospel—what it means not only for salvation but for an ongoing Christian life. Its antithesis is the 'assumed Gospel' [aka "Christian Moralistic Therapeutic Deism" as coined by author Christian Smith] in which we see the cross as necessary to save us from our past sins but then we must earn favor with God and grow in our Christian lives by good behavior and/or conformity to a set of rules. This is not the good news of the gospel.

To explain the scope of the Gospel, Chandler divides his teaching into two parts. The first deals with the Gospel as it relates to man's individual redemption for the glory of God. He calls it the Gospel 'on the ground'. It includes a right understanding of God's glory as the purpose of redemption, man's desperate need, Christ's substitutionary death to atone for our sin, and man's necessary response of faith. This overview of the basics of salvation provides the believer a fresh appreciation of this great salvation in which we stand and for the unbeliever, it gives a careful explanation of what the good news is all about.

But this is no dry redundant treatise. There are thoughts here to challenge even the well-seasoned believer. Consider these:

Re: God

"When we who call ourselves Christians realize how utterly self-sufficient God is all within himself—the three in one—the gift of Christ to us and for us becomes all the more astonishing…a God who is ultimately most focused on his own glory will be about the business of restoring us, who are all broken images of him. His glory demands it."(32)

"…the foremost desire of God's heart is not our salvation but rather the glory of his own name. God's glory is what drives the universe; it is why every thing exists."(33-4)

"We are allergic to the idea that everything exists, including us, not for ourselves but for the glory of God." (34)

"We worship God when, while we partake of his good gifts, something occurs in the deepest parts of our soul that forbids glory terminating on the gift itself or on our enjoyment of it but that runs deeper into and extends out to the Giver." (36)

Re: Man

"To discount, disguise, or disbelieve what God does in response to the falling short of his glory is, in itself, falling short of his glory."

"The grace of God by definition is unearned. You can't deserve it."(42)

"But to discount the enormity of God's severity, as if we aren't really that bad and really deserve mostly kindness, is to discount the enormity of God's holiness." (44)

Re: Christ

"We deserve his[God's] wrath, and even though we persist throughout our lives in foolishly demanding what we think we are due, he refuses to give us what we deserve."(53)

"The cross of Christ exists because mankind—loved by God, created by God, set in motion by God—betrayed God and prefers his stuff to him."(55)

"If you don't talk about sin, if you don't talk about blood, if you don't talk about the cross in those ways, then don't talk about the gospel, because the gospel is bloody and horrific."(59)

"If we don't understand the bad news, we will never grasp the good news." (59)

"…replacing the centrality of the cross with something more appealing, something we think is more weighty…isn't so much to rectify an imbalance but to idolatrously elevate ourselves."(59)

Re: our Response

"The religious, moralistic, churchgoing evangelical who has no real intention of seeking god and following him has not found some sweet spot between radical devotion and wanton sin; he's found devastation. The moralism that passes for Christian faith today is a devastating hobby if you have not intention of submitting your life fully to God and chasing him in Christ."(70)

"I meet a lot of people swimming neck deep in Christian culture who have been inoculated to Jesus Christ. They have just enough of him not to want all of him. When that happens, what you have are people who have been conformed to a pattern of religious behavior but not transformed by the Holy Spirit of God." (73)

"We always have to be a little bit wary of the idea that numeric growth and enthusiastic response are always signs of success. The Bible isn't going to support that. Faithfulness is success; obedience is success." (75)

"We are never, ever, ever going to make Christianity so cool that everybody wants it. That is a fool's errand. It is chasing the wind."(80)

"The spiritual power in the gospel is denied when we augment or adjust the gospel into no gospel at all. When we doubt the message alone is the power of God for salvation, we start adding or subtracting, trusting our own powers of persuasion or presentation."(81)

"Even works of righteousness, if not done through faith, are works of self-righteousness and therefore filthy rags. Be very careful about going to church, reading your Bible, saying prayers, doing good deeds, and reading books like this through anything but faith in the living Lord. Because the result of all that is belief in a phony Jesus and inoculation to the gospel. You can end up knowing the jargon and playing pretend. Be very careful. Watch you life and your doctrine closely (I Tim.4:16). Some of you are so good that you've deceived yourselves. God help you." (85)

 

The second part of Chandler's explanation of the Gospel deals with what he calls the Gospel "in the air". Here he looks at the big picture of redemption that extends beyond personal salvation to the restoration of all creation. With sections titled: Creation, Fall, Reconciliation and Consummation, Chandler looks at the broad narrative of Scripture and of God's overarching purpose from the beginning of creation to subject all things to Himself through Christ and to restore even the physical creation. He intends for those reconciled to Him to be agents of reconciliation in the world. This perspective of the Gospel prevents its becoming a man-centered benefit. Ultimately redemption is for God's glory.

The underlying thesis of the book is that we must maintain both vantage points of the Gospel—its personal aspect and its cosmic implications--if we are to avoid serious pitfalls. The final section of the book deals with the dangers inherent in placing a lopsided emphasis on either vantage point.

On the one hand, when we view the Gospel as primarily for our own redemption we may miss God's mission for us in our unique place and time. In turn God's sanctifying process in our lives through engagement with others may be thwarted and wither into an intellectualized faith with little fruit. This privatized understanding of the Gospel easily turns into a prideful, sectarian, self-serving affair eclipsing our focus on God's glory and purposes.

In contrast, a sole emphasis on the big picture of restoration for the world can lead to a social gospel devoid of the hope of the true gospel. The intent may be to make the world a better place but salvation from personal sin can never be excluded from one's mission. Doing Biblical things to alleviate suffering must not be separated from the message of the Cross, even if it proves to be an offense. In our efforts to be relevant to culture, we may exalt cultural mores above Scripture, thus making culture a kind of idol. Worst of all, evangelism may be completely abandoned in the interests of being sensitive to a post-modern generation. These are all dangers of a gospel 'in the air too long'.

The final and perhaps most practical chapter in this section is titled "Moralism and the Cross". Drawing from personal experience Chandler describes the distinction between the true message of the Gospel, and merely living by do's and don'ts. He uncovers the subtle but pervasive tendency among Christians to think that "God probably needs our help in the work of justification and most certainly needs us to carry the weight of our sanctification, as well." The result? Inumerable Christians burdened with trying to keep the law rather than discovering the delight of Gospel-centered living. Chandler devotes the next fourteen pages to an excellent elaboration on 'grace-driven effort', as opposed to burdensome moralism.

Excerpts include:

"The marker of those who understand the gospel of Jesus Christ is that, when they stumble and fall, when they screw up, they run to God and not from him, because they clearly understand that their acceptance before God is not predicated upon their behavior but on the righteous life of Jesus Christ and his sacrificial death."(211)

"We must also abandon the idea that our good behavior somehow rubs the spiritual lamp that inclines God, like a genie, to emerge and give us the things we wish for."(211)

"Let's be careful to preach the dos and don'ts of Scripture in the shadow of the cross's "Done!" (221)

Chandler says grace-driven effort will know how to wield the 'weapons of grace'—the blood of Christ, the Word of God, and promises of the new covenant. Grace-driven effort will address the heart, not merely the behavior. It is motivated by more than regret for getting caught. It discovers a new motive for forsaking sin that goes beyond trying to earn God's favor. It is driven by the love of God to obey and to root out the heart of sin, not just its appearances.

One especially poignant illustration compared the believer to a child learning to walk. The loving parent cheers on each step overlooking the falls. The celebration is in the steps! "Moralists see the fall and believe that the Father is ashamed and thinks they're foolish. So, more often than not, they stop trying to walk because they can't see the Father rejoicing in and celebrating his child."(221)

The book concludes with a call to make the gospel explicit in one's relationships, even and perhaps especially, with our own children, and not just assume that its implications are understood.

I consider this a book pertinent to every believer. We must never grow immune to the gore and the glory of the Gospel story. It may poke and prod in spots where we've grown complacent but will leave us with the hope of the Gospel to return to, repentant and ready for commissioning. Get a copy for yourself and your church library!

--LS

The Other Side of the River—Reeves

The Other Side of the River
By Kevin Reeves
Lighthouse Trails Publ.,2007. 222pp.

'There's no quicker way to start a fight with a friend than to tell him that some of his most fervent beliefs are wrong.' But a true friend will take the risk when it comes to things that matter. And this is what Kevin Reeves attempts in this auto-biographical account of his own charismatic church's move away from 'the primacy of the Word of God into the nebulous, self-defining atmosphere of experience.'

He writes as an encouragement to those who have begun to recognize the errors creeping into the hyper-charismatic arm of the Church, and as an eye-opening warning to others. Based on careful research, in-depth Bible study, and his own involvement, he candidly demonstrates the lure, the pitfalls, and the misguided teaching involved in the River Revival movement and other tributary 'moves of God'. His assessment, though pointed, is not bitter, vindictive or mocking, but politely objective, challenging the reader to evaluate everything by the Word of God. His perceptions are especially relevant because he himself was an enthusiastic participant and leader in the practices and teachings he now warns against.

Topics considered include: the "Word-Faith" movement, 'spiritual warfare', modern 'revivals', prophetic 'words', 'holy laughter', being 'slain in the Spirit' and the use of manipulative music in worship, among many others. But beyond cross-examining actual practices and teachings Reeves offers keen insights explaining the strong appeal of these teachings even to well-intentioned, passionate believers.

'River' life is not all it seems to be at the first dip of the big toe. This author has straggled out on the far shore with a wealth of wisdom. I applaud his diligence and courage in presenting his findings for the sake of the Body of Christ. And I commend his book to the reader willing to "test all things" and "hold fast what is good" (I Th.5:21) even when it runs contrary to personal experience and cherished beliefs that just may be in error.

--LS

And now for a wealth of quotes which capture the book's essence…
(Bold lettering is not in original text)

"Many today have gone the way of Esau and for the sake of a fleeting sensuality are in the process of exchanging their incomparable inheritance in Christ for a bellyful of fleshly experiences."(12)

"…but there was an underlying factor, a premise woven throughout the fabric of our church…elitism. We were the fortunate ones, called to walk in the authority that the church was so bereft of in these last days…it was up to us at New Covenant [Church] to demonstrate that God's kingdom power was real and available to every Christian in our town. This prideful mindset was a recipe for disaster…"(18)

"Names like hypocrites, Sanhedrin, and God mockers are merely a sampling of the invective aimed at Christians who are concerned about doctrinal error. Nobody wants to be labeled a Pharisee or heresy hunter. But that is often the penalty for daring to step out and ask for a public, biblical accounting of doctrine and practice." (21)

"A current river is flowing, which many believe to be of God…but overstepping the sanctity of scriptural boundaries, this passage [Ezekiel 47] has been reshaped into the comfortable doctrines of the easy believism and sensual manifestations that mark a massive shift in the church. As believer, we have taken a hairpin turn from the preeminence of the Word of God to a relative, experiential, and terribly apostate faith." (22)

"We examined virtually nothing. We didn’t' need to, remember? We were in church, and only good things happen in church. We held fast, not only to that which we knew to be good, but to that which appeared good. And what seemed good often appealed to our quest for power and wisdom." (59)

"As much as we spoke about personal holiness, power was still a key goal in our congregation. Power to heal, cast out demons…and war against principalities and powers. But that's what happens when people detour from clear biblical teaching to follow what they believe is the Holy Spirit, Who, in truth, always confirms the Scriptures. The voice, impression, leading—whatever—becomes the final arbiter. Scripture is put on the back burner, or made to fit the experience via a set of proof texts." (71)

"While the Bible does refer to an anointing (I Jn.2:27), it has in these days of sensual faith been contorted almost beyond recognition….it has been placed in the realm of something that needs to be reached for, pursued, or worked up in order to be obtained." (80)

"To say,…'the anointing is now present for healing,' or prophecy, or whatever, is to replace the indwelling Spirit with a physical feeling, emotion, or experience, and to separate Him from His ministry….What this kind of thinking promotes is…the idea that we need something more than we already possess as believers in Christ. This is precisely the original temptation in the Garden of Eden….The fact is, if the Holy Spirit resides in us…, then His power is there as well, to enable us to do what He wants us to do. Anything added to what God has already provided is a counterfeit."(83)

"But I have yet to know of anyone, myself included, who, because of being slain experienced a changed life characterized by a love for the truth and a knowledge of God in agreement with the Scriptures. In my experience, the exact opposite has happened. When folks get touched with this kind of power, they routinely become almost unteachable, preferring the experience to the Word of God. I can't relate how many times I've heard, "Well, maybe I can't find it in the Scriptures, but it happened to me, so it's real!"(84)

"Why does God take false prophecy so seriously? Because it always dishonors His name and leads the people to worship a false image rather than the true God." (89)

"In Scripture, the validity of any prophetic office was directly proportional to its exposure of false teaching."(89)

"Without firm adherence to objective truth—the Bible—we have no scale on which to weigh doctrine at all. One man's guess becomes another's rigid belief."(112)

"This is a very common notion these days, that Christians are actually preventing the Second Coming by our refusal to lower doctrinal walls…But tearing down of denominational boundaries straight across the board has been a most successful tactic utilized these days to introduce heretical doctrines into church fellowship. This kind of contrived unity short-circuits honest discussion and refutation."(115)

"If I can't speak about what I believe for fear of offending you and neither can you, and neither of us can break company with the other no matter how false our personal doctrines, then this unity is not what Jesus prayed for."(115)

"Feasting on the fantastic, our appetites were never quite sated. We were always left craving just one more spiritual high brought about by the newest teachings, tales of the miraculous, and face-to-face encounters with God, angels, and demons. No claim was too wild for us to believe. From the prophetic to the power signs, this religious wild goose chase made certain we always had our running shoes on, ever ready to sprint in whichever direction the spiritual wind happened to be blowing at the moment….(Eph.4:14)" (125)

"I mostly spoke of power, not the Gospel that saves men from eternal death. I guess I felt that the average guy on the street wouldn't listen to solid spiritual truth without seeing a demonstration of signs and wonders. Funny, we had forgotten the words of our Lord: "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign." (Mt.12:39) (131)

"Although it is an extremely unpopular message these days, fleshly abandon in the name of the Most High God cannot be sanctified or made contextually holy. ‘Because the carnal mind is enmity against God.’”(Romans 8:7)" (139)

"We can judge without being judgmental. Peripheral issues we can overlook, knowing full well the sole reservoir of truth does not rest with us.

But in the presentation of Christ, there can be no leeway. A false image of the Savior—His character, words or deeds—will lead us away from the truth, and consequently, away from God. And eventually, that is what every fraudulent vision will do—take away from the person of Christ and demand our attention and adherence to its personalized message." (151,2)

"The Bible offers no precedent for gathering a collection of spiritual experiences and allowing them to determine personal or corporate direction for a body of believers. The only volume we have need of has already been given to us, and it has ably resisted the systematic onslaught from the kingdom of darkness for millennia."(152)

"My spiritual legs became heavy from running after every "wind of doctrine" that blew through our ranks. There was never a place of satisfaction, that Sabbath rest spoken of in Hebrews 4. While the anointing we pursued promised to be refreshing, all it did was hone, razor-sharp, the craving for another spiritual high." (200)

"Pitting the Word against the Holy Spirit is the easiest way in the world to get a Christian to believe that he is missing out. Since there are no reference points in Scripture from which to validate these manifestations, visions, dreams, and experiences, the best way to get around the issue is to declare the Bible relatively obsolete, or somehow detached from the Spirit's present leading." (205)

"It is a simple fact that right doctrine cannot be divorced from right practice. To admit to a whole new assembly line of manifestations and what-have-you because of eagerness to enter some new frontier of spirituality is to remove oneself from the only objective measuring rod in the church's possession." (205)

"Given a Christian twist, the foundations of elitism, religious sensuality, ingratiating personal prophecy, and false signs and wonders all made sense at the time, despite the inner promptings that consistently pointed me to the Scriptures that bade me examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good (I Thessalonians 5:21)." (213)

"We have to come to grips with reality. As believers, we have never lacked anything that could give us a deep and satisfying walk with Christ. We have always, since the moment of our salvation, been complete in Him (Colossians 2:10). We have been made partakers of the divine nature through the magnificent promises of God (II Peter 1:3-4), and He is able to make all grace wonderfully abound toward us so that we have all sufficiency in every area of our lives (II Corinthians 9:8). We have the assurance of Scripture." (207)

---------------------------

The Other Side of the River by Kevin Reeves is available from Lighthouse Trails Publishing. Eureka, Montana. www.lighthousetrails.com or via the author's own website: http://theothersideoftheriver.com/index.shtml

[If you’re local, I’d be glad to loan you my copy! –LS]