Book Review of On The Level by Gregory and Gregory

On the Level by Richard I. Gregory; Richard W. Gregory

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


On The Level should be read by all who claim the monicker of Fundamentalism. Written by a Father and Son team, Gregory and Gregory have nearly 70 years of ministry experience together. In their own words: "It is the premise of this book to look for areas where believers can demonstrate their mutual respect and love for the brethren. This book is not dominated by seeking ways to identify those from whom we separate. Nor is it the intent of this book to overlook the importance of separation when the Scripture clearly demands it. We maintain that implementing separation is not for the primary benefit of the one separating. Rather its ultimate purpose is to provide a platform for ministry to those with whom you differ" (p. 152). This book provides a helpful paradigm for various relationships within the local body and broader body of Christ for which legitimate cooperation can be had. I recommend picking up this book for a discussion among your own local church leadership if you are striving to regain some lost balance. The appendix provides examples of various 'balanced' approaches to common divisive issues and there is even a 'balanced' historical sketch of the fundamental/evangelical controversies of the past century. I appreciated the positive tone to the book. On The Level can be ordered from the IFCA directly.



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Review of J.C. Ryle's Thoughts for Young Men

Thoughts for Young Men by J.C. Ryle

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is the first Ryle book I have read and it won't be the last. I thought this book would be something I could use for my four boys and it turns out, it is something I needed. The gentle, fatherly tone of the book spoke to my own heart about the need for humility and concern for my personal walk with Christ. Ryle reminds young men of the necessity of living in the present what you hope to be in the future. We tend to trivialize sin, and Ryle recommends waging war with all our might in our personal sanctification. Ryle is a master of the word picture and his writing is engaging. I hope to live in a way that I want my four young men to live. soli deo gloria!



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Review of "Why We Love the Church: In Praise of Institutions and Organized Religion" by Kevin Deyoung and Ted Kluck

Why We Love the Church: In Praise of Institutions and Organized Religion by Kevin DeYoung

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


"This book is not meant to be an apology for nothing but more of the same; rather, it is a plea for realism" so says Kevin DeYoung. Actually, this book is an apology for the 'real' church, contra the anti-institutional, the-church-is-lame crowd's stereotype. DeYoung and Ted Kluck co-author this engaging book which looks at church in its good, bad and ugly aspects. This is a wonderful reminder of how important the church is for believers in any era. It is not just a refutation of the latest 'emergent' trend, and DeYoung thankfully addresses several trends that have attacked the church from the inside. They conclude that typically these movements develop because of coldness to the gospel. If you follow the polling data of George Barna one might conlude that the 'sky is falling' and that the church has lost its way; however, Deyoung walks the reader through the numbers in a way that demonstrates that all is not lost. The great benefit of the book comes as DeYoung reminds us that rather than a Starbuck's Christianity, "daily discipline is not a new revolution each morning or an agent of global transformation every evening; it's a long obedience in the same direction." Ted provides several enjoyable still-in-side-the-church stories which picture the 'daily discipline' necessary to achieve growth in Christ and in His church. This book is not a theologians book on ecclesiology. It is a great reminder of the benefit and necessity of church life--there is no such thing as churchless Christianity.



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My Review of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

Pilgrims Progress: One Mans Search for Eternal LifeA Christian Allegory by John Bunyan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


It has been a while since I had read this book; albeit, in the Children's version. The edition I read was a copy from the 11th edition of Bunyan's work, so it still contains many of the older English phrasings and words. This time, as I read, I paid more attention to the imagery of the book and its parallels to Scripture. Along the way, Christian and his companions meet with various temptations and trials, and I was intrigued by how much of the 'casual' conversation was theological in nature. In regard to Catholic Theology, I was particularly helped by the conversation between Christian, Hopeful, and Ignorance. Often Catholics will claim their confidence is in Christ's death for sinners and Bunyan through his characters gives an answer to what is sometimes a confusing discussion with Catholics. I quote below the salient aspects of the argument, which incidentally are relevant to the recent "New Perspective on Paul" debate, too. I recommend reading Pilgrim's Progress with an eye to seeing aspects of the Christian life from an Allegorical [the good kind] perspective.

Ignorance: I think I must believe in Christ for justification.

Christian: How dost thou believe?

Ignorance: I believe that Christ died for sinners; and that I shall be justified before God from the curse, through His gracious acceptance of my obedience to His law. Or thus, Christ makes my duties, that are religious, acceptable to His Father by virtue of His merits, and so shall I be justified. [Ignorance in his response teases out the actual meaning of believing in Christ for justification which is common among astute Catholics]

Christian: Let me give an answer to this confession of thy faith:

1. Thou believest with a fantastical faith; for this faith is nowhere described in the word.
2. Thou believest with a false faith; because it taketh justification from the personal righteousness of Christ, and applies it to thy own.
3. This faith maketh not Christ a justifier of thy person, but of thy actions; and of the person for thy actions' sake, which is false.
4. ...For true justifying faith puts the soul, as sensible of its lost condition by the law, upon flying for refuge unto Christ's righteousness (which righteousness of His is not an act of grace by which He maketh, for justification, thy obedience accepted with God, but His personal obedience to the law, in doing and suffering for us what that required at our hands); this righteousness, I say, true faith accepteth; under the skirt of which the soul being shrouded, and by it presented as spotless before God, it is accepted, and acquitted from condemnation.

Ignorance: What! would you have us trust to what Christ in His own person has done without us? This conceit would loosen the reins of our lust, and tolerate us to live as we list [This is the common Catholic complaint]: for what matter how we live, if we may be justified by Christ's personal righteousness from all, when we believe it?




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Review of Forgotten God: Reversing our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit by Francis Chan

Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit by Francis Chan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Francis Chan's book Forgotten God was well written and worth the read. I've come from a background that for fear of being too charismatic has down-played the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. As Chan works through Scripture texts, he forcefully points out the work of the Holy Spirit in redemption, sanctification, and perseverance--all key components of the gospel power at work in our lives. I was struck with the simple and straight forward way his book reminds just how important the Holy Spirit is in the life of a believer. Readers will want to be aware that in Chan's presentation he is a bit 'soft' on the cessation of the gift of prophetic utterance--although he does qualify very carefully his position by suggesting that the church body at large needs do a better job of censoring what is and is not actual utterance (pg. 54-56). Aside from this potential by-path meadow, the book as a whole is helpfully provocative for believers who from time to time act as though their raw talent, effort, and natural charisma can produce success in the Christian life. Living in this way demonstrates that we have essentially "Forgotten God," that is, God the Holy Spirit.



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Book Review of A Proverbs Driven Life by Anthony Selvaggio

The Proverbs Driven Life: Timeless Wisdom for Your Words, Work, Wealth, and Relationships by Anthony Selvaggio

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A very helpful topical overview of the book of Proverbs. His introductory chapter on how to interpret the proverbs is worth the price of the book. Selvaggio's book is helpfully not exhaustive, and it is arranged into the overarching themes of communication, work, wealth, friends, marriage and children. I was pleasantly surprised to find someone saying what I've always thought regarding finding a spouse and have felt is typically ignored in most preaching on this topic. That is, not only should you look for a spouse of noble character, but you should also aspire to be a person of noble character yourself--one that would be worthy of finding. I would highly recommend this book as a resource for adult and senior high Sunday School curriculum.



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Review of Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A romantic fiction? What is Crazy Love? According to Francis Chan it falls on the preeminent commandment which is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." The first three chapters develops very, very well the idea of the absolute sovereignty, transcendence, and magnitude of God. How could a God like this love us, who are so insignificant compared to his holiness? That is why it is crazy, and requires a consequent crazy sort-of love in return. Francis spends a lot of pages dealing with the concept of being lukewarm--and defines it based on Rev. 3:15-18. According to Chan "church goers who are "lukewarm" are not Christians (pg. 84). Chan's book is intentionally written to a North American church that says, "I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing" (Rev. 3:15-18). So he spends a lot of time about the importance of getting past our innate greed and giving generously away to those who are in need. He provides several first hand examples of what this looks like from contemporary Christianity and historical (like George Muller). Taken to the extreme (and I risk appearing lukewarm according to Chan), this view can possibly diminish the ability for capital generation for the glory of God and the bolstering of ministry projects from those profits. I was very thankful to read in the last chapter of Chan's book the importance of balance on this issue--just wish it came a bit earlier in the book. I do think that Chan's provocative tone is intentionally so because of the opulence of most of the North American church at large and specifically in his own Southern California context.



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