Pastor Dave's
Book Recommendations
& Reviews

You Are Not Your Own: Belonging to God in an Inhuman World
by Alan Noble

Generally I'm a pretty fast reader, but sometimes I have to slog through a book.  That's not always the author's fault. In some cases it is either my struggling with a subject that is out of my normal interests, or because I am wrestling with the actual content of what is being communicated.  Currently, the latter applies to a book I am reading by Alan Noble, Associate Professor of English Literature at Oklahoma Baptist University.  He actually attends a PCA church and I have found him (in his previous book, Disruptive Witness: Speaking Truth in a Distracted Age (IVP, 2018)), to be an insightful writer, with just a hint of the dry humor that I really enjoy.  His newest book is called You Are Not Your Own: Belonging to God in An Inhuman World (IVP, 2022).  The premise of the book is in its title.  He argues that our culture of autonomy and expressive individualism is at its root, anti-human.  It's why we have more time-saving technology, leisure opportunities, more information and news at our fingertips, and seemingly limitless options in our lives, and yet we are more depressed, more stressed, and more overwhelmed and overworked than any generation in history!  At root, Noble argues, we are not designed to be our own!  He bases his title on, and interacts with, the first question of the Heidelberg Catechism:  Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death? A. That I am not my own, but belong--body and soul, in life and in death--to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.  He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.  He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.  Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

I am currently finishing ch. 5, 'You Are Not Your Own But Belong to Christ', and I was struck by his discussion of personal identity, something that is widely discussed in our current culture.  Here is what he argues:

"Our identity before God.  If you are not your own but belong to Christ, then the entire modern project of identity formation and expression is a sham. That means a portion of our economy is based on the myth that we need to be someone unique.  Expressive individualism is the logic guiding many modern industries, like entertainment, fashion, and social media.  These are massive corporations generating billions upon billions of dollars in revenue each year from people who feel an overwhelming burden to be seen so that they feel real and significant--people who have been lied to.
The truth is that you are always your person, created by God with your face, your name, and your consciousness.  While being a unique person, you have always existed in relation to others, primarily to God, but also your neighbor, and the created world.  There is no version of your self that can be extracted from these relationships and your history and your body.  You are inexorably embedded in space and time.
There is no image for you to maintain because you were made in the image of God.  There is no identity for you to discover or create because your identity was never actually in question.  It felt like it was because we live in liquid modernity, but that feeling isn't reality.  And there is no need for you to express your identity to make it more solid or to compete in the ever-growing marketplace of images because your personhood doesn't need affirmation from other humans to make it valid." (pgs. 136-137).

If this sounds academic to you, it's really not.  Every time we try to prove ourselves before others, or look to see how many 'likes' we got on a social media post, or feel somehow lessened because we are not up to date on some fashion style or having gotten the newest technological version of some gadget/phone/game, we are striving to define, promote, or sustain an identity.

As you may have heard said, we are to find our identity in Christ, but we need to understand what that means.  As Noble warns,

"The danger for Christians who urge others to find their identity in Christ is that most modern people have a secular understanding of identity, one rooted in contemporary anthropology, where identity has more to do with lifestyle and image than personhood.  'Christ' becomes just another, better identity.  You're still pouring water into a cup, you just had to find the right cup.
There are a number of serious problems with this advice.  For one, what exactly does the Christ-identity look like? Certainly, being a follower of Christ gives you a set of morals and a community. We may go as far as to say that Christianity offers us an entire worldview.  But morality, community, and worldview are not identity.  They can contribute to our identity, but they are not our identity." (pg. 138).

So what is a real understanding of identity in Christ?

"If you are your own and belong to Christ, then your personhood is a real creation, objectively sustained by God.  As a creation of God, you have no obligation to create your self. Your identity is based on God's perfect will, not your own subjective, uncertain will.  All your efforts to craft a perfect, marketable image add nothing to your personhood.  The reason the opinions of others don't define you isn't because your opinion is the only one that counts, but because you are not reducible to any human efforts of definition.  The only being who can fully know you and understand you without reducing you to a stereotype or an idol is God.
This does not mean that you don't have a 'true self'. You do.  But it is just not one that you are burdened with creating. We live as our true selves when we stand transparently before God, moment by moment, as Kierkegaard reminds us: The self's task is 'to become itself, which can only be done in relationship to God.' This means knowing that we are spirit as well as body.  It means living in light of eternity without the effacement of earthy life.  It means knowing that we are a miraculous creation, a pure gift from a loving God.  It means that we have limits, we have duties, obligations, and commandments that we must obey.  It means we are contingent and dependent upon God.  Anytime we imagine ourselves to be autonomous, anytime we, like Cain, strive to be utterly self-sufficient and deny the hand of God in our lives, we are not merely in sin; we are in denial about the way things truly are.  In Kierkegaard's view, this denial is fundamentally despair.  Our contemporary drive to be authentic can find its fulfillment in the active choice to recognize our belonging to and before God." (pgs. 139-140).

I know that was a bit long, but with our culture's constant cries of "be true to yourself", "be authentic", "find your true self", etc, I think these truths are vital to think upon, and to realize how much we too have often bought into our culture's lies and felt the despair, burnout, frustration, and hopelessness of autonomy and self-definition.

As Paul reminds us, "You are God's field, God's building." (1 Cor. 3:9b); "...you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you" (1 Cor. 3:16); "you are Christ's, and Christ is God's" (1 Cor. 3:23); "you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Cor. 6:11); "your bodies are members of Christ" (1 Cor. 6:15); and "do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price." (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

Beloved, rejoice that you are NOT your own!  You belong to Jesus Christ, and that is a security and a comfort for both life and death!

With you thankful to be His treasured possession (Dt. 7:6),
- Pastor Dave


My Favorite Books of 2021
The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World by Brett McCracken (Crossway, 2021). In an age when deep thought and reasoned debate is rare, this is a wonderful, refreshing guide to feed our souls with wisdom.  McCracken has taken and modified the old "food pyramid" many of us grew up with and applied a similar image to explain a spiritually healthier and wiser way to consume information (hint - Scripture is at the base of the pyramid, meaning we need it the most, and social media is at the top, meaning, like sweets, it should be taken in limited quantities!).  A great book from a very helpful author!

Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners by Dane Ortlund (Crossway, 2021)  This is Ortlund's follow up to Gentle and Lowly.  It provides encouragement and instruction for how a Christian is to grow in grace.  He instructs us that Biblically, we grow not by doing more or becoming better, but by going deeper into the truths of the Gospel.  I read this while on our beach vacation, and it is worthy of a meditative slow read, and I recommend it if you are wanting to keep growing in your faith.

Saints, Sufferers & Sinners: Loving Others As God Loves Us by Michael R Emlet (New Growth Press, 2021).  A great little book from one of the authors at the CCEF (Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation).  This is a great book to learn how to help one another in the church.  He gives a ministry model that is based on "how God sees and loves His people as saints, while bringing comfort to the sufferer, and faithfully speaking truth to the sinner". By the way, he argues that all of us at times fall into each of those categories, so it is helpful both in seeing how God loves us, and how we can love others in the same manner, however imperfectly.

The New Reformation: Finding Hope in the Fight for Ethnic Unity by Shai Linne (Moody Press, 2021).  Several of you commented on my quote from this book in one sermon.  Shai Linne is an African-american, Christian rapper, pastor and author.  His songs are chock full of good theology creatively expressed.  This is a hopeful, gracious, and wise book on racial (he prefers the term 'ethnic' since it is more biblical) struggles, combined with his own personal story, and the truths of the Gospel that bring healing.  I highly recommend it!

Seven Reasons to (Re)Consider Christianity  by  Ben Shaw (The Good Book Company, 2021).  This book is designed address skeptics (or give to skeptics), and deals with seven reasons why Christianity is worth considering with an open mind and explores how Jesus offers satisfying answers to the big questions of life.  As the author puts it, "it was written for you: the inquirer, the curious, the inquisitive, the atheist, the agnostic, and even the doubting Christian".  The book is compelling also because as the author was writing it, beginning in 2019, he was diagnosed with cancer, endured a 19 hour surgery to remove the cancer by taking 1/3 of his jaw and using bone from his fibula to reconstruct his face.  After recovery, he was doing better until 2020 and tests revealed the cancer had returned.  In April of 2020, he had six weeks of radiotherapy, and then found it had not worked and the tumor was still growing.  He was going through three months of immunotherapy as he finished writing it.  There is a video he made for its release as well that was very poignant.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZDf1BBV6lk And the book was released in May of '21, and Ben Shaw died a month later.

A Sheep Remembers by David B. Calhoun (Banner of Truth, 2021).  You have heard me describe my great love of Covenant Seminary church history professor David Calhoun.  This was his final book, submitted to Banner of Truth shortly before his death.  It is a wonderful and devotional look at Psalm 23, combined with his personal reflections of his struggles and his faith in the Good Shepherd.  His friend, and former student, Ligon Duncan, wrote this:  "You are holding the last book of a true shepherd who knew what it is to be one of Christ's sheep.  It is a rich, biblical, theological, experiential, devotional meditation on the Twenty-third Psalm, combined with a testimony to God's faithfulness by a godly pastor and professor who is now at home with his Good Shepherd, having long lived in the valley of the shadow of death."

Man of Sorrows, King of Glory: What the Humiliation and Exaltation of Jesus Means for Us by Jonty Rhodes (Crossway, 2021).  This is a very accessible theological book on why it matters that Jesus fills three roles for us in both his humiliation on earth, and now his exaltation in heaven.  He was and continues to be our prophet, priest, and king.  It is instructive and insightful, while remaining readable and devotional.  If you want to know Jesus better, in both His person and work, and, as the title promises, what they mean for us, this is a good book to try.

How Christianity Transformed the World by Sharon James  (Christian Focus, 2021).  I might call this historical apologetics - not a history of apologetics, but how history shows the power and benefit of the Christian faith.  James, a British pastor's wife, and involved in many areas of full-time ministry work, has produced a wonderful little book that shows how the Gospel has impacted our world in wonderful ways, in the areas of education, health care, justice, human dignity, and the value of women.  I learned a lot, but it is written in an easy-to-read style.  A great way to equip yourself to challenge the popular objection that Christianity is NOT good for the world!

Lessons from the Upper Room: The Heart of the Savior by Sinclair B. Ferguson (Ligonier Ministries, 2021)  I have a simple rule about anything Sinclair Ferguson writes:  read it!  This book is an expansion of a video teaching series he did for Ligonier on the last night of Jesus' life, as he and the disciples were together in the upper room, and Jesus taught and prayed.  This is a wonderful, thoughtful work that reveals Christ's heart, and all the benefits we gain by His work for us.  It covers John 13-17, what is often called the Farewell Discourse.  

The Secular Creed: Engaging Five Contemporary Claims by Rebecca McLaughlin (The Gospel Coalition, 2021).  McLaughlin has already published several really good apologetics books.  This short (100 pages or so) book is designed to both equip us to deal with and to provide answers for five prevalent secular claims that are being proclaimed throughout our society.  I have seen some of the signs she refers to in Augusta as well.  They read:  In This House We Believe: Black Lives Matter, Love is Love, Gay Rights Are Civil Rights, Women's Rights Are Human Rights, and Transgender Women Are Women.  This is, as she correctly identifies it, a secular creed.  How do we respond?  What truths can we affirm, and what must we reject, and how can we graciously engage those who hold these beliefs.  A timely and relevant book for our cultural moment and one that we need to familiarize ourselves with!

Well, I hope you consider reading one or more of these.  As the Good Book says, "Of making many books there is no end" (Ecc. 12:12), so shouldn't we aim for reading really good and spiritually edifying ones?  

With you seeking to grow in grace, faith, love and holiness,
Pastor Dave

Confronting Injustice Without Compromising Truth
by Thaddeus Williams

I just finished reading a very timely book for our current cultural situation.  It is by Thaddeus J. Williams, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Talbot School of Theology.  The book is called Confronting Injustice without Compromising Truth: 12 Questions Christians Should Ask About Social Justice (Zondervan, 2020).  Some of you might be turned off by the title, but it is really a sane, Biblical and helpful book about all of the current social issues our country is dealing with.  Here is my review that I wrote on Goodreads.com:

"Author Thaddeus J. Williams has written a timely, Biblical and gracious examination of the idea of social justice. Too often, Christians have the tendency to see an abuse of something and overcompensate against it (Similar to the Pharisees adding to the law in an attempt to avoid even coming close to breaking it)! Williams brings great wisdom, cultural understanding, and Biblical exegesis to helpfully define two kinds of “social justice”. Social Justice A is what the Bible calls believers to seek by both command and example. We are to seek the good of the poor, fight against injustice and racism, take care of widows and orphans. 'Social Justice B' is the variant we are seeing more frequently now, encompassing socialistic tendencies, critical race theory that undercuts the Gospel, and the redefinition of marriage, sexuality, and gender according to individual feelings. Too often in our churches, the phrase 'social justice' conjures up the idea of 'Social Justice B', with the sad result that we often ignore the legitimate call to seek 'Social Justice A'.  Williams book is a great resource to think more clearly about the difference, and to consider how to respectfully and graciously engage people who sincerely hold to 'Social Justice B' convictions.  Each chapter is framed by a question designed to get to the genuine expression of Biblical social justice that we cannot afford to lose in our responses to 'Social Justice B' extremes. Throughout the book, Williams does not resort to straw-men, ad hominem attacks or caricatures, instead using quotes from primary sources of 'Social Justice B', and also using helpful illustrations to make his case. He also includes personal testimonies from people who at one time were part of the 'Social Justice B' movement in different ways, and lets them explain how they saw its weaknesses and how the true Gospel brought them to a different perspective.  This is a very wise, timely, and incredibly important book for our cultural moment. It is easy to read, Biblically supported, and gracious in tone. I would strongly recommend it!"

Here's a sample, after describing some of Scripture's warfare imagery and how it is sometimes used as justification for our so-called 'culture wars', he writes:  

"So is Christianity a religion of war?  If our enemies are the flesh and the Devil, then, yes, onward Christian soldiers! If, however, our enemy is the world, then the Bible has something else to say.  First, we are commissioned not to live in a bubble like a world-phobic tribe but to go into the world to herald the good news of Jesus.  Second, we don't go as chameleons absorbing into our skin any Christ-less colors of the broader culture but as nonconformists, unstained from the world, shining as lights in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation. We refuse to become slaves, victims, friends, or lovers of an oppressive system  in which greedy consumption, radical self-glorification, and constant pleasure-center brain stimulation are hailed as virtues.  Third, as we go, the Bible warns that the world might very well take an aggressive posture of hatred toward those who refuse to conform to its values.

When the hatred comes, should the church beat its plowshares into swords and counterattack with culture war?  On the contrary, Jesus commands (not suggests) not that we retaliate or even merely tolerate but that we 'love our enemies.' Jesus prayed for the salvation of the very men hammering the spikes through his wrists and bled for us when we ourselves were warring against the Father he loves.  Paul, following this radical countercultural pattern of enemy-love (and no stranger to the world's brutality himself), commands blessing to the persecutor, peaceable living with all, a ban on vengeance, food for the hungry enemy, and goodness to overcome evil.  It is significant that neither Jesus nor Paul nor any Spirit-inspired author commands us to love, bless, make peace with, or feed either the Devil or the sin-drives in our own hearts.

When pondering war, therefore, the Christian must ask: Is the object of my warfare the flesh or the Devil?  If yes, then fight on.  If, however, the church feels assaulted by a militant culture, we need to postpone our natural fight-or-flight response long enough to ponder the unnatural command of Jesus and Paul to meet the force of hatred with the force of love.  And we must pray for the supernatural infusion of love necessary to live such an impossible and countercultural command." (pgs. 208-209).

No one would deny the hostility of our culture toward the Christian faith and worldview and those who hold to it.  But we do not fight as the world fights, nor should their hostility justify us in making sinful responses to them.  Williams book will equip and encourage you to think more Biblically about each of the hot-button issues in our culture, and to enable you to ask questions of well-meaning Christians who may have adopted some of the culture's views of social justice when it comes to race, gender, sexuality, the poor, and more.  I highly recommend it!

With you seeking to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with my God,

- Pastor Dave

 Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student On Keeping the Faith in College
by Michael Kruger

Several of you asked the name of the Michael Kruger book I referred to in the sermon.  It is called, Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student On Keeping the Faith in College (Crossway, 2021).  I think it is a very helpful, thoughtful and (of course) Biblical resource.  Michael Kruger is the President of Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, and has written extensively on the early church, the formation of the canon of Scripture, and the reliability of the New Testament documents.  His faith was nearly swamped in his freshman year at the University of North Carolina when he took an introduction to the New Testament class taught by (now) noted Bible critic, Bart Ehrman.  This challenging time led Kruger to seek out answers to the challenges to the Bible and Christianity, and eventually to pursue a Ph.D.  As he puts it, "Thus, in a rather ironic turn, my experience in this university religion class set me on a new intellectual trajectory, one that eventually led me to become a New Testament scholar myself, focused on these very same historical issues." (pg. 21).  In 2019, his oldest daughter headed off to UNC as well, 30 years after his encounter with Ehrman, and at the encouraging of his wife (author Melissa Kruger), he finally wrote this apologetics work to help college students (and the rest of us) know that there are answers to the challenges that the university and the unbelieving culture will hurl at us. And as I mentioned, he wrote the book in the form of a collection of "letters" to his daughter on various topics she might face in the four years to come.
In one of the first "letters", he encourages her that the challenges to our faith can actually be used by God in very positive ways!  "Let all these questions drive you to pursue the answers.  Be a reader.  Be a studier.  Be someone who dives into the deep issues of your faith.  And here's the payoff: not only will that bless your own soul, but it will bless many, many other people as you help them work through challenging intellectual issues.  You can become a resource for others." (pg. 34).

Being a (IMHO) great historian, Kruger also uses the example of how the early church survived by responding to attacks from without and within by working to better understand, clarify and explain the doctrines and beliefs of the Christian faith.  "In short, opposition made early Christians better theologians, better defenders of the faith, and better evangelists.  Such theological reflection and nuance culminated in the beautiful and unmatchable Nicene Creed of 325, where the church expressed its commitment to Christ as both God and man united in one person, over against opposing views.
But opposition to your faith will change you in another way.  In addition to sharpening your mind, it will also hone your character.  It will force you to trust the Lord in new and even radical ways--to lean on him and not your own understanding.  It will give you a patient spirit and calmness under pressure.  And most of all, it ought to give you love, compassion, and sympathy for those who don't know Christ.

Here's the big point: don't view opposition only in negative terms; view it as an opportunity to grow as a Christian, so that you might be better equipped to build up your fellow believers and reach non-Christians more effectively." (pg. 35).

Here's some of the chapter/letter titles:
"My Professors Are Really Smart--Isn't It More Likely That They're Right and I'm Wrong?"
"There Are a Lot of Different Views Here--How Can We Say That Christianity Is the Only Right Religion?"
"My Christian Morals Are Viewed as Hateful and Intolerant--Shouldn't I Be More Loving and Accepting?"
"I Have Gay Friends Who Are Kind, Wonderful, and Happy--Are We Sure That Homosexuality Is Really Wrong?"
"There Is So Much Suffering in the World--How Could a Good God Allow Such Evil?"
"Science Seems Like It Can Explain Everything in the Universe--Do We Really Need to Believe in God?"
"I'm Being Told That Ancient Scribes Changed the Words of the New Testament Thousands of Times--Is That True?"
"My Professor Says That Books Were Left Out of Our Bibles--Can We Be Sure We Have the Right Ones?"

Let me conclude with this encouragement from Kruger on doubt:
"Doubt is not the same as unbelief.  Unfortunately, many Christians equate the two, which is why they feel so guilty about their doubts.  They assume it means that they are rebels--people who just stubbornly refuse to believe God.  But this misconception needs to be done away with once and for all.  Doubt is not the same thing as being an unbeliever.
What then is doubt? Os Guinness offers a helpful definition: 'Doubt is a state of mind in suspension between faith and unbelief so that it is neither of them wholly and it is each only partly.' In other words, doubt is a form of wavering; it's to be of 'two minds' about something.

While doubt is not the same as unbelief, it may lead to unbelief if left unchecked.  Thus, the Scriptures consistently call us away from doubt and toward our faith.....In short, doubt can be a hindrance to our faith.  Indeed, it can be quite serious. But it is not the same as a lack of faith.  And God is very patient with those who struggle with doubts.  Jesus himself was very longsuffering with the doubts of the disciples, even showing great patience with Thomas, who insisted that he would not believe until he put his hands in Jesus's side (John 20:27)." (pg. 220).

So, I would encourage you to grab a copy for yourself and/or for the college student that you know and love.  It is an easy to understand work, but with great learning behind it.  

Here's a PDF sample of the cover and first chapter:   Surviving Religion Excerpt
Surviving Religion 101 lists for $16.99, but you can get it at 10ofThose.com for only $11.89 (and their shipping is always only $1.00).   Here's the link:   10ofThose

With you seeking to keep the faith, and question my doubts,

-Pastor Dave

Before You Lose Your Faith: Deconstructing Doubt in the Church

Perhaps you've read about the 'deconstruction' phenomenon of the last few years, where people who had formerly professed the Christian faith come to a point where they announce they have in some way now found Christianity to be implausible or irreconcilable with their new feelings about sex, race, politics, social justice, science, hell, etc.  Several notable musicians in the contemporary Christian music industry, and even a former well-known evangelical pastor (Joshua Harris of I Kissed Dating Good-Bye fame) have followed this path.

The Gospel Coalition has released a helpful little book about this phenomenon, designed to help those considering 'deconstruction' from the faith by addressing these areas. The book is Before You Lose Your Faith: Deconstructing Doubt in the Church, (The Gospel Coalition, 2021) edited by Ivan Mesa (brother-in-law to our own Alecia Wilkes), and with many thoughtful contributions from some great pastors, theologians and authors.  Each chapter is relatively short (3-5 pages average) and the whole book is only about 140 pages.  I also found it very helpful in examining the ways churches can inadvertently encourage deconstruction among their members, and thus it is helpful for those of us who are not considering deconstructing, but want to prevent it in those we love.

The book is divided into three main sections:

  • 'Part One: Deconstruct Deconstructing', that directly address the process of deconstructing.  Trevin Wax argues that doubt used well can actually strengthen your faith, if you respond to it well and look for help in the right places.  Ian Harber, in a chapter titled, "'Progressive Christianity Was Even Shallower Than the Evangelical Faith I Left,'" argues as one who went through the same process, and learned firsthand that attempts to make Christianity more palatable to modern tastes and trends ultimately leaves you in worse shape than you were as you saw the problems in evangelicalism.  Brett McCracken argues that 'deconversion', rather than being some brave counter-cultural act, actually is really the path of least resistance.  (This chapter was really excellent)!  The book continues with 
  • 'Part Two: Deconstruct the Issues', and has chapters dealing with sex, race, politics, the internet, social justice, scientism, anti-intellectualism, and hell.  Again, these were all very helpful!  Finally, the book concludes with 
  • 'Part Three: Reconstruct Faith'.  The first chapter of that section is one that I think can be helpful to share with you.  It's by Jeremy Linneman, and it is called, "Embrace True Belonging in the Church", focusing on the importance of community.  And I believe in the divisive times we live in, where churches are hemorrhaging members over all kinds of issues, this chapter's wisdom can really help us.  It first focuses on how 'radical individualism' is one of the factors that has led to so much dissatisfaction in the church and deconstruction stories as a result.

 But then it urges people to embrace true community.  Here is Linneman's description:
 "We must learn that Christian community is built, not found. One of my pastor friends has often told his church, 'This isn't a great place to find community--it's a great place to build community.' In other words, if you're looking for a community that will welcome you into its club of happy, non-dramatic, non-demanding friends, good luck.  Maybe you do find a group that says, 'Come on in; it's perfect in here. We've been waiting just for you.  We have everything taken care of.' But that's either a false promise, or it's a cult--or maybe just an overeager group workout class.  No, Christian community must be built, not found.

Christian community is hard because people are hard (yes, that includes you). But, it's worthwhile.  And in my experience, the more time and energy you invest in helping others feel connected, the more you tend to feel connected.  If you work to make a place for others, you'll likely always have a place yourself.  If you're willing to take initiative, build relationships, and care for others even when it's boring, repetitive, or messy--and if you expect this journey to count by years and not months--you will find yourself in true and living community (Rom. 12:9-21)." (pg. 117).

I won't add much to that, except to say that I hope you see the Biblical wisdom in his words.  Community is not about social events (although those can help give opportunties for relationship building), but about the time, effort, endurance, and patience involved in building friendships with other flawed, difficult sinners who are similarly in need of grace, mercy, and love - just like you are!  May Lakemont more and more become, in that anonymous pastor's words, "A great place to build community."

With you hopeful for the Lord to continually build that community among us,

Pastor Dave

Being the Bad Guys:  How to Live for Jesus in a World That Says You Shouldn't

Yesterday, I finished reading a new book by an author I had not read before, Stephen McAlpine.  He is an Australian pastor, blogger and former journalist.  His book is called, Being the Bad Guys: How to Live for Jesus in a World That Says You Shouldn't (The Good Book Company, 2021).  In light of our rapidly changing culture, particularly in the areas of sexuality, gender, politics, ethics and morality, I think this is a must-read!  Rather than quote one specific section, I want to give you a selection of quotes to (hopefully) whet your appetite for the helpful and Biblical thinking and application that pervades this book:
In the introduction, he explains how we got where we are and how Christians came to be seen as "the bad guys" now, and then ends it saying:  
"Yes, we're the bad guys now.  And that's ok. That we are experiencing a backlash after a remarkable period of religious peace and tolerance for the church in the West puts us back in the shoes of many Christians throughout history, and indeed of many in the current era around the world.  The answers to how to live as bad guys are there, simply because the problem of finding ourselves rejected by the world has always been there.  As we explore the problem and then unpack the answers the Bible offers, we will find ourselves able to do what many Christians have done down the ages: live holy, happy, loving and joyous lives that compel as many people as they repel: to be the best bad guys we can be." (pgs. 13-14)
"The Bible tells us to expect hostility as Christians....If the church is bred on a diet of self-help books that try to convince us that God's intention is to make our lives as smooth as possible, we will be suckers in a hostile world.  No wonder we become confused, angry or despairing when the culture is throwing rotten tomatoes, not rose petals, at us." (pg. 31).
"For the Christian, joy in the present is always future-focused.
This is worth bearing in mind in a world which lives in a perpetual state of 'now', especially in the online world that feeds on and then regurgitates anger towards injustices, actual or otherwise.  It is easy for Christians to be swept up into this anger.  It isn't hard to think of examples of injustices experienced by Christians in workplaces or universities, just for holding beliefs that were considered perfectly normal a mere five minutes ago.  And there is nothing wrong with defending the long-held freedoms that Christianity helped give to our culture--the very culture that is now jettisoning the Christian framework.  There are insightful and gifted individuals and organizations working to ensure that these freedoms are not lost.  But too often there is also a sense of rage among Christians, giving the impression that what is going on is a zero-sum game--that if we don't win this culture war, everything is over.  That is how earthly politics works, not God's kingdom.
The New Testament documents were written in a context where Roman imperial power held sway.  But Paul could call on Christians in Rome to be subject to those governing authorities (Romans 13 v 1) because God is the ultimate authority.  The Scriptures clearly hold out our ultimate hope--and the joy that accompanies it--in the return of the resurrected Jesus.  His suffering is presented as the template for us to follow, knowing that suffering now will lead to glory later.  This world is not all there is.
Peter is so sure of this future inevitability that he speaks of it in the present tense: 'If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed' (1 Peter 4 v 14).  The present presence of God's Spirit guarantees the glory to come, whatever the current experience.  Anger or outrage are sure signs that the future joy guaranteed to us has fallen off our radars as we are insulted or sidelined or scorned.  Reacting with joy is a better reflection of reality." (pgs. 39-40).
"And the way we live must be shocking in a way that is also compelling.  It must raise questions for those looking on--questions such as, If their way of thinking about sexuality and individual expression is so wrong, how come their lives look so good? Or, If they're supposedly given over to hate speech, how come they serve and love their enemies? Or, Why is their speech so measured when they are scorned on social media? Or (most perturbingly to a culture that views personal sexual freedom as our primary identity marker), Why are their marriages strong, their single people chaste, and their same-sex-attracted people so fulfilled by non-sexual relationships?
We have some way to go, but if we ground our identity together in Christ, at least we're headed in the right direction." (pg. 58).
"The two things we fear losing the most are certainty and comfort.  As Christians we have taken these things for granted (as has the rest of our culture), even though we would affirm that our one comfort in life and death is that we are not our own.  Until, of course, a global pandemic hits and someone buys up all the toilet paper.  Our reactions show where our comfort lies! It's easy to craft a life in which our desire for self-fulfillment lies unnoticed until challenged" (pg. 83).
"When we show undeserved forgiveness in 'cancel culture', in which every indiscretion--past or present--is pounced upon, and in which careers and friendships are ended because of a tweet; when we show costly generosity in a greedy culture; when we fail to take advantage of people in an every-person-for-themselves culture; when we esteem others as greater than ourselves in a self-promoting culture--we are sending powerful signals to those who would otherwise reject us for our views on sex.
It's first of all confusing ('How can they be so loving when they reject the idea that love is love?'); then it's intriguing ('I don't agree with how intolerant they are supposed to be, but they welcomed me in'); next, it's attractive ('It looks and feels and sounds better than what I'm currently doing'); and finally, it's compelling ('I think that this might just be where true life is found')."

I found this book very challenging, compelling (to borrow his word), and convicting.  He both shows the inherent weaknesses of the culture's alternative story while also showing the weaknesses of the ways many Christians are responding to it!  And, as I hope you saw glimpses of in these quotes, he also offers Biblical applications and strategies to respond to these challenging days.  My copy is very marked-up and dog-eared and underlined (in other words, 2nd and Charles would not take it now), and I hope that I can take the lessons I've learned from it and apply them to more effectively live for Jesus in our day.  You can get a copy here: https://www.cvbbs.com/products/being-the-bad-guys-how-to-live-for-jesus-in-a-world-that-says-your-shouldnt-avail-feb-1-2020?_pos=1&_sid=4bdaa6ae4&_ss=r
It is so easy to claim the promises of Scripture that we like, that comfort us, and that soothe us, while ignoring the harder 'promises': "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, therefore the world hates you." (John 15:18-19). "You will be hated by all for my name's sake." (Luke 21:17). And we sometimes, in our 'zeal', forget God's clear commands on how to respond: "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." (Luke 6:27). Let's keep those in mind the next time we are angered by something on social media and are tempted to scorn, mock, or rage in response!
Let's seek to be, as McAlpine urged, "confusing, intriguing, attractive, compelling" (pg. 91).
With you seeking future-focused joy in the present,

Pastor Dave

No Flesh Shall Glory: How the Bible Destroys the Foundations of Racism  

Beloved,
We are nearing the end of February, a month that has been designated "Black History Month".  And so, P&R Publishing chose to release a new and revised version of a book that they first published back in 1959(!!!): No Flesh Shall Glory: How The Bible Destroys The Foundations of Racism by C. Herbert Oliver (P&R Publishing, 2021).  Why, when our culture has changed so much over the last 62 years, would this great reformed publishing company choose to re-release such an old book?  Well, I can't speak directly for them, but I can speak to why I think they did.  First, while this book was written to challenge some of the prevailing sins in the church and the country in 1959, the confrontation of those sins is done without rancour, bitterness or venom, but instead given with grace and love.  Second, the author, in his acknowledgements, specifically says that two Westminster Seminary Professors, Paul Wooley and Ned Stonehouse, were among those who gave him helpful feedback and criticism that greatly strengthened his arguments, and thus, we can have the great presumption that this work is consistent with a Reformed understanding of Scripture, the Gospel, God's sovereignty and His grace.
This revised edition also includes as an appendix,  "The Church and Social Change", a lecture the author gave at Westminster Theological Seminary in 1964.

Here's what made me decide to buy it and read it.  The author, C. Herbert Oliver, is an African-American man (who as near as I could find out is still alive, making him around 96 years old this year!!!), a graduate of Wheaton College, and of Westminster Theological Seminary, and was at the time of the writing of this book, an ordained Teaching Elder in our sister denomination, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and faithfully pastored for many years until his retirement in 1992. I had not heard of him before this book was re-released, but his story is impressive!  This book also came with endorsements by Phil Ryken, the current president of Wheaton, and Peter Lilback, the current president of Westminster Theological Seminary.

My purpose is not to urge you to buy the book (although I think it is a helpful, clear and concise work [of only 131 pages]), but to highlight that men like Pastor Oliver exist.  Men who both grieve the societal and individual sins of racism, and yet seek Biblical truths and wisdom to combat them.  Here are a few representative quotes from the book:

"Racism of any kind, whether black, white, or anything in between is destructive of good human relations and should be repudiated by all thinking people.  He who would be at a loss without the feelings of race solidarity needs to reconsider the basis of his hope.  If his hope is in racial solidarity, it is a vain hope as it does not have the support of God.  If his hope is in God, he does not need the prop of racial solidarity to bolster him, for he who has God has all, and he who has not God has nothing." (pg. 85).

"The sincere Bible reader will discover a twofold solidaric relationship among men: that of all men in Adam, and of all believers in Christ.  These relationships have their source in God and are unchangeable.  And what God has joined together, let not man put asunder.  By virtue of the former solidaric relationship all men are sinners and under the divine sentence of death.  By virtue of the latter solidaric relationship all who have been ordained to eternal life shall obtain that blessedness through Christ.  The racist ignores these relationships and goes about to establish the solidarity of one phase of the human family.  that such solidarity is divisive, unchristian, and destructive of any genuine harmony in society should be beyond doubt.  The Christian must therefore be quick to repudiate all attempts to justify a segregated society, for segregation puts asunder what God has put together." (pg. 24).
"The Bible towers above racism as high as the heavens are above the earth.  But too often Christianity has been made to serve racial ends.  Too often Western Christianity has been made either the active servant of Western Imperialism or its passive defender, both of which are destructive of genuine Christian ethics.  He who would profess the one true religion, Christianity, must acknowledge the existence of one God who has revealed Himself in the Bible, and of one human race of many varieties ever changing and never static, and of one Savior whose blood makes pure and spotless the greatest sinners.  And the true Christian does not flee to the Bible to confirm his prejudices, but he allows the pure Word of God to purge away hsi prejudices as well as his sins." (pg. 31).
"The Bible assumes the unity of the whole human race.  And because of such unity the gospel is applicable to all men without distinction of race, nationality, or language.  However, it should not be necessary to elaborate on individual passages of Scripture that bear upon this particular subject.  The burden of proof rests upon those who deny what the Bible clearly teaches.  They must advance biblical passages that contradict those facts.  This, we contend, they are unable to do." (pg. 70).
"While harmony depends on agreement, and agreement on understanding, in human relations the most basic ingredient of good understanding is association. Without association there can be neither understanding, nor agreement, nor harmony among men.  Of course the ethical problem of sin underlies all strife among men, and no true harmony can be established among creatures who strive against God.  Yet Christians who profess to have found peace with God have been woefully slow in realizing the implications of that peace in their relations with their fellow men." (pgs. 82-83).
"The love of God does not dwell in the hearts of those who withhold their 'love' from the handiwork of God.  I fear they shall not see God, for how can they love a God who has made so many people they dislike?" (pg. 83).
"The 'race' concept is a divisive concept.  It erects false barriers and inspires false hopes." (pg. 85).
"The church must give men a hope in God that can stand without the crutches of racial, national or color identity.  It must undermine every ideology which encourages men to seek security in outward appearances, for all these will certainly fail.  Only the true and living God never fails." (pg. 128).
I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would.  The author's genuine warmth and lack of bitterness was attractive!  As I read it, I was convicted and challenged without feeling condemned.  And, you could see that the author had a care and concern for 'racists' of all 'races' (although as you saw, he doesn't like that term!), whatever color they happen to be.  And most of all, his solution was to continually go back to the Bible and to the work of Christ!  This may not be a topic, or a book that you would normally read, but I think in our current cultural situation, it is a very important read!

With you longing to see our oneness in Christ lived out more and more in the flesh,

Pastor Dave

Telling a Better Story: How to Talk About God in a Skeptical Age   

It feels like forever, but it was less than a year ago (March of '20) when we (almost) finished a study of Joshua Chatraw & Mark Allen's textbook, Apologetics at the Cross: An Introduction to Christian Witness in our Sunday evening studies. At times it may have been a little technical, but that is understandable as it was designed to serve as a text for undergraduate students. I thought the concepts in it were excellent to learn to equip believers to effectively gain a hearing for the Gospel in our present day culture. When I heard that Chatraw was going to write a less technical version of their 'inside-out' method of apologetics, I was eagerly waiting to get it and read it. That popular-level book is now available and my dear friend Pablo Herrera (apologist, youth director, and soon-to-be seminary graduate) gave me a copy of it for Christmas! (The only thing better than books is getting free books!);) And so, I am currently reading Joshua Chatraw's Telling A Better Story: How to Talk About God in a Skeptical Age (Zondervan, 2020). I highly recommend it (even though I haven't finished it yet), as I think it does a wonderful job of articulating our present cultural context, and finding new (but Biblically based) ways to communicate the unchanging truth in our very changing world! As the introduction describes, there was a time just a few decades ago, when Christianity seemed more plausible in our culture, seemed to be a viable option, and provided a sort of common ground background with which we could start with non-believers. But, as Chatraw says, "Now the cultural narratives that steep into our psyches have changed, and with this shift, what people view as 'common sense' has changed as well. The basic categories assumed in the Christian story are no longer taken for granted. And in many cases, this gospel story is presumed not only to be false, but an oppressive leftover from the past." (pg. 1).
So, what Chatraw proposes is that we learn to, as the title indicates, tell a better story! Many people today, particularly the younger generations, no longer care if Christianity is true or not. They are resistant to any form of external authority that they see as outdated and oppressive to their authenticity or self-made identity. But, ultimately they cannot escape the reality of living in God's world. Their self-constructed views of reality cannot satisfy them. Chatraw's method urges us to go 'inside' their views, to affirm what we can about their beliefs or aspirations, but also (respectfully) show that their 'story' doesn't achieve what they hoped. Then, we go 'outside', and show how Christianity offers a better story, one that ultimately fulfills their desires and concerns (meaning, self-identity, happiness, inclusiveness) better than the one they have created. These directions he offers in an apologetic method are not merely logical attempts at proof, but genuine appeals to the human need for beauty, meaning, hope, joy, and justice. We do indeed have a better story to offer!
Here's an example of how he presents a direction to go 'inside' the materialist view of 'meaning':
"If earth and mankind are simply accidents of nature, a chance collection of atoms, then what is beauty? Can we speak of the glorious sunset as beautiful without impoverishment? A lover as beautiful? One of Mozart's compositions as beautiful? The sight of a boy compassionately helping his widowed neighbor across the street as beautiful? And if we persist in naming such things as beautiful, what do we really mean by this?
If you tell your fiancé you find her beautiful, do you mean to say you prefer her random conglomeration of atoms over others, while admitting your preference is itself a product of neurons firing in your body over which you have little to not control? Embracing this perspective would seem ridiculous to most people. When we look at a gorgeous sunset or at our child, we intuitively assume significance and beauty much deeper and fuller than what a purely secular framework can provide.
Experiencing beauty evokes a sense of longing for something more than this life can offer. In their song, 'Somewhere Only We Know,' the English rock band Keane expresses the bittersweet longing that beauty often evokes in people, no matter how religiously lethargic they may be. It's interesting how people, in an effort to recapture the sublime feeling they've experienced in the past, will sometimes return to the places where they've encountered beauty, hoping to find it again. But they are almost always disappointed when they realize the places from their past aren't what they once were. Keane's song speaks to people's desperate longings to reexperience these feelings because they sense something meaningful and perhaps even transcendent that is calling them to something higher--something that cuts to their very purpose in life." (pgs. 80-81).
And here is his move 'out' to the Christian story's explanation for beauty:
"Christians believe that true beauty exists because God exists; all that is good, true, and beautiful is from God himself. God created the world for people to enjoy and delight in, and though the beauty in this world exists in a fallen state, marred by the effects of sin, it witnesses to himself, pointing us to his lovingkindness. Moreover, the fallen beauty we see in the world is but a shadow of what is to come; the beauty we see here, though it brings us joy, also makes us long for the coming day when beauty will be fully renewed to a perfect state. One of C.S. Lewis's central characters in his novel Till We Have Faces expresses this yearning that is felt in the midst of beauty: 'It was when I was happiest that I longed most...And because it was so beautiful, it set me longing, always longing, always longing. Somewhere else there must be more of it.'" (pg. 81).
We DO have a better story than any competing narrative offers, the trick is to learn how to present it in new and appealing ways that show the truth, beauty, and reasonability of the Christian faith in contrast to various alternatives that now largely lack any sense of transcendence and largely only look 'inward' for truth! Chatraw's book is a great resource to help us do this more effectively.
Here are the main two places to find it Amazon & CBD.

With you rejoicing in the better story of the Gospel,
Dave

Douglas McKelvey's Every Moment Holy, Vol. 1 & 2

One of the coolest books I purchased this past year was Douglas McKelvey's Every Moment Holy, Vol. 1.(Rabbit Room Press, 2020). If you have not heard of it, Every Moment Holy is a liturgy book of prayers for the very ordinary parts of life! I really like it.

Apparently, Vol. 1 resonated with many people around the world, and next month, Every Moment Holy, Vol. 2: Death, Grief, and Hope (Rabbit Room Press, 2021) will be released. The title alone sounds like it will be encouraging and helpful for many in these difficult times. Back in October, the Rabbit Room shared a preview of this upcoming book, by sharing one of the liturgies from it, called, "A Liturgy for Embracing Both Joy & Sorrow".  I hope it is an encouragement to you today!  If you are interested in learning more about this book, you can read the original post and pre-order Vol. 2 here: https://rabbitroom.com/2020/10/a-liturgy-for-embracing-both-joy-sorrow/

Enjoy your day friends!

With you in joy and sorrow,

Pastor Dave


Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane C. Ortlund
In the providence of God, this book coming out early in a year like this was a blessing!  It is a soul-refreshing feast for weary, discouraged and tired people - like you and me! With a heavy reliance upon the Puritans and careful examination of various Scripture passages, the author points us to the heart of our Savior for us.  It really is a healing and encouraging book because it reorients our thinking about the nature and expression of God's love for us.  Highly recommend you not only read it, but plan to read it once a year (or more) - it's that good!

Seven Churches, Four Horsemen, One Lord: Lessons From The Apocalypse by James Montgomery Boice
The late James Boice was a masterful preacher, and possessed an R.C. Sproul-like ability to communicate complex theology and difficult Scripture passages in a clear and understandable manner. Thanks to his widow Linda, and his friend and former protege, Philip Graham Ryken, these manuscripts of his final, unfinished sermon series on Revelation is now available for a wide audience. Unfortunately, he began this series in Nov. of '99, and during it was diagnosed with liver cancer, and preached the final message in April of '00.  Therefore it only covers Rev. 1:1- 6:17.  His explanations of various aspects of Revelation are such that once you read them, you think, "Wow, that makes so much sense - why didn't I see that before?".  Again, even though Revelation is a complex book, these lively, engaging sermons are easy to understand and extremely edifying!

The Good Name: The Power of Words to Hurt or Heal by Samuel T. Logan, Jr.
Samuel Logan is a former president of Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia), who was asked to resign by the seminary board for "shading the truth and bearing false witness" in 2003.  In the introduction, he not only acknowledges his guilt, but how the Lord used it to lead him on a pilgrimage that eventually led to this book that seeks to unpack and apply the full extent of the Ninth Commandment.  As he puts it, "My purpose in writing is to show that, as Christians, our words exist to reflect Christ's character--his holy concern for God's good name, his constant love for others, and his absolutely reliable truth.  When our words are scornful, selfish, or false, they dishonor Christ.  And especially when we speak such words to or about fellow Christians, they can cause great damage in Christ's church.  We all must learn to use our words with godly care, I first of all." (pg. 1-2). I was hooked from that opening, and greatly convicted through the rest of the book.  Be warned, you will be challenged and convicted in new ways, and that's a good thing!

A Gentle Answer: Our ‘Secret Weapon’ in An Age of Us Against Them by Scott Sauls
(Disclaimer:  Scott is a dear friend and my former roommate in seminary, but I think I would recommend this book even if I didn't know him!).  The book title comes from Proverbs 15:1 (NIV), "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." And I think, to paraphrase Esther, this is a book "for such a time as this".  In days where outrage and unfiltered speech dominates the internet and our public discourse, it is too easy for Christians to imitate the world's weapons.  But is that the way Christ would have us deal with the world (or each other)?  Scott convincingly shows us from God's Word how we are called to live differently, speak differently, and reflect the countercultural model that Jesus gives us in Scripture.  As the back cover says, it helps Christians:"grow in affection for Christ, who answers our hostility with gentleness; nurture a renewed, softened heart in light of Christ's gentleness toward us; and forsake us-versus-them mentalities, putting down our swords and permeating a hostile world with gentleness." In our current "outrage of the day" culture, this book was a refreshing reminder of what made the Gospel and Jesus so compelling and so different, and the Lord used it to convict me in many ways.  It's a great companion book to Logan's book above, but with a different emphasis.

Devoted to God’s Church: Core Values for Christian Fellowship by Sinclair B. Ferguson
I had just finished this book in the last week or so, and, as with most of Ferguson's works, I loved it!  How can we improve our church?  By understanding better what church life is supposed to look like!  This book looks at what the New Testament teaches about the values, functions, ordinances, and disciplines that are for all churches throughout all times and places.  As is characteristic of Ferguson, he takes God's Word, explains it clearly and plainly, and applies it.  The only thing better than reading this, would be listening to him read it in his Scottish accent! Seriously, this book will make you love the church more, and help you to be a better member of the church!

Pastors and Their Critics: A Guide to Coping with Criticism in the Ministry by Joel R. Beeke & Nick Thompson
Wait!  Don't skip past this one!  Yes, it is primarily focused on pastors, but I think it is more widely applicable and helpful.  Anyone in church leadership could benefit from this excellent work by long-time pastor and professor Joel Beeke, and (at that time) seminary student Nick Thompson.  In fact, I would argue, if you want to learn to better deal with criticism in any profession or relationship, this book is helpful!  They first give foundations from Scripture for coping with criticism, both from the Old and New Testaments, and then the bulk of the book is practical principles for coping with criticism.  I appreciate how the authors make the distinctions between hostile and friendly criticism, when to respond to criticism, how to receive it, and when not to respond to it.  They also give a section on how to give criticism well, and how to cultivate a church culture that is open to constructive critique.  And the book closes with an excellent chapter on developing a theological vision for coping with criticism that reorients your perspective.  As a natural 'people-pleaser', this book was a huge help and encouragement to me, and I think it will help you as well!

When the Stars Disappear: Help and Hope from Stories of Suffering in Scripture (Suffering and the Christian Life, Vol. 1) by Mark Talbot
(Disclaimer #2 - Mark is also a friend, and a trusted counselor for me).  This little book is the first of four books planned about suffering in the Christian life.  I really appreciated how the author displayed not only a keen sense of empathy with the experience of the Biblical characters and what they went through, but he explains both his own experience with suffering, and the traumatic death of one of his students and his interactions with that student's parents in the wake of his loss. So I might say the formula of this book is the experience of profound suffering + empathy for the sufferings of others + great Biblical and academic knowledge = a book that is both pastorally helpful and Biblically faithful. Highly recommended for those suffering, and for those who want to help them.

Finding the Right Hills To Die On: The Case for Theological Triage by Gavin Ortlund
This book is also helpful for our day, in navigating the balance between the unity we are called to as Christians, and the differences we have in various Biblical and theological interpretations.  How much can we unite with those who disagree with us on.... baptism?  charismatic gifts?  millennial views/eschatology?  Gavin Ortlund (son of Ray and brother to Dane) both shares his own story of wrestling with these things and presents a helpful fourfold ranking to help us distinguish between different doctrinal levels.  In other words, what are the most important ones, essential to the gospel itself, and what are second rank doctrines, "urgent for the health and practice of the church such that they frequently cause Christians to separate at the level of the local church, denomination, and/or ministry" pg. 19).  Third rank doctrines are important, but not enough to justify separation or division, and Fourth rank doctrines are unimportant to our gospel witness and ministry collaboration. While a reader might quibble on the placement of certain doctrines within these four sections, it would be hard for any reader not to benefit from this helpful little book.  For a personal example, it confirmed for me why I consider the pastor of Crawford Avenue Baptist a good friend and a brother in Christ, but that our differing views on baptism, as a second-rank doctrine, are why we are in different denominations.  Our differences of interpretation on that issue are urgent for the gospel, yet we are still ministers of that same gospel!  A great book to help think through these kinds of issues among believers.

The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution by Carl R. Trueman
I am early in this book, but it has been all over the "Best of" lists this year already.  It, as the foreword by Rod Dreher explains, seeks to explain modernity to the church, "with depth, clarity, and force".  In light of the drastic changes in our culture in so many areas, and particularly in the area of sexuality and gender, this book helps us see how we have come to this point, and where we might go from here.  It is weighty (400 pages), but not designed to be academic.  It is, as one endorsement says, "perhaps the most significant analysis and evaluation of Western Culture written by a Protestant during the past fifty years."  Carl Trueman is a clear and even witty writer, and that helps make this book more accessible than it might be in lesser hands.  He was a professor of Church History at Westminster Seminary for many years, and is now professor of biblical and religious studies at Grove City College.  He is an insightful historian, and a keen observer of culture.  This may not be a book you necessarily want to read, but it is a book that you really need to read to understand our cultural situation biblically, historically, and experientially (at least in the eyes and lives of those we are trying to reach).  I expect I will continue to be challenged, informed, disturbed, and equipped as I continue on in this book.

The Christmas We Didn’t Expect: Daily Devotions for Advent by David Mathis
Some of you may remember the Habits of Grace Sunday school class, based on a book by David Mathis, the executive editor for Piper's Desiring God ministry.  Here, he gives us meditations for advent designed to reignite our wonder, our joy, and our hope at the One who came down in human flesh to redeem a people for Himself.  Each devotion is only a few pages in length, and ends with an appropriate prayer to pray afterwards.  Allegra and I started using it last night, and I already think it will be very helpful in our meditation on and celebration of Advent and Christmas.  It's not too late to grab a copy for yourself!