It
seems that the doctrine of repentance for salvation is at the heart
of major controversy in the church in modern times. One extreme
pours works and obedience into the definition of faith and the other
extreme refuses to deal with sin as a part of receiving Christ for
salvation. This confusion could be alleviated if the church would
get back to some of the writings of H. A. Ironside. Specifically,
his book Except
Ye Repent,
written in 1937, deals with the subject of repentance in a thorough
and convincing fashion helping the reader come to a balanced and
satisfying view.
The
book has been reprinted by Soli Deo Gloria Publications in recent
years under the title Unless
You Repent
and the text has been changed from the King James Version to the NIV. I
got my original copy (which can also be downloaded at some places
on the internet) and prefer it to the newer reprint. However, there
is a publishers commentary in the back of the newer version which
discusses why Ironside wrote his book on repentance. The history
lesson found there is worth the price of the newer version of the
book.
The
book itself has seventeen chapters and begins with an explanation of
the nature and importance of the subject. He goes on to discuss what
Jesus, John the Baptist, Peter, Paul, and other biblical writers say
about repentance. He deals with major repentance texts in scripture
including 2 Corinthians 7:10, 11; Hebrews 6:1; Revelation 2:21-22;
3:3, 19; 9:20, 21; and many others. An excellent chapter is Chapter
11 “Does God Ever Repent?” which deals with the idea of the
meaning of the word as it relates to God Himself. Chapter 16 (The
Preaching That Produces Repentance) and Chapter 17 (But Is Repentance
Desirable?) provide tremendous material for pastors, preachers and
teacher of the Bible.
In
the current theological climate, repentance tends to be deemphasized
or replaced with a meaning that is inaccurate. It is this reviewer’s
position that repentance should be emphasized and explained as a
change of mind or a change of inner disposition which ultimately
leads to a change of action. Repentance is not works or promising to
be the best person you could possibly be. But without the attitude
of repentance a person will not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in
order to be saved. With this Dr. Ironside would agree. Attention
given to Dr. Ironside’s writings, especially those dealing with
salvation topics, would help bring balance back into the church. This
emphasis might be the key to a much needed revival.
Review by Jimmy Stallard
Back
to Top
 |
Precious In
His Sight
By Roy
B.
Zuck
|
|
Several
years ago I thought about writing a book on the
subject of the family and children. Rather than some simple fluff
that sells in the bookstores, my thought was to write something
comprehensive that would serve as a study manual for those interested
in what the Bible had to say. Then came a book on children that was
just what I was looking for. The title is “Precious
In His Sight” with a subtitle “Childhood
&
Children in the Bible.” While not dealing with
marriage
directly, it does deal with the
subject of marriage in relationship to the children in a powerful
way. I found this book to be the comprehensive manual that a
believer could use as a guide in studying the Bible for
himself/herself.
The
author, Roy B. Zuck, is a professor at Dallas
Theological Seminary and is an accomplished author. His major
credentials for writing this comprehensive book on children might be
his six grandchildren pictured on the dedication page! The thirteen
chapters on the table of contents page include many Bible verses that
serve as the basis for that chapter. For example chapter one is “Let
the Children Come to Me” – the Challenge of Children. Other
chapter headings include the topics “Children Doomed to
Misfortune”, “To Whom Shall We Go”, “You Shall Not Murder”,
“In the Way He Should Go”, and “Honor Your Father and Mother.”
Especially interesting were chapters three, five, and six. In
chapter three Zuck deals with the issue of which authority we must
turn to in order to discover how raise children.
He
rejects the government as the answer and tells us
to get back to the Bible. In chapter five he deals extensively with
what the Bible says about abortion. He gives a brief history of
abortion and a detailed examination of many passages of scripture.
Chapter six deals with the size of the family and has the title “Full
Quiver.” He includes in this chapter a study of the extended
family. Included in the book are several chapters about Jesus and
His teaching on the subject, Christ’s attitude toward children, and
an examination of Christ’s own childhood.
I
found the book to be very thorough, helpful, and thought-provoking. At
the end of the book is a lengthy scripture index that enhances its
value for Bible study. I highly recommend this book to anyone
desiring to find out what the Bible says about children and how we
should relate to them. It is worth its weight in gold for the mother
or father who would be willing to study it through to find answers to
the questions they have within their family.
Review by
Jimmy
Stallard
by Ken Ham
Racism.
This sinful attitude has reared its ugly
head throughout the course of human history. From the death camps of
the
Holocaust, to the slave plantations of antebellum America, racism has
been a
stain upon the human soul for far too long. As with every sin, the
Bible
condemns racism, and Christians should model a better way of life.
That
is the subject of Ken Ham’s excellent
book One Blood. Co-authored by Carl Wieland and Don
Batten, this pivotal
work seeks to provide the biblical answer to racism. In particular, the
authors
make an effort to demonstrate that modern manifestations of racism can
trace
their historical roots to Darwin’s theory of evolution.
Ham
and his colleagues begin at the
beginning: with the very first marriage. They answer the question
“Where did
Cain get his wife?” by reminding us that every human being is descended
from
the first husband and wife: Adam and Eve. Since the Bible describes
Adam as the
first man, and Eve as the mother of all living (Genesis 3.20), the
biblical
view of history allows for only one race: the human race.
The
second and third chapters of the book
delve into the relevant scientific issues. The authors use the study of
genetics to combat Darwin’s famous views on natural selection and the
adaptation
of the species. While Darwin contended that one species could morph
into
another (given the miracles of time and chance), these creationists
believe
that the variation of the species is consistent with the biblical
account of
origins.
Ham
and his colleagues point out that the
Bible starts with various animal families (much as modern science
does).
However, contrary to evolution, these animal families were created by
God.
Using the science of genetics, the authors demonstrate how the basic
dog (created
by God) could eventually produce offspring that closely resemble a
poodle. This
is possible because the original dog kind would have the latent genetic
information that was necessary for all the various kinds of dogs.
As
the authors point out, the science is
no different from poodles to people. God originally created one race of
humans
who share the same bloodline (Acts 17.26). After the dispersion of the
people
at the Tower of Babel, humans formed nations and various subgroups.
After
persistent interbreeding within these groups, various genetic features
would
have risen to the forefront. This would have produced the “racial
markers” that
we identify with diverse ethnic groups.
If
God created one race of humans, and we
all share the same bloodline, why have we persisted in propagating the
sin of
racism? It is clear that a spirit of animosity and distrust developed
at the
time of the Tower of Babel. In our modern era, however, we see that
racism has
been fueled by evolutionary propaganda.
As
the authors of One Blood pointed out, the theories
of Charles Darwin
were racially explosive. His original book was entitled The
Origin of the
Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favored
Races in
the Struggle for Life. For Darwin, certain races were
favored. These
stronger races would survive; hence, the survival of the fittest. It
was Hitler
who took these views to their logical solution, when he proposed the Final
Solution to the “Jewish Problem.”
As
Christians, we should reject all such
pseudo scientific theories as unbiblical. Furthermore, we should set
the
standard for ethnic reconciliation between the members of our one
family: the
human race. Most importantly, we should demonstrate that the gospel
knows no
bounds. The gospel transcends gender, culture, language, skin color,
and social
status. Ken Ham and his colleagues reminded us that all humans beings
are
descended from the first Adam, and therefore we all share his sin
nature (which
has produced racism). But thankfully, we can embrace the Last Adam,
Jesus
Christ, who died on the cross to save us from our sin. He is the One
who can
set us free from sin and death. He is the One who empowers Christians
to live
above the petty racism that ensnares our world.
I
highly recommend One Blood. It is
a gospel centered, concise treatment of the biblical, historical, and
scientific issues surrounding racism. And this little book accomplishes
what
its authors intended. It provides the biblical answer to racism: Jesus
Christ.
Review
by Stephen Stallard.
The Shack
by William P. Young
The Shack.
It’s a place of mystery and intrigue, the abode of both good
and
evil. It is the place where shadows and sunbeams collide, the point
where tragedy intersects eternity. The Shack is all
this, and more.
If
you haven’t yet heard about The Shack,
allow me to bring you up to speed. The Shack
is a bestselling Christian novel that explores the relationship between
sovereignty and suffering. It seeks to answer the timeless question
“Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable
pain?” The Shack comes with some high
profile endorsements. The Shack
has rocketed to bestseller status, and currently holds the top spot on
Amazon.com in the Religion & Spirituality Fiction category. The
author of The Shack, William P. Young, has already
achieved celebrity status within Christendom, as his book has been
wildly received.
However, since there have also been
many critics, I recently read The Shack. It is my
conclusion that The Shack,
although a well intentioned story, is deceptive and dangerous to the
Body of Christ. In the next page or so, I want to relate a
“Cliff’s Notes” version of my thoughts
about The Shack.
I’m not going to tell you what to think; that’s
between you
and God. However, I would like to share with you my own deep
reservations about The Shack.
An
Overview
The
first four chapters of the book masterfully set the stage for what is
to come. These well written chapters explain why The Great Sadness
hangs over the head of the main character, an average guy named Mack.
According to the story, Mack’s young daughter Missy was
kidnapped
and brutalized by a serial murderer, one who terrorized the pacific
northwest. Although her body was never found, her bloodstained dress
was discovered in a remote shack, nestled away in the woods.
Overwhelmed
by The Great Sadness, Mack retreats within himself, and his family
suffers and struggles under the titanic weight of the pain. In the
midst of an eventful snowstorm, Mack receives a note from God, asking
him to join Him in the Shack. Here, he encounters the triune God, and
he spends a life changing week in the Shack.
The
rest of the book is a series of conversations between God and Mack.
From a literary perspective, these chapters are a bit tedious and
repetitive, with little break in the dialogue. The first four chapters
were riveting, although probably too dark for younger readers.
As I read The Shack
I realized that it contained three major errors and many minor errors.
I don’t have time to list them all, but I will hit the
highlights.
The
Shack is Wrong About Revelation
The
basic plot of the book is fatally flawed, from a biblical perspective.
In the book, Mack struggles to accept the note, because his seminary
training conditioned him to believe that “God’s
voice had
been reduced to paper, and even that paper had to be moderated and
deciphered by the proper authorities and intellects” (pages
65-66). Once Mack sheds this thinking, he accepts the note from God.
The
problem, however, is that God communicates to us through His Word, not
in dreams, visions, or mysterious notes from heaven. The Apostle Peter
described his encounter with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration.
But in his opinion, he had a better testimony, something that was a
“more sure word of prophecy” (2 Peter 1.16-21).
Peter did
not base his faith on his experiences, he based them on the unchanging
Word of God. If Peter was wrong, and Mack is right, then we are faced
with a problem. How are we to know what God really wants us to do?
We
live in an age in which anyone can claim that God has revealed truth to
them…and they will instantly develop a following on the
internet. But the Word of God is the authority, and it is
God’s
method of communicating with mankind.
The
Shack is Wrong About Salvation
How does a person get to heaven? This
question, arguably the most important you can ever ask, is never
answered in The Shack.
Instead, we are treated to mindless jargon. Here’s an
example, an exchange between
Jesus and Mack:
Jesus: “I have no desire
to make them
Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons
and daughters of my Papa...”
Mack:
“Does that mean that all roads will lead to you?”
Jesus:
“Not at all. Most roads don’t lead anywhere. What
it does
mean is that I will travel any road to find you.”
This
exchange, found on page 182, should raise some red flags. At first
glance, you might think that Jesus is simply painting a beautiful
picture of grace; demonstrating that He’s willing to do
whatever
it takes, go down any road, to reach mankind. However, I
don’t believe this is what the author means. Throughout the
book,
there are repeated chances to explain salvation. But at every
opportunity, the author veers off course and makes some statement that
smacks of universalism. In the discussion on hell (chapter eleven), it
is implied that, perhaps, God doesn’t really send anyone to
hell.
This
kind of thinking is foreign to the Bible. Jesus preached about hell,
and we should too…with tears in our eyes. And we should
steadfastly proclaim Christ’s message of salvation that The
Shack never once mentioned: “I am the way, the
truth, and the life. No one cometh unto the Father but by me”
(John 14.6).
The
Shack is Wrong About the
Trinity
Probably the most heretical moments in The
Shack
involve its portrayal of the Trinity. I know that heresy is a serious
word, and must only be used with great care. However, after carefully
evaluating The Shack, I am forced to conclude that
this book is heretical in its depiction of theTrinity.
In The Shack
Mack has an opportunity to hang out with God for a weekend. As we know
from Scripture, there is only one God (Deuteronomy 6.4), yet He is a
Trinity, composed of Three divine, coequal persons (Matthew 28.19). The
Bible tells us of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In The
Shack,
Mack gets to meet all three. He meets Papa (an African American woman),
Jesus (a middle eastern man), and Sarayu (an Asian woman).
Most
people are probably shocked when they see God portrayed as female. The
basic problem, however, is that God is portrayed at all. The Bible
makes it clear that no man can see God (John 1.18). This is why the Son
was incarnated, clothed in human flesh so that He could be the
representative, the mediator between God and men (Hebrews 1.1-4
&
John 1.1-18). If you want to see the Father, look at the Son (John
1.14-18). If I want to visualize God, I should visualize a middle
eastern man, since Jesus was a Jew. I should not imagine the Father as
a white, gray bearded father, nor should I imagine a black woman
“Papa.” Both conceptions are wrong, and miss the
point of
the incarnation.
I do not believe that we should use
creative
license when we describe God. He is a holy, unapproachable light, and
we cannot merely conjure up images of Him. And since He calls Himself
our Father, it is blasphemous to portray Him as our mother. I know that
God is neither male nor female. But I also know that He ALWAYS refers
to Himself with masculine pronouns. For us to depart from the biblical
description is to mess with the person of God…and
that’s
not something I want to do.
These are the three
major problems,
but there are some more minor issues as well. Throughout the book the
author consistently advocates a philosophy of feminism, he works in his
liberal environmentalist themes, and he discredits the idea of
authority structures.
Conclusion
What are we to think when spiritually mature
Christians recommend that we read The Shack?
I, for one, do not wish to reject those who appreciate this book;
I’ll be happy to hang out with you at Starbucks any time.
However, I hope that our conversation can be based upon the Bible,
rather than upon emotion. Because of The Great Sadness, the book seems
to strike a sympathetic cord in the hearts of those who read it.
Consequently, it can become a highly charged and personal issue. I
would urge every reader of The Shack to try and set
aside their
feelings as they read, so that they can evaluate this book in the
piercing light of God’s Word.
Review
by Stephen Stallard.
|
A
Primer For Pastors
by Dr. Austin B. Tucker
|
Pastors
today are in need of simple, yet biblical help in doing the work of the
ministry. No greater help could be found than that in the book
published by my
friend and former professor Dr. Austin Tucker. The book titled A
Primer For
Pastors published by Kregel publications gives a complete
overview of the
ministry in 211 pages. The subtitle “A Handbook for
Strengthening Ministry
Skills” says it all. This is exactly what the book
accomplishes for the reader.
He
begins with an introduction explaining the “noble
task” of pastoring and then
takes us on a journey of fifteen chapters covering everything from the
first
pastorate, counseling, pulpit work, leadership skills, managing
conflict, doing
weddings and funerals, and the ethics a pastor should live by. He also
deals
with such issues as the bivocational pastor and the special ministries
the
pastor performs as a teacher, evangelist, and leader in observing the
ordinances. He closes the book with two final chapters that exhort a
pastor to
be a good steward of his time and to arrange his private life properly.
Dr.
Tucker was my homiletics professor when I was in seminary thirty years
ago. I
can still hear his voice on every page. The book is astoundingly
simple, yet
perfectly profound. He takes us through the mine fields of issues that
face
pastors such as the relationship a pastor has with other pastors, the
question
of divorce and remarriage, or how to get an evangelism program working
in your
church. The precision and clarity with which the author writes will
warm the
pastor’s heart and challenge his mind. I believe that no
matter how much
experience a pastor has in the ministry, he will never outgrow his need
to
learn and apply lessons of leadership and pastoring. Any help he can
get will
be a benefit to him personally and to his congregation.
I would
recommend A Primer For Pastors to every
Bible-believing pastor in the
country. It should occupy a special place near his desk so that he can
easily
and quickly get help for a time of need. Dr. Tucker has done his fellow
preachers and pastors a great service with a fabulous book that should
be a
blessing to multitudes.
Review by Jimmy
Stallard.
 |
All of
Grace
by
Charles H. Spurgeon |
I have
often called Charles H. Spurgeon my favorite dead preacher. He lived
during the
1800’s and was the famed pastor of the Metropolitan
Tabernacle Church in
London. His writings were voluminous and deeply spiritual, and continue
to be
in print throughout the world. No one before or after could turn a
phrase like
Spurgeon. One of Spurgeon’s books that has been mightily used
by the Lord has
been the little book about salvation entitled All of Grace.
Originally
published by Dwight L. Moody through Moody Press, the book is now
published by
Whitaker House. Amazingly, All of Grace has been
continuously in print
since the time of Spurgeon’s death. His goal in writing the
book was to “lead
many to the Lord Jesus.”
The
book contains twenty short chapters and is written with a view to
causing the
reader to contemplate his or her need of salvation. Here we find
teaching that
expounds the doctrines of salvation in a practical way so that the
simplest of
souls can find rest in Christ through reading its pages. As is typical
of
Spurgeon, it is full of Scripture and riveting illustrations of grace.
Though
he wrote in a 19th century style, he can still
be understood by
early 21st century seekers.
All
of Grace is eminently personal. The reader gets the sense
that Spurgeon is
sitting across the table from him as he reads. Throughout he asks
simple but
vital questions. What are we at (or, in modern English, where are we
with God)?
What is faith? How may faith be illustrated? Why are we saved by faith?
Why do
saved people persevere? All of these and more are answered by Spurgeon.
The
reader will discover that all of Spurgeon’s answers center in
the person of the
Lord Jesus Christ.
Especially helpful to this reviewer were
the
opening
chapters which deal
with how God justifies the ungodly and remains just. He further
communicates
the truth that salvation changes a person in the direction of his life.
Also,
the chapters at the end of the book dealing with repentance will clear
up any
misunderstand that modern day struggles over this doctrine have caused.
He has
one who chapter on the relationship of repentance with forgiveness and
it is an
eye opening chapter.
His
concluding chapter is a direct word to the person who has read the book
all the
way through, and who might be entertaining the possibility of becoming
a
Christian. Spurgeon pleads with earnest passion to
the lost soul to come
to Christ saying “I beseech you, do not turn away
from your Redeemer!”
Spurgeon also prays for his reader and implores
him... “To receive
all as a free gift preserves the mind from self righteous pride and
from
self-accusing despair.” He closes the book with a
powerful declaration...
“Meet me in heaven! Do not go down to hell...Remember, O
soul, it may be now or
never with you. Let it be now; it would be horrible if it would be
never. Again
I charge you, meet me in heaven.” This is one of
the most powerful books on
salvation ever written. Every Christian should digest it so as to
become an
effective witness in presenting gospel truth. Copies of this simple
book should
be distributed to our unsaved friends who desperately need the Savior
we
already know.
Review
by Jimmy Stallard.
Back
to Top
|
Behind a Frowning
Providence
by John J.
Murray
|
The old
saying is that the best gifts come in small packages.
Never has this been evidenced any better
than
in the small thirty page booklet by John J. Murray entitled Behind
A
Frowning Providence.
The thesis
of the book is taken from William Cowper’s famous hymn with
the lines “God
moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform”. The hymn
also goes on to
proclaim “Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling
face.” On every page
the author deals with trouble, tribulation, and trial.
The
booklet clearly explains the Providence of God at work in the lives of
Christians. But
more importantly the
author expounds on what he calls “Dark Providences”.
He calls for every
believer in Jesus Christ
to study the sufferings we have to go through in this life. The design of God in these
times of our lives
needs to be understood more clearly if we are to bring glory to God in
the midst
of our suffering. However,
the booklet
recognizes that God can bring comfort into our lives even when there
remains a
mystery to what is going on.
The
author is no armchair theologian who lives in an ivory tower insulated
from the
cares of the world. The
booklet, written
in 1990, is dedicated to his daughter Lynda Joan who died in 1980 at
thirteen
years of age. The
author has walked the
path before us and has faced dark providences of his own. However, throughout his
presentation the Word
of God maintains the final authority for our understanding.
One
major source of encouragement comes from the quotes of famous men of
God
throughout church history. Found
here
are words from Thomas Boston, Charles H. Spurgeon, C. S. Lewis, Andrew
Fuller,
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Robert Murray M’Cheyne, Martin Luther,
Warren Wiersbe,
J. C. Ryle, and others. He
has brought
forth an impressive array of helpers in explaining the dark providences
that
come our way.
This
little booklet is a must read for any believer that goes through hard
times
regardless of the reason. If
a believer
will meditate on the truths written in Behind A
Frowning Providence
his spirit will be lifted and faith will rise in his heart. The booklet can be ordered
from your local
Christian bookstore or directly from the publisher – The
Banner of Truth Trust, P. O. Box 621, Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013.
Review by Jimmy
Stallard.
|
Extreme
Righteousness
Seeing Ourselves in the Pharisees
by Tom Hovestol |
It is
not an easy thing to see ourselves in the Pharisees mentioned in the
Gospel
accounts, but author Tom Hovestol invites us to do this very thing in
his book Extreme
Righteousness: Seeing
Ourselves in the
Pharisees. We
tend not to
identify with them since they were the bad guys who opposed Jesus, but
this
book reminds us, as Bible believing Christians, that we have much more
in
common with them than we like to think.
The book deals
extensively with what the Bible
teaches about this sectarian group who lived at the time of Jesus. It also gives an in depth
look at the
historical background of this group.
Such chapter headings as “A Common
Caricature”, “When Rightness Leads to
Wrongness”, “When Bible Knowledge Blinds and
Binds”, “When Tradition Twists
Truth”, “When Fences Become the Focus”,
“When Separatism Leads Us Astray”,
etc., reveal that the author wants to take us on a tour of issues
facing
Christians in modern times. He
does so,
not only from a Biblical viewpoint, but tells us of his own personal
pilgrimage
in the mine field between Christian living and the culture we have to
live in.
Out of the twelve
chapters there are seven “right
way” articles which amplify what is being taught.
These provide food for
thought concerning the
areas surrounding license, legalism, and liberty.
His conclusion:
we
are easily led to become a Pharisee and we
are blinded into
thinking we are “good”
Christians by some of the good things that we do.
His greatest example, in this writer’s
opinion, is what is dealt with in chapter eight.
This chapter gives us the essence of
Phariseeism. This chapter, “When Fences Become the
Focus”, details how the
Pharisees (and many modern day Christians) build fences around
God’s laws and
standards. Then
they tell people that if
they will stay within those fences they will be obeying God’s
law. This easily
devolves into following the
traditions of men rather than the commandments of God.
As a Christian,
this reviewer feels that much too
much has been made in
attacking “legalism” and much of God’s
holy standards have been discarded under
the idea that we should not be “legalists”.
However, one cannot seem to avoid the
fact
that many
believers judge
other believers needlessly expecting them to obey
“their” standards rather than
“God’s” standards. This
book published
by Moody Press is well worth the price.
While I do not agree with everything in
it, it
is a
thought-provoking
kind of read. It
will greatly help
believers understand the Gospels better and avoid being
“extremely righteous”
in the way the Pharisees lived.
Review by Jimmy
Stallard.
Back
to Top
|
Forgiveness
How
To Get Along With Everybody All The Time
by Harold Vaughan &
T.P. Johnston
|
The great
Nineteenth Century Evangelist, D. L. Moody,
declared “The
one sin that is doing the most to hold back the power of God in revival
than
any other sin is an unforgiving spirit”.
It is a difficult thing to forgive those
who
have
wronged
us. In fact, it can
be such an emotional struggle
that we need help from someone else to overcome feelings of bitterness
and
resentment. There
is no better place to
start than the book Forgiveness:
How
To Get Along With Everybody All The Time! by Harold Vaughan
and T. P.
Johnston. Harold
Vaughan is an
evangelist who heads up Christ-Life Ministries and T. P. Johnston is
the pastor
of Calvary Baptist Church of Smyrna, Georgia.
The
book is divided into three major sections:
Granting Forgiveness,
Seeking Forgiveness,
and Enjoying Forgiveness. These
sections
give us steps to take to deal with forgiveness issues in our lives. They explain how
unforgiveness gives ground
to Satan and they answer such questions as why we should forgive, why
it is
hard to forgive, and what to do if I don’t want to forgive. Forgiveness is explained
so that we can
distinguish between false ideas of it and the true Biblical viewpoint
we, as
Christians, should follow.
A whole chapter is given over to the difficulty
of
returning to
bitterness when we have already forgiven someone.
This one chapter is worth the book’s
price.
In
the area of seeking forgiveness the authors explain how
forgiveness
relates to true repentance and a clear conscience.
Repentance is more than being convicted
of
sin, more than mere confession, and more than being sorry you sinned. It is a complete heart
change based on what
is real and true in your life. The
authors point out this significant truth: “If you
are looking for real
repentance, examine love. Forgiven
people, repentant people love more. Not just in sentimentality, but in
endurance, kindness, thinking the best of others, wanting
what’s best for
others, keeping a pure tongue, exhibiting patience with those who may
have a
hard time forgiving them (p. 77).
The
last section of the book describes how to enjoy
forgiveness. It
deals with reconciliation issues, revival,
joy, and peace and further explains the five stages of forgiveness:
(1)
Refusing to admit we are hurt.
(2)
Blaming others for hurting us.
(3)
Setting up conditions which must be met before we will
forgive.
(4)
Blaming ourselves for letting others hurt us.
(5)
Learning to look forward to growth from hurt (See
pp.98-99).
This
book will
be of real value to those going through hurts (which means all of us!!). It is a Christ-Life
Publication and can be
obtained by writing Christ Life Ministries, P.
O. Box 399, Vinton, Virginia 24179.
Review by Jimmy
Stallard.
Back
to Top
|
Lies
Women Believe
by Nancy Leigh DeMoss |
Lies Women Believe - and the Truth that
Sets them Free is written by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Miss DeMoss is
a popular women’s
conference speaker, director of publications and women’s
ministries for Life
Action Ministries, and the editor of Spirit of Revival
Magazine. As the
title suggests, the book deals with lies of the Devil that women
believe, and
the Scriptures that counter these lies. The author has taken her years
of
counseling experience and condensed them into eight major topics that
women
deal with: God, themselves, sin, priorities, marriage, children,
emotions, and
circumstances.
The
initial chapter, and each section opening, begins with a
“diary” by Eve. Satan
began his work of deception on the first woman, and has continued this
strategy
because it is successful. This first attack was against God’s
Word, His
character, and the consequences of disobedience to God. The second
chapter
gives details of some of the ways Satan assaults God’s
goodness, love,
sufficiency, etc. The succeeding chapters expose more lies and how they
affect
our relationships and other areas of our lives.
We have
been studying this book, dealing with one lie weekly. Many of the lies
covered
have been things that we have faced in our own lives. DeMoss brings
relevant
Scripture to bear on each of the falsehoods, showing the superiority of
God’s
truth. She deals with a broad range of subjects, and does not shrink
from some
that are controversial or tough.
Our
counseling experience is not as extensive as the author’s,
but we have also
seen women, both young and old, devastated by these lies. This book
would be
beneficial to put in their hands as it directs them to their only
source of
help in this spiritual warfare - God’s truth.
We
would also recommend this work for all Christian women, since no one is
exempt
from Satan’s attacks on God and His Word. We have been
exposed to these lies
through false teaching, our culture, or past experiences.
God’s truth is needed
to counter this deception so that we can all be set free from the Lies
Women
Believe.
Review by
Rebekah and Eileen Stallard.
Back
to Top
|
Living Purely in an Impure
World
by Jim Binney |
One of
the best books to come on the market in recent years that deals with
sensual
sins is the book by Jim Binney titled Living Purely
in an Impure World.
The author has an established counseling
ministry called L.E.A.D. Ministries, Inc. located at The Moorehead
Manor in New
Concord, Ohio and also edits the Issues of the Heart Journal.
The stated
philosophy of the counseling ministry at Moorehead Manor is that the
Bible is
sufficient to address every need.
As one
reads Mr. Binney’s book it becomes obvious that the Word of
God is the central
focus.
Grappling
with this difficult topic would pose an intimidating task to any
author. However,
the author has taken up the
challenge, has written well, and counseled all of us in this difficult
area. His extensive
experience in
ministry has given his writing a “real world
flavor”. The chapters include
discussions on overcoming sexual immorality, finding hope in the midst
of
temptation, how to have lasting change, the role of God in moral
victory, our
forgotten enemy, the devices of the devil and how to resist him, and
many other
topics.
Especially helpful is the chapter on
the filling of the Holy Spirit.
Many books on counseling leave out the
work of
the
Holy
Spirit and how
walking in the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit can give us
victory. This
chapter alone is worth the
price of the book. The
last four
chapters deal with special topics which include a primer for a theology
of
sexuality, how to experience absolute forgiveness, a role of
accountability in
pure living, and finishing strong is what counts. A special appendix
gives help
for the counselor in restoring those who have fallen into sexual sin.
This is
the kind of book that should be read over and over.
It is a spiritual feast filled with
nuggets
of truth that, if internalized, will aid every believer who will
meditate on
them. Mr. Binney
pulls no punches and
does not gloss over sin. He gives clear justification
on how to guard the heart and how to
guide
the believer through the maze of temptation he or she may face in this
area.
But at the same time he writes with a genuine love and spiritual
understanding
that can help break the bondage of sin in a person’s life. This makes this one of the
best books on the
subject and well worth the price as an investment for each Christian
family. It could
easily be used as a
textbook for discussion between parents and children or for pastors and
congregations. The
book costs $ 12.95
and can obtained by contacting L.E.A.D. ministries, P. O. Box 267, New
Concord,
Ohio 43762.
Review by Jimmy Stallard.
|
The Deeper
Secrets of
Prayer
by Dr. Sam Wolfe
|
It is
always a blessing to recommend a good book, but it is a sheer delight
to do so
when the book was written by the person who led me and my wife to
Christ. Dr. Sam
Wolfe of Evangel Ministries and
Publications has written ten books and one of his best books is
entitled The
Deeper Secrets of Prayer.
This
book of 183 pages is chocked full of golden nuggets of truth that open
up the
subject of prayer to the discerning believer. The seven chapters
discuss the
position, prerequisites, portraits, power, purposes, priority, and the
problems
involving prayer.
Not
only does the book tell us how to pray but it explains what God must do
in us
to get us in the position to pray.
As
the author tells us “Before God builds a work, He
builds the worker. We
cannot build a work of prayer without
God’s work in us, shaping our character.”
He fleshes out the attitude
check-up
we
need to
take inventory of
our own lives so we can respond to God’s work in us and
through us.
One
of
the keys mentioned is the identification of the believer with the Lord
and his
participation with God in the work of prayer.
The church today is shown to be anemic
and
powerless, not
because God
has lost His power in this modern world, but because God’s
people do not avail
themselves of the resources He has provided for them in this wonderful
ministry
of prayer. In
chapter six Dr. Wolfe
talks about the Priority of Prayer and the secrets of intercession:
One
of the most misunderstood doctrines in the Bible is prayer. Many of God’s
people have not been taught the
biblical principles of prayer, consequently, most Christians have had
to learn
about prayer by listening to others in public prayer. The ideas they
have
gained and the attitudes they have formed may or may not be supported
by the
Scriptures. Many
have missed the heart
and purposes of prayer because they followed the wrong pattern (p. 121).
The Deeper
Secrets of Prayer is well written,
thorough, and straightforward. It
should
be read by every pastor, deacon, and layman who is interested in
building a
strong prayer life. The
book should not
be sped read, but should be meditated upon over time.
The work of prayer in our lives will be
enhanced, but like all spiritual work it takes time to develop within
us. The book can be
obtained by writing Evangel
Ministries, Inc., 129 Kingswood Drive, Huntsville, Alabama 35806.
Review by Jimmy Stallard.
|
The
Serpent of Paradise
by
Erwin W. Lutzer
|
I have
heard some people say that we should not study much about Satan lest he
attack
us and we become obsessed with evil.
This statement is an absurd statement. One only has to see how
much is in the Bible concerning
this enemy of
God to know what God wants us to know.
Many books have been written about Satan
and
his
evil work
but none
better than Erwin Lutzer’s book The
Serpent of Paradise.
The subtitle lays out the approach that
Lutzer takes when it says The Incredible Story of How
Satan’s Rebellion
Serves God’s Purposes. And
in twelve
great chapters this reviewer believes the author has done just that. The chapter titles include
Putting the Devil
in His Place, The Star That Bit the Dust, There is a Serpent in Our
Garden, The
Serpent’s New Religion, The Serpent Strikes Back, The Serpent
is Crushed, The
Serpent – God’s Servant, What the Serpent Wants
From You, Closing the Door When
the Serpent Knocks, Neutralizing the Serpent’s Poison, The
Serpent is Cast Out
of Heaven, and The Serpent in Eternal Humiliation.
The
book is only 192 pages long and is easily read.
But it is chocked full of eternal
nuggets of
truth. The whole
gamut of
Satanology is discussed
but with a clear picture of the practical sides of these truths. For example, in the
chapter The Serpent’s New
Religion the author discusses the five lies of occultism: reincarnation,
esotericism, pantheism,
relativism, and hedonism. He
makes these
concepts understandable to the average person and practical for their
benefit. In the
chapter Closing the Door
When the Serpent Knocks, he deals with how the devil attacks and tempts
people
with various stages of control. He
also
deals with seven doors that every believer ought to keep shut when the
serpent
knocks. But the
major theme of the book
can be seen in one chapter – The Serpent –
God’s Servant. He
quotes Martin Luther who said that “the
serpent is God’s serpent” and gives us his own
quote: “He is not the devil you
might have heard about.” Too often Christians feel that Satan
is so powerful
that he is almost as big as God.
This
lie (sometimes called Dualism) is destroyed by Lutzer in this practical
chapter. He explains how God uses Satan to fulfill God’s will
in dealing with
the unsaved person, the obedient child of God, and the disobedient
child of
God. In the last
chapter, the author
focuses on the humiliation of Satan.
He
points out Christ who delivered the knockout punch will rule
on Satan’s
turf. The
victory of God and His
people, while already a fact because of the Cross of Christ will one
day be
manifested on planet earth and Satan will be seen for what he is to the
entire
world – a defeated foe.
This book is
highly recommended for anyone’s
library. Published
by Moody Press it can
be purchased at your local Christian book store or over the internet at
many
different sites.
Review by Jimmy Stallard.
|
Unveiling the End Times
in Our Times
by Dr. Adrian
Rogers
|
If
there is one preacher I would drive a thousand miles to hear preach one
sermon
that preacher would be Adrian Rogers.
Dr. Rogers is the pastor of the 27,000
member
Bellevue
Baptist Church
near Memphis, Tennessee and the host of the television and radio
program Love
Worth Finding. He
has compiled for us
a devotional commentary on
the Book of Revelation that is fit for any Bible student, teacher, or
preacher. In
Unveiling The End
Times In Our Times the reader will find a
satisfying study of one of
the most difficult parts of the Bible.
The
focus of the book is found in the subtitle – The
Triumph of the Lamb in
Revelation. That
Jesus Christ is the
focal point is emphasized throughout Dr. Rogers’ study.
Beginning with the first
chapter The
Future is Here and finishing
with The Lamb Has Overcome this book glorifies the
person and work of
the risen Lord. The
theme of God’s
sovereignty over all His creation
and all of His creatures, including man, can be seen on every page.
There
are several advantages to using this study guide as you study the Book
of
Revelation:
- The
simplicity of Dr. Rogers’ presentation will greatly amplify
understanding
- The
sincerity
of his interpretations gives fairness to the study as he deals with
various
views
- The
clarity
of the outline makes the book easy to follow.
- The
certainty
of Dr. Rogers’ faith shines through in every chapter and will
engender faith in
the reader.
- The
saneness
of his approach avoids the foolish and sensationalist impulses that so
many
bring to the study of the Book of Revelation.
Dr.
Rogers’ honesty is seen in this statement from his preface:
In my younger years I had
more certainty of the details of prophecy
than I
now
have, but I have greater
and stronger faith in the ultimate triumph of
the Lamb than I have ever
had (p. ix).
Unveiling
The End Times In Our Time will provide any reader
with a great source
of joy and understanding. It should be a welcome
addition to the
library of every preacher, pastor, or Bible teacher and will become
well worn
by those who love to study the Book of Revelation.
Check
your local bookstore for this great book!
Review by Jimmy Stallard.
|
Ten
Lies About God
by Erwin W.
Lutzer
|
Anything written by Erwin W. Lutzer
deserves a place in any pastor's library or church library. Christian homes
can be blessed by his writings. The senior pastor of Moody Church
in Chicago and the featured speaker
of the daily
radio program Running to Win has written a book
entitled Ten Lies
About God with a subtitle
And How You
Might Already Be Deceived. This major work is much
needed in our day.
There
is
a frightening fog in the theological world when many theologians speak
about
God. Our culture has transformed God into a big Santa Claus dishing out
goodies
for those who ask. He seems to be a God who would be afraid to ever
judge sin
and as some have recently declared He is so impotent that He does not
even know
the future! Lutzer's book addresses ten lies that misrepresent the
God of the Bible. His unmasking of these
lies
gives clear direction and lifts the mist that has blinded so many. The
ten lies
he deals with are:
(1)
God is whatever we want Him to be.
(2)
Many paths lead into God's presence.
(3)
God is more tolerant than He used to
be.
(4)
God has never personally suffered.
(5)
God is obligated to save followers of
other religions.
(6)
God takes no responsibility for
natural disasters.
(7)
God does not know our decisions before
we make them.
(8)
The fall ruined God's plan.
(9)
We must choose between God's pleasures
and our own.
(10)
God helps those who help themselves.
With
one chapter on each of these lies he expounds a biblical viewpoint
worthy of
the God of the Bible. Each
chapter could be a book all by
itself. The epilogue asks and answers the question Can We
Trust Him? In a
ringing endorsement to let God be God, it ends with a stirring poem by
S. M. Lockridge.
To
Lutzer, to follow after God requires that we think truth and reject the
lies
that are being spread around about Him. In his preface entitled "From
My
Heart to Yours" he declares:
Armed
with the knowledge of who we are, we
will be better fitted to order our lives
according to eternal values. The restlessness within will give way to
the peace
of knowing that at last we have discovered the reason for which we
were created.
Our pursuit of God will
profoundly affect every aspect of our lives.
This
book is
well worth the price. Published by Word Publishing it can be purchased
at your
local Christian book
store.
Review by Jimmy Stallard.
|
