Death for the Christian

Three seemingly random thoughts...

1)  My middle daughter loves to read Revelation.  Revelation?  Really?  Yes, really.  I'm not exactly sure why, but it may have something to do with how much she loves the Chronicles of Narnia, if I were to wager a guess.  

2)  A friend of mine told me that her mom's pastor doesn't believe in Hell and preaches that if you are a good person, you'll go to heaven.  My friend was concerned about new believers who hear this message.

3)  A few years ago, Rob Bell wrote Love Wins created quite a stir by proclaiming that God would not send people to hell, or at least only a very few.  He proclaimed that a loving God would not send people to Hell.  What he actually believes is difficult to pinpoint, because he is known for making unclear and evasive statements.

Three thoughts that all link together because of a common thread--hell and death.  Is there really a hell?  What does it look like?  What does the Bible say about it?  Everyone has questions.  Some people I know leave them at the Lord's feet and trust God with what they don't understand.  Some people I know dig into the Word to find what it says about hell and death.  Some people like me, simply feel puzzled.

Because of my quandary and uncertainty of how to explain death to my children, I was interested in a new book a friend recommended to me, written by Michael Allen Rogers.  The title of the book is 
What Happens After I Die?  The book is the compilation of a sermon series that he preached to the congregation of Westminster Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  

This is a pretty deep book.  I learned a lot from it, though.  This book is a sound response to the liberal theology of Rob Bell and others that is getting a lot of press.  Rogers begins by examining the Old Testament idea of hell and then moves on to what the New Testament says.  He examines the claims of folks who believe there is no hell or that hell is not everlasting--that there is a one time punishment (annihilation).    Finally, he examines what the Bible says about children and hell.  

For me, this is a reference book.  I have so much going on that it is difficult for me to sit and process all of the information in it.  For this reason, it has taken me several months to get around to reading it.  I finally got through a large portion of it on our two most recent road trips.  Reading keeps my quiet and my husband gets to drive in peace without me constantly talking.  So, it works for both of us.  

There was one particular point that he makes early in the book that was very interesting to me.  He explains in the book that the Old Testament is very vague about hell, or sheol.  As a result, Jews have looked to God primarily for protection and provision--in this life.  Their emphasis is on the quality of life--in this life.  In Contrast, Christians focus on what Christ did on the cross for them.  He died.  For us.  Why?  To save us from Hell.  As sinners, we would go to hell if we aren't forgiven.  So, for Christians, the emphasis of their faith is on God's protection, provision, and salvation  

I appreciated Rogers connecting each chapter to current illustrations.  He makes it personal and helps the reader understand why all of this examination matters.  Because it does matter quite a lot.  

I was quite concerned when I heard about Rob Bell's book and I am thankful to have a resource that has all the theological support I need to discuss Bell's ideas in an intelligent manner.  I tend to get into such discussions in random and unlikely places.  

If you have been confronted by another Christian's claims that there is no hell, I'd recommend this book.  You don't have to read the whole book, though it would make more sense read as a whole.  You can jump around and still get the gist of the theological underpinnings of a biblical idea of hell.  

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Crossway Publishing for review.

Finishing Up the Trilogy

I remember waiting for each installment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy to come out on the big screen.  It was early in my marriage and the films came out around December, if I remember correctly.  It was hard to wait!  I've been waiting again because over the past three years, I've been reading Bryan Litfin's Chiveis Trilogy.  One by one they've been published.  The final book was just published in June.  The trilogy tells the story of the demise of our world due to a deadly virus.  The remnant left alive enter a modern dark age and Christianity is hidden.  A dark religion takes over the minds of the people.  The trilogy is about the search for Christ.

The first book, The Sword, surprised me.  It was a book of speculative fiction--a genre that is not my usual choice.  I enjoyed the development of the main characters, Teo and Ana.  The plot took unexpected turns.  The second book, The Gift, was a solid sequel.  I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first, though.  The third, The Kingdom, arrived last week and I had the chance to read it over the weekend. 


At the beginning of The Sword, there is a short prologue that explains how a deadly virus spread throughout the world.  I was impressed by Litfin's quick, but succinct description of events.  It was quite vivid.  Then, we are introduced to the kingdom of Chiveis.  The gap between the virus and the present kingdom of Chiveis is filled in in the prologue of The Kingdom.  It is explained how the kingdoms came about and how their governments took power.  Then, the story begins.  The conclusion of the trilogy.


I did enjoy this series over all, but the last book is the one I enjoyed the least.  There is a lot more violence and sensuality than in the other books.  It is interesting to find these components in a Christian fiction book.  I feel I should admit that I also cringe at The Lord of the Rings trilogy.  This is a very different genre of fiction for me to read.  I have read books that have deftly dealt with these aspects of life without dwelling too much upon them.  In the case of this book, it is the sensuality in certain scenes and how it is described more than the violence.  I understand that is part of battle and war.  For this reason, I would only recommend this book to adults and not teenagers.  Perhaps I give teenagers too little credit for how mature they are, but still I wouldn't want my daughters to read this book until they are in college.  I know I say that as the mother of three young children, though, and my perspective might be different in 10 years.  


This story finds Teo and Ana together fully grasping the Gospel and preparing to share it with others.  They long to return to Chiveis and hope to soon.  The story follows their paths and the paths of those they love.  The dialogue felt a little too much like casual conversation today.  I imagine royalty as speaking more formally than they did in this book during those scenes and for those speaking to royalty to have more respect in their address.  The dialogue often felt discordant with the setting and the plot.  The story also felt like a mixture of other stories I've read in the past.  


But, the ending was satisfying.  It did have a good ending.  As I was reading, I hoped for Good to prevail over evil and for the Gospel to be shared with the people.  That is what God's Word tells us about this world we live in.  


So, do I recommend this book?  Yes, if you've read the first two and want to know how everything turns out.  Is it a stand alone book?  Definitely not.  The first two should be read first.  Bryan Litfin has created an interesting world with an interesting premise.  I think it is wise to consider what the world would be like without the hope of Christ--perhaps considering such can help us be more mindful of sharing the Gospel and seeing those who don't know the hope of Christ as lost.  It's so easy to get caught up in our day to day responsibilities and miss out on the opportunities we have to love others in our lives who don't know the Lord.  I know it is for me.  


Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Crossway.

Teaching Our Children How To Pray

This week my children and I had the chance to read a new book together.  It is The Barber Who Wanted To Pray by R.C. Sproul.  

This picture book is the story of a dad having family worship with his kids.  One of his children asks how to pray.  The father tells the story of Martin Luther and his barber.  This picture book is an interesting thing.  It is written for older children, rather than younger ones.  Honestly, I think it would be most appropriate for 4-8th graders.  I think 8th graders would benefit from it  and grow from it, though they might think a picture book is young for them.  My 3rd grade daughter did enjoy the story, but I'm not sure how much she understood about Luther's explanation of prayer.  As an adult, I thought it was wonderful and it did encourage me.  Essentially, Luther explains that he prays through the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Apostle's Creed.  He meditated on the statements of each and what that meant to his heart as he prayed to the Lord.


Before writing this review, I looked up Martin Luther's book A Simple Way To Pray.  The story told in this picture book is a true one.  This book is out of print, but can be found on the web as a public file.  Now, I am looking forward to reading it.  Here's a link to it if you'd like to read it:  http://www.hope-aurora.org/docs/ASimpleWaytoPray.pdf


This book reinforces family worship, because it shows a family worshiping together.  The discussion was a bit deeper than I think my kids (3, 6, and 8) could handle right now.  I'd instead start with Jeanette Groth's book Prayer: Learning How to Talk to God for younger children.  For children grades 3-7, I would recommend this book. It is a great teaching tool of how to explain prayer.


Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Crossway.

ESV Bible for Children

Two years ago, I had a long conversation with a local bookstore owner about children's bibles.  It was he who explained to me the difference between the ICB (International Children's Bible) and the NIrV.  I've written several posts that reference these two translations (see http://lovetopaint.blogspot.com/search?q=NIrV).  To quickly summarize, the NIrV is a simplified version of the NIV and the ICB is a thought for thought paraphrase.  After my conversation, my husband and I decided to purchase an NIrV for our 6 year old daughter.  It was a little above her reading level, but we knew she'd grow into it.  She did the next year.  We wished at the time that we could get her a copy of the ESV, but the only one available for children didn't have notes that would be helpful to her at her age.  My husband struggled though because he really wanted Autumn to read from the ESV.

Last month, Crossway published a new edition of the ESV for ages 8-12.  It is called the Grow! Bible.  I saw an ad for it and my curiosity was piqued.  For the past month, I've been looking through this Bible and have been very pleased.  The first day it arrived, Autumn was so excited.  She wanted to read the same Bible that we do at church.  Though she had never expressed this to me, I learned that she wanted to be able to follow along when the Word is read at church on Sunday morning.  Our church reads from the ESV and it was difficult for her to follow in the NIrV.


So here's what I love about the Grow! Bible:
Formatting:  The font, though 9.5, is big enough for my daughter who in 3rd grade is a strong reader.  The columns are spaced well.  The notes highlighted in a way that makes them easier to read.  Each book in the Bible begins with a helpful timeline and introduction which my daughter found interesting and easy to understand.


Features:  There are interesting notes throughout the Bible.  There are Cross Connections that address how different passages remind us of the cross and salvation.  There are notes about what God's Word means for you (the reader).  My favorites are the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How notes.  I was surprised at the interesting information children will learn when they read them.  Some examples are a note explaining "woe", another explains "the stump of Jesse", and another explains what "the end of the heavens" means.  Many of them I had no idea about!  There is also a glossary and maps located at the back of the Bible.  All of them would be perfect for an 8-12 year old and very easy for them to use.


Theological content of the notes:  Concordia Publishing collaborated with Crossway on this Bible.  The notes were written by Concordia, which is a Lutheran publishing house.  I wondered how this would affect the notes--particularly the "Cross Connections".  I read several of the notes very carefully--particularly the note on how we are saved.  It was very well written.  There was one note about baptism and salvation, which many denominations see differently.  I read it to my husband and although it doesn't align exactly with what we believe since the PCA practices infant baptism (but doesn't believe it's a saving baptism), he did feel that what was written didn't contradict what we believe and that it was written well.  He did note, though, that the note was written from a general reformed perspective.  I felt as I read the note that whether someone was a free will baptist or believed in predestination that the theological ideas in the note would be okay.  The wording on this specific cross connection was such that it did say we are saved by grace through a decision we make.  It didn't go into detail of how those work together--but simply that they do.  I think this is wise of the publisher and authors of the note, because it allows parents to more fully explain what their child may read in the study note.


So, what Bible might I compare this to for other translations?  Probably the NIV Adventure Bible.  The NLT Hands-On Bible is also aimed at the same age group.  My husband and I much prefer the Grow! Bible for a couple of reasons.  1) We're glad that it's the ESV translation so our children can follow what is being read in church (and they're glad too).  2) The notes are primarily purposed for instruction, not entertainment.  They are meant to be interesting and helpful, but not solely for the purpose of entertainment.  3)  The study notes are much more in line with what we believe than the other two.  I reviewed the Hands-On Bible a long time ago.  I liked it and saw it as a great fit for many families--but not for ours, primarily because we don't read the NLT.  


If you're looking for a new Bible for your child, I'd definitely recommend taking a look at this one!  It might be what you're looking for if you want an ESV Children's Bible!


Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this Bible from Crossway Publishing.

Egalitarian vs. Complementarian

It's a strange thing to admit, but when I got married 10 years ago, I was what you would call an evangelical feminist.  I believed men and women were equal and I hadn't given much thought to the scriptures that said wives were to submit to their husbands.  

Then I got married.  My husband told me later that he knew there were some things that needed to work themselves out in how I viewed marriage.  Only a few months into our marriage, the Lord began convicting me about submission.  I had to learn what it meant.  

Galatians 5:22-24 NIV

²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Over the next few years, I often pondered, prayed, and read what the Bible says about marriage and about my role in marriage.  In time, I found peace in my heart as I came to accept that God calls me to submit to my husband in His Word.  As much as my heart was rebellious at times, I couldn't deny what the Bible said.

Amidst those ponderings, I heard a lot of wrong messages of what submission is and what it looks like.  I finally found a book last year that I feel comfortable recommending to other women about submission.  It's called Dancing With the One You Love by Cindy Easley.  Ms. Easley speaks to the heart and is straight forward yet her writing is filled with grace.  In her book, she addresses what submission is and then what it looks like in seven different and difficult circumstances.  What I've discovered over the past 10 years is that submission doesn't look exactly the same in every marriage, but that it is our hearts as wives that matter.  

When I realized what the Word said about submission, I also realized that submission runs contrary to the idea of women being pastors and elders.  The Word also has a lot to say about this.  In I Timothy 3, it is written that overseers must be the husband of one wife.  In other places in the Bible, women are exhorted not to be in authority over men or to teach men. (I Timothy 2:12).  If a woman is a pastor, then she is necessarily in authority over her husband.  You can see that I ran into problems logically as I began to dig into what the Bible said about submission and church leadership.  For years, I had thought it was okay for women to be pastors.  

I have several friends who've gone to seminary over the years.  I grew up in a liberal Quaker church thinking that men and women were created equal and are equally able to be a pastor or leader in the church.  In my black and white strong willed mind, I struggled not to disagree with my friends' decisions and many friends who felt (and still feel) it is okay for women to be in pastoral leadership.  It was also hard to disagree with what I'd believed for so long to be right.

What complicated my struggle was the realization that submission in marriage and female pastoral leadership are not salvation issues.  So, in the end, do they really matter that much?

I couldn't shake the feeling that yes, they do matter.  They matter quite a lot.

I just finished reading an excellent book titled Evangelical Feminism:  A New Path to Liberalism by Wayne Grudem.  In the first chapter, Grudem identifies exactly why I've been so concerned about these issues all these years in this quote:

"this issue of egalitarianism and complementarianism is increasingly acting as the watershed distinguishing those who will accommodate Scripture to culture, and those who will attempt to shape culture by Scripture...there are issues more central to the gospel than gender issues.  However, there may be no way the authority of Scripture is being undermined more quickly or more thoroughly in our day than through the hermeneutics of egalitarian readings of the Bible.  And when the authority of Scripture is undermined, the gospel will not long be acknowledged." p. 19 

Grudem defines theological liberalism as "a system of thinking that denies the complete truthfulness of the Bible as the Word of God and denies the unique and absolute authority of the Bible in our lives." (p.15) He also defines on the same page evangelical feminism as "a movement that claims there are no unique leadership roles for men in marriage or in the church...(and that) leadership is to be shared between husband and wife according to their gifts and desires."

It is as much the issues that are concerning as the logic that is used to justify those conclusions.  Grudem's book does an excellent and often scholarly job examining the logic evangelical feminists are using to justify their views.  He examines the most common arguments as well as many that I'd never heard of.  For such a deeply theological book of arguments, it is surprisingly readable.  The first few chapters and ending chapters are particularly important reading.  

Grudem mentions that "Francis Schaeffer warned years ago that the first generation of Christians who lead the church astray doctrinally change only one key point in their doctrinal position and change nothing else, so it can seem for a time that the change is not too harmful.  But their followers and disciples in the next generation will take the logic of their arguments much further and will advocate much more extensive kinds of error." (p. 20)  In the beginning and ending chapters, he gives examples of how what Schaeffer warned about has come to pass in many churches over the years.  These examples are interwoven with the chapters.

In the process of reading so many books over the past three years, I've come to think much more critically about what I read and what I believe.  I am thankful that reading this book was able to finally give the biblical support for what I've come to believe about evangelical feminism and the Bible.  The first section of the book explains why examining this issue matters.  Next, Grudem examines the arguments.  Finally, he moves on to the future implications of evangelical feminism and where it is taking us.  In this section, I was particularly struck by chapter 33.  Though Grudem often gives very direct arguments and identifies church denominations, professors, and even organizations that hold evangelical feminist ideas, he exhorts readers to respond in kindness and gentleness to all. 

               "No matter how seriously we differ with other brothers and sisters in Christ, we must continue to treat them with kindness and love.  We must continue to report their positions truthfully, without distortion or misrepresentation." (p. 252)

I think no matter what the issue is that is wise advice.  Often we feel so strongly and passionately about issues that we forget to speak in kindness and love one another well.

If you have struggled with this issue as I have or are puzzling through it now, I highly recommend this book.  You may not want to read every argument and counter argument, but the beginning, major arguments, and ending chapters are very valuable reading.  If you disagree with me and think that the Bible leaves room for an egalitarian view of marriage, then I will pray that you will read and consider the logic behind what you believe and how you view the authority of Scripture.  If we don't accept the authority of Scripture and that God is who he says He is, the gospel is no longer needed.  

I am thankful to have read this book--especially chapter 33.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Crossway Books.

Bible Storybook Audio!

This past November Crossway published a new edition of The Big Picture Bible with 2 audio cds that give a full reading of the text. I loved the original edition so I was very excited that they were making a new edition that would include audio to accompany it. 


My girls are 5 and 7 and enjoyed the recording as we listened to it in the car yesterday. The recording is made to read the story Bible while listening so it has a small bell sound after each page to signal the child to turn the page. I think this Story Bible is best for 4-6 year olds. With the audio, it would be a great nap time diversion for children who need to spend some time in their room while younger siblings nap (like mine do). The voice on the audio is very easy to listen to. At times it almost seems a little slow, but if you are reading along, it's a good tempo. We were listening to it without the book last night, so that was why it seemed a little slow with the beeps for turning the pages. 


The Story Bible gives children a great view of what the Bible is all about--rather than teaching the stories from the Bible as isolated stories. It really helps children understand that the Bible is all about God's plan. A friend just mentioned to me that her pastor preached a sermon about this last week.  I think it's wonderful to help children understand this at such an early age.


The other edition is still available on Amazon without the audio, but I'd really recommend getting the edition with the audio for just a few more dollars instead. 


Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book from Crossway for review.


These are our Favorite Story Bibles Per Ages:


Ages 1-3:  Read Aloud Bible Stories by Ella Lindvall (volumes 1-4)
Ages 2-4:  Read and Share Bible (now in 2 volumes with DVDs)
Ages 4-6:  The Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm
Ages 6-10:  Mighty Acts of God by Starr Meade

Kids' Devotional Books Full of Truth

In August, I noticed that two new devotional books were going to be published by Crossway in September.  One is entitled God's Mighty Acts in Creation and the other is God's Mighty Acts in Salvation, both by Starr Meade.  I was very curious what these two books would be like.  I've read many books for kids that try to engage kids by either watering down the truth or simplifying concepts so that much of the Bible's truth is missed.

God's Mighty Acts in Creation is about how all of Creation points to God.  In our culture, children are inundated with the belief that man has made everything that we have created our own world.  Science sets out to prove that God doesn't exist.  As parents, we need to help our children see God in the world around us.  Rather than proving that God doesn't exist, science points to all that we don't know and the amazing complexity of His Creation, our world.  But, we need to help them see this.  This devotional is a wonderful way to help children learn to open their eyes.

When I first began reading God's Mighty Acts in Creation, my family was traveling on a long trip to my brother's wedding.  I read the second entry to my husband that includes a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.  When I finished reading, he commented on how impressed he was at how the author was able to explain the poem at a kid's level.  My husband is not easily impressed.  I was impressed as well.  Honestly, I hadn't read the poem before and Ms. Meade's explanation helped me understand it.


All that said, though, this book will probably still surprise you.  It is not simply a book about light and darkness, plants, animals, and people.  It is a book about seeing God.  One of the entries about plants talks about how life changes, but that the things that really matter don't--God and His Word.  Knowing and remembering this can help us accept the changes in our life and seek what really matters.  Many important spiritual truths are woven into this book.

The second book is God's Mighty Acts in Salvation.  This devotion is based on a collection of talks she gave to the children at her church while her pastor was preaching from Galatians.  She addresses a variety or points from Galatians including who wrote Galatians and to who, Paul's authority, freedom in Christ, salvation plus nothing, faith producing works, and real fruit.  I loved the entry that she wrote about Abraham and Sarah and how Sarah thought God needed help in keeping the promise He made about them having a child.  It is in reference to Galatians 4:28.  This entry addresses the false teacher that Galatians were listening to that they had to work to enjoy God's favor.  


Very rarely as I read these books, I did come across an example that was not exactly the way I would have put it to my children.  The example that comes to my mind from the book about Salvation was just a little more blunt than the way I have been teaching my children to say things.  I know I sometimes am particularly sensitive to blunt speech, often to a fault I think.  Starr Meade's heart is very apparent through all of her talks and there is love and grace in the entries in this book.  


I highly recommend these two books.  I think that they would be most appropriate for 8-12 year olds.  The truths are definitely relevant for a 13 year old and 7 year old as well, so if you are wondering if they would be right for your family, you can read samples from these books on Amazon.


It is such an encouragement to me as a parent to find good books that I look forward to reading with my children that I know will help them understand the truths that I so dearly want them to know in their hearts.  


Please note that I was given complimentary copies of these two books for review by Crossway Books.

Hmm... Doctrine

Hmmm... Once in a while I come across a book that you know is meant not to be rushed. It isn't meant to be sped read or skipped around in. It is one of those books that I need to read 2 or 3 pages at a time, chewed on, pondered, and then understood. 

I just opened up one of those books. I literally think it may take me a year to read it. So, I'm posting a pre-review. The book is Doctrine by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears. I just read the first 5 pages and appreciate it immensely. It is easy to read and thorough, yet intelligent. All explanations are sited thoroughly with scripture--even in the first 5 pages which begin by explaining the Trinity. This book is intelligent, but not intellectual.

At Crossway's website, you can read Chapter 9 and read the Table of Contents.

http://www.crossway.org/product/9781433506253

All that being said, I don't know that I am always going to agree with the theology that Driscoll puts forth in this book, but I do know that I am going to take what he and his co-author says to the Word and to the Lord in prayer.  


This is a book that also would be a good reference tool when you get stuck and struggle to understand a theological idea that is preached about in church or is a book you're reading or that friends are discussing.  


I skipped ahead and read the discussion of Wesleyan and Arminian theology and it is surprisingly far more complicated than the discussion of the Trinity.  
And on that note, I want to mention that this book is definitely written at an 11th/12 grade or college reading and comprehension level.  


Please note that I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book for review by Crossway Books.

This review is a little complicated...

How do you call attention to concerns you have about the church? About how churches have become like the world? How business philosophies have taken over and churches run themselves not like churches, but like businesses?

If you're John MacArthur, you write a book and you preach sermons to call attention to what is burdening your heart. Ashamed of the Gospel is a book that he wrote over 15 years ago. A new, updated edition has been published this year.

A few weeks ago, I was discussing this book with my husband and I read him several excerpts and asked him questions. He felt the book was alarmist and not thorough. I knew that I was only sharing excerpts with him and he wasn't getting the whole picture of the book. He encouraged me to read Deep Church and contrast the tone of that book with this one.

I have started Deep Church and it is written differently. But, the subject matter is different as well. Both books are concerned about the church. Deep Church specifically examines the seven major concerns that the emerging church movement has with what they consider the "traditional" church. Whereas, Ashamed of the Gospel is a call to churches that are appealing to what people want to hear rather than preaching the Gospel. MacArthur did not update the bulk of the book. He wrote a new preface and an updated ending that does address the emergent church/the emerging church movement.

There are many people in and outside Christian churches who believe that the church should be more culturally relevant and should give people what they want--meet their needs socially, emotionally, and physically. In this book, MacArthur is calling people to trust God. He wants people to remember that it is God who calls people to Himself--not us and our efforts. He is not saying that the church has no responsibility to evangelize, but he calls people to do it biblically by preaching the gospel to one another--both the believers and nonbelievers that they know. When we turn to the business world for advice, we begin to take a marketing approach to evangelism--an approach which is about pleasing people first of all (the buyer and the seller), not about glorifying God.

The book starts out by explaining how modernist philosophy permeated our culture and then how that progressed to a postmodern and then pragmatic philosophy about life. From there, MacArthur addresses the foundations of what the seeker-sensitive movement called for the mainline Christian churches to change. The crux of what they called for in the 1990s was for churches to become culturally relevant. That has a lot of implications for church doctrine and ecclesiology--how church is done. Interestingly, it is now the Emergent Church/Emerging Church Movement that is now calling for the seeker-sensitive churches and other mainline protestant churches to change. It seems to be expressing a similar concern to the seeker sensitive church movement of the 1990s--that the church needs to be more culturally relevant.

I would use the word "thick" to describe this book. It is a biblical and strong defense that might be especially useful for pastors and lay people who are in leadership in their churches. This book is a thorough examination of why the church should not function the way the business world would recommend. At the same time, it is also a defense of why, above all else, we need to trust God and seek Him when we are sharing the Gospel with our neighbors in church and out of church.

If you enjoy MacArthur's books, then you will be encouraged by this one. If you haven't read one before, I would recommend that you preview it beforehand to make sure that his style of writing and presenting information is what you are looking for. At the Crossway website, you can preview the first chapter: http://www.crossway.org/product/9781433509292

Please note that I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book for review by Crossway.