Review of "Grace and Truth in Paradox" by Randy Alcorn

I read this book several years ago, on a recommendation of a good friend. It's a slim book, maybe 100 pages altogether, but surprisingly powerful. I decided to review this one today in light of current events and discussions between friends and family on this subject.

Alcorn, writer of both thrillers and practical theology, is probably best known for his work "Heaven", which came out a few years ago, which is quite excellent. This work on grace and truth is probably his best, considering how concise and organized his thoughts are on this complicated subject.

How is grace and truth in paradox? Only Jesus did the balance perfectly. So many Christians, being still fallen, yet constantly being made holy, lean towards one more than another. And so, we're called hypocrites by the outside world, and even by fellow believers. Those who burn abortion clinics and those who preach the prosperity gospel have this in common; they've not understood this crucial paradox in the light of their proud hearts.

Those who claim that they know what God's specific will is for their lives and everyone else whom they have been entrusted with via 'a peace in their hearts' are also in danger of greatly misunderstanding this concept of grace and truth. As I've said in person to many friends, I can have a "peace" in my heart about murdering someone, or burning down an abortion clinic, but that's simply because I've deadened my conscience to the point where it hears only what it wants to hear, and then passing it off as what God wants, no matter how seemingly sincere they are. In the words of an old prophet, "woe unto them". Ah, but it's an old story, isn't it? We can all think of people who have perverted the name of Christ in the name of their own political or personal agendas. Lord, save us from your followers. (That's the title of a book I want to read.)
Truth, as an objective word, is ultimately found only in God's Word. Grace, as an objective word, is followed quickly by knowing Truth and believing it for one's salvation and eternal security, in which God grants freedom to the believer in spite of their sin. To the one who believes unto righteousness (thanks, King Jimmy!)

One cannot have only Truth or only Grace. In the search for genuine believers or a fresh start after one being stagnant in the faith for some time, one can often decide to lean towards the opposite position than one grew up with. For instance; I grew up in a conservative (read: Truth filled) background, filled with great knowledge of who Christ is, and that great belief that gives salvation. However, I'll be the first to admit that grace often lacked in our household. With not enough distribution of grace with my siblings and parents, too often criticism pervaded, along with criticism's lovely cousin, guilt.

As a result of being a young adult, and also recently married, I've seen how I've yearned in the past few years to walk towards more grace in my life. This is something I am thankful for, but also I must walk with prayerful caution. Otherwise, I'll start preaching alongside Joel Osteen. Grace so that sin might more abound? May it never be!
Balance is key, just like everything else in life--one's marriage, one's relationships, etc.

I've also observed closely those growing up with a more prevalent "Grace filled" household, where more things were let go in the name of grace, or more understanding was given, and it has led to either a complete disavowment of Christianity come adulthood, or 'Christian' legalism. Of course, a good dowsing of Truth with no Grace can also lead to a disavowment of Christianity because it's not Jesus they serve, it's ultimately their own proud idolatrous hearts, who either love legalism or love liberalism.
Man, I think I'm sounding more and more like my mother. I won't rant any longer. I have my own paradoxes that could be analyzed in that regard, yet should be be saved for another time. May I, and you, my dear readers, become more and more like Jesus, who lovingly gave both grace and truth in equal measure.

much love, truth, and grace in Christ

Joy M

Review of "The Shack" by William P. Young

Via my dear friend Molly's request, I'm now reviewing the ever so popular (if somewhat controversial, which are always entertaining) book, The Shack.

If you're looking for a rant, you'll only find a half-baked one here. If you happen to live in a shack yourself, and haven't heard or read it, this book chronicles the (fictional? Non-fictional?) short story of a man named MacKenzie who loses his daughter in a horrible accident, and spends a weekend with God, in various forms, in a shack in the woods. Before I read a book where I don't know the author, I read the back cover, to see who recommends the book, and then yes, occasionally, judge the book by its cover. This time, however, the people who recommended it intrigued me. Michael W. Smith??! Since when does HE recommend books? Well-known musicians who are sometimes actors in small Christian films do not always equal authors or documented book reviewers.
But this reviewer made me more willing to read the book--Eugene Peterson, author of The Message, and one of the most well-rounded theologians of the 21st century, in my opinion. He equated it with Pilgrim's Progress. Well. A book that's stood as the 2nd most bestselling book besides the Bible for the past 4 centuries? Here we go!

The first half I had the most problems with. Young decided to first portray God to MacKenzie as a woman. I have a pretty good feeling he knew good and well that he'd upset most conservative Christians with this portrayal, including Albert Mohler and others. I understand that he was trying to put God out of the box we've created for Him, where many people (possibly from Catholic backgrounds, nominal Christians) see Him as this Zeus character with a long flowing beard. However, there are so many other people who don't view God this way. For instance, yours truly.
I remember going to church, singing a few songs on the Sunday where I had only read this first part of the book. The image of a "woman-God", no matter how loving "She" is, was incredibly disturbing to me, and actually somewhat hindered my ability to worship the Lord I know who is not that way. One person who reviewed this book viewed Young taking God out of one box, and putting him in a few other ones, and creating Him in Young's various human images. I'd say that's a fairly accurate position. That is a pretty dangerous position to be before God. I would not want to be William P. Young for that.

However, I believe the best part of the book came at the end. His answer to the question of evil, posed by Lady Wisdom, was quite excellent. 'Who are you to judge why earthquakes and tsunamis happen? You should come up here and judge for yourself, and carry the world on your shoulders, and then decide.' (My own paraphrase--apologies) The answer is in humility before the Lord, not thinking we know better than God. Therefore, that section is quite good.

I would recommend this book to nominal Christians, simply because it might take them a book like this to wake them up. Who is God, anyway? Maybe Young won't provide all the answers, but hey, if the Lord uses this seed, so be it, and Amen.

I would also recommend this book to mature believers in the faith. Those willing to not swallow everything they read as gospel-truth, but keeping one eye critical and one eye open to new ideas. This is essential to communicating effectively and biblically to those who are observing us. Also, let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

I would definitely not recommend this to new believers, otherwise too much confusion would needlessly arise. New believers need simple discipleship, not their Christian worldview turned upside down, again. Same reason why Calvinism shouldn't be explained during evangelism. One thing at a time.

I could say more, but that's the jist. Hope it's helpful to some.
Thanks for reading.
-Joy M.

Review of "Brothers, We are Not Professionals" by John Piper

This book could not have come at a better time for American evangelicalism. John Piper seems to be at the center of myriads of controversies regarding his unpopular positions on abortion and complementarianism (to name a few biggies). Therefore, it's not much of a surprise that he might have gotten heat for this next book. Piper peers into a not much discussed controversy in his book, "Brothers, We Are Not Professionals." 'Christian Professional Ministry' is quite popular in thousands of evangelical churches in America. Heck, we probably wouldn't even have mega-churches if it wasn't for the beginnings of professional ministry back in the 1980s.

Disclaimer: I define "professional ministry" as those specifically gearing their local churches in forms of business corporations, not parachurch organizations like WorldVision and the like. There is definitely room for businessmen in the church, and I, for one, laud the work being done in Christ's name through those ministries.

I loved this book. Seriously, Piper knows how to lay it out on the table, and I'm sure not just a few pastors who pick up this book might not wince a little to read how quickly he can label their churches. Piper isn't against pastors who get salaries as much as he is those who are hired at churches for their 'talents in business' or their MBAs and not for their servants' hearts. Men like Francis Chan, who live only on 10% of their pastoral salary, are a prime example that living on little CAN be done.
Why do churches feel like they must run their churches like corporations? Unfortunately, when churches rate their success rate by how many visitors they have per week and not by how many mature believers they disciple, people become disilluioned, quite quickly.
As Piper put it, Christians in ministry should act the exact oppposite of those in 'professional' careers, simply because our treasure is not here on earth, where we reap the dividends of visitors or new believers giving hundreds of dollars in the offering plate for the new flat screens in the church lobby, or to help the church get out of debt because of the huge acreage needed to give their new building a lift. Our treasure is in heaven, of the people we invest in with the gospel of Christ, discipling those to become more like Him.
This book. Is. Awesome. Read it--especially those of you working in any kind of church ministry, in big or small roles.
Most sincerely,
Joy M

Why One Reads.

Hello, dear friends, close and far. I attempted to start a blog a few weeks before I got married, which was not the smartest idea ever, since I couldn't remember what the url was, the email I chose, or anything after the fact. So, here's to doing things again, with enthusiasm.
This blog is not meant to be one of many blogs that enjoys ranting about why they don't like this kind of book, or how our world's going to hell in a handbasket. These ideas, however truthful they may be, are just another voice in the chorus of monotony; and in the true spirit of Americanism, I wish to be unique.
But not so unique, at the same time, for my goal is to challenge myself and my readers to a higher intellect, one used to serve and worship Christ via reading. The expansion of the mind, I say!

But really, why use the medium reading, to achieve this higher intellect? I can define "higher intellect" as thinking beyond what one is commonly used to thinking in an every day work environment; the use of the imagination to bring oneself closer to the Great Idea that is God. (God is my Father, but He also embodies the Great Idea that is beyond human imagination)

Reason 1: I think one of the very few things I remember from my Pysch 101 class was that every time you read a book, your vocabulary goes up by 100%. Perhaps it was her way of getting us to read our dull textbook, or wanting us to sound smarter, but it was the one statistic I can recall, but it seems to be true. People I know who do not speak well often do not enjoying reading. I do not mean speechifying like public speaking, but in every day conversation with others. So, reading can help your verbal communication. Excellent.
Reason 2: It can transport you to another time and space, to help us better understand the world you live in. Negatively, it can also create a world you would rather never leave because you like it better your current one, but that's another discussion for another time. But positively, this has innumerable consequences that are far more than ordinary.

My purpose for this blog is simply this-- I read about 5 books per week, and I often do share what I find in person with my husband, friends, or family. But this can be so much more fun, and I get to write again! Even if no one ever reads it, I believe that I "feel His pleasure" (in the words of Eric Liddell) when I write, or speak of theology. So, there's a long introduction for something that will be little more than book reviews and other opinions.
Invigorated as ever,