Book Review: "Knowing God," J.I. Packer
So many good books are released with such regularity these days that it’s easy for “classic” books to fall away into the background, eclipsed by the FOMO rush to stay up with the latest buzz in Christian publishing. C.S. Lewis said, "It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between.”…
So many good books are released with such regularity these days that it’s easy for “classic” books to fall away into the background, eclipsed by the FOMO rush to stay up with the latest buzz in Christian publishing. C.S. Lewis said, "It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between.”
The book I’m going to talk about briefly here is actually not that old. J.I. Packer’s Knowing God was released in 1973, but it has stood the test of time as a classic work of theology that could edify all believers who are serious about, well . . . serious about “knowing God.” Setting the tone for this work, Packers opens the book by quoting Charles Spurgeon: “The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the doings and the existence of the great God whom he calls Father.” And that’s what Knowing God is — a study of the attributes of the Biblical God, including his wisdom, majesty, love, goodness, truthfulness and wrath.
This is definitely a book of theology, which is simply the study of who God is. For many, theology is a chore, but everyone should realize that we all adhere to a theology — that is, we all have thoughts about who God is, and who God isn’t; what he does, and what he doesn’t do. That’s theology. The important thing to consider is whether your thoughts about God are in line with how God has revealed himself to be on the pages of Scripture, because if your thoughts about God are not Scriptural, the god you are thinking about is a false god.
Some avoid the study of theology because they are afraid it might make them confused, or that their faith will become heartless and too intellectual, or that they will become puffed up in self-righteous condescension. It’s true, these unfortunate results can happen, but Packer offers a correction to this in the very early pages of the book. He says the study of theology is ”bound to go bad on us” if we “come to think of ourselves as a cut above other Christians” (p. 21). So instead, as we grow in theological understanding, “we turn each truth we learn about God into matter for meditation before God, leading to prayer and praise to God.”
One of the good things about this book is that Packer does not allow theology to turn into a dry academic exercise, as is evidenced by his treatment of the wisdom of God, based on the book of Ecclesiastes. HIs words are worth repeating at length:
“The God who rules (the world) hides himself. Rarely does this world look as if a beneficent Providence were running it . . . We feel sure that God has enabled us to understand all his ways with us and our circle thus far, and we take it for granted that we shall be able to see at once the reason for anything that may happen to us in the future. And then something very painful and quite inexplicable comes along, and our cheerful illusion of being in God’s secret councils is shattered. Our pride is wounded; we feel that God has slighted us . . . This is what happens when we do not heed the message of Ecclesiastes. For the truth is that God in his wisdom, to make and keep us humble and to teach us to walk by faith, has hidden from us almost everything that we should like to know about the providential purposes which he is working out in the churches and in our own lives.” (p.106).
This book is definitely worth picking up again, if you read it back in the day and have forgotten about it. And it’s definitely worth reading if you’re learning about it for the first time right here. Instead of clicking “purchase” on that new release, consider putting this old classic by J.I. Packer in the cart instead.
Book Review: "Tune In," Mark Lewisohn
It might seem strange that a pastor would write a book review on the Beatles, but all of history is God’s history, all of life is theological, and to some degree, the Beatles’ creativity reflected the glory of their Creator, even though they apparently didn’t know it, and sadly didn’t give proper thanks for the gifts God gave them…
It might seem strange that a pastor would write a book review on the Beatles, but all of history is God’s history, all of life is theological, and to some degree, the Beatles’ creativity reflected the glory of their Creator, even though they apparently didn’t know it, and sadly didn’t give proper thanks for the gifts God gave them.
So much has been written about the Beatles over the years, but after Mark Lewisohn finishes this exhaustive three-volume project, it's hard to imagine what else could be said. Lewisohn is devoting his life to uncovering every interview, reading every article, and interviewing every surviving eyewitness that might have anything at all to say about the band who changed everything during their time together in the 1960s.
Because the Beatles are frequently praised ad nauseum by music fans everywhere, it has become fashionable lately to deconstruct their legacy and suggest that maybe they weren't so great after all. This book is not intended as a Beatles apologetic, but the case for their greatness is implicit throughout -- how they combined cutting edge originality with mainstream popularity; how their earliest songs were catchy yet struck listening ears as something they'd never heard before; and how they resisted all branding, commercial sponsorship and hype. "The Beatles didn't invent the electric guitar..., but every rock band since 1963 is fulfilling their legacy." (p.2)
It was surprising to learn how hard it was for the Beatles to finally "make it." They were rejected by record companies frequently. They were often on the verge of quitting. They desperately needed the right manager (Brian Epstein) and the right studio producer (George Martin) to make the whole thing work. But at just the right time, or, according to God's providence, all the pieces fell together.
Speaking of God's providence, the Beatles and their handlers were certainly no fans of the church or the Christian faith, and there are legitimate concerns that can be raised about their influence on 1960s youth culture. But John, Paul, George and Ringo were all raised in either Protestant or Catholic homes, which had an effect on them. John Lennon once remarked, "I've always suspected there was a God even when I thought I was an atheist." (p.84) And George Harrison, reflecting on his time in church as a kid, took notice of the oil paintings of Christ carrying the cross on his back, acknowledging that, “There’s something going on there.” (p.65).
One of the most striking features of this entire project is that after a full 800 pages in this first volume, the story has only reached the beginning of 1963. The Beatles haven't even released an album yet. Beatlemania has not yet happened. The boys haven't even visited America. That will be explained in volume 2, which all readers of this book are eagerly awaiting.
Book Review: "The Ones Who Drive You Crazy," Jamie Dunlop
This would have been a great book for all Christians to read in the summer of 2020, when the pandemic was raging, but it was not released until 2023, after the benefits of hindsight could take effect…
This would have been a great book for all Christians to read in the summer of 2020, when the pandemic was raging, but it was not released until 2023, after the benefits of hindsight could take effect. Sometimes we need time to pass for our vision to become clear on a matter, and Jamie Dunlop provides considerable clarity about how we in the church can and should pursue unity over the various secondary disagreements we hold.
Of course the problem is that often our disagreements are rooted in deeply held convictions about hugely important topics that might seem primary, so those with differing opinions become "the ones who drive you crazy.” We ask ourselves — "how can we go to the same church with people who think like that?" But Dunlop does a good job showing that our priority should not be to settle all disagreements or to prove ourselves right (at least on secondary matters), but to showcase God's glory through the unity of the church. Societal concerns should move to the background while church unity should be shifted into the foreground (p.61).
The most essential insight from this book, for me personally, was that disagreements in church life are not actually a distraction from “real ministry," but the main event of ministry – the opportunity to love those with whom we disagree in a way that exalts Christ's love for us. The most important thing in the midst of disagreement is not actually to be proven right on the issue of wearing masks or using preferred pronouns or whether to vote for Donald Trump. “If everyone agreed on all these matters, church would be a lot easier. But easy love rarely shows off Gospel power.” (p.6).
During the political and pandemic disputes of 2020, it sometimes felt like church unity (more broadly speaking, not necessarily at New Life) shifted into the background while societal concerns became the main event. Thankfully the Lord is patient with us so we can regroup, humble ourselves and hopefully be better prepared for the next issue that challenges the unity of Christ's bride.
Book Review: "Biblical Critical Theory," Christopher Watkin
Given all of the effusive advance praise for this book, one would think it is the best treatment of Christian cultural engagement since Augustine's City of God. The book doesn't quite meet that standard, but it is definitely worth the extended time necessary to read it if you are interested in how Christianity provides an alternative and superior way of looking at the world as compared to competing secular approaches to reality…
Given all of the effusive advance praise for this book, one would think it is the best treatment of Christian cultural engagement since Augustine's City of God. The book doesn't quite meet that standard, but it is definitely worth the extended time necessary to read it if you are interested in how Christianity provides an alternative and superior way of looking at the world as compared to competing secular approaches to reality.
The book begins by considering the main elements of the book of Genesis and continues through the book of Revelation, following the storyline of biblical redemptive history (creation > sin > Babel > Abraham > Moses > wisdom > incarnation > cross > resurrection > last days) to draw out implications for how the Bible makes sense of reality. "One way of evaluating a view of the world is to examine whether it can integrate multiple realities effectively or whether it has one umbilical mold into which it attempts to pour all other perspectives." (328).
For instance, the fact that God has created the world means the universe is essentially personal, which makes sense of human dignity; if we are not made in the image of God, then we are made in the image of something less than God, which will necessarily be dehumanizing; the doctrine of sin means no one is inherently superior to any other, because we all stand before God guilty, whether a beggar or a king; since the fall comes after creation, this means evil is not essential or intrinsic to the universe, and there is hope that it can be overcome; the Christian view of linear time gives meaning to the flow of world history; Christianity is not tied to any one culture but is truly multicultural, while also refusing to affirm every culture as equally good. At every point of the Biblical story, these are the kinds of observations Watkin makes.
There are places where this book is not an easy read. Watkin interacts with many ancient and contemporary thinkers and philosophers, so some paragraphs will require repeated readings. But Watkin brings a humble posture to the material, never sounding condescending or pretentious. He obviously possesses a brilliant intellect, but seems like a guy you'd be comfortable having lunch with.
However challenging the book might be in places, there is no doubt that it is of essential importance for Christians to examine the world through the lens of a "biblical critical theory,” because all of us have a view of the world, whether we know it or not. As Watkin puts it: "People do not differ according to whether they are guided by a cultural and social theory but by whether they realize it or not, and to go through life not realizing the theoretical assumptions and commitments that are shaping you is like letting a stranger decorate your house, choose your clothes, select your children's school, and drive your car without having to ask your permission."
Book Review: "Crazy Busy," Kevin DeYoung
As we start a new year, some of us are thinking about resolutions to make for 2025 — more tasks and goals to add to our already busy schedules…
As we start a new year, some of us are thinking about resolutions to make for 2025 — more tasks and goals to add to our already busy schedules. Could it be that it might be more healthy for us to make a list of things NOT to do? If you are “crazy busy,” it might be worth considering.
It has always struck me as ironic that in an age of so many modern conveniences, including phones that are supposed to be smart enough to do a lot of work for us, we are nonetheless more busy than ever before. That’s what Pastor Kevin DeYoung seeks to address in “Crazy Busy,” which was released back in 2013, when we probably weren’t as busy as we are now.
This is a book for those who wake up every day with the motor running, as DeYoung describes himself. For me personally, a person who frequently finds himself more busy than I'd like, I was encouraged to hear that there others out there who wish they ate better, kept better track of receipts, programmed the presets in the car, and “knew where those little thingies for the basketball pump were….” (p.114). The only thing worse than being too busy is simultaneously thinking that you’re still not doing enough.
There is indeed something strange about the fact that I say I hate being so busy, but don't do anything to stop it. Could it be that there is something in my heart that wants to be busy, that finds some kind of reward or justification in always having something to do? What is that? As Peter Kreeft has written, “We want to be harried and hassled and busy. Unconsciously, we want the very things we complain about.” (p.83).
In the end, it ironically takes hard work not to be so busy. We have to plan for it now, learn to say no, accept our finitude. Remember that busyness does not equal holiness, and that even Jesus said no. Even Jesus didn’t do everything. “(Jesus) knew that if he were to accomplish the purposes God had for him, he would have to pass up ten thousand good purposes other people had for his life . . . If Jesus had to live with human limitations, we’d be foolish to think we don’t.” (p.60)
These are just a few of the lessons I learned from this very practical and balanced book. And best of all, it's short, so you can definitely fit it into your busy schedule.
Book Review: "A Postmillennial Primer," Andrew Sandlin
Let's just admit it – eschatology is confusing. So many different views, and so many brilliant thinkers disagreeing on all of them...
Recently there has been an uptick of interest in postmillennialism, which is a particular eschatological view (that is, a view of the future or the “end time”) that was popular in the 19th century but has fallen out of favor since then. In the PCA, there is no requirement for pastors to hold to any one eschatological position, but most tend to lean toward amillennialism. That’s how I would have described myself for most of my ministry, but the postmil lately has gotten my attention.
According to Andrew Sandlin, the postmil view expects three things to happen sometime (and maybe a long way off) in the future: an extended era of earthly righteousness and peace; the incremental advancement of God's kingdom; and the presence of God to empower his people in their "kingdom-advancing commission" (p.33). Bottom line is that it is a very optimistic way of looking at the future.
In other words, the Christian hope is not that the world is going to get increasingly dark and evil as we get closer to Christ's return (even though that might appear to be the case in our current day). Instead, the overall number of Christians as a percentage of the population is going to get larger, not smaller. Should we expect anything less when the resurrected Christ, to whom is given all power and authority, is equipping and empowering the Great Commission?
One reason this book is valuable is that it presents a brief overview of each of the major eschatological views (dispensationalism, premillennialism and amillennialism). Then in the second half of the book, Sandlin reasons from scripture that postmillennialism makes the best sense of the entire Biblical story. (Sandlin admits that an optimistic amillennialism is basically the same as postmillennialism).
With eschatology in particular, it's easy to get so deep in the weeds that we miss the broad scope of redemptive history. Sandlin makes the case that the postmil view makes the best sense when we simply start in the first few chapters of Genesis, not in Revelation. "God's purpose is not chiefly to save man and fit him for heaven, but to restore him to covenant-keeping submission and his calling as God's dominion agent in the earth." (p.70).
Sandlin also dispels two common critiques of postmillennialism -- that it leads to a denial of Christ's second coming (a view called “full preterism,” which is plainly and accurately called “heresy" in ch. 6), and that it leaves no room for the reality of suffering since it is basically optimistic. "There is no room for a Christian army that craves victories without battles, glory without pain." (p.72). The fact that we can expect an “incremental advancement of God's kingdom” in the future does not mean there won’t be setbacks and various troubles for believers to contend with.
This book is short (77 pages), so by no means does it answer all the questions surrounding the timing and circumstances of Jesus’ second coming, but it’s a great place to start. Those interested in further reading on this topic should consider these options:
Commentaries on Ephesians
Every responsible preaching pastor will use commentaries on the Biblical text to help and guide him in the preparation of sermons...
Every responsible preaching pastor will use commentaries on the Biblical text to help and guide him in the preparation of sermons. That is certainly the case with regard to the current sermon series on Ephesians (which resumed Oct. 27), so I thought I’d share with you the commentaries that I am using in this series, in case you are interested in further personal study on this great New Testament book.
The four commentaries to which I have been referring, in order of simplicity to complexity, are the following:
Let’s Study Ephesians, Sinclair Ferguson — This is an excellent tool if you are looking for a commentary that is easy to read and not too deep in the weeds. It’s perfect for someone relatively new to the book of Ephesians, or even new to Christianity, or who is perhaps looking for a morning devotional aid. Chapters are brief and Sinclair is always Gospel-centered and rich in insight.
Ephesians, Ian Hamilton — This commentary is actually quite similar to Ferguson’s in basic style, but just a little more lengthy and in depth. The value of reading multiple commentaries, of course, is that each writer brings new insights, observations and applications which flesh out our understanding of these Spirit-inspired texts.
The Message of Ephesians, John Stott. If I had to choose just one commentary on Ephesians to take with me on a desert island, this would be it. Stott possessed (he was graduated to glory in 2011) a very unique gift of bringing scholarly analysis with contemporary application in a highly organized way. Stott was an amazingly clear thinker. (This is the longest of the four commentaries listed here).
The Letter to the Ephesians, Constantine Campbell. This commentary is part of The Pillar New Testament Commentary series, which leans more academic, but Campbell is careful not to get too sidetracked on technical issues that only the scholars debate (which can be common for the higher-level commentaries). Campbell addresses the big questions but is brief and clear in his explanations.
Since it is such a popular book of the Bible, there are countless other commentaries available on Ephesians, but I can say from experience that you can’t go wrong with any of the four volumes listed above.