BOOK REVIEWS

I often ask myself this question when I encounter a seemingly counter-intuitive social movement with strong media support in Western civilization such as the current issues surrounding gender identity.

In seeking to understand the movement, I came across The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution by Carl R. Trueman. In it, he aims to explore the philosophical underpinnings and social theory behind the phenomenon from the perspective of a Christian scholar.

“Every age has had its darkness and its dangers. The task of the Christian is not to whine about the moment in which he or she lives but to understand its problems and respond appropriately to them.”

The book’s underlying premise is that the early 21st-century ‘gender ideology’ and its current cultural infiltration are the sequelae of the late 20th-century sexual revolution which in turn is a by-product of the re-imagining of self and society that developed from 18th- and 19th-century philosophical thought.

To make his point, Trueman explores how the ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the Romanticists (Wordsworth, Shelley, and Blake), Friedrich Nietzche, and Charles Darwin contributed to the loss of innate teleology and the grounding of ethics in aesthetics. Through Sigmoid Freud and Marxist thinkers, the self was psychologized then psychology was sexualized, and finally, sexuality was politized. Trueman concludes by demonstrating how these developments, facilitated by technological advances, have transformed modern Western culture, specifically the American society, with special emphasis on surrealist art and eroticism and the pornification of mainstream culture championed by Hugh Hefner.

Trueman’s framework for analysis derives significant contributions from Charles Taylor’s concepts of social imaginary, immanent frame, mimesis/poiesis and expressive individualism, Philip Rieff’s ‘third world’ social theory and his concept of the therapeutic self and ‘deathworks’, and Alasdair Mcintyre’s elaboration on emotivism as a social theory.

Given my lack of expertise on the matter, it is difficult to determine whether he definitively establishes a causal relationship between analyzed theories and the current social issues in gender identity. However, his explanation is certainly plausible and has the added benefit of making several complex philosophical works accessible to a wider audience. The author’s tone is non-neutral and as such this book cannot be readily recommended to those caught in the wave of the movement. Nonetheless, I consider it a must-read for all 21st-century Christian leaders.

Rating: 4.75/5

(Retroactively) Reviewed October 2022 by Chico J. Collie

She was a young wife and mother of four children who passed away before both of her parents. It’s tempting to look at these facts with a pessimistic disposition or suave disinterest and say, “Life sucks” or “That’s just the way it is”. For others, it adds to their ever-growing list of reasons to lambast a ‘so-called god’ (or at least the idea of one) that would create such a broken world. Fortunately, this wasn’t how Kara viewed her life in retrospect.

“The fire stole my thirst for stuff, the things of life. And cancer stole my moments, replacing them with an intensity to live every breath with intention.” (pg. 71)

Cancer was only part of her story but it was an important one. For her, it was the means by which she received the gift of ‘noticing each moment’ and the ability to live faithfully with the seemingly mundane. This book, The Hardest Peace: Expecting Grace in the Midst of Life’s Hard, is a short Memoir, illustrating how she was able to reflect on her life with this new perspective. To some extent, it’s a book about life and how its sourness may help us savor its sweetness more fully.

Suffering had helped her to achieve the degree of honesty and transparency that she admired in others and we, the readers, are beneficiaries of her growth. Her life becomes a living allegory for the Gospel of Christ, where God in His profound wisdom is able to use the brokenness of life as a tool for grace-enabled, wholesomeness. If we humbly and experientially learn that lesson, just like Kara, we would be well on the way to capturing the hardest peace.

Rating: 4.25/5

(Retroactively) Reviewed September 2022 by Chico J. Collie

Albert Wolters, a Dutch Professor of Religion, Theology, and Classical languages, sought to briefly explain the Christian worldview from a reformed (so-called ‘neo-Calvinistic’) perspective by utilizing the classical motif of creation, fall, and redemption.

And he succeeds beautifully.

In Creation Regained, he defines ‘worldview’ (aka ‘life perspective’, ‘confessional vision’) as:

“The comprehensive framework of one’s basic (committed) beliefs about things”

He explains how they characteristically display a tendency toward pattern and coherence and function as a guide to life, analogous to a compass or road map. Therein lies the importance of understanding the concept.

“Nothing is ‘neutral’ in the sense that sin fails to affect it or that redemption fails to hold out the promise of deliverance.”

Professor Wolters understands that a truly Christian worldview must be informed by Christian scriptures (ie. the Bible) and the application of the same has innumerable personal and sociocultural implications. He offers useful insights for Christian worldview formation by integrating worldview thinking, theology and philosophy. One of the most memorable takeaways is the author’s use of the terms ‘structure’ and direction’ when distinguishing between good and evil which has pedagogical and practical utility. The book is theoretical in nature and won’t satisfy the needs of those looking for an immediately applicable text. However, for those looking to begin their journey towards Christian worldview thinking or supplement it after reading our book recommendation of the month for November 2021, this a great place to start.  

Rating: 4.75/5

(Retroactively) Reviewed August 2022 by Chico J. Collie

Titus Flavius Clemens, also known as Clement of Alexandria, was a 2nd-century AD Christian theologian and philosopher credited for describing philosophy as ‘the handmaiden of theology’. This designation illustrated two points. The first is the relative primacy of theology over philosophy. The second, however, shows the complementary nature between revelation and reason in historical Christian thought – a model of convergence endorsed by great Christian intellectuals of the past such as Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas, and continued by many present-day Christian theologians and philosophers.

Unfortunately, many Christian laypersons compartmentalize, or worse yet, antagonize theology and philosophy, disregarding the rich Christian intellectual tradition, sabotaging their preparation for ministry, and ignoring a key tool in spiritual formation. This may partly be due to the cognitive strain associated with learning philosophy, a field of inquiry popularly perceived to be immensely abstract. Hopefully, this introductory book by James K. Dew Jr and Paul M. Gould, tailored to a Christian audience, can overcome some of these challenges.

Philosophy is “The pursuit of knowledge and wisdom for the sake of flourishing”

Here, philosophy is discussed as a first-order discipline by focusing on some of its main branches: epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of religion, and ethics. The authors offer a fair representation of the various schools of thought and are transparent when opinions are offered on a particular view. There are places where the concepts discussed remain asymmetrically challenging such as in the chapter on ‘Properties and Universals’. I’m unsure if this is due to the authors’ delivery of the content or the complexity of the topic itself. Moreover, the discussion on the branch of Logic seems conspicuously abbreviated with a notable absence of a treatment on fallacies.

Overall, I found the book to be an engaging and, for the most part, well-written introduction to the field that was otherwise presented at an undergraduate college-reading level. I recommend it to the appropriate Christian reader who is in search of an introduction to the field of philosophy.  

Rating: 4.5/5

(Retroactively) Reviewed July 2022 by Chico J. Collie

Brett McCracken suggests that you may very well be malnourished, suffering from what he calls ‘information gluttony’. He offers the wisdom pyramid as a visual aid for wise living in this information age.

As a physician, I was instantly drawn to this image of the wisdom pyramid which is, of course, analogous to the USDA’s nutritional food pyramid – an iconographic model devised to illustrate the appropriate serving sizes for the various food groups (This is before the food plate supplanted it in 2011, but I digress). The wisdom pyramid in turn serves as a guide to the appropriate and proportional ‘consumption’ of information in terms of amount, source, and time allocation.

Written explicitly for a general Christian audience, the model is sound and essential and the book begins well by supplying the reader with a very relatable introduction. Unfortunately, after part 1, it becomes more of an exercise in exhortation than persuasion. Given this approach and the short length of the book, one may wonder if the content would have been more suitably presented as a blog entry instead (i.e., was a book really necessary?). Overall, though not revolutionary, it is helpful with useful application tips scattered throughout.

The book is a worthwhile read to those remaining interested, to whom we recommend it.

Rating: 3.75/5

(Retroactively) Reviewed June 2022 by Chico J. Collie

Here, Dr. Travis Dickinson advocates for an ‘intellectual faith’ which he conceptualizes as one that harbors intellectual curiosity for the glory of God, modeling the mind of Christ.

“Jesus should be, for us, the primary thought leader for all areas of life – including our disciplines, careers, and hobbies. If he is not, then Jesus is no Lord of our whole lives.”

I love that the idea of thinking both critically and Christianly is presented as complementary and not contradictory. The book had similarities to our book of the month for March 2022 but takes the conversation a step further by introducing truth tables, categorical logic, and abductive reasoning, as well as the theoretical and intellectual virtues, constituting something closer to a true introduction to the field of logic. Additionally, the practice problems in the appendix are a plus!

Unfortunately, the portrayal of ‘Jesus the logician’ was less convincing than anticipated (though my expectation may have been unfairly high) and, though a bit more technical than ‘Logic for Christians’, the content overall is probably still best categorized as a pre-introduction. Nevertheless, this entry should be a consideration for all Christians with no prior exposure to formal logic looking for an introductory primer to the field.

Rating: 4.25/5

(Retroactively) Reviewed May 2022 by Chico J. Collie

Here, Dr. Alister E. McGrath explores important points of contact for the apologist, the nature of faith, and expounds upon the various barriers to faith. Additionally, as with a fresh scalpel, he dissects and challenges some of the common opposing worldviews encountered in Western societies at the time.

“Probability, not certainty, is the law of the life of experience”

Richly laden with insights, this ~210-page book is a dense reservoir for the aspiring Christian apologist. It’s not the easiest or most exciting book on the subject matter that you’ll read but it’s an underestimated resource.

Rating: 4.75/5

(Retroactively) Reviewed April 2022 by Chico J. Collie

Since its inception in 2020, this ministry has been a proponent of the idea that ‘proper thinking is indispensable to knowing and loving God profoundly’. We operated upon the assumption that either that statement was being largely neglected by the Christian community or that those who believed it to be true, didn’t know how best to move forward in sound thinking. Today, we recommend a book that furthers our ministry’s elementary ambitions.

“You can’t hold a falsehood to the glory of God”

Written by Zach Lee, it can be thought of as a pre-introduction to logic and baby steps into the world of critical thinking. The first half of the book delves into the basics of truth, logic, language in relation to logic, presuppositions, argument forms, and causation. The remaining half is dedicated to addressing logical fallacies – common errors in thinking.

The book is ‘Christian’ in the sense that it utilizes issues relevant to the faith as examples to get the point across. Although some illustrations aren’t as vivid as the author likely intended, the basic principles of logical thought remain intact. We recommend this book for all Christians with no prior exposure to formal logic looking for a neatly simplified introduction.

Rating: 4/5

 (Retroactively) Reviewed March 2022 by Chico J. Collie

In this revised edition, Howard & William Hendricks set out to provide an easy-to-follow framework for the first group and gently correct the stance of the second. Yet, understanding the Bible is only part of the process.

“The mark of spiritual maturity is not how much you understand, but how much you use. In the spiritual realm, the opposite of ignorance is not knowledge but obedience.”

“The Bible does not yield its fruit to the lazy.”

It’s a solid book that serves as one of the contributing works for our ‘How to read (the Bible)’ series. The chapters are succinct, getting to the point and giving a feeling of progression. It’s designed for the layperson and not the scholar, so our recommendation follows suit.

Rating: 4.25/5

(Retroactively) Reviewed February 2022 by Chico J. Collie

Using the four great categories of philosophy as a framework, Dr. Kreeft sets forth the relevance of Jesus’ person to metaphysics, epistemology, anthropology, and ethics. In other words, if he is who he claims to be, how does that help provide the answer to the questions: what is real, how do we know what is real, who are we really, and how should we live?

 The author responds,

 “Christ is the ultimate epistemological revelation of ultimate metaphysical reality. Christ is the key to epistemology.”

“Christ is the key to anthropology.”

“…Christ is the fulfillment of morality.”

“…Christ is the fulfillment of philosophy.”

The book is short (~150 pages) and could be better thought of as a philosopher’s devotional with subtle apologetic overtones, including occasional, integrated comparisons to various other worldviews. I agree with Dr. Kreeft’s above insights and if Christians with only no or little prior introduction to philosophy are the primary audience, then I consider his approach to be a strength.

Negatively, aspects of my own (Protestant) theological convictions differ from that of the author’s and, as such, assertions grounded in those distinctions should be weighed appropriately by the reader. Though lightly peppered throughout, they are most conspicuous in the ‘Jesus and sex’ section and the latter part of the ‘Jesus’ anthropology’ chapter. Fortunately, the majority of the book is based upon the ‘mere Christianity’ principles of Christian theism and is mostly relevant to Christians across denominational lines.

 Rating: 3.75/5

(Retroactively) Reviewed January 2022 by Chico J. Collie

And then, there are those who see the divisive fruits of strict doctrinal adherence and avoid same for the sake of Christian unity (doctrinal minimalism). Doctrine has always divided (both in good and bad ways) and I suspect that, until the coming of Christ, it always will. Nonetheless, scripture is clear that both doctrinal soundness (1 Cor. 11:2, 1 Thess. 5:21, 1 Tim. 6:20-21, Jude 1:3) and Christian unity (2 Cor. 13:11, Rom. 12:16, Rom. 14:19, Eph. 4:1-6) ought to be pursued. Interestingly, both concepts function to complement one another in producing a spiritually mature believer (Eph. 4:11-16).

“Ultimately, doctrinal division cannot be avoided. Believe anything, and you are disbelieving its opposite and therefore dividing, in some sense, from those who don’t share your belief.”

The question then is, ‘How do we go about balancing the pursuit of doctrinal purity and church unity’?

The answer in part may be what Gavin Ortlund calls ‘theological triage’ where a system of prioritization is invoked, sorting doctrines by their kind of importance. Some Christians do this intuitively but what Dr. Ortlund suggest is a more thought-out, proactive process.

“…dire needs of the times require us to make strategic decisions of prioritization in order to be as effective as possible at pleasing Christ, serving the church, and advancing his gospel.”

He advocates for four subcategories:

·       1st rank: Doctrines essential to the gospel itself

·       2nd rank: Doctrines that are urgent for the health and practice of the church such that they frequently cause Christians to separate at the level of the local church, denomination, and/or ministry

·       3rd rank: Doctrines that are important to Christian theology but not enough to justify separation or division among Christians

·       4th rank: Doctrines that are unimportant to gospel witness and ministry collaboration

Dr. Ortlund then proceeds to state the importance of theological triage and elaborate on the points that should (and should not) be a part of the criteria for ranking doctrine.

In this relatively short work (~150 pages), the author’s thoughts are clear and careful. However, concrete examples seem to be too few, leaving the reader with some degree of uncertainty as to embark on the process. Additionally, we risk further dividing over the triage process itself. Nonetheless, the concept of ‘theological triage’ should be on the mind of every believer dedicated to taking seriously the Bible’s advocacy of both doctrinal soundness and Christian unity.

Rating: 4.25/5

Reviewed December 2021 by Chico J. Collie

Unfortunately, we live in an age where the pervasive influences of religious pluralism have complemented the intellectual lethargy originally instilled by secularism, resulting in the deterioration of our very thought life. Author James W. Sire in The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog aims to reinvigorate this noble pursuit by inviting the reader to understand and evaluate their own basic presuppositions and commitments to the most fundamental questions of existence by exposing them to the concept of ‘worldviews’.

He thoughtfully defines it as,

 A commitment, a fundamental orientation of the heart, that can be expressed as a story or in a set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partially true, or entirely false) that we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic constitution of reality, and that provides the foundation on which we live and move and have our being.

He then precedes to outline the basic worldviews by showing how they each address life’s ‘big questions’. Cognizant of his own worldview, Sire allows proponents of each position to express their stances. Nonetheless, he avoids the pretense of neutrality and instead transparently informs the reader of his personal insights. Worldviews addressed include theism, deism, naturalism, existentialism, postmodernism, eastern pantheism, and New Age Spirituality.

I’ve read many good books this year, but this one may be the most important. His research is careful, well-presented and readily accessible to the wider population. As such, I recommend this book to everyone interested in truly understanding themselves, others, and the world around them from a foundational (presuppositional) perspective. Regardless of your thoughts on the author’s insights, this overview provides sufficient depth to get started on the journey.

For the uninterested, I encourage you to heed the author’s following warning,

“Refusing to adopt an explicit worldview will turn out to be itself a worldview, or at least a philosophic position. In short, we are caught. So long as we live, we live either the examined or the unexamined life.”

Rating: 4.5/5

Reviewed November 2021 by Chico J. Collie

Unfortunately, the essential concepts and the various associated theological nuances that undergird the statement, which should have been apprehended during one’s spiritual maturation, are largely unappreciated. This is partly due to neglect of the Biblical mandate for continued spiritual formation but also the lack of familiarity with books that adequately address the topic.

          Here in Redemption Accomplished and Applied, John Murray addresses the following questions exquisitely from a Reformed perspective:

What exactly is salvation and why is it necessary?

What precisely did Jesus accomplish on the cross and for whom?

How is salvation and its benefits conferred to the beneficiary?

I’m sure that most Christians have some answer in mind already. However, by discussing both the history and order of salvation, Murray aims to explore the depth of scripture’s assertion while navigating the intricate framework that the Bible provides towards a complete answer.

The author’s diction may be troublesome in the early sections but the persistent reader quickly adapts. Overall, it’s a precious gem, a coherent introduction, and a foundational book that I highly recommend to all Christians seeking to enhance their understanding of Biblical salvation (from a classical Reformed Protestant perspective).

Rating: 5/5

Reviewed October 2021 by Chico J. Collie

Within Christian communities, it’s common to hear such cliches as:

‘God loves you unconditionally.’

‘God loves everyone the same.’

‘God is love.’

But are those statements true? Or, to put it another way, in what sense is the statement Biblically accurate?

In his book ‘The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God’, Theologian D. A. Carson aims to assist readers to gain a coherent and accurate understanding of God’s love as displayed in the Christian scriptures.  

“…the love of God in our culture has been purged of anything the culture finds uncomfortable – (It) has been sanitized, democratized and above all sentimentalized.”

In addition to cultural influences, Dr. Carson, a scholar in New Testament theology, remarks that the casual Bible reader may be unaware that the Bible speaks of God’s love in at least five distinguishable ways: Intra-Trinitarian love, providential love, salvific love, elective love, and provisional (conditional) love. He explains these ways of describing God’s love and warns against the dangers of overemphasizing one way at the expense of another and inappropriately compartmentalizing these ways into different ‘loves’. Other theological difficulties include understanding the affective element of God’s love and amalgamating that love with His other attributes such as His sovereignty and transcendence.  

Furthermore, Dr. Carson understands that to conceptualize God devoid of holiness will inevitably result in a malformed and emaciated understanding of His love, in addition to a Biblically deficient portrait of God himself. As such, the book’s final chapter is dedicated to addressing this.

The book is informative, memorable, and worth revisiting years later. It’s small and short, limited to approximately 80 pages. However, the concepts are heavy and at times difficult to follow if the reader hasn’t been previously introduced to them. It’s a book that stimulates thought, hence I recommend it to those studying God’s love specifically and in search of a relatively succinct but serious Biblical reflection on the topic to be used in addition to other texts. Ironically, whether you agree or disagree with his solutions, the author successfully proves his starting point.

Rating: 4.5/5

Reviewed September 2021 by Chico J. Collie

In his book God’s Greater Glory: The Exalted God of Scripture and the Christian faith, Bruce A. Ware gives a detailed explanation of the theological basis for the doctrine, exploring the Creator-creation relation and its practical implications.

He starts with a basic definition of divine providence:

 God continually oversees and directs all things pertaining to the created order in such a way that 1) he preserves in existence and provides for the creation he has brought into being, and 2) he governs and reigns supremely over the entirety of the whole of creation in order to fulfill all of His intended purposes in it and through it.

He then expands and elucidates the definition, simultaneously addressing the most enduring questions of the doctrine including those surrounding human freedom, moral responsibility, and God’s relation to good and evil. Ware displays keen respect for traditional and Reformed Christian theology as well as the primacy of scripture in interpreting scripture. He shows his grasp of theological and philosophical concepts, particularly when discussing divine-human concurrence and compatibilist middle knowledge. However, it is his brilliant application of the doctrine of providence to suffering and prayer that catapults this book into the upper echelon of Christian literature.

“In God’s commands to pray, we are compelled by the force of divine authority to come and drink of the living water, to receive bread from heaven, and to realized afresh moment by moment that all that we long for, and everything that is good, is found in one and only one place: in God.”

“…God purposely designed how things would work so that some of what he accomplishes can only be accomplished as people pray.”

The open theism controversy and the author’s response in another title (God’s Lesser Glory) have served as the impetus for this sublime work, which I recommend to those seeking to understand the Christian doctrine of divine providence or related topics such as God’s sovereignty and human freedom from a Christian perspective.

Rating: 4.75/5

Reviewed August 2021 by Chico J. Collie

Though the event was a success, there was a felt need to provide additional resources that adequately encompass and expand upon the principles taught at an appropriate reading level. Our

search led us to ‘Mind your Faith: A student’s guide to thinking and living well’ by David A. Horner and what a find it was!

“Ideas have consequences: what we believe will determine how we behave, and ultimately who we become”. This is true for individuals, for families, for institutions, and for cultures”.

“Yes, it is possible to have knowledge of true doctrine without personal commitment. But it is also possible to be passionately committed to what is false, to be devoted to a destructive fantasy…what we believe matters.”

The author endeavors to show how one’s mind relates to character development and behavior through faith. In doing so, he explores a range of topics including the relation between reality, truth, and belief; basic epistemology; logical and contextual thinking; worldviews and ‘true’ tolerance; and the connection between faith and reason. These abstract concepts are communicated with clarity and concision and presented within an overarching Biblical and apologetic framework.

Dr. Horner is resolute that, “Thinking, believing, and living well demand a fully rational faith and a fully faithful reason.” Additionally, he takes the position that propositional knowledge, though necessary, is subservient to the ultimate goal of personal knowledge, specifically of God. I share in both of his convictions.  

None of the topics; however, are discussed sufficiently to grant the reader a level of mastery in understanding and so the book is introductory at best. Nevertheless, its strength is found in the lucidity and precision with which the author displays the practical interrelatedness between philosophy and the Christian faith to a late, adolescent audience.

In short, Dr. Horner does what he sets out to do quite well. This book will be a part of our ministry for some time to come as we recommend it to all Christian high-school graduates of sufficient (intellectual) maturity. We do so with the hope of developing a more contemplative and caring, Christ-exalting, Christian community in the future.

Rating: 4.75/5

 Reviewed July 2021 by Chico J. Collie

“You shall love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and all your mind.”

His answer is stated and reaffirmed in all three of the synoptic Gospels (Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27) and refers to an unreserved, passionate commitment to God that utilizes all facets of one’s being in loving obedience to Him. Unfortunately, despite the testimony of scripture and Christianity’s rich intellectual heritage, some Christians have come to regard the active engagement of their minds as unnecessary or even detrimental to their spiritual life.

It’s clear that J. P. Moreland endeavors to address this line of thought in his book Love Your God with All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul.

“According to the Bible, developing a Christian mind is part of the very essence of discipleship unto the Lord Jesus.”

In his introduction, Moreland proposes an explanation for ‘how we lost the Christian mind’, which serves as an insightful cultural analysis. Using simple terms, he then proceeds to briefly cover a gamut of topics related to the life of the mind including (i) An accurate Biblical portrayal of the same (ii) philosophical basics including a dose of logic and epistemology (iii) a review of the nature of the soul [from a bipartite position] (iv) the role of the mind in apprehending and living truth wisely and (v) brief introduction to apologetics. Along the way, Moreland addresses some common misconceptions about the use of the mind and the nature of faith. Finally, the book concludes with suggested principles for guidance as to how to cultivate the life of the mind personally and in community (congregational).

“If we are going to be wise, spiritual people prepared to meet the crises of our age, we must be a studying, learning community that values the life of the mind.”

Given that each topic could warrant a book of its own, Moreland's efforts are commendable, limiting his discussion to less than 250 pages. With that said, some sections are forgettable, which is unfortunate given the importance of the topic. There are few and subtle appeals to Christian mysticism that in no way alter the general discussion of the book and are likely to go unnoticed by the typical reader. Nevertheless, due to my own reservations (whether truly warrant or not is still being evaluated), I feel obligated to inform potential readers beforehand.

In addition to its accessibility, I absolutely love that the author and publisher have chosen to include an extended list of recommended resources, categorized according to topic and reading level! It demonstrates an understanding of the target audience and a commitment to promoting the life of the mind. I recommend this book to those who are looking for a practical introduction as to how sound thinking is essential to Christian life.

Rating: 4/5

Reviewed June 2021 by Chico J. Collie

However, in Counterfeit gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters, Pastor Timothy Keller takes on the topic and defines an idol or counterfeit god, as “anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give…anything so central and essential to your life that, should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living.”

His concept of ‘idolatry’ is Biblically supported, his focus throughout is appropriately Gospel-centered and, he does a good job categorizing and identifying numerous idols that are commonly held within contemporary, Western societies. However, the writing can sometimes be disengaging, and, most concerningly, the author takes certain interpretative liberties when discussing the psychological states of those in the Biblical narratives, which I suggest approaching with caution.

With that said, the book’s greatest strength may be its accessibility to the general population, as the topic is understated and most books addressing the topic are appreciably more academic. I recommend this book to those interested in obtaining a basic appreciation of modern-day idolatry.

Rating: 3.75/5

Reviewed May 2021 by Chico J. Collie

Piper reasons,

 “Is not the essence of righteousness to place supreme value on what is supremely valuable, with all the just actions that follow? And isn’t the opposite of righteousness to set our highest affections on things of little or no worth, with all the unjust actions that follow? Thus the righteousness of God is the infinite zeal and joy and pleasure that he has in what is supremely valuable, namely, his own perfection and worth. And if he were ever to act contrary to this eternal passion for his own perfections he would be unrighteous, he would be an idolater.”

It is statements such as this that give the impression that the author benefited from Jonathan Edward’s thoughts in the End for Which God created the World (note. Book recommendation of the month: January 2021). The idea that God delights in being God may offend some, but as Piper demonstrates, “The great ground of hope in all the God-centered servants of the Lord has always been the impossibility that God would let his great name be dishonored for long among the nations.” His triune nature and perfect (intra-trinitarian) love, His sovereignty and divine power and finally, His glory and renown perpetuated by the hope, prayers, and obedience of His people, freely chosen, and preserved according to His infinite grace and wisdom, all serve as the indomitable basis of His perfect happiness.

 “Prayer is his delight because prayer shows the reaches of our poverty and the riches of His grace”

“God has pleasure in an act that comes from faith because he has pleasure in the demonstration of his glory”

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.”

“…the essence of faith is being satisfied with all that God is for us in Christ.”

The book is scripture-saturated with the majesty of God resonating throughout. Piper’s passion is palpable, and his theology is congruent. Here, the mind and heart merge, consummating in this (soon-to-be) classical piece of Christian literature that I highly recommend to Christians in need of guidance as they look to embark upon a season of spiritual growth through careful reflection. ‘The Pleasures of God’, a study Bible, and notepad/pen, along with a humble spirit, teetering on the cusp of prayer, are all that is needed to delve into Spirit-led, soul-satisfying meditation.  

Rating: 5/5

Reviewed April 2021 by Chico J. Collie

To remedy this issue, I have been in search of a text to recommend that is introductory and practical – one that sufficiently educates while also inducing a desire to learn more. The Cold-Case Christianity series by J. Warner Wallace is easy-to-read with an engaging motif; however, it takes 2-3 books to cover the basics. While I recommend the books, I understand that this is can easily be seen as too time-consuming for the occasional book reader.

As such, although using slightly more technical language, the more ideal suggestion may very well be On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision by William Lane Craig. By masterfully combining philosophy and theology with a sound understanding of the most accepted scientific theories and historical textual criticism, Dr. Craig succinctly explains the value of apologetics and offers powerful reasons to believe in the existence of God and the central truths of the Christian faith while addressing common objections.

In keeping with its design as a concise training manual, I strongly recommend this book principally for Christians who have difficulty articulating an intelligent rationale for their faith but also for those who seek reasonable yet simple answers to existential questions.

4.5/5

Reviewed March 2021 by Chico J. Collie

They were also the trials faced by William Carey; an 18th century Englishman who persisted to become widely known as the Father of modern Christian missions.

True to his motto, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God”, he combined his God-given talents with his passion for Christ, geography, languages, and the welfare of others to overcome obstacles and eventually transform cultures and reform transcultural Christian evangelism. This short biography, written by Janet & Geoff Benge, focuses on his journey, giving the reader just enough background information to grasp the impact of divine providence without allowing us to be distracted by concurrent historical events (ex. The Abolition of slavery and the Napoleon war campaigns). They tell his story in a simple, easy-to-follow way that makes this genre more tolerable to a wider (younger) audience. As such, those looking for a detailed, academic account or a dramatized, immersive version will have to look elsewhere.

It’s an inspirational, short, weekend read that I recommend to Christians who have never heard about God’s great work through the life of William Carey, particularly those experiencing a period of lethargy and disappointment over letdowns in their own ministry. Although it clearly had its flaws, Carey’s life is a reminder that the sovereign grace to endure is still very much available for those willing to remain humbly committed to Christ’s calling. As you read, it’d be wise to remember one of his latter warnings:

“When I am gone, say nothing about William Carey – speak only about William Carey’s Savior.”

Rating: 4/5

Reviewed February 2021 by Chico J. Collie

Said another way,

What is a goal valuable enough to warrant God’s singular focus in pursuing it? What is God trying to achieve ultimately?

At first, to some, it may seem like a purely theoretical contemplation, but the implications for our lives, even the apparently ‘mundane’ aspects, are massive. Why do I exist? Is my life meaningful? How do I get true happiness and fulfillment? The answer to these and other questions must be bound within the ultimate purpose of it all, the chief end for which God created the World. Furthermore, that which God values highest must be objectively most valuable. Humanity’s desire to reassign value, leading to distorted value hierarchies, is at the core of our individual and collective moral dysfunction.

It’s a heavy topic but Jonathan Edwards, in his Dissertation Concerning the End for Which God Created the World, brilliantly and logically postulates what should be the ultimate purpose of the universe. Then he later verifies his deductions with Scripture, revealing that this is the single most all-encompassing theme of the Bible. Indeed, Edward’s conclusions are so Biblically supported that to reject them is nearly equivalent to rejecting the Bible in its entirety. Nevertheless, objections have arisen which are also included with his detailed responses to each. He completes the work by showing how true knowledge, love, and joy ultimately triangulate on the Glory of God, a concept that he masterfully elaborates upon. This version of the book, updated by Jason Dollar, makes the original 18th-century classic more legible for a 21st-century audience.

If this book had a flaw, it would be that it presupposes a theistic concept of God without offering additional support for the stance. In Edward’s day, which was in a predominantly Christian society, such a stance would have been expected. But for the sake of our ‘modern’ increasingly pluralistic society, an introductory chapter establishing the position would be of benefit. Also, the book is a reservoir of scripture text on the subject, but the absence of a reference index is noticeable.

With that said, my criticisms are akin to nitpicking and I highly recommend this book to those looking for a serious, intellectual discourse on why God created the World, particularly from a Christian perspective. Non-Christians would benefit from the exposure to Edward’s reasoning while Christians take one step closer to learning how to love God with all their mind and, as the ole time believers would say, see things the way God sees them.

Rating: 5/5

Reviewed January 2021 by Chico J. Collie

“Discernment is the skill of understanding and applying God’s Word with the purpose of separating truth from error and right from wrong.”

He aims to show that the Bible calls Christians to judge rightly and encourages the practice of spiritual discernment, “the skill of thinking biblically about life”. In pursuit of his goal, the author discusses the Biblical mandate to be discerning, describes its challenges, benefits, and dangers, and outlines characteristics of and practical steps toward becoming a discerning person.

“There are no Christians who are mature but undiscerning.”

“We can only know God’s will when we first know God’s truth, for what God desires and requires of us must always be consistent with his character.”

The scope of information is appreciated, particularly the author’s attempt to relate Spiritual discernment to Spiritual maturity (poorly pursued) and the Will of God (commonly misunderstood). After the early chapters, however, there is a slight but noticeable decrescendo in the convincingness of the discussion and the author misses an opportunity to directly exposit key passages (ex. Matthew 7:1-5). Nevertheless, the book is a solid introduction to the topic that I recommend to those who have never read a book on spiritual discernment.

Rating: 4/5

Reviewed December 2020 by Chico J. Collie

In his own words,

“When I say that God is the Gospel I mean that the highest, best, final, decisive good of the gospel, without which no other gifts would be good, is the glory of God in the face of Christ revealed for our everlasting enjoyment.”

Can a person believe in the truth of the gospel events and the nature of Christ while still missing the main point of the Gospel? I believe that it’s not only possible but dreadfully common. The sequelae of such misapprehension are eternally disastrous! As such, Pastor Piper frequently restates the focus of the book to make the content and goal of the Gospel as transparent as possible:

 “The point of this book is that the Christian gospel is not merely that Jesus died and rose again; and not merely that these events appease God's wrath, forgive sin, and justify sinners; and not merely that this redemption gets us out of hell and into heaven; but that they bring us to the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ as our supreme, all-satisfying, and everlasting treasure.”

 “My point in this book is that all the saving events and all the saving blessings of the gospel are means of getting obstacles out of the way so that we might know and enjoy God most fully. Propitiation, redemption, forgiveness, imputation, sanctification, liberation, healing, heaven-none of these is good news except for one reason: they bring us to God for our everlasting enjoyment of him.”

The value of the book is found not only in the importance of its main points but the clarity and depth of discussion that matures the reader’s understanding of the most precious message the world has ever known.

Some chapters, though useful, don’t intimately contribute to the book’s main point and hence adds unnecessary length to the book while fragmenting the main thought. Nevertheless, I recommend this book for all Christians at every stage of maturity. New Christians learn the fundamental principles that will guide them during the entirety of their walk in the faith. Maturing Christians gain a gospel-saturated, soul-enriching depth of understanding that can only contribute to further sanctification. For the truly mature ones in Christ among us, Piper’s joyous affirmations serve as reminders that facilitate delightful bursts of devotion.

“The saving love of God is his doing whatever must be done, at great cost to himself, and for the least deserving, so that he might enthrall them with what will make them supremely happy forever, namely, himself.”

 Amen.

Rating: 4.5/5

Reviewed November 2020 by Chico J. Collie

Nevertheless, he does a good job of covering a lot of ground in a clear, concise fashion. More importantly, his views are greatly theocentric and largely accurate. Where the Biblical perspective is more obscure, he acknowledges his limitations and achieves a fair balance.

Founder of Eternal Perspectives Ministry, Randy’s theology of money is consistent with his approach to life:

 “May what will be most important to us five minutes after we die become most important to us now”.

 “Abundance isn’t God’s provision for me to live in luxury. It’s his provision for me to help others live. God entrusts me with his money not to build my kingdom on Earth but to build his Kingdom in Heaven.”

 “Just because God put his money in our hands doesn’t mean he intends for it to stay there!”

He doesn’t neglect to address, what I believe he appropriately calls, ‘Christianized materialism’:

 “Prosperity theology is like chocolate-covered rat poison. Without its truth-coating, many believers wouldn’t swallow its lies.”

He challenges not only materialism but also other faulty perspectives concerning money including, what he calls, ‘the debt mentality’:

 “To expect God to meet needs we manufacture through indebtedness is an attempt to manipulate the Almighty.”

 “If some of us ran a corporation and handled its money like we do God’s, we’d go to prison!”

His rebukes are stern and frequent but necessary. Other areas briefly addressed include tithing, giving, savings, retirement, gambling, investments, as well as, quick tips and useful resources for parents and pastors.

 It lacks the expositional depth and supporting references that I enjoy and was expecting but that may be beneficial in maintaining its readability and brevity, consequently widening the scope of its appeal. It’s a very affordable, relatively short book that I recommend to all professing Christians. Be forewarned; however, that it’s like a much-needed laxative and purge for the soul of the foul, temporally oriented, money habits stuck in our minds and hearts. Get ready to understand yourself through your response to it.

Rating: 4.25/5

Reviewed October 2020 by Chico J. Collie

Tony Reinke is clearly a lifelong reader who understands that the glory of God may be beheld and cherished through our reading. In his book Lit! A Christian guide to reading books, he identifies several minor adjustments that experienced readers intuitively make and offers personal reading tips. Although this is useful, what makes this book distinctly Christian and, in my opinion, immensely valuable is the conscious effort to lay a sound, balanced, biblical foundation for reading. This isn’t the stereotypical ‘how-to’ book; it’s genuine applied theology.

Other authors have attempted this before, but I believe that Mr. Reinke reaches an uncommon literary ‘sweet spot’. Without being oversimplified or repetitive, the content is sufficiently engaging, clear, concise and, most importantly, true. While there may be a few points that benefit a mature reader, I strongly recommended this one for all beginner and intermediate Christian readers.  

Readable, practical, theologically grounded and desperately needed – this is a book that I’ll be recommending for years to come.  

Rating: 5/5

Reviewed September 2020 by Chico J. Collie

Here, Pastor Piper exhorts his readers to utilize sound thinking, especially in the context of reading, as a means of knowing and loving God. Upon a steady biblical foundation, he lays down his argument as to why this is important while addressing some of the pertinent objections and challenges.

"There is no reading without thinking. And there is no reading carefully and faithfully and coherently without thinking carefully and faithfully and coherently. The remedy for barren intellectualism is not anti-intellectualism, but humble, faithful, prayerful, Spirit-dependent, rigorous thinking."

As expected, you see the imprints of his classic “Desiring God” motif throughout the book.

“God’s goal in the exhibition of his glory through the created world is not realized if the scholar does not see and savor that glory. On the contrary, the magnifying of God’s glory is in and through the seeing and savoring of the scholar’s mind and heart. When the excellence of God’s glory echoes in the affections of God’s scholar and resounds through his creating and speaking and writing, God’s aim for Christian scholarship is advanced.”

I found his discourse to be quite agreeable and convincing, even as he concludes, “All branches of learning exist ultimately for the purposes of knowing God, loving God, and loving man through Jesus.”

It’s an average length book and there’s a lesson here for everyone. But, due partly to style, the book may not be able to sufficiently keep the attention of the neediest group, the non-readers (a term defined in my article ‘Why I read: Motivation for Non-readers’). Also, if you haven’t read a Piper book before then this may be a slightly weighty albeit worthwhile introduction (For newly budding readers, I recommend starting off with his book ‘Don’t Waste Your Life’ instead). With that said, I recommend this book primarily for Christians in any field of academia as well for all serious and seasoned Christian readers.

Rating: 4/5

Reviewed September 2020 by Chico J. Collie