"Living in the Light of Money, Sex & Power" (John Piper)

TITLE: Living in the Light: Money, Sex and Power
AUTHOR: John Piper
PUBLISHER: Purcellville, VA: The Good Book Company, 2016, (144 pages).

God has created this world for good, but sin had tarnished it in so many ways. Thus, good people no longer simply do good works. They are tempted to sin and can be deceived into turning good things into bad. How then do we live in our modern world of infatuation with things regarding money, sex, and power? Two words essentially surround this book's message about money, sex, and power: Corruption and Redemption. At the end of it all, Piper asserts that not only can God redeem these three areas of life, God is glorified when these are wisely stewarded and used for the benefit of all.

Money is simply a form of valuation, a cultural symbol of value that becomes a moral issue on how it is used. If the use of money is the surface, then the motivation behind its use or abuse is the underlying forces that we need to deal with. Sex is much broader than mere erotic stimulation. It is a good gift to be cherished and protected. Power is the capacity to get what we want. The common thread through these three is this: It is a God-given means of showing what we value. The root problem is the condition of the human heart that seeks to place idols above God. Using Romans 1 as the key Bible passage, readers learn of how light becomes darkness, idols become enthroned, and how power elevates self above all others.

"Why Bother With Church?" (Sam Allberry)

TITLE: Why bother with church?
AUTHOR: Sam Allberry
PUBLISHER: Purcellville, VA: The Good Book Company, 2016, (96 pages).

In a postmodern world, most people think that the Church is no longer relevant to society. They believe that the Christian faith is no different from other religions. In fact, they even think that people would go to heaven in more ways than one, as long as they are good people. At the same time, there are those who had gone to Church and had become disappointed. Then, there are also those who believe that the Church is another of those religious social club that cares only for its members. The reasons not to go to Church are many, which is the basis of the question: Why bother with Church? The simple answer to the title of this book is this: The people and the Church need each other. It is hoped that by the end of the book, readers would be persuaded to the extent that they would be asking instead: "Why on earth would I not be bothered with Church?"

In six chapters, Sam Allberry, a pastor at St Mary's Church in Maidenhead, UK, argues that Church is more important than we thought. Chapter One is about "What is Church?" He points out several distinctiveness of Church. It is about a particular gathering of people; an outpost to point people to God; a family that cares for people; and the bride of Christ. He addresses the common accusations hurled at churches that have done more harm than good. On the one hand, the Church need to acknowledge the flaws and mistakes of the past. This is because the Church is comprised of sinful people too. At the same time, those who throw stones need to take a step back to recognize that there are lots of good that the Church have done in society.

"Zeal Without Burnout" (Christopher Ash)

TITLE: Zeal without Burnout
AUTHOR: Christopher Ash
PUBLISHER: Purcellville, VA, The Good Book Company, 2016, (112 pages).

The word "burnout" is a commonly used term to describe people who had worked so hard to the point of physical and spiritual exhaustion. It is also a good reminder to us that even good works and zeal for doing good have their limits. Being human, we are susceptible to false perceptions and flawed expectations. By ensuring that we take steps to take care of ourselves and our souls, we can exercise what Christopher Ash calls "Zeal without burnout."

Christopher Ash is the Director of the Cornhill Training Course, a two-year course from the Proclamation Trust. He is author and has served previously as a pastor and has seen people burn out from their service in Church. Recognizing that there is a better way, he writes this book with a deep concern for ministry workers and those serving passionately week after week. Why do people get discouraged over time? How do we support fellow workers in the Lord? How can one sustain zeal and joy in service? For Ash, there are seven "keys" to ensuring that our zeal in our service will be sustained over the long haul.

Part of the healing process involves recognizing that only God is God; we are dust. The seven keys are meant to keep us grounded in the reality of our human limitations and to keep up uplifted in the understanding of God's truth and love.

Key 1 - Sleep
Key 2 - Sabbath Rest
Key 3 - Friends
Key 4 - Inward Renewal
Key 5 - A Warning not to seek the praises of peopleKey 6 - An Encouragement
Key 7 - A Delight.

"How Can I Be Sure?" (John Stevens)

TITLE: How can I be sure? (Questions Christians Ask)
AUTHOR: John Stevens
PUBLISHER: Purcellville, VA: The Good Book Company, 2014, (96 pages).

It is okay to doubt, but it is not so okay to leave it unaddressed. As a way to spur the search for truth, it is good. As a way to indulge in ignorance, it is bad. Based on his experience with seekers, searchers, and believers who doubt from time to time, author and former University of Birmingham Professor, John Stevens, seeks to assure us that questions about faith are not necessarily bad. Drawing from his personal encounters with various believers, he helps us look at questions such as:

1. What is doubt?
2. Why is doubt dangerous?
3. What do I have to believe to be a Christian?
4. How can I overcome doubt as a Christian?
5. How can I develop a confident faith?

He begins with a gentle assurance that doubts are hidden struggles among many Christians, and that it is alright to ask questions. In fact, we can let these questions lead us and not to be too worried about the questions dumbing down our faith. On the contrary, these doubts are authentic desires to search for truth. For example, one may know the truth but still unable to experience it. Stevens provides us various examples of why doubt exists. For even the biblical heroes of old experience moments of doubt. At the same time, he cautions us from crossing the line toward trusting in ourselves more than God, especially when we move from faith to unbelief. Learning to see it as a way to spiritual growth is quite different than seeing it as a way to dumb down faith. He uses the engagement metaphor to show us that like the commitment to marry our fiance/fiancee, we do not let doubts tempt us to work things out with a third party. We let doubts help us work out our questions directly with the one we are engaged with.

Stevens also has some words of assurance for those who doubt their own salvation by listing down some of the basis of our faith. That saving faith is our trust in Jesus who had already done everything for our sake. He reminds us that believing about Jesus is different from believing IN Jesus. He also tackles the age-old dichotomy of faith versus experience. Gradually, readers will be led toward practices in which we can grow in increasing faith in God.

Written in a very accessible manner, Stevens has assured us once again that not all doubts are bad. He helpfully defines the difference between doubt and unbelief, saving faith and experiencing faith, and other essentials that a Christian will need. For those of us who are in a position of questioning our own faith, or know of people in that state, it is helpful to let this little book crystallize our own questions and be guided toward an assurance in God alone. Questions are often more useful than answers. Open doubts are better than closed faith. The latter tempts us toward unbelief. The former leads us toward deeper and more authentic faith. May readers be guided toward greater faith and authentic experiences.

Rating:4 stars of 5.

conrade

---

This book is provided to me courtesy of The Good Book Company and Cross-Focused Reviews in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Is God Anti-Gay?" (Sam Allberry)

TITLE: Is God anti-gay? (Questions Christians Ask)
AUTHOR: Sam Allberry
PUBLISHER: New Malden, Surrey, UK: The Good Book Company, 2013, (88 pages).

Hardly a day goes by nowadays without someone somewhere talking about homosexuality. Whether for or against, hate or love, advocate or opponent, one tends to get a sense that the debate will never really be resolved. The opinions are deep and the camps are divided. It is hard to get any consensus apart from the popular "Let's agree to disagree" conclusion. Sometimes, what it requires for greater understanding is do some dissecting of the complexity behind the "presumed facts." At the heart of Sam Allberry's argument is the separation of fact from feeling. In other words, what one feels does not define the person's being. Mere having a Same-Sex Attraction (SSA) is not the same as saying a person is born or created that way. The author is a pastor at St Mary's Church in New Malden, Surrey in England (Corrected: Maidenhead, Berkshire. Thanks Nathan!). He admits he has SSA, but is quick to say that it is not SSA that defines his sexuality, but God. Responding to people's sympathy about it being "hard" to give up homosexuality, Allberry's answer that Jesus' call for disciples to deny themselves, to take up their crosses, and to follow Christ, is much harder. For the gospel demands us to give up not just a part, but "everything."

The short answer to the title of the book is simply: No! The problem with us is that we prefer to live more for ourselves and our preferences rather than for God alone. God loves us, but do we love our own sexuality more than God? Tackling the age-old question of "What does the Bible say about homosexuality?" Allberry gives some biblical basis on how homosexuality affects five areas.

First, the biblical pattern for marriage is between a man and a woman. Two persons become one flesh, that they can be fruitful and multiply. Genesis 1-2 shows that God blesses marriage, and sex is for marriage. In fact, all sexual activity outside of marriage is evil. Sexual union produces a form one oneness that is not the same as SSA that uses commitment to bind two persons of the same sex. In other words, sexual union is between a man and a woman within the confines of a heterosexual marriage. Same sex couples can still have commitment and faithfulness to each other, but that is not the same as biblical sexual union. More importantly, human marriage reflects God's grace.

Second, the Bible is not a proof text against homosexuality, although it warns about it. The Old Testament shows that homosexuality is a serious sin, based on the evils committed at Sodom and Gomorrah. Lev 18 and 20; Romans 1; and others have specific prohibitions against homosexuality. Moreover Paul says that homosexual activities are "unnatural." Allberry even says that homosexuality is a sign of God's judgment, that the greatest punishment God can inflict upon us, is to give us exactly what we want. The point is, anyone who speaks against homosexuality needs to speak equally hard on other sins like greed, theft, murder, slander, etc. Biblically, Allberry declares: "God forbids homosexual activity." He also rebuts statements by the gay advocates who often say Jesus never explicitly condemn homosexuality. He also insists that the only other alternative to marriage is celibacy. If that is true, it explains why gay rights groups are insistent on having their same sex unions to have a marriage label.

Third, Allberry writes about Christians who struggle with homosexuality. Again, the point is clear. How one feels is not the same as what God has created one to be. While change is possible, even with sexual orientation, the Bible does not explicitly promise that we get changed now or during our lifetime. Being celibate or chaste are not the only struggles. There is loneliness, isolation, and sexual temptation. Remember that even Paul himself has to deal with a personal thorn in the flesh. The author addresses a helpful distinction in terms of nuancing how one applies the Old Testament prohibitions. One cannot read the Bible and use the same application yardstick to everything the Old Testament says. There are "contours, emphases, and priorities" plus other moral requirements. How Jesus casts new light to some of the moral code is a case in point. 

Four,  it is no secret that the Christian Church is deeply divided over the homosexuality issue. The author supplies tips on what the Church can do when a gay couple comes to their churches; how to support them legitimately; and how to debate about homosexuality.

Five, see the homosexuality debate not as something to be avoided but lovingly engaged with grace. Many non-Christians are watching how Christians play out their disagreements. Other tips include how Christians can share the gospel with gay non-Christians, and how to relate, etc.

So What?

The author of this small book is both realistic about the problem, but also hopeful about the Church's role in bringing about greater understanding among the different groups. Riding on the fact that the gospel is both "relationally costly" as well as "relationally generous," Christians can pattern themselves as being biblically faithful regardless of external critics; and at the same time, be gracious in their relating to dissenting views. As I read this book, I am reminded that while it is easy for Christians who are "straight" to say that homosexuality is a sin, it is much harder for Christians with SSA to say the same thing. After all, it is like saying something very negative about one's favourite sports team, that douses out any flame of support. Allberry humbly submits himself and his own sexual orientation to obedience of the Scriptures. It is so easy to twist and turn Scriptures away from what they say, toward what we want the Scriptures to say. The art of scripture twisting has been around for quite something. Usually, when fervent Bible believers are passionate about anything, they can so easily twist the Bible to say what they want to say.

Not Allberry. Sam Allberry has openly shared about his own struggle with SSA. He has provided his best understanding of what the Bible says about homosexuality. At the same time, he gives laypeople a good and honest approach not only to the homosexuality issue in general, but how to relate to people who are gay in particular. I appreciate his distinction of terms, preferring to use SSA rather than the word "gay," simply because far too many people have lumped up their self-identity with the latter term, forgetting other aspects of themselves. This is one of the most compassionate and honestly written books by one who has personally struggled and still struggling with SSA.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

---

This book is provided to me free by The Good Book Company and Cross-Focused Reviews without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.