Book Review: Fools Rush In by Carl Trueman

4.5 out of 5 Stars
What is The Gospel Go-Ahead?
Publisher: B&H Publishing
Buy: Amazon, CBD, or Monergism
Reading Level: Moderate

Taking Aim at Everyone

Although having some familiarity with Carl Trueman and appreciating his take on the church and culture, I had never read one of his books. Shame on me. Fools Rush In was delightful and if you read his blog it’s exactly what you might expect a Trueman book to read like. The subtitle to the subtitle sums up the books best Taking Aim at Everyone. He critiques many of the church’s foibles with a wit and clarity that is rare today. And lest you think he plays favorite, Trueman frequently takes aim at the Reformed crowd as well as broader evangelicals, Catholics, and pop culture. From the forward of the book Rodney Trotter warns that these essays “a book without a theme, without a constituency, and thus without a market” (Kindle Location 41 of 2549). There’s some truth in there’s no discernible flow from one chapter to the next and it would be almost impossible to provide a concise summary based on the structure of the book (see table of contents here). But there are some broader themes which frequently take stage. I will focus the remainder of the review on those. 

Culture

The knot that kept the rope from slipping was the examination of culture. What was most ironic to me is that it is in vogue in evangelicalism to fancy yourself a student of the culture and to use words like contextualization, etc. Many of the issues addressed by Trueman are a result of poor interpretation of the culture. On the flip side, Trueman as a self-professed middle-aged, balding white male whose culture relevance extends to his fancy for The Who’s is able to see trends in modern American culture and rightly apply the truth of Scripture to these fads.

First, I have said here multiple times that what the church lacks most of all is pastors, leaders, and people who are familiar with church history and theology. It’s a familiarity with the past that makes picking out the modern knock offs so easy. And this is what Trueman excels at. Last, Trueman handles the Scriptures honestly. For example, if some random guy came up to me and told me, “Your wife wanted me to tell you that for your anniversary she doesn’t want to go see the latest Nicholas Sparks novel turned movie, she wants to spend the night on the couch watching the Celtics match up against the Miami Heat.” I would just laugh. It wouldn’t be credible in the least. So it is with Scripture, when you have soaked yourself in God’s Word and are intimately familiar with him someone telling you, “God just wants to do better and try harder to have your best life now” should just make you laugh.

Eating Irish Babies

Trueman also demonstrates his skill with turning a phrase and poking the sleeping giant in the exact right spot. My copy of Fools Rush In is littered with highlights, scribbles, and notes. He had provided me with verbal cud that I can re-digest for months to come. I can’t help providing this brief example. I read it. Stopped. Read it again. Then had a good chuckle for a few minutes.

Indeed, I suspect one would have to go back to Jonathan Swift to find a broadly orthodox Protestant churchman who was able to write sustained, elegant prose that still proves capable of provoking laughter. And he wanted to eat Irish babies, didn’t he? Now, I love Irish babies, but I could never eat a whole one. (Kindle Location 1975 of 2549)

Dragon Skin

If for no other reason, it would do good for most evangelical pastors to read Trueman to develop thick skin. Chances are you will not pass these pages with out having your scab picked off. Trueman argues, and I agree for whatever that’s worth, that developing thicker skin is a positive virtue. Even more so, realizing the difference between a personal attack and an argument against a system of belief will save you a lot of “pain” and “hurt feelings.”

A free copy of this book was provided by P&R Publishing. If you plan on purchasing this book, consider supporting Grace for Sinners by using these links to purchase it from Amazon, CBD, or Monergism.
 
Mathew Sims is an average Joe who works a 9 to 5 and blogs on the side. He is an editor and writer for Grace for Sinners. He lives in Simpsonville, SC and loves spending time with  his two daughters, Claire and Maddy, and wife of seven years, LeAnn. He has a BA in English/Creative Writing and attended Geneva Reformed Seminary for two years completing nearly 40 hours hours of an Mdiv program. He and his family serve and are members at Grace Church. He loves reading, writing, the outdoors, music, cooking, and is an Apple fan boy. You can find him on twitter @GraceforSinners and Facebook. Please email me with any questions or comment below.

Spurgeon & Cigars

Last Sunday evening, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, the deservedly popular, unquestionably benevolent, and eminently shrewd Mr. Spurgeon was preaching a sermon on the sinfulness of little sins—a somewhat favourite topic among Nonconformist clergymen, and on which, under the title of “The Little Foxes,” some curious lay-sermons have been written by Mrs. Harriet Beecher-Stowe.

The gist of Mr. Spurgeon's discourse was that habitual indulgence in little sins leads to the commission of great ones—a position enforced by one of the most famous English divines in the illustration of the “boy who plays with the devil’s rattles.”

At the close of his useful sermon the minister introduced an American clergyman who, he said, was anxious to address a few words to the congregation. This reverend gentleman “improved the opportunity” by inveighing fiercely against the sin of smoking tobacco, especially in the form of cigars, and told his hearers how he had struggled and fought against the pernicious habit, and how at last, by the blessing and with the assistance of Providence, he had conquered his addiction to the weed.

Then uprose Mr. Spurgeon and, with quiet humour, remarked that he would not allow the congregation to separate without telling them that he did not consider smoking to be a sin, and that, by the grace of God, he hoped to enjoy a good cigar before going to bed that night.

Hypercriticism should discern no irreverence in the conclusion of those remarks. We should be thankful for all things; and in observing that he hoped to enjoy a cigar through the Divine grace, he was but echoing the natural piety of Charles Lamb, who asked why we should not say grace before going out for a walk in the fields as well as before and after meat. Dr. Johnson said grace before he began the 'Rambler'; and if Mr. Spurgeon be a smoker, he only adds another and most excellent name to the long catalogue of distinguished English divines of the Established and the Dissenting Churches who have solaced themselves with that Indian weed.

excerpted from Spurgeon’s Love of Cigars

Joel Beeke: God in Christ the Sign of the Covenant

What exactly was the sign God gave to Abram? The sign was God Himself, in the person of His Son, passing through the pieces. God was saying: “I am willing to be broken for covenant breakers. I am willing to shed blood for people who deserve to have their blood shed. Abram, trust Me; it is going to be all right. I will take care of everything. I am the covenant-making, covenant-keeping God. I am the burning lamp; I am your light; I am your sacrifice; I am your everything.”

Beeke, Joel. Parenting by God’s Promise. Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2011. 11.

Read my review of Parenting by God’s Promise and purchase it from Amazon, CBD, or Monergism.

John Piper at Passion 2012: “Seeing and Savoring the Supremacy of Jesus Christ Above All Things”

The Gospel: An Unfathomable Epic || Part 1

Over the last two thousand years a lot has been written about the gospel. What it is. What it isn’t. And who has said it best. All of this is fine and well. We must talk about the gospel. We must love the gospel. We must structure our lives around the gospel--because without the gospel we have no hope.

Thinking back over the course of my life there are those singular events that have shaped and molded  who I am. We all have these moments. Some of these are positive. It may be time spent with a parent as a child. Or a teacher that spoke into your life at the right time challenging you to do better. It may be a religious experience. A manifestation of grace in your life that is unexplainable. Think about Paul walking down the road to Damascus. Ready to kill. And then bam. Jesus stops him dead in his tracks and says, “You’re mine!”

Well the gospel is one of those kinds of events. One of those kinds of stories. It’s an epic on a cosmic scale. It’s not about you and me. It’s about God. It’s his story. He’s author. One well-known author said it best with the title of one of his books God is the Gospel.

The culmination of the story has been inaugurated through the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. Paul reminds the Corinthians of this fact,

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you— unless you believed in vain.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (1 Corinthians 1:1-8).

It’s that first big bang, if you will, that first interruption into history by Jesus Christ that has altered the course of history forever. Nothing will ever be the same. Not for you. Not for me. Especially if you embrace the gospel as true and trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. That singular event has impacted the world in ways which cannot be know.

John the beloved says,

Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written (John 21:25).

Just the exploits and teachings of Jesus when he was alive would difficult to contain in all volumes of the world but multiple that impact times infinity and you would be just touching the surface of the significance of that moment in history.

That’s why no matter how many books have been written about the gospel. No matter how many angles we have examined it from it will never give way to our intellect (forget about having that oh I totally get it moment). It will never entertain our boredom. It’s like a diamond that you can hold up to a light that will refract that singular light into a million different rays of light. And each time you turn that diamond it refracts more light. And encourages us to further gaze at its beauty.

 
Mathew Sims is an average Joe who works a 9 to 5 and blogs on the side. He is an editor and writer for Grace for Sinners. He lives in Simpsonville, SC and loves spending time with  his two daughters, Claire and Maddy, and wife of seven years, LeAnn. He has a BA in English/Creative Writing and attended Geneva Reformed Seminary for two years completing nearly 40 hours hours of an Mdiv program. He and his family serve and are members at Grace Church. He loves reading, writing, the outdoors, music, cooking, and is an Apple fan boy. You can find him on twitter @GraceforSinners and Facebook. Please email me with any questions or comment below.

Tim Keller: Speaking the Unvarnished Truth in Love in Marriage

One of the most basic skills in marriage is the ability to tell the straight, unvarnished truth about what your spouse has done—and then, completely, unself-righteously, and joyously express forgiveness without a shred of superiority, without making the other person feel small. This does not mean you cannot express anger. In fact, if you never express anger, your truth-telling probably won’t sink in. But forgiving grace must always be present, and if it is, it will, like salt in meat, keep the anger from going bad. Then truth and love can live together because, beneath them both, you have forgiven your spouse as Christ forgave you.

Keller, Tim & Kathy. The Meaning of Marriage. NY: Dulton, 2011. 110.

Read my review of The Meaning of Marriage and you can purchase it from Amazon, CBD, or Monergism.

Evangelical Groupies

There can be no doubt that celebrity culture has creeped its way into our churches like Wormtongue into the court of Théoden. Its more subtle than many other lies. It’s much harder to determine where the line for honor ends and celebrity begins

The difficulty lies with our controlling worldview. Celebrity is celebrated in American culture. I challenge you to perform an informal test. Ask a dozen or more children or even adults who their role models were growing up or who they wanted to be. Chances are you’ll get more than a fair share of rock stars, athletes, and the like.

If you don’t recognize this celebrity in the wider culture than chances are your churches will be susceptible to celebrity. I will argue for the most part that celebrity is created by the people like you and me. I’m sure there may be and have been people who started ministries to be celebrities but let’s give most pastors the benefit of the doubt. And to be honest if there were no adoring crowds there would be no celebrity.

I want to offer my own reflections on how to avoid the pitfall of being an evangelical groupie. What I’m not saying is that if you do one of these you are wrong but I would encourage you to search the motives of your heart. Ask yourself tough questions.

1. Avoid photo ops

I love attending conferences. For me they offer a great time to recharge and connect with brothers from all over the country. But one thing I never do is swarm a keynote speaker for a picture. My rule of thumb is if I haven’t cultivated a relationship with you in some way then the purpose of the photo is probably connected in some way to celebrity culture.

2. Don’t ask for signatures.

A signature is nice in a book. I have two or three fiction books with signatures but I’ve never asked a Christian author writing Christian books for a signature. Something about that smacks of celebrity.

3. Diversify your reading habits

We all have authors we love to read but don’t be afraid to diversify. If all you ever read is John Piper  books (I love John Piper books, no dig there) and nothing else, you probably have fallen prey to celebrity. One way you can do avoid this is by reading dead guys. There’s less threat for being a groupie for someone who is dead. You can also read people you disagree with for perspective. And most importantly fight to keep your eyes on Christ.

4. Don’t give any man your blind allegiance.

I cannot count how many times I’ve heard pastors say that a good church member/Christian keeps his or her mouth shut and falls in line. This concept may be the most damaging and wrong-headed of all the possible pitfalls. There is a huge difference between being critical and offering much needed wisdom, insight, and sharpening. Carl Trueman points this out when he says, “A cultic devotion to a leader, combined with the kind of authority structures that churches necessarily have in order to function as churches, can prove sometimes deadly and always painful mix” (Fools Rush In Kindle Location 383 of 2549).

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard evangelical groupies defending something stupid someone said or did because they refused to at least entertain the possibility their favorite evangelical hero got something wrong. We need a humble acceptance that no one is perfect especially ourselves (Philippians 2:1-11).

First, we must differentiate between constructive criticism and hateful slander. Good Christians do not just fall in line. They are critical thinking, iron sharpening, Berean-minded, and always reforming. Next we must look at how the Bible talks about accepting hateful criticism and slander. First, Jesus tells us rejoice when people persecute us and lie about us (Matthew 5:11-12). Second, Paul says he rejoices even when people preach the gospel out of wrong motives (Philippians 1:15-18).

Too many Christians have a pity party for themselves when people are critical of them--rightly so or not. They mope about and act like a martyr for Christ when really its all ego. These statements may or may not be true but the question is whether the above response is the biblical one.

Again Trueman noticed this trend as well, “The compulsive need of some to be liked, to the extent that any criticism of them generates visceral and personal responses, speaks of a deeply insecure and immature section in our culture” (Fools Rush In Kindle Location 478 of 2549).

Preaching humility but answering critiques in this way fosters an atmosphere of celebrity. It makes oneself above your average Joe who receives criticism constructive or not every day.

5. Invest the bulk of your resources into your local church.

Go ahead and give to a ministry that has impacted your life for Christ but throw the bulk of your weight behind your local church. That means your money, time, and talents. The more you’re serving the people God has placed in your life and the more you’re ministering to the body in your sphere of influence, the less likely you will be an evangelical groupie.

I’ll address this from the flip side next week.
 
Mathew Sims is an average Joe who works a 9 to 5 and blogs on the side. He is an editor and writer for Grace for Sinners. He lives in Simpsonville, SC and loves spending time with  his two daughters, Claire and Maddy, and wife of seven years, LeAnn. He has a BA in English/Creative Writing and attended Geneva Reformed Seminary for two years completing nearly 40 hours hours of an Mdiv program. He and his family serve and are members at Grace Church. He loves reading, writing, the outdoors, music, cooking, and is an Apple fan boy. You can find him on twitter @GraceforSinners and Facebook. Please email me with any questions or comment below.

Book Review: Wednesdays Were Pretty Normal by Michael Kelley

5 out of 5 Stars
What is The Gospel Go-Ahead?
Publisher: B&H Publishing
Buy: Amazon, CBD, or Monergism
Reading Level: Leisure


Skillful Story Telling

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I received Wednesdays Were Pretty Normal (WWPN). I knew the book was about a family’s journey as their son had cancer. I was probably expecting a book that was more autobiographical but what I got was a well crafted story which did indeed tell their family’s story but placed that story within the larger context of the one story. I can’t recall reading a book which was so theological rich and compelling but also well developed as a story. I’m not afraid to admit that as a father of two beautiful little girls around the age of the Kelley’s son I trembled, cried, and rejoiced through out their story. Micheal carefully chose snapshots of their struggle to encourage and teach us and to demonstrate the work of God in their lives.

It might be easy to write a story of this sort that ends up being overly sentimental but Michael was able to avoid this pitfall. He describes receiving the news of his son’s leukemia,

We had been to the doctor before. But something was different this time. Then he started saying words that I never expected to hear: “hematology”; “children’s hospital”; “call your wife”. [sic] Then he said the word that would become part of our everyday vocabulary at heart-breaking speed: “leukemia.”

What do you do with a word like that? How do you respond? What questions do you ask? I didn’t know; I still don’t know. But I think I do know that there are some words in our vocabulary that are heavier than others. They are the kind of words that linger in the air long after they are said. They echo in your mind and pierce your heart over and over again, and when they are first spoken, they drop to the pit of your stomach like lead. Leukemia. (p. 5)

What he did was skilfully weave their family’s story within larger biblical truths while also offering rigorous application. WWPN will challenge your notion about faith. It will jostle you wake and make you face the groanings of this fallen world head on. But Michael does not snuff out the flickering wick. He’s very careful in the way he handles these tough issues.

The Fight for Faith

A common theme that pops up through out WWPN was the fight for faith. He challenges the American notion that faith is merely a personal relationship or a mere assenting to certain facts about Jesus. While strongly holding to faith as a gift from God, he also strongly argues that our pilgrimage through life requires a constant fight for faith by the power of the Spirit (see chapter 10 and especially pp. 143-45). We must lay hold of this truth and hold it dearly if we are to face the suffering that will confront us at some point in our life.

I cannot recommend WWPN highly enough. I’ve already purchased two copies for members of my family and have recommended it to a half dozen other people I know who are going through struggles and will benefit greatly from the Kelley’s faith-building testimony. I wish WWPN was available four years ago when I was struggling intensely with my own faith. Don’t hesitate. Purchase this book now.

A free copy of this book was provided by B&H Publishing. If you plan on purchasing this book, consider supporting Grace for Sinners by using these links to purchase from Amazon, CBD, or Monergism.
 
Mathew Sims is an average Joe who works a 9 to 5 and blogs on the side. He is an editor and writer for Grace for Sinners. He lives in Simpsonville, SC and loves spending time with  his two daughters, Claire and Maddy, and wife of seven years, LeAnn. He has a BA in English/Creative Writing and attended Geneva Reformed Seminary for two years completing nearly 40 hours hours of an Mdiv program. He and his family serve and are members at Grace Church. He loves reading, writing, the outdoors, music, cooking, and is an Apple fan boy. You can find him on twitter @GraceforSinners and Facebook. Please email me with any questions or comment below.

Stanley Hauerwas: Evangelicals Often Make God Up

I don’t agree with everything Stanley says, but when I do...this observation is spot on.

Bibliophiles Wanted

Bibliophiles Wanted: Reviewer Needed

We recently added Lance Collins to the team here at Grace for Sinners (see Contributors for his bio). He’s doing reviews for us and will be contributing to our Attributes series which will look at God’s Attributes practically and devotionally. But alas we still need to add one more contributor to Grace for Sinners. Here’s what I’m looking for:

1. Bibliophile wanted. We’ve started to receive commentaries and more in-depth studies like Bock’s A Theology of Luke and Acts and to fairly critique these more arduous books while looking at some of the newer books coming out, I need another person. I’m also interested in adding a monthly feature on a Christian classic. The pay is great...free books.
2. Deadlines. Our publishing is regular and so one of the basic criterion for participation outside of loving books is being OK with deadlines. Anti-authoritarians need not apply.
3. Thinking Caps Required. You also have to be able to think about what you are reading through a Christian worldview and use discernment in deciding if what is being said is worthwhile, just meh, or spot on. Casual readers need not apply.
4. Christian Living. It should go without saying but I’m looking for someone who is a member of a gospel-loving church and is in good standing with said church. Fence riders need not apply.
5. Miscellanies.
• Some writing experience is preferred but not necessary. If you have any samples include them in your email to me expressing interest in this position.
•  Write a brief bio with picture (see above).
• Tell me your field of interest or expertise.
• You need some way to read ebooks (most are either PDF or for Kindle which can be read on a computer, ipad, kindle, etc).
• Send me an email ASAP at GraceforSinners AT Me DOT com. I’m hoping to fill this position by middle of June at the latest. The sooner the better.

My goal is to expand the book reviews to eventually include books from all genres and to offer reviews from a Christian and reformed worldview highlight Christian themes, lessons on human nature, and the like.

Monthly Guest Posts

You can get involved here by submitting a guest post. Once a month I will select one guest post to be featured on the blog. Here is the criteria:

1. Make theology practical. Take something you are learning right now and share it with others. Ask and answer questions about how the gospel applies to specific areas of Christian living.
2. Keep it short and sweet. I’m looking for roughly 300-500 words. Give or take.*
3. Write a brief bio. With your piece, send a brief bio of yourself and picture I can use to end your posts.
4. Christian Living. It should go without saying but I’m looking for someone who is a member of a gospel-loving church and is in good standing with said church.
5. Send it to my email. Don’t be shy. Just do it. OK I’m done with the cliches but you get the picture (sorry I couldn’t resist). But really send them and don’t be discourage if I don’t use yours. If it was close, I might respond with some pointers for next time but if I don’t keep um coming.

*Once you submit the piece, I may edit the piece for grammar, etc. Any major edits and I’ll send it back to you for final review.

Mathew Sims is an average Joe who works a 9 to 5 and blogs on the side. He is an editor and writer for Grace for Sinners. He lives in Simpsonville, SC and loves spending time with  his two daughters, Claire and Maddy, and wife of seven years, LeAnn. He has a BA in English/Creative Writing and attended Geneva Reformed Seminary for two years completing nearly 40 hours hours of an Mdiv program. He and his family serve and are members at Grace Church. He loves reading, writing, the outdoors, music, cooking, and is an Apple fan boy. You can find him on twitter @GraceforSinners and Facebook. Please email me with any questions or comment below.