Book Review: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: A Reader’s Edition

Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: A Reader’s Edition

ISBN: 9781598563429

By: Donald R. Vance, George Athas, and Yael Avrahami

Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft/Hendrickson Publishers, 2014

Review by: David Burnett

After surviving your first year of Biblical Hebrew, many are anxious to jump right into reading their Hebrew Bible but lack the vocabulary proficiency to make any real progress. The Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: A Reader’s Edition is the perfect tool for you. For students, pastors, and scholars alike, the BHS Reader provides features necessary for those with a basic understanding of the language to begin their foray into the Hebrew Bible:

– Complete text of the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, checked against the Leningrad Codex

– All words that occur fewer than 70 times are parsed and contextually defined in the apparatus

– Glossary listing of all other words

– Improved layout of poetic texts

– All weak verb forms are parsed

The text is clean and easy to to read, though the “improved” layout of the more poetic texts can take some getting used to. The parsing at the bottom of the page has a bit of a learning curve as well. Zondervan’s A Readers Hebrew Bible (which we also carry) may have a bit clearer vocabulary and parsing section for some, while the text of the BHS Reader may be a bit more crisp and clear. The BHS Reader also includes a helpful paradigms section at the back of the bible that covers all the major conjugations for reference.

German Bible Society along with Hendrickson has produced a helpful resource for all students and teachers of Hebrew that wish to dive into their Hebrew Bible/Old Testament with assistance. Make sure and come by the DTS Book Center and pick up your copy today!

The Birth of a Book

The beautiful process of binding a book. Enjoy!

Book Review: Pursuing Justice

Pursuing Justice

ISBN: 9780849964664

By Ken Wytsma

Nelson (2013)

Review By: Eric Wood

As Ken Wytsma unwraps his argument for Pursuing Justice, one sees that he speaks from a place of deep personal conviction and passion. Beginning with a story for background and context, Wytsma recounts how his grandfather had immigrated, with his family, to the United States following World War II. His father, just 8-years-old at the time, “never forgot where he came from” (xvii). He told the ways his father and mother reached out to the needy and downtrodden with a heart to help the hurting. Wytsma himself, however, confessed he grew up with a western sense of entitlement. He viewed life as being about him and for his pleasure and he lived accordingly. Upon God grabbing hold of his life, Wystma began studying the Word and drawing nearer to God. Through this time, he became more and more convinced that all of Scripture points toward the pursuit of justice – noting the continual concepts of caring for widows, orphans, and foreigners.

Personally, I find myself leery anytime someone tries to explain the entire Bible through one key motif which they hold dear. Certainly one reads a heavy emphasis on justice for the downtrodden throughout the Bible – the law of Moses, the work of kings and the teaching and miracles of Jesus all bear this element. But to say it is the one thing that holds all Scripture together may be a little too strong. That said, Wytsma does a nice job of walking the reader through different theological and exegetical principles in Scripture.  He points out the many instances where social justice seems to factor into the situation in a sometimes quite profound way.

With a caution against casting all of Scripture into one light that may be too focused, I would encourage reading this book. With many excursus which bring light from other authors and Wytsma’s own very readable and passionate style, this book can challenge the reader to further embrace care for the downtrodden which may slip by unnoticed.

NA28: What’s New?

Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft recently published the 28^th edition of Nestle-Aland’s Novum Testamentum Graece.  This edition lists citations from the newly discovered Papyri 117-127, which is a significant addition for text critics. For instance, P127 (fifth-century) contains a text that differs greatly from Codex Vaticanus and Codex Bezae, revealing the most significant information we have for the development of Acts since the discovery of P38 in 1927 (D.C. Parker, ed., et al., The Oxyrhynchus Papyri, vol. 74, Graeco-Roman Memoirs, No. 95 [London: Egypt Exploration Society], 1-5). P117-126 also offers fresh new insights into the text of John (P119-122), Romans (P118) 1 Corinthians (P123), 2 Corinthians (P117, P124), 1 Peter (P125) and Hebrews (P126). All of this information is now made available for readers of the NA28.

Some changes were made to the Catholic Epistles, based on text critical insights from the second edition of the Editio Critica Maior of the Greek New Testament , (ECM) a critical edition produced by the Institut für neutestamentliche Textforschungm. Most changes are insignificant, such as word order, addition of the article, etc. For instance, James 2:3 reads ἤ κάθου ἐκεῖ (NA28) instead of ἐκεῖ ἤ κάθου (NA27), and James 4:10 says τοῦ κυρίου (NA28), instead of κυρίου (NA27).  Some changes are more significant, such as 2 Peter 3:10, which now reads οὺκ εὺρεθήσεται  (“will not be found” supported by sa) instead of εὺρεθήσεται (“will be found” supported by א B, P, 1175 1448 1739^txt 1852 sy^ph mss txt sy^hmg). A full list of changes is found in the introduction. You can also find a list of examples here.

NA28 reflects the second edition of ECM in another manner. ECM provides a split guiding line, where editors remain undecided over certain readings. This split guiding line appears in NA28. For instance, readers can see that the editors of ECM struggled to decide between αύτὸ τοῦτο δὲ and αύτὸ δὲ τοῦτο  in 2 Peter 1:5. A ♦ is placed in the text of NA28 before the disputed reading (♦ αύτὸ τοῦτο δὲ). The second reading appears in the apparatus with a ♦ before it also (♦ αυτο δε τουτο).

Another significant change is the abandonment of consistently cited witnesses of the first and second order. NA27 places manuscripts into these categories based on their value. Witnesses of the first order are considered highly valuable and are cited consistently for every textual problem. Second order witnesses are considered valuable only if they disagree with 𝔐.  In other words, 𝔐 consists of Byzantine witnesses and second order witnesses, unless there is a disagreement between the two. Where the two disagree second order witnesses are cited explicitly in the apparatus. These categories create many uncertainties. For instance, it is difficult to determine why NA27 does not cite a witness of the second order. Did it agree with the Majority text? Or did it have a lacuna? NA28 solves this problem. Now, all witnesses cited consistently for every textual problem are listed in the apparatus. Witnesses not cited consistently are only listed in the apparatus if they have text-historical value.

Other changes include the abandonment of imprecise notes, such as pauci (pc) and ali (al), reduction and simplification of Latin abbreviations, increased precision in the citation of Greek manuscripts, and a thorough revision of cross-references to parallel texts. The NA28, with the dictionary, is currently available for $55.96 at the DTS Book Center. NA28 without the dictionary is available for $47.96. Navy and black leather bound editions are on sale for only $44.97 (list price $74.95). Offer good while supplies last. Come by and get your copy today.

Book Review: The Girl’s Still Got It

The Girl’s Still Got It

ISBN: 9781578564484

By Liz Curtis Higgs

Random House (2012)

Guest Review By: Kim Davis 

“If only we could jump into a time machine!” writes popular speaker and author Liz Curtis Higgs. “Instead of simply reading about biblical history, we could live it. Rather than merely studying maps and books, we could see, touch, and experience that long-lost world firsthand. Wouldn’t that be something?” Yes. I jumped in Doc Brown’s DeLorean with Marty McFly, and I rode the roads of Ruth.

How do we travel? With half of the reader sitting in the seat of Biblical context and the other half in 2013 application, life and Scripture intertwine. Honest questions emerge, such as what do we do with the problem of pain in Ruth’s life and ours? Many “aha” moments occur as the author flies through history, linguistics, geography, culture, and psychology with the navigational skills of an explorer, poet, comedian, researcher, and novelist. The trip transcends time. This book scripts a journey for individual meditation, as well as providing a guide for Bible study groups and global discussion questions for book clubs.

Who journeys with us? God. He reveals His plan for both Ruth and readers. The author shares snapshots of her experience: “But in the early days of my marriage, I was so worried about staking my claim on my man, about having Bill all to myself, about raising our kids our way (Okay, my kids my way), I barely cracked open the door of my heart to my mother-in-law.” Some readers nod, but Ruth’s devotion demonstrates the loyalty and care divinely desired of all relationships. “Be ready for a gentle (or not-so-gentle) nudge from the Holy Spirit. Ruth’s sacrificial love sets a high bar, though it’s nothing you and the Lord together can’t handle.”

While Liz has done extensive research by consulting over two dozen scholars, she presents interpretive options for personal rumination. She includes sentence prayers and examples of “Ruth[s] in Real Life” to prod the jet-lagged traveler. She also provides thought-provoking phrases along the way, such as “Stay in Bethlehem? Risk starving their bodies. Move to Moab? Risk starving their faith.”

This author knows her audience. She writes for women about women. Although men can still purchase passports to this estrogen island, the book targets a feminine clientele.

My trip through this book transformed my approach to my Naomi. I now call my “mother-in-love” every Wednesday morning. I also plan to use this book for my weekly Bible study group. Returning customers signify a great travel experience.

Book Review: A Reader’s Hebrew and Greek Bible

A Reader’s Hebrew and Greek Bible

ISBN: 9780310325895

By: A. Philip Brown II; Bryan W. Smith; Richard J. Goodrich; Albert L. Lukaszewski

Zondervan (2010)

Review By: Eric Wood

In April of 2010, Zondervan released A Reader’s Hebrew and Greek Bible. Finally, this work combined their reader’s editions of Old and New Testaments into one volume. For those not familiar with the concept of a “reader’s” Bible, I’ll take a moment to explain. For those that do know, on to the next paragraph. (For those that don’t care, well you probably won’t read this for much longer anyway, though you are most welcome.) A reader’s edition of an original language Bible is a little like a bike with training wheels. Open up the front cover and you’ll find the Greek New Testament. As a student new to the Greek language (or even not so new), you will come upon words that are not used very frequently in the NT. For these words (specifically those used 30 times or less), the notes at the bottom of each page will show you the word with an English gloss. Handy, right? I know. If you begin at the “back cover” (or the other front cover, since Hebrew is read right to left), you’ll find the Hebrew Old Testament with similar notes for words appearing 100 times or less in the OT. Like I said, a bike with training wheels – you’ve still got to put in work to read, but it provides that little bit of extra stability right there on the page, rather than sending you off to check a lexicon several times per paragraph.

The OT is based off the Westminster Leningrad Codex, the accepted official text of the Hebrew Bible. The font is clear and readable. And notes are clear and straightforward with numbers in the text coinciding with the Hebrew word and English gloss in the notes below. For a verb, they also supply the stem (Qal, Nifal, etc.) with the gloss to aid in your reading. Proper names are grayed out just a bit in order to save you from spending a great deal of time trying to parse Amalek. The NT text is “the eclectic text that underpins the Today’s New International Version” (page 9 of the Introduction). This gave me pause when I originally looked at this Bible. I found, however, that any place their “eclectic text” differs from that of the United Bible Society, they’ve placed a note marking the discrepancy and stating the UBS reading. The notes for the NT are not quite as clear as those in the OT. The italic font that they use is a little difficult to read at a glance, but it stands as a great improvement over Zondervan’s first edition for a NT reader (which I declared I would not even consider buying until they fixed the text). The content of the notes are fairly simple – the Greek word, English gloss or two with a note on the passive gloss (if directly applicable).

Dividing the two testaments is a brief lexicon for the Greek words used over 30 times and Hebrew over 100 (based on the BDB). Let’s face it, just because I learned the word in class, doesn’t mean it’s always going to spring to mind while I’m reading. 8 full color maps grace the center of the division between the testaments.

This volume makes a great addition to a student’s library. It serves now as the Bible that I take to church with me. That offers the chance to be able to practice the language skills into which we’ve invested so much time and money in a great setting. If the pastor ever called on me to read before the church, you’d better believe I’d be borrowing my wife’s Bible. But for reading along during the sermon, this is a great exercise.  The notes are ok. I prefer the way the UBS has parsing and, in my opinion, a better format for their notes (columns rather than inline notes), but they only offer the NT. For a whole  Bible reader, this offering from Zondervan is my go-to.

Choosing a Greek Reader

In 2007 the United Bible Societies published The UBS Greek New Testament: A Reader’s Edition. This is a perfect source for those who wish to facilitate their Greek reading. It contains the text of UBS4, which is identical to the Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece, 27^th ed. A running dictionary, compiled by Barclay M. Newman, provides contextual definitions for words that occur 30 times or less. An appendix in the back defines words that occur more than 30 times in the New Testament. The running dictionary also defines unusual root words and forms when they appear. Some basic textual criticism marks remain in the text, such as brackets that indicate a disputed reading, double brackets which indicate later additions to the text, etc. The only disadvantage is the absence of UBS4’s more detailed apparatus.

A Reader’s Greek New Testament (RGNT), 2d ed., by Richard J. Goodrich and Albert L. Lukaszewski was also released in 2007. Similarly, it provides definitions for words that occur only 30 times or less. A short lexicon in the back provides definitions for words that occur more than 30 times. Textual criticism marks also remain in the text (brackets that indicate a disputed reading, double brackets which indicate later additions to the text, etc.). But the RGNT has some major disadvantages. The text base for RGNT is based on the “eclectic text that underpins the Today’s New International Version” (p. 9). As a result, an abbreviated apparatus identifies where RNGT varies from the UBS, based on translation decisions made by TNIV translators. But, some advantages remain. The abbreviated apparatus also provides source citations for Old Testament and Apocryphal quotations. RGNT is also lighter, thinner and bound in burgundy, duo tone leather.

Both the UBS Reader’s Edition and RGNT are fine sources for those who wish to better their Greek reading skills. If you are in search of a text that is based on standard scholarship, then The UBS Greek New Testament: A Reader’s Edition is highly recommended. It is available for only $22.99. If you are in need of a source that is easy to carry, aesthetically appealing and even provides OT and Apocryphal citations, then A Reader’s Greek New Testament is the text for you. It is available for only $27.99.

Review by: J. Bisbee

Burer and Miller vs. Kubo: A Comparison of Greek Reader’s Lexicons

Review By: J. Bisbee

A New Reader’s Lexicon of the Greek New Testament (NRL), by Michael H. Burer and Jeffrey E. Miller is a fantastic resource for first year Greek students, pastors and laymen alike. NRL provides concise definitions for every word that occurs fifty times or less in the Greek New Testament.  Contextual definitions are drawn from today’s standard lexicon, W. Bauer, F.W. Danker, W.F. Arndt, and F.W. Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3d ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000). Each word is defined and categorized by book and verse. Word frequency numbers also display how many times a word appears in the book at hand, other books by the same author, and the entire NT. Statistics for these numbers were drawn from the standard NA27 and UBS4 Greek New Testament. NRL even provides cross-references.

A similar source is Sakae Kubo’s A Reader’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. This source also includes definitions for words that occur fifty times or less, but its definitions are drawn from the 1957 version of Walter Bauer’s A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian literature. Secondly, this work is based on the NA26 only. Word frequency numbers appear for the book at hand and the entire NT. But, unfortunately, the category “other books by the same author” is excluded. Lastly, statistics for these frequency numbers were drawn from Robert Morgenthaler, Statistik des neutesamentlichen Wortschatzes which was printed in 1958. While Kubo’s Lexicon is based on older scholarship, it does have its advantages. Appendices in the back include an alphabetical list of words which occur more than fifty times, irregular verb forms, and a beginner’s guide to translation that contains paradigms.

While both are fine sources, A New Reader’s Lexicon of the Greek New Testament (NRL), by Michael H. Burer and Jeffrey E . Miller is highly recommended, since it contains the most recent scholarship.  Purchase NRL today, for only $27.99. Sakae Kubo’s A Reader’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament is also available for $23.99.

Book Review: Covenant and Creation

Covenant and Creation: A Theology of the Old Testament Covenants

ISBN: 9781608992386

By: William J. Dumbrell

Wipf & Stock (2009)

Guest Review By: J. Bisbee

William J. Dumbrell (Th.D., Harvard University) is the author of Covenant and Creation, A Theology of the Old Testament Covenants. He has taught at Moore Theological College in Sydney, Australia, Regent College in Vancouver, and Trinity Theological College in Singapore. Dumbrell explains the background and content of each biblical covenant (Noahic, Abrahamic, Sinai, Davidic and New). This book is helpful for scholar and layman alike who need a complete overview of each covenant. It is also helpful for understanding the theological developments during the New Testament era.

Chapter one delves right into the Noahic covenant. The first reference to the Noahic covenant is found in Gen. 6:17-18. According to Dumbrell, Noah (a righteous man in an age of violence) was chosen to functions as a “Second Adam” in response to the Fall. The covenant is not with Noah only but with Noah as representative of the human race (cf. 9:9).The sin of Adam constituted a breach in covenant (Gen. 2:17; 3:1-5). The original goal of creation was divine rest. Noah and his seed were chosen to usher in that rest in the New Creation.

Chapter two describes the Abrahamic covenant, which is also a redemptive response to the human dilemma created at the Fall. The content of the covenant is a Promised Land and people for Abraham (Gen. 15:18), from which Israel will emerge. Similar to the Noahic covenant, the call of Abraham aims at the redemption of man so that the original “rest” of the creation covenant will be realized. The redemption will take place through Abraham becoming a great nation and blessing to all peoples. Abraham as a great nation will provide a “symbol of divine rule manifested within a political framework” (p. 67). It becomes an “image of the shape of the final world government” (p. 67).

Chapter three reviews the Sinai covenant. This covenant sets forth Israel’s vocation, which, according to Dumbrell becomes the background for the rest of the Old Testament: “The history of Israel from this point on is in reality merely a commentary upon the degree of fidelity with which Israel adhered to this Sinai-given vocation” (p. 80). Israel is to be a Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation displaying God’s character to the world. Their purpose is to fulfill the Abrahamic covenant, which calls Israel to bless the nations. The ultimate goal is to bring about the realization of God’s original creation purpose: divine rest.

Chapter 4 describes the Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7). The reign of the Davidic line was to reflect the rule of Yahweh, and fulfill what Israel as a whole had failed to do. According to Dumbrell, David is “. . .the agent through whom the Exodus deliverance (rest in the land) is finally achieved. Sonship terms applied to Israel (Ex. 4:22) are now applied to David (cf. 2 Sam. 7:14) . . . The Promised Land has now been secured . . . the sanctuary presence of God in the midst of his people . . . would secure the blessing of ‘rest’ . . .” (p. 151). But, David fails to fulfill the desired expectation resulting in an eschatology built on Israel and David’s failures.

Chapter 5 introduces this new eschatology. Dumbrell introduces the New Covenant by looking at the effects of the Babylonian exile. Israel held a faulty understanding of covenant which thought God guaranteed her position despite her failures. Exile came as a result, but not all hope was lost. The New Covenant described in Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Isaiah, “looked forward to the realization in the new age of the political forms originally developed at Sinai for Israel. At the same time the notion of Israel as the centre of world blessing was not lost . . .” (p. 164). The New Covenant is capable to bring about the creation ideal, where the Sinai covenant failed, because it would regenerate the hearts of men (Jer. 31: 31-34).

Dumbrell does a fantastic job. The only disadvantage is Dumbrell’s lack of stated method and goal before diving right into the Noahic covenant. Old Testament theologies tend to include a statement of method to help the reader understand how the author arrived at his conclusions. Does Dumbrell approach the text with a synchronic and/or diachronic method? Does he limit his material to the Hebrew canon? What is his stance on Canonical structure, etc.? The reader can glean these answers from reading Dumbrell’s text, but a chapter devoted to this topic would be extremely helpful. Other than this critique, Dumbrell’s Covenant and Creation, A Theology of the Old Testament Covenants is highly recommended for anyone who needs an overview of the Covenants and their relationship to one another.

Book Review: The Variety of American Evangelicalism

The Variety of American Evangelicalism

ISBN: 9781579100544

Edited By: Donald W. Dayton and Kurt K. Johnston

Wipf & Stock (1997)

Review By: Joe Lee

The editors of the book, Donald W. Dayton and Robert K. Johnston, have both made significant contributions towards the recent study of American evangelicalism. Dayton, with special interest in the Pentecostal and Wesleyan-Holiness traditions, has received degrees from Houghton College in New York, Yale Divinity School, the University of Kentucky, and the Divinity School of the University of Chicago where he earned a Ph.D. in Christian Theology. His teaching appointments in the field of theology included Asbury Theological Seminary, North Park Theological Seminary, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Drew University, and Azusa Pacific University where he retired in 2004. He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wesleyan Theological Society in 2010. Robert K. Johnston, Professor of Theology and Culture, has taught at Fuller Theological Seminary since 1993. He has received degrees from Stanford University, Fuller Theological Seminary, North Park Theological Seminary, and Duke University where he earned his Ph.D. His diverse scholarly interests range from evangelicalism, Old Testament Wisdom Literature, to theology and film.

The book, made up of essays written by thirteen contributors, examines the relationship of different traditions to its understanding of evangelicalism in order to better understand the complexity that is American evangelicalism. The traditions/movements evaluated include: Premillennialism, Fundamentalism, Pentecostalism, Adventism, the North American Holiness Movement, the Restorationist Movement, African-American Religion, Baptists, Pietism, Mennonites, Reformed, and Lutheranism.

In light of the essays, two different theses are established by the two respective editors. For Dayton, a major goal for his involvement in the book “has been to display the complexity of these movements, in the hope that we can move beyond easy generalizations to nuanced understanding of these movements and their diversity—a diversity that is compromised from the beginning by any effort to find a common label” (248). Dayton believes the term “evangelical” is no longer useful and hinders the attempt to properly understand the movement, wanting to do away with the term all together. It fails to capture “the range of movement” represented in the book and he would rather see implemented more “useful categories of analysis” (251). Johnston on the other hand, though recognizing its difficulty to define due to its “diversity and scope,” believes the term should be used. He approaches evangelicalism hermeneutically through a familial framework, allowing categorical lines to be blurred while recognizing shared attributes. For Johnston, enough shared attributes exist to constitute a “family resemblance” that is American evangelicalism. Though categorical boundaries need to be softened and the fluidity of the term needs to be recognized, the term “evangelicalism” is necessary to capture the various movements it represents.

Dayton and Johnston have put forward a helpful volume to better understand American evangelicalism in light of the diverse traditions it represents. The reader is given a broad overview of the major traditions/movements traditionally represented under the umbrella of evangelicalism along with different perspectives of evangelicalism from the different contributors. In the end can evangelicalism be properly defined? That’s left up to the reader. Nonetheless in light of all the diversity and complexity involved in the term, a consistent theme throughout the book is that evangelicalism will always be difficult to define.

Book Review: Adventures in Churchland

Adventures in Churchland

ISBN: 9780310275565

By Dan Kimball

Zondervan (2012)

Guest Review By: Paloma Douglas

What sets Dan Kimball’s book on contemporary church culture apart from all the others is the conversational empathy and understanding he extends to those hurt by “Churchland.” Kimball keeps a balance throughout the book that honestly addresses the flaws and shortcomings in the church, yet maintains a respect for the necessity of organization, structure, and correction within the body of believers. Perhaps what endears readers the most to Kimball’s humorous style is the narrative of his own journey through Churchland.

Similar to many others’ stories, Kimball’s first real encounter with the Gospel happened during his teenage years when a stranger asked him about his eternal destination. This led to Kimball repeating the sinner’s prayer. Years later, with little discipleship, Kimball felt curious, confused, and cautious about the church. Though people had hurt him within the church culture, he eventually read and studied the Bible for himself. He also met an older man, a major positive influence, who introduced him to Bible study and refused to pass judgment on Kimball’s lifestyle.

Now a staff member at Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, California, Kimball identifies several perspectives and behaviors within the church that may hinder nonbelievers from fully embracing the community known as the church. He says, “there are many things Christians do—with good intentions—that can be quite embarrassing or confusing to others.” Many of these silly traditions seem completely normal to churchgoers, yet look and sound completely foreign and unappealing to everybody else, such as glamorized Christmas musicals and Christian lingo. Other examples, however, have much more serious consequences, such as picket sign-holders proclaiming doom and destruction, leaders focused on haircuts more than heart issues, and the hypocrisy especially highlighted in the realms of television evangelism and radio preaching.

One major downfall Kimball points out in much of the church is its eager willingness to condemn those outside the perimeter, and the hesitancy in judging and correcting believers who continually engage in sinful lifestyles. He even devotes a chapter to explaining the biblical method for confronting believers.

Though he points out the major flaws when the church focuses on traditionalism and legalism rather than bringing people to faith, he asserts the necessity of order as well. People will find it hard to have Jesus without the church because a body must function with and among its other parts. And if the church does its part well, people will change because they align themselves with Christ rather than follow a set of rules.

Perhaps the most challenging issue Kimball addresses finds root in Christians isolating themselves from the rest of the world, a clear deviation from the “in but not of” motto Christians like to quote. In his experience, he says that the more he immersed himself in Churchland, the more disconnected he felt from the world. He believes that as a part of the culture, people cannot just accept Jesus to get into heaven, but should fulfill the mission of loving people here on earth. Although the church sometimes creates a mess, he says, “What matters is that we stick around to help clean our messes up.”

Kimball’s book provokes much consideration and rethinking of church culture trends. The truthful sting of what he says motivates the church to change its approaches and methods. Kimball presents all this in light of the beautiful Gospel and biblical truths, and he offers “Graceland” as the alternative to Churchland. The church needs to share the Gospel with the world, and the approaches it takes will determine their effectiveness. The church makes messes, but it can also serve as a hospital for mess-makers. He says we must look at the positive and ask, “What mess will I choose to be in?”

Book Review: Greater

Greater

ISBN: 9781601423252

by Steven Furtick

WaterBrook Multnomah, 2012

Review By: Mitchell Hester

In most bookstores in America, the self-help section stands out as one of the most popular. Most people desire greatness, so they focus heavily on what they can do themselves toward creating a better life. Self-help books pose the problem of concentrating too much on the individual’s power in achieving greatness. This creates an issue for Christians because their aim should center on God. In the book Greater, author Steven Furtick presents a fresh take on what it means to live the greater life that God has envisioned for His people.

As founder and lead pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, Furtick knows what it means to seek the greater things of God. He watched Elevation Church grow to ten thousand attendees in five years. Furtick also holds a degree in communication from North Greenville University and a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He demonstrates the act of seeking God’s greater vision by drawing from his theological training and his experiences as a pastor of a thriving church.

The purpose of Greater goes beyond that of other generic self-help books, and it speaks deeper than any health and wealth message. Many people look for a list of things they can check off and do, but Greater seeks more than that. Furtick sees this book helping Christians step out in courageous faith and achieve the vision that God has for their lives. Many believers sit on the sidelines of life and settle for the lives they have. They often feel that they have done enough for God. Unfortunately, even in their greatest moments they find that what they offered falls short of His standards. God desires greater for his people, and only with His help can believers achieve greater.

Furtick believes that people’s lives can take three forms. He describes the first life as the good enough life. This life represents people who settle for the ordinary and never really try for anything else. They sit motionless and watch life pass them by.  He describes the second life as the life of greatness. People leading this form of life have obscure goals that never work out, and they ultimately harbor feelings of disappointment and resentment. Furtick describes the final life as the greater life on which he expounds for most of the book. The greater life represents people who understand what selling out completely for God means.  They also understand that only He has the provisions that make it possible.

Greater follows the example of the prophet Elisha, the often forgotten successor to Elijah. Furtick draws from key events in Elisha’s life which show how Elisha stepped out in faith and followed God to a greater life. Some of these episodes include Elisha’s calling, the healing of Naaman, multiplying the widow’s oil, and healing the Shunemite’s son. Each event lends itself to Furtick’s overarching theme that God can use people for greatness even if they struggle to see how.

Furtick uses a lot of narrative that focuses on his life as a pastor and a father. He shares stories from members in his congregation as well as personal moments he shared with his son. Consistently he weaves each illustration back into the theme of stepping out in faith and following God. Furtick also understands the world and people’s desire for relevance. For this reason, he pulls in several illustrations from pop culture that make Greater relevant to the world today. These references include mentions of pop music, celebrities, and technology.

Many believers struggle with seeking God’s vision for their lives. Worry and doubt creep in and dominate their hearts, and they find it hard to escape those thoughts. Some turn to a generic self-help book for the answer.  Steven Frutick’s Greater uses examples from God’s Word and presents the clear message of having faith in God’s plan, even when you struggle to see it.

Book Review: Viral

Viral: How Social Networking Is Poised to Ignite Revival

ISBN: 9780307459152

by Leonard Sweet

WaterBrook Press, 2012.

Guest Review by: Faith Tsai 

“The real question is not ‘Would Jesus tweet?’ but ‘What would Jesus tweet?’” (65). In Viral, Leonard Sweet has written a guidebook for those of the former generation to the social media culture of the rising generation. Sweet calls these two people groups the Gutenbergers, or those who grew up using ink and paper, and the Googlers, or those who primarily grew up with modern technology. Sweet knows his subject both theoretically and practically. As the author of over thirty books including real church in a social network and The Church in Emerging Culture, Sweet calls himself a former Gutenberger who now loves Twitter.

In Viral, Sweet takes an analytical approach to explaining social media culture. Sweet does not address practical methods for implementing social technology in the church. The subtitle of the book, “How Social Networking Is Poised to Ignite Revival,” describes, instead, the potential that social networking has for evangelism. In doing so, he seeks to help readers grasp an accurate understanding of Googler culture and the possibilities it has for the church.

Sweet organizes his book into six parts—an introduction, a conclusion, and four sections in between titled Twitter, Google, the iPhone, and Facebook, or as Sweet calls it, TGIF culture. In each of these sections, he addresses how Googlers use that form of social media, and how it works within a Christian theology.

Sweet also outlines the differences and similarities between Gutenberger and Googler culture, and analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of both. As the book’s title suggests, though, Sweet primarily promotes Googler culture because “the future belongs to Googlers, but not for long” (10). As culture changes, the church must learn to adapt in order to accomplish what Christ has called his followers to do—make disciples of all nations. Sweet understands that culture will evolve again in the future, but for now, it belongs to social media. With Googler culture, Sweet especially emphasizes the value that the new generation has placed on community, and encourages Gutenbergers to learn from them. Social networking does not distract from Christianity or destroy relationships, but Christians can and should use it to spread the Gospel faster and farther than before.

Though Sweet leaves the practical application for his readers to figure out, in Viral, he does his job in portraying the mindset and values of the social media generation, and the potential for TGIF evangelism.

Book Review: J. R. R. Tolkien: The Making of A Legend

J. R. R. Tolkien: The Making of a Legend

ISBN: 9780745955148

By: Colin Duriez

Lion Publishing, 2012

Guest Review by: Alyssa Luff

Today there are more books written about J.R.R. Tolkien than by him. Yet, 76 years after the first publication of The Hobbit and 59 years after the print debut of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien’s audience grows, as does a curiosity about the author himself.

To the existing body of work on the famous author, Colin Duriez contributes J.R.R. Tolkien: The Making of A Legend, a refreshing new biography for a burgeoning generation of Tolkien fans. Well-timed to answer a fresh wave of public interest in Tolkien, stimulated by the recent release of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit, Duriez offers an accessible background sketch of the mastermind who created Middle Earth.

Duriez has written and spoken extensively on J.R.R. Tolkien. He has authored works such as Tolkien and the Lord of the Rings, The Inklings Handbook, and Tolkien and C.S. Lewis among numerous other books. Duriez has also addressed many literary and academic groups, and appeared as a commentator on the extended film versions of The Lord of the Rings.

In this biography, Duriez insightfully pieces together the invented world of Middle Earth as it probably coalesced in Tolkien’s imagination, inspired by life experiences. Examples range from a childhood spider bite that might have led to the invention of Shelob, to a family trek through the snow-capped Swiss Alps, the photos of which strangely resemble a Fellowship hiking party. The biographer traces events and details of Tolkien’s life, which the author likely wove into his masterpieces. As he guides the reader through the chronological events of Tolkien’s life, Duriez discusses correlating scenes from The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and the lesser-known The Silmarillion, in tandem.

Despite the occasional awkwardly structured sentence, the smooth interweaving of biographical facts with episodes from Tolkien’s fiction makes this biography pleasantly readable.  Brief summaries of the scenes from the books to which Duriez refers, make the account highly accessible to those new to Tolkien. The book, however, does not provide so much explanation that it feels tedious to a well-versed Tolkien fan. It is a pleasantly succinct and thorough, if not comprehensive, introductory biography of Tolkien for someone who finds themselves interested in Tolkien’s creative process and an illustration of how the author’s life informed his fiction.

Book Review: Journeys of Faith

Journeys of Faith

ISBN: 9780310331209

By Robert Plummer

Zondervan, 2012

Review by Jennifer Callaway

“A man with an experience never lies at the mercy of a man with an argument.” The old saying gets a workout in this new book from editor Robert Plummer. Journeys of Faith gives four men an opportunity to share their experience.

But one thing makes it unique. These four men held leadership roles in their churches before changing their Christian faith tradition through a period of soul-searching, seeking and following where they believed the Lord led them.

One went from Catholicism to evangelicalism. The other three, however, left evangelical denominations to move to liturgical ones. One moved to Catholicism. Each tells where the questions began, what steps he took, and why he made the decisions that he did. Students will find a great supplement to their studies of church history as they read how these men applied the historical church arguments and understandings to their contemporary situations. But those who love to read stories of the impact God has in and through one life will enjoy each man’s heartfelt recounting of the painful and life-altering decisions they made.

Plummer, the editor, states his goals clearly in the introduction. He desires to help evangelicals understand why people leave their churches for more liturgical traditions, how to answer questions of those interested in liturgical worship, and the fundamental differences.

His method consists of allowing each man to share his story, followed by a rebuttal from an evangelical theologian. The subject responds to the arguments, getting the last word. However, grace and charity prevail and extend from both sides, even as the writers lay out opposing viewpoints without apology.  In fact, some topics remain unaddressed in the interest of unity. Take for example, the doctrine of Mary in the Catholic church. Its proponent, Francis Beckwith, seemed to avoid the issue. Though Allison brought it up in his rebuttal, Beckwith remained silent on the subject even when he got the final word. Such a crucial point of divergence between Protestants and Catholics left unaddressed seems incomplete. So his refusal to discuss it left me wondering why.

Overall, the book balances “head and heart” well. Some write very academically and analytically, while others tend to speak more of experience and spiritual and emotional issues. Plummer chose both subjects and critics carefully. They all communicate well as intelligent, educated men, experienced in church leadership and now leaders in their new traditions. I gained greater understanding of all the traditions discussed, and that alone earns the price of the book. Because I desire to see the church keep the “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,” the effort put forth toward unity refreshed me and gave me hope. May the whole church learn to embrace this attitude.

I believe Plummer achieved his goals. He set out to provide a glimpse into the heart and mind of sincere believers doubting their heritage. His desire that we use this as a tool in understanding the reasons for losses to the evangelical church remains up to the reader. Take care not to get caught up in the stories and forget to pay attention to such detail in a way that you can apply it elsewhere.

I highly recommend this book to anyone trying to relate to a loved one who has changed faiths within our Christian tradition. And if you have changed and want to start some dialogue with those who wonder why,  you may find the help you seek here.

For the student, if you struggle to understand or even to care about all the details of church and doctrinal history, you will find this a great tool for seeing the importance of those records we have when applied to modern believers in a practical way.

And for anyone who just enjoys reading the story of a life changed by God, you will find this a real page-turner. And all of us can use it to understand what we believe, why we believe it, and perhaps through it even filter some doubts.