Book Reviews
Hauerwas: A (Very) Critical Introduction: A Book Review
Mainstream magazines seldom get involved in theological affairs—at least not in expressing approbation for theologians. Yet in 2001 it named one seminary professor “America’s Best Theologian,” to which he responded, “‘Best’ is not a theological category” [1]. This snarky reply is something of an attitudinal trademark of Stanley Hauerwas, who retired recently after many years as the Gilbert T. Rowe professor of theological ethics at Duke Divinity School. Hauerwas spent his illustrious career teaching at three institutions, primarily at the...
read moreBook Review: Biblical Beliefs: Doctrines Believers Should Know
by Barry Raper W. Jackson Watts currently serves as pastor of Grace Free Will Baptist Church, located outside of St. Louis, Missouri. He holds degrees from Welch College in Nashville, Tennessee, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Duke University. Bro. Watts’ exposure to theological training in the academy, coupled with his experience in a local church as a pastor, enable him to write Biblical Beliefs with both accuracy and clarity. Purpose of the Book The book Biblical Beliefs: Doctrines Every Believer Should Know is published by...
read moreBook Review: The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert: An English Professor’s Journey into Christian Faith
review by Carol Reid Rosaria Champagne Butterfield, The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert: An English Professor’s Journey into Christian Faith (Pittsburgh, PA: Crown & Covenant Publications, 2012). 153 pages. The first indication was the waiting list at the public library for this book. When you are sixth in line to read it, that’s a good sign that the book is worth reading. Another good sign is that it was written by a literature professor. Its five chapters read well; and it has insight and depth, written with remarkable syntax and...
read moreBook Review: One Bible, Many Versions
by Dustin Walters The twentieth century has witnessed a significant increase in Bible translations for the church. Such a plethora of versions force Christians to find a compelling reason to select one over another. Yet this topic has certainly seen its fair-share of controversy as well. English-speaking Christians are often divided over the particular translation(s) God might use to accomplish His work. At the same time, most Christians in other countries are grateful if they have even one translation of the Bible! In One Bible, Many...
read moreBook Review: Christian Philosophy
Book Review: Christian Philosophy by Craig Bartholomew & Michael Goheen It is a rare gift to be able to write many books, yet ones that are always worth reading regardless of the subject. Craig Bartholomew and Michael Goheen have demonstrated in their previous collaborations that their work is always accessible, thoughtful, and practical. Their latest publication, Christian Philosophy: A Systematic and Narrative Introduction (Baker Academic, 2013), is the third book in a series of helpful introductory textbooks. For those interested in...
read moreBook Review: The End of Our Exploring
“There is no such thing as a stupid question.” We’ve heard this caveat heralded by educators and parents alike, and certainly the sentiment is true. While the practice of inquiry can be healthy, we live in an era absorbed with questioning and doubt, never concerned with finding answers. Many curious inquirers like to question, but ironically could care less whether they find the right solutions. But, if inquiry leads to answers, and we want to find the answers, then questioning must be good, right? This is the topic that Matthew Lee Anderson...
read moreBook Review: A House for My Name
In a period when theologians are attempting to read anything and everything into the Old Testament, Peter J. Leithart is reading only one thing: Christ. An ordained Presbyterian minister (PCA) and Fellow of Theology and Literature at New St. Andrews College, Leithart has written prolifically on many subjects. Primarily his works center on the interaction between Christianity and literature, though he has also written devotional and doctrinal works. His deep understanding of literature and its inner workings has helped to highlight...
read moreBook Review: Shepherds After My Own Heart
by Craig Batts What does it mean to be a shepherd in the church? What does it involve? When we consider these questions, it rightfully leads to a discussion of leadership. Unfortunately, there often seems to be a flaw in the way we proceed from that point forward. There is a temptation to look to the corporate world or to socially-established practices in order to develop an understanding of what qualities leaders ought to possess. Since the term shepherd (as it concerns the church) applies specifically to a role established in Scripture, we...
read moreBook Review: Christ in the Chaos: How the Gospel Changes Motherhood
by Ana Batts Nine months of pregnancy, or months (sometime years) walking the road to adoption, can never prepare you for motherhood. Before those bundles of joy are sleeping through the night, there are a thousand people telling you the “best” way to feed, clothe, diaper, and raise your baby. It doesn’t end when babies become toddlers, preschoolers, elementary age, or teenagers. There will always be people watching, making sure that you do things the “right” way. But how do you handle it when you fail to meet other people’s standards? Your...
read moreRobert Picirilli’s ‘Discipleship’: The Expression of Saving Faith: A Review Essay
Discipleship is a term used quite often in the Christian community. Glance at a Christian publisher’s catalog and you’ll encounter books, small group studies, and countless other resources on the subject. Like any biblical term, we need reliable instruction to make sure we understand it. Free Will Baptists have few teachers more reliable than Dr. Robert Picirilli, long-time author, professor, and denominational leader. In Picirilli’s new book Discipleship: The Expression of Saving Faith (Randall House, 2013), he explains the way in which the...
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