Religion Books

This book was very helpful at fleshing out Titus 2. The only thing I regretted was that it wasn't longer! It was very practical and my husband even noticed positive changes in our marriage. Highly recommended. Would make a great gift for a bride-to-be...I sure wish I had read it before I was married - it would have gotten me on a good start from the beginning.

After reading quite a few books on biblical femininity, Feminine Appeal is the best I have ever encountered. Mahaney faithfully explained what real Godly womanhood is and supported every major point with multiple, soundly-interpreted Words of God. As opposed to some other books that incorporates the cultural image of housewives, Mahaney actually focused on the Truth, and not on her own convictions. I highly recommend this book for women who wishes to grow in Godliness.

This book is very biblical and full of God's Truth. She is very gentle yet not afraid to confront sin in our hearts. Christian wives need to know what God's Word says about marriage and this book spells it out very well.

I loved this book. Held no punches back, and backed itself up all the way with the Word of God!

Yesterday I finished Feminine Appeal, by Carolyn Mahaney. This is an easy-to-read practical study of the seven virtues spelled out in Titus 2:3-5. This part in the foreword grabbed my attention, "If you are a `younger woman', you hold in your hands a mentor, an excellent guide to spiritual maturity." From this perspective I was excited as I continued to read because I often long to sit at the feet of an older women who I can respect and follow in life with the Lord. This book proves to be a good "mentor" as Mahaney takes an in-depth look at loving one's husband, loving one's children, self-control, purity, working at home, kindness and submission.

She made a particular point in an illustration toward the end of the book that really stuck with me:

______________________________________________________________

If we hold out a soaking wet sponge and squeeze it,
what will happen? Water will fall onto the floor. We
may look at the puddle and think it was caused by the
squeeze. However, the squeeze only revealed what was
already in the sponge. You could squeeze a dry sponge,
but no water would come out.As with the sponge, what is in our hearts will spill out of us when the squeeze is on. In other words, difficult interactions or trying experiences are not the cause of our reactions;
rather they serve to reveal the sin that was there all along.
Matthew 15:18 says that "what comes out of the mouth
proceeds from the heart."
______________________________________________________________

This is an excellent book for wives to read, as it addresses the matters of marriage and home. However, I think that a single woman could also glean a great deal from its pages as the exhortation from Titus 2 is for all women so that in everything we may "adorn the doctrine of God our Savior." (Titus 2:10)

Mahaney makes this point of adorning the gospel with our lives several times. She says that our conduct has a direct influence on how people who know us and watch us will think about the gospel. "Make no mistake, by adorning the gospel, we are not enhancing or improving it" but cultivating these qualities will show "the transforming effect of the gospel in the lives of women-women who have turned from their sins and trusted the Savior, women whose sins have been forgiven and whose hearts have been changed."

Bryan Chapell has provided an outstanding model for seminarians, and lay-people alike. This work is robust and qualifies for its faithfulness to the truth, and the preaching thereof.

Reformed and sound, it has emphasized the correct Godspell-motive: to preach Christ and Him crucified.

An wholesome portrayal and balanced representation, spiced with important and trustworthy 'preachers' as biblical examples to emulate.

'By stating what a text means, placing that truth where it originates in the text, and proving how the text establishes the truth, you fulfill the fundamental obligations of an expositor.' pg 126

*For an equally inspiring book on preaching, get:
Tongues Aflame by Roger Wagner

This book is a must have for anyone who is studying to be a preacher. It is clearly and thoughtfully written and deals with the subject of Expository Preaching in the most helpful way so that a student can get the help he needs in mastering the art and skill of expository preaching. It is written from an evangelical point of view and holds high the authority of the Scripture. I heartily recommend it without reservation.

Book has some helpful (though somewhat one-sided) discussion regarding the "why" of expository preaching, but also some help in formulating the "how" of expository preparation.

I love this book! It is by far the best book I have ever read on preaching, Chapell explains expository preaching in a light that few authors can. He puts all of the focus on Christ and how the audience needs to hear about Jesus. If you are looking for a book to revive your preaching look no further.

Chapell has contributed almost nothing to the art of preaching that has already been said before. The one glimmer of hope that he may add something of value to sermon development tucked away in the tenth chapter regarding what he calls the "Fallen Condition Focus." His handling of the elements of the sermon, expositions, application, illustration, are reiterations of what has all been written before. Furthermore, there is no permeation of Christ-centeredness into any of the elements.

Has just the right verses you need, categorized according to topic. Perfect for praying the exact verses you need at the moment and for the situation you need them. Awesome!

I received this book just after receiving a life-changing medical diagnosis. Joyce Meyer has taken scripture and categorized it by need (i.e. sickness, worry, depression, etc.). I was able to turn to the section I needed and pray scripture, believe scripture and allow God to replenish my soul. I would recommend this book to anyone going through a tough time!! I have bought them in bulk now to give to friends! Truly a must have, go-to book in all life's circumstances.

This book has gotten me through some rough times in my life with the enemy was trying to take over my mind with fear, depression, and lack of confidence. Like the reader who gave the 2-star review...no its not a book full of insight from Joyce...that wasn't its purpose. The purpose was to make certain scripture dealing with certain situations easily accessible to the believer and this book does just that. When I am going through I whip out this book and look up the situation I am facing or the characteristic that I want to develop in my life at that time and just read the scriptures to myself our out loud. When you are going through your mind is frazzled sometimes and you really aren't in the mind set to flip back and forth through the bible or concordance saying, "Now where is that scripture on faith again??" Joyce has categorized it for you. The word of God says that death and life are in the power of the tongue...we must speak life into our destinies or death into the attacks of the enemy. This book is so awesome that I've been buying it and giving it away and that is why I am on Amazon now so that I can buy more. I would like to see Joyce add to this...to include even more issues/characteristics but she has definitely done a great job of covering major situations that we face everyday. Thanks, Joyce!!!

I bought this book and I'm so glad I did! I'm using it every day, speaking God's Word for my life and the positive changes are really remarkable. This is the most useful book I've ever seen by Joyce Meyer and I just can't say enough about it. I'd rate it 10 stars if that were possible. Besides the content itself, this is a really well-made book, very sturdy and small enough to take along in my purse.

Many times when people are praying, they are just speaking to God about their problems. This is faithless prayer and God cannot change anything in your life when you don't ask with faith. God already knows about the situation and think about it this way...God says His Word will never go void, but that He watches over His Word to bring it to pass. When you speak God's Word over situations in your life, situations are guaranteed to improve. Speaking God's Word has caused my faith to grow enormously.

The book is broken down into different topics like courage, health, depression, finance and so many more. Get this book and start using it today!!! God will bless you like never before. Also get "God's Master Plan For Your Life" by Gloria Copeland. It's awesome! I pray that God begins to bless you in every area of your life as you put this foundational principle to work!

This book is excellent. It has many Bible scriptures on several subjects, any of which you may be dealing with at a particular time. Often, the scriptures are written in the first person so that that you can personalize them and make them daily confessions. For those of us that believe that speaking God's word is necessary, and is the essence of prayer, this book gives us quick access to spiritual nuggets in every imaginable area. It is a "God send," literally.

To Stasi and John,I started to read your book on Thrusday,July17th.I have not been able to put it down. I just finished a work shop on self improvement, which bought out a lot of which you have written on abandonment, that's me.I've been freed, thanks to the work shop, thru the working of the Holy Spirit I feel such a release. I think ,act,and speak all in a new way. I have recommended your book to friends of mine. This book is as the youth say, "off the hook, or off the chain".
Now I would like to read the book for men so I can get a better understanding of men.
Thank you again,
Laverne Albuoy.

The delivery was fast and books were as promised. You can't beat the price.

i bought this as a mother's day gift for my daughter. It hit home for me. I wanted to share a word with my daughter. She is a wonderful mother and wife, but we all soemtimes forget the gift we have been given from The Lord as a woman.

I received the book well before the date promised. Am happy to add another Doreen Virtue book to my book collection.

The Lightworker's Way: Awakening Your Spiritual Power to Know and Heal

I really appreciate the author writing this book. She truly details all of the little life defining moments and the events in her life that led up to where she is now and how she slowly accepted her healing and intuitive gifts. I appreciate her honesty; this book has been extremely inspiring to me. I will suggest this book to any open minded person who wants to write their own book or for anyone who is very intuitive but do not have anyone they feel safe enough to share it with. Thank you, Doreen Virtue, for doing your life's work of healing and encouraging others to love and heal as well.

A powerful book that I just would not put down. I had many "aha" moments.
Higly recommend for those "living in the light". Worth a read. :-)

As the author of The Second Virgin Birth, I enjoyed The Lightworkers Way. I found it different and interesting.

I ordered this book again, after I read it years ago and gave it away. It was great the first and second time. Doreen is a profound spiritual teacher, clairvoyant and life educator. If the word Lightworker rings true to you, you MUST read this book. Doreen is a PHD psychologist AND a healer, intutive, so you get an overall way to heal that is loving light and soulful and practical knowledge. She talks about her history of having gifts and struggling against them and then embracing them. I have seen her numerous times and met her in Los angeles and she is the REAL DEAL. She beams an angelic quality and knowledge. I can't say enough how much her books have helped me on my path. I am a spirtual healer and psychotherapist, so I resonate with her being bold enough to speak her truth.

THIS BOOK IS WONDERFUL. SHE HELPS YOU TO PRAY FOR THINGS THAT YOU MAY NOT THINK OF FOR THE FUTURE OF YOUR CHILDREN. I ALSO RECOMMEND "THE POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE." THAT BOOK AND THE PRAYERS IN IT ARE EXTREMELY POWERFUL. I HAVE SEEN AMAZING CHANGE FROM READING IT.

The Power of a Praying Parent - A Book of Prayers by Stormie Omartian is an excellent tool for all parents to have. I purchased the book to give to a couple that was expecting a new baby. A gift for the baby would have been good, but this book was better to assist and keep the parents motivated to pray.

Parents are not perfect and no one can ever have too much information. That is why no matter how much you read the bible, attend church, and watch christian television...it is always good to have something new, fresh, and scriptual to keep you on your toes along this parental journey.

The book contains prayers that concern various areas of parenting. A scripture is paired with each prayer. A space for your personal prayer notes is also included. The prayers, scriptures, and personal notes can be used to encourage yourself and others as needed for a lifetime.

A great book to supplement this book with is "Single Parent Support - A Collection of Inspirational Scriptures" on Amazon.

I give this book 4 stars and highly recommend it for all parents. Parents come in all fashions (married, single, widowed, grandparents, god-parents, foster parents, teachers, aunts, uncles, adoptive, etc.). So get this book and be encouraged.

Reviewed by:
Pamela Jarmon-WadeSingle Parent Support: A Collection of Inspirational Scriptures

This is a good companion book with the praying wife. I love both books and use them regulary in my quiet time.

Power Of A Praying Parent is a much needed guide for parents. When this guide is followed and used consistently the power behind praying scripture over your child(ren) is overwhelming. Don't doubt what God can do through you when you pray for your children.

As parents we are to continualy pray for our children....too much evil in the world.

Goeffrey Robinson does a masterful job on ambiguities in the Catholic Church and his rehetorical questions sharpen that description. At first, as was another reviewer,I was put off by the questions. I discovered that the questions express the ambiguity.

I believe that he misses the depth of paradox. Diversity consitutes unity. He only mentions subsidiarity in a meditation but fails to join solidarity and subsidiarity in his discussion on tensions.

I also believe he makes many true statements. Sexual abuse is an abuse of power. The system in which authority is exercised limits the proper exercise of the full power of the Church.

Reading his book reminded me of my study of Modernism. It was a time when Church structures had become inadequate to meet the issues of the day.

I believe that the book will bear fruit if readers can help the Church die to,lose,give up,change those structures of its power system in order that it may live the unity in love for which Christ prayed.

One of my professors used to say that grasping paradox is deeper than discovering contradiction. Ambiguity affirms the reality of opposing positions.

Rev. Cris Janson
cjanson@swbell.net

This is a really excellent book, coming directly to grips not only with the Roman Catholic Church's clerical abuse problems, but with history's iron grip on both governance and doctrine and the Church's inability to get beyond that grip -- due to structure, resistance to paradigm shifts, and a failure of will. Clerical sexual abuse is shown as a prime example of the Church's dysfunctional structure, marginalizing of the laity, and centralization of power far from where the rubber meets the road.

An earlier reviewer was put off somewhat by the author's use of rhetorical questions. I do see her point, but I think Bp. Robinson was extremely clever to make his points that way, rather than by flat declarative confrontations with the Roman Curia. Sadly, instead of maturely responding in kind, the hierarchy once again shot itself in the foot with its overblown reaction both to problem statements and to suggested paths out of the morass. (The impact on me of Roger Cardinal Mahony's appalling letter to the author was that I immediately bought and devoured the book.)

Highly recommended. Benedict XVI and his team should be encouraging such thinkers and questioners, and engaging them in reasoned twenty-first century dialogue, rather than harking back to the fifth century (Augustine) and the sixteenth (Council of Trent) and hiding behind "creeping infallibility." I hope Catholics, both laity and clergy, will have the guts to read this book and use it as a step on the ladder of reform. Ecclesia semper reformanda est (the Church must always be reforming. Always.)

Bishop Robinson's book is full of history and ideas to mordanize the Catholic Church. It will help explain why the church got to where it is today and then how we can all (laity, clerical, religious) change the church.
This book will change you and the way you look at religion and the concept of Church.

This is a profoundly spiritual and honest publication. Not always easy to read but always rewarding, sometimes uniquely so. i defy anyone to read this book without being surprised by its frankness and its sincerity

Bishop Robinson shows how the power in the Catholic Church has been unduly concentrated over the centuries due to the absence of checks and balances. He presents a modern view of the roles that Scripture, the world, and discernment play in developing a knowledge and understanding of God. He suggests changes to the governing structure of the Catholic Hierarchy that do not violate Scripture and would allow more rapid response to needs in various parts of the world. This book should be read and discussed by all adult Catholics.

I purchase a Everyday Bible and I received it in good timing. The book was new, I was really happy with the purchase. Saved me a couple dollars and provided awesome quality. Thank you.

This is the very best bible. I Love it! It's very easy to read and understand. The extras, like commentaries, only make this bible a better product.

I have had this bible in the past and I am very pleased to have it again. This is such a wonderful bible...with joyce meyers personal experiences inside and all her input on scriptures. I would recommend this bible to anyone.

THE BODY STYLE:
-I got the leather bound one because that feels more comfortable for me and because I did not want those pictures on the front of my Bible like the hard back one has. The leather one is kind of a maroonish color and looks nice. Has gold edges and a built in bookmark ribbon.

-The only negitive I have about the body style of this Bible is that the pages are too thin which makes getting to where ya need to get sometimes harder and slower.

BIBLE VERSION:
- It is the amplified version which can get rather wordy with lots of paraphrasing. But that does not bother me since I need extra discriptions so I can better understand many verses. But it might not be good for when you have to read passages out loud in a Sunday school class because of the wordiness.

-I find this amplified version easier to understand then the King James version by far.

BIBLE NOTES AND ECT:
-I enjoy the notes and commentaries ( or whatever they are called). I like the way Joyce Meyer says things bluntly but with love. I dont want some kind of wishy washy beat around the bush notes. I need the truth and she does a good job of that IMO. The notes/commentaries make me think and want to read more to see what else I can find in the Bible.

-I wish this Bible had a some extra learning materials with in it such has maps, special dictionaries and other stuff like that. But even without them I still enjoy this Bible and am very glad I have it.

-I think many people tend to think Joyce Meyers teachings are for women only but that is not true. I find that her notes in this Bible are for every one to learn from not women only.
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I am the type to not want to spend much money on something without 1st getting to know more about it. So once this Bible started being sold in my local walmart I began checking it out there looking through it. I decided then that I wanted it but not the hard back version. So for my birthday this year my parents gave me the money to order the leather version and Im so glad I did.

I dont understand why many keep making a fuss over if it is a study Bible or not. One can make a study out of anything no matter if it is worded as a study Bible or not. I find myself wanting to study into the Bible after reading much of the notes in this Bible.

This bible is an excellent addition to other available bibles. The type is large enough to read easily and the amplified version of the bible is a very great help in understanding the meaning of words and passages. It brings to life the wonderful message the bible has to share. Joyce Meyer is a great bible teacher and her insights that she shares in this bible are a wonderful addition and not to be missed. I'm so glad I have this bible and would encourage others to get it too.

This is an excellent and well-researched account of the Scopes Monkey Trial and the author skillfully dismantles much of the mythology surrounding the event. Recommended for anyone on either side of the evolution debate.

Edward Larson's book: Summer for the Gods is a Pulitzer Prize winning exploration of the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial held in Dayton, Tennessee. In this extremely well researched book Larson looks at the many myths surrounding what many consider to be the trial of the twentieth century. Most of us have based our understanding of the trial on the play Inherit the Wind. Larson shows the play to be in many ways misleading and inaccurate. Scopes himself is actually a physics and math teacher called in by the Dayton town leaders to put the city on the map. The trial itself turns out to be more of a fight over what the state government should require to be taught in school versus individual rights. Larson examines both William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow and concludes their motives are very different from what pop culture taught us. With all the current rumblings about "Intelligent Design", it would be wise for every citizen to know the real history, so we do not repeat some of the mistakes of the past.

The author did a great job of demystifying the trial, a task long overdue. The question was whether a state or community could prohibit teaching any theory or doctrine in the public classroom, and jury had decided that it could. If young Scopes was teaching Marx's theory of class struggle in history class, I think the outcome would have been the same, though I doubt there would have been even a fictionalized account opening on Broadway, thirty years later.

Yet somehow, because the theory in question was Darwinism, and because the trial was held in the Bible Belt, it has been misrepresented from the get-go as another icon in the ever continuing "...debate over science and religion." Unfortunately, this is the subtitle of this work, and the reason at least one star was dropped from my rating.

The author continued to equate "anti-evolutionists" with "Fundamentalists" throughout his book, which extended into the last decades of the 20th Century, long after the equation was valid. By this time, several scientists, many without any strong religious beliefs, had poked serious holes in Evolutionary theory, developing a formalized concept called "Intelligent Design." Furthermore, several other scientists, though not willing to dispute macro-evolution overall, had serious reservations about supporting Darwin's Natural Selection mechanism for the development of new species. Thus, Punctuated Equilibrium appeared on the scene, championed by the late Harvard paleontologist, Dr. Stephen Jay Gould, which weakened the theory most often taught in school, and understood by the public, even more.

Unfortunately, the author decided not to include these scientific controversies, perhaps not wanting to "dirty up the water."

But in doing so, he chose to represent the ongoing reluctance of some state and local school boards, some far from the Bible Belt, to teach Darwinism as anything more than a theory, as purely a product of "Fundamentalism."

He probably should have stopped his narrative about a chapter earlier...

In order to be credible to all sides in a highly-partisan cultural war, professor of law and history Edward J. Larson in his book "Summer of the Gods: The Scopes Trial And America's Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion" had to present the facts and nothing but the facts ("so help him God" or not). This is the book's necessary strength and its unfortunate weakness. I would like to have heard more reflection.

Much light could come just from placing the historical scene in a larger context. For example, what connections can be made between the meaninglessness and despair of World War I, the recent Marxist-Leninist revolution, the red scare of the 20's, Darrow's agnosticism and membership in the Communist party, and the fears of an attack on traditional values and beliefs this all must have engendered?

The facts about this "great," or at least highly significant, all-American trial are so often the exactly opposite of the myths that survived so long! Perhaps we now need a anthropologist of culture and religion to analyze how we could go so long believing utter falsehoods, and all without force of propaganda or threat of gulag.

Surely on the deeper issues of the philosophical debate between science and religion as reflected in American culture, Mr. Larson, whose background is exactly in this type of historical study, could lend a hand. Certainly he has done us a great service by his meticulously objective work for this well-deserved Pulitzer Prize winning effort, but there is little philosophical thought to be found.

The Scopes courtroom led to more drama than debate, more chance than justice or toleration. Both sides claimed to win, but all sides actually lost. Both the real trial and the mythic one reflected in the movie "Inherit the Wind" (and other cultural renderings passed down as folklore)--both failed to even satisfactorily debate let alone struggle with the underlying conflicts or seek answers to America's larger quest for clarity of identity.

Neither built toward a consensus. Hence our ongoing crazy cultural wars with Ten Commandments tablets allowed here but not there, all supported by highly reasoned legal arguments on both sides that will all look more like myth and superstition to the next eon--hopefully. Our capitalistic Mark Twainish show trial was mercifully free of the menace of Stalin's show trials of the 30's. Nevertheless, by failing to address the challenges of this chapter in our over-politicized mythic struggle, we neither evolve nor practice true religion.

Nevertheless, as a starting touchstone "Summer of the God's" deserves a place on all our book shelves. It has inspired me to want to read a biography about William Jennings Bryan, and Darrow's autobiography as well.

Summer for the Gods

The echoes of the past continue to reverberate. Although it's been eighty years since the Scopes Trial, the debate over the teaching of the origins of life goes on.
The monumental intellectual battle pitted Williams Jennings Bryan against Clarence Darrow following the indictment and arrest of a Dayton, Tennessee public school teacher for violating a state law forbidding the teaching of evolution.

The controversy focused attention...not much of it favorable... on the South, which was still smarting from the Civil War and Reconstruction.
In "Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America's continuing Debate over Science " Edward J. Larson takes the reader through the background of the Scopes matter; the involvement of the ACLU, which was seeking a test case at the time; and the role of the Prosecution and Defense. The media (or, the Press at the time) had an important role as well -- the Baltimore Sun's acerbic H.L. Mencken covered the story, and on one day of the trial journalists filed 200,000 words by telegraph. Larson's Pulitzer-prize winning account is an enjoyable and entertaining read. His "afterword," which compares the Scopes matter to the current debate between Science and "Intelligent Design", is especially useful. The recent attempts to restrict academic freedom in Kansas and other jurisdictions illustrate the currency of the debate.

A recent Google search revealed 29,600,000 hits for "intelligent design." There are societies, institutions, and now even a Museum designed to promote Creationism. (Interestingly, William Jennings Bryan founded his own college, Bryan College, to promote his views, much as the late Rev Jerry Fallwell.)

Larson makes ample use of the papers of Bryan, Darrow and other principals in the trial and contemporary news accounts. His book is an entertaining, enlightening, and gracefully-written addition to the literature on the subject.
As another reviewer has noted, the legal background of the story is of particular interest... particularly given than in 1925, many general principles which we take for granted today (for example, the application of the Establishment of Religion Clause to State as well as Federal law ) didn't exist at the time.

I was so blessed to have had two evangelicals in my life (first 3 to 4 years ago a protestant one, then until very recently a Catholic one) and to get to spend hours and hours a day in professional contact with them. Both, however, seemed to want to twist my arm a bit in order to think that being conservative was really the only holy, sanctified choice. The Catholic one, beloved, even had a minion of his (keep in mind that minion originally implied protege and favor and of royal blood in a royal court) tell me that our group was "conservative". By wILLing such a thing, it was a sort of mortal blow to my belief in our relation. Just because leading political conservatives tend to be evangelicals does not mean that their politics should be considered related (at best i think it's 50/50 for the best of them being right as it is for the the best of the liberals being right, though this is not an endorse of German/Kant/Hegel/Karl Bart dialectical philosophy/theology...that's just bunk to someone like myself of a non-German, Anglo-American culture...not to a good-evil Christ/anti-christ idea...dialectical has no meaning outside the German Culture. Period.) I've never, ever for a second thought that George W. Bush's political decision could ever be considered right with God (though I must agree with my biological father's phenomenal jokes about this second president Bush is just too damn stupid to be the anti-Christ). In fact, I more than respect conservative values, actually I embrace them. But I don't disrespect liberal values (in life nor in politics), so much so that I started experimenting with them not just in my earlier spirit of tolerance but in life itself (conclusion/result: I'm not really built for liberal values...they don't really work so well for me). Such experiments have actually been fueled and enflamed by subtle, but firm pushes from these two deeply respected evangelicals towards conservative political values. (odd but true)

Anyhow, this book's message is amazing. I doubt even the pope of the Catholic Church would ever have the courage or ability to say what Gregory A Boyd is saying.

I just recently finsihed reading Gregory Boyd's book entitled, The Myth Of A Christian Nation. I was given this book as a gift from a friend who happens to be a Freewill Baptist Minister. At last there is hope! This book should be a required reading for every church member. The people in this country are so ignorant of real history and of the true tenents of Jesus' ministry. This is not one of those books that attempts to label the forefathers as die-hard Diests, although their Diestic tendencies are mentioned. Boyd does a wonderful job comparing the differences between the Kingdom of the World and the Kingdom of God. This thought-provoking work will certainly find a permanent place on my shelf!

Randall F. Hubbard
History Teacher
Springville, Alabama

A few months back I picked up a copy of Dr Greg Boyds "The Myth of a Christian Nation". The title grabbed me. A few days earlier I had a discussion with a friend who was quite in favour of New Zealand becoming a "Christian" nation, so I thought it would be helpful. The book was a very short read, and I finished it in a day. But I was quite dissapointed with his treatment of the subject. While it was always going to be a difficult subject, and I applaud Dr Boyd for his efforts, I was simply not impressed. Those who would expect a balanced and carefully exegetical view of Christianity and Politics will be dissapointed too. I found Dr Boyd to be very biased towards pacifism and prone to making large unsubstantiated claims.


For example he claimed that world missions had been ruined by the fact that Americans claimed to be "one nation under God" or a "Christian nation". While I agree that this is a harmful for missions I don't know of any missionary who goes out with that premise. My church has several church planters out from America and none of them are flying the American flag as part of their mission. None of them are out to bring political freedom to different parts of the world. In fact I've never met a missionary (and I've known a few) who ever bring up politics during missions. They are kind, friendly, accepting and they spread the gospel in deed and word. More importantly they reach the people on a level they understand. Dr Boyd made a terrible straw man of missionaries to prove his point.
Another half truth he propogated was that muslims extremists were simply responding to the evils of the crusades and bigotry of Christians. That is an extremely one sided view. While some muslims may be trying to right the wrongs of the past, they are by no means innocent of the past. Islam was a religion founded on violence and indeed many extremists get their justification from explicit commands in the Koran.

Dr Boyd also builds on these premises for future chapters to "prove" his arguement. I found myself saying "Yes and Amen" to some points he made such as "The kingdom of the world is characterised by Judgement. The Kingdom of God is characterised by amazing, even scandalous Grace." But then in the same chapter he would go on to suggest that Grace doesnt count for much unless we are working to maintain it. He stressed that God's kingdom depended largely on us remaining faithful, and in true Arminian fashion resorted to guilt tripping (Thats not to say that Dr Boyd is Arminian in his theology but many of techniques of persuasion had that ring to them).

Again building another strawman, Dr Boyd seemed to blame to the ills of Christianity on White middle class Americans. Instead of making the problem a global one in which all humanity was to blame, Dr Boyd is merciless towards white people. I found that ironic and disturbing. Firstly Dr Boyd is a white middle class American. Secondly this would not encourage any sort of unity within the body but would continue to promote division. Not all white middle class Americans behave in the manner he describes. Another half truth is that we are fed a lot of propoganda from politicians about patriotism and just wars, which is correct. However he attempts to convince us of His view with much the same teachnique.

Dr Boyd continually pointed out that the entire world was "under the sway of the evil one" and that our struggle was not against "flesh and blood". While I agree on this point he only presents half the truth, insisting that Satan was responsible for every evil that was going on in the world. There was very little treatment of an individuals sin nature and how that needs to be dealt with. For Dr Boyd it seems there is a demon on every corner. This is not a balanced view at all. Dr Boyd is also a proponent of open theism. He made statements like "God abandoned a nationalistic way of defining the kingdom of God when it didn't work with the Israelites." This is a strange interpretation of the history. As if to say God's plan A failed so he moved to plan B. Rather it was always Gods plan to fufill the law in Christ and not to abandon it. This doesnt make sense of what Jesus said "I have not come to abolish the law but to fufill it."

Towards the end of the book Dr Boyd attempts to answer some "objections" and "questions" such as "Should Christians serve in the military?" or "Should Christians serve in their countries wars?". He gave some pretty pacifistic answers with very little support apart from that "We should look to the example of Jesus." That amounts to a theology of "what would Jesus do?". The Bible is remarkably silent on some things and I don't think we're justified in holding people to our own consciences. While we are to look to the example of Jesus we are also to rely on the Holy Spirit within us and our consciences. To simply say that all Christians should not serve in the military at all or go to war is to give pat answer to a complex problem. We cannot simply give lip service to the complexity while asserting a simple answer. Of course there are no just wars, but is it better for Christians to go to jail for five years because of their objections to milatary service? Is this not a matter of conscience before God rather than a hard and fast rule?

Where I found myself most in agreement with Dr Boyd was his section that dealt with Church history. He showed clearly that whenever Christians had seized power and tried to regulate an entire nations beliefs it resulted in more bloodshed rather than unity. On this I wholeheartedly agree. We have no precedent to cite on any nation being better as a result of Christian governance. Every example is as immoral and corrupt as the next nation. But having to wade through the whole book for this small bit of truth just wasn't worth it. For those who are looking for an extensive treatment of a Christians engagement with Culture and Politics, you should look elsewhere. This book is likely to confuse less mature believers who will not be able to separate the wheat from the chaff. Overall this book does not present anything new, its all stuff I've heard before. I wonder what kind of effect this book would have had on William Wilberforce?

For almost 30 years I have believed that attaching a conservative political agenda to the Good News of Jesus Christ has been spiritual adultery.- The Church of Jesus Christ in bed with the Republican Party (a worldy philosophy)! I have believed that eventually, anyone who didn't embrace the political agenda would not be considered an authentic Christian. This has fully come to pass. I believe that there are many others across the land who have believed similarly, but have been shouted down within the Body of Christ and have either left the institutionalized church or have just sat down and shut up. Many churches have purged their congregations of those who do not accept political conservatism as part of Christianity. It has harmed the cause of Christ tremendously. Christian conservatives elected to office have supported and done some very wrong things. Greg is so articulate on these matters that I am hoping that authentic Christians across the land will begin to speak the truth of these matters in love and become the beginnings of a new movement towards vibrant, authentic Christianity alone- no political agenda attached!

Boyd's book put into words what I have been feeling in my heart but could not articulate myself to satisfaction. Since I am a person of tender heart who wants to be good, I have often struggled with the guilt trip that the Christian right tends to impose--all the shoulds and should-nots--i.e. I should vote Republican and go to world view weekend and collect literature about the voilent muslims etc. I should support President Bush and tell others to do the same and if I question anything then I am a liberal and ought to "know better" For so long I have known in my heart that something was amiss here. Deep down in my heart I knew that such things were not the defining point as to whether one was "saved" or not. Deep down I knew that there have always been "liberal" Christians and it was not a matter of "us against them." Political ideology does not define whether or not one belongs to Christ. Deep down I knew that I ultimately had to follow my own heart and the love and depth of character that my God was slowly instilling in my soul through prayer and a deeper walk. I knew in my heart that it clashed with the version of Christianity that I had grown up with and had instilled in my mind. But a wise person once told me that one can be convinced of just about anything with their mind (or by rationalizing it) but I had to be convinced in my heart if I was ever going to be at peace with my Christian walk. Now that I had been convinced in my heart, I had no way to articulate this to others who insist on being convinced with their minds--until now. Boyd does a tremendous job of articulating the heart for the sake of the mind. Now, whenever someone tries to lay a guilt trip on me, my heart can send me back to Boyd's book to convince my mind. The problem is solved. No more guilt! Thank you Dr. Boyd!