Thursday Book Review – Jesus Calling

In continuing this month of Book Review warnings, I want to talk to you all today about Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling. This is a warning mostly to the women readers, but also to husbands who, as leaders of their families, need to be protecting their wives spiritual growth from heresy.

I’ve added a link to brother Justin Peters review of this book, as he is one of the most discerning, and well informed, brothers on heretical views. There’s not much I can add to what he has said, he covers the book, the writer, the background, and why it’s dangerous. I want to add just one thing, and it’s not the most popular viewpoint, but it is an accurate one. Wives need their husbands to be spiritually discerning.

The culture has so infected the church that men have taken a seat, they’re told not to lead, they’re told not to take a stand, and thus so many have listened to culture rather than Gods Word. The result is that heretical books like Jesus Calling can make it into your wives bookshelves without you being any more the wiser. This is deeply concerning, as men will be held accountable by God for how they shepherd the flock He has given them.

There, now that I’ve offended both men and women, I can get to the review. Jesus Calling, as brother Peter’s explains, is a book written in the first person as if Christ Himself is speaking. I like to use a chicken to explain why this is so dangerous. Let’s say you met a new friend and his name was Bob, Bob tells you he is a worshiper of Jesus. You get excited, you’ve met a fellow worker, a brother in Christ! Until he takes you home to introduce you to Jesus, his pet chicken which he worships.

That’s a silly example, but I hope it sticks with your beloved. There is only one Jesus which saves, and it’s not the one Sarah Young has made in her own image. It’s the Jesus Christ of Gods holy inspired Word, He is the only Jesus to ever take our sins upon Himself, bear our judgment, and wash us clean of our iniquities. If you place your trust in the Jesus of Sarah Young, or any other false doctrine including that of Bob’s chicken, then you will be found guilty on judgment day.

Please, dear brethren, pray for discernment before you pick up a new book to read. Pray for Sarah Young and all those who have been deceived by her into following a false Christ. As always, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved.

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Thursday Book Review – The Shack

This is going to be the first in a few weeks worth of Thursday Book Reviews where I list a book not to read. The Shack is the first book in this list, I’m going to give links to brother Justin Peters, and brother Voodie Bauchmans review of the book. 

There’s not much I can add to their wise words, I just felt the need to warn about it. This book is filled with heretical universalism. I would only recommend you read this book if you are interested in learning more about universalism. 

I know there are a lot of people who will say that this book is helpful for those that are grieving.  Beloved brethren there are better ways to heal a grieving heart than to read heresy. Please don’t be fooled by this book, it is theology, bad theology. 

Why is this so important to point out? Because if you put your faith in an idol, a false god you craft after your own image, then you’re dead in your sins. Books like The Shack show the idols created by authors when the sovereignty of God was too much for them. A false god can not save. A god made in your own image can not save. The Shack, and books like it, are leading millions astray. 

Beloved, please don’t take this lightly. Is it a light thing to blaspheme the King of kings and the Lord of lords? I pray for you all, always bringing your names before Gods mighty throne, have courage brethren. As always dear ones, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved. 

Thursday Book Review – Mortification of Sin

‘There is no death of sin without the death of Christ.’ – John Owen in Mortification of Sin

John Owen was a beloved English theologian. So beloved that when King Charles II returned to power and Puritans were once more persecuted, John Owen’s was not jailed. He was even bold enough, being close friends with John Bunyan, tried to no avail to get him released from prison. To say Owens was intelligent is putting it lightly, having studied at Oxford. You can see just how adroit his mind was in Mortification of Sin, published in 1656.

Mortification of Sin is not just an exhaustive explanation of sin, reasons for sin, and ways to mortify sin, but also how to tell if your salvation is true based on sin. Owen’s also weaves rebuttals throughout the book for different false doctrines regarding sin. These include the beginnings of the social gospel, the papacy, and any type of works salvation. He does a dutiful job of using scripture, in context, to refute any misconceptions on sin and how to mortify it.

I recommend this book to anyone struggling to understand sin or salvation. Anyone who is learning about Puritans will enjoy this book, as it gives an excellent look into the viewpoint of the time, however, it does not include any historical landmarks that might help you better understand the times. Considering that when this was published his brethren were all being persecuted, jailed, or run out of town, it’s impressive that he managed to focus solely on the topic he was addressing. That is, on its own, a testament to how important it was for Owen’s to clarify the mortification of sins.

I hope this book will be a blessing to you all beloved. It’s in the public domain, like many others I’ve reviewed, which means you can access a PDF freely online. You can also access an audio version through youtube or purchase a Kindle version for a dollar or two. As always, beloved, be good Berean’s and study to show yourselves approved.

Thursday Book Review – The Lord Our Righteousness

George Whitefield (1714-1770) was an English cleric, and fresh air preacher, who traveled seven times to America contributing greatly to the Great Awakening. In his book, The Lord Our Righteousness, he makes the case for Christ’s imputed righteousness. This short book, published in 1741, is as relevant today as it was in the 18th century. The same battle between Calvinism and Arminianism rages today, as it did between Whitefield and Wesley.

While I won’t be taking sides in that fight, I do think we can learn a lot from the amount of respect both Whitefield and Wesley showed one another. The Lord Our Righteousness does not just tackle Armenianism, but also addresses atheism and Catholicism. It is, in its entirety, an elegant rebuttal of ecumenicism, while laying out the case for Biblical salvation. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the Great Awakening, or church history in America.

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As an aside, my favorite anecdote about Whitefield is the story of the men who used to mock him. They would get a copy of his sermons and bring it to the pub, cross their eyes like Whitefield’s, and impersonate him. One fellow had gotten pretty good at his Whitefield impression but got more than he bargained for in reading one sermon. As he read the great preachers words out loud to the laughing crowd he found himself face to face with salvation. The words he read pierced his heart and he went from mocking Whitefield to following him. I’m sure there are few beloved brothers and sisters reading this who have yet to be mocked by the unbelieving world. Remember, you’re in very good company, and God can change the hearts of the harshest critics. 

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You can find this book in its Kindle version for only a dollar on Amazon! Almost as good as free, although this is the kind of book I definitely want in my future library once we stop traveling. I hope this book will be as much of a blessing to you, brethren, as it was for me. As always, be good Bereans and study to show yourselves approved!

Thursday Book Review – Grace Abounding

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners by John Bunyan was published in 1666. Bunyan wrote this book while he was serving a twelve-year sentence in jail for preaching without permission. This book is such a vivid account of the struggle Bunyan went through coming to faith it will make your heart ache. The only other faithful brother I’ve heard likewise is Martin Luther, who seemed to suffer from a similar burden of sin.

This book, like many other’s I’ve recommended to you, is in the public domain. This means you can download a free pdf or Kindle version, listen to an audible book, or purchase your own copy. I would strongly recommend this book to go along with the reading of The Pilgrims Progress.

http://www.chapellibrary.org/files/4813/7642/2821/bun-abounding.pdf

Thursday Book Review – Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards

A while back I wrote about Jonathan Edwards testimony, which you can read here, and at the time I was working my way through his treasured work Religious Affections. It took me a little longer to finish this book due to its length, and dutiful use of the Word. It was well worth the read! It was published in 1746, written by the American theologian who helped kick off the first Great Awakening.

One of the best parts about this book is that everything Edwards (October 5, 1703 – March 22, 1758) speaks of he gives multiple verses to back up. This makes reading the book a lot like having a long, edifying, Bible study with the great theologian. It still has so much relevance in the body of Christ today.

I recommend this book to anyone questioning their own affections for Christ, or those that win souls and wish to better judge whether others are in the faith. This book is in the public domain so it’s accessible in pdf form, audible form, Kindle form, or you can purchase your own copy. As always beloved, be good Bereans and study to show yourselves approved.

https://www.ccel.org/ccel/edwards/affections.html

Thursday Book Review – A Pamphlet

Shall We Accept the Pope’s Invitation to Unite with the Roman Church? H. A. Ironside 

This pamphlet was recommended by Excatholic4Christ, our brother in Christ. I’m so thankful he did, it’s an excellent read! In the short pages you’ll get a mixture of scriptures, church history, a clear explanations of what makes the church the Church, and a refutation of ecumicalism. 

I think this is a double recommendation, friends, as I’d like to recommend this pamphlet AND my dear brothers blog. His perspective, and ministry, have been a tremendous blessing to me. I hope you will check out his posts, and this pamphlet.

I recommend the pamphlet to anyone who wants to better understand ecumenicalism and the dangers therein. As always, beloved, be good Bereans and study to show yourself approved!