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APOLOGETICS
THE REASON FOR GOD by Timothy Keller
The Reason For God by Timothy Keller is a superb book. It presents powerful arguments for the Christian faith, but without the complexity and underlying judgmentalism that has characterized many books on the subject. It makes an obvious but powerful point, that even the loudest critics of faith are themselves "people of faith." Not to believe in a creator, for example, requires a leap of faith. On close examination, each of us inevitably believes in something, even if that something is the belief that there is nothing worth believing in.
What do you believe about your life, why you are here, where you are going? Is life just a mindless fumbling through a maze or does it have purpose and meaning? What does the future hold, a depressing existence and then annihilation or the promise of hope and a future? These questions and many more are answered in plain language with intelligence and respect. It is a powerful book.
Keller is the founder and senior pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. Redeemer is amazing, attended by more than 5000 each week, mostly in their 20s and 30s. Many are highly successful people with advanced degrees and lots of questions. The church does not rely on music or drama to bring people in, rather Keller has found a way to speak into the interests and concerns of so many people by addressing their serious questions directly: "There can't be just one true religion." "How could a good God allow suffering?" "Science has disproved Christianity." "You can't take the Bible literally." And many others.
You will find them all here and will not be disappointed. (by S. Wolgemuth )
BIBLE AND CULTURE
TRUTH AND TRANSFORMATION by Dr. Vishal Mangalwadi
Interesting and profound. But also, insightful and troubling.
This book is insightful in diagnosing what has strongly contributed to Western Civilization's unparalleled achievement, development, prosperity and success. (Yes, I'm using the word "success" even though I know it is a loaded word.)
Mangalwadi points to the historical influence of biblically-centered moral values; the biblically-directed pursuit of rationality; the biblically-centered institution of marriage and sexual mores; and other foundations of Western culture. His argument for the positive results of this biblical influence is powerful and persuasive.
One of the interesting distinctions that Dr. Mangalwadi makes is the difference between the Church's influence on Western culture and the Bible's influence on Western culture. He tends to look more favorably on the Bible's influence. I realize that many people would assume that there would be no difference between the two, but the author believes that there is. If you disagree, I'll let you argue that with him. I'm just pointing it out here because I found it to be interesting.
On the other hand, the book is troubling because over and over again Mangalwadi asks some variation of this question: Why is the West abandoning the biblically-oriented cultural morals and values that have been so central to its success?
Part of what gives the book an extra edge is that the author brings such a unique viewpoint to his observations. Dr. Mangalwadi is a Christian intellectual (some folks aren't even accustomed to seeing those two words together) who was born and raised in India and educated in philosophy at secular Western universities. So, he observes and analyzes the West with something of an "outsider's" perspective.
I believe many Christians who read this book will be motivated to pray for spiritual revival and a fresh commitment to the pursuit of truth--God's truth. (by Dan Marler )
BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW
CHRISTIANITY WITH POWER by Charles H. Kraft
This is a really great book that talks about worldviews. I have not read any book that addresses the issues of our worldviews as comprehensively as this, and it has been incredible understanding how we see things and why. Charles Kraft weaves his experience of his changing worldview with this writing, and shows the differences between the Western worldview and other worldviews. It is also interesting to see what peaved him off and what set him back on track to discover the fullness that God wants for each and every Christian, that there is power with Christianity.
Kraft talked about his initial missionary days in Nigeria to the extent that the Nigerians "knew" that whatever power Christianity brought was inadequate to deal with issues in their lives. They came to accept Christ as there were many good reasons for being a Christian, but this lack of power gave them a dual allegiance, i.e. a loyalty to Christianity to handle certain needs paralleled by a continuing loyalty to traditional religious practitioners to handle their power needs. This does not seem that far from much of Christianity today, and Kraft addresses these issues and also challenges us to take that step of faith forward.
It is no wonder that the subtitle to Christianity with Power is "Your Worldview and Your Experience of the Supernatural." How we perceive God is how we relate to Him, and how we understand Him and what He can do is how we would do likewise. Hence, if we believe that God does not heal or work miracles today (despite believing that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever), that would become our practice in our Christian life. So, if you believe that Christianity is not all that you have believed or experienced to date, it's time to read this book and be open to have your worldviews changed. (by Gerald Khoo)
BIBLE AND ECONOMY
THE PROTESTANT ETHIC AND THE SPIRIT OF CAPITALISM
by Max Weber
The Protestant ethic--a moral code stressing hard work, rigorous self-discipline, and the organization of one's life in the service of God--was made famous by sociologist and political economist Max Weber. In this brilliant study (his best-known and most controversial), he opposes the Marxist concept of dialectical materialism and its view that change takes place through "the struggle of opposites." Instead, he relates the rise of a capitalist economy to the Puritan determination to work out anxiety over salvation or damnation by performing good deeds--an effort that ultimately discouraged belief in predestination and encouraged capitalism. Weber's classic study has long been required reading in college and advanced high school social studies classrooms. Unabridged republication of the edition published by Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1958. Translated by Talcott Parsons. Foreword by R. H. Tawney. Index. Notes.
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