Book Review and Recommendation: They Like Jesus But Not the Church (Insights from Emerging Generations) By. Dan Kimball

They Like Jesus But Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations. By. Dan Kimball (Zondervan: Grand Rapids), 2007.

Interesting read.  Came across this several years ago.  Take a look at his chapter titles.  It almost looks like it was written down political lines.

Truly if chapters five through ten are true for a majority of new evangelical churches then no wonder some many are confused along political lines.  Churches and pulpits are not doing a good job at all.  Everything is not okay just to say "sovereign grace" here there or anywhere.  Obviously based on the statistics youth are not taught and obviously as a result are not living right either.

This is only inflamed by a new evangelical "christian" culture that simply says what you believe is all that matters.  You can live however you want (think: voting morally and ethically here).

This book could have been easily titled "Reasons why I don't Believe the Bible" or perhaps "My theological gripes for leaving the Church."

I would suggest based on other trends appearing in larger "gospel-based" coalition groups, even they wouldn't adhere to the chapter beliefs.

Table of Contents:

Part One: Why Emerging Generations are Changing

Ch. 1  I probably wouldn't like Christians if I weren't one
Ch. 2  Why I escaped the church office
Ch. 3  Jesus as Son of God and plastic action figure
Ch. 4  Meeting those who like Jesus

Part Two: What Emerging Generations Think about the Church

Ch. 5  The church is an organized religion with a political agenda
Ch. 6  The church is judgmental and negative
Ch. 7  The church is dominated by males and oppresses females.
Ch. 8  The church is homophobic
Ch. 9  The church arrogantly claims all other religions are wrong
Ch. 10  The church is full of fundamentalists who take the whole Bible literally

Part Three: How the Church can Respond

Ch. 11 What they wish Church were like
Ch. 12  Out Two Biggest Barriers
Ch. 13  A Great Hope for the Future

This election year definitely will be a roller coaster of a year.

May God have mercy on our country and on His church.

Book Review: Always On (Language in an Online and Mobile World) By. Naomi S. Baron

Always On (Language in an Online and Mobile World). By. Naomi S. Baron (Oxford University Press: New York), 2008.

This book is one of many I have come across over the years in studying preaching, teaching, and modernism.  Many of these I have poured through touch on the emerging and missional mindset in broader Christian circles.  I will add books of this sort from time to time.

Many of these chapter titles should be a reminder to us how attached our society is to the world of electronics.  Social media is a part of life.  Businesses, churches, and even individuals have websites telling more than you wanted to know.  I (and most likely you as well) interact with nearly all these chapters on a daily basis.

Consider the topics covered:

1. Email to Your Brain Language in an Online and Mobile World.

2. Language Online The Basics.

3. Controlling the Volume Everyone a Language Czar

4. Are Instant Messages Speech?  The world of IM

5. My Best Day Managing "Buddies" and "Friends"

6. Having Your Say Blogs and Beyond

7. Going Mobile Cell Phones in Context

8. "Whatever" Is the Internet Destroying Language?

9. Gresham's Ghost Challenges to Written Culture

10. The People We Become The Cost of Being Always On

Book Review and Recommendation: Not By Chance (Learning to Trust a Sovereign God) By Layton Talbert

Not By Chance (Learning to Trust a Sovereign God) By Layton Talbert (BJU Press: Greenville, SC), 2001.

I highly recommend this book.  I have read through the book several times as well as taught through this book in a local church to adults.  Many adults mentioned the content was a blessing and encouragement to them as well.

Expect to be thoroughly challenged with the scriptures.  Expect to have the text of scripture as the focus of attention not theological systems regardless of their popularity in evangelical circles.

Appendix E is always a challenge and good reminder to read.  It is entitled, "Salvation: Divine Determination or Human Responsibility?"  For those who have chosen to champion any one particular soteriological  (salvation) grid, don't expect to get a pat on the back.

Consider the Table of Contents below:

Ch. 1 Who is in Charge?
Ch. 2 What is Providence?
Ch. 3 The Preserving Providence of God over Man
Ch. 4 The Preserving Providence of God over Creation
Ch. 5 Governing Providence: A Case Study
Ch. 6 The Mystery of Providence
Ch. 7 The Means of Providence
Ch. 8 Silent Providence
Ch. 9 Problems of Providence
Ch. 10 Providence in the Incarnation of Christ
Ch. 11 Providence in the Passion of Christ
Ch. 12 Providence in the Church
Ch. 13 Providence and Prayer

May this book be a challenge and encouragement in your walk with Christ.  Blessings.

Book Review: Dispensationalism: Essential Beliefs and Common Myths

Dispensationalism: Essential Beliefs and Common Myths
By. Michael J. Vlach (Theological Studies Press, 2008)

Unfortunately those who attack Dispensationalism do not go head to head with the current advocates of this particular theological system.  Of course it is always helpful to accurately represent a system you disagree with: Ad hominem arguments and straw men don't help much.  This text is soon to be six years old but it still packs a punch in exegetical and theological truth.  

I would encourage anyone thinking of abandoning Dispensationalism to carefully consider the arguments of this book.

Consider the Book Outline:
Ch. 1 History of Dispensationalism
Ch. 2 Essential Beliefs of Dispensationalism
Ch.3 Myths about Dispensationalism
Ch. 4 Questions and Answers about Dispensationalis

In chapter two, Vlach lists what he believes are six essential beliefs of Dispensationalism.  They are as follows:
1. "Progressive revelation from the New Testament does not interpret or reinterpret Old Testament passages in a way that changes or cancels the original meaning of the Old Testament writers as determined by historical-grammatical hermeneutics.
2. Types exist but national Israel is not a type that is superseded by the church.
3. Israel and the church are distinct, thus, the church cannot be identified as the new or true Israel.
4. There is both spiritual unity in salvation between Jews and Gentiles and a future role for Israel as a nation.
5.  The nation Israel will be both saved and restored with a unique identity and function in a future millennial kingdom upon the earth.
6. There are multiple senses of "seed of Abraham," thus, the church's identification as "seed of Abraham" does not cancel God's promises to the believing Jewish "seed of Abraham."

In Chapter three, Vlach lists which he believes are myths about Dispensationalism.
Myth 1: Dispensationalism teaches multiple ways of salvation
Myth 2: Dispensationalism is inherently linked with Arminianism
Myth 3: Dispensationalism is inherently antinomian
Myth 4: Dispensationalism leads to Non-lordship salvation
Myth 5: Dispensationalism is primarily about believing in Seven Dispensations

Overall the book is greatly appreciated in strengthening the exegetical and theological foundations of Dispensationalism.

May this overview encourage you to remain firmly rooted (assuming you are already) in the beliefs in a Diispensational understanding of the Scriptures.