In recent months,The Shack has stormed bookstores across the nation, climbing its way to the top of the bestseller list under the genre of “Christian fiction.” Admittedly, I had no interest in reading the book simply due to the fact that I usually prefer non-fiction titles. But after weeks of hearing and seeing people read, tote, talk about, recommend, and even distribute this book to others en masse, I finally relented and bought a copy just to see what all the fuss was about. Even as I write this sentence The Shack ranks #6 on Amazon.com’s overall best-seller list, where it boasts more than 520 reader reviews. What’s the appeal? And is it really that good? Let’s take a look…

THE SHACK

(William P. Young, Newbury Park, CA: Windblown Media, ©2007, 256 pp., List price: $14.99)
Reviewed by Dr. Scott E. Kaufman, Director of Healthcare Ministries

Author. William P. Young was born in Canada and raised among a stone-age tribe by his missionary parents in Papua, New Guinea. He now resides in Gresham, Oregon. Young writes, “The Shack was a story written for my six children, with no thought or intention to publish. It is as much a surprise to me as to anyone else that I am now an ‘author.’”

Synopsis. The Shack is a fictional story that seeks to provide answers to the age-old question, “Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?” Mack, the main character, has lived under the burden of The Great Sadness since the abduction and murder of his daughter four years previous. He then receives a note from God (”Papa”), inviting him to return to the shack — the scene of his daughter’s murder — for a time together. When he returns to the scene, Mack is treated to a weekend encounter with the Godhead. Each member of the Trinity is present: “Papa” - a large African-American woman (representing the Father); “Sarayu” - an ethereal woman of Asian descent (representing the Holy Spirit); and “Jesus” - a Middle Eastern man with carpentry skills. Most of the book is Mack’s dialogue with these characters from this point on. They discuss many topics, but ultimately help Mack to deal with The Great Sadness. By the time the weekend is over, Mack is a changed man.

Spiritual Intent & Theological Impact. Although a fictional work, Young did not write this book for the story. This book is all about the content and the teaching it contains. “The Shack — God As You’ve Never Seen Him Before!” says an ad on his website. The book is clearly intended to impact readers’ ideas about God, evil, and a host of other important theological topics. And it is succeeding. Readers are describing it as “life changing,” “spiritually profound,” “theologically enlightening” and “teaching powerful theological lessons.” One reviewer writes, “Our Bible study group is really enjoying doing a study on The Shack” (emphasis added). Many readers are claiming that the book has changed not only their lives, but also their understanding of God. But the reader should note that errorneous teachings abound in The Shack. Not only does it teach a false view of God and the Trinity, it also downplays the importance and uniqueness of the Bible, misrepresents redemption and salvation, teaches a false understanding of evil, muddies the concept of forgiveness, and more. But don’t just take my word for it. I would strongly recommend the following reviews by two very solid leaders in the evangelical world:

1) Tim Challies. One of the best reviews of The Shack I have found is the one by Tim Challies. He authors the website, Challies Dot Com, and is editor of Discerning Reader, a site dedicated to discerning reviews of books that are of interest to Christians. He is also the author of the book (reviewed on this site yesterday), The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment. You may download Challies’ review (pictured at right) in PDF format by clicking here.

2) Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr. Another excellent review of The Shack was recently done by Dr. Al Mohler, who serves as president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Recently, Dr. Mohler featured, “A Look at The Shack” on The Albert Mohler Radio Program, where he gave an extended analysis of the book and made note of its serious, even dangerous, theological deficiencies. Mohler states of The Shack:
♦ “This book includes undiluted heresy.”
♦ “This book simply, by any measure, falls far short of biblical Christianity.”
♦ “Regardless of intention (I can’t read the [author’s] heart), I can tell you that the effect of the book is indeed deeply subversive of the Christian faith, and I think inherently seductive as well.”

You may listen to the full audio recording of “A Look at The Shack” on The Albert Mohler Radio Program here.

Who Should & Who Shouldn’t Read The Shack ? A reviewer on Amazon.com wryly notes:

The Shack IS recommended reading IF…
♦ You want to recreate God in your own image;
♦ You find Isaiah’s portrayal of a holy God seated upon His throne to be a disturbing image;
♦ You would prefer to metaphorically cast God the Father as a loving and large black woman named “Papa,” Jesus as a laid back and friendly Middle Eastern man, and the Holy Spirit as a calm and cool Asian woman;
♦ You want a God so small that you and she/he/she can just hang out together as best buddies;
♦ You regard the Bible as an extremely biased, narrow-minded, and insufficient revelation of God in leather binding with “guilt edges” (p. 65);
♦ You believe that God is never to be feared (p. 90);
♦ You believe that Jesus’ miracles do not affirm Him as God, but prove only “that Jesus is truly human” (p.99);
♦ You want a God who does not hold people accountable for, nor punishes sin (p. 119);
♦ You want a God who does not demand that you submit to him or her, but one who submits to YOU (p. 145);
♦ You want a God who accepts everyone — “Buddhists…Muslims, bankers and bookies” — as his or her children no matter what their beliefs or behavior, and that Jesus has “no desire to make them Christian” (p. 223);
♦ You believe that Jesus lied when He warned, “Broad is the road that leads to destruction” (Matthew 7:13), because in The Shack, Jesus says, “Most roads don’t lead anywhere.”

The Shack is NOT recommended for… any Christian who loves the Bible and wants to know God as He wants to be known — as He has revealed Himself to mankind in the Scriptures.

CONCLUSION. We will conclude with a final quote from Tim Challies: “Because of the sheer volume of error and because of the importance of the doctrines reinvented by the author, I would encourage Christians, and especially young Christians, to decline this invitation to meet with God in The Shack. It is not worth reading for the story and certainly not worth reading for the theology… That The Shack is a dangerous book should be obvious from this review. The book’s subversive undertones seek to dismantle many aspects of the faith and these are subsequently replaced with doctrine that is just plain wrong. Error abounds. I urge you, the reader, to exercise care in reading and distributing this book. The Shack may be an may be an engaging read but it is one that contains far too much error. Read it only with the utmost care and concern, critically evaluating the book against the unchanging standard of Scripture. Caveat lector!” A Latin phrase meaning,

Let the Reader Beware!

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The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment

(Tim Challies. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, ©2007, 208 pp., List price: $16.99)

Author. Tim Challies is one of the most widely read and recognized bloggers in the Christian blogosphere. He is also the editor of Discerning Reader, a site dedicated to offering thoughtful reviews of books that are of interest to Christians. Dr. Al Mohler of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary calls Challies “one of the finest young evangelical thinkers of our day.”

Synopsis. What exactly is spiritual discernment? Challies defines it as, “the skill of understanding and applying God’s Word with the purpose of separating truth from error and right from wrong”(61). This solidly biblical book explains why Christians desperately need discernment in today’s world, as well as the consequences we reap from a lack thereof. Outlining practical steps we can take to cultivate discernment in our own lives, Challies shows us how to apply scriptural tools and principles that will enable us to come to biblically consistent conclusions about people, events, ideas, etc., that confront us every day.

Highlights. Highlights of this book include its readability, its Biblical focus, and its practical usefulness. Toward the end of the book, all of the information is coalesced to give the reader a framework for exercising discernment, leading him/her through the process in a step-by-step format. Because of this practical focus on equipping the believer in this skill, the book also includes both a Study Guide and a list of Resources for Discernment.

Why You Should Read This Book. Dr. John MacArthur states that Challies’ book “should be required reading not only for church leaders, but for all sober-minded laypeople as well.” That said, you should read this book for at least two reasons. First, there is a desperate need for discernment in the age in which we live. Paul warned the church in Ephesus that they were to “no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” (Ephesians 4:41, ESV). Yet we live in a day when most Christians are suffering from a lack of discernment. As Challies laments, “Proving that the church is suffering from a lack of discernment would be like proving that the sky is blue — it would be to prove something that is, unfortunately, obvious to anyone who cares to seek evidence of it.” Second, this book makes a rarely discussed but critically important subject accessible to the average reader. This book is written — not for those with theological training –but “for the general reader,” for “average Christians living in a culture and in a church where it so often seems that anything goes” (15).

Take Home Point for the Day. The Bible teaches that there is a clear relationship between spiritual discernment and spiritual maturity. For a Christian to be mature, he must also be discerning. “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:14, ESV)

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CULTURE SHIFT:
Engaging Current Issues with Timeless Truth

(R. Albert Mohler, Jr., Colorado Springs, Colorado: Multnomah, ©2008, 176 pp., List price: $14.99)

Author. Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr. is president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a recognized leader among American evangelicals. Time has called him the “reigning intellectual of the evangelical movement in the U.S.”

Synopsis. Congruous with his mission “to address contemporary issues from a consistent and explicit Christian worldview,” Dr. Mohler has written Culture Shift, a powerpacked little book that equips other Christians to do the same. As one of the church’s foremost cultural commentators, Dr. Mohler is eminently qualified for such a task. Combining “theological acumen with spiritual discernment,” he applys the unchanging truths of Scripture to such diverse issues as the “culture of offendedness,” the Supreme Court on religion, terrorism, torture and the war on terror, public schooling, science and “the God gene,” American immaturity, truth, abortion, and natural disasters. Readers are richly rewarded with tangible examples for understanding and discerning their world from a solidly biblical worldview.

Highlights. One of the many highlights of the book is Mohler’s argument that the Christian’s responsibility for engaging the culture is rooted in, and flows out of, his love for God. According to the “Great Commandment” (Matt. 22:36-4), our first priority is to love God with heart, soul, and mind. Secondly, we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. “The Christian life,” writes Mohler, “is summarized in these two commands. We must first understand our culture and its challenges because we are to be faithful followers of Christ and faithful witnesses to the gospel. We are called to faithfulness, and faithfulness requires that we be ready to think as Christians when confronted with the crucial issues of the day. This is all rooted in our love of God” (xiii).

Why You Should Read This Book. You should read this book because the culture in which you live is certainly one of the most complex and challenging in history. Unfortunately, however, modern Christians too often seem to view, interpret, and respond to the world and its issues no differently than non-Christians do. They have conformed their minds to a secular worldview rather than the biblical one. But Paul tells us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1, ESV).

Take Home Point for the Day. “In His sovereignty, our Creator has put us within this cultural context in order that we may display His glory by preaching the gospel, confronting persons with God’s truth, and serving as agents of salt and light in a dark and fallen world. In other words, love of God leads us to love our neighbor, and love of neighbor requires our participation in the culture and in the political process” (2).

If we are to be faithful as Christians, we must train our minds to view God’s world through the lens of Scripture.

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Reviewed by Dr. Scott Kaufman, Director of Healthcare Ministries:

Living the Cross-Centered Life:
Keeping the Gospel the Main Thing

(C. J. Mahaney. Foreword by Dr. R. Albert Mohler. Colorado Springs, Colorado: Multnomah, ©2006, 166 pp., List price: $12.99)

Author. C. J. Mahaney is a noted pastor, speaker, and author who leads Sovereign Grace Ministries in its mission to establish and support local churches.

Synopsis. Do you desire more passion for Jesus Christ? Quite often the ‘busy-ness’ of life has a way of getting us off-track, distracting us from ‘the main thing.’ We end up confusing what we feel with what is real. In a word, Living the Cross-Centered Life is about the importance of making — and keeping — the Cross of Christ ‘front and center’ in your life. We never ‘get beyond’ the Cross: “Never lay it aside. Never move on,” writes Mahaney. This book will stir up your passion with the deep and life-changing truths of Calvary.

Highlights. Selecting “highlights” from this book is difficult. Why? Because the entire book is a highlight! That said, let me focus on a chapter titled, “The Cross-Centered Day.” Mahaney asks, “Do you want to live a Cross-centered life? A Cross-centered life is made up of Cross-centered days.” He then lists practical ways to stay focused daily on the Cross:

• Preach to Yourself. “Reminding ourselves of the Gospel is the most important daily habit we can establish. If the Gospel is the most vital news in the world, and if salvation by grace is the defining truth of our existence, we should create ways to immerse ourselves in these truths every day. No days off allowed” (132).
• Memorize the Gospel. Memorize those scriptures that remind us of the Gospel (2 Cor. 5:21; Romans 8:31-34; Isaiah 53:3-6).
• Pray the Gospel. Since the Gospel is the reason we can approach such a holy God, continue to pray the Gospel as a reminder of why you can speak to such an awesome God.
• Sing the Gospel. Find songs and CD’s whose focus in on the great and glorious Gospel and not on man; those songs that concentrate on what He has done for us.
• Review How the Gospel Has Changed You. Looking to your past, not for condemnation’s sake, but for the reminder of His mercy and grace.
• Study the Gospel. Don’t only study books on the Gospel or only on the New Testament, but study the Old Testament and see Christ’s fulfillment of It. Make sure that your studies don’t leave the Gospel behind but instead build upon It.

Why You Should Read This Book. Probably no other book better communicates the centrality of the cross in the Christian life than does this one. I’m convinced that whoever takes the time to read this book carefully and prayerfully, their life will be impacted powerfully by the truths contained therein. This book is about ‘keeping the Main Thing the main thing.’ Can anything possibly be more important than that? There are many books out there that are unworthy of your precious time — this book is NOT one of them! I believe it will richly repay anyone who takes the time to read and absorb its life-changing truths.

Take Home Point for the Day. “If there’s anything in life we should be passionate about, it’s the Gospel. And I don’t mean passionate only about sharing it with others; I mean passionate in thinking about the Gospel, reflecting upon it, rejoicing in it, allowing it to color the way we look at the world and all of life” (15).

The Spirit does not take His pupils beyond the Cross,
but ever more deeply into it.

J. Knox Chamblin

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The Gospel & Personal Evangelism

(Mark E. Dever. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, ©2007, 124 pp., List price: $9.99)

Author. Dr. Mark E. Dever is the senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., and founder of 9Marks Ministries.

Synopsis. The Gospel & Personal Evangelism is a book that clearly and concisely addresses core issues in personal evangelism with a view toward helping Christians share their faith in Christ more confidently and faithfully. It is certainly one of the most helpful and encouraging books you’ll find on the subject. The chapter titles provide a good summary of what the book is about:

(1) Why Don’t We Evangelize?      (6) What Should We Do After We Evangelize?
(2) What Is the Gospel?                (7) Why Should We Evangelize?
(3) Who Should Evangelize?         (8) Conclusion: Closing the Sale [we are not salesmen]
(4) How Should We Evangelize?    (9) Recommended Reading
(5) What Isn’t Evangelism?           (10) Appendix: A Word to Pastors

As Christians, we must work to develop a “culture of evangelism,” which Dever defines as “an expectation that Christians will share the gospel with others, talk about doing that, pray about it, and regularly plan and work together to help each other to evangelize. We want evangelism to be normal-in our own lives and in our churches” (p.17).

Highlights. This little book is concise, readable, and eminently practical. Early on, Dever tackles and disarms common hindrances and excuses that keep us from sharing our faith, such as fear of others, selfishness, apathy, etc. I appreciated the way that Dever draws from his own reservoir of experience, using vivid illustrations that include examples of both success and failure. Other strengths of the book include (1) its differentiation between evangelism and the fruits of evangelism, and (2) its clarification of what the gospel is and is not. When we share the good news of Christ, we must “set the story straight; we want to get the news right.” But not only must we clearly proclaim the essentials of the gospel, we must also do it conversationally: “Don’t tell people something; talk with them. Have a conversation.”

Why You Should Read This Book. The Gospel & Personal Evangelism is a gem for those who struggle with sharing their faith. The essential elements of motive, message, and method are all covered in an honest, engaging, and encouraging way. While there are many books available on this topic, this is one of the most balanced, practical, and complete you’ll find of similar length (just over 100 pages). Each chapter is short enough to make a good daily reading for personal edification or reading for a group study. All of these combine to make this book a useful tool for helping Christians who recognize the need to be more faithful in their task as personal witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Take Home Point for the Day. Personal evangelism is the inalienable responsibility of every Christian man and woman. “The call to evangelism is a call to turn our lives outward from focusing on ourselves and our needs to focusing on God and on others made in His image who are still at enmity with Him, alienated from Him, and in need of salvation from sin and guilt.”

Look for opportunities to share your faith today!

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Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Don Whitney (NavPress, 1991, 251 pp.).  Don Whitney’s book, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, is undoubtedly one of the best and most practically helpful books on the Christian disciplines that I’ve ever read.   Although I’ve read a number of other books dealing with the same topic, Whitney’s book ranks among my favorites. 

Chapters of particular significance to me were those in the latter half of the book: Stewardship (chapter 8), Journaling (chapter11), Learning (chapter 12), and Perseverance in the Disciplines (chapter 13).  Of these, Whitney’s discussion of the stewardship in chapter 8 had the greatest impact on me, thus I will focus most of my discussion there.

Whitney immediately captured my attention with the following statement,“Think for a moment.  What events have produced the greatest stress in your life today?  This past week?  Haven’t they involved some feeling of being overloaded with responsibilities at home, work, school, church, or all of the above?  Paying bills?  Running late for an appointment?  Balancing your checkbook?  Waiting in a traffic jam on the highway or runway?  Facing unexpected car repair or medical expenses?  Going with too little rest?  Running short of cash before payday?

Each of these anxiety-producers has to do with either time or money.  Think of how many day-to-day issues involve the use of one of these two.  The clock and the dollar are such substantial factors in so many parts of life that their role must be considered in any serious discussion of Godly living.” (p.131)

Building much of his discussion from a sermon by Jonathan Edwards entitled, “The Preciousness of Time, and the Importance of Redeeming It”, Whitney provides ten biblical reasons for the disciplined use of time.  It is interesting to note that one of Edwards’s own personal resolutions was directly concerned with the disciplined use of his time:  “Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can” (Resolution #5). 

Whitney reminds his readers, “You must prepare for eternity in time” because “there will be no second chance to prepare once you have crossed eternity’s timeless threshold” (p.133).  Again, Whitney powerfully brings his point home when he states,

“Do you realize that whether you experience unending joy or eternal agony depends on what happens in moments of your life just like this one?  What, then, is more precious than time?  For as a small udder determines the direction of a great ocean liner, so that which is done in time influences eternity.” (p.133)

 Life, even if it is relatively long by human standards, is still short.  My dad, who is now in his late seventies, has told me on several occasions that even if he lived to be a hundred years of age or more, that it still would seem very short.  James said it well when he wrote, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” (James 4:14, NIV)  Nor is God obligated to give us long life.  “Neither youth nor strength, stardom nor stature obligates God to give us one more hour.  Regardless of how long we want to live or expect to live, our times are in His hands (Psalm 31:15)” (p.135).

For me personally, the most sobering paragraphs in this chapter are found under the subtitle, “You Are Accountable to God for Your Time” (p.136-137).  Whitney begins by quoting Romans 14:12 (NASB), “So then, each one of us will give an account of himself to God.”  He then writes,

The words, “each one of us” apply to Christians and nonChristians alike.  And though believers will be saved by grace and not by works, once in Heaven or reward there will be determined on the basis of our works.  The Lord will “test the quality of each man’s work,” and for each it will be either that, “he will receive his reward” or “he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).  So not only will we be held accountable for our time, but our eternal reward will be directly related to our earthly use of time.  (p.136)

Whitney goes on to say that if God has promised to hold us accountable for the use of our words and talents, then certainly He will hold us accountable for how we used our time.

The preciousness of time is highlighted by the fact that no amount of money in the world can buy us any more time at the end of our lives.  Thus the wisdom in yet another of Jonathan Edwards’s resolutions, “Resolve, that I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.” (Resolution #17).

The second half of Whitney’s chapter on stewardship dealt with the disciplined use of money.  While this section did not impact me emotionally to the degree that the discussion on the stewardship of time did, it nevertheless challenged me to reevaluate my stewardship in this area of my life. Overall, Whitney’s book is a resource I plan to turn to again and again in time to come.  As J.I. Packer recommends in the forward,

“I can go on record as urging all Christians to read what Don Whitney has written; indeed, to read it three times over with a month’s interval (certainly not less, and ideally, I think, not more) between each reading.  This will not only make the book sink in, but will also give you a realistic picture of your seriousness, or lack of it, as Jesus’ disciple.  Your first reading will show you several particular things that you should start doing.  Your second and third readings (for each of which you should choose a date on the day you complete the previous reading) you shall find yourself reviewing what you have done and how you have fared in doing it.  That will be very good for you, even if the discovery comes as a bit of a shock at first.” (p.9)

Teaching, preaching, and ministering must be coupled with a disciplined devotional life, for without the practice of spiritual disciplines, our ministries will be devoid of God’s power.  In light of that, I highly recommend Whitney’s book to any and all who want to learn more about the essential spiritual disciplines for the Christian life.

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To the Golden Shore: The Life of Adonirom Judson by Courtney Anderson (Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1987, 530pp.).  To The Golden Shore is a detailed and gripping account of the life of Adoniram Judson – North America’s first Baptist foreign missionary. This particular volume is a special edition published in recognition of the 175th anniversary of the Judson’s embarkation on their historic sailing voyage aboard the Caravan in 1812. Photographs and reproductions of Burmese woodcuts augment the story as biographer Courtney Anderson traces the life of this extra-ordinary man and his single-minded mission of taking the gospel to the golden shores of Burma.

Courtney Anderson—concerned that the long passage of time had “nearly obliterated” Adoniram Judson from public memory—felt compelled to tell Judson’s legendary story afresh. Anderson’s stated purpose was “to remove some of the grimy crust of time, and reveal, at least a little, the bright features underneath” (506). Drawing from a vast array of primary, secondary and tertiary sources, he recreates a historically accurate yet compelling account of Judson’s life that reads more like a novel than a historical narrative. Though standing on the shoulders of previous biographers, Anderson’s biography is nevertheless unique. Well researched, it recounts copious names, dates, quotes, events, and details of Judson’s public, private, and family life throughout. Lamenting that a complete bibliography “would be impossibly lengthy” (510), Anderson provides an extensive list of the most important sources at the back of the book (509-514).

Adoniram Judson was born in Malden, Massachusetts on August 9, 1788, and died at sea on April 12, 1850. Today, a memorial in his hometown of Malden consists of a plate affixed to an “inconspicuous stone in front of the white house facing the traffic of Malden’s Main Street” (ix).  It reads, “Malden, His Birthplace; The Ocean, His Sepulchre” (ix). As to the intervening sixty-two years between those two events, Anderson divides Judson’s life into three key periods spanning forty-eight chapters. 

The Embarkation (1788-1812). Adoniram Judson was born to Abigail (Brown) Judson and Adoniram Judson, Sr., a struggling Congregational minister at the First Church in Malden. The oft struggling Judson, Sr. had high expectations for his son, resolving, “like so many fathers before and since, that his son should be what he was not…his son should have fame” (8). Judson, Jr. graduated as valedictorian from Rhode Island College in Providence before entering Andover Seminary in 1808 (30, 48). At Andover he became interested in missions and, along with a few other students, petitioned the General Association of Massachusetts for assistance in taking the gospel to “the heathen”. As a result, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions – the first agency to send foreign missionaries from the U.S. – was organized in 1810 (68-71). Judson married Ann Hasseltine just two weeks before sailing for India on the Caravan (121).

The Dangerous Voyage (1812-1826). Passing his time aboard the Caravan by translating the New Testament from the Greek, Judson became involved in a “theological inquiry” over the meaning of the word for “baptism” (127). Judson and his new wife eventually became convinced of the Baptist position on believer’s baptism, and were both baptized by immersion shortly after their arrival in Calcutta, India (146). Several months later, their friend and fellow missionary colleague, Luther Rice, had a similar experience and was also baptized (148). Shortly thereafter, the Judsons resigned from the Congregational mission and began seeking support as missionary representatives of American Baptists. Suffering from ill health, Luther Rice wound up returning to the States to drum up support for the missionary effort (163). As a result, the General Convention of the Baptist Denomination in the United States for Foreign Missions was formed in 1814 (184). Meanwhile, after settling in Burma in 1813, Adoniram embarked on serious study of the language and began translating the Bible into Burmese – a task that would not be completed until 1834. Moreover, it took six years and many trials before the Judson’s saw their first convert, but their mission in Burma eventually became firmly established. Then, in 1826, Ann (“Nancy”) Judson became ill and died (369-371).

To The Golden Shore (1826-1850). Following a long period of depression over Nancy’s death (386-392), Judson eventually married Sarah Boardman (412), the widow of a missionary to the Karens at the Tavoy Mission (402-403). Sarah also eventually succumbed to tropical illness and died in 1845 (434-435). Soon thereafter, Judson returned to America for the only furlough he would ever take (442-451). While there, he met and married the popular writer Emily Chubbuck, who returned with him by ship to Burma (463,465). For the remainder of his life, Judson focused on finishing the first Burmese-English dictionary (493). Finally, the end came in 1850 when Judson died during an ocean voyage prescribed by his physician to assuage his failing health. He was buried at sea in the Bay of Bengal on April 12, 1850 (504-505).

The biography gets off to a slow start in the first couple of chapters describing Judson’s boyhood, but quickly builds momentum in chapter three, drawing the reader in as Judson enters his undergraduate studies at Brown. His descent into deism under the influence of his fellow student and close friend – “the confident Jacob Eames” – sets the stage for a life-changing paradigm shift that eventually leads to a life of missionary service (32-34). Stopping on a return trip from New York, he spent the night at an inn where he was given a room adjacent to a man whom the landlord described as “critically ill, perhaps dying” (42). The next morning, after a restless night of troubling thoughts brought on by the groans of the man dying in the next room, Judson casually asked the landlord about the man’s condition: “He is dead,” was the answer. “Dead?” Adoniram was taken aback…“Do you know who he was?”  “Oh yes. Young man from the college in Providence. Name was Eames, Jacob Eames.” (44)

Anderson does an excellent job describing this and other key events which were so influential in forming the life of this great missionary, giving plenty of detail without bogging the reader down with minutiae.

Five particular aspects of Judson’s life stand out in this biography: (1) his preparation, (2) his perseverance, (3) his cultural contextualization of the gospel, (4) his suffering, and (5) his uncompromising single-mindedness. These thematic emphases throughout Judson’s biography set forth an excellent example for modern Christians today. Judson set about to prepare himself thoroughly through study as he planned his future missionary endeavors. His patient perseverance through the many difficult trials, dangers, sufferings, setbacks and discouragements of his life are inspiring (for example, he labored six years before seeing his first convert). Laboring to make the truth of the gospel understandable within the Burmese culture, Judson maintained a single-minded focus on the gospel throughout his entire life without ever compromising the message. Judson provides an excellent example of how missionaries should strive for “cultural contextualization” – the notion that the gospel must be contextualized within a particular culture of people, and stated in such a way that it is understandable and applicable within that culture. He recognized that Christians in Burma must think about basic doctrines (e.g., the Trinity, baptism, etc.) just as a Christian in the U.S. or any other country would and that, while cultural peculiarities are relative, the truth of the gospel is absolute.

Anderson also does a good job showing the “human side” of Judson. For example, he describes in detail Judson’s descent into deep depression and introspection following the death of his first wife, Nancy. Judson became obsessed with his own pride and sinfulness, and “little by little he [cut] himself off from the world” (387). During this time he became engrossed in mysticism. Failing to find the peace he sought, and filled with doubt and self-loathing, he wrote, “God is to me the great Unknown. I believe in him, but I find him not” (391). Finally, after more than two years, he began to emerge from his depression, and went on to marry twice more – first to a missionary widow, Sarah Boardman, and after her death, to Emily Chubbock. Many other aspects of Judson’s personal life as a husband, father, and friend are presented throughout.

The only real criticism I can offer is that the biography suffers from a lack of clarity in a few places due to poor syntax/sentence structure. Nevertheless, these are rare, and minor in consideration of the fact that the book’s many strengths far outweigh its weaknesses.

Anderson’s biography of Adoniram Judson is commendably informative and inspiring, taking the reader through the full gamut of emotions as he ascends the heights and plummets the depths of Judson’s public, private, and spiritual life. I derived much personal satisfaction and spiritual encouragement from reading it and, by the conclusion of the book, I felt as though I had come to know Adoniram Judson personally. I found myself not only challenged, but convicted, by Judson’s unwavering commitment and dedication to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Burmese people—a commitment and dedication sorely tested by the many and varied sufferings and trials he endured because of it.

Surprisingly enough, I found the lives of Judson’s three wives to be almost as inspiring as that of Judson himself as they labored, each in her own unique way, to support Judson through the many trials of their missionary enterprise. In fact, after reading To the Golden Shore, I was compelled to retrieve a copy of Sharon James’s biography of Judson’s first wife, Ann Hasseltine Judson.[1]

Adoniram Judson’s life and ambition are most aptly expressed in his parting comments to the American Christians just before his final return to Burma in 1846: “Great is our privilege, precious opportunity, to cooperate with the Savior in the blessed work of enlarging and establishing His kingdom throughout the world.  Let us not, then, regret the loss of those who have gone before us, and are waiting to welcome us home, nor shrink from the summons that must call us thither.  Let us only resolve to follow them who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises.  Let us employ the remnant of life and so pass away, that our successors will say  of us, as we of our predecessors, ‘Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord.  They rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.’  Such was (I believe) the key to Judson’s success as a missionary as he sought to plow “hard soil” and sow the seed of the gospel of Christ in the hearts of the Burmese people. In the process, Judson transformed the face of American Baptist foreign missions forever, and paved the way for other missionaries who would follow in the same spirit of obedient commitment to Christ’s mandate to carry the gospel “into all the world” (Mark 16:15).  

In conclusion, Courtney Anderson has given us a fine biography of a great man who—at great risk to both himself and his beloved family—made it his life’s mission to carry the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to an unreached people group. Readers of this work cannot help but gain a renewed appreciation and burden for missions and obedience to Christ’s Great Commission. To The Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson, is truly an inspiring work.

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A Pastor’s Sketches: Conversations with Anxious Souls Concerning the Way of Salvation by Ichabod Spencer (Solid Ground Books).  

Dr. Ichabod S. Spencer (1798-1854)-”The Bunyan of Brooklyn”-was a Presbyterian pastor in Brooklyn, New York, “who willingly poured himself out for the sake of immortal souls.”  A true shepherd, he conducted annual home visits for each member of his congregation, averaging over 800 visits each year throughout his 25 years of pastoral labor. In addition, he also visited many who were not directly tied to his church. Remarkably, Spencer carefully recorded the details of each of these visits-more than 20,000 in all.

In 1850, after constant prodding of his ministerial friends and congregation, Spencer published the first volume of A Pastor’s Sketches: Conversations with Anxious Souls Concerning the Way of Salvation, detailing a selection of forty experiences gleaned from such visits.  His purpose in publishing the volume was the hope “that these sketches might be useful…on the ground of their applicability, as they refer to common experiences and common difficulties…and that they might be instructive, by showing the application of divine truth to human hearts-by leading some anxious inquirers after salvation to see what it is that hinders them from peace with God-and by leading private Christians and young Ministers of the gospel to study more carefully what they shall say to those, who inquire what they shall do to be saved.”

Dr. Spencer actively and intentionally sought out opportunities to share the gospel:  “I was very much engaged…in calling from house to house among the people of my charge” (176). Little more need be said to prove this point, as it is abundantly evident from the fact that “he averaged over 800 appointments with souls every year” during his 25 years of pastoral labor. The sheer volume of Spencer’s evangelistic encounters could not have happened apart from an intentional effort to seek out such opportunities.

Dr. Spencer’s evangelistic approach was also characterized by faithfulness. For 22 consecutive years he conducted a home visit for every member of his church. The Apostle Paul admonishes us in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” Matthew Henry comments on this verse, “We are all very apt to tire in duty, particularly in doing good. This we should carefully watch and guard against. Only to perseverance in well-doing is the reward promised. Here is an exhortation to all to do good in their places. We should take care to do good in our life-time, and make this the business of our lives. Especially when fresh occasions offer, and as far as our power reaches.”

Dr. Spencer actively and intentionally sought to share the gospel and counsel with people on a personal level. He saw them as individuals, and purposely sought to learn something of each person’s unique situation, circumstances and needs. Several times throughout the Sketches, Spencer refers to his “custom” after church meetings of speaking with each person privately whenever possible. Although large meetings made this practice especially difficult, Spencer still found it “unacceptable” to do otherwise: “Finding it impossible, on account of the number, to have much conversation with each individual at the inquiry meeting, I at one time abandoned the practice of conversation for a few weeks, and addressed them all together. I found this was unacceptable, and concluded, therefore, to return to the former custom.” (152)

If “experience is the best teacher,” then Spencer certainly capitalized on every opportunity. He was clearly an avid student of human nature, as seen in the fact that he recorded each witnessing encounter “in careful fashion”, resulting in “a dozen huge volumes containing detailed information on each of these visits”-more than 20,000 in all. Consequently, he developed “a thorough knowledge of the human heart in its most subtle forms of deception and in all its casuistries and varied developments, and a personal observation of singular scope on this field of labor.” He encouraged ministers to “study more carefully what they shall say to those who inquire what they shall do to be saved.”  We too can learn more about the human soul and become more effective witnesses for Christ if we will merely take the time to learn from each encounter with a lost person. This seems to have been one of the secrets of Spencer’s success as an ambassador for Christ.

Although Spencer dealt personally with so many individuals with unique personalities and problems, he always seemed to know what to say to each. Once, after a meeting, someone said to him, “We have been talking about it, some of us, and we cannot understand how it is that you can know our thoughts and feelings, when nobody has told you. How can you know what to say to one after another, when there are so many, and some of them you have never seen before, and they say so little to you?” (153). Spencer’s reply is very instructive for Christians today, “I have only one rule on that subject…I aim to conspire with the Holy Spirit. If I perceive any one truth has impressed the mind, I aim to make its impression deeper; because the Holy Spirit has already made that impression, and I would not diminish it by leading the mind off to something else. If I perceive any error in the individual’s mind, I aim to remove it; for I know that the error is of sin, and not of the Holy Spirit.” (153)

Responding to the inquirer’s objection, “But our impressions are so different,” Spencer tells him, “No matter. [Impressions] are of the Holy Spirit if truth has made them; and He can choose the kind of truth which is appropriate to any sinner, better than I can. I just aim to conspire with the Holy Spirit.” (153)

Christians who wish to be effective in their efforts to share the gospel must likewise seek to “conspire” (cooperate) with the Holy Spirit, knowing that He alone knows the secrets of each person’s heart. We must prayerfully seek to be sensitive to His leading at all times, and especially when we are seeking to lead individuals to the Savior.

Undoubtedly, one of the reasons for Spencer’s success was that he respected the confidentiality of his conversations with individuals he counseled. Certainly he came to gain the trust and respect of his congregation by doing so, or word would have quickly gotten around that he could not be trusted, and they would have stopped baring their souls to him. Spencer assured them that he would “deem it an injustice and a breach of confidence, to disclose to other people the particular feelings of the individuals, made known to him in the sacredness of religious intimacy.”  This is seen throughout the Sketches, in encounters with various persons, such as the young lady whose confidence he could not gain until he “had promised her that, be her case what it might, I would never make use of anything she should say to me, in any manner whatever, without her permission” (207).  Thus, we too must respect the confidentiality of each person.

Spencer emphasized the importance of matching life to doctrine. “It is true that infidelity cannot withstand the force of reason and argument; but true godly example can come nearer the life-spot of religion. It knocks at the door of the heart. If the truths of Christianity were seconded by the devoted and pious lives of all her professed disciples, the unbelief of the world would soon cease. Private example of godliness is what the world most needs… [Believers] little reflect how much their conformity to the world hinders the triumph of religion” (50).

One particular case caused Spencer to wonder “whether, as ministers, after all our preaching upon faith, we do not fail to insist directly upon it as we ought, and tell inquirers… ‘We have nothing to do but to trust.’ I deem it not improbable, that by the extensive and laboured explanations we give, the minds of inquirers are not often confused; and the very way we take to make religion plain, is the very means of making it obscure…All the matter of a soul’s closing with Christ may be wrapped up in a very little space, may be a very simple thing…[namely], ‘We have nothing to do but to trust’” (55, 56).

In another case, a dying woman told Spencer, “God knows, I have taken him at his word.” The simplicity of the woman’s trust affected him deeply: “That expression of her faith has been of great benefit to me. It has aided me in preaching, and in conversation with inquiring sinners very often. It gave me a more simple idea of faith than I ever had before. It put aside all the mist of metaphysics, speculation, and philosophizing. It made the whole nature of faith plain. Everybody could understand it.” (58)

Avoiding “all the mist of metaphysics, speculation, and philosophizing” enabled Spencer to make “the whole nature of faith plain” so that “everybody could understand it.” This leads us to the next principle in Spencer’s approach to evangelism…

In his statements immediately preceding, Spencer wasn’t denying that reason and speculation have their respective roles in the Christian witnesses’ armory. In fact, reason and speculation could be quite useful, as seen in the case of “The Young Irishman” (11-51). Nevertheless, Spencer reminds us that, while “speculations may be useful to silence skepticism…they never soften hearts. They may make us scholars, but they never make us children, or lead us home…Men may try; but they will try in vain, when they attempt to convert the weapons for defending against infidelity, into bread to feed God’s hungry children.” (59)

Thus, we see that Spencer adapted his evangelistic approach to the specific needs of his hearers. “The more accurately we see their hearts the more appropriately we may bring Scripture truths to bear upon them,” he wrote (86). There is biblical support for this, for in Jude 1:22 we read: “And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.” (NKJV)

Spencer tells his readers that “such persons greatly err, when, instead of fleeing at once to Christ, they wait, and think they must wait, for some attainment first. Their waiting for it is but a deceptive excuse” (65, 66).  He told one anxious inquirer, “You have tried waiting; and now I want you to try seeking, as the Bible bids you” (74). Spencer makes five points to those who would wait:

• Remember that God never tells us to wait for convictions or anything else. He tells us, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2)
• We have no occasion to wait for “deeper” impressions. All that a sinner needs to know and feel in order to come to Christ is (1) that he is a sinner, (2) that he cannot save himself, (3) that he needs Christ to save him. That is all.
• Deeper impressions never yet came by waiting for them without prayer and without attempting to flee to Christ, and they never will.
• It is the sinner’s duty to turn from sin and the world to Christ, at once, today.
• If you do need any deeper impressions, you will get them in no other way than just when you aim to do as God bids you-to repent, to flee to Christ, to give God your heart.

Spencer pointedly remarks that “There are multitudes in our congregations, who are just waiting, while they ought to be acting.” (77)  Elsewhere he solemnly warns, “Decision is a vastly important matter with the convicted sinner. The Bible treats it as such: “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.” A sinner must choose, or he must be lost. Nobody else can choose for him. Nothing can excuse him from doing this duty at once. If he will not do it, he may expect the Divine Spirit to depart from him, and leave him to his own way.” (205)

Throughout the Sketches, Spencer seeks to find and remove all hindrances to the gospel. For example, “I exercised all my skill to ascertain her hindrances…and to lead her to Christ” (107), and “With all the ingenuity I could muster, I aimed to find out what was her hindrance.” (220)

“Many convicted sinners are kept from salvation by some mere trifle. It is important to remove the obstacle. They will not be likely to seek God in earnest till that is done. The stony ground and the thorny ground need preparing before the seed is sown. The young man in the gospel valued his riches too much to follow Christ. All kinds of rubbish will gather around a wicked heart, and a sinner will yield to an obstacle which he is ashamed to mention. We have gained something when we have discovered what it is. We can then take aim, and the arrow is more apt to hit.” (138)

Spencer He stuck tenaciously to the Scriptures, quoting them extensively in his encounters with lost persons. “No one is ever safe in giving any counsel to impenitent sinners, unless he is careful to talk just as the Bible talks to them. Blind guides do mischief.” (80) Instead of arguing on the basis of philosophy, metaphysics, or speculation, he reasoned directly from Scripture. As Charles Spurgeon once said of Bunyan, Spencer too, “bleeds bibline,” counseling, “The directions of God’s Word are the only safe directions for inquiring sinners. The more accurately we see their hearts the more appropriately we may bring Scripture truths to bear upon them. In this perception of their state and this application of divine truth consists the skill of anyone who would guide them to Christ…Truth is the Spirit’s instrumentality.” (86)  And again, “It is important to be wise in aiming to win sinners to Christ. The Bible is the only safe guide.”(200)

Spencer admits that “Ministers must sometimes draw their bow at a venture. But it is better to take aim. There are some Scripture arrows which we should always have in our quiver, because they are sure to hit. They will at least ring upon the harness if they do not penetrate the joints. They will alarm if they do not kill. After we have “toiled all night and taken nothing,” if we cast our net on the right side of the ship it will not come in empty.” (88)

Just as it is important for Christian witnesses to know what to say when, it is equally important to know when to stop talking and to simply “shut up.” Spencer writes, “Conversation with judicious Christians and judicious ministers is vastly important for inquiring sinners, but there is a point when it should cease. All that men can do is contained in two things-to make sinners understand God’s truth, and make its impression upon their hearts and consciences as deep as possible. If they aim at anything more, they are just trying to do the work of the Holy Spirit…No man can preach so powerfully as the Holy Spirit. It is vastly important to know when to stop. The divine writers understood this. They are perfect examples. Their silence is to be imitated as well as their utterance.” (82, 83)

Christian witnesses must be cognizant of the fact that we may just as easily do harm by saying too much, as saying too little. We must prayerfully seek to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit at all times when we are seeking to lead individuals to the Savior.

In another review of Spencer’s book, a writer makes the following observation:

Unlike the standard fare which issues from contemporary publishing houses on evangelism, A Pastor’s Sketches offers no cotton-candy, formulaic approach to soul-winning, now “spiritual laws,” no facile four-point outline with a prayer tacked on at the end. Instead, Spencer provides a much-needed paradigm for pastors and believers who would seek a patently biblical approach to evangelism, one undergirded by the unshakable foundation of a full-orbed theology, and lashed immovably to an inspired body of truth.

Having read other books on evangelism, and now Spencer’s work, I must confess that I agree wholeheartedly with the reviewer quoted above. A Pastor’s Sketches is, without question, one of the most unique, inspiring, and helpful books that I have ever read on the subject. Thus, while I’m sure that there may be weaknesses in Spencer’s approach, I am certainly unaware of any and, having far less experience in sharing my faith “on the field” than him, I am infinitely unqualified to stand as a critic of such a wonderful man of God.

That being said, it is far easier to judge that the strengths of Spencer’s method and philosophy of evangelism far outweigh any weaknesses (again, if there are any weaknesses). The strengths of his approach lie primarily in the fact that it is biblically centered, Bible-saturated, Christ-focused, and doctrinally sound.  Many modern day methods and philosophies of evangelism seem to be weakest in just these same areas.

A Pastor’s Sketches has had a significant impact on my own philosophy of evangelism in several ways. First of all, it has caused me to see the importance of taking a more “intentional” and proactive role in sharing Christ with others. Whereas my modus operandi for evangelism has been to take a much more passive approach-”letting the fish come to me”-so to speak, I now see the need and have the desire to seek out opportunities to actively share my faith with others. I have been motivated to imitate Spencer as an ambassador for Christ. Second, I have been challenged to memorize Scripture in order that I might fill my “quiver” with the “arrows” of God’s word. To quote Spencer again, “There are some Scripture arrows which we should always have in our quiver, because they are sure to hit.” Third, I want to “conspire” with the Holy Spirit in my witnessing efforts. He can choose the kind of truth which is appropriate to any lost person better than I can. Like Spencer, may I just “aim to conspire with the Holy Spirit.” Fourth and finally, I want to live a life that honors Christ. To quote one of Spencer’s most memorable statements, “Private example of godliness is what the world most needs… [Believers] little reflect how much their conformity to the world hinders the triumph of religion.” 

Without reservation, this book is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

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 An Uninvited Guest: One Woman’s Journey from Cancer to Hope by Jeana Floyd, (c)2007 New Leaf Press.  In this amazing little book, Jeana Floyd gives a very personal and poignant account of her journey through breast cancer.   Although only 128 pages in length, the book has amazing breadth and depth.  Not a single page is wasted as Jeana takes the reader through every stage of the cancer experience:  diagnosis, treatment, emotional issues, recovery, and lessons learned. 

What really sets this book apart, however, is its pastoral and theological depth.  Unlike many other books, this one is immanently God-centered.  Those who know Jeana are aware of her sweet but quiet and unassuming spirit.  In the course of reading this book, however, it becomes evident that Jeana also has a rare degree of spiritual depth, maturity, and wisdom that can only be found in someone who has walked with God over many years.  Rather than being preachy, the book’s pastoral and empathetic tone make the reader feel as though they are receiving practical advice and insight from a dear friend while sitting across the table over coffee.  Complimented by beautiful photography, God’s promises and words of comfort and hope from Scripture are interspersed throughout its pages. 

While the book also contains the stories of other women who have also courageously fought and survived breast cancer, Jeana is honest and up-front concerning the fact that not all women will obtain physical healing.  Nevertheless, she shows clearly that through Jesus Christ, none need lose hope–all who come to Christ can receive spiritual healing and eternal life.  The book is rounded out by practical sections on Jeana’s “Favorite Resources” and “Favorite Scriptures.” 

This book was of interest to me for several reasons.  First, my wife and I happened to be members of First Baptist Church of Springdale at the time of Jeana’s diagnosis, where Jeana’s husband, Dr. Ronnie Floyd, serves as the senior pastor.  I had the honor and privilege of being able to pray with Jeana and Pastor Floyd at the hospital during this time, as well as to serve as Jeana’s nurse during her immediate post-operative recovery.  The second reason this book is of special interest to me is due to the fact that my own family has been impacted by breast cancer in both a sister-in-law and a mother-in-law. More recently, a suspicious lump in my wife’s breast–while turning out NOT to be breast cancer–gave me an appreciation for the overwhelming emotion and gripping fear and apprehension that can accompany an encounter with breast cancer.

In sum, I highly recommend this book not only for women who are experiencing breast cancer, but for husbands, family members, and caregivers of someone who is.   In fact, anyone experiencing a catastrophic illness of any kind will benefit from reading this book. It would also be a great resource for chaplains and counselors.  Highly recommended.

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God’s Problem by Dr. Bart Ehrman, (c)2008 HarperOne.  Recently I started teaching an eight-week series at our church on Sunday mornings entitled, Faith Under Fire: Answering the Toughest Objections to Christian Faith.  The first question in the series deals with the question, “If God is both all-good and all-powerful, then why do evil and suffering exist?” To prepare for this question, I decided to read various books on all sides of the issue.  One of these was Dr. Bart Ehrman’s book, God’s Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question–Why We Suffer. Ehrman is a liberal biblical scholar at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. A former Baptist pastor, Ehrman eventually apostasized from the Christian faith after years of wrestling with the logical problem of evil.

Now, I happen to enjoy reading books that challenge me and force me to sharpen my own understanding of difficult biblical, theological, and philosophical issues. Consequently, when I came across this book, I really was really excited to read it, and fully expected to be challenged by Mr. Ehrman’s arguments as to (in his words) “how the Bible fails to answer our most important question: why we suffer.” Having finished the book, however, I must confess that I was disappointed by the incredible weakness of Mr. Ehrman’s arguments. Ultimately, he fails (miserably, I might add) to make his case.

In sum, a few of the shortcomings of Ehrman’s book are as follows:
1) As one might expect from the author of Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why, Mr. Ehrman is extremely and one-sidedly liberal in his attempts to exegete the biblical text. For example, Ehrman clearly accepts the JEDP theory concerning the origin and authorship of the Pentateuch. Unfortunately, however, he makes no attempt whatsoever to wrestle with the copius volume of scholarship that refutes so much of what he claims. Instead, he simply ignores other views while advancing his own as “fact.”

2) From time to time throughout the book, Mr. Ehrman leaves off writing in a scholarly and professional tone, and drifts off into occassional “rants” against God and the Bible. It’s almost as though he is trying to convince himself of the arguments he is advancing. At one point, concerning the possibility he might be wrong he tellingly admits, “…there are still moments I wake up at night in a cold sweat.”[p.127]). This should come as no surprise…I think that if I was Mr. Ehrman, I would worry too.

3) Professor Ehrman makes the fallacious argument that, if HE cannot see any possible meaning or purpose for evil and suffering in the world, then there cannot possibly be any such purpose in existing within the infinite mind of God, either.

4) Although Ehrman says the Bible has many and sometimes contradictory views of the problem of evil and suffering in the world, at no point did he ever make a single such case plain in the book. He seems to miss the possibility that, in short, there are in fact different reasons for evil and suffering in the world.

5) Finally, Ehrman fails to address one of the most central themes in all of Scripture that bear on this question: the Fall and corruption of mankind. The Fall ushered in sin, sickness, death, and all sorts of untold suffering and evil in the world. It is because we live in a condemned and fallen world that we need the message of grace and hope that God holds out to mankind in the canon of Scripture. Somehow Mr. Ehrman seems to miss this biblical framework from which the logical problem of evil must be viewed.

There are other shortcomings, but I’ll stop there. As another reviewer has already noted, the “meaty” parts of this book could easily be contained in a small pamphlet. The rest of the book, especially his long and drawn out attempts to “exegete” (better, eisegete) several passages of Scripture, seem to serve merely as “filler.” Mr. Ehrman’s very low view of Scripture betrays him. In sum, the book was an extreme disappointment in that it failed to prove its thesis in any remotely convincing way. The book would be more accurately titled, Bart’s Problem with God.  I do not recommend it except for academic or research purposes in order to refute its contents.

For those who want a much better treatment of the issue, look elswhere. I suggest D.A. Carson’s book, How Long, O Lord?: Reflections on Suffering and Evilor John Feinberg’s book, The Many Faces of Evil: Theological Systems and the Problems of Evil .

Recently, I came across Dr. James White’s review of Ehrman’s book. It is excellent, balanced, and biblical. I highly recommend it, and have posted it for you below: