Theology in the News

In the recent movie Leaves of Grass, there is a scene with twin brothers, one a Classics professor at Brown University, the other a pot dealer in Oklahoma.  The dealer tells his brother, “I read a article you wrote… about a fella called Heidegger… what I don’t understand about ya’ll… ya’ll hardly ever write about a topic.  I mean, you write about what some other fella wrote about the topic… and some other fella’s gonna come along and on and on.”  At which point the professor brother reluctantly admits, “You’ve very neatly explained academia.”

This review would fall under that description- reviewing what someone wrote about what somebody else said.  And for that, I can understand how some would find this whole enterprise irrelevant.  Nevertheless, having conversations in print with some of the finest theological minds in history is something I find not only interesting, but worth time and effort.

Retrieving Doctrine: Essays in Reformed Theology purports to be an exercise in theological dialogue “in the spirit of collegiality.”  The authors with whom Dr. Oliver Crisp interacts are all long-gone, but their writings still influence Reformed thinkers and churches today.  Dr. Crisp, for his part, is conversant with both modern and classical theologians and seeks to understand the historical context of the ancients while addressing their contribution, or quarrel, with modern theology.  Crisp is logical and precise (for instance using the term ‘Calvinian’ when referring directly to Calvin’s theological writing and ‘Calvinist’ when speaking of the tradition) and therefore a helpful guide to some dense thinkers.  The best praise I can give him is that he made me want to read the original sources more, which I suppose was his aim all along. Continue Reading »

Darrel Bock’s new book Recovering the Real Lost Gospel is out. I have heard a lot of great things about it.

While some seek so-called lost gospels, Darrell L. Bock suggests the real lost gospel is the one already found in the Bible and reminds everyone of what it means: good news.

Praise for Recovering the Real Lost Gospel

“Darrell Bock is one of the church’s finest New Testament scholars. He has the unique ability to write on both the technical and popular level and presents a biblical theology of the gospel that is clear, robust, and holistic. This is a valuable contribution to helping us rightly understand the greatness of the gospel.”

Daniel L. Akin, president, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

“You are holding in your hands a really rare book–one that goes all the way back to the New Testament in connecting the gospel and the cross with the life of discipleship and the mission of the church in a broken world that needs the message of grace. Darrell Bock is one of our best biblical theologians and is at his best in this new study.”

Timothy George, dean, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University

“Recovering the Real Lost Gospel is a welcomed corrective and timely guide for so many individuals and churches who seemingly have lost their way amidst the confusing spirituality and mixed religious messages of our day.”

David S. Dockery, president, Union University

“Bock teaches us the essence of the best news ever told. The gospel is so much more than good advice . . . it is the message of life, hope, grace, and Jesus himself! Get ready to be reminded why it is the best news ever!”

Pete Briscoe, senior pastor, Bent Tree Bible Fellowship (Dallas, Texas)

“Too many Christians think of ‘the Gospel’ as merely the last page of an evangelistic tract. Bock demonstrates with clarity and vision that the gospel is better news than some have dared to hope. Read this book, and let its wisdom drive you to worship and to mission.”

Russell D. Moore, dean, School of Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Glenn Beck interviews Eric Metaxas author of the new biography on theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The book has received a great deal of attention. Former first lady Laura Bush disclosed President George W. Bush was reading the book. Barnes and Noble just announced the book as one of their Best Books of 2010. The book is bringing a renewed attention to this important 20th century theologian.

Part One:

Part Two:

The folks over at christianbook.com are offering Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics at 90% off the regular price. This beats the amazon.com price by over $400.

Here’s a description from the publisher:

Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics is, arguably, the most important theological publication of the 20th Century. Reacting against a prevailing Enlightenment project (German Idealism), Barth sought to articulate an expression of Christian belief that nevertheless took seriously, and yet overcame the critique of Christian doctrine brought forth by 19th Century Protestant Liberalism, and the unsatisfactory re-construal of Christianity by rationalism’s close relative, “Natural Theology”.

Most believe he succeeded wildly, and in doing so re-established Theology’s ability to speak positively and confidently about faith, reason, and God in Jesus Christ.Since its publication in the United States the Dogmatics has remained relatively inaccessible to pastors, students, and even many professors due to its cost. Hendrickson Publishers, with its publication of the 14-volume set of the Church Dogmatics, has overcome this obstacle.

This 398 page new book from IVP Academic looks promising.  Shapers of Christian Orthodoxy is written with a Bible College or Seminary student in mind, but is written in a style to be accessible for any motivated learner.  Here’s the description:

For those evangelicals who are seeking to advance their understanding of how Christianity evolved before the Reformation, this collection of essays offers the means of doing so. The reader will see clearly how Protestantism, indebted to its predecessors, is part of a larger and older continuum of faith.” (D. H. Williams, professor of religion in patristics and historical theology, Baylor University )

Product Description

• Irenaeus
• Tertullian
• Origen
• Athanasius
• The Cappadocians
• Augustine
• Anselm
• Aquinas

The best of evangelical theology has always paid attention to the key thinkers, issues and doctrinal developments in the history of the church. What God has done in the past is key to understanding who we are and how we are to live. The purpose of this volume is threefold: to introduce a selection of key early and medieval theologians, to strengthen the faith of evangelical Christians by helping them to understand the riches of the church’s theological reflection, and to help them learn how to think theologically. These essays offer insightful analysis of and commentary on eight key theologians, from Irenaeus to Aquinas, along with critical assessment of how evangelicals should view and appropriate the insights of these thinkers. The intention of the contributors is to, as Augustine says, cultivate minds “fired by the grace of our creator and savior” so that we might think well and rightly about our good and great God and live in his light.

1. The Jesus Storybook Bible
2. Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers: Trinity
3. Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers: Scripture
4. Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers: Gospel
5. Read with Me Bible

1. When God Weeps by Joni Eareckson Tada

2.Where Is God When It Hurts? by Philip Yancey

3. The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis

4. If God Is Good by Randy Alcorn

5. How Long, O Lord? by D.A. Carson

6. Disappointment with God by Philip Yancey

The Passionate Intellect: Christian Faith and the Discipleship of the Mind by Alister McGrath

McGrath joins some classic older books (Love Your God with All Your Mind by JP Moreland; Scandal of the Evangelical Mind by Mark Noll) and new releases (Think by John Piper) which focus on the renewed need for Christians to engage their minds as much as they do their heart.  Christians had a strong intellectual reputation for centuries.  The last 50+ years have seen the atheists claim the intellectual road while Christians are seen as weak minded lemmings.

McGrath calls Christians back to the pursuit of passionate intellects for Christ.  For those familiar with McGrath’s writing style, he once again makes a seemingly academic topic enjoyable.  He shows restraint by keeping the book to less than 200 pages.

McGrath gives the purpose for the book by writing:

This book may be seen as an intellectual defense of the place of theology in the Christian life, and as a plea for the Christian church to take the life of the mind seriously, especially in the light of contemporary public debates…This book does not defend or advocate any particular school or style of theology, but rather sets out to explore how the great tradition of Christian theological reflection enriches our faith and deepens our engagement with the concerns and debates of the world around us.

The first half of the book lays out the “Purpose, Place and Relevance of Christian Theology.” I found chapter 5: The Cross, Suffering and Theological Bewilderment: Reflections on Martin Luther and C.S. Lewis worth the price of the book.

The second half of the book is focused on “Engaging with Our Culture.” For those already reading all of the Christ & Culture books this section focuses mainly on the Natural Sciences and the New Atheism.

The Evolution Controversy A Survey of Competing Theories (2007) by Daniel Kuebler, Thomas B. Fowler

An attempt to give a balance ”laymans” guide into a very controversial topic.

“In the emotional debate surrounding evolution, it is often difficult to cut through the competing agendas to gain an unbiased understanding of the scientific issues involved. The Evolution Controversy provides a resource for doing so. The authors leave aside the profound philosophical and religious issues involved in the controversy in favor of a balanced and critical examination of the four major schools of thought involved: Neo-Darwinism, Creationism, Intelligent Design, and Meta-Darwinism. The focus is on an objective evaluation of the scientific merits of each school, as well as an examination of areas of agreement and disagreement among the schools. The goal is to equip readers, whether students, church leaders, or the general public, to come to their own informed conclusions.”

Review of the Book by Keith Mathison.

Mike Licona’s new book on the resurrection of Christ is out. It is a tome, but well worth having on your bookshelf.