[Audiobook Review] Real Marriage by Mark & Grace Driscoll

I have been a listener of Mark Driscoll's podcasts for years and have enjoyed listening to him preach. This book is his (and his wife's Grace) first book on marriage, which is apparently also launching their first nationwide marriage conference tour. I found the book to be rather engaging, much like Driscoll's preaching style. The Driscolls' aim in the book seems to be to present a modern relevant "Biblical" view of marriage to modern Christians.

The good: Much of this book is very good. The narration was quite excellent as there was a male and female narrators to read the relevant sections of the book that either Mark or Grace wrote. It was clear and understandable. Grace gives much of her back story that many of us have never heard through the Mars Hill podcasts. It helps us men to appreciate loving our wives even more and reaching out to them. Mark gives a lot of information as well about his story and how Grace and he came together and where they are at now. Much of this book is more autobiographical than anything else, which is very helpful. The Driscolls are very honest about how their marriage was falling apart and how it was put back together through God's grace and the help of Godly people.

The bad: While the book may be culturally relevant to the people of Seattle, and maybe the rest of the West coast, I'm not so sure how relevant it is to those of us in the deep South (Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi). The chapter on sex and what's lawful and helpful is mostly what I'm referring to. I like how Driscoll frames it in the form of questions as to whether it's lawful (most is lawful), and helpful (he comes to the conclusion that most is, within the context of marriage). However, I don't think I do agree with him that most of it's helpful. I've heard this stuff before from him through his podcasts and I didn't find it helpful then. Basically, I think he's going a little far. Tim LaHaye came close to what Driscoll is doing with a little book on marriage in the '70s, so this isn't anything new. If you easily get embarrassed, then this section of the book will definitely get to you.

Overall, the book is well-written and should provide for a new perspective on marriage from a couple who has been through tough times. Much of the book is helpful and should help couples to examine their marriages and bring them closer together. As others have expressed, and I express now, there's one section of the book that will bring lots of debates in the months to come.

This audiobook was provided free for review by the Christianaudio.com reviewers program.

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Dr. Warren Larson's Review of "Chrislam"

Dr. Warren Larson, the former director of the Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies at Columbia International University has given a helpful review of the book, Chrislam: How Missionaries are promoting an Islamized Gospel (Joshua Lingel, Jeff Morton & Bill Nikides, eds. i2 Ministries Publications, 344 pages, $25). The book has apparently been put together to counteract much of what is being perceived as syncretism in the Muslim world by Christian missionaries, mostly the "Insider Movement."  Dr. Larson calls the editors out in their preface:

On the negative side, the Preface (iii-iv) is especially troubling: It contains inaccuracies, misperceptions and unbiblical attitudes.  A statement in the second paragraph, “… [W]hat is at stake is not our personal relationships with brothers and sisters” suggests it does not matter what we say about fellow-believers, as long as we tell what we think is the truth.  A comment in the third paragraph makes a generalization about all IM ministries:  “… [N]o churches are planted …” Such sweeping statements set the tone for what is to follow.  This book is reactionary, primarily a work of extremes, including an alarmist and inflammatory title. 

Not all is negative. He does praise the authors of some articles in some of the sections:

On the positive side, sections one and five have the most value: The first section quotes IM proponents extensively, however taken out of context, may give impressions never intended by the authors.  Section five gives Muslim converts (mostly Bengali) a voice in expressing strong opposition to IM; however other Bengalis could be called upon for the exact opposite view.  

I have not read this book, but should I be given the opportunity, I would probably take it with a grain of salt. The topic of Insider Movements hit the Presbyterian Church of America (P.C.A.) earlier this year at their General Assembly when one church presented a motion for the denomination to disassociate itself from organizations associated with the Insider Movement, primarily SIL, Wycliffe, SIM, and the Navigators. What came out of that was a recommendation that churches "could" stop support of such organizations if they wanted to and several churches have, from what I know, even though the missionaries they support may not be involved in Muslim missions or the Insider Movement at all.

After this recommendation came out at the PCA General Assembly, I tracked down an article written by George Houssney, a missiologist and very vocal critic of any kind of contextualization. Basically, he had written a position paper on the Insider Movement back in 2010. The PCA used this position paper as justification for making their recommendation that churches could stop support to certain organizations regardless of what the missionaries being supported were doing. So, who was targeted? Nabeel Jabbour, a Syrian, now American Citizen, who worked in Egypt for the Navigators, now living in Colorado Springs was one. I count him as a friend of mine whom I have also had the pleasure of taking a class from at CIU. Quoted from the paper:

Dr. Nabeel Jabbour (Image via Wikipedia)

Nabeel Jabbour, a Navigator leader, believes that Islam as a religion started down the right track but jumped off the rails. (Said to me personally during a three hour meeting in my office.) He mentioned several Muslim reformers whom he admires. These, and many others who have bought into the Insider mentality believe that Islam needs to be reformed, not abandoned.

Now, I am almost positive that this is taken way out of context, as is most of what Houssney is offering as proof of syncretism. Phil Parshall does not appear to be targeted, but I'm fairly certain that SIM is targeted because of his association with them, even though he advocates a C3-C4 approach to contextualization. The CAMEL method of the IMB was targeted even though it has been very effective and is more of a C4 level of contextualization. Basically, there were a lot of generalities, quotes taken out of context, and  bad research. Incidentally, Dr. Jabbour is now on a study committee for the PCA to look at the Insider Movements as a result of the recommendation at the General Assembly.

I am sure the editors and authors of "Chrislam" are well-intentioned, but we must do careful research and quote people properly rather than have an agenda. This happens too often in Christian circles and people get hurt. I'm providing several links to the papers mentioned in this post here at the bottom for you to do your own research.

Resources:
Jay Smith's Assessment of Insider Movements, C5 Missions Strategies
At The PCA General Assembly – Statement concerning errors of “Insider Movements” translations approved, but stumbles over procedures on approving a study committee

Position Paper on the Insider Movement by George Houssney

 

Related articles

• Chrislam? (nickbabineaux.wordpress.com)
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Decade

This is enough to put anyone in a coma, I think...

HT: Doghouse Diaries

[Audiobook Review] "Give Them Grace" By Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson

In Give Them Grace by the mother/daughter team of Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson, we read (and in the case of this audiobook, hear) of how we can best raise our kids not to be moralists, but to be followers of Christ. As parents, we often want our kids to represent us, even though we may say we want them to represent Christ. In turn, we make them into moralists and pharisees. Through admitting of mistakes made, humor, and examples of showing Christ to our kids, authors Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson explain how we can instead show the grace of Christ to our kids in raising them. Many of their examples hit home for me as I was listening to this audiobook. If you are struggling with how to raise your kids in Christ, and all it seems is that you're just raising little pharisees, then this book is for you. We often struggle with getting our kids to obey and it's frustrating. This book seeks to change that perception. It's not about getting our kids to obey. It's about showing them Christ and allowing Christ to change them to obey. We cannot save anyone, even though we often think we are responsible for our children's salvation.

This being an audiobook, I found the speakers very clear in their reading of the book. The speaker would switch between the two authors in the book very well and the sound was clear with no distortion.

I would heartily recommend this book to anyone with children. In fact, even if you don't have children, I believe it would help in your interactions with others. You can't expect unbelievers to act like believers, but you sure can show them Christ in your actions. In other words, "give them grace." I enjoyed the audiobook so much that I went out and bought a hard copy of the book for my wife to read.

This audiobook was provided free from Christianaudio.com in exchange for an unbiased review.

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• [Audiobook Review] "The Radical Question" by David Platt (inklingsofreality.wordpress.com)

The Hobbit Official Trailer #1 - Lord of the Rings Movie (2012) HD

For more fun, go to http://maps.google.com and get walking directions from "The Shire" to "Mordor". You get some interesting results. I still like trying to get walking directions to Europe from the U.S.

Is Sharia Law a danger to the U.S.?

Image via Wikipedia

I had an interesting conversation on Twitter yesterday regarding Sharia Law. Basically, it started when someone asked me about a post from James White regarding a visit to the White House by an Islamic group. White's concern seems to be that the Obama Administration will make discussion of Islamic ideologies illegal, in the name of tolerance. This is a valid concern, as we've seen the debate over homosexuality headed this way. It's all but illegal to suggest that homosexuality is sin. I'm not so sure that this is cowering to Sharia Law, however, or that Sharia Law is even a real threat to our liberties here in the U.S.  The U.K. has allowed experiments with Sharia Law in it's Muslim enclaves and they have had a few issues with it, partly because I don't think the authorities understood what all Sharia Law entailed. However, I see no evidence that it really affected the non-Muslim citizen, meaning that U.K. law was not subjected to Sharia Law. So, you tell me. Do you think Sharia Law is a threat to our liberties in the U.S.?

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[Book Review] "Night of the Living Dead Christian" by Matt Mikalatos (Blog Tour, Visit from Matt, and Giveaway!)

Remember when Tim Challies proposed his idea for "The Ultimate Christian Novel?"  I think Matt Mikalatos may have just written it, minus the Amish. Maybe that could be in his next book. Seriously though, imagine reading a Christian novel about what the transformed Christian live is supposed to look like, except the main characters are a mad scientist, an android, a werewolf, a vampire, and lots of zombies. With our general perceptions of monsters, it seems like a book we should probably stay away from as Christians, yet I believe that we must read it. It is an amazing and fun book to read.

The story follows Matt as the sole neighborhood watchman, his werewolf neighbor, his mad scientist and android neighbor, and his vampire former high school friend now neighbor as they flee from zombies and try to figure out what it means to get rid of the monster within and live a life transformed by Christ. It is satire mixed with the theological truths of C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity." Along the way, Matt himself learns that he too is a mad scientist, but he also learns about living the transformed life as well. So, how do I see the characters in the novel?

Zombies - These are people who claim to be Christians but have no works to accompany their faith. They simply go through the motions following this preacher or that preacher. They are of Apollos, Paul, John Piper, Joel Osteen, John MacArthur, Charles Stanley, C. I. Schofield, etc. They hang on their every word, read their study Bibles, and only read their books, listen to their podcasts, etc. They don't think or feel anything, just follow.

Vampires - These feed off other people. They are typically your atheists and agnostics. They believe in being self-sustaining and often are. They don't see a need for God because they have everything they could ever want.

Werewolves - This might be your typical seeker. They see their sin, but they hate it. They can't get rid of it because they don't know how. They are always either trying to hide it, or they live with it and becomes who they are. Most people are werewolves.

Mad Scientists - This is the Christian that is a true believer, but they are always trying to fix everyone else. They think they have all the answers, but in reality, they have only a few answers. They also tend to get followed by the zombies. They have yet to learn humility.

So, let me ask this, which one are you? Answer this question and you can win a certificate to redeem for a copy of Matt's book. The certificate can be used at your local Christian bookstore or via mail to Tyndale House.  A copy of the book has been provided to me for free from Tyndale House for the purposes of this review. As well, this post is part of a blog tour being conducted by Matt and Tyndale's blogger's program. At some time today, Matt should be visiting the blog. I am using Punchtab to conduct the contest. I am leaving the contest open until noon on Monday, December 19, 2011.

View the trailer for the book:

watch on tyndale.com

Visit Matt Mikalatos
Visit Tyndale House

Enter to win the certificate via Punchtab below:

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