Christian Love and Responsibility

Love, the Ultimate Apologetic: The Heart of Christian Witness

What is it about Christianity's position on love that is different than that of other belief systems and world religions?

This book presents the uniqueness of Christian love. Parts of this book are written in a narrative that establishes the topical study for discussion in each chapter, with the Author expanding on explaining an apologetic responds for Christian love and belief in the gospel.  We must stand firm in the faith without compromising the truth, and this can be done in love.

Art Lindsley gives an apologetic for the powerful witness of Christian love and gives a comparison with other worldviews.  Each chapter’s topic is best summed up like this:

Love is never sure apart from commitment
Love is never sane apart from conscious
Love is never safe apart from character
Love is never stimulated apart from community
Love is never seized apart from courage

The sub-title of the book - “The heart of the Christian Witness” reveals our responsibility as believers to proclaim hope to those who do not know Christ as their Savior and to apologetically defend the gospel in a way that is loving and selfless. The Author also touches on our relationships with other Christians, and points out that it is essential that we demonstrate love and forgiveness for one another. The holds some valuable insights on how to dialogue respectfully and lovingly with those who are atheist or new agers. Although the book is listed as Christian theology, there may be better books addressing this, but in all, it was a good read. 1 Corinthians 16:13,14 “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”

Copyright © 2008

Publisher IVP Books

ISBN 978-0-8308-3427-3

Reading / Review date: October 2009

Faith Is Not Without Reason

Time for Truth: Living Free in a World of Lies, Hype, and Spin

Os Guinness addresses the moral and ethical issues of our times with exact precision and simplicity. The right questions are asked and answered in this book. Os Guinness sincere respect for the Truth found in Scripture comes across in his writing, and makes the reading and learning about truth stimulating and challenging for believers, as well as good reading for those outside the Christian Faith. He makes the complexity found in some terminology and philosophies easier to understand in his writing and illustrations.

As an example, in one chapter Guinness explains why ‘Reason’ is not excluded from our relationship and faith in God. He shows why this can be a pitfall for those who rely on feelings, experiences, and preferences. Guinness says this about truth and reason and the Christian today:

“Whereas both the Bible and the best thinkers of Christian history invite seekers to put their faith in God because the message conveying that invitation is true, countless Christians today believe for various other reasons. For instance, they believe faith is true “because it works” (pragmatism), because they “feel it is true in their experience” (subjectivism), because they sincerely believe it is “true for them” (relativism), and so on. For some of these Christians the deficiency comes from bad teaching. For others the motive is escape. Retreating into the fortress of personal experience, they can pull up the drawbridge of faith and feel impregnable to reason. But for all of them the outcome is sickly faith deprived of the rude vigor of truth.” (Pg. 78)

To sum up the importance of truth and reality for the Christian, the Author states it very well, “truth matters infinitely and ultimately because it is a question of the trustworthiness of God himself. This book will challenge you to seek the truth and what it means to live it. It was a most interesting and rewarding book to read. Recommended Reading.

Os Guinness is an internationally known speaker and senior fellow of the Trinity Forum in McLean, Virginia. He is the author of many books.

Copyright © 2000 by Os Guinness

Publisher Baker Book House

ISBN 0-8010-1195-7

Reading / Review date: October 2009