Stand Firm in the Faith Book Reviews: August 31, 2011

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Affirming and Important Reading

10 Lies about God: And the Truths That Shatter Deception

Purchased this book in October at our local Christian bookstore, and include it in the reviews here. We found this book to be excellent and important reading. It is one of the best books we’ve read this year, among some others.

The book has ‘real’ answers for spiritual seekers, and for those who have questions about Christianity, or more importantly about God., and what the Bible teaches, and also what the Bible does not teach as well. Lutzer explores some answers that are given for God that reveal half-truths and deceptive beliefs. There is a lot of misconceptions and opinions about God, and how God deals with man. This book covers these questions.

Erwin Lutzer is an accomplished Author, Pastor and Bible teacher. He is biblical in his approach to the questions that most often come our way as Christians from unbelievers and people of other religions and faiths, and is well equipped to instruct, teach and give answers to the questions of people who do not believe in Christ as Savior of the world. The book is an exceptional volume that is an apologetic, as well as it is strengthening reading for the long-time or mature Christian.

The Author searches the deeper questions of our faith and aids the reader in being able to know the Savior, grow in discernment so you are able to stand firm in the faith, and equip your witness for Christ to be effective with well reasoned answers. (1 Peter 3:15). There is a study guide in the back, with questions that will assist the reader with questions for each chapter that will help you retain what you’ve read, and can also be useful as a helpful guide for churches and bible study groups.

Erwin W. Lutzer has been Senior Pastor of Moody Church in Chicago for over 30 years and has written numerous books. He is also featured speaker on Moody Network daily radio broadcast “Running to Win.” Running to win radio - http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/running-to-win/ and is the author of many Christian books.

Publisher Kregel Books

ISBN - 978-0-8254-2945-3

Reading / Review Date: December 2009

Discerning the Prayer of Jabez

I Just want more Land

Bruce Wilkinson’s book “The Prayer of Jabez” hit the #1 best selling books in 2001 and captivated Christians everywhere. It was mass marketed in it’s success. Even years later, this little book is still being passed around and sold at church bookstores to a new generation that may have missed it’s exposure and the fad that hit the church starting years ago.

The author examines the ‘Prayer of Jabez’ from the Scriptures used in the book (1 Chronicles 4:9,10) and gives it’s proper meaning, in context, and shows the discrepancy in Wilkinson’s interpretation of scripture, citing from his book. Gilley observes; that the Church is now experiencing the beginning of the fallout that came with the ‘abandonment of truth’ and instead have had a preference for experiences and success stories, and he warns the Church to return to thorough bible study and proper means of interpretation and rightly dividing the word.

The author writes in his book; “In order to become successful, the church-growth gurus have convinced us that we must go easy on truth and heavy on things the consumer desires, such as self-fulfillment, entertainment, and prosperity. Yet God’s church is to be the Pillar and support of the truth (1Timothy 3:15), not the place where people are told what they want to hear. The conservative church is becoming increasingly hollowed out as it exchanges it’s biblical purpose for one that is market-suggested. Many local congregations still have the outward shell that allow them to resemble Christ’s church, but the substance is gone, and in time they will collapse spiritually.” (pg. 53) Gilley’s plea in this book is---a return to Scripture and reading and studying the bible. The book offers an excellent section on discernment, methods of interpretation, and how to study your Bible, giving several pages of examples which can be used in small group study. These helps were outstanding!

The author shows the lack of discernment on the part of the Christian, and gives the reasons why discernment is lacking. On pg 48): “The Prayer of Jabez is a thinly disguised version of the prosperity gospel. It is (perhaps unintentionally) designed to deceive those who may detect the folly of many false teachers, but do not have the biblical discernment to recognize the same untruths when it comes from a respected and unsuspected source.”

The knowledge gained from the reading of this book is not only beneficial in exposing the scriptural errors in ‘The Prayer of Jabez’ book but the lessons learned can also be applied to any best selling author or book of Today that needs to be examined and discerned biblically from the Bible.

Publisher Xulon Press

ISBN-10: 1931232555

A Book on the Prophetic Movement

Why I Left the Prophetic Movement

The Author Andrew Strom tells of what he has seen occurring at a Conference in Kansas City and how he discerned it. He describes what he saw going on there was so disturbing, pagan and ungodly that he left the Prophetic Movement. Strom believes that the movement is dominated by a spirit of divination and fortune-telling, and believes that it is beyond reform.

We are not in agreement with some things in the book, such as Strom disparaging remarks about discernment ministries, who have warned the Church of these false teachings for years. But he does bring up some very important points and examines what is happening within the Prophetic Movement and appeals to Scripture. Strom gives a strong warning to those who have been “Touched” and who are involving themselves in the manifestations, visitations, and experiences that are occurring in recent revivals, and as to those claiming to be prophets such as : Todd Bentley, Patricia King, and others. Those involved need to renounce it, in Jesus Name, with your mouth, and then have nothing more to do with it!

There is a good section in the book on IHOP and the modern Prayer Movement and it’s “Bridal Paradigm” - the Romancing Jesus teachings that are promoted in popular Contemporary Christian Music of today, and how this distorts a Christian’s true understanding of Christ and God’s Holiness. Some are justifying their own beliefs in this teaching based on Mystics who are quoted and teach these beliefs and supporting it, they somehow believe that this makes it correct or that this ’Bridal/Romancing Jesus teaching is supported in the Bible when clearly these teachings are not in scripture. Strom plainly shows how these extra-biblical teachings can lead an unsuspecting listener to accept false teachings and can open a Christian up to unclean and deceitful spirits.

The chapter on why correcting false teachings is NOT a Matthew 18 matter, was especially helpful. One thing I didn’t like about the book was it’s critical references to heresy hunters, yet Strom’s own chapter on discernment is no different than what ‘heresy hunters’ and/or discernment ministries have been warning the Church about for years and have been solidly standing firm in the faith on the truth of God‘s word.

We bought this book in early June/2008, someone we know was involved with Todd Bentley’s ministry school and revival teachings and read some sections of this book to her. This helped the person to evaluate the teachings of this movement and reconsider their involvement, but for some, seldom is this truly possible so quickly, since the teachings, peer-pressure and fleshy appeal is so seductive. It is always advisable to continually pray for those who have gotten involved with these teachings.

Publisher - Revival School

ISBN: 13: 978-0-9799073-0-2

Reading/ Reviewed: July 14,2008

This little church went to Market

This little church went to Market

In an effort to draw sellout crowds, is the modern Church in danger of selling out? This is the question author and pastor Gary E. Gilley addresses in This Little Church Went to Market. This book is a call for the Church to return to it’s Biblical roots.

This book which was released in 2002 is the 1^st book in a series. It addresses the Church Growth Movement and Seeker-Sensitive, purpose-driven church movement which has become popular. At that time, as even is today, the church that has bought into these movements has lost their way from the Biblical model and principles found in Scripture and needs to return to a healthy church which is built upon the essential Christian doctrines of the Faith. This author outlines the current church movements, their history, beliefs, and the infiltration of Psychology into America’s churches. A worldly market-driven philosophy is a key element in promoting this movement. Postmodernism has become an inevitable consequence as well. Polls have become the determiners of success and What works becomes a driving force, and Image becomes everything in drawing unbelievers into the church.

On (pg. 23) the author writes; “Growing churches are creating an atmosphere, an environment of fun. So fun has replaced holiness as the church’s goal. Having a good time has become the criterion of an excellent, growing church, since fun and entertainment is what consumers want. Yet Scripture references encouraging churches to become havens of fun are, as one may suspect, sadly lacking.”

The Author quotes John MacArthur’s observations “Many Christians have the misconception that to win the world to Christ we must first win the world’s favor. If we can get the world to like us, they will embrace our Savior. That is the philosophy behind the user-friendly church movement.”

This book gives the reader a better idea of how these movements came into being and also how our society and it’s placement of entertainment has been having upon the church and what kind of impact it is having upon our corporate worship.

ISBN 1-591600-49-9

Stay Faithful in Deceptive Times

This Little Church Stayed Home: A Faithful Church in Deceptive Times

Are you confused at all by what Modernism, Postmodernism, or Mysticism means? Do you still have unanswered questions about the “Seeker-Sensitive” church or the Emerging church, or about the Emergent Church Movement? Want a book that goes right to the facts that you can understand and be able to explain it to others? This book by Gary Gilley gives a brief historical background to these movements and what kind of impact they are having on today’s Church.

The author writes about the current trends and theological shifts that have taken place in the Evangelical Church in recent years. The author of this book asks the critical question; “If everything we need in life and godliness is found in the Knowledge of Christ, (1 Peter 1:3) why should the Church dabble around with anything else?

He warns that it is dangerous for Christians to close their Bibles. Pastor Gilley makes the convincing case that the Word of god is being displaced with substitutes such as; entertainment, drama, concerts, comic acts, etc. He also points out how many churches are using psychological therapies, which are distorting the biblical teaching of Salvation and Sanctification. The historical doctrines of the Christian Faith are being undermined. He also covers the sometimes complex spectrum of Mysticism, and it’s theology. He wisely points out that the Emerging Church Movement is a form of classical, medieval Roman Catholic Mysticism dressed-up for Evangelicals. Gilley writes that some Christians by pursuing mystical experiences have opened themselves up to a pseudo-Christianity that has the appearance of spirituality but not the substance.