"Billy Graham: His Life And Influence"

One of my spiritual heroes is none other than Billy Graham. It can be argued that no one has preached to more and had a greater impact in culture, the gospel, theology, politics, etc. than Billy Graham. David Aikman, author of "A Man of Faith: The Spiritual Journey of George W. Bush," has written another great biography on the great evangelist Billy Graham called "Billy Graham: His Life and Influence."

Billy Graham needs no introduction, even non believers and anti-theist know who he is. He has been the close friend and spiritual advisor with every American President since President Eisenhower. Aikman provides us with a great summary of this significant life, his travels, and his influence.

What I liked most about Aikman's work is that this is more than just a simple biography. It is a biography with added commentary on who has influenced him, trends he has fallen into, critics, how he has changed, and what role he has played in catastrophic and world changing events.

THINGS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD

Throughout the book, Aikman reveals to the reader what role Graham has played in events that have changed the course of history. In particular, he includes a chapter on how Billy Graham has frequently assumed the role of the national consoler. Aikman traces Graham's words and actions surrounding events such as the Oklahoma City bombing, September 11, and many other great catastrophes.

Furthermore, Aikman provides commentary on other interesting events in his life. In particular, I found it interesting how Graham seemed to have had a "premonition" concerning the JFK assassination. According to Aikman, Graham had a horrible feeling that something was going to happen to the President while in Texas. Graham was unsuccessful in contacting the President and as history has revealed, it was in Texas that the President of the United States was assassinated.

Aikman also discusses Graham's involvement with President Nixon and the Watergate schedule. It is clear that Graham was surprised and taken a back by the actions taken by Nixon and the fall out following. Graham was genuinely hurt, but remained close to the former President. This was the event, however, that radically changed how Graham got involved in politics and, namely, the Whitehouse. Graham had been close to both Nixon and LBJ, but following the Watergate scandal, Graham seemed to have put an invisible barrier that would protect him, his ministry, and the gospel. And the rest, they say, is history.

THE HERETIC

I already knew that Billy Graham had some inclusivist leanings in his theology. I had credited this to his old age for every quote I had heard and seen from him involving his inclusivism was at the later part of his life. Aikman, however, opened my eyes to where this came from and why he believes this.

As with everything, theology doesn't come out of a vacuum. Anyone that studies Billy Graham's early ministry and evangelism knows that he was very orthodox in everything. He went from being a Presbyterian (as a child) and became a Baptist. But as time went on and his travels continued, his theology went about a slow evolution.

As Graham began to see the world and become the main Evangelist to the world, his theology began to change. In several popular interviews he gave where he reveals this inclusivism, it is interesting that he oftentimes mentions those who had never heard of the name of Jesus. Over time, Graham could not reconcile how a God of love could send such people, who are sincere and try to earn favor with God, to hell. Therefore, he, and so many like him, has concluded that people in other religions and faiths will be in heaven with Christian believers.

My biggest problem with this, outside of the fact that it is unbiblical, is that Graham complains that no one had shared the love of God with such people and countries. However, it is Graham, the greatest evangelist in the world in modern history!, that is standing before them! Grant it, Graham was a preacher that preached 24/7, but how could he claim that they did not know Jesus, therefore, they will be heaven whenever the greatest evangelist in recent memory is in their very own country?

Since Graham has been in almost every country in the world, it can be argued that the gospel, in at least a minor way, has reached the four corners of the world. Graham is an evangelist who has been sent to preach the gospel, and he has done that his entire life. It is fallacy to assume that whenever he puts his feet in a country that the people have never hear of Christ.

This is the most disappointing thing in the life of Graham, and Aikman does not leave any stone uncovered. Aikman is honest and presents the argument from both sides: Graham's and the fundamentalist. I worry about the reactions of many "fundamentalist" in this area, but at the same time, shame on Graham and others for preaching such a gospel!

CONCLUSION

Overall, this is a great read. Aikman manages to cover the life of Graham, many of his great influences, how God has used him, what he is doing now, how he has influenced the nation, the culture, and the world. Aikman dives into almost every aspect of his life, his theology, his family, and his personal life. Anyone that reads "Billy Graham" will be diving into a book that is well researched and well done.

I highly recommend it.


I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Become a Better You: 7 Keys To Improving Your Life Every Day"

I am certainly no fan of Joel Osteen, Pastor of America's biggest Church, Lakewood Church, in Texas. And after reading his latest book, "Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day," my feelings toward him haven't change. Osteen's first book, "Your Best Life Now," is a national best seller and one of the best selling books in recent years. People love his positive outlook on life, on one's ability to overcome, and how much God loves us.

All of these things are great, but he lacks all credibility by the fact that life isn't always full of roses and daisies. My biggest problem, however, is the fact that he never preaches the gospel nor the cross; essentials of Christianity. But as it relates to his most recent book, there are a couple of things I want to mention.

WHAT IS MAN?

Joel Osteen has no logical (or Biblical) understand of who man is at it's core. Osteen seems to be under the illusion that man wants to be saved, wants to be a better person, and has the personal drive to do so. All though people do want to pick themselves up and live a better life, they almost always fail. Osteen's view on human nature is flawed. Biblically, man is totally flawed and completely depraved. Man hates God with all of His heart. This explains why God had to take the first action that redeems man, not man.

As I was going through Osteen's book, I continually found myself shocked that he misses this. Does he live in another world? Grant it, he knows that mankind can do evil things, but at the same time, he assumes that everyone is just happy go-lucky all the time. Whenever this is not the case. This is the problem with Osteen's "positive gospel." The gospel says that you are worthless, you hate God, God doesn't need you, and you have done nothing to deserve His love. Nonetheless, God has sacrificed His own son so that you might have life. Reject your human nature and follow Him.

Osteen's, "you've got it in you," mentality falls flat on the face of reality. Yes people want to become better persons, they won't left to their own, so long as a remedy of sin is provided. Osteen should see himself not as a therapist, but rather as a shepherd and a medical doctor that gives his flock this remedy: Jesus Christ on the cross so that we wouldn't have to be.

Yes Osteen gives us the "gospel," at the very (and I mean very) end of his book, but even it is lacking the essentials. Yes he mentions sin, Christ on the cross, etc., but he had just written hundreds of papers of, "you've got it in you," therapy. Why would someone read his last words and believe them whenever he has just preached to them that they can do it, they have the power, all they need to love each other and love themselves?

I DIDN'T LEARN ANYTHING, BUT I FELT GOOD ABOUT MYSELF

I cannot stand the whole self-esteem cult that is going on in our country. It makes me sick in fact. It denies the truth of reality and it is pointless. It tells a person to look inward for the solution to their problems and not outward (as in God). Therefore, they makes matters worse. We are the problem, and we will never be the solution.

Osteen falls into this trap. One of his seven "steps," is essentially about self-esteem entitled, "Be Positive Toward Yourself." Again, he falls guilty of the trap of not understanding human nature as it is.

One of the chapters in this section is entitled, "Learning to Like Yourself." When I saw that title I wanted to gag! Learning to like yourself? How can we? We hate God. We have betrayed Him. We are in constant rebellion against Him. We shake our fist towards Him and declare that we can figure it out on our own. How can we like ourselves?

The truth is, if we really want positive self-esteem, it isn't going to come from a pep talk from the likes of Osteen and others, but realizing that though we are worthless, we were bought at the highest price possible; the life of Jesus Christ. No one will ever find greater worth than when they see Christ upon the cross!

Osteen misses this. And this is what makes him so dangerous. Who needs a Savior whenever we are the solution to our own problems?

WHO WROTE THIS, A PASTOR OR DR. PHIL?

That is the great question to ask as one paves their way through this best seller. Who is writing these things, God's Word or Dr. Phil? Yes Osteen uses the Bible (unlike Dr. Phil), but each key and principles he puts forth are more from modern psychology than from God's Word. No mention of the cross or our hopelessness before God, but rather an inward look, and a "you've got the power already," mentality that does not reflect Scripture.

I am not the first to make this accusation, and there's a reason for it. It's true! Even whenever Osteen does quote Scripture, he oftentimes takes it out of context, misses it's original purpose and meaning, and twists it to make it say what he wants it to say. That is dangerous! And it is heretical!!

SOME TRUTH IN EVERY LIE

The truth is, in every lie is an element of truth, and Osteen's book isn't any different. Although I am vehemently against Osteen, his ministry, his approach to Scripture and the gospel, he does have some good things to say. I do not want to make him sound like the devil, but I do believe that he is dangerous to Christianity and the gospel.

But there are some good things within the book. Perhaps my favorite chapter in the book is, "It is Well With My Soul," in which Osteen uses the great hymn to make some great applications towards life.





Here is an interview that Joel Osteen did on 60 Minutes that really reveals his message and how he approaches ministry.

And here is a promotional video for Osteen's new book from Osteen himself:

"Culture Shift: Engaging Current Issues With Timeless Truth"

Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has officially released his first full length book and it is a doozy. Anyone that knows Dr. Mohler and keeps up with his blog, website, and his radio show know that he is a leader in helping Christians make sense and engage our postmodern culture. Therefore, "Culture Shift: Engaging Current Issues With Timeless Truth," is a summary of much of what he has said concerning the culture and how we might engagement.

In truth, "Culture Shift" is a collection of some of Dr. Mohler's great blog posts over the years. Anyone that has consistently kept up with Mohler's website has already read much that is in this book, but what this book does is allow for us to take some of the key issues of our day, and instead of googling them all, put them into one place. I had already read most of these posts, but in going back through them, and after updating each of them, it was nice to be reminded and to rethink over some of these difficult issues.

This is not just a book about the lefts assault on marriage and family with issues like homosexuality and abortion, but rather dives into many of the root movements, desires, and results of our postmodern culture and it's many attacks against Christianity and traditional values. Mohler does not back down from some very difficult and controversial issues. One such issue is the issue of "torturing." Instead of torturing, our current debate should be over how we should get information from terrorist and other enemy combatants. At one point, I found myself in disagreement with Dr. Mohler, but as the conversation continued, he made his argument clear and, I believe, accurate. He provides arguments from both sides, and gives his readers a Christian perspective on the issue.

Some of my favorite chapters include, "Are We Raising a Nation of Wimps," "The Culture of Offendedness," "Needed: An Exit Strategy From Public Schools," and "Who's Afraid of the Fetus," just to name a few.

I have already dealt with the wimps of our nation in a recent blog post. Similarly, "The Culture of Offendedness," deals with some of the same issues. In our culture, people live with a sense that we have the right not to be offended. This is absolutely absurd, Mohler points out, and ultimately makes it impossible to share the gospel.

Mohler's belief in needing an "exit strategy" from the public school system has been very controversial and many have come out against him in this respect. I, too, have been unsure about this discussion. But after taking a class with him were he discussed this issue and after reading this book and reading and listening to whatever he has said on this issue, one must admit that from a Christian worldview and our concern with raising our children biblically, he has a point. Mohler gives some fearful examples of what is going on in the public schools, and provides the reader with where this is coming from. At the very least, we must admit that he has a point and we must be willing to have this point.

Finally, Mohler makes some excellent points concerning abortion in the chapter, "Who's Afraid of the Fetus?" Mohler dives into an interesting development into the abortion debate where pro-life groups want to make it mandatory that the "would-be" mothers must have an ultrasound before murdering her child. But this is no ordinary ultrasound. Recent technology has allowed us to look closely at the child in the womb, and as a result, many mothers have realized that the action that they are about to commit is in fact the killing of another human being.

The left has responded with outraged and are fighting against it. They know that such technology undermines what they are fighting for. Therefore, they are vehement against pro-lifers taking this stand. Mohler asks the question, "whose afraid of the fetus?" This debate has radically changed as the result of technology, and the left are having trouble keeping up.

Overall, this is a great read. This is not a broad look at what the culture is all about, like Charles Colson's "How Now Shall We Live," or Nancy Pearcy's "Total Truth," or even like Dinesh D'Souza's "What's So Great About Christianity?" but rather a look at specific issues and specific persons and trends within our culture that Christians need to think about and deal with. I highly recommend this book. It isn't real long and Mohler manages to cover a whole host of issues with a Biblical worldview behind it.

Anyone that lives in the culture needs to know how to engage it, and this is a great place to start.

"How Would Jesus Vote?: A Christian Perspective on the Issues"

Many questions are asking the very questioned posed by the late D. James Kennedy in his latest book, "How Would Jesus Vote?: A Christian Perspective on the Issues." No one knows for sure who will represent each major political party as their parties candidate for President, and it is even more cloudy to think who might be in the Oval Office next. But as a Christian, who do we vote for. Candidates in both parties are looking for the "evangelical vote," but it seems that the evangelicals increasingly do not know who to vote for.

Dr. Kennedy provides some helpful answers on how to go about thinking about who to vote for from a Christian perspective. This is not a book about who Dr. Kennedy likes and dislikes, but rather an honest attempt to give a biblical perspective on the issues that we face with today.

For anyone wanting a conservative Christian worldview on politics and American government, this is a great read. Kennedy looks at our current political culture and guides the Christian on how to deal with it. Furthermore, it looks at various issues of the day, including abortion, homosexuality, the enviroment, war, economics, etc. All with the purpose of informing the believer on what the Bible has to say about it.

This is not a book encouraging Christians to vote for either party, but rather a book about how to be informed and what to be informed about when casting one's vote. I appreciate Dr. Kennedy's honesty on the issues and I found myself in agreement with almost everything he had to say.

And so for Christians that are unsure of who to vote for and why, this is a great place to start. It is an easy read that anyone can understand and will give you the resources necessary to make the right decision.

"Gripped By The Greatness of God"

Every once in a while, a book will come by that radically changes your perseption on things. In terms of redefining and appling theology to your life, James MacDonald's "Gripped By the Greatness of God," is one of those books.

The goal is simple: figure out who God is and then, we'll know how to live in a way that pleases Him. No more boring Christianity, or stale spirituality. The set up is simple: each chapter looks at a different description of God taken from the book of Isaiah. They include:

• The Holiness of god - Isaiah 6:1-7


• Awesomeness of God - Isaiah 40:10-26


• Sovereignty of God - Isaiah 45:1-13


• The Works of God - Isaiah 55:1-13


• The Worship of God - Isaiah 58:1-11


• My Identity in God - Isaiah 43:1-21

Each chapter dives into the text of Isaiah in an attempt to describe who God is. This book will radically change your perception of God because it redefines Him, not in Western culture terms that make Him smaller than He really is, but rather by Biblical terms. MacDonald manages to show the reader just how amazing, in control, and worthy of worship God is. He is bigger than any of our problems or situations.

Not only does He define God by Biblical terms, He also applies these various attributes. Modern theology can be a bit dry. Oftentimes theologians want to debate soteriology and couldn't care less about the application. McDonald, on the other hand, takes the theology and shows how practical it is. All of theology is practical. By defining God and discovering who He really is allows us to better understand what is expected of us.

I strongly encourage everyone to go out and read this book immediately. If you want to change your perception of God, and stop living a boring, stale, going through the motions Christian walk, read this book and find out who God is!