"George Mueller: He Dared to Trust God for the Needs of Countless Orphans"

I have heard of George Mueller and his work among orphans for years now but have not studied the man for myself.  In preparation for a sermon on trusting in God and prayer, I couldn't think of a better example than Mueller.  Therefore I picked up the little book George Mueller (he Dared to Trust God for the Needs of Countless Orphans) by Faith Coxe Bailey.  The book is a mass market paperback that one can buy cheaply that brief overview of the man's life.  It is not deep.  It is not detailed.  But it serves as an excellent introduction to this wonderful man of faith.

The book welds history with narrative beautifully.  The book reads almost like a fictional story full of dialogue, character development, plot, climax, and a conclusion.  This is what makes these type of books so compelling, especially to younger crowds and to those who have read little history, biography, or theology.  The reader is able to dive into the story and mind of this wonderful man of faith.

If you don't know, Mueller was a minister originally from Germany but served most of his life in England as a minister of the gospel and is best known for his many orphanages that he started.  The reason for starting such orphanages is what really fascinating to me.  Mueller didn't start the orphanages just for the orphans themselves (though that was center to the project of course).  The real reason he started them was to prove a point.  He wanted to be a living example of the power of God.  Mueller ran and expanded his orphanages without ever asking for a penny from anybody.  God provided the funds, the land, and opportunities, the staff, the kids, the help, and everything else he needed.

This is really a fascinating story that forces the reader to desire that sort of faith.  Mueller believed in the power of prayer and never questioned God's power.  I wish I were more like that.

My one beef with the book is that it reads more like a story than like history.  Can we know for certain that the characters really said all of these things?  I fear that perhaps the author was putting words in the historical characters mouths.  This doesn't mean that they were wrongly misrepresented or painted in unhistorical ways, but that if they didn't say these things, then should we attribute it to them?

But overall I found this to be a good read.  I read it in one setting and enjoyed it fully.  There are many other books in this series including men like DL Moody and other great men of God.  If your new to Mueller or any other Christian in the past, I recommend this series.

"Their God is Too Small"

A new theology that continues to grow and threaten orthodoxy is Open Theism.  Promoted by people like Gregory Boyd, Open Theism seeks to let God off of the hook especially when it comes to the issue of evil and suffering.  It teaches that God does not know for certain the future because the future is determined by the free choices of humans.  Therefore God cannot prevent evil from happening because He cannot predetermine, with certainty, that a particular event will take place because such evil is determined by the free decisions made by a free people.

This is a major threat to orthodox theology that teaches that God is omniscient of the past, present, and future.  He is sovereign and provident and the future is well within his grasp.  God is in complete control and is never confused or caught of guard.

At the end of the day, what the Open Theist offer is a tamed God that is more like us that needs us to let Him off the hook.  Instead of adopting the God of the Bible, Open Theist have rejected the clear teaching of Scripture and offer a tamed God that needs our rescue.

The best review and critique I have read thus far comes from the pen of Dr. Bruce Ware, professor of theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, called Their God Is Too Small: Open Theism and the Undermining of Confidence in God.  The title is appropriate and is a wonderful summary of Open Theism.  Their God is, in fact, too small.  It is in fact the wrong God.

Ware's critique is brief (only about 140 pages) and covers major parts of the theology like God and suffering, prayer, hope, etc.  In each chapter the author offers the reader a review of Open Theology.  From there the author shows how this belief is empty and falls well short of the biblical text.  Ware takes his time dealing with texts favored by the Open Theist and shows that a correct interpretation would lead to a rejection of Open Theism.

Ware does such a good job that he makes the Open Theist look foolish.  His ability to make a powerful argue is unsurpassed.  I have not come across anyone who offers such a brief, yet devastating critique of Open Theism than this.  He shows that taken to its logical end, Open Theism solves no problems, but only creates more and is inconsistent with itself.  Anyone wanting to see the emptiness of Open Theism must read this book.

One of the best arguments Ware offers regards how Open Theism implies (and openly promotes) that God regrets His own actions and decisions.  Take prayer for example.  By not knowing the future, anything God does may backfire since it is free men who run the world, not God.  That means that when God acts, neither we nor Himself can trust that His decisions and acts are righteous, perfect, or just.  Though the short-term may be positive, the long-term may be devastating.

Likewise, the Open Theist take biblical events (like the Flood) and paint God as a deity that regrets Himself and admits that if He had thought the action through more carefully, He would have made a different decision.  Such a belief rejects the perfection and righteousness of God.  By making this argument, the Open Theist are admitting that God was wrong (and dare we say sinful) and unjust in punishing mankind at the Flood.  Such a belief is outrageous at best and should be outright rejected.

Instead of this small God, the Bible offers a much greater one.  God does not need us to defend Him for who has known the mind of God and how dare we call into question His actions and providence.  God does not need our justification for He is always righteous and all that He does is just and right.  That is the beauty of the gospel.


My one complaint is that the book is limited in its scope.  Ware deals with the issue of theology proper and rightfully so.  But a wrong belief about God leads to a wrong belief about everything else.  If we get God wrong, we get everything wrong.  The Open Theist sound like Pelagians who emphasize human freedom and the freedom of the will to a point that they reject the gospel.  I don't know what Open Theist believe about the gospel, but I find it hard to believe that they affirm penal substitution.  How can they?  If God regrets things in the past, then is it possible that He regrets the cross?

But in spite of that Ware offers an important book that needs to be read by all serious Christians.  Our understanding of God is foundational to everything else.  Open Theism shows us the dangers of bad theology.  In an effort to save God they damn themselves.  God doesn't need saving.  It is us who need to be saved and thankfully, the One true God is such a God.

"What in the World is Going On?" by David Jeremiah

David Jeremiah needs no introduction.  He's a leading figure among Evangelicals and serves as senior and preaching pastor of a very influential church in America.  He's a best-selling author of multiple books covering many different topics and has a radio show that reaches many every day.  One of his most recent books, titled What in the World is Going On?: 10 Prophetic Clues You Cannot Afford to Ignore, tackles the issue of eschatology - the study of the end times.

Before one can review or critique the book, one must understand Jeremiah's eschatological standing.  He is a dispensationalists.  He believes in the Pre-Trib rapture and affirms premillenialism.  He quotes guys like Tim Lahaye favorably and holds to an eschatology currently popular and mainstream among American Christians.  That itself is not controversial, but a necessary understanding one must have in order to read and assess this book.

The author offers what he calls "10 prophetic clues" regarding the end times.  I interpretted this as clear and distinct signs, but the book doesn't really offer that.  Instead, what he offers is ten unmistakable events that will either lead to eschatological events or are eschatological events.  For example, the author dedicates a chapter on oil.  Nowhere in end time prophecy in Scripture does it say that oil will be a sign of the end times.  However, what Jeremiah sees with the issue of oil (and how it is the "black gold" of our society that drives everything including political alignments, trade, and peace agreements) as a pivotal issue that will likely usher in end times issues.  It is because of oil that middle eastern countries are major factors in international politics.  It is over oil that many nations have fought while others have entered into trade agreements. 

Also, there are chapters that we have no clear and present sign.  One such example is his chapter on the Antichrist.  Jeremiah correctly notes that who we refer to as the Antichrist goes by a number of names in Scripture and only the Epistles of John mention antichrist(s).  However, that does not mean that the Antichrist is the product of wishful thinking or foolish predictions.  Jeremiah lays out the biblical evidence for the Antichrist and discusses what he will be like, how he will rise to power, and what he will do.  However, the Antichrist is not clearly known right now.  Instead, what Jeremiah does is discuss issues like the European Union and the role it might play as a fulfillment of Daniels prophecy.

Jeremiah offers a fascinating book but nothing really new.  Anyone familiar with the writings of Lahaye or John Hagee have heard similar things before.  Though Jeremiah is more reserved in his interpretations and applications than similar authors (including Lahaye, Hagee, and Joel Rosenberg), the same arguement is made.  Israel is seen as the center piece and key to end times fulfillment.  The birth of nation gets the first chapter for that very reason.

For those wishing to understand dispensationists more this is a fairly good place to start.  Jeremiah walks the reader through the biblical text without sounding academic and stuck in an ivory tower, nor does he sound like the stereotypical dispensationists who believes President Barack Obama to be the Antichrist.  For those who reject dispensationism may want to stay away.  You will disagree with his conclusions and applications.  But at the end of the day the same advice can be given to every eschatological book especially ones that seek to offer the reader clear and present "signs of the times."  Jeremiah simply adds to a conversation that has been going on for some time.


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.”





For more:
Reviews - "Angels" by David Jeremiah 
Pastors Blog - "Storm Warning" by Billy Graham
Reviews - "The Coming of the Son of Man" 
Reviews - "The Second Coming" 
Reviews - "Heaven" 
Pastors Blog - The Early Church Fathers on the Rapture:  Some Quotes 
Pastors Blog - Weekly Recommendation:  "The Theology of the Book of Revelation" 
Pastors Blog - Sermons on the Olivet Discourse 
Pastors Blog - Billy Graham on Eschatology 
Review - "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns 
Review - "Saint Patrick" by Jonathan Rogers
Review - "A Century Turns" by William Bennett
Review - "Sir Winston Churchill"

"America: The Last Best Hope" - Volume 1

I love history.  And American history is particularly fascinating to me.  One of my biggest frustrations with American history (and history for that matter) is how often the telling of history has a liberal bent to it.  Recently while on vacation I sat down to read the first volume of William Bennett's history of America called America: The Last Best Hope (Volume I): From the Age of Discovery to a World at War.  As the title suggests, the author has a high view of America and its place in history and this particular history covers over 400 years of American history from Christopher Columbus (and the "Age of Discovery") to the brink of World War 1.

Bennett, known for political commentary and radio show, is quit the writer and historian.  Everything is footnoted and carefully studied and articulated.  In many instances, the author sets the record straight apart from traditional liberal spin.  The author sets the record straight on issues of slavery, Western conquest, the treatment of the Indians, etc.  Though he readily condemns slavery, how America treated Indians (especially Andrew Jackson's sad "Trail of Tears"), the author seeks to give a more historically, less politically motivated, history of the events.  For exmaple, the author notes that though the slave trade was abominable, many Africans were sold into the trade by fellow Africans.  That does not make slavery any less evil, but it does force us to think more thoroughly behind the motivations and reason for slavery.

What I particularly liked regarding this issue is the author's defense of the Founders.  Clearly the Founders could have abolished slavery at the birth of our nation and we all wish they would have.  However, in quoting Frederick Douglas, the author shows how by the age of Lincoln, what the Founders set forth in defining liberty for all men, slavery inevitably would be abolished as contradictory to the American experiment.  Furthermore, the author showed how trends at the time mixed with some of the language of the new government implied that slavery would soon die out in America.  Let us not forget what the invention of the cotton gin did in the South.  It took a dying institution and made it popular (unfortunately) again.

The book as a whole is excellent history covering all of the major events.  My main beef with the book is that the book primarily traces the political history of America.  By this I mean that the author shares a lot about the political aspect of our history oftentimes forgetting the moral, economic, and cultural history of our nation.  This does not mean that the author doesn't deal with these issues, but he primarily does so through a political end.  For example, the author says little about Western expansion (though he does mention the Donnar party and other issues), but says much about Presidential policies, Congressional debates and compromises, and Lincoln's struggle to find the right general to win the war.  All of these things are important, but oftentimes I felt that the author was neglecting other extremely important aspect of American history.

Overall, though, this is an excellent book.  Anyone wanting to know more about American history should seriously consider picking up this book.  It reads fast (at least it did for me) and the author presents an impelling history that makes it difficult to put down.  At times it is humorous, at times it is inspiring, at times it is insightful, and at times it is simply amazing.  We have been given a rich heritage by God in our nation, let us not take it for granted.


For more:
Reviews - "A Century Turns" by William Bennett
Reviews - "A Patriots History of America" 
Reviews - "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine 
Reviews - "The Preacher and Presidents"
Reviews - "American Gospel" 
Reviews - "Abraham Lincoln: A Man of Faith and Courage"
Reviews - "The Story of Abraham Lincoln" 
Reviews - "Lincoln's Advocate" 

What I'm Reading - July 28, 2010

Its been a couple of weeks since I have done one of these posts, but nonetheless here is a list of books I am reading this week.  Though some may be old, there are several new ones.

"Whose Money is it Anyway?"

Money is one of those practical issues in the Bible that Christians say they know what the Bible says, but in reality either have no clue or couldn't care less.  John MacArthur in his book Whose Money Is It Anyway? offers his readers a biblical understanding of what God demands of us as stewards, as consumers, as tax payers, and tithers, and as givers.

Like all things MacArthur, the book is a thorough discussion of the issue at hand.  The Bible says a lot about money and MacArthur gives us a good survey of what the Bible says.  What has made MacArthur such a popular teacher and author is his ability to show what the entire Bible says on a particular issue.  His discussion on money is no different.

MacArthur writes with pastoral care, sound biblical exegesis, and theological purity.  He really wants his reader to understand and apply the biblical principles.  One of the fascinating parts of the book I found was regarding how much Jews gave in tithes and offerings.  We all know that they gave a 10th, but that was only part of what they were required. MacArthur showed that after they gave to the temple and everything else, each Jew was giving over 20% of their income in tithes and offerings.  And we Christians complain (and do not give) 10%!

For anyone wanting to know more about what the Bible says on this subject, this is a great place to start (and you can get it for like a penny at Amazon).  If you like MacArthur, you will find much to like in this book even though he is not known for writing or speaking on an issue like this.

"The Jesus Manifesto"

Without a doubt, Jesus Christ is the center of our faith.  One cannot read the Bible (both Old and New Testaments) without seeing the supremacy and redemptive work of Christ.  That is the argument put forth in the new book by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola called Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ.  The authors have come together to emphasize and uplift Christ in Scripture, in the world, and in us.

The authors offer a well-written and well-thought out book on the supremacy of Christ and how he is the center of everything.  The desire of the authors is strong and their concern is much understood.  Throughout the book they warn against bad dichotomies and seek to provide the reader with a more balance faith.  Chrisitanity is about Christ and nothing else.  Everything else is a distraction.

The authors attacks on some of these dichotomies is worth discussion.  Perhaps best is the warning against the social gospel on one end and the other extreme.  Their attack on the social gospel was important especially as many postmodern Christians look to these authors for insight.

Overall, the authors offer a great book with important insight, but I did have some real concerns.  First, I find it unfortunate that though Christ was declared supreme and central, I found that the authors said little about the gospel.  This doesn't mean that they didn't discuss the gospel, but that oftentimes I found myself reading about Christ almost apart from the gospel as if the gospel is only one part of Christ.  What makes Christ so central is His work in reconciling God with us.  The authors did mention atonement and warned against wrong ideas of the gospel (like the social gospel) but failed to adequately lay out a firm discussion of the gospel.

The other problem with the book was its bend towards mysticism.  The authors heavily emphasize Christ living in and through us.  They draw on the biblical language to make their point and they are correct in saying that Christ lives in us.  However, the way and frequency in which the authors wrote on this subject sounded more mystical than biblical.  I do not believe this was intended, but that the authors felt that this reality is missing from modern Evangelicalism. 

The Jesus Manifesto is an important book that Christians need to take seriously, but at the same time need to cautiously approach it.  Though I have my theological issues, the book has a lot of good in it.  They emphasize and balance the two natures of Christ and conclude by listing dozens of attributes of who Christ really is.  It is time that we make Christ the center and focus of our lives and faith.  But in the process, let us not forget the gospel by which Christ made possible.


I received this book as an audio download for review by christianaudio.com #