"What is the Mission of the Church?" by Kevin DeYoung & Greg Gilbert

What is the mission of the church? In recent years there has been an unlimited number of books seeking to answer that very question and out of all the rhetoric there seems to be two options: social justice on the one hand and preaching the gospel on the other. But in their book, What is the Mission of the Church?: Making Sense of Social Justice, Shalom, and the Great Commission, authors and pastors Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert offer their pastoral experience and biblical insight into the conversation. Their suggestion, and purpose of the book, is that the mission of the book, put succinctly, is the Great Commission.  They write:

The mission of the church is to go into the world and make disciples by declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Spirit and gathering these disciples into churches, that they might worship and obey Jesus Christ now and in eternity to the glory of God the Father. (241)

This thesis statement (though here quoted from the end) is repeated throughout the book.  The authors carefully unpack what the Gospels say about the Great Commission, why it matters, and why they believe it is the mission of the church. The strange thing is that this fundamental thesis is insightful and refreshing, though it should be obvious.  The authors go through some strain showing how many of the traditional missional passages (like Genesis 12:1ff and Luke 4) are not the best places to start.  Instead, when addressing the mission of the church, the authors prefer (and believe rightly) with the Great Commission like that in Matthew 28:18-20.

To make their case, the authors offer an overview of the biblical story, and its emphasis on how God and man can be reconiled as a result of the bridge burned by sin, a detailed discussion of what the gospel is, and various "missional" issues of what Jesus (and Scripture) means by the Kingdom of God and how we are to think about issues like social justice and shalom.

Perhaps my favorite chapter is the overview of the biblical story offered in chapter 3.  The authors argue that the one question that Scripture, at its heart, seeks to answer is How can hopelessly rebellious, sinful people live in the presence of a perfectly just and righteous God (69). This then leads them into a survey of the biblical story divided into four "acts": Creation, Fall (the prime problem that the Bible sets up in its first three chapters is the alienation of man from God [73]), Redemption, and Consummation. In each act, the authors show how this storyline answers that important question reconciliation between God and man.

The tone of the book is particularly helpful.  Instead of writing as gunslingers, the authors seek to honestly look at some of the difficult issues debated today (highlighted by extremes in both liberal and conservative camps). Frequently, the authors show that the two common sides on any given subject continually speak past each other.  For example, their discussion on the differences between viewing the gospel through a narrow lens and a wide lens is helpful.  Those who view the gospel through a wide lens move beyond the cross and resurrection to issues of creation care, poverty, justice, and politics.  On the other hand, those with a more narrow lens, emphasize, almost exclusively, the cross and resurrection of Jesus and how that reconcile sinners.

In this paradigm, I am a proud member of the zoom-lens, or narrow lens, party, but I have felt like the authors in that much of the debates regarding the many issues raised in this book and other missional books reveal how easy it is to talk past one other. The gospel has implications, there's no doubt about that, but when asked what the gospel is in its essence, it is dangerous to go beyond the language of the cross and resurrection.  I do believe that the gospel has implications that drastically affects our understanding of everything.  After all, we are new creatures are we not? And as new creatures we must think differently about mission, church, discipleship, marriage, justice, and our role in society.

This is not the only example of clarity offered by the authors, but it is one that sticks out the most. I could also add the simple assertion offered by DeYoung and Gilbert that all Christians are for alleviating poverty and for some to assert that narrow-lens Christians are somehow in favor of injustice is simply absurd. Again, refreshing and some real honesty is a high point in this book.

Regarding the challenging issues of social justice, the Kingdom of God, and shalom the authors offer a very robust biblical theology on these issues.  The authors genuinely seek to present to the reader more than just soundbites but a more complete understanding of what the Bible says about poverty, alleviating poverty, standing against injustice, etc.  To the question of social justice, the authors dedicate two chapters the first focusing on exposition and the other focusing on application.  It would do both sides some good to consider these pages as the authors seek to be honest with the biblical text and with how that applies.

More could be said regarding this book, but overall this is by far the best book on the question of the mission of the church I have read.  Though one might find some holes here and there (and the authors admit that people on both sides will not like some part of their book), the authors manage to pierce through all of the muddy water that has been stirred in these debates.  The authors do not get distracted by politics, policy, or endless and needless fights.  Instead, they continually focus on what they believe is the great mission for the church:  the Great Commission.

As one who agrees generally with this thesis, let just add that the gospel that is spread as a result of the Great Commission is what truly transforms society.  We will never restore Eden.  After all, we are the one's who destroyed it in the first place and we never created to begin with.  However, where genuine Christianity is present, things change.  Society changes and history bears that out. If we want real social change, it will not come from the King down to the peasant, but when the gospel penetrates the heart, establishes a missional (can I use that word now?) community, and through the love and providence of God transforms things.  The process is never perfect and rarely pretty.  But if the gospel transforms the believer certainly the spread of the gospel has clear implications on everything else.


This book was given to me free of charge for the purpose of this review.




For from Kevin DeYoung & Greg Gilbert:
Reviews - "Why Our Church Switched to the ESV"  by Kevin DeYoung
Reviews - "The Good News We Almost Forgot" by Kevin DeYoung 
Reviews - "Just Do Something" by Kevin DeYoung
Reviews - "Why We're Not Emergent:  By Two Guys Who Should Be" by Kevin DeYoung
Reviews - "What is the Gospel?" by Greg Gilbert  


For more:
Reviews - "God's Grand Design" by Sean Michael Lucas
Reviews - "Jesus + Nothing = Everything" by Tullian Tchividjian
Reviews - "Life's Biggest Questions" by Erik Thoennes
Reviews - "Welcome to the Story: Reading, Loving, and Living God's Word" by Stephen J Nichols  
Reviews - "King Solomon" by Philip Graham Ryken 
Reviews - "Am I Really a Christian?" by Mike McKinley
Reviews - The Beginning and End of Wisdom" by Douglas Sean O'Donnell
Reviews - "Thinking. Loving. Doing." by John Piper & David Mathis

Top 11 Reads of 2011

Every year I like to offer my list of the best books I read. Throughout the year I read dozens and dozens of books and publish personal reviews of many (certainly not all) of them. I read primarily works of theology, history (particularly historical theology and church history), politics, and anything that interests me.  But as the list makes clear below, 2011 was a slow year for general history and politics, but I suspect that to change in 2012 as America votes for its President and as having recently graduated, I will have more time to read non-assigned books.

Nonetheless, here is my list of the best 11 books I read from the year 2011.

11.  "Historical Theology" by Gregg Allison | One of the must-have books of this past year for me was Dr. Allison's Historical Theology. Based on Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology format, Dr. Allison walks the reader through each area of theology tracing how the church has understood the issue, what the debates where on, and why they matter.  It is, I believe, the best historical theology textbook out there and well worth your investment especially if you are a pastor, seminary student, theologian, historian, or a theology nerd. The only reason it is in this list at number 11 and not higher is because I did not take the time to review the entire book.  But I will say that only Allison can make a historical discussion on Pneumatomachianism interesting.

10.  "The Mighty Weakness of John Knox" by Douglas Bond | One of my favorite characters of church history is the Scottish Reformer John Knox.  Knox was certainly an interesting person and in this volume, Bond traces his life, ministry, and lessons we can learn from him.  The book is very assessable, brief, and offers a great introduction to this wonderful man and why he still matters even though his native country has tried to erase his memory. Bond's chapter on Knox as the preacher is particularly good, at least from my perspective as a pastor.

9.  "Rediscovering the Church Fathers" by Michael Haykin | Dr. Haykin is one of my favorite church historians and in this book, he rekindles my love for the Patriarchs - the early church fathers.  These men are important figures and shaped much of orthodox Christianity. The author walks the reader through some of their writings, arguments, and how they continue to influence Christianity today.

8.  "The Kingdom is Always But Coming" by Christopher Evans| I am no fan of liberal theologian Walter Rauschenbusch, but his influence cannot be overstated.  Rauschenbusch is the main face of the modern social and the postmodern social gospel continues his work and arguments.  This new biography of the man is excellent and I would encourage anyone interested in understanding Rauschenbusch's life, thought, and writings to begin here.  Though Rauschenbusch is an influential and important figure of theology, there is a shortage of books like this one him. I suspect that will change within the next decade especially since we are rapidly approaching the centennial anniversary of his important work A Theology for the Social Gospel (1917).  But this book is excellent and well worth the read.

7.  "Why God Won't Go Away" by Alister McGrath | In a year that ended with the death of Christopher Hitchens, talk of the New Atheism hasn't gone away.  Of all of the books I have read on the New Atheism, and atheism in general, one of the best is this one.  Alister McGrath has written other great books on this movement and here challenges many of their arguments.  The book is short, concise, and illustrates just how empty unbelief really is.

6.   "Nearing Home" by Billy Graham | How can we die well?  A seemingly morbid question, but an important one for Christians who seek to live a life reflecting the death of their own Savior.  In what could be his last book, Billy Graham talks about retirement, aging, and preparing to die yet the old evangelists never gives up pleading for his readers to embrace and trust Christ.  Though still in my 20's and barring some tragedy, I (hopefully) still have many decades ahead of me, this is a helpful book, especially as a pastor.  Oftentimes we overlook the challenges of age, retirement, and dying and many in our congregation have either an unbiblical view of those things or are left in the dark.  Graham encourages his retired readers to work for the Kingdom.  Playing golf is fine, but there is still work to do!  And of course he talks about death and the joys of heaven.  This is a great resource full of practical advice (like on doing a will) and it is Billy Graham at his best.

5.  "A Light to the Nations" by Michael Goheen | What is the church?  It is, in one sense, a light to the nations. In this book, Dr. Goheen offers a biblical theology treatment of ecclesiology.  Tracing the theology of the church as a light to the nations from Genesis through Revelation, focusing on the work of the cross, the author connects the mission of Israel with the calling of the church.  No other book helped me think better about ecclesiology this year than this one and I would have overlooked it if it wasn't required for a class on Ecclesiology during the summer.  Goheen is a good writer and his insights are important.  Throughout Scripture and history, the people of God were/are at their worse when the nations became a light to them instead of them becoming a light to the nations.  I pray that we will be a city on a hill.

4.  "God's Grand Design" by Sean Michael Lucas | I am not one that reads a lot of Jonathan Edwards, however, this helpful book shows exactly what centuries later Edwards still matters.  I have not come across a better treatment of Edwards' theology that is as rich, practical, and alive than this.  The book itself isn't really long and yet in it, the author (who clearly knows Edwards intimately) manages to summarize his theology offer both academic precision and practical insight.  For those interested in Edwards, thinking about getting interested in Edwards, or not one who reads a lot of Edwards, I can think of no better place to begin than here.

3.  "Generous Justice" by Tim Keller - Social justice is a popular topic these days and how we serve the poor and the vulnerable has been hijacked by liberalism.We must reject every and all forms of the social gospel and in this book, Tim Keller shows us how we can affirm the gospel and yet at the same time, without contradiction, be passionate and consistent in practicing "generous" justice.  I read this book while waiting at our local court house surrounding by hurting families in need.  I can't think of a better setting.  How does the gospel guide us towards being good Samaritans?  Keller shows us how.  It is without a doubt the best treatment I have come across on this important topic.  The church must be charitable, but it is the gospel that drives us there.

2.  "Life's Biggest Questions" by Erik Thoennes | I love theology and as a pastor, I love to teach theology in language that can be understood by the farmer and the factor worker.  Dr. Erik Thoennes has done that in this short book.  Thoennes offers a brief, conscise, systematic theology in the language of practical questions.  As a result, the author offers a robust, rich theology that is practical and necessary.  A great place to start in any introduction to Christian theology.

1. "Jesus + Nothing = Everything" by Tullian Tchividjian | The gospel is the most important thing in the world and we cut ourselves short when we limit its scope to saving souls.  In other words, the gospel is for both unbelievers and for believers.  That is what makes this book my favorite of 2011.  Tchividjian's basic argument, rooted in his own testimony of pastoral burnout and hardships, is that if one has Jesus - i.e., the gospel - he has everything.  A simple message, but the message we've been missing. The gospel is everything.  Jesus is everything.  And Tchividjian pens that message in a way that we all need to hear.


Honorable Mentions:

"Am I Really a Christian?" by Mike McKinley
"Lukan Authorship of Hebrews" 
"Welcome to the Story: Reading, Loving, and Living God's Word" by Stephen J Nichols
"Has God Spoken?" by Hank Hanegraaf 
"Is Hell For Real Or Does Everyone go To Heaven?"
"Making Sense of the Trinity" by Millard Erickson  
"John Knox" 
"Five Leading Reformers" 
"Radical Together" by David Platt  
"Young, Restless, and Reformed" by Colin Hansen 


For more:
Reviews - Top 10 Reads of 2010 
Reviews - Top 9 Reads of 2009
Reviews - Reading List For Summer 2011

"Real Marriage" by Mark & Grace Driscoll

As a pastor, I am tired of reading Christian books on relationships and marriage that dance around the issues that everyone is asking.  What couples want to know is what is marriage, how can we persevere in our marriage, and countless of questions about sex.  Most of which has been overblown and misinterpreted.  Mark Driscoll and his wife Grace have come together to offer their insights into the important topic of marriage in their brand new book Real Marriage: The Truth About Sex, Friendship, and Life Together.

Mark Driscoll is controversial.  I get that.  But most criticize him because of his Calvinistic theology, his abandonment of the Emergent movement, and his views on gender roles and sex.  This books takes a careful look at what a real marriage is (thus the title) and engages the reader to think biblically about specific issues regarding sexuality and sex.  But I fear that many will highlight only one difficult chapter where the authors honestly offer their views on common questions couples are asking about the bed room.

First the first part on marriage. There is much to love here.  The Driscoll's emphasis that marriage is friendship and go through some pains in explaining this.  This is not to say that love is not the bedrock of marriage or that marriage isn't a covenant.  They affirm that wholeheartedly.  But it is to say that friendship is what is missing from many marriages.  Many are loveless because they are friendless.  In addition, it is difficult to reconcile and easier to turn to bitterness when friendship is absent.  I can with joy say that my wife is my friend.

But my favorite part of this section is how each author wrote a chapter focusing on their gender.  Mark's chapter on men is direct and he confesses as much in the introduction.  But he makes two important points worth highlighting.  Men are to be both tough (like Jesus who was willing and able to suffer and die without shedding a tear) and tender (like Jesus who could weep at his friends funeral).  Too often, men are one or the other.  A tough man wants others to fear him and to respect him and thus abuses or scares his wife or daughter(s).  On the other end is the tenderhearted man unable and unwilling to take a stand, to get a real job, and to serve his family the way that God demands.

This is a helpful balance that I intend on using in my own ministry.  Many men fear the turning tide of the metrosexual man and thus turn into gladiators.  They try to prove themselves a man so much that they are unable to serve their wife in the way she needs him too.  In the same way, there are simply too many wimps running around calling themselves men.  Driscoll has a way of addressing men challenging them to man up and stop acting like a sissy and I love to hear and read him on this subject.

Likewise, Grace writes to women encouraging them to respect their husbands.  As a man readying this chapter I was encouraged by her words.  When she described a man's need to be respected and served in the way she describes, she was describing me.  She is honest with her readers in sharing her struggles and the challenges that her and Mark have had in this area.  Respect is a big deal to men and Grace shows why it matters and how a loving wife will serve her husband by respecting him and not by cutting him down.  Feminism has so degraded men that it is a relief to read this.

There is a lot to commend in this portion of the book.  But the second part, the more controversial part, deals with sex.  I thoroughly enjoyed this section as much as part 1 on marriage.  There are few books which manage to compact so much about lust and sexuality in such a brief space.  The Driscoll's deal with pornography, lust, fornication, adultery, and countless sexual questions and struggles that couples have in the bedroom.  I feel that the reason that people will find this part controversial is simply because Christians still refuse to go where the Bible takes them.

Perhaps most helpful here is their discussion on sex as a god, as gross, or as a gift.  Sex for many is a god and they are controlled by it.  Just turn on the TV or look at the cover of the magazines and you can't miss it.  On the other hand, many, mostly in conservative churches, see it as gross.  We tell our children growing up, in an attempt to protect them, that sex is gross and bad and should only be done for the purpose of reproduction.  The Driscoll's show why both of these extremes is dangerous and wrong.  Sex, rather, is a gift from God meant to be enjoyed.

Driscoll is famous for his series on Song of Solomon and much of that material is repeated here.  He does emphasize the pleasure aspect of sexual intimacy, but running throughout the book is the gift of oneness that sex gives a married couple.  The one-flesh reality of sex and marriage is central to having a great marriage - a real marriage.

But then there is the chapter titled, "Can We _______?"  In this chapter, the Driscoll's try to uncover as many rocks as possible for their reader.  For example, can a married couple have oral sex?  What about masterbation?  Etc.  One might disagree with some of their conclusions here, but at least they are talking about it.  At least they are seeking biblical answers to these questions - questions that Christians are asking but many are too afraid to ask lest they be viewed as perverted.  I question some of their answers, but I am glad that they are willing to raise them.

Overall, this is a good book that is well worth the read.  But it is not for the faint of heart. Fundamentalists who pretend the world isn't as it is and that Christians aren't as they are will be appalled by some of the things in this book.  Their honesty is refreshing to someone like me, but might be a bit offensive to others.  I'm sure many will find their conversation too frank and inappropriate, but I find it necessary.  I would recommend all of Driscoll's books, especially his more recent ones.  This is a book well worth the investment for any couple, for every pastor, and for engaged couple wanting answers, wanting some counseling, and wanting to save their marriage before it starts.

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 - Death by Love by Mark Driscoll
Reviews - "Doctrine" by Mark Driscoll  
Reviews - Religion Saves by Mark Driscoll
Reviews - The Radical Reformation by Mark Driscoll
Reviews - Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll
Blogizomai - "Fall: God Judges" by Mark Discoll
Blogizomai - Wilson & Driscoll: On Masculinity, Spiritual Gifts, & Ministry
Blogizomai - Mark Driscoll on Abortion
GBC - Driscoll on Consumers vs. Worshippers
GBC - The Church As Family  
GBC - Driscoll on Neither Feminism or Chauvinism
GBC - Driscoll on Trinitarian Heresies and Living the Trinitarian Life
GBC - What Creation Reveals About God
GBC - Driscoll Sermon: God is Creator
GBC - How Much Do You Owe?: Mark Driscoll on our Need for Redemption
Reviews - "The Supremecy of Christ in a Postmodern World" 
Reviews - "The New Christians" by Tony Jones



For more from Thomas Nelson:
Reviews - "Why Men Hate Going to Church" by David Murrow  
Blogizomai - Repost | "Nearing Home" by Billy Graham
Reviews - America: The Last Best Hope - Volume 3
Reviews - "Has God Spoken?" by Hank Hanegraaf
Reviews - "Why God Won't Go Away" by Alister McGrath  
Reviews - "Billy Graham in Quotes" 
Reviews - "No He Can't" by Kevin McCullough
Reviews - "Washington: A Legacy of Leadership" by Paul Vickery  
Reviews - "Max on Life" by Max Lucado 
Reviews - "Slave" by John Macarthur
Reviews - "The Jesus Inquest" by Charles Foster 
Reviews - "Finding Our Way Again" by Brian McLaren 
Reviews - "Outlive Your Life" by Max Lucado
Reviews - "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns 
Reviews - "Saint Patrick" by Jonathan Rogers
Reviews - "A Century Turns" by William Bennett
Reviews - "Sir Winston Churchill"
Reviews - "On this Day in Christian History"
Reviews - "Storm Warning" by Billy Graham