Book Reviews-Christian Living

The Whole Armor of God ~ A Book Review

If the warnings are true, the world is a dangerous place to live. If the Christian sounds of alarm are true, then secularization is a threatening force. All indicators point to the reliability of these concerns and call for the Christian to be armed, not to initiate an attack but to defend against one. Scripture speaks to this as well, noting that the Christian should be well-protected by the armor of God. Professor and pastor Iain Duguid writes of this necessity in The Whole Armor of God: How Christ’s Victory Strengthens Us for Spiritual Warfare.

The book is an exposition of Ephesians 6:10-20, capturing the reality of spiritual warfare. Over the course of 8 chapters and 127 pages, Duguid looks into the armor that protects a believer in this spiritual battle. Each chapter then concludes with a series of short reflection questions for the reader to consider before moving on.

Because of its shortness, the book lacks a lot of depth that readers may hope for, especially for those familiar with Duguid’s other works. This is not an exegetical analysis. Instead, it is a simplistic look into a person’s need to look to God for this spiritual armor.

While depth is lacking, there are two unique characteristics that mark this work as notable. First, the book is unexpectedly apologetical. The author offers up counterarguments to many of the attacks on Christian theology. Therefore, readers not only find themselves learning about God’s word, but are equipped with a logical Christian defense. Secondly, Iain Duguid stipulates that each piece of armor points to Christ and each chapter is built around that aspect. While writing in a way to assert a practical application of Scripture, he spends much of the time in each chapter building rationale with cross-references of how Christ is presented.

While more profundity would have added some value to the book, The Whole Armor of God is an excellent book. It provides a good basic and encouragement for believers seeking to understand better, Paul’s description of the Christian armor in Ephesians 6.

To learn more about this book or purchase it, click here.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher at no cost to me for the purposes of review. However, my review was not influenced by the author, publisher, or anyone else associated with this book and is the result of my own reading of it.

The Promises of God ~ A Book Review

The great preacher, Charles Spurgeon, known for his gospel-oriented teachings and lifestyle, produced an inordinate amount of materials during his lifetime. Some are more well-known than others, but if it bears his name it is sought after. Included in those writings is one known as The Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith.

Partnered with Tim Chester, Crossway has released an updated and enriched version of this book for readers under a new title, The Promises of God. The book is written as a short daily devotional, much like the well-known Morning and Evening. Aside from a title change, Chester’s updates are meant to preserve the original significance, but he has undertaken edits to update the language used to modern English, which also includes changes and shortenings to words and sentences. He has also updated the Scriptures to reflect the English Standard Version. The most appreciated addition is the inclusion of Bible references. The result is another meaningful devotional in the repertoire of the Christian life.

If one knows Spurgeon, they will not find any surprises in The Promises of God. The book is a great encouragement to the struggling Christian by highlighting God’s character and causing the reader to see how, why, and when God can be relied upon. This is especially realized in Spurgeon’s grasp and use of future promises in the past tense, meaning those promises in Scripture that will not be completed until the future, but are spoken of in the past-tense because of the trust that God has already ordained it to be. Related to that is Spurgeon’s ability to capture what should be the heart of a believer. This comes across in a discussion about a parent’s relationship with his/her child, comparing it to Abraham and Isaac, fearing for one’s child not merely because of the physical life but because of the spiritual life and not having the Spirit of God.

One of the struggles with Spurgeon is sometimes his usage of the Old Testament passages and promises meant for Israel in relationship to the people of today and this book follows that same pattern or there are times in which more meaning is put on Scripture than should be (such as interpreting Acts 1:8 as a command). These are not major concerns. One of the most difficult aspects with this particular book is Spurgeon’s propagation of a quid pro quo relationship with God. During several of the devotions, especially early on in January and February Spurgeon asserts that those who do/give/act will receive an extra blessing from God. While Scripture is utilized at times to verify the truth of this, there are moments when it is taken a bit too far in which God is almost obligated to give in response to what we do.

If you are familiar with Spurgeon, this book follows his typical pattern. It comes with the same concerns and same blessings that other Spurgeon writings come with. Personally, my opinion is Morning and Evening is a better devotional of the two. Yet, this one will certainly be encouraging for believers and is a worthwhile read.

To learn more or purchase a copy of either book mentioned here, click the titles below:

The Promises of God
Morning and Evening (I specifically recommend the edition edited by Alistair Begg).

Homeschool Bravely ~ A Book Review

Just over a year ago we began the daunting task of homeschooling our firstborn. The combination of responsibility for a child’s learning combined with the amount of information available to teach creates a task that is intimidating. As a homeschool mom, Jamie Erickson understands this and for those of us who find ourselves uncertain she has reached out with her book, Homeschool Bravely.

Erickson is not someone from the outside trying to give insights nor is she one who is merely compiling resources from others. Erickson is a former teacher who made the decision to homeschool her own children. Those years of experience have given her the ability to offer insight and encouragement to other homeschooling parents through her books, articles, and blog and if numbers are an indication, 50,000 followers suggest that she is a notable expert of the field. Therefore, Homeschool Bravely, as a book that seeks to help others find their passions for homeschooling, at the very least merits consideration.

The author has a gift for writing, softening her practical approach with elements of humor that make for an engaging book. Through that ability to write, she excels at several aspects within the book. First, she orients homeschooling parents towards a future mindset by urging them to identify/recognize a long-term goal. This mindset allows parents to teach towards that goal and admit that no parent possesses the capability and time to teach all there is to know. Second, Erickson has formed a book that is practically theological. She rightly places homeschooling in the context of theological positions (such as identifying it as an act of worship) without being overly dogmatic. In doing this she offers rebuttals to many of the major criticisms about homeschooling (like confronting the concept that children will not be socialized if they are not in public school) but neither does she assert that homeschooling is the only option to be considered. Finally, her insights are creatively functional. Recognizing that each child is at a different level with varying types of motivators, influences, and enthusiasm, Erickson gives suggestions but allows parents to operate within a level of adaptation. As a result, Homeschool Bravely is a resource that offers solutions to those uncertain about homeschooling but not without a level of flexibility.

Perhaps the one area of struggle is with the author’s definition of calling, which she stipulates as simply dealing with what you have been handed. In one sense, this is not untrue. Yet, she utilizes this to write that if a person is currently homeschooling that it is God’s will for his/her life. This mindset does not take into account the seasons of life in which things may change (for example, homeschooling may be good at the moment but may not be appropriate later on) or to account for the circumstances that lead to homeschooling (perhaps there was pressure on a parent that forced them to make a decision they would not have otherwise made). Therefore, it is important to allow a level of personal circumstances and convictions that make each situation unique.

Homeschooling is a tremendous responsibility and has the capability to generate fear into parents. Homeschool Bravely is a great resource to guide parents in those areas of uncertainty. There is wisdom in knowing that homeschooling is not for everyone; there is wisdom in knowing how to adapt based on a child’s needs and this book will help parents at whatever point they may be in.

To learn more about this book or purchase a copy, click here.

Called to Forgive ~ A Book Review

In 2015, our family was walking the streets of Charleston when we came across police barricades surrounding a white church building. Beyond the barricades were flowers, photos, and tributes that had been laid in the previous weeks following the assassination of nine individuals of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Little said here can capture the gravity of the situation. Having not experienced anything of that magnitude, the closest many of us can come to understanding such a tragedy is through the account of Reverend Anthony Thompson whose wife Myra was killed while leading the Bible study that night.

In his book, Called to Forgive, Reverend Thompson writes a personal account of the events from his perspective, as one on the outside with loved ones on the inside, while desiring to articulate a view of biblical forgiveness. Admittedly, this book is hard to do a book review because there are two important aspects that must be noted. First, this is a very personal book in which the author is conveying his hurt about the loss of his wife. Second, it is proven that this crime event was motivated by racism. In no way should a critique of the book take away from those points.

With those points in mind, there are several aspects of the book that are concerning. First, there are some doctrinal issues that readers will come across in the book. While not directly advocating women pastors, the author’s wife was ordained and called as such. Therefore, he certainly is accepting of it. Additionally, at one point he refers to them as being divorced. The circumstances are not revealed and would be wrong for readers to make assumptions, but his nonchalant mention of the divorces minimizes it as a casual issue. Second, the author is unnecessarily divisive at points. He is unnecessarily political and at a few points makes racial divisions when not appropriate. To reiterate an earlier point, the motivation behind the shooting was racism and that must be acknowledged, but there also must be caution about making superfluous distinctions. Finally, the author’s intended motivation for writing the book was to convey a biblical view of forgiveness, but on that point, he has not met his goal. Often times, forgiveness is conveyed as nothing more than hearing God speak and readers are left with a sense that biblical forgiveness is nothing more than “You just need to forgive.” That aspect is unhelpful for those wrestling with such an issue.

If there is one concept that repeatedly comes across in the book, it is the idea that nobody is irredeemable. Readers should be struck by the author’s concept of grace and how freely he is willing to extend that to others. Such lessons are learned from Reverend Anthony Thompson even before the discussion of extending such forgiveness and grace to the Charleston shooter. Yet, seeing him display it towards Dylan Roof adds a depth that can be learned from.

Called to Forgive is not necessarily a biblical theology on forgiveness. There are other books that are more worthwhile if one is searching for help on that topic. Yet, there is value in the story that Thompson has to tell. It brings a reality to such a tragedy and forces those of us not directly affected to consider the devastation that can follow. Thus, it is a book that can generate a level of empathy not often present following such events.

To learn more about this book or purchase a copy, click here.

Faith is for Weak People ~ A Book Review

Many people agree that the mind is a terrible thing to waste. Yet, few have considered that the conscience too, is a terrible thing to waste. Ray Comfort is a master apologist who has built his ministry on conscience. Comfort’s approach is on display in Faith is for Weak People: Responding to the Top 20 Objections to the Gospel.

The book title pretty much says what the book is. In 200 pages, the author lays out a defense to many of the gospel rejections present in today’s society. To prompt further thinking, each chapter closes with a series of study questions about the content. The gospel rejections covered are common topics that most people must admit they wrestle with, including the presence of evil, universalism, hell, homosexuality, hypocrisy, and creation. Most of us have faced these objections in our own gospel witness or wrestled with doubts in our own life. Therefore, the goal, to remove every hindrance to the gospel for unbelievers, is admirable because it attempts to maintain a faithful testimony of the Lord (while recognizing that it is the Lord’s work within hearts).

Many readers will not be overwhelmed by the material in the book because much of it follows a simple apologetic approach. As a result, it does not get into significant philosophical theories or deep arguments of defense. Readers can also expect the book to be a bit repetitive. Often times that author covers similar objections from different nuances. At other points he offers up the same or similar defenses. Part of this is logical in that certain defenses can be utilized in a variety of ways.

For those who are unsure of how to defend their faith though, Ray Comfort offers a good overall perspective. He does this first by writing from conviction. This particular conviction is manifested in two ways. First, he writes as one who is convicted about God and his truth. Second, he writes as one convicted by the despair of people perishing eternally. Furthermore, more than conveying an apologetic message Comfort imparts an apologetic method by demonstrating to readers how they can appeal to a person’s conscience. Finally, the author demonstrates a level of contentment. This characteristic may seem a bit peculiar, but readers should appreciate the fact that Ray Comfort is content in recognizing his own limitations of knowledge. At times he will acknowledge the mysteries of God and that he simply does not understand. It takes one who is both humble and strong in his/her faith to be able to be content with that position.

For those looking for a basic primer on responding to the secular rejections of Christianity, Faith is for Weak People fulfills that need. It is not deep, but it gives a foundational perspective and response that many people are lacking. The examples alone help provide clarity to aspects that many people struggle with.

To learn more about this book or purchase a copy, click here.

The Theft of America’s Soul ~ A Book Review

It was several years ago that I watched Dr. R. Albert Mohler masterfully handle the misguided questioning of one of the major news outlets (CNN I think, but I cannot be positive). Mohler was called upon to give testimony to comments made by Phil Robertson regarding his views on homosexuality. Whether or not one agrees with his views and/or his methods, Mohler made an important remark: Robertson was unwaveringly faithful to the Scriptures. It should not be unexpected then, that Robertson’s recently released book The Theft of America’s Soul remains unwaveringly faithful as well.

Phil Robertson seeks to address ten of the most prominent lies propagated within the cultural wars of the United States. The title of each chapter states the lie and counters with a truth. The author covers topics such as the existence of God and Satan, the absoluteness of truth, virtue, and the law, and cultural topics such as sex, Christian proclamation, and church participation. Ultimately, he seeks to share the gospel within the context of each of those lies, something he does very well even closing out the book with a chapter devoted to that one truth alone.

Phil Robertson’s straightforward approach to the truth is often off-putting for many and garnered much attention. This same style comes across in his writing and it creates a couple of issues with the book

Us v. Them: First, Robertson has a tendency to create an us versus them mentality propagating more division in a culture that is already divided. He often generalizes by identifying Christians as conservatives and the enemy as liberals. This is not to suggest that he should compromise, but only that his style has a tendency to over isolate the very section of people that we are trying to reach with the gospel.
Evidence v. Opinion: Readers should appreciate that Robertson is offering information to defend the Christian faith. Unfortunately, much of what he offers is full of quips and opinions and is not as impactful to a secular society. It’s not that what he says is wrong, but stronger support would help the book.
Promises v. Premises: There are times in which he utilizes premises as promises. This is an issue because not everything is meant to stand as an absolute, but only as a generalization and this key distinction should be preserved.

Admittedly, I came into this particular book with low expectations (for reasons I will share later) and the issues I had were not as major as I had expected.

In fact, Phil Robertson has much to offer in The Theft of America’s Soul. He indeed, is a bit confrontational. Yet, Christians should be encouraged that such a prominent person is willing to confront major issues (abortion, homosexuality, truth, God, etc.) and do so in a very public way. One of the fascinating aspects of reading through the book is Robertson’s ability to insert meaningful wisdom in an unsuspecting way. Spread throughout the book are examples, pieces of advice, or tidbits about life that readers do not expect to come across. It adds a little bit of additional value to the book. Finally, the author is very candid about his own background. He is not ashamed to share his own mistakes if it would help others. While preaching about the total depravity of men, he offers himself as an example and in doing so points to the existence and power of God.

I fear that the criteria used to evaluate this book may have been different than other books, so allow me to share some with you. First, Phil Robertson became a household figure through the show Duck Dynasty, but I have never seen the show. As a result, I know very little about the show or the family. In fact, apart from the moments of controversy I have had only one acquaintance with the family and it was not the best of introductions. During some of my travels I found myself in the area of a well-known church and decided to attend just for the experience. The pastor was gone and Phil Robertson filled in on stage with his son Alan (I say filled the stage because there was no pulpit). It is the only time I have ever walked out of a church service. Scripture was referenced once (and way out of context) and the rest of the time was spent decrying the social agendas of today. I didn’t disagree with what was said, but that speech should have been utilized in a political rally not at a church gathering. As a result, my expectations of this book were very low, but the truth conveyed, Scriptures cited, and concern for people offered a pleasant surprise. It is not a book that I expect to share much with others, but neither am I going to find major concerns if people I know put it in their reading rotation. He clearly has a high regard for God and seeks to give him the glory, and that is what we should all be seeking.

To learn more about this book or purchase a copy, click here.

40 Verses to Ignite Your Faith ~ A Book Review

Faith is a strong word. Frequently applied to a wide array of situations that give little credit to the intensity of what faith is and its implications in a lifestyle. While many have their go to verses as they seek to stimulate their faith, author and speaker Laurie Polich Short has gathered 40 ‘lesser known’ verses and written short devotionals to do the same.

She stipulates that while many repeatedly rely on the same verses, “sometimes we need a fresh word or promise for the season we find ourselves in – something that ignites our faith.” Because they are written as devotionals, focused on one verse only, the book is easy to read and at only 173 pages one can expect each devotional to only be about 3-4 pages each. Short follows each insight with several reflection questions in an effort to stimulate application.

Admittedly, when someone’s goal is to bring ‘fresh insights’ from Scripture, I become skeptical. Confessing that bias, the author focuses on some important insights that readers of Scripture should take note of. These notable insights frequently point to God’s faithfulness as she notes the nuances of texts and pinpoints how they indicate God’s promise to complete something. As an example Short looks at God’s interaction with Moses and demonstrates how the Lord indicates that Moses will bring the people out of Egypt. There is no wavering with the word if, but instead the Lord gives assurances. Such insights are reassuring for believers and affirms the faith that one has in God.

Unfortunately, the concern about looking for ‘fresh’ insights from Scripture is warranted as the author wanders into concerning territory. The concerns of this book can be contained in four primary areas:

Context: Taking one verse and writing about it alone can be difficult as it often fails to consider the context. More than most, the author considers context, but perhaps not to the level that is sometimes needed for proper understanding. This is further accentuated by the way in which she sometimes spiritualizes rather than parallels the stories for modern interpretation (i.e. noting that the problem when sending spies into the land was not the problem with the land, but how they saw the land, and thus denying some of the core insights).
Convention: Unfortunately, the reflection questions offered are conventional. More specific or thought-provoking questions would be helpful to readers.
Conjecture: At times the author offers unwarranted conjecture (such as her interpretation about events when Sarah sent Hagar away, suggesting that it was because she was not a willing/happy participant in Sarah’s plan and was likely beaten). Unfortunately, even in cases when these moments of conjecture may be possible, they are not always probably and only serve to advance the author’s intentions.
Confusion: Finally, Short offers points that contradict one another. At one point she notes the need to have our faith constantly filled by something/someone outside of ourselves (truthfully, I am still struggling to figure out what she means by this). However, just 20 pages later she notes that God weans our faith so that we can feed ourselves.

Each of these individually are concerning, but at the root of each of these is Laurie Short’s view of God, which seems to be lacking. Readers can see this low view of God in an earlier devotion in which she mentions that God sometimes fails people. Yet, we must be very cautious and realize that God does not fail people, only that he fails to meet our expectations of Him. There is a great difference in these two mindsets and one’s inclination towards one says much about what he/she thinks about God.

40 Verses to Ignite Your Faith may have been written with good intentions. Frequently, the author offers some practical and clever insights, but in an effort to find ‘fresh’ words, the author steps over the line of biblical fidelity. The result is a book that leads readers astray and cannot be fully recommended.

To learn more about this book, click here.

Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy ~ A Book Review

I like the word lament. It conveys seriousness, solitude, and sorrow. More than sadness, a lament is processing grief while remembering who God is. Rarely does anyone lament; instead mourning is oriented towards self, moaning over what was lost within one’s own autonomous domain. Scripture is full of lament, to the point that an entire book is titled about it. Few understand though, the nature of lament and how rightly-postured lament can bring a person towards God.

Author Mark Vroegop shares of the struggles he endured, ones that are both intense and personal by writing Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy. But such experience allows him to write from a perspective of one who has been broken and recognizes the hurt that people often endure. With those circumstances comes his understanding of the need for such a book. He writes a book of ten chapters divided into three parts: Part one encourages people to learn to lament by reviewing four Psalms (10, 13, 22, & 77), while part two delves into how one can learn from lament a section he covers by discussing the book of Lamentations; finally the author ends with two chapters of practical application in which he encourages people to live with lament. Each chapter closes with a series of reflection questions that are uniquely written to cause the reader to reflect beyond a surface level.

Vroegop proffers that a biblical definition of lament is: “The honest cry of a hurting heart wrestling with the paradox of pain and the promise of God’s goodness.” Adding to that he stipulates that there are four parts to lament: (1) An address to God, (2)a complaint, (3) requests of God, and (4) expressions of trust and praise to God. With this definition, he deals with some tough issues that Christians face, in which one’s faith can be stretched, tested, and refined. His handling of complex and sensitive areas should be appreciated as he brings about some important truths about lament. Two worth considering over and over is how much faith it really takes to lament, a point that he develops well. Combined with this is his acknowledgment that if God were not a faithful God, there would be no need to lament.

The greatest need of this book is clarity. The author shares some lesser important ideas that warrant more explanation. The biggest area is that the author, in an attempt to add clarity, seems to offer several definitions of lament. While they do not conflict, it confuses the issue some. Further aspects, while non-essential would have been appreciated. The author seems to avoid the issue of sin and its impact and that lack of acknowledgment avoids a certain level of responsibility. Another example is the author’s insistence on the prevalence of the Lord’s silence. He does not seem to address the difference between the Lord’s silence and a person’s perception of that silence. After all, we have the Word which amounts to the Lord’s lack of silence. Therefore, it is not that the author is unbiblical, but he lacks a certain level of clarity.

There is much value in this particular book and the topic is rarely discussed. Yet, the intensity of hurt by the people indicates that there is a need to address lament in the Christian life. The author does a great job at orienting readers towards God and trusting Him. In fact, in the midst of struggle the author leads readers from despair to lament to God. He never leaves this grounding and is quick to bring people towards who God is. Mark Vroegon does a great job at showing how even in the midst of the lament writings, the writers always find confidence in who God is. He goes further by not only grounding his own writings in Scripture, but by directing his readers towards Scripture as well. He assures readers to seek comfort in the Scriptures.

Admittedly, I had some higher expectations of the book, but those expectations were unfair. Regardless, my recent time in the United States with people has shown me there is a great need for us to discuss, teach, and learn from the concept of lament. I have even been able to share the concepts and Scripture from this book repeatedly during the last several weeks as I read through Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy. It may not be the premier book to go to when someone is hurting, but it is incredibly helpful.

To purchase a copy of Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, click here.

The Life and Faith Field Guide for Parents ~ A Book Review

The number of parenting books available, secular and Christian, is quite impressive. More are being published every year; only two weeks into February and this is my second review on a book about parenting. The number of available books is indicative of just how challenging the role of parents is. The Gospel Coalition editor, Joe Carter, enters the discipline with his own parenting book, The Life and Faith Field Guide for Parents.

The title is a bit striking, because it sounds like a how-to manual. In many aspects, that is exactly what it is. Carter takes his cue from the Boy Scouts as he puts together this handbook. While the title indicates parents, he writes to anyone who has influence on a child by developing a list of 50 cores skills that every child needs to learn from their parents. This is not an exhaustive list but meant to be a foundational list to help develop later skills. Those 50 skills, and thus 50 chapters, are organized into the following 10 categories:

Bible Engagement (Chapters 1-12)
Interacting with God (Chapters 14-17)
Interacting with Others (Chapters 18-21)
Discernment & Decisions Making (Chapters 22-25)
Mental & Physical Health (Chapters 26-30)
Character Development (Chapters 31-34)
Engaging the Culture (Chapters 35-38)
Learning (Chapters 39-42)
Managing Conflict (Chapters 43-46)
Evangelism (Chapters 47-50)

The amount of information that Carter fits into this book is quite incredible.

Admittedly, the information is incredibly overwhelming, and no doubt, readers will look at it and think, I don’t even know a lot of this myself. As a result, the book offers good refreshers and development for Christians in general, even if it is oriented towards parents. As an example, in the chapters on Bible engagement, the author does an overview of topics to be covered with children so that they have a good foundation, which include weights and measures, the Jewish calendar, and the geography of Israel.

However, the author’s presentation of the material makes it manageable. The format of each chapter is simplistic as he talks about the topic being addressed and then ends with tips in order to help children. Those tips are not only practical, but he does not make it complicated. Such organization leaves readers with the mindset of, “Yes, this is a lot of information, but I can do this.”

The biggest importance is the Carter is biblically-oriented. He does much to emphasize that the priority is God and the relationship with him. To prove this, note how large the chapter on Bible engagement is, which in terms of content accounts for 27% of the book! If you add to that the section of interacting with God and that number goes up significantly.

Interestingly, the quality of the book goes down the further one gets into it. This does not mean that the content is less biblical or less practical. There is still much to learn from it. However, it seems as though the later chapters were more rushed than the first and so much was left unsaid or emphases were not made that could have been. I lament also that in later chapters he relies more on secular psychology than I personally care for. He does not lay down his biblical fidelity or the motivation of being oriented towards God. However, he incorporates a lot of stats and then constructs certain information around that, despite the flaws of much of the psychological information of today (and no, I’m not trying to discredit the whole industry, but do want to make sure we see its flaws when we look that direction).

Joe Carter has put together a great book and it’s a great resource for parents. Readers should know that this is not a book about cultivating a heart towards God, but rather, is about the knowledge, lessons, habits, and skills that parents should be teaching their children (some of which may cause them to be more inclined towards God). The book is well-researched with lots of helpful information. After completing the book, I was left with an interesting thought: I would be curious to see the final product of a collaboration between Joe Carter and Ben Sasse because I suspect that a combination of their wisdom would yield something incredible for our society (whether it be a book, teaching, TED talk, or another media form). The end result is that this is a book that has much to offer.

To purchase a copy of “The Life and Faith Field Guide for Parents” by Joe Carter, click here.

Suffering Is Never for Nothing ~ A Book Review

Suffering is a reminder of the terrible effects of sin and its frequent insertion into our lives is a further reminder of just how pervasive that sin is. Many know Elisabeth Elliot because her suffering became very public when her first husband was murdered by an indigenous tribe as he and others attempted to make contact with them for the gospel. Fitting for many believers then, is the ability to read and learn from her perspective on suffering.

Posthumously published, Christians have access to Suffering is Never for Nothing by Elisabeth Elliot, which comes from a six-part teaching that she gave many years ago. Editors have carefully preserved the teaching, trying to only insert minimal edits when necessary so that readers can read the text as she originally shared it. The result is a six-chapter book full of heartfelt insights about suffering. The message is simple and at the heart of it is the relationship with God in the midst of suffering. The outline is very simple as chapter one simply sets the foundation by establishing what suffering is, while the following chapters emphasize a human perspective and response to suffering, including the need to trust God, accept suffering, give gratitude during suffering, and continual obedience to God during suffering. The last chapter leaves readers understanding the purpose being suffering, seeing it as a redemptive work.

While being very aware of Elisabeth Elliot, her life and her message, to be truthful I have had little interaction with any of her teachings. As I turned through the pages of this particular book, I was struck by how personal it was giving me both an insight and appreciation to how God has used Elisabeth Elliott through the years – and it is more than simply making a ministry from her husband’s death. She had experienced much more as a Christian woman, including the death of her second husband, widowhood, raising a child as a single parent, and more. Her experiences come through in this work and God uses that to capture readers and incline the heart towards him.

The author has a keen ability to add depth to concepts we take for granted. For example, Christians frequently say that suffering is a necessity for God to mold us, but Elliot adds depth by both describing a world without suffering and being explicit in how God utilizes that in the life of his people. Another great example of this ability is seen in her attention on obedience. More than simply obeying God during our suffering, she describes obedience as an antidote to suffering, not that it relieves the suffering, but rightly focuses a person so that they may enjoy God and his work during suffering. These points are accentuated by sharing quotes, stories, and most importantly Scripture.

Perhaps the major struggle I had with the book was simply her definition of suffering, which is simply explained as “suffering is having what you don’t want or wanting what you don’t have.” By the letter of the definition one could claim suffering for simply not getting his or her own way. A reading of the book indicates that the spirit of the definition is much different. While the simplicity of the definition is to be appreciated, clarity in this area would have been greatly appreciated.

While I appreciate Paul Tripp’s book Suffering more, Elisabeth Elliot’s book Suffering Is Never for Nothing deserves attention and I suspect many readers will relate to her and be able to follow the style. Therefore, it is a worthy book to be read by Christians.

To purchase a copy of the books mentioned in this review, click the following titles: