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The Book Besides the Bible to Take If You Get Stranded on an Island

G. K. Chesterton was once asked what one book he'd take if he were stranded on an island. He said a book about shipbuilding.

Other than that, and the Bible... this is what I'd suggest you take: Tim Keller's new The Reason for God.
If you read one book in your LIFETIME, THIS SHOULD BE IT. I know this sounds like I'm exaggerating, but this really is the absolute best book I've ever read at interpreting the Gospel for our culture.

Keller shows the reasons why only the Gospel can address the needs of contemporary people, why belief in the Gospel is eminently reasonable, and the absolute difference between religion and the Gospel. Keller is a very "plain-spoken" author, but some of the passages in it are so beautiful and compelling you feel as if you are reading poetry. That's because the beauty does not come from the eloquence of the words, but from the clarity of the Gospel.

Here is one sample passage (which you must read in context to get the power of it):

The repentance that really changes your heart and your relationship with G od begins when you recognize that your main sin, the sin under the rest of your sins, is your self-salvation project. In both our bad deeds and our good deeds we are seeking to be our own Saviors and Lords. We have alternative trusts and 'gods,' even though we do not call them that. We try to prove ourselves by our moral goodness or through achievement or family or career. Even diligent involvement in church and religion may need to be repented of once we understand that it was all a way to put God in our debt... (p. 234)

The Gospel is about turning from your worshipping of and being rescued by other things to worshipping and being rescued by Jesus. When you understand the Gospel, it creates such an intense love for and desire for Jesus that you want to spend your whole life just getting more of Him.

One depressing thing about reading this book is I realize how little many "evangelical" churches preach the actual Gospel (seems to me). I'm thinking even of those places that have high "conversion" numbers. People are moved to pray salvation, come-to-Jesus prayers and get baptized, but you don't see a people falling in love with Jesus. And I've heard a number of those places give invitations where the actual run-to-Jesus-who-was-substituted-in-your-place-Gospel was never really explained. Instead, "accepting Jesus" was presented almost as if it was some kind of sacrament that would make you closer to God and fill in that missing piece in your life. Most "converts" come to Jesus as a "way out of hell" or a "path to a better life," but not as a beautiful God with whom we fall in love with. In these converts you see little passion to worship and really know Jesus. If our converts are not passionate about worshipping Jesus, what are we converting them to?

And it starts with us leaders, it appears to me. Sometimes when I listen to successful church leaders I get my mind filled with new, cool ideas (for which I'm grateful), but they don't make me fall in love with Jesus more. They, and we listening to them, appear to be more enamored with success at growing a church than we do adoring the Jesus of the Gospel.

Sorry for the tirade. But on a separate, much lighter note, there is a ridiculously hilarious (new) blog called "Stuff Christians Like." Check out #'s 108-106 (Summitters, we get mentioned in 107)... 101, 100, 26... 98... 90, 89... 68 67, 60... especially 31... Heck, THEY'RE ALL GOOD. WARNING: YOU WILL WASTE AN HOUR OR SO IF YOU GET ON THIS BLOG.

Will Another Charles Spurgeon Please Stand Up?

Finally finished the last chapter of Arnold Dallimore’s excellent biography of Charles Spurgeon (being somewhat A.D.D., I read no less than 9 books at once and sometimes forget to finish the ones I start).

The book makes me scream out again, “Where today are the great doctrinal preachers who are also extremely effective at winning people to Christ?” Why is it today that these two qualities seem to be at odds among preachers?

The only thing that that disheartened me about Dallimore’s book was the way he ended it… he traced the history of Spurgeon’s church after Spurgeon died, which today is a congregation of about 350 (down from 20,000 in Spurgeon’s day. He pointed out that this congregation still faithfully preaches “Spurgeon’s Calvinistic doctrine,” so, the author said, “Spurgeon’s work still goes on.”

Not at 350 it doesn’t. Unfortunately, 350 is the average size of most doctrinally centered congregations… (I know there are many faithful ministries whom God has not blessed with growth, but what disturbs me is their complacency about it. In the words of Spurgeon, "It is conceivable to think of a fisherman who doesn't catch fish. But it is inconceivable to think of one that is satisfied with that.")

So, where are the great Spurgeons who can preach great, delicious doctrine and grow churches like crazy by reaching unchurched people? And don’t give me this bunk about, "Well, people today just can’t handle depth like they used to…" Hogwash. People don’t change, and the Gospel is still relevant. Is it because today's "doctrinally deep" pastors don't drip with the compassion for lost people that drove Spurgeon?

So will another Charles Spurgeon please stand up? We so desperately need a few today. Here is the coolest quote from the book:

During the 1880s a group of American ministers visited England, prompted especially by a desire to hear some of the celebrated preachers of that land. On a Sunday morning they attended the City Temple where Dr. Joseph Parker was the pastor. Some 2000 people filled the building, and Parker's forceful personality dominated the service. His voice was commanding, his language descriptive, his imagination lively, and his manner animated. The sermon was Scriptural, the congregation hung upon his words, and the Americans came away saying, "What a wonderful preacher is Joseph Parker."

In the evening they went to hear Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. The building was much larger than the City Temple, and the congregation was more that twice it's size. Spurgeon's voice was much more expressive and moving and his oratory noticably superior. But they soon forgot all about the great building, the immense congregation, and the magnificent voice. They even overlooked their intention to compare the various features of the two preachers, and when the service was over they found themselves saying, "What a wonderful Savior is Jesus Christ."

Blue Like Jazz

A friend of mine sent me this link today. I'd be interested to know your comments on it. A guy was responding to an article I wrote back on 2005 about how to relate to the "emerging church" and some of the new "fads" in Christianity, specifically in the book Blue Like Jazz.