Book Review: Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands

I recently finished Paul David Tripp’s book “Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands”. I’ve read some other materials from Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF) which have all been very good. I know that Capitol Hill Baptist Church (CHBC) offers several CCEF mini-books on different struggles with sin for free (as long as you promise to read them). I would recommend those of you who attend CHBC to take a look at them, I’ve found them very helpful. So this is just a thumbs up for all books in the Resources for Changing Lives series and CCEF publications.

The book’s subtitle is “People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change,” which basically gives a good summary. In the opening chapters, Tripp provides great general application of gospel truths and the story of redemption to practical aspects of our daily lives. What the author does is create a framework to think through how we can interact with others around us to edify and encourage each other to pursue holiness for the glory of God.

Here’s a quick look by way of table of contents:

1. The Best News: A Reason to Get Up in the Morning
2. In the Hands of the Redeemer
3. Do We Really Need Help?
4. The Heart is the Target
5. Understanding Your Heart Struggle
6. Following the Wonderful Counselor
7. Building Relationships by Entering Their World
8. Building Relationships by Identifying with Suffering
9. Getting to Know People
10. Discovering Where Change Is Needed
11. The Goals of Speaking the Truth in Love
12. The Process of Speaking the Truth in Love
13. Establishing Agenda and Clarifying Responsibility
14. Instilling Identity with Christ and Providing Accountability

A Good Thought
This may be the only thing worth reading in this post, unless you’re considering reading this book. Tripp challenges us to think about how we view and approach our daily conversations, in which we are asked for advice or personal direction. Are we viewing such interactions as divinely appointed meetings? Do we bring God’s Word to bear when we share wisdom? Do we sharpen each other biblically or just give worldly counsel? Here’s a great excerpt:

If you were asked to teach a Sunday school lesson, preach a sermon, or lead a Bible study, you would immediately ask yourself, “Do I have the time I need to prepare?” Yet we often respond to our neighbor, golfing buddy, or church volunteer with little preparation, reflection, or prayer. Why do we spend hours preparing to teach while we offer important personal direction without a second thought? We forget that God uses those interactions to apply the transforming power of Scripture to people’s hearts. We forget that God’s Word is our primary tool of change. Instead, we come up with little personal wisdom and personal experience and let the words fly (p. 22)

Tim Challies on Forgiveness in “The Shack”

“The Shack” is a book by William Young that came out in January 2008, which has sparked some controversy on its theological soundness. The book is about a man, Mac, whose daughter is murdered and receives an invitation by the Godhead to meet in a shack (I believe it is the shack in which his daughter was killed in). First, a disclaimer: I have not read the book, which is why this is not a blogpost reviewing it. Some big figures like Eugene Peterson have praised the book as a modern day Pilgrim’s Progress, while others have voiced some serious concerns, like Mark Driscoll and Tim Challies.

What I’m posting about is a section in a review of The Shack posted by Discerning Reader’s Tim Challies. Discerning Reader is a book review website that does a pretty good job, in my opinion, evaluating books. It is definitely a place I consult when I think about some new Amazon purchases. But in this review, the commentator discusses the theme of forgiveness in The Shack, which I’m unsure about. I’ve quoted the excerpt below:

Much of the story focuses on forgiveness. Mack has to learn to forgive first God (or at least to come to an intellectual understanding of why God was unable to intervene to save Missy) and then, at the book’s culmination, to forgive the murderer. I am adamantly opposed to the idea that we would ever need to forgive God for anything. However, because this teaching is seen only vaguely in the novel, I will pass over it for now and turn to another area of forgiveness-that of unconditional forgiveness.

Nowhere in Scripture will we find the idea that we can or should forgive an unrepentant person. Rather, Scripture makes it clear that repentance must precede forgiveness and must be followed by reconciliation. Without repentance there can be no forgiveness. This is true of God’s offer of forgiveness to us and, as we are to model this in our human relationships, must be true of how we offer forgiveness to others. Similarly, without reconciliation, true forgiveness is impossible. So when, at the book’s climax, Mack cries out “I forgive you” to the murderer (who is not present and has not sought forgiveness) he cannot offer true forgiveness. Neither can true forgiveness exist where Mack is unable to pursue reconciliation with this man. Forgiveness makes no sense and means nothing if we require it in this way. It may make a person feel better about himself, but it cannot bring about true forgiveness and true reconciliation. And so Young teaches a therapeutic, inadequate and unbiblical understanding of forgiveness.

To read Tim Challies’ review, click here.
To read the updated, expanded review, click here.

I’m still thinking through it. Feel free to email me or comment here with any thoughts.

Book Review: “Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life” by Donald S. Whitney

Rating:

Being Whitney’s most well-known book, it is a readable and yet, at times, profound volume on spiritual disciplines. The writing style is very accessible (it won a few laughs). The verse that provides impetus to his examination (and to his whole ministry) is 1 Timothy 4:7.

Discipline yourself for the purpose of Godliness. (NASB)

This is just one among several books being published every year concerning the purpose and practice of prayer, fasting, stewardship, time management, etc., but is clearly at the top with other Christian classics such as “Celebration of Discipline” by Richard Foster and “The Spirit of the Disciplines” by Dallas Willard.

Whitney systematically goes through the different spiritual disciplines and draws from Scripture passages that should fundamentally shape our understanding of how to practice them. The disciplines he covers are: