Book Review: Risk Is Right

Risk Is Right: Better to Lose Your Life Than to Waste It. By John Piper. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway. pp. 64. 2013. ($7.99 Paperback | $5.99 Kindle | $5.98 Audio)

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4 Stars (out of five)

John Piper is one of my favorite Christian preachers and authors, in part because his passion for God is contagious. This little book (or booklet) is a challenge to believers to take risks for God. Piper links risk to ignorance—ignorance of the consequences of our actions. Where there is ignorance, there is risk.

The book goes on to consider some of the great risks in the Bible, such as King David’s military commander, Joab, whose uncertain battle maneuver led him to say to his men, “Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him” (2 Samuel 10:12, ESV). He also takes a look at the life of Paul, missionary of God and risk taker who saw both the great advancement of the gospel and deep personal loss as a result of stepping out on faith and risking it all for God.

Ultimately the call of God is a call to risk. There is no risk for God, who is not bound by ignorance as we are. And it is not risk for us in one sense because we have assurance of grace and salvation if we believe. But there is risk in that we do not know if our personal sacrifices and risks will result in personal benefit in the here and now. Piper’s challenge is to take risks for God’s glory, and that is worth our consideration.

I would caveat that, since this book is so short, a much longer work is more worthy of your investment and will give you a bigger return on your dollar. Risk Is Right was originally published as chapter five of Don’t Waste Your Life. For only a few dollars more you’ll get the entire package, a book that I received when I graduated from high school and which has benefitted me immensely.

I received this book from christianaudio for review.

Free eBook in Time for Reformation Day!

Today, October 31, is best known as Halloween. Yet on this very day in 1517, an Augustinian monk nailed a document to the church door in Wittenberg calling for public debate of 95 issues of doctrine and church practice. At the time Martin Luther did not know that he would be excommunicated from the church or that his act would be the starting point of a great reformation of the Christian faith.

John Piper’s ministry, Desiring God, has just released a short biography (41 pages) of Luther that could easily be read in one sitting. Given that today, October 31, 2012, marks the 495^th anniversary of Luther’s nailing the 95 theses on the door of the Wittenberg cathedral, this book is very timely. I highly recommend learning about Luther and the Protestant Reformation since we have benefitted from and built on so much of what they discovered and taught from the Bible.

Here’s a selection from the original blog post on Desiring God:

Originally delivered as the biographical message at the 1995 Conference for Pastors, this new ebook features five chapters that present a sketch of Luther's life and distill relevant lessons for not only pastors and leaders, but all Christians.
 To download Martin Luther: Lessons from His Life and Labor, click on the following format options:Download ebook as a PDF file.Download ebook as an EPUB file formatted for readers like the Nook, Sony Reader, and Apple iBooks (iPad, iPhone, iPod).Download ebook as a MOBI file formatted for Kindle applications (this option works well on some mobile devices, and not so well on others).

Book Review: Road to the Resurrection

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I’ve always liked listening to Greg Laurie preach on the radio. He has one of those voices that never gets tiring and makes me want to get up and go. He’s motivating and encouraging. He wants to see people get saved and follow Jesus.

His new book, Road tothe Resurrection: Explore and Share the Miracle of Easter, doesn’t really project the same voice I hear on the radio, and I’m not just talking about the narrator. I really wish Laurie had narrated it himself, and the book was short enough that it isn’t inconceivable that he could have done it.

Still, I can’t fault the book for being exactly what the title says. The main point of the book is for the reader to explore the miracle of Easter, that is, discover what the Bible says actually happened and what that means for us today, and to share the miracle of Easter, namely, using the book as an outreach tool. The gospel is there, and praise God for that. Anyone reading (or listening) to this book will definitely come across a straightforward and clear presentation of the gospel.

Overall though, the book is lacking. A whole chapter goes from A to Z like an encyclopedia on the people and places involved in Christ’s passion and resurrection, which is great in print format, but not so much for an audio book. Likewise, some parts sound like a multi-columned table is being read, which may be easy on the eyes, but definitely not so much on the ears.

In print it may be worth checking out, but if you’re hoping to look at the Easter story through a new lens or to share your faith with someone else, I’d pick something else out (like Piper’s Fifty Reasons why Jesus Came to Die).

I received this audio book from christianaudio for review.

More Like Falling in Love (Jason Gray)

UPDATE: For some reason, my blog has been chopping up my paragraphs and putting them in a different order when I save it. The article should make more sense now.

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There’s a song that’s been playing on Christian radio a lot lately, and may be starting to wane, that’s been bothering me since the first time I heard it. It’s called “More Like Falling in Love” by Jason Gray.

If you’ve never heard it, you might guess from the title that it’s one of those “Jesus is my boyfriend” songs, but it’s not. Maybe I’ll write about “The Way You Hold Me” sometime, but this song isn’t along that line.

This song makes an unnecessary conflict between rightly loving God and right belief about God.

Here are the lyrics (boiled down without repeating choruses):

Give me rules, I will break them; show me lines, I will cross them.

I need more than a truth to believe, I need a truth that lives, moves, and breathes.

To sweep me off my feet, it's gotta be more like falling in love than something to believe in, more like losing my heart than giving my allegiance.

Caught up, called out, come take a look at me now. It's like I'm falling, oh, it's like I'm falling in love.

Give me words, I'll misuse them; obligations, I'll misplace them.

'Cause all religion ever made of me was just a sinner with a stone tied to my feet.

It never set me free, it's gotta be… [chorus]

It's like I'm falling in love, love, love, love, deeper and deeper—it was love that made me a believer in more than a name, a faith, a creed—falling in love with Jesus brought the change in me.

To the artist’s credit, he says in the end that “falling in love with Jesus brought the change in me.” To people raised in a church environment with Sunday School answers, catechisms, and verse memorization, it is easy to go through the motions and have the “right answers” without actually believing and knowing God. It isn’t knowledge about God that makes us “wise for salvation” (2 Tim. 3:15), but knowledge of God—knowing Him personally, experientially.

There’s a way to express this truth without denying or attacking the importance of truth in our faith and practice. This song, while trying to emphasize one truth, has crossed the line to the point of denying an equally important truth. The artist upholds emotional experience (e.g. losing my heart, falling in love) over correct belief and practice (e.g. truth to believe, something to believe in, giving my allegiance).

Like it or not, every day with Jesus doesn’t always feel like “falling in love.” Falling isn’t an unending experience. Eventually you land somewhere. If you’re unprepared, the landing will be hard and you’ll become jaded and move on. But if you are prepared, the landing will be a lot softer and you can continue the experience. That’s why I’m thankful for books like Battling Unbelief and When I Don’t Desire God (free PDF) by John Piper.

If I said my relationship with my wife had to be more like “falling in love than making a commitment” she’d rightly be offended. We have a daughter. If we haven’t landed somewhere by now, we’re in a lot of trouble.

Like the commitment of marriage, faith in Christ is not just a feeling, but an allegiance, as the song calls it. If our relationship with Christ is merely “losing our heart” and not “giving our allegiance,” as the song states, it leaves open the strong possibility that something else could come along and capture our heart.

My relationship with God depends more on my allegiance to Him than my feelings because the former is stronger and more stable than the latter. Further, my allegiance to Him is dependent on His saving work in my life, not my own volition, and that’s something I know from the Bible.

I did fall in love with Jesus. And while I continue to grow in my love for Him I seek to know Him more. To remain in a state of falling is merely superficial and lacks commitment—a.k.a. allegiance.

I don’t think we should pit our emotions against our knowledge of God. Without the latter, the former is a cloud without rain.

Crossway Books Giveaway from CredoMag

John Piper has a new book coming out, Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian. I’ve been asked to review it for Credo Magazine, a new online periodical that debuts this October. To build up a following and increase the excitement about their first edition, CredoMag has been offering a new giveaway each week until the big day.

This week they have a book giveaway featuring books from Crossway Publishers, the people who brought you the ESV. If you haven’t already, I highly suggest getting in on this action, as Crossway publishes top-notch books (including Bloodlines).

Click here to enter the giveaway!

You could win:

• Understanding the Times: New Testament Studies in the 21st Century edited by Andreas J. Kostenberger and Robert W. Yarbrough
• Did Adam and Eve Really Exist?: Who They Were and Why You Should Care by C. John Collins
• Welcome to the Story: Reading, Loving, and Living God's Word by Stephen J. Nichols

CredoMag Giveaway and Other Links

I’ve come across a few links recently that I thought I should share:

CredoMag is doing a giveaway each Monday up until the release of its first issue. This week they’re giving away three commentaries on Matthew, Galatians, and Ephesians. Definitely worth trying to get! I will be reviewing John Piper’s book Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian for CredoMag in the coming months.

There was a helpful article on the Gospel Coalition blog highlighting some helpful seminary-level lectures available online as free downloads. I’ve listened to the ones by D.A. Carson, but the others look great as well.

John Piper’s most recent sermon takes a powerful look at the death and resurrection of Lazarus in a way you might not have considered before. If you only follow one link, follow this one.

David Rogers, a fellow writer over at sbcIMPACT! has written a good review of the book What is the Mission of the Church? by Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert. I’ve written short reviews of each author’s work before, but Rogers’ is a little more substantive.

Finally, here’s a neat promotional video for a sermon series that just started at a church in Florida. It’s in Spanish, you can feel the buildup.

Reading Together: When a Christian Sins

On Thursday our small group got together for our discussion of the book What Every Christian Ought to Know by Adrian Rogers. Here are a few highlights on chapter 4—Every Christian Ought to Know What Happens When a Christian Sins:

This chapter was a great follow up to the previous week’s chapter. After affirming that a Christian will not lose his salvation, the next logical question is “What happens when a Christian sins?”

Rogers doesn’t beat around the bush—if we are enjoying sin, getting into a habit of sinning, or excusing our sin, we need to reevaluate whether or not we’re really saved.

The chapter develops from a close inspection of Psalm 51, the psalm David wrote after he had sinned with Bathsheba, getting her pregnant and having her husband killed. He really committed a wicked act.

The book points out many of the consequences of sin in the life of a believer, giving a major emphasis to the disconnect that exists between the believer and God and a loss of joy and peace. Shame and disgrace follow, as well as a gnawing conviction from the Holy Spirit that won’t let us forget.

Fortunately, there’s healing. God will cleanse His children who humbly come to Him asking for grace and forgiveness. The promise of 1 John 1:9 stands true: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Our group conversation took us into entirely different territory as we discussed what to do with sin in the church and whether or not it is biblical to differentiate between sins. The old adage “All sins are equal before God” is a true statement, but are we saying it to minimize a sin or to amplify a sin? We all agreed that most of the time it is an attempt to minimize or trivialize sin.

Some time in Matthew 18:15-17 would benefit anyone with questions about what this means in the church, as well as 1 Corinthians 5.

For additional resources that will help you recognize the severity of our sin and the wonderful grace of God, check out R.C. Sproul’s The Holiness of God (in Spanish) or John Piper’s Desiring God (in Spanish).

To join us in our readings, get the book in English or Spanish and download the reader guide (in English or Spanish) to fill out for each chapter. Then stop by next week Saturday when we discuss chapter 5—Every Christian Ought to Know How to Handle Temptation.

Internet Highlights

Here are some articles I've found particularly interesting this week:

Learn a little bit about Spanish culture regarding treating others at restaurants and parties from a transplanted American living in Spain.

Read a good word from John Piper on the apex of history in the apex of the display of God’s glory.

Russell Moore shares some insights on explaining the Passion to children.

When even secular commentators see the oversexualization of young girls and who’s to blame.

For Your Reading Pleasure

Here are a few posts that I've read and pondered over recently. Enjoy!

• International Mission Board introduces an app to get prayer requests from the field to the people back home.
• Baptist21 highlights David Platt’s Disciple-Making International, a website with some helpful resources for families and small groups.
• Dr. Russell Moore and guest share insight into the meaning behind the classic song, American Pie.
• Hot on the heels of a tribute to John Piper, Crossway announces a tribute to D.A. Carson.
• Zondervan announces a podcast of the Easter Story with clips from The Bible Experience going up each day of Passion week.

Book Review: The Radical Disciple

The Radical Disciple by John Stott is more interesting because of what it says about John Stott than what it says about discipleship. Stott admits that he recognizes his time is short, and as such the topics he chose to include (and exclude) from this title tells more about what he finds important and worth saying than the content he puts forth in each chapter.

That’s not to say the chapters are lacking. They are well thought out and very biblical. However, compared to David Platt’s Radical, it is not as inspiring. Perhaps it is because Platt’s work seems more fundamental. Though environmental responsibility is important in our day and age, I don’t see it as a primary aspect of being a disciple as described in the New Testament. As a result, Stott’s work is novel, but not foundational.

The narrator, Grover Gardner, has also narrated many other books which I have listened to and reviewed before such as The Holiness of God, Desiring God, and A Sweet and Bitter Providence. His voice is both grandfatherly and professorial. Sometimes soothing, sometimes lecturing: at all times enjoyable.

If you are looking for a book on discipleship, I would recommend Radical and Radical Together. If you are looking for a book by John Stott, I’d start with The Cross of Christ and see where it takes you.

To buy the book, visit ChristianAudio.com (direct link).
To buy a hard copy, visit Amazon.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from ChristianAudio as part of their Blogger Review 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."

Knowing God by J.I. Packer

Who is the God of the Bible? In a time where bestselling books on this subject are more speculation and introspection than devotion and exegesis, J.I. Packer’s Knowing God offers a refreshing look at God as revealed in the Bible.

The book, much like John Piper’s Desiring God, has shown over the last few decades that it is still relevant because it communicates timeless truth firmly founded on the Bible. The book is reflective and deep, bridging theology and devotion into a single piece that anchors its readers to the Word.

Complimenting Knowing God’s content is a narrator with an English accent. Since Packer himself is English, it was only fitting to have Simon Vance do the reading. You may recognize his voice, and I recognize him as a man of good taste, as he has provided narration for The Religious Affections (Edwards) and The Cross of Christ (Stott), too.

I will definitely point believers to Knowing God to discover more about the God we worship, not just to know intellectually, but personally as well.

To buy the book, visit ChristianAudio (direct link).

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from ChristianAudio as part of their Blogger Review 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."

Book Review: Desiring God by John Piper

One of John Piper’s earliest books casts a shadow over all the rest in terms of long term impact and influence. His whole ministry derives its name from the title of his book, and it is appropriately titled, because he has endeavored to spend his whole live in one purpose: desiring God.

The twenty-fifth anniversary edition of Desiring God is not much different from prior editions. It has a new preface, but the rest of the book is largely unchanged. And it shouldn’t be. Since Piper’s whole ministry is founded on the principles of this book (which is just a chronicling of what Piper has understood from the Bible), I would have reason for concern if the book had significant changes from edition to edition.

For those who’ve never read the book and are looking for a summary, this is what I offer: Desiring God is the fruit of John Piper’s meditations on the Word of God. He has come to the conclusion that our greatest joy should be in God. He is not a means to our joy, but the source and object of our joy. Once Piper has established this fact, he draws out many implications from it.

Once this clicked, Piper’s life was changed forever. Chances are, if it clicks for you, similar change will result. I cannot recommend this book enough. John Piper is fortunate in that God has chosen him to write a book that is a defining work of a generation. Read it. Go over the Bible. And see that it is true.

One philosophy of Desiring God Ministries is to provide ministry and theological resources for free to aid Christians globally. The basic book and study guide of Desiring God are available online in digital format. If you don’t want to spend the money, download it and read it. I am that much a supporter of the book. As a matter of fact, I’ve purchased some Spanish copies (Sed de Dios) to give to some leaders in our Hispanic ministry at church.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group as part of their Blogging for Books 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."

Theological Famine Relief

I subscribe to the Desiring God (DG) blog feed and regularly read up on the happenings within that ministry. They have so many Christian resources that I regularly check out the site for access to online books, conference messages, and the like.

One specific outreach of Desiring God is called, “Theological Famine Relief for the Global Church.” In addition to the plethora of digital resources on the website, DG also works to provide print materials and other helps to Christians overseas who have little or no access to good, quality, Christian literature.

One conference speaker I try to listen to often is D.A. Carson, and he frequently mentions how blessed we are as English speakers in the West. No other language has anything close to the sheer volume of Christian literature as ours.

Since I work with Hispanics, I can say that holds true for Spanish as well. There are so few resources. Yet compared to other languages, even Spanish has a large amount of resources available.

On the DG blog today was an article about the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DCR). This Sub-Saharan African country has been torn apart by rebel violence, civil war, and unrest. At the request of local pastors, a DG staff member went to the DCR to help put on a pastor’s conference.

Though their English skills were basic, the pastors there received with joy the book, 50 Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. Based in part on the need in DCR, Rwanda, Kenya, and other places, Desiring God worked to translate the book into Swahili.

If you don’t support a missionary, international outreach, or translation group, please consider praying and putting aside some money on a regular basis to fund one of these groups. Just a few dollars can purchase a book that will bring joy to a pastor and enable him to better lead Christ’s congregation where he serves.

Piper on Retirement

All this talk about John Piper got me looking into some of his stuff on mission. Here is a fantastic quote from a conference lecture he gave back in the mid-nineties:

I’m getting letters from the AARP. … I’m 50 and they’re trying to get me on their lists so I can have a discount on the train or… they… they have planes now. I forgot; I’m so old. … When you’re old you not only don’t have anything to lose in martyrdom, you get discount fares.

Lord, help us to age well and not wait until we're of retirement age to embrace your call.

Book Review: Think: the Life of the Mind and the Love of God by John Piper

John Piper is a blessing to a generation. His books are very thought-provoking, and his latest work, appropriately titled Think: the Life of the Mind and the Love of God, does not disappoint here. Actually, it doesn’t disappoint anywhere. Piper encourages his readers (or listeners) to think.

Think is about using our minds in worship. The best section of the book delves deeply into this subject, analyzing the great commandment to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart… soul… mind… and strength.” Piper argues that thinking is essential to loving God with our mind, which weighs against anti-intellectualism. But he finishes his argument with the point that thinking should stir our affections (emotions) towards Christ.

The only downside was that his chapter on Jonathan Edwards seemed short. Since he has written extensively on Edwards elsewhere, this minor flaw can be overlooked. Actually, with Christian radio voice Wayne Shepherd narrating, the book is one of the best audiobooks I’ve gotten to enjoy from ChristianAudio (and that’s saying something).

Any library can be improved with a title from John Piper. Think has certainly improved my digital library, and I think it has improved the life of my mind as well.

To buy the book, visit ChristianAudio.com (direct link).

For a PDF excerpt of the book, click here.

For additional reviews of the book on Amazon, click here.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from ChristianAudio as part of their Blogger Review 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."

Book Review: The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges

The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges is a very practical book sustained by theological underpinnings that challenges the reader to take seriously the charge to “be holy, for I am holy” (cf. 1 Pet. 1:16). The book is a superb example of biblical exposition and a humble heart.

The book reads like a devotional, and the narrator is slow and soothing, which encourages deeper reflection on the truths and challenges throughout. I would suggest reading The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul prior to this one, as it gives a strong picture of the absolute holiness of God and would be a great vantage point for looking at our own pursuit of holiness. But Bridges’ book does provide a theological base, giving reasons why we should pursuit holiness and explaining the difference between justification and sanctification.

From there, the book hits home on every front, whether it be the importance of Bible study and reliance on the Holy Spirit for illumination, analyzing our actions, behaviors, habits, and thought life for holiness, dealing with temptation, and living as salt and light in a broken and fallen world.

The last chapter, which details the joy of holiness, could have come in the beginning, and it reminds me of John Piper’s Desiring God. From the numerous quotations from John Owen and other Christians past and present, Jerry Bridges has written a book that is grounded in Scripture, reformed in its heritage, and practical to the Christian walk. I strongly recommend it.

To buy the book, visit ChristianAudio.com (direct link).

For additional reviews of the book on Amazon, click here.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from ChristianAudio as part of their Blogger Review 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."

Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper

As a part of the ChristianAudio Reviewer's Program, I get to download free books, listen to them, and write a review. Here are my thoughts on John Piper’s book, Don’t Waste Your Life.

Many of the themes present in Desiring God resurface in Don’t Waste Your Life. Piper sums up a non-wasted life early in the book: 

“God created me—and you—to live with a single, all-embrac­ing, all-transforming passion—namely, a passion to glorify God by enjoying and displaying his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life.”

But don’t think this is it. Piper is a man of one passion, but he is not limited to a small topical set. The book is well rounded and he doesn’t leave out the parts other authors would have left out because he is so well rounded. Perhaps the most rewarding chapter for me in my present situations was “Making Much of Christ from 8 to 5.” The pleasure and joy of working for Christ instead of just working for “the man” makes all the difference between a good day at work and a bad day. Living in a culture that values leisure time and disdains work, it was a helpful reminder to live in such a way as to glorify God and enjoy him in all the spheres of life.

Lloyd James’ narration is a joy to the ears. His voice is calm, steady, and thoughtful. He adds the right sort of inflection and never lost my interest.

In all, I highly recommend the book. If you’re not sure about it, download the PDF and scan a few chapters for yourself. Or download and listen to the preview on Crossway’s product page. If you’re familiar with Piper at all, this one is certainly worth space on your shelf. It’s already on mine (and not just the free review copy).

To buy the audiobook, visit ChristianAudio.com (direct link).

To buy a hard copy, visit Amazon.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from ChristianAudio as part of their book review program.

Book Review: A Sweet and Bitter Providence

I've recently been accepted into the ChristianAudio Reviewer's program to download some audiobooks, listen to them, and write a short review. Here is what I had to say about John Piper's A Sweet and Bitter Providence.

John Piper does it again! The book, A Sweet and Bitter Providence, beautifully portrays the book of Ruth as nothing less than one of the greatest love stories ever told, written not by some chronicler or historian, but by the sovereign will of God. Piper explains through this story how both the good and bad things in our lives are both determined and controlled by God, telling a story that is greater than you or I could tell, ultimately bringing glory to God and bringing us joy and pleasure in Him.

Though this book is one of his shorter ones, Piper has crafted a masterpiece worthy of the fame his other works have gained for him. He provides comfort to the weary and hope for the suffering.

The narrator for this audio book also narrated Desiring God, another book by Piper that I downloaded a few months ago. Combining the voice of the narrator with the style and prose of the book, it feels like you’re wearing pajamas in front of a warm fireplace listening to a kind grandfather sharing his wisdom after a life of great heartache replaced by joy. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in love stories or God’s providence, or just wondering about how the negative experiences in this life could glorify God or ultimately bring you joy.

About Those Who've Never Heard...

Warning! The material you are about to read has deep theological content.

While growing up in a Western Michigan town, my Sunday School classes frequently addressed complex and challenging issues. One question we focused on during a discussion on Romans was, “What about those who have never heard?” This question challenges our concept of God’s fairness and justice in light of the untold billions throughout history who’ve died without having heard the gospel. Christians have posed versions of this question in times past and it will no doubt continue surfacing well into the future. Some attempt to reconcile the exclusivity of the cross with the availability of the message, while others come dangerously close to accusing God of injustice. Others ignore the boundary, cross the line, and plunge head-first into contempt. An inquiring and less accusative way to ask the question is, “Does general revelation provide, by itself, salvific truth?”

So begins my first stab at writing a research paper for my Seminary education. What about those who've never heard? What about those who lived, say, in the Americas, cut off from the gospel message until after 1492? Even when the gospel message came to the Americas it was more of an afterthought. Is it fair to think that the Aztecs, Mayans, Incas, and other Native Americans lived their lives, not even having a chance at believing in Christ, and are now suffering intolerable torment in hell? They didn't even have a chance, did they? Or are we to believe that if they truly sought after God, albeit not knowing his true revelation in Christ, they were saved? This question requires some thought. Though it should be discussed at length, I have my short research paper here for you to enjoy. I also recommend reading, "Let the Nations Be Glad" by John Piper for more on the subject.

Updates...

It's amazing how quickly time flies when you're having fun. I will be posting something new in a couple days about one of the points of Calvinism. If you'd like to read about it, check out Pastor John Piper's website and read this article. Until then, please leave me some feedback in the form of comments. Also, read this article (and subsequent reply posts) about Obama and the Evangelical Vote.