December 3, 2024

Airport Anxiety and Purposeful Publishing with Joy Allmond

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A Time for Wonder

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MAN OF SORROWS, lamb led to the slaughter. At the time of their recording in Isaiah 53, there was every possibility that these monikers would remain purely abstract. The Israel addressed in Isaiah is to face judgment, exile, and restoration under Assyrian captivity and Babylonian invasion. To a people under duress, Isaiah’s prophecies helped endow a messianic imagination and a vision of a salvific figure. 

But the first suggestion that this figure would not take on the form of a military revolutionary, as some might have hoped, lies in the word servant, from the Hebrew word ebed, used throughout Scripture to variously connote a slave, a vassal king, a subject, and a tributary nation. The word foretells a chosen servant who receives the delight of the Lord and the Spirit, and who brings long-awaited justice to the nations. 

Meekness, humility, and modesty characterize Christ from the start, who came into this world as flesh and blood, as an infant in full vulnerability. He is close to the hearts of all those who suffer, including those who face the physical corrosion and psychological turmoil of poverty, disaster, and war. Christ was born into a world that had sought to destroy his infant flesh; the slaughter of the Holy Innocents under Herod’s heinous regime is evidence enough of this earthly brokenness. It is, as the poet Czesław Miłosz describes in his poem “Theodicy,” a world that “lies in iniquity,” where “there is pain, and the undeserved torture of creatures.” It is a world to which the servant described by Isaiah must bring justice. 

Yet this justice is to come through an exquisite tenderness, a strength that lies precisely in gentleness. A reed that is bruised is so frail as to snap at the slightest touch, yet this servant shall not break it. A wick that burns faintly is close to being snuffed, yet this servant shall fan it back into flame. It is Christ who sees possibility and hope for the bruised, for the weary, for the exhausted.

Theologian Eugene Peterson once explained in Eat This Book that a metaphor is “a word that bears a meaning beyond its naming function; the ‘beyond’ extends and brightens our comprehension rather than confusing it.” The metaphors of the reed and the wick help to illuminate an understanding of human difficulty; the actions taken by the servant illustrate how Christ tends to the lowly. It is, as Dane Ortlund describes in Gentle and Lowly, Christ’s most natural instinct to move toward sin and suffering. 

This is the Messiah for whom the world waited amid the silence of God—the one we commemorate in the season of Advent, in which each day is suffused with the dark mystery of anticipation. 

At the heart of faith is a contradiction: a Savior born to die, an infant whose being prefaces a demise by the cruelest of tortures. Even under such indescribable physical, emotional, and mental duress, this servant will become neither faint nor discouraged. Justice will roll over the earth, not just from the jagged deserts familiar to the lands of ancient Jerusalem but beyond, to the distant coastlands that reach the waters.

It is a victory, a realization of justice that is achieved by servanthood, an obedience to the point of death (Phil. 2:8). It is an example of William Langland’s Pacientes vincunt—the patient are victorious, or perhaps, those who suffer shall win. Or as the imagined voice of Christ cries out in Shūsaku Endō’s novel Silence, “It was to be trampled on by men that I was born into this world. It was to share men’s pain that I carried my cross.” 

Christ comes into the world as an infant, growing in the obedience and servanthood for which he has been called. Advent brings this swell of anticipation—a cradling of hope—for the arrival of the Savior, by whom justice will be established on earth through the humility of servanthood. 

Jonathan Chan is a writer and editor. Born in New York, he was raised in Singapore and educated at Cambridge and Yale. 

This article is part of A Time for Wonder, a 4-week devotional to help individuals, small groups, and families journey through the 2024 Advent season. Learn more about this special issue that can be used Advent, or any time of year at http://orderct.com/advent.

The post The Surprising Arrival of a Servant appeared first on Christianity Today.

These instincts were arguably more learned than anything else—my Malaysian father and South Korean mother moved to the country from the United States in the 1990s. So much of how I grew up was shaped by the intensity of Singapore’s academic culture, shuttling between exam-heavy course loads, afterschool tutoring, and reams of practice papers to complete.

Different phases of my life would come to mirror this rhythm: spending hectic days in high school between writing long essays and serving in church, balancing responsibilities during military service while leading a small group and trying to keep up with reading, managing the busyness of my undergraduate life and subsequent tenure as a graduate student, and, even now, trying to uphold different commitments to ministry, creative writing, editing, friends, and family amid a full-time job.

The last time I felt thoroughly burnt out was about five years ago, as an undergraduate in England. Between reading and writing essays for class, keeping active in Christian fellowships, participating in theater productions, and rowing by dawn, I found myself gradually compromising my sleep schedule. Seven hours a night got slashed to six or even four and a half. I’m not entirely sure what drove me back then. Perhaps it was a feeling of duty and responsibility I felt I owed the people I had made promises to or a desire to not let any part of my university life slip by. Lurking beneath all this, perhaps, was an impulse toward optimization.

A Waste of Time, a Work of Love

Karen Stiller

Optimization can be described in two ways, opines writer Jia Tolentino. First, it is a means of achieving profitability by “satisfy[ing] our wants” with “the least effort”—a formulation posited by the economist William Stanley Jevons. Second, it is the process of making something, as Merriam-Webster indicates, “as fully perfect, functional, or effective as possible.”

An excessive devotion to self-optimization perverts our relationships to our time and effort, trading care and an awareness of our physical and mental limitations for an unrelenting drive toward completing tasks. In other words, optimization can make us hold on too tightly to what we should entrust to God.

A national preoccupation

In tracing this instinct toward optimization to its roots, the temptation is to sketch a history of Singaporean survivalism, geopolitical anxiety, and economic competitiveness. The machinations of Singapore Inc. took root after its unceremonious separation from Malaysia in the 1960s. Because it is a small city-state with minimal natural resources, the skills of its people became its biggest competitive advantage, as we have often been told. The transformation of Singapore’s “labor force” and improvement of its “human capital” occurred through the multinational corporations that trained generations of workers and the focused educational policies that advanced our competitive edge. Meritocracy was championed as a sacred ideal; so too were diligence, productivity, and industriousness.

This heady rush toward modernization, technologization, and optimization structured national aspirations in Singapore for a long time. People saw their lives materially transformed as a result of the government’s careful management of the country’s economic development. The flip side, however, has been a perpetually stressed-out population. Upskilling has become the new mantra of the state, with government credits provided for citizens to train and learn new skills. In other words, optimizing the self continues and appears central to Singapore’s psyche.

I Met God on the Mountaintop of Ritual

Esau McCaulley

The aspirations of many in the church in Singapore began to cohere along similar lines, with the notion of blessing becoming correlated with wealth. Church life started to resemble the country’s changes, with discipleship and fellowship traded for easily optimizable and measurable programs and events: talks, dinners, and rallies, where the number of people reached or converted could be tracked in digits.

The compression of time through a nationwide emphasis on self-optimization, as well as the climbing demands of work tasks or school assignments imposed on each person in Singapore, have served only to foster anxieties surrounding comparison and hasten the movement of the months and days.

As Singaporean writer and critic Gwee Li Sui argues, “the social and technical implements of modernity have been improving our daily lives only to raise their pace, giving us more time that is wasted away as quickly. Political and economic interdependence forges trust and understanding among peoples, but it also grows frustration and a sense of insecurity through endless comparison.”

Centering prayer

As an undergraduate, I attended a talk by graphic designer Andrew Khatouli. As he spoke of the challenges he faced working in the creative industry and the pressures of pursuing creative excellence, a statement he made hit me hard: “Your work ethic is only as good as your rest ethic.” The impetus to slow down and give myself time to rest became something that was hard fought. The first step required a renewed commitment to observing the Sabbath. I began to resolve to take the entirety of my Sundays off, replacing frenzied hours doing last-minute reading with walks, podcasts, and time with friends.

The unfettered space of a day suddenly felt ripe with possibility, a passage providing a temporary severance between different streams of work. I took two biblical concepts seriously: shabbat (Hebrew for “sabbath”), of a cessation of work, and nuakh (Hebrew for “rest”), of settling into a space of prayer and praise at church and elsewhere. While we are created uniquely in God’s image, as the narrative of Genesis presents, we remain creatures made from dust. As preacher Christopher Ash argues in Zeal without Burnout, to forgo sleep, the Sabbath, friends, and the inner renewal of the Holy Spirit is to attempt to create for ourselves a kind of parity with God.

A Christian life of sustainable sacrifice, however, is underpinned by a recognition of human limitation. The cultivation of a divine intimacy and a serious inner life requires a space discrete from our perennially active personas. “There is a place in the soul that neither time, nor space, nor no created thing can touch,” wrote 14th-century mystic Meister Eckhart. The intent of prayer is to visit that kind of sanctuary Eckhart describes, says poet and philosopher John O’Donohue.

Aligning to kairos

A preoccupation with efficiency and optimizing the self can serve to lessen an awareness of our humanity. We lose our sense of our being loved into existence by the Creator, of being created in his image, and of needing to be nourished spiritually and emotionally by divine communion.

Sometimes, a kairological irruption can serve to shock us from the tepidity of our busyness and proclivities toward optimization. The New Testament conception of the Greek word kairos describes an appointed time in the purpose of God. Kairos construes a kind of immediacy and is the temporal language Jesus uses when he proclaims in the Gospel of Mark, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand” (1:15, ESV).

To Dust We Will Return

Jen Pollock Michel

Kairos moments such as the collapse of the body, the death of a loved one, or a car crash from exhaustion have the potential to shock us out of a hectic stupor. They are the moments that provide blunt reminders of the presence of God—ones that make us acutely aware not only of our mortal limitations but also of the ephemerality of time. They provide a reminder that our calendars do not operate in concert with the mystery of time as God orders it. We are accorded mere glimmers of how God moves in time beyond what we can see and perceive. “I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end,” writes the author of Ecclesiastes (3:10–11).

The love of God has “a different kind of speed from the technological speed to which we are accustomed,” says theologian Kosuke Koyama. “It goes on in the depth of our life, whether we notice or not, at three miles an hour. It is the speed we walk and therefore it is the speed the love of God walks.” When we lose sight of the restorative ethos of the Sabbath, we forget that “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). We lose the ability to cultivate an interior life, to access the untouchable “place in the soul” that Eckhart describes.

Coming to Lent

In this Lenten season, it may be worthwhile to consider how best to counter the primacy of optimization. Theologian Rowan Williams suggests in his book Being Human that humans are ascribed dignity regardless of “how many boxes are ticked” because we stand “in the middle of a network of relations” to God and to one another. “A theologically informed language of personhood corrects the mechanical language that reduces us to a checklist of attributes,” writes Christopher Benson in his review of Williams’s book.

As a corrective to the pressures of optimization, I have made several commitments to try and cultivate space for interiority and silence this Lent. Silence supports our “growing humanity” and humbles our desire for power and control, argues Williams: “God is God by being God for us, and we are human by being human for God; and all joy and fulfillment opens up once we recognize this.” My first commitment has been to continue in my reading of Scripture each day. The second has been to keep to a schedule of daily devotions published by the Bible Society of Singapore. The third has been to read a poem each day from an anthology on joy.

Learning to space out my schedule, say no to certain commitments or invitations, and carve out pockets for prayer and reading each day will hopefully help to shift the coordinates of my present relationship to time. These habits will hopefully help to dislodge the ways in which self-optimization has lurked in my life as an ideal.

I do not pretend to believe that I have dispensed with the continued stresses of each day or the impulse to address tasks quickly and effectively. However, these practices have helped to provide necessary moments of pause and reflection, not least when recent events have conspired to provide the kairological shocks I needed to turn again to God.

To fall into the slowness of the liturgical calendar, to keep the Sabbath, and to remember the interventions of kairos moments is to facilitate a turn away from optimization and the structures of time that enable it. A life of faith sustains and strengthens but takes an eternity to learn to inhabit.

Jonathan Chan is the author of the poetry collection going home (Landmark, 2022). His poetry and essays have appeared in Ekstasis, The Yale Logos, and the Ethos Institute for Public Christianity.

There Is No One Fully Optimized, Not Even One

Danielle Treweek

The post Resisting the Impulse of Self-Optimization appeared first on Christianity Today.

Whether they’re growing more cynical of partisan politics or finding hope in the power of political change, this generation sees itself branching out beyond the issues that have long driven the Christian Right.

Younger believers are quicker to name creation care, prison reform, and immigration as the political causes most influenced by their faith, rather than abortion or sexuality. But even those who seek to get involved in politics don’t align as closely with the two major parties in the US and aren’t excited at the prospects for 2024.

At Calvin University, Micah J. Watson has noticed a shift amongst college students.

“I do think there has been a weariness among Gen Z in some of the ways their parents and grandparents did politics in the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s,” said Watson, associate professor and director of the politics, philosophy, and economics program. “Some of the culture war practices have been seen as problematic.”

For young Christians who have the chance to vote in their first presidential election next year, the milestone comes with trepidation, knowing the political polarization that surrounded the races in 2016 and 2020.

“Having gone through COVID and Trump and Biden elections, students have seen parents’ relationships going down the tube,” Watson said, “and there’s a fear of expressing one’s views and being canceled.”

How to Get Through 2024

Russell Moore

Growing up, Rachel Smith remembers her mother adorning the family car with political bumper stickers to reflect both their party affiliation and their Christian values. But Smith, now a sophomore at Wheaton College, isn’t eager to cover her car with candidate names and slogans.

She hasn’t voted before, but, looking at the political landscape today, she doesn’t believe that just one party or person represents the principles of her faith.

“While I always saw how the Democrats were wrong—and I still think they are wrong about a lot of things—as I got older and did more research, I’ve seen how Republicans have done a lot of harm as well,” said Smith, a psychology major and cabinet member of the campus chapter of International Justice Mission. “I’ve felt closer to God in that my views are not indicated by what is important to a party, but what is important to God.”

Smith is among around half of Gen Z adults who don’t identify with either party in a new American Enterprise Institute (AEI) survey.

Gen Z and millennials grew up with the most skepticism toward politicians; more than six in ten said they didn’t see political leaders as trustworthy during their formative years, while the vast majority of Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation looked to politicians to do the right thing.

Daniel Cox, director of the AEI’s Survey Center on American Life, says members of Gen Z—born between 1997 and 2012—have been surrounded with high levels of cynicism and low levels of trust in America’s political leaders.

“People came to age when they didn’t believe there were adults in the room handling these big issues and considerable threats in ways that were effective,” he said.

For many in Gen Z, their adolescence was riddled with active shooter drills in high school and seismic political events such as the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements. They saw the former president go through two impeachment inquiries in office, one on charges of inciting an insurrection.

The political landscape during Gen Z’s youth has led many to wonder whether politics are a meaningful arena for change or a “necessary evil.”

Looking ahead to the 2024 race, Jasmine Chan, a junior political science major at Pepperdine University, has already realized that her first vote for president won’t go to a candidate that she’s excited about or meets her expectations for the high office.

“I think Gen Z does a good job at pointing out that we should not just focus on two political parties, but … that’s the reality we’re living in,” she said. “It’s hard to be hopeful in times like these, but there’s not much we can do about it now.”

According to AEI, even as pessimism in politics has become ubiquitous, young people remain optimistic about their own lives: 70 percent of Gen Z adults say their best days are ahead of them.

While constant exposure to political content on social media and increasing polarization has proven overwhelming for some Gen Z Christians, others have felt ignited with a passion for politics.

“Governments are arguably the most powerful institutions that we have, and being a good steward of them is important,” said Rosalind Niemeier, a senior at Calvin. “We can help people through politics and international relations. We can leave net positives in people’s lives.”

Niemeier majored in international relations and Spanish, and she’s the president of the school’s Political Dialogue and Action Club. She sees an “aversion to politics” on campus and wants people to get involved with the club for the sake of advancing civil dialogue and ethics.

But even she has to fight off her own cynicism or frustration with the state of politics.

“We’re always waiting for the other shoe to drop,” said Niemeier, while following the recent congressional fights to avoid another government shutdown. “Particularly people in political science classes believe the way things are framed is never the way things are.”

Karie Riddle, assistant professor of political science at Pepperdine, notes that, while many of her students are fearful for the future, the political science major at Seaver College in Pepperdine University has been growing.

“There is a lot of loss of trust in democratic institutions,” Riddle said. “But I think that fear and uncertainty has prompted students to be excited to be involved.”

Trump Won’t Divide the Church This Time (and That’s Not Necessarily Good News)

Russell Moore

Chan sees the layered influences that led her to her own political stances and inspired her interest in studying politics. After an internship in Washington, DC, last summer, she plans to apply to law school and work as an advocate for women experiencing domestic violence, a calling inspired in part by the Christian call to love and protect the vulnerable.

“I find myself torn or not fully understanding how I can depict the relationship between my religious and political values in one sentence, because it’s more complicated,” said Chan. “You have to consider the intersectionality of everyone and their experiences, and it’s not a cookie cutter thing.”

She was raised in California by a Mexican Catholic mother and Burmese Buddhist father, then came to faith as a Protestant Christian in high school. She believes the opportunity her parents gave her to choose what she believes instilled an open-mindedness that permeates her politics.

Chan remembers sitting on the couch with her parents at age 16 and watching footage of the protests in Los Angeles after the death of George Floyd in 2020. “There were people fighting for their lives and rights, and they looked like us,” Chan said. “Even thinking about that now, it’s still shocking because not only did I experience that, but so many young Americans, or Gen Z in general, had to explain [to their parents] what that meant.”

Members of Gen Z are more racially and ethnically diverse than any previous generation, which also complicates their place in a two-party political system. AEI found that younger generational cohorts have more varied identities and experiences than previous generations.

Gen Z is also unique when it comes to how women and men engage with politics. According to AEI, when it comes to views on gender-related issues, there is a clear gender gap among Gen Z adults that is more pronounced than among older generational cohorts.

Political touchstones such as the #MeToo movement, Trump’s election, and the overturning of Roe v. Wade were uniquely influential for young women but not for young men.

“We did in-depth interviews with a number of young men and women,” Cox of AEI said. “For young men, when you ask them about the #MeToo movement, it wasn't as resonant.”

“There’s a lot more apathy among young men,” Cox said. “There’s no particular issue that we see young men care about. If anything, it’s loneliness and depression.”

Wheaton sophomore Bram Rawlings said his male friends seem just as politically aware and interested as his female friends, however. He admitted he hasn’t voted in a US election yet but still follows international politics.

“Maybe that does reveal some apathy on my part, or a certain apathy toward US politics,” Rawlings said.

While Rawlings is more hopeful about politics on the local level, he’s become increasingly cynical of any human-designed system’s ability to work for those most vulnerable. Instead, he’ll ask, “How can the church address the problem, or address the fact that there are people who are economically and financially vulnerable?”

Campus ministries like InterVarsity Christian Fellowship see potential for their discipleship programs to help support and sustain the next generation of Christian activists, advocates, and voters.

“If [we] don’t want to, other people will,” said Jonathan Walton, a senior resource specialist in InterVarsity’s multi-ethnic initiatives department and author of Twelve Lies That Hold America Captive: And the Truth That Sets Us Free.

Walton believes Christian institutions need to turn their focus from protecting their own longevity to becoming assets that “people actually need.” “That’s a fundamental problem to how we are approaching Gen Z,” Walton said. “They are looking for relationships, not membership.”

Walton believes campus ministries can help students who feel passionate about activism to “slow down and follow Jesus.”

“Communities are falling apart,” Walton said. “People are falling apart, and instead of falling apart together, we need to fall together. And land together. We need community as we do that.”

Our Aging Politicians Are a Warning to the Church

Russell Moore

Gen Z Christians Want Leaders to Keep It Real

Liz Lykins

The post Skeptical of Politicians and Parties, Gen Z Isn’t Pumped for the 2024 Race appeared first on Christianity Today.

The United States has experienced many mass shootings this year, including at a July 4 parade in suburban Chicago, where seven people were killed; at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, where 10 people were killed; and at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, where 21 people were killed.

In the US, white evangelicals were more likely than members of other American faith groups to own a gun (41%) and more likely to say it made them feel safer (77%), according to the Pew Research Center. More than half of white evangelicals (57%) said protection was the single most important reason they own a gun.

Pew’s 2017 study found that 38 percent of white evangelicals worry about being the victim of a mass shooting, 61 percent worry about being a victim of violent crime, and 66 percent worry about being the victim of a terrorist attack.

Yet Americans who attended religious services weekly were less likely to own a gun than those who attend less frequently (27% vs. 31%), the Pew study also found. And Americans with high levels of religious commitment were less likely to own a gun than those whose commitment was low (26% vs. 33%).

CT recently reached out to church leaders from nine countries to learn more about gun ownership in their nation and their thoughts on the subject, theologically or biblically. Their answers are arranged (top to bottom) from those who believe Christians may own guns for personal safety to those who believe it violates their faith:

Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition, Quantified

Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra

Nigeria | Steve Dangana, chairman, Plateau state chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria:

Nigerian citizens can own guns as long as the guns are licensed by the authorities.

Christians are called to be vanguards for peace and peacemakers in a world that is full of violence and evil. The contrast between what we are called to represent and the reality of our world today poses a challenge to owning a weapon for self-defense and other nonviolence purposes. I personally believe that it is right for a Christian to own guns for the purposes of self-defense.

The level of increased violence in our communities has assumed worrisome dimensions today. The recklessness with which innocent lives are killed on a daily basis by individuals with no conscience leaves questions in the hearts of many Christians on the ethical challenges of gun ownership. However, a look at the Bible offers some insight regarding the practices that inform this issue today.

On the night of Jesus’ betrayal, he encouraged his disciples to carry a sword. They had two, which he said was enough (Luke 22:37–39). But as Jesus was being arrested, Peter drew his sword and sliced off the ear of one of the servants of the high priest (John 18:10). Jesus responded by healing the man instantly (Luke 22:51) and then commanded Peter to put away his sword (John 18:11). Peter’s ownership of a sword was not condemned. It was only his use of it in that particular circumstance that prompted Jesus to urge restraint.

On another occasion, soldiers came to John the Baptist to be baptized. When asked what to do to live for God, John replied, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages” (Luke 3:14, ESV). We see John stop short of telling the soldiers to lay down their weapons.

It should be safe to opine that the Bible never forbids a Christian from owning a weapon, as long as it is used in tandem with our Christian faith and practice and brings honor to Christ, respect and value for humanity, and glory to God.

Christian are encouraged to be law-abiding as representatives of Christ and faithful citizens of their nation. Romans 13 tells us that governing authorities are from God and are to be obeyed. Therefore any gun law, as well as other local laws, is to be obeyed.

Ultimately, we see there is nothing sinful or inappropriate about owning guns or other weapons as long as it is for self-defense or other nonviolent use.

South Africa | Siki Dlanga, coordinator of a campaign against gender-based violence for the Evangelical Alliance of South Africa:

A South African can legally own up to four guns at the age of 21 or above. Each firearm must be licensed, with strict rules that go with the license.

Whether a Christian owns or does not own a gun is a matter of personal conscience. About weapons, Scripture teaches as follows: “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Cor. 10:4–6, NKJV).

Scripture positions the believer's protection from the spiritual realm first. Our weapons are not carnal but spiritual. We know that everything begins spiritually before it manifests in the physical realm. We cannot fight Satan with the weapons he has invented and hope to defeat him. To defeat evil, we must use spiritual weapons that are, we are told, “mighty in God.”

Furthermore, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7). Reliance on firepower rather than the power of love is not the way of Christ. Firepower has sown much suffering in the world, to the point that we can only hope for peace if we threaten each other with “mutually assured destruction.” That’s hardly an indicator of a civilized society with a sound mind.

South Korea | Kim Seungkyeom, senior pastor of Graceforest Community Church in Yongin:

In Korea, owning a gun is strictly restricted. Only hunting rifles are allowed. But you have to register it at the police station.

In my opinion, it is not advisable to own a gun for personal safety. If someone owns a gun for safety, another person will try to protect himself by owning a stronger gun. You can see this from the arms race of nuclear weapons. More and more nuclear weapons, stronger nuclear weapons, and a comparative advantage over other countries can make the world more and more dangerous.

Basically, personal safety issues are an area that the nation should take on. Romans 13:4 says, “For it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil” (NASB).

As for individuals, the Lord said this: “‘Put your sword back in its place,’ Jesus said to him, ‘for all who draw the sword will die by the sword’” (Matt. 26:52, NIV). Strictly speaking, this is a lesson in revenge, not personal safety, but it is also a basic lesson in the use of weapons.

Christian should not rest their safety in possession of a gun, but in the grace and protection of God. Ironically, however, I have a baseball bat next to my bed in case a robber suddenly breaks in.

Switzerland | Jean-René Moret, pastor, Evangelical Church of Cologny:

We are allowed to own guns in Switzerland. We still have conscription, and most Swiss men bring their assault rifle home for storage and shooting practice. Assault riffles are allowed. Men who have served their time have the option to buy their military rifle back and keep it. Gun owners must register.

(Only men are conscripted. Women can ask to be part of the army. Those who are conscientious objectors do community service.)

Jesus' teaching and example show that Christians should rather suffer the loss of their possessions, honor, and life than answer violence with violence (Matt. 5:38–42; 1 Pet. 2:20–23). Paul in Romans 13:4 recognizes the role of the state to bear arms in order to repress evil. But this is not the individual's role.

One could consider whether owning a gun to defend vulnerable others could be admissible. It might be the case in situations of state failure and lawlessness. And even in such cases, one must ask where Christians will put their trust. Will they trust in God, or in their own weapons, strength, and abilities? (Isa. 30:15–17).

Gun violence is a consequence not only of gun ownership but also of a culture where guns are seen as providing security and solutions. Swiss people own lots of guns but don't expect to have any use of them besides hunting, sportive shooting, and the unlikely war. For Christians, guns may be an idol, a thing that asks for the trust we must put in God only.

Canada | Karen Stiller, author, editor, and journalist, Ottawa:

We can own guns, although Canada has strict gun control laws. Thorough background checks are required. More than 1,500 types of military-style assault guns were banned in Canada in 2020. Stricter legislation was brought forward recently to limit gun ownership even more.

My dad was a Mountie. I grew up in an environment where guns were present and acknowledged as a potentially dangerous but necessary part of my father’s work. We respected my dad, his work, and the uniform of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I was glad he had a gun, because I knew it helped protect him and the people he had pledged to protect in his work and calling.

Guns have a place in the world, of course, but they are just not part of everyday life and culture in Canada like they are in the US, or I suspect, in many other places in the world. Our countries have such different histories, and we don’t have the Second Amendment and all that represents.

The different roles that guns play in lives might vary in different parts of Canada (I am a city person through and through), but I still don’t believe those who would lobby for less gun control in Canada would come close to the passion gun owners have in US culture. Even the question Should Christians own a gun for personal safety? feels very American. (And that statement of mine feels very Canadian.)

It wouldn’t occur to me for our Christian household to own a gun specifically meant for personal safety. If we did, and we followed the laws of the land (which we believe that we are compelled to follow as believers), that gun would be unloaded, locked up, and stored separately from the ammunition. So, generally speaking, an arrangement not very helpful for personal protection, no matter one’s theological position.

Australia | Sam Chan, evangelist with City Bible Forum in Sydney:

In Australia, you can own a gun, but you must have a license and register the gun. But you can’t buy automatic or semiautomatic weapons.

I’ve stayed on a farm and watched the farmer shoot feral animals. I also have friends who shoot guns as a hobby. But, by and large, gun ownership is not a large part of Australian culture.

An Australian might feel the need to own a car or home, but not a gun for personal safety. It’s just not a thing in Australia. It’s the lack of guns in Australia that makes us feel safe, rather than their availability.

In Australia we prioritize communal safety, and we expect the government to make this happen. I think we were the first country to bring in laws for mandatory seat belts for cars, helmets for bicyclists, and random breath-testing for drivers.

To that end, we’ve limited our rights of gun ownership for the safety of the community. There has not been a major mass shooting since 1996.

Paul also appeals to this in 1 Corinthians 10:23–24: “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

Paul says that we have individual rights, but we also have personal responsibility to do what is best for the community.

Honduras | Miguel Álvarez, president of Central American Biblical Pentecostal Seminary in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala:

In Honduras, people can carry guns, but in order to do it they must register, complying with the requirements demanded by state security. Unfortunately, even in this well-intentioned process, there may be signs of corruption. Nevertheless, the law is tough on those who choose to carry guns.

I do not believe that believers in Christ should carry weapons. Bearing arms is contrary to the gospel message. There is no theological or biblical reason that justifies the use of weapons. The vocation of the believer in Christ is peaceful, not belligerent. God has given us the ability to dialogue as civilized beings about our differences in order to resolve our controversies by peaceful means. Every believer who carries weapons obviously doubts the spiritual power that is in him or her.

According to James 3:17 (ESV), “the wisdom from above is … peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” Furthermore, according to Romans 12:18 (NIV), “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” God calls us to peace. The presence of weapons is contrary to peace. There is no biblical or theological justification for the use of weapons.

People who insist on bearing arms do not know God's peace, nor can they understand God's justice. Therefore, it is important to declare ourselves against war and the use of weapons to resolve human conflicts and declare ourselves in favor of peace and justice.

Philippines | Emil Jonathan Soriano, pastor of Church @ No. 71, San Pedro, Laguna:

In the Philippines, people can own guns legally, though it’s difficult. The government has very strict requirements. Nevertheless, I personally know Christians who have a license to carry guns for recreational purposes.

I do not think Christians should own guns for personal safety. God’s work in the world is to bring forth life in all its fullness (John 10:10) and conquer death (1 Cor. 15). Guns go against God’s work as they are tools of death that are designed to kill. In the Philippines, loose firearms are used for crimes and extrajudicial killings, which has led to vigilante-style assassinations in the past. Scripture asserts that tools of death should be dismantled and converted instead to tools of production and livelihood (Isa. 2:4; Mic. 4:3).

More importantly, Jesus exemplified the ethic of nonviolence, which he showed through a self-giving, co-suffering love that calls to give our lives away so that others may live (Matt. 5: 38–48; Rom. 12). In Jesus, we see that one does not need weapons to defend oneself and be safe. The early Christians followed his example; they did not seek to defend themselves by picking up arms but instead willingly laid down their lives as a witness to the gospel. This does not mean that Christians should seek martyrdom and not take precautions. Christians are invited to live in wisdom while working to transform the world into one that is grounded on peace. As Clement of Alexandria, an early Church father, once said, “As simple and quiet sisters, peace and love require no arms. For it is not in war, but in peace, that we are trained.”

Singapore | Edric Sng, founder and editor of Salt&Light and Thir.st:

In Singapore, the use of guns is tightly controlled under the Arms Offences Act. Beyond our police and armed forces, it is nearly unheard of for anyone to be seen carrying or using a gun. The rare instances would immediately make front-page headlines.

Simply put, this means we in Singapore can go about life never once worrying about the threat of gun violence.

In Luke 22, just after the Last Supper, Jesus prepares his disciples for the impending season when they will have to carry on the mission without their teacher. “If you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one,” Jesus tells them in verse 36. A sword in those days would have been useful for many things. To hunt. To harvest. As a multipurpose tool.

And, yes, it was a weapon—but that was evidently not Jesus’ intent. If Jesus had meant for the disciples to carry arms for war, he would not have told them that two swords between the lot of them was enough (v. 38). He would have told them to load up! The more the safer!

But it is clear the swords were neither for attack nor for self-defense. Within hours, in Luke 22:49–51, Jesus is arrested. Peter draws his sword to fend off the delegation led by the traitor Judas. But instead of a commendation, he draws Jesus’ rebuke: “Put your sword away!” (according to John 18:11).

Is it foolish to be defenseless in a hostile world, where everyone else is carrying a weapon? By man’s reckoning, probably. But would it be any wiser in God’s reckoning to hold a weapon that can so easily take the life of another, even in self-defense? Why imagine the life of one—you or your family—be worth more than that of another?

If the world is armed, must we therefore follow—or would that make us just like the world?

With reporting help from Jennifer Park

Packing in the Pews: The Connection Between God and Guns

Kate Shellnutt

Pew: White Evangelicals Want Stricter Gun Laws Too

Kate Shellnutt

Are Guns Inherently Evil?

Matthew Arbo

The post Should Christians Own Guns for Self-Defense? A Global Snapshot appeared first on Christianity Today.

That’s a good start! But there are other things you (probably) don’t have. Like easy access to paper and ink reserves, a commercial printing press, and a fleet of trucks to haul your handiwork across the country. Even then, more hurdles await, like convincing the people who run libraries and bookstores (and Amazon sales teams) to stock an item with your name on the cover.

In our era, new technologies and services have emerged to lower these barriers. Just as social media sites and Substack pages allow writers to bypass traditional media gatekeepers, avenues exist for publishing books outside the orbit of pedigreed institutions with fancy offices.

For good reason, though, many aspiring authors seek out established, experienced publishers to supply the resources, contacts, and know-how they lack. Authors and publishers often squabble over touchy subjects like payment rates and creative liberties. But the partnership brings undeniable advantages: editors who sharpen prose and catch errors, artists who arrange pleasing covers and typography, and marketing mavens who drum up excitement among readers and tastemakers.

In any given year, I hear from lots of independent authors hoping attention from CT will boost their profiles. I always encourage them to send their books and see what happens. But the brutal truth is that traditional publishers furnish nearly all the titles that garner review coverage.

The same goes for our annual Book Awards. That’s why it intrigued me, as I reviewed the current slate of honorees, to spy a few party crashers: one second-place showing in the Fiction category (plus another finalist), and the outright winner in Politics and Public Life. Leave it to trend-watchers and soothsayers to decide whether this represents a one-year blip or augurs a more democratized publishing age to come. In the meantime, let the ranks of unheralded scribblers take solace in the possibility, however remote, of standing out amid buzzier names and bigger budgets.

Publishing, as a human enterprise, is hardly a fine-tuned meritocracy, flawlessly elevating the most deserving ideas and voices. At its best, however, it presents an appealing literary picture of iron sharpening iron. (I sure wouldn’t want to “self-publish” any articles in CT!)

Our Book Awards affirm the biblical wisdom that “two are better than one” (Ecc. 4:9). They also celebrate the irreducible fact of individual genius and creativity, given by God and then amplified however he chooses. As long as he gets the glory, we can stay easygoing about who gets the credit. —Matt Reynolds, CT senior books editor

(Read CT’s choices for Book of the Year.)

Apologetics/Evangelism

Winner

On the Resurrection, Volume 1: Evidences

Gary R. Habermas (B&H Academic)

Words like epic and monumental can be so overused as to be nearly meaningless. But they truly apply to Habermas’s first thousand-page volume of a projected four-part series. Paul tells us that if the Resurrection didn’t happen, our faith is useless. What, then, could be more crucial than establishing its historical factuality? With compelling arguments that treat opposing views with unwavering fairness, paired with meticulous research presented in readable prose, Habermas offers the bountiful fruits of a lifetime of investigation. —Andrew T. Le Peau, writer and former editor with InterVarsity Press

With this volume, Habermas has written what might be the most important book on the Resurrection in the current century. In methodical fashion, he presents the most widely agreed-upon set of facts concerning Jesus’ emergence from the grave. And he accounts for the most reasonable explanation of those facts, both historically and philosophically. The result is a monumental contribution to Christian apologetics. —William Roach, professor of philosophy at Veritas International University

Award of Merit

A New and Ancient Evangelism: Rediscovering the Ways God Calls and Sends

Judith Paulsen (Baker Academic)

Paulsen draws practical insights on evangelism from several biblical conversion stories in Scripture, including those of the apostle Paul, Cornelius, Lydia, and the Samaritan woman at the well. The book taps into her extensive experience teaching evangelism and her careful attention to the background of biblical conversion narratives, resulting in an engaging narrative packed with the kind of wisdom that, if heeded, could truly turn the world upside down (Acts 17:6). —Robert Velarde, author of Conversations with C. S. Lewis

Finalists

Does the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships?: Examining 10 Claims About Scripture and Sexuality

Rebecca McLaughlin (The Good Book Company)

Critically evaluating ten arguments for affirming same-sex sexual relationships on biblical grounds, McLaughlin combines cogent, accessible, and convincing exegesis with testimonies from those (like her) who experience same-sex attraction but believe that faithfulness to Christ precludes acting on it. Beyond defending relevant biblical prohibitions, she sketches a positive vision of life and opportunity within the church, grounded in an ethic of friendship love encompassing all believers. With its marriage of compassion and intellectual rigor, this book equips us to respond thoughtfully to the cultural confusions of our age. —Greg Welty, professor of philosophy at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

(Read CT’s review of Does the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships?)

Faith for the Curious: How an Era of Spiritual Openness Shapes the Way We Live and Help Others Follow Jesus

Mark Matlock (Baker)

This book is based on fascinating and thorough Barna research on the spiritually curious. While written from an evangelical perspective, it paints a compelling picture of how people outside the church think and feel. Matlock clearly understands spiritual dynamics in the United States, and he manages to wrap genuine human flesh around his statistics. For churches wondering how to appeal to those who are spiritually curious but uninvolved in institutional religion, his book abounds with practical and workable suggestions. —Hannah Steele, director of St. Mellitus College, London

Missions/Global Church

Winner

Islam and the Bible: Questioning Muslim Idiom Translations

Edited by Ayman S. Ibrahim and Ant B. Greenham (B&H Academic)

To the uninitiated, the subject of Muslim Idiom Translations (MITs) of Scripture might seem trifling. Yet for anyone who has followed the decades-old controversy over these translations, it makes for thrilling reading. Time and again, Christians whose first language is Arabic have spoken against the liberties taken by MIT proponents, only to be disregarded. But this book clarifies the dangers of incorporating quranic words into Scripture, a practice that lends credence to Muslim claims that the Bible is corrupted (and that Christians are deceptive about its meaning). Islam and the Bible is a crucial resource for everyone looking to fulfill the Great Commission in the Muslim world. —J. Mack Stiles, director of Messenger Ministries Inc.

This book, with chapters from missiologists, theologians, linguists, and biblical scholars, makes an important contribution to ongoing debates about Bible translation and missions in the Muslim world. On the subject of translation decisions related to the person of Christ, especially as they pertain to the title Son of God, Islam and the Bible is without parallel in its depth and breadth. It should prove invaluable for those seeking to reach Muslims for Christ, but without misappropriating Islamic-friendly terminology and themes. —Scott Hildreth, associate professor of missiology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Award of Merit

You Will Be My Witnesses: Theology for God’s Church Serving in God’s Mission

Brian A. DeVries (Crossway)

DeVries has written a well-researched book that gives insight into the Reformed view of missiology, highlighting our work as witnesses to the gospel message. Throughout the book, he references a wealth of Bible verses, and he provides helpful discussion questions at the end of each chapter. I would recommend You Will Be My Witnesses both for Bible study groups and for students in Reformed seminaries. —Mike Morris, senior professor of missions at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Finalists

Soul by Soul: The Evangelical Mission to Spread the Gospel to Muslims

Adriana Carranca (Columbia Global Reports)

This book surprised me! Because Carranca writes from a secular journalistic vantage point, it took me a while to warm to her perspective on non-Western evangelicals sharing Christ in the Muslim world. By the final few chapters, I was weeping over the sacrificial witness of the Latin American and African missionaries she follows. Soul by Soul gave me a deeper appreciation for the global church’s resourcefulness in reaching hard places. —Jen Haddox, former director of global engagement for ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians

(Read CT’s review of Soul by Soul.)

Crossing Cultures with the Gospel: Anthropological Wisdom for Effective Christian Witness

Darrell L. Whiteman (Baker Academic)

People are moving across the globe at unprecedented levels, including missionaries from everywhere journeying to reach everyone. Building on decades of teaching and experience, Whiteman, a respected missiological anthropologist, provides wise insights on culture and worldview, inspiration for incarnational ministry, and guidance for navigating intercultural communication. (His in-depth material on culture shock is especially valuable.) In our multicultural world, books like this help us cultivate faithful and effective gospel outreach to neighbors near and far. —Jennifer Collins, associate professor of intercultural studies at Taylor University

(Read CT’s review of Crossing Cultures with the Gospel.)

Biblical Studies

Winner

The New Testament in Color: A Multiethnic Bible Commentary

Edited by Esau McCaulley, Janette H. Ok, Osvaldo Padilla, and Amy Peeler (IVP Academic)

Recent years have witnessed a surge in theological books on racial reconciliation, featuring exhortations to “do the work” of dialogue and engagement. Meanwhile, many voices have called for more theological and exegetical writing that centers nonwhite and other historically marginalized perspectives. This book, in which four major scholars pull together contributions from over two dozen authors, marks a major step forward. Not only does it sketch out the rationale for doing biblical exegesis from Black, Native American, Latino, or Asian standpoints. It reveals what the results look like, showcasing how scholars from diverse backgrounds read the same Bible while attending differently to its applications and implications. —Gregory Lanier, New Testament professor at Reformed Theological Seminary

As the editors of this volume state in their introduction, “The chorus can create a beauty the soloist cannot.” In this analogy, the choir is singing about the meaning of Scripture, but too many ethnic-minority members have been left standing silent in the loft. The editors deserve thanks and congratulations for producing a groundbreaking Bible commentary that amplifies their voices and perspectives. I hope it prompts more of its kind. —Michael Kibbe, associate professor of Bible at Great Northern University

(Read an excerpt from The New Testament in Color.)

Award of Merit

The Transfiguration of Christ: An Exegetical and Theological Reading

Patrick Schreiner (Baker Academic)

This is a thoroughly researched book that makes welcome strides in recentering the glory revealed in Jesus’ transfiguration, one of few vignettes that appears in all four Gospels (as well as 2 Peter). Schreiner’s engagement with early church understandings of this episode brings Protestant thought into conversation with a wealth of wisdom recognized in Eastern Christianity for centuries. Crucially, his book attempts to rehabilitate the Quadriga, a Medieval word denoting a fourfold reading of Scripture for its literal, allegorical, moral, and eschatological meanings. —S. D. Giere, professor of biblical interpretation at Wartburg Theological Seminary, author of Freedom and Imagination

(Read Patrick Schreiner’s CT article on the Transfiguration.)

Finalists

Resurrection Remembered: A Memory Approach to Jesus’ Resurrection in First Corinthians

David Graieg (Routledge)

This is a fascinating reading of 1 Corinthians, lending further support to the Bible’s Resurrection accounts based on a compelling application of groundbreaking philosophical and psychological studies of memory. As an adapted doctoral dissertation, this volume might be less accessible to regular readers. But its profound contributions shouldn’t be overlooked. —Brittany N. Melton, associate professor of Old Testament at Regent College

Jesus, Contradicted: Why the Gospels Tell the Same Story Differently

Michael R. Licona (Zondervan Academic)

In Jesus, Contradicted, Licona demonstrates how ancient Greek biographies provide a framework for reading the Gospels on their own terms. Rather than attempting to harmonize conflicting details and historical incongruities, he recognizes these features as expected elements of the genre. Without sacrificing a high view of Scripture, Licona details what readers should and should not expect from Gospel writers. Any informed doctrine of the inspiration and authority of Scripture must take this book into account. —Kyle Greenwood, independent biblical scholar, author of the Dictionary of English Grammar for Students of Biblical Languages

(Read CT’s review of Jesus, Contradicted.)

Bible and Devotional

Winner

Nearing a Far God: Praying the Psalms with Our Whole Selves

Leslie Leyland Fields (NavPress)

We often find comforting words from the Psalms stitched on pillows or hung on walls. With powerful prose and stunning imagery, Fields takes us beyond their surface-level emotional draw. By reading the Psalms with our whole selves, we learn how to bring every emotion—the good, bad, and ugly—to a Father who longs to show his unfailing love. Approachable and practical, this book will bless generations to come. —Jessica Mathisen, Bible teacher, author of An Overwhelming Hope

As someone who often struggles with prayer, I appreciated this book’s fresh perspective on immersing ourselves in the Psalms. Nearing a Far God illuminates both the art and technique of rehearsing and living out these biblical prayers. Fields helps readers cultivate a bold, vibrant, expressive faith that mirrors not only the heart of David but most fully the heart of our Father God. —Mikella Van Dyke, founder of the ministry Chasing Sacred

Award of Merit

Conquerors Not Captives: Reframing Romans 7 for the Christian Life

Joseph R. Dodson and Mattie Mae Motl (Lexham Press)

Who is Paul talking about when, in Romans 7, he emphatically declares his inability to do the good he wants to do? Is he describing himself as a mature Christian, or the person he was before his conversion? Is he adopting the persona of a devout Jew seeking righteousness through the law, or a devout Christian being drawn back toward law-observance? If you’ve ever puzzled over these questions, then Conquerors Not Captives will stretch your mental muscles. While Dodson and Motl take decided positions, they treat alternative viewpoints with clarity and charity. —Norman Hubbard, Navigators staff member, author of More Than Christians

Finalists

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded: A Liturgy for Daily Worship from Pascha to Pentecost

Jonathan Gibson (Crossway)

Evangelicals sometimes overlook the period between Easter and Pentecost. In this 48-day devotional, Gibson gives it the depth it deserves, compiling prayers, hymns, and readings drawn from Scripture and the riches of church history. The design is stunning—beautiful illustrations and subtle touches of color enhance not only the book’s visual appeal but also its capacity to inspire reflection and worship. I’ll eagerly return to it year after year. —Kathryn Maack, cofounder of Dwellings and author of Whole

Story, Ritual, Prophecy, Wisdom: Reading and Teaching the Bible Today

Mark W. Hamilton and Samjung Kang-Hamilton (Eerdmans)

What a fascinating book, which reflects well not only on biblical literature but also on modern culture and the contemporary church. It is creative, wide-ranging, engaging, thought-provoking, and challenging, bringing freshness and energy to the task of understanding Scripture. —Nat Schluter, principal at Johannesburg Bible College

Christian Living/Spiritual Formation

Winner

A Short Guide to Spiritual Formation: Finding Life in Truth, Goodness, Beauty, and Community

Alex Sosler (Baker Academic)

This book should appeal both to those just starting to explore the subject of spiritual formation and those further along in the journey. Sosler’s holistic approach helps us see how true spirituality is grounded in theological truth, sustained by a longing for holiness, and worked out in the context of Christian community. With so many distractions in life, we must be deliberate in our search for God, and Sosler’s book gives masterful guidance. —Paul Mallard, former president of the Fellowship of Individual Evangelical Churches in the United Kingdom

The brilliance of this book lies in approaching four pillars of the Christian life—theology, virtue, contemplation, and community—through a trio of lenses. We gain fresh perspectives on these pillars as we consider what Scripture says, how others understand it, and the testimony of individual Christian lives. Augustine, Dorothy Day, Teresa of Avila, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer pursued holiness despite being far from perfect. Sosler helps us pause and look upward and outward before looking inward. —Lynda MacGibbon, vice president of people and culture for InterVarsity Canada, author of My Vertical Neighborhood

(Alex Sosler chooses 5 underrated books on spiritual formation for CT.)

Award of Merit

Waiting Isn’t a Waste: The Surprising Comfort of Trusting God in the Uncertainties of Life

Mark Vroegop (Crossway)

Some writers have a gift for delivering the right book at the right time. At a moment when both our culture and our churches drive home the notion that we are what we produce, Vroegop reminds us that God, in his grace, ordains periods of uncertainty and delay that draw us closer to him. He makes a winsome case for waiting as an essential spiritual discipline. —Brian Fisher, host of the Soil and Roots podcast

Finalists

The Thing That Would Make Everything Okay Forever: Transcendence, Psychedelics, and Jesus Christ

Ashley Lande (Lexham Press)

I could hardly set this book down. I would wake up in the morning thinking about what I’d read the night before. Lande is a refreshingly imaginative and honest writer who drew me into her story of transformation and grace. Her account of being rescued from the world of psychedelics is a compelling testimony to the power of idolatry and the even greater power of Jesus to redeem. —Derek Vreeland, discipleship pastor at Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri

Letters to a Future Saint: Foundations of Faith for the Spiritually Hungry

Brad East (Eerdmans)

In this collection of 93 letters, East takes your hand and points out the beauty of Christian faith. Even when I disagreed with his theological viewpoints, I appreciated his humility and felt inspired to learn more. This book would make a great gift for new believers or anyone needing a new outlook on their faith. As it built to a resounding crescendo in the last few letters, I found myself weeping for joy. —Jessica Thompson, pastor of church life at Risen Church in San Diego, California

(Read CT’s review of Letters to a Future Saint.)

Church/Pastoral Leadership

Winner

When the Church Harms God’s People: Becoming Faith Communities That Resist Abuse, Pursue Truth, and Care for the Wounded

Diane Langberg (Brazos Press)

Langberg’s compassion and insight, the fruit of decades spent helping sexual abuse victims, are apparent in this excellent book: a solidly scriptural call to better understand and address the multidimensional blight of sexual abuse in Christian ministry. Her tone is marked with genuine passion for the glory of Christ, our Good Shepherd. Langberg aptly exposes the tendency in many quarters of modern church life to protect established systems rather than confront wolves hiding among the sheep. By reading this book, ministry leaders can gain the heart, wisdom, and skills necessary for restoring the church as a place of protection and care. —Daniel Henderson, founder and president of Strategic Renewal

This is a heartbreaking but necessary book. Langberg is effective at marshaling biblical arguments, describing real-life abuse cases, and distilling the sort of practical wisdom that flows from a long career of serving both abuse victims and churches where abuse was perpetrated. Hopefully, her work will help churches identify the telltale signs of abusive situations and individuals before the worst comes to pass. —Jeremy Meeks, founding director of the Chicago Course on Preaching

Award of Merit

De-Sizing the Church: How Church Growth Became a Science, Then an Obsession, and What’s Next

Karl Vaters (Moody Publishers)

Vaters doesn’t approach this book as a determined opponent of megachurches or a blind cheerleader for small churches. Instead, he calls for faithful churches guided by biblical values rather than mere growth campaigns. With a wealth of research and an engaging manner, his book considers American applications of the Church Growth movement, analyzing how they cultivated a misplaced priority on “numerical quantifiers.” Yet he closes on a hopeful note, suggesting pathways toward recovering a biblical paradigm of being the body of Christ. —Eric Schumacher, pastoral ministry director of the Baptist Convention of Iowa, author of The Good Gift of Weakness

Finalists

Reckoning with Power: Why the Church Fails When It’s on the Wrong Side of Power

David E. Fitch (Brazos Press)

Fitch masterfully defines and unpacks the concept of power, examining how it can be wielded and experienced in different ways: power over (which involves dominance or control), power above (which reflects hierarchical structures), power under (which emphasizes humility and service), and power with (which signifies collaboration and mutual empowerment). As he argues, each form of power can be corrupted and misused, but the church is at its best when it aligns itself with the Holy Spirit’s power rather than seeking worldly influence. —Jamaal Williams, lead pastor of Sojourn Church Midtown in Louisville Kentucky, coauthor of In Church as It Is in Heaven

(Read CT’s review of Reckoning with Power.)

Estranged Pioneers: Race, Faith, and Leadership in a Diverse World

Korie Little Edwards and Rebecca Y. Kim (Oxford University Press)

For many years, pursuing multiethnic churches has been considered a worthy endeavor for modeling unity in the gospel. Yet as Edwards and Kim demonstrate through careful research, the challenges of multiethnic ministry have taken their toll on many individuals and communities. They convey this difficult truth with a blend of concrete data and personal stories, helping readers see the real people at the center of this movement. I finished this book with greater respect for those doing the hard work of leading multiethnic churches. As Edwards and Kim assert, it is “not for the faint of heart.” —Amy Whitfield, executive director of communications at The Summit Church in North Carolina

(Read Korie Little Edwards’s cover article on multiethnic churches from the March 2021 issue of CT.)

Children

Winner

Arlo and the Keep-Out Club

Betsy Childs Howard (Crossway)

In Arlo and the Keep-Out Club, Howard creates an authentic narrative of a child trying to balance his desire for belonging with his sense of what’s right and wrong. When Arlo’s new friends goad him toward bullying another child, his objection is rooted in his family’s Christian faith, as witnessed in his father’s clear, sensitive, biblical-yet-not-preachy assurance that Jesus will stand with Arlo even when the right choice is the hard choice. The book helps children navigate difficult moral dilemmas while modeling support strategies for parents. —Bob Hartman, author of YouVersion’s Bible App for Kids

Award of Merit

Go Bible: A Life-Changing Bible for Kids

(Tyndale)

The Go Bible for kids hits all the right notes. It features helpful introductions, concise applications, interesting facts, thoughtful questions, and colorful sidebars that help children develop a framework for approaching the Bible. The NLT is a fantastic choice for a children’s Bible, since it is closer to their reading and comprehension level than many other popular translations. —Tyler Van Halteren, founder of Lithos Kids and author of the Little Pilgrim series

Finalists

My Tender Heart Devotions

Laura Sassi (Paraclete Press)

Habits formed in the early years stand the chance of becoming lifelong habits, and books of simple devotions like this one, designed for children under age 6, can help busy parents establish a Bible-time habit with their little ones. Sassi presents Bible stories and concepts simply, as if speaking to a child. Original poems introduce each devotion, which is something of a twist for the genre. Another twist: The accompanying Bible verses seem chosen for depth rather than mere ease of memorization, which does add a nice seriousness to the book. —Diane Stortz, editor and children’s author

Strong: Psalm 1

Sally Lloyd-Jones (Zonderkidz)

Lloyd-Jones’s unique perspective on Psalm 1 takes a complicated concept—strength—and applies it in a relatable, encouraging way. Through the illustration of a tree planted near nourishing waters, it portrays the life-giving power of Scripture while teaching kids to draw their strength from God. The book’s rich, earthy illustrations help it stand out from the rest. —Michelle S. Lazurek, author, speaker, and literary agent

Young Adults

Winner

The Miracle Seed

Martin Lemelman (Eerdmans)

The Miracle Seed is a beautiful book full of engaging curiosities. When it comes to historical fiction, approaching younger readers through art and design is key. Lemelman captures the imagination through comics and character development. He achieves a good balance between enticing readers with interesting facts and drawing them into an engaging narrative. Learning is much more fun when you don’t know it is happening! —Melina Luna Smith, executive director of StoryMakers NYC

Award of Merit

More to the Story: Deep Answers to Real Questions on Attraction, Identity, and Relationships

Jennifer M. Kvamme (The Good Book Company)

For any high schoolers looking for answers to their honest questions about sex, attraction, identity, and romantic relationships, this book is a one-stop shop. Kvamme is poignant, authentic, empathetic, winsome, and above all biblical in her approach to topics that teens talk and think about all the time. Beyond its friendly and effective countering of secular messages, More to the Story helps readers see the goodness of God and the life of holiness his Word commands. —Shelby Abbott, author, speaker, and campus minister

Finalists

The Found Boys

S. D. Smith (Harvest Kids)

The Found Boys begins as a familiar childhood adventure before delving into deeper themes, as three boys face their own naive prejudices after meeting characters with entrenched views on race, religion, and power. The fast-paced, cleverly plotted story builds to a surprising and thought-provoking climax. Smith skillfully balances humor and lighthearted banter with explorations of the darker aspects of human nature, ultimately pointing to gospel-centered themes of hope and reconciliation. —Dave Boden, executive director of Grace Foundation

Longing for Christmas: 25 Promises Fulfilled in Jesus, Advent Devotional for Teens

Edited by Chelsea Kingston Erickson (New Growth Press)

A Christmas devotional for the anxious generation, Longing for Christmas holds out the hope of Jesus in clear, compelling, and beautiful ways. By connecting God’s Old Testament promises to their fulfilment through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, these daily devotions paint a vivid picture of a God we can trust to bring his peace, hope, and provision to bear on all the complexity of life. —Chris Morphew, school chaplain in Sydney, Australia, author of Who Am I and Why Do I Matter?

Marriage, Family, and Singleness

Winner

God’s Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well

Anna Meade Harris (Zondervan Reflective)

Harris knows that even though the church can be a painful place, there’s hardly a community better suited to provide what single-parent families long for. Drawing from her survey of others and her own painful memories, she teaches us what not to say and how to best serve single-parent families in practical ways. Yet she shares this in a spirit of generous love, not resentment. Her book exhibits a hard-won confidence in God’s goodness in the face of devastating circumstances. —Michael Gembola, executive director of Blue Ridge Christian Counseling in Virginia

God’s Grace for Every Family combines solid biblical content, relevant statistical analysis, and personal interviews, all woven around Harris’s own story of loss and struggle. The book provides sympathy and encouragement for single parents, along with pastors and all others ministering to their needs. I appreciate how Harris reframes one possible question—How do we accept single parents without endorsing divorce or sex outside marriage?—with a reminder not to judge them more harshly than any other sinner saved by grace. —Adam Mason, minister of counseling services at Houston’s First Baptist Church

(Anna Meade Harris chooses five books to encourage single parents for CT.)

Award of Merit

Loving Your Adult Children: The Heartache of Parenting and the Hope of the Gospel

Gaye B. Clark (Crossway)

Parenting adult children comes with certain complexities, especially when they have drifted away from the Christian faith. Clark offers empathy, practical advice, and biblical wisdom for parents navigating this season. I especially appreciated her insightful explanation of repentance and reconciliation, which emphasizes restoring relationships without sacrificing personal convictions. —Jennifer Pepito, founder of The Peaceful Press and author of Mothering by the Book

Finalists

Family Discipleship That Works: Guiding Your Child to Know, Love, and Act Like Jesus

Brian Dembowczyk (InterVarsity Press)

This book is an accessible, readable resource for families seeking practical ideas about engaging in discipleship together. It has deep theological roots, along with a variety of good stories to make the lessons stick. I enjoyed laughing along with the author and sighing at anecdotes that brought back memories of when my own kids were growing. After finishing the book, I happily gave it to my youngest brother, whose own “littles” are still young. —Jennifer Ripley, psychology professor at Regent University

Solo Planet: How Singles Can Help the Church Recover Our Calling

Anna Broadway (NavPress)

The church in America is decidedly geared toward married couples, and if they have children, even better. So, in a church full of families, where do singles fit? In Solo Planet, Broadway introduces readers to an international, multidenominational group of single Christians and invites us into their stories of finding life in Christ. We learn about the particular struggles singles face, but also how their pursuit of spiritual maturity and Christian community helps all of us better understand who God is and how he works in the world. —Joel Fitzpatrick, pastor, speaker, and author of Between Us Guys

(Read CT’s review of Solo Planet.)

Culture, Poetry, and the Arts

Winner

Word Made Fresh: An Invitation to Poetry for the Church

Abram Van Engen (Eerdmans)

Van Engen teaches a gentle and grace-filled method of reading poetry, an art form that can frighten the uninitiated. Word Made Fresh accompanies readers on a leisurely, conversational walk through this terrain, exposing them to a range of poems across eras and places. Rather than offering a straightforward apologetic for poetry, Van Engen meets poetry novices where they are, inviting them to share in his genuine, exuberant love. I can see this book being extremely useful in college literature departments—especially, though not exclusively, on Christian campuses. —Pamela Rossi-Keen, executive director of The Genesis Collective

Reading poetry requires focus. In Word Made Fresh, Van Engen invites us to slow down and make space for contemplation. In particular, he asks us to pay close attention to why a particular poem might stir our hearts or awaken curiosity. In so doing, he writes, we learn to “practice thinking and noticing at a different speed.” As Van Engen sees it, a poem is not an explanation but a way of revealing that engages our senses, relaxes our pace, and compels us to wonder. —Gary Ball, rector of Redeemer Anglican Church in Asheville, North Carolina

Award of Merit

Flannery O’Connor’s Why Do the Heathen Rage?: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at a Work in Progress

Jessica Hooten Wilson (Brazos Press)

In this study of Flannery O’Connor’s last, unfinished novel, Wilson showcases a deep love for O’Connor’s work, a scholar’s attentiveness, and a respect for eternal things. The book, featuring scenes from O’Connor’s original manuscript, gives readers a privileged look into her artistic process. Wilson’s introduction and commentary frame important background elements, like O’Connor’s perspective on the civil rights activism and racial violence of her era. Readers see a sincere admiration of O’Connor’s moral character and literary gifts alongside gracious and honest acknowledgments of her faults, both on and off the page. —Alicia Pollard, writer and creator of the Leaf by Lantern podcast

(Read CT’s review of Flannery O’Connor’s Why Do the Heathen Rage?)

Finalists

Becoming by Beholding: The Power of the Imagination in Spiritual Formation

Lanta Davis (Baker Academic)

This is a marvelous, theologically rich work. As an educator who values the tradition of classical Christian thought, I appreciated Davis’s emphasis on uniting Christian doctrine and practice with rightly formed imaginations. Her book takes an integrated approach to the arts, considering their visual, architectural, and literary expressions, among others. Well-researched and eminently practical, Becoming by Beholding is an excellent introduction into the world of classical Christian creativity—and a must-read for anyone interested in the relationship of imagination to Christian devotion. —Brian Nixon, professor of education and pastoral studies at Veritas International University

(Read an excerpt from Becoming by Beholding.)

Deep Reading: Practices to Subvert the Vices of Our Distracted, Hostile, and Consumeristic Age

Rachel B. Griffis, Julie Ooms, and Rachel M. De Smith Roberts (Baker Academic)

In Deep Reading, the three authors model a love of reading that moves beyond simply consuming established canons of literature or extracting information with maximum efficiency. Instead, they portray reading as an ongoing process of reflection and action that builds virtuous character. Drawing on their classroom experience, their commitments to loving God and neighbor, and their reflections on everyday life, they go beyond theoretical insights to show how deep reading habits help us manage distraction and bring about individual and communal flourishing. —Stephen Garner, senior research fellow at Laidlaw College in New Zealand

Fiction

Winner

This Ain’t No Promised Land

Tina Shelton (Kregel)

This book is ambitious in scope, navigating comfortably between the 1960s Deep South and South Side Chicago two decades later. Shelton’s impressive cast of characters, male and female, spans a wide range of ages, ethnicities, attitudes, and (believable) motivations. The plot is too intricate for brief summary, but it paints a richly textured picture of time, setting, and emotion as each character searches for answers and struggles to forgive. This Ain’t No Promised Land documents the perennial nature of human waywardness, the tragedy of inherited shame and abuse, and the enduring hope of knowing a God whose mercy knows no bounds. —James Cooper, novelist, creative writing professor at Tabor College in Adelaide, Australia

Award of Merit

40: A Collection of Modern-Day Parables

John Cleveland (Publish Authority)

In this eclectic mix of stories, Cleveland gives Jesus’ parables a modern twist, applying a range of genres and situations that resonate across a spectrum of interests and lived experiences. He presents biblical teachings in imaginative ways that are faithful to Scripture and always point back to Jesus. I can imagine these stories launching lively conversations with fellow believers and nonbelievers alike. —Sara Brunsvold, novelist, author of The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip

Finalists

American Inheritance

Nathan Nipper (Post Hill Press)

When I first climbed into the ’79 Airstream RV with Tom, an America-hating socialist whose conservative grandfather has prepared a patriotic cross-country voyage, I considered napping on the couch instead. I braced myself for political posturing wrapped in familiar road-trip tropes. But I’m happy I pressed on. Yes, there is pointed political commentary, but Nipper does a wonderful job weaving believable dialogue and deeper themes throughout. In a contentious age, this book ministered to me. —Buck Storm, novelist and musician, author of the Ballads of Paradise series

Prisms, Veils: A Book of Fables

David Bentley Hart (University of Notre Dame Press)

Hart’s collection of fables features characters who encounter worlds beyond their present “shadows of reality.” As these characters embrace, reject, or hesitate upon the thresholds to these worlds, we see the range of our own humanity reflected in their responses: primal and pragmatic, tender and receptive. These tales drew me in with the enchantment of their language and left me with much to ponder. —Amy Baik Lee, member of the Anselm Society Arts Guild, author of This Homeward Ache

History/Biography

Winner

God Gave Rock and Roll to You: A History of Contemporary Christian Music

Leah Payne (Oxford University Press)

This is an utterly compelling book that not only narrates the history of contemporary Christian music (CCM) but also demonstrates deep connections with the larger “industry of American evangelicalism.” As an Australian reader, I was surprised by the extent to which the book resonated with my own upbringing in evangelical churches of the ’80s and ’90s. I immediately recognized the songs, artists, and theological themes Payne discusses, which only confirms her impression of CCM’s far-reaching influence. —Nicole Starling, academic dean at Morling College in Australia

If you’ve ever pondered how and why American Christians created a sprawling parallel soundscape to the mainstream music industry, this book is for you. In it, Payne presents a riveting, rollicking, textured account of contemporary Christian music, as well as its accompanying aesthetic and commercial culture. Drawing on interviews with industry insiders and a large survey of CCM listeners, the book demonstrates how music has formed American Christians’ lives and shaped their cultural commitments. It will leave you reaching for that Spirit FM dial, primed to listen more intently and shrewdly. —Daryn Henry, assistant professor in the department of religious studies at the University of Virginia

(Read Kelsey Kramer’s McGinnis’s CT article on Christian Contemporary Music.)

Award of Merit

Jingjiao: The Earliest Christian Church in China

Glen L. Thompson (Eerdmans)

This exacting, accessible, and illuminating study demonstrates that Christianity is not Western but universal, and was so from the start. Its implications run deep not only for American evangelicals unaccustomed to thinking about Eastern Christianity but also for Chinese Christians whose government justifies their persecution on the theory that Christianity is a Western import. And it affirms the importance of Eastern cultures to the Christian story in ways that can bless Asian American believers. —Beth Barton Schweiger, historian, author of A Literate South

Finalists

The Reformation of the Heart: Gender and Radical Theology in the English Revolution

Sarah Apetrei (Oxford University Press)

In this highly original study, Apetrei shows that theological radicalism and women’s activism reinforced one another during the 17th-century English Civil War. Women preachers were anything but passive recipients of doctrine. Through polemics and visions alike, they advanced important English Protestant emphases, seeking a “reformation of the heart” that rejected external forms of liturgy and loyalty to civil authorities in favor of authentic interior faith. Providing prehistory of some strands in American evangelical life, the book speaks to matters of “heart religion,” mysticism, gender equality, and women’s roles in ministry. —Agnes Howard, humanities professor at Christ College, Valparaiso University

Turning Points in American Church History: How Pivotal Events Shaped a Nation and a Faith

Elesha J. Coffman (Baker Academic)

With a title and a narrative structure that evoke Mark Noll’s Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity, Coffman’s study of American church history tells textured stories about key individuals and events, rooting them in the ancient Christian past and connecting them to recent developments. Her engaging prose makes the book a page-turner. These qualities, plus the inclusion of songs and prayers in each chapter, elevate Coffman’s work above the typical historical survey. —James Gorman, professor of history at Johnson University

(Read CT’s review of Turning Points in American Church History.)

Politics and Public Life

Winner

Curious: A Foster Mom’s Discovery of an Unexpected Solution to Drugs and Addiction

Christina Dent (Throne Publishing Group)

Curious tells a compelling story of a conservative Christian mother’s remarkable journey toward embracing a more consistent and compassionate pro-life approach to drugs and addiction. Seamlessly blending her own story with those of others she encountered along the way, she makes a persuasive case for confronting this crisis with more humane public policy, coupled with a change of heart toward those in addiction’s grip. In her commitments to humility, courage, open-mindedness, and perseverance, Dent models the intellectual virtues I try to instill in my students. —Chan Woong Shin, associate professor of political science and international affairs at Gordon College

Award of Merit

Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor

Caleb Campbell (InterVarsity Press)

While I am deeply concerned about a sudden uptick in Christian nationalist rhetoric and the harm it does to Christian witness, I’m also sensitive to the ways this threat can be overhyped. Campbell navigates the topic with prudence, not to mention the credibility that comes from his experience as a teenaged white supremacist turned pastor with firsthand knowledge of the pain and dissension extremist politics brought to his church. Disarming Leviathan was personally convicting, as it forced me to acknowledge that flapping my gums against Christian nationalism has far less kingdom impact than actually loving people who have been drawn into its orbit. —Rachel Ferguson, director of the Free Enterprise Center at Concordia University Chicago

Finalists

The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life

Michael Wear (Zondervan)

As a remedy for our ailing political discourse, Wear turns to the teachings of Christian philosopher Dallas Willard, finding in them a blueprint for the kind of spiritual formation that can overcome divisiveness in our churches and communities. In short, semi-devotional sections, he encourages readers to think about voting and political engagement as extensions of Christian faithfulness and love of neighbor. God, he assures us, is more interested in cultivating enduring spiritual fruit than in shaping our positions on temporal matters. —Jennifer Walsh, senior vice president and chief strategy officer at Hawaii Pacific University

(Read CTs review of The Spirit of Our Politics.)

Faithful Reason: Natural Law Ethics for God’s Glory and Our Good

Andrew T. Walker (B&H Academic)

In this primer, Walker introduces evangelicals to natural law theory, giving Protestant grounds for appreciating a body of thought more often associated with Roman Catholics. Faithful Reason is an invitation to consider the order in which God has formed all of life, one aimed at securing a common good for Christians and non-Christians alike. Natural law testifies that faith and reason are not at odds, and that Christian ethical reasoning doesn’t pit our deeply ingrained moral instincts against the special revelation of Christ in Scripture. —Paul Morrison, assistant professor of Christian ethics at Emmaus Theological Seminary

Theology (popular)

Winner

What It Means to Be Protestant: The Case for an Always-Reforming Church

Gavin Ortlund (Zondervan Reflective)

Amid increasing signs of Gen Z Protestant men converting to Catholicism and Orthodoxy, many evangelicals wonder: How can we explain the truth and goodness of the Protestant tradition to those who see it as fractured and weak? Ortlund answers this question in What It Means to Be Protestant. The book educates leaders engaged in conversations about the branches of the Western church, and it equips Protestants to answer Catholic and Orthodox objections to their movement. Ultimately, it calls us back to the Reformation ideal of an “always reforming” church that stands on inherited traditions while showing grace and affection for those around us. —Phylicia Masonheimer, author, speaker, and founder of Every Woman a Theologian

Award of Merit

Cultural Sanctification: Engaging the World Like the Early Church

Stephen O. Presley (Eerdmans)

In many ways, today’s church is encountering the same ostracization, derision, and outright persecution faced by Christians in the earliest centuries of the church’s history. In response, some believers look to fight for the cultural dominance to which they feel entitled, while others retreat in despair from a corrupted culture. Presley’s book teaches us to emulate the early church in resisting these impulses. Following the example of our earliest brothers and sisters, we can rediscover the hope, humility, and patience that come from knowing we are pilgrims called by a faithful Savior to bless the world as salt and light. —Simonetta Carr, author, educator, and translator

(Read CT’s review of Cultural Sanctification.)

Finalists

Know the Theologians

Jennifer Powell McNutt and David W. McNutt (Zondervan)

As Christians, we stand on the shoulders of our theological predecessors, but most of the time, we have little idea who those people are. This is often especially true of contemporary Christianity, which—like the culture around us—tends to prioritize the present over the past. With a great deal of substance and touches of levity, the McNutts introduce key figures in Christian history, pointing to their continuing relevance in Christian life and thought. The authors’ choices reflect the breadth and diversity of the global church, reconnecting us with our forefathers and foremothers in the faith. —Wendy Widder, author, teacher, and Bible commentator

Daily Doctrine: A One-Year Guide to Systematic Theology

Kevin DeYoung (Crossway)

This is the book I wished for when I first started on my journey into the world of Reformed theology. It could only be written by someone like DeYoung, a pastor and popular author who serves as a bridge between the academy and the pew, combining a depth of study with an awareness of what beginners can handle. The book quotes Scripture, scholars, confessions, and philosophical works, always situating them within the history of the church. It handles terms of art in a simple, accessible manner, complete with familiar (and humorous) illustrations. DeYoung doesn’t hesitate to stretch his readers, but he always gives them a boost. —Paige Britton, creator of Grass Roots Theological Library

Theology (academic)

Winner

Mere Christian Hermeneutics: Transfiguring What It Means to Read the Bible Theologically

Kevin Vanhoozer (Zondervan Academic)

Can biblical interpretation change the world? In this carefully crafted study, Vanhoozer answers in the affirmative by exploring the relationship between biblical authors, canonical texts, and believing readers. By guiding our gaze to Christ’s transfiguration, he makes illuminating connections between the literal sense of the Bible’s words, their place in the biblical canon, and the glory of the risen Christ that shines all the brighter when we read God’s Word theologically. Deeply rooted in decades of incisive scholarship, this volume captures the distinctive voice of a creative and faithful virtuoso in theology. —Ched Spellman, professor of biblical and theological studies at Cedarville University

Mere Christian Hermeneutics is a masterpiece. With nuance and depth, Vanhoozer examines the implications of believing that the divine author of Scripture is also the sovereign author of history. In outlining a properly theological interpretation of God’s Word, he writes as a seasoned scholar whose mature perspective manifests decades of careful reflection. On many pages, I found at least one sentence most other theologians would work a lifetime hoping to write. Perhaps my highest praise is that the book truly helped me understand what the Bible is, how I want to read it, and the person I want to become as I grow in discerning its glory. —Trevor Laurence, executive director of the Cateclesia Institute

Award of Merit

Gender as Love: A Theological Account of Human Identity, Embodied Desire, and Our Social Worlds

Fellipe do Vale (Baker Academic)

Gender as Love offers a theologically sophisticated take on contentious contemporary debates about gender, steering between the “essentialist” and “social constructivist” positions. Do Vale shows why human beings cannot do without some fixed sense of what it means to be male or female, regardless of time or place. While the book aims to preserve essential distinctions between men and women, it leaves space to critically evaluate the distribution of gendered goods and roles within a given society, carefully discerning which ones are detachable or inseparable from our male and female bodies. In this way, do Vale helps Christians escape entrapment in abstract debates too wooden to do justice to the complexities of creaturely life. —Brian Brock, professor of moral and practical theology at the University of Aberdeen

(Read CT’s review of Gender as Love.)

Finalists

Thinking Through the Problem of Hell: The Divine Presence Model

R. Zachary Manis (Cascade Books)

If you’ve ever found yourself backed into a corner trying to articulate the doctrine of hell, this book is a game-changer. Most Christians can readily say yes to the justice of God. But many wonder whether a loving God can impose eternal retributive punishment. With logical precision and welcome accessibility, Manis examines the problem of hell in a way that holds human freedom and divine sovereignty in genuine tension. His book has aided my own theological journey immensely, renewing my confidence that the doctrine of hell reflects both the depth of God’s love and the weight of his eternal glory. —Haley Goranson Jacob, associate professor of theology at Whitworth University

Why We Pray: Understanding Prayer in the Context of Cosmic Conflict

John C. Peckham (Baker Academic)

If God is benevolent and all-powerful, why does Scripture command us to lay our requests before him “without ceasing?” Peckham answers this question with an elaborate theological vision in which God, granting significant moral autonomy to his image-bearers, is engaged in a cosmic battle between good and evil, with prayer affording him the moral right to intervene without violating human freedom. Theological traditionalists will object—perhaps rightly—to Peckham’s treatment of doctrines like divine immutability (which affirms the unchangeable nature of God’s will). But this book remains a pastorally sensitive inquiry into why prayer matters. —David Rathel, associate professor of Christianity theology at Gateway Seminary

(Read John C. Peckham’s CT article on Jesus’ prayers in the garden of Gethsemane.)

The post The Christianity Today Book Awards appeared first on Christianity Today.

After Rayshard Brooks was killed by police in the drive-thru of an Atlanta Wendy’s, Cathy, Giglio, and Lecrae sat together to talk about racism and the church’s role. Over 60 percent of white Christians think pastors should not talk about race. Forty percent believe race and immigration should never even be a topic in church. Meanwhile, an equal number of black folks say that pastors and churches should. This shows that racial reconciliation conferences do not work. Before reconciliation can be introduced, we have to embrace the truth.

In the aftermath of terrible state violence in other countries, truth and reconciliation commissions convened to bring reparative, restorative, or punitive justice. This happened in Rwanda after the 1994 genocide, in South Africa after the fall of apartheid, and after what is termed the “Dirty War” in Argentina. This has never happened in the United States.

Christians of every color should have a firm, biblical grasp of the necessity for individual and collective confession and repentance before forgiveness and reconciliation can occur.

These secular governments understand a fundamental reality that should be familiar to followers of Jesus: We confess and God forgives. Truth and acknowledgement come before reconciliation. Christians of every color should have a firm, biblical grasp of the necessity for individual and collective confession and repentance before forgiveness and reconciliation can occur.

When we trespass, we must wrestle with the gravity of personal and corporate sins—including sinful actions we were not even aware of, injustices we benefit from, and results that we did not intend. We must lament, confess, and repent (Acts 2:38; 3:19). Only then are we truly reconciled to God through Christ Jesus and sent, equipped, to be ministers of reconciliation to others (2 Cor. 5:18).

In well-resourced, often white evangelical churches, entire ministries and parachurch organizations disciple people out of patterns of sin, struggles with alcoholism, and drug addiction. Ministries serve those in need while reinforcing their personal dignity and value. But such compassion toward sinners and the needy gets lost once the topic turns to white supremacy.

White Christians and those pursuing whiteness often become defensive and angry when asked what Jesus would say about the race-, class-, gender- and ideologically based hierarchy evident in our world. The inability and unwillingness to acknowledge and confess what exists and repent creates conditions for violence and oppression against people of color. Our country and its churches are socialized to not critique white supremacy.

The church has been instrumental in the creation, defense, and propagation of the myth of whiteness under the reign of White Jesus. Jemar Tisby, author of the best-selling The Color of Compromise: The Truth About the American Church’s Complicity in Racism, lays out clear and searing connections between the enslavement of Africans and leaders of white congregations. “Many of the men who conducted night rides” that terrorized black communities with burned crosses and lynchings were the very same men who “ascended to pulpits to preach on Sunday.”

Soong Chan-Rah and Mark Charles in Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery, go back further, detailing how 15th-century church edicts exalted those with lighter skin and rejected the personhood of those with darker skin. A series of Roman Catholic decrees (the Doctrine of Discovery, 1493) codified white supremacy and sanctioned genocide, rape and abuse against African and Native peoples. Theologian Willie Jennings asserted the purpose was to bring people and the planet to “maturity.”

The Long Obedience of Racial Justice

Walter Kim

Colonialism created a counter-faith I call White American Folk Religion (WAFR). It’s a set of beliefs and practices grounded in a race, class, gender, and ideological hierarchy that segregates and ranks all people under a light-skinned, thin-lipped, blond-haired Christ. Americans of every color and racial assignment must reckon with the current and historic reality of a country and its churches rooted in White American Folk Religion. WAFR fuels ignorance, complicity, and willing participation in the patterns of injustice that perpetuate the death and degradation of brown, black, and indigenous women and men. Yet, in this moment of racial turmoil, those entangled in WAFR believe it is their right and responsibility to speak, teach, and lead.

In our post-colonial world, and especially in the United States, Western seminaries and theology prioritize whiteness and defer to white men like Giglio and Cathy—evangelical, older, white, wealthy, well-known, well-educated, well-connected, able-bodied, and gainfully employed—and regard them as credible and trustworthy, though neither Giglio nor Cathy is an expert on American policing or the history of a racism that promotes mass incarceration and instinctively perceives black bodies as criminal in every community. Neither of them has done the inner work to decolonize and disempower their frames of WAFR reference. They were not chosen to lead this dialogue in front of cameras and congregants in a crisis because of their experience or expertise but because they fit the description of authority.

There are many leaders who could have led this dialogue with clarity, conviction, and compassion and who are already leading Christ-centered, Holy Spirit–filled movements. They were passed over in favor of these, like too many in the white church and of the world, who speak lies from the pit of hell about how slavery is a “white blessing” from their Christ in their stained glass windows.

Colonialism succeeded. Racism is pervasive—so much so that we are often unaware of the depths of our socialized sin and individual participation.

Colonialism succeeded. Racism is pervasive—so much so that we are often unaware of the depths of our socialized sin and individual participation. Giglio apologized on Instagram and asked for prayer. What he did not do was confess how his seminary training and discipleship did not prepare him to lead in this moment; that he is stepping down and stepping back to make space for the women and men of color to lead this conversation; and that he will take their direction. Often, white Christians are not willing to believe, let alone follow, people of color or rigorously engage in the process of detangling the Jesus of scripture from WAFR. This is what the work of decolonization looks like.

Pastors of every color in Giglio’s position must acknowledge that western theology and praxis are intertwined with WAFR and confess where they lack the personal and institutional wisdom to comprehensively resist white supremacy. Church leaders that are ill-equipped to lead and teach on issues of ethnic justice and reconciliation should confess their limitations and empower leaders of color to shepherd them and their congregants towards the Acts 2 community of true fellowship and wonder and unity and prayer (Acts 2:42–44). In the face of certain backlash, pastors must do more than denounce racism. Christians need to be discipled out of prejudice, bias, and WAFR. This begins with white pastors confessing complicity in racist systems and testifying to God’s grace and forgiveness in their own lives; then they can lead others to do the same.

How amazing it would be if pastors and leaders who benefit from the racism in their families and institutions repented for not resisting racist actions, ideology, and theology? What if pastors repented publicly for not rejecting the curse of Ham, not standing up for the Japanese during internment, or participating in white flight because people of color moved into “their” neighborhoods? What if parents asked for forgiveness from God and their children for saying, “You can marry anyone but one of them”? What if Christian families and institutions quantified their benefits from slavery and genocide of native peoples and allocated money toward financial reparation? This would be profound, powerful, and beyond significant for people of color.

White people too would be liberated from the false burden of superiority, the lie of white supremacy, and enter into the desegregated, reconciled family of God. No more statements, panel discussions, conferences, or book clubs; what we need is lament, confession, repentance, and a refusal to conform to the world’s racist patterns. Jesus prayed in John 17 that we might all be one and preview the coming “great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb” (Rev. 7:9–17). We can experience a slice of this future on this side of heaven if, as the body of Christ, we embrace truth and reconciliation in the United States.

Jonathan Walton is the author of Twelve Lies That Hold America Captive: And the Truth That Sets Us Free. He is also an area director for InterVarsity NY/NJ focusing on spiritual formation and experiential discipleship. He is from Southern Virginia and lives in New York City.

The post The Perils of White American Folk Religion appeared first on Christianity Today.

As someone who owns a perfectly appropriate, not even slightly excessive, but still fairly large number of books, I know the feeling. Several years ago, I was part of a book club at church. We were discussing a book about books (Tony Reinke’s Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading). At some point, I asked whether anyone else ever felt guilty about devoting too much time to reading, given all the other callings God places on our lives. One young woman in the group thought the question revealed more about the bookworm bubble I inhabited than any spiritual dilemma Christians commonly face. And of course she was right! (Thank goodness that levelheaded young woman later saw fit to become my wife.)

If only through gritted teeth, you can usually get me to concede the sinful temptations that bookaholism encourages. Like any good gift, reading can be overindulged. But each year, as I set the table for another book awards banquet, I try to ease up on the introspection, adopting the literary equivalent of the “calories don’t count” mindset that fuels so many satisfying Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner binges.

During book awards season, at least, the answer to “Do I need more books?” is always yes. That applies whether you’re someone who likes to read a reasonable amount—or someone who also likes to read a reasonable amount, but more. —Matt Reynolds, books editor

Apologetics/Evangelism

Evangelism in a Skeptical World: How to Make the Unbelievable News About Jesus More Believable

Sam Chan (Zondervan)

“For every generation, or maybe even every decade, a book comes out that will become a standard reference for evangelism and apologetics. This book has the potential to become the leading manual for Christians engaged in outreach for many years to come. Chan discusses a wide set of issues ranging from the theology of evangelism to how to give evangelistic talks to the place of apologetics in evangelism, all geared to the mindset of our contemporary culture.” —Winfried Corduan, professor emeritus of philosophy and religion, Taylor University

(Read an excerpt from Evangelism in a Skeptical World in the June 2018 issue of CT.)

Award of Merit

The Morals of the Story: Good News About a Good God

David and Marybeth Baggett (IVP Academic)

“The Baggetts are convinced that the moral argument for God’s existence and nature is among the most resonant and persuasive arguments available in contemporary society, and they do a masterful job of pooling the relevant resources. They highlight the inability of secular ethical theories to account for objective good and evil and human moral obligation. They also demonstrate the rich explanatory power of the Christian worldview in accounting for those same moral realities. If humanity’s deep and unshakable moral intuitions are correct, then The Morals of the Story demonstrates that the rational observer should embrace Christian theism in response.” —Tawa Anderson, professor of philosophy, Oklahoma Baptist University

Biblical Studies

Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Gospels

Edited by Barry Beitzel (Lexham Press)

“This is a very helpful resource. None of the current ‘background commentaries’ offer quite the same level of detail on geographical places. Particularly when studying the Gospels, geographic context is helpful. One of the strengths of the book is that it doesn’t just discuss geographical places in isolation but interweaves them with the Scriptures themselves, producing insights that help clarify our understanding of specific texts. One great example: the book’s discussion of Nazareth and Sepphoris, which sheds light on the probable boyhood context of Jesus.” —J. Daniel Hays, professor of biblical studies, Ouachita Baptist University

Award of Merit

Introducing Medieval Biblical Interpretation: The Senses of Scripture in Premodern Exegesis

Ian Christopher Levy (Baker Academic)

“This book offers a fascinating tour of the ways our forebears in the faith read the Bible. Before the historical-critical method became our modern norm, interpreters commonly wrestled with the historical and spiritual meanings of God’s Word. Many modern readers are ignorant of the trends and methods that permeated this period that occupies the majority of church history. While Levy does not imply that we should abandon the historical-critical method, he does raise the question of what may be learned from our theological predecessors. Remembering that we are members of a 2,000-year-old community of readers may enhance and enrich our own reading of the Bible.” —Constantine Campbell, professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Children and Youth

The Friend Who Forgives

Dan DeWitt and Catalina Echeverri (The Good Book Company)

“Going by the cover alone, the artist’s style reminded me of the cartoony illustrations for The Beginner’s Bible. But there’s more here than obvious child-grabbing appeal. The illustrations are very clever and contribute greatly to the story. I liked the way motifs repeat—for example, Jesus calling Peter at the beginning of his ministry and again at the end, and Jesus’ prediction of Peter becoming a ‘fisher of men’ later fulfilled. The story is well-suited for children, with its effective echoes and repetition. It’s a book I can see children asking for over and over.” —Janie Cheaney, YA novelist, columnist for World magazine

Award of Merit

The Edge of Over There

Shawn Smucker (Baker)

“Smucker nimbly weaves common experiences that teens face—shifting relationships with parents, the desire to become socially active, and the yearning for connection—into this almost dystopian fantasy. On the other side of a door that leads to the afterlife, and before a bitter battle begins, adolescent Ruby reflects on her relationship with her father: ‘Her father’s manner toward her had been changing recently. He was letting go of her, or pulling away, she couldn’t tell which.’ She enjoys the freedom this affords her, but feels ‘empty, anxious.’ Full of profound wisdom, The Edge of Over There is a lyrical exploration of the good and evil that reside in all of us.” —Jennifer Grant, writer and speaker, president of INK: A Creative Collective

Christian Living/Discipleship

The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World

Rosaria Butterfield (Crossway)

“This is a profoundly challenging book that I would happily recommend to any of my Christian friends. I didn’t agree with every jot and tittle, although I share Butterfield’s complementarian theology. But the book offers both a vital critique of our Christian cultural norms and a beautiful, gritty, hard-won vision for how we could live together more faithfully. I laughed out loud at Butterfield’s anecdote about her mother banging on the door during a radio interview, and I cried when she recounted her mother’s death-bed conversion. I will live better because of this book.” —Rebecca McLaughlin, writer and speaker, author of Confronting Christianity (forthcoming)

(Read CT’s interview with Rosaria Butterfield.)

Award of Merit

The Storm-Tossed Family: How the Cross Reshapes the Home

Russell Moore (B&H)

“As a pastor, I often earmark books that could be a great resource for church members. This time, The Storm-Tossed Family was the book I needed. With one adjective, storm-tossed, Moore captures perfectly the state of affairs in my home. With the gentleness of a fellow parent, he unmoors us from the frantic idolatry of family and reorients our focus on the crucified Savior who has the power to say to the wind and waves, ‘Peace, be still.’ Moore puts his rhetorical gifts to work, turning phrases, weaving together Scriptures, and summoning apt illustrations with the unction of a preacher but the meekness of a bleary-eyed father of five. He shares his own failures and shortcomings while faithfully directing our gaze to the grace of Christ’s cross as a hopeful anchor for the family.” —Chad Ashby, pastor of College Street Baptist Church in Newberry, South Carolina

(Read CT’s interview with Russell Moore in the September 2018 issue of CT.)

The Church/Pastoral Leadership

Preaching as Reminding: Stirring Memory in an Age of Forgetfulness

Jeffrey D. Arthurs (IVP Academic)

“This book just became required reading for any young pastor I have the privilege of ministering to in the future. Thankfully, the evangelical church over the past half-century has emphasized the need for expositional preaching. Yet much of what passes as expositional preaching today lacks impact. It tends to feel more like a running commentary on the text, rather than preaching. Arthurs underscores the importance of remembering in preaching. He provides a helpful biblical theology of the role of memory, cites modern science’s help in this area, and then applies the knowledge to the discipline of preaching. This book is engaging, informative, and lively—just like our preaching should be.” —Jason Helopoulos, senior pastor of University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan, author of The New Pastor’s Handbook

Award of Merit

The Forgotten Church: Why Rural Ministry Matters for Every Church in America

Glenn Daman (Moody)

“As a church planter in a rural (or micropolitan) setting, I found Daman’s work to be helpful, refreshing, and encouraging. He charts a path forward that doesn’t ask ministry efforts to be geared exclusively toward the city or the small town. With the overwhelming majority of my (Southern Baptist) denomination’s churches existing in small-town or rural contexts, I believe The Forgotten Church is an immensely important book for the future of ministry across the country.” —Dayton Hartman, lead pastor at Redeemer Church in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, author of Lies Pastors Believe

CT Women

Perfectly Human: Nine Months with Cerian

Sarah C. Williams (Plough Publishing)

“In Perfectly Human, Williams allows the reader to join her in the most excruciating journey of her life—carrying her daughter, Cerian, to term, knowing the child would not survive her own birth. With honesty and transparency, she invites readers to experience how she and her family wrestled with the sort of gut-wrenching questions and decisions few will ever have to confront. In doing so, she moves conversations about the sanctity, value, and beauty of life to a deeper, more human level.” —Courtney Doctor, writer and speaker, author of From Garden to Glory

(Read CT’s review of Perfectly Human in the October 2018 issue of CT.)

Award of Merit

White Picket Fences: Turning Toward Love in a World Divided by Privilege

Amy Julia Becker (NavPress)

“The word privilege is increasingly important in our national conversation about racial justice. For people of faith, the word ripples with significance because we worship the God who is Love, equally for all people. Amy Julia Becker writes from her context as an affluent white woman who could live comfortably within the white picket fences of suburbia. Yet she chooses to broaden her definition of neighbor. Told with grace and humility, this memoir will be a helpful companion to those who are wrestling with similar questions about privilege.” —Ruth Everhart, pastor of Hermon Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, Maryland, author of Ruined: A Memoir

(Amy Julia Becker wrote about growing up privileged for CT Women.)

Culture and the Arts

Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?: Larry Norman and the Perils of Christian Rock

Gregory Thornbury (Convergent)

“Many of us working at the intersection of Christianity and the arts have a deeply conflicted relationship with Christian music as a genre. Thornbury takes us back to the roots of Christian rock music in this biography of Larry Norman, one of the genre’s first major figures. This is an even-handed biography, allowing Norman and his ideals to stand forward in all of their beauty and strangeness. It’s a fascinating portrait of a person, but it also provides valuable opportunities for better understanding the relationship of art and belief in the context of the contemporary American entertainment industry.” —Jonathan Anderson, associate professor of art at Biola University, co-author of Modern Art and the Life of a Culture

(Gregory Thornbury wrote about Larry Norman for the March 2018 issue of CT.)

Award of Merit

Selfies: Searching for the Image of God in a Digital Age

Craig Detweiler (Brazos)

“Detweiler helps readers think theologically about one of our culture’s most ubiquitous products, our smartphone ‘selfies.’ Although he recognizes that smartphones have often contributed to an unreflective self-centeredness, he also suggests that they can be used to explore our self-worth, teach others, expand our empathy, and participate in prophetic witness. Detweiler’s dialogue partners are breathtakingly broad—artists, social scientists, psychologists, media critics, theologians, biblical scholars, cultural commentators, and ancient church fathers and mothers.” —Robert K. Johnston, professor of theology and culture, Fuller Theological Seminary

(Read CT’s interview with Craig Detweiler.)

Fiction

An Extra Mile: A Story of Embracing God’s Call

Sharon Garlough Brown (InterVarsity Press)

“The story provides a satisfying ending to the Sensible Shoes series. Even for those who have not read the first three books, Brown does a masterful job familiarizing readers with her four main characters and providing the necessary backstory. Each character is realistic and believable, faced with inner and outer struggles that intermingle in ways that readers may recognize. These aren’t ‘strong females’ after the fashion of Hollywood blockbusters—they aren’t leading armies or embracing their destiny as the chosen one—but they prove themselves strong in the truest sense of the word: They face the needs in their everyday lives, recognize their spiritual condition, and struggle to walk with Christ day by day.” —Rebecca LuElla Miller, freelance writer and editor, blogger at A Christian Worldview of Fiction

Award of Merit

No One Ever Asked

Katie Ganshert (Waterbrook)

“Excelling writing and a compelling plot. No One Ever Asked took me into a world that was realistic—and new to me. The theme of racism was thought-provoking and challenging. Ganshert created believable characters who I continue to think about. The book raises spiritual themes without being preachy.” —Lynn Austin, historical fiction writer, author of Legacy of Mercy

History/Biography

The Spirit of Early Evangelicalism: True Religion in a Modern World

Bruce Hindmarsh (Oxford University Press)

“At a time when evangelical is a contested word that increasing numbers of one-time evangelicals shun, this beautifully written and carefully researched historical exploration of the sources of evangelical devotional life offers a timely reminder of the wellsprings of the movement. Hindmarsh is almost alone among scholars in paying close attention to the spiritual meanings at the origins of evangelicalism, and his thorough, clear, and compelling book about what the first evangelicals understood their convictions to mean for their interior lives and their public concerns draws the reader back to the sources in a way that is more crucial than ever.” —Edith Blumhofer, professor of history, Wheaton College

(Read CT’s review of The Spirit of Early Evangelicalism.)

Award of Merit (TIE)

The Kingdom of God Has No Borders: A Global History of American Evangelicals

Melani McAlister (Oxford University Press)

“McAlister’s book will change the way we teach and think about American religious history. Her point, that you can’t really understand American evangelicalism if you consider it solely within the boundaries of the United States, is an essential corrective. Her argument that American evangelicals variously and unpredictably interacted with, furthered, and resisted American military and economic power is a complex and convincing account of a story that has been the subject of simplistic narratives, both positive and negative.” —Robert Elder, assistant professor of history, Baylor University

(Read CT’s interview with Melani McAlister in the September 2018 issue of CT.)

Christianity in the Twentieth Century: A World History

Brian Stanley (Princeton University Press)

“In this book, Stanley ambitiously sets out to chart the course of Christian churches across the 20th century. There is a lot to be gained here, and I learned much about topics I knew next to nothing about before. Anyone who reads this book will come away with a better understanding of the history of Christianity in a global context, a story not of straightforward triumph or decline but of shifting influence and cultural relevance.” —John Wigger, professor of history, University of Missouri

(Read CT’s review of Christianity in the Twentieth Century in the June 2018 issue of CT.)

Missions/Global Church

Megachurch Christianity Reconsidered: Millennials and Social Change in African Perspective

Wanjiru M. Gitau (IVP Academic)

“Gitau’s even-handed examination of Mavuno Church in particular (and megachurches in general) is a welcome addition to an ongoing conversation that tends either to glorify or denigrate the megachurch model. Moreover, Gitau provides a poignant example of contextual understanding that Christians around the world would do well to emulate. Her examination of Mavuno Church’s history and growth takes into full account the living, breathing world in which this congregation took root and grew. Sociological and cultural insights are combined with an incisive understanding of theology, politics, and globalization, opening new horizons for understanding how these factors affect the local church. As such, Gitau’s work exemplifies the process of gospel contextualization for churches of every size and in every culture.” —Jaclyn Parrish, writer, editor, and social media associate for the International Mission Board

Award of Merit

Cultural Insights for Christian Leaders: New Directions for Organizations Serving God’s Mission

Douglas McConnell (Baker Academic)

“This volume is rich in theology, broad in its missional perspective, and practical in its recommendations. Clearly written as a text for cross-cultural workers with an interest in cognitive anthropology and incarnational mission, it is nonetheless littered with real-life examples and case studies. It should find a place on the reading lists for missiology classes around the world.” —Michael Frost, missiologist, founding director of the Tinsley Institute at Morling College in Sydney, Australia

Politics and Public Life

Scars Across Humanity: Understanding and Overcoming Violence Against Women

Elaine Storkey (IVP Academic)

“Elaine Storkey courageously identifies how violence against women—be it physical, sexual, psychological, or economic—is, as her title suggests, a scar across humanity. Her work addresses the broad-sweeping manifestations of patriarchy in Christian history, the internalized gender discrimination and justification of abuse in societies around the world, and the church’s inadequate response to these violations and injustices. But this book isn’t just a broad-sweeping condemnation of Christian failure, as Storkey offers direct and clear recommendations for how violence against women can be overcome. Not an easy read, Scars Against Humanity is an essential work calling the Christian community to address one of the greatest injustices of our day.” —Mae Elise Cannon, writer and minister, executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace

(Read CT’s interview with Elaine Storkey in the May 2018 issue of CT.)

(Storkey wrote about sex-selective abortion for CT Women.)

Award of Merit

Christian Hospitality and Muslim Immigration in an Age of Fear

Matthew Kaemingk (Eerdmans)

“Matthew Kaemingk’s consideration of how diverse peoples can live together, with emphasis on how Western Christians should engage with their Muslim neighbors, is excellent. His argument is strong and well-documented, and his reflections are coherent and presented in a clear and accessible manner. Furthermore, the topic he is addressing could not be timelier. However, I believe the strongest contribution of this book is the author’s encouragement to go beyond theories of justice in a pluralistic world to micro-practices of hospitality that focus on ‘healing, listening, caring, reconciling, forgiving and welcoming.’ ” —Harold Heie, senior fellow at the Colossian Forum, founder of the Respectful Conversation project

(Read CT’s review of Christian Hospitality and Muslim Immigration in an Age of Fear in the January/February 2018 issue of CT.)

Spiritual Formation

Subversive Sabbath: The Surprising Power of Rest in a Nonstop World

A.J. Swoboda (Brazos)

“Subversive Sabbath is a rich, timely, and a needful word to American Christians. ‘Sabbath,’ writes Swoboda, ‘is a gift we do not know how to receive.’ Yes! Sabbath rest is for us, for others, for creation, and for worship. With helpful prompts for self-examination, Swoboda’s well-grounded practical theology yields life-giving practices that teach true rest.” —Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung, professor of philosophy at Calvin College, author of Glittering Vices

(Read an excerpt from Subversive Sabbath.)

Award of Merit

The God Who Plays: A Playful Approach to Theology and Spirituality

Brian Edgar (Cascade)

“Western Christianity is often haunted by a sense of perfectionism, anxiety, and exhaustion. Edgar points out that many Protestant traditions have developed a work ethic that lies in profound tension and even contradiction with the life of grace. His book provides a thoughtful and nuanced correction, emphasizing that as Christians we are first of all children of God, which entails a kind of ‘playful’ relationship. Faith-filled play draws us back to a merciful God who calls us into a childlike faith. It can help restore our trust in God as a good and gracious Father.” —Gisela Kreglinger, writer and speaker, author of The Spirituality of Wine

Theology/Ethics

Seeing God: The Beatific Vision in Christian Tradition

Hans Boersma (Eerdmans)

“For many today, the beatific vision is nothing more than thankfulness for being freed from the grips of eternity in Hell, but Boersma has a more far-reaching vision. On the opening page of the book, he gets to the heart of the beatific vision: ‘Seeing God is the purpose of our life.’ In chapter after chapter of rich historical theology, he draws on the best theologians of the Christian tradition to teach us that the beatific vision is a bottomless well of joy. And yet, this book is more than a historical lesson—Boersma goes to great lengths to remind us how practical and vital seeing God really is, both in our own lives and the lives of those around us.” —Brandon D. Smith, editorial director at the Center for Baptist Renewal

Award of Merit

Dying and the Virtues

Matthew Levering (Eerdmans)

“Levering mines both Scripture and the Christian tradition for resources on what late-medieval theologians called ars moriendi, ‘the art of dying.’ He teaches readers about dying well through living well, focusing on nine virtues, beginning with the three theological virtues of love, hope, and faith. Though written from a Roman Catholic perspective, Dying and the Virtues is universally valuable for the guidance it offers both ministers and congregants for the journey toward and through death.” —Malcolm Yarnell, professor of systematic theology, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

(Be sure to check out our Beautiful Orthodoxy Book of the Year, and read an excerpt from the winner.)

The post Christianity Today’s 2019 Book Awards appeared first on Christianity Today.

Impacting nearly 60 million people, the global refugee emergency is a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented size. Never have so many people been recorded as being displaced, put in danger, and sent on the move. In Syria alone, more than 13 million children and their parents need humanitarian aid. Nearly 4.4 million have been forced to flee to neighboring countries for safety.

Moments like these are when Christians cannot remain silent and still. In light of this crisis, we commit ourselves and our churches to actively care for and minister to global refugees with mercy and compassion, both here and abroad, based on God’s compelling concern for all people in need and especially refugees.

In light of these concerns, we affirm the following:

• Refugees possess the image of God and, as such, are infinitely valuable to God and to us.

• We are commanded to love our neighbor, and it is our privilege to love refugees.

• As Christians, we must care sacrificially for the refugee, the foreigner, and the stranger.

• We will motivate and prepare our churches and movements to care for refugees.

• We will not be motivated by fear but by love for God and others.

• Christians are called to grace-filled and humble speech about this issue.

In light of these Christian principles, we cannot allow voices of fear to dominate. Instead, we commit to actions of love and compassion for refugees who have been admitted into our nation(s) in refugee status.

We acknowledge that there are genuine security concerns and encourage governments to be stewards of safety, but we also observe that choosing to come to North America as refugees would be among the least effective ways for those who intend to do us harm.

So, as governments oversee matters of security, we will care for the hurting, calling Christians to embrace refugees through their denomination, congregation, or other nonprofits by providing for immediate and long-term needs, such as housing, food, clothing, employment, English-language classes, and schooling for children.

We distinguish that the refugees fleeing this violence are not our enemies; they are victims. We call for Christians to support ministries showing the love of Jesus to the most vulnerable, those in desperate need, and the hurting. This is what Jesus did; he came to the hurting and brought peace to those in despair.

Critical moments like these are opportunities for us to be like Jesus, showing and sharing his love to the hurting and the vulnerable in the midst of this global crisis. Thus we declare that we care, we are responding because our allegiance is to Jesus, and we seek to be more like him, emulating his compassionate care for the most vulnerable.

Signatories:

Ed Stetzer, Executive Director of LifeWay Research

Rich Stearns, President of World Vision

Stephan Bauman, President & CEO of World Relief

Jo Anne Lyon, General Superintendent of The Wesleyan Church

Frank Page, CEO of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention

Alton Garrison, Assistant General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God

Jamie Aten, Director of the Humanitarian Disaster Institute

Sue Elworth, Vice President of Development, Marketing & Communications of the Willow Creek Association

Paul Ericksen, Interim Executive Director of The Billy Graham Center for Evangelism

Jenny Yang, Vice President of Advocacy & Policy of World Relief

Amanda Bowman, Director of Church Mobilization of World Vision

Micah Fries, Vice President of LifeWay Research

*Organizations are for identification purposes only.

For theological foundations and footnotes, click here. GC2 invites others to sign the declaration and learn more about its January 20 summit.

Additional signatories:

The post Caring for Refugees: A Declaration of Evangelical Response appeared first on Christianity Today.

The similarities between my own son and Rice and the fact that we shared the same color skin made his death and the grand jury’s verdict painfully personal. But I felt uncertain about expressing my sorrow publicly. When I’ve let my sadness show in the past, instead of sympathizing, people have questioned the validity of my feelings. Particularly when it comes to racial issues, they’ve increased my grief with their disagreement and made me regret the choice to communicate my vulnerability.

Nevertheless, several days later I shared my pain in an essay, focusing on the fear I had for my son. I’ve been working for racial justice long enough to know there would be Christians who would disagree. But some comments still stung.

"What are black fathers doing allowing their children to mess with guns, even fake ones? … If you allow your kids to behave like gangsters, they are going to get killed, whatever color they are,” one commenter wrote.

Another dismissed my essay because I hadn’t heard the testimony or evidence that the grand jury received.

“I would have hoped for more careful analysis from an [Reformed Theological Seminary] grad and staff member,” the commenter wrote.

As someone who has felt burned after speaking honestly about my feelings on social media, I’m not surprised at my reluctance. But increasingly, I’m realizing that God calls us to share our grief, mainstream and popular—or not, with the very people who might hurt us.

Why We Lament

In biblical language, sorrow about injustice is called “lament.” At least five psalms are dedicated to lament (44, 60, 74, 80, 90), and the author of Lamentations devotes the entire book to grieving the fall of Jerusalem. When David learns of the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, he writes and teaches a song to the people of Judah (2 Sam. 1:17). Jeremiah composed a dirge for the deceased King Josiah. (2 Chron. 35:25). In each case, they lament “in public.” Lament is anguish out loud. There is a time to process affliction in solitude, but there is also a time to reveal your ache to others.

But lament communicates more than despair; it cries out for deliverance. In Psalm 44, the people of Israel plead with Yahweh to have mercy on them.

Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep?
Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.
Why do you hide your face
and forget our misery and oppression?
We are brought down to the dust;
our bodies cling to the ground.
Rise up and help us;
rescue us because of your unfailing love. (vv. 23–26)

The New Testament also gives ample backing for the legitimacy of public lament. In fact, Jesus’ final public address is a lament for Jerusalem.

About 40 percent of all the psalms include lament in some form, notes North Park University professor Soong-Chan Rah in Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times. The songs we sing, though, rarely express lament. In one study Rah cites, hymns of lament comprised just 19 percent of a contemporary Presbyterian hymnal and 13 percent of a Baptist one.

Embracing public lament can be difficult, especially for white American Christians. Historically, white Christians have been a part of the dominant culture and have understandably emphasized themes of victory and optimism.

But “the triumph-and-success orientation of our typical church member [needs] the corrective brought by stories of struggle and suffering," writes Rah. In many ways, lament serves as a tool to help believers live in the tension between the perfection to come and the sinfulness of the world right now.

Lament is also “an act of protest” that allows the lamenter “to express indignation and even outrage about the experience of suffering," says Rah. In other words, when we denounce tragic outcomes and the unjust systems that produce them, we lament.

Consequently, public lament requires courage. Calling out sin and the damage it causes always meets resistance. Most in power have little desire to admit they may be misusing it, especially if their intent is benign. But not expressing grief over unrighteousness in the midst of it implicitly condones it. Martin Luther King Jr. put it this way, “The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.” Grief that remains hidden can convey support or indifference to injustice.

The public nature of lament allows an opportunity for Christians to bear one another's burdens. Anyone who has walked through the valley of the shadow of death knows it is much easier to keep plodding with a friend nearby. Sometimes the greatest comfort in times of disaster is another person or a chorus of people who weep with you.

First Corinthians 12 describes believers as one body, different yet connected. "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it” (v. 26). Lamenting is a way of inviting other members of Christ’s body to suffer together—even if some reject the offer.

The Risks of Public Lament

Public lament isn’t just about exposing injustice; it’s about exposing your heart. Sharing your pain with others often results in even more pain since those who disagree may inflict further harm. In my experience, those who make the most injurious remarks seem detached from the issue. At times, people don’t recognize the genre of lament and misdiagnose public sorrow as punditry. To them, it’s just another hot take or social media rant.

To others, it’s a philosophical problem—an issue on which to pontificate or an abstract theory to dissect. These commenters leap straight to the “facts” without pausing to consider the person. Attempts to explain result in frustration on both sides because two different conversations occur.

In my own experience discussing race, I’ve watched one person talking about what was said or done or what should have occurred. Meanwhile another person is attempting to express his or her feelings about what happened. Both are legitimate conversations, but they can’t occur simultaneously. When someone responds to your public lament with data, it’s as if they are delegitimizing your reaction, and by extension, your humanity.

These responses hurt because lament is personal. Ask the couple who has endured a miscarriage how they grieve over legalized abortion. Ask the ex-inmate trying to get a job how he feels about prison reform. The more personal a situation, the higher the risk you will get hurt when you publicly lament.

The Shalom of Lament

Our lament expresses God’s desire for justice and shalom. When Christians lament, it helps us envision a more righteous reality and can spur action. Vigorous Christian activism is always connected to a passion to see God’s kingdom come and a righteous discontentment at anything less.

Ultimately, lament is about hope. It doesn’t merely point out problems, but directs us to the One who can fix it. The almighty God draws near to us in our sorrow and comforts us. He promises to redeem our woes in the new creation, where there will be no mourning, crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away (Rev. 21:4–5).

Jemar Tisby is president of the Reformed African-American Network and director of the African-American Leadership Initiative at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. Follow him on Twitter @JemarTisby.

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