This Week’s Book Notes
Jesus + Nothing = Everything. By Tullian Tchividjian. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011.
Recently I read an interview with Tullian Tchividjian in Leadership Journal where Tullian retold the story of one of the most difficult periods in his life when their was an uprising in his church against him as a pastor. I recommend the interview as it was very sobering to read about how terrible this period of his life was, how much his family was impacted by those who were against him, and how testing this time was on his relationship with God. But it was out of this fire that his new book came, Jesus + Nothing = Everything. In short, the book is about the power of the gospel in our daily lives. Tullian explains the implications of Christ’s sufficiency, which is to keep us steadfast in the midst of turmoil. Tullian reminds us that Jesus alone is our foundation in life and in death. Here is a short video where Tullian explains what his book is about:
http://vimeo.com/28825135
Gospel-Wakefulness. By Jared C. Wilson. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011.
At some point, every Christians struggles with feeling numb, whether it be to the church or to God himself. Too often when this happens we look to things other than the gospel to awaken us and renew us once again. But Wilson reminds us that we need to be awakened to the wonder of the gospel when our desire for God is waning. (I recommend Trevin Wax’s review of Wilson’s book on Credo!)
When Worlds Collide: Where Is God When Terror Strikes? By R. C. Sproul. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011.
I remember standing in an airport out of all places the week America was remembering the ten year anniversary of 9/11. I walked over to the news stand and just about every major magazine was dedicated to 9/11. It hit me, 9/11 is still very, very real in the minds of the American people. But if you watched the news the months after 9/11 occurred you would have quickly realized that there were a diversity of responses from Christians and non-Christians to the question, “Where is God in all of this evil?” Non-believers felt either angry at the God they don’t worship or unsure whether there is a God at all. And if there was ever an event that brought out the diverse beliefs of Christians in America when it comes to the problem of evil, 9/11 was it. That is why I am thankful to see R. C. Sproul’s little book, When Worlds Collide, released in light of this year’s anniversary of 9/11. Sproul asks the tough questions, “Where is God in all of this evil in the world?” As usual, Sproul challenges the typical Christian answer by giving us a biblical response, putting in perspective man’s sin, God’s sovereignty, man’s rebellion, and God’s wrath. Sproul reminds us of God’s character, showing us that we can trust in His sovereignty during times of terror and grief. Sproul shows that nothing is by accident but God is working all things, yes, even evil things, according to the purpose of his will.
Excellence: The Character of God and the Pursuit of Scholarly Virtue. By Andreas J. Köstenberger. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011.
I am very pleased to see this new book by Köstenberger on scholarly virtue. The purpose of the book is to plead with “zealous young theological students not to sacrifice their scholarly integrity for the sake of attaining academic respectability.” He writes, “My message to these individuals is that believing scholarship is not only possible but in fact is more virtuous than critical, unbelieving, or supposedly objective academic work.” And again, “Yet, I fear that some have already strayed from the narrow path of a scholarship of integrity…having instead veered off onto the broad road of seeking to win the approval of their academic peers, or at least avoiding their disapproval. Some may, chameleon-like, have chosen ‘safe’ topics that do not require them to reveal their true spiritual colors. Others may have caved in to prevailing paradigms that are en vogue among the current scholarly elite-though they may be here today and be replaced by another, new paradigm tomorrow.” This book comes as a huge relief. In academia there is a massive amount of pressure, both on students and on professors, to do something “new.” This is the only way you will get published, get a job, and be respected by your peers. But if church history has taught us anything it is that “new” can often times mean abandoning orthodoxy. And do not think that evangelicals are immune from this danger either. A brief look at some of our publishing houses will quickly tell you that what sells is often times proposals that stray from biblical fidelity. Unfortunately, many today succumb to the pressure to compromise scholarly integrity in order to gain prestige and notoriety. Therefore, I am thankful that Köstenberger is calling on scholars to pursue holiness in their academic disciplines, even if it means losing the approval of those around them.
Sunday’s Best: Messages from Today’s Most Outstanding Christian Leaders. 
I do not want to recommend every chapter in this book, but there are some chapters that are noteworthy. The book is a compilation of sermons and messages by many of today’s leading voices. Some of the chapters included are by Timothy George, Philip Ryken, Joshua Harris, Timothy Keller, and Mark Dever. Christians who follow these men will surely benefit from these highlighted sermons.
Matthew Barrett (Ph.D., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the founder and executive editor of Credo Magazine. Barrett has contributed book reviews and articles to various academic journals. He is married to Elizabeth and they have two daughters, Cassandra and Georgia. He is a member of Clifton Baptist Church in Louisville, KY.
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