The sub-title is, “What to do when the church I love tries to enter the twenty-first century.” Though you may think this book is defending the traditional church in the face of contemporary changes, it is not. It is rather defending the contemporary church by making a caricature of conservative churches. MacDonald creates a hypothetical […]
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Book Genre: Theology - Ecclesiology
With Reverence And Awe
My third book by Darryl Hart (and John Muether) is a welcome breath of fresh air regarding worship and at the same time an exercise in discernment. Hart and Muether are defending Reformed/Presbyterian worship and so include and defend many things in their church services which I would not (sacraments, liturgy, Sunday Sabbath, etc.). However, […]
Pastors and Deacons
This handy book by Dr. Hartog was just printed, though it is an updated third edition. The sub-title is “Biblical qualifications, Scriptural roles, and right relationships.” Most of the book is given to a verse by verse study of the qualifications for both Biblical offices. The emphasis is on the pastor as shepherd, taking oversight […]
Shaken Not Stirred
Fisher is a pastor and mathematics instructor. He became concerned about the plague of alcohol that has ruined so many lives and families that he did extensive study on the subject, especially wine in the Bible. Fisher’s conclusion is that a believer should never use alcoholic beverages, socially or in moderation. I agree. He also […]
Drumming Up Deception
My second read by pastor DeBruyn was as good as the first (See my review of Church on the Rise in the January ‘08 edition). This smaller booklet is a quicker and more to the point study of the effect of drumming in rock music. Drumming, of course, has become the center piece on most […]
Biblical Separation
Regular Baptist Press has published a second edition of the late Dr. Ernest Pickering’s 1979 classic on separation. The new edition has updated some of the language as well as the footnoting to today’s style and information usage. Dr. Myron Houghton, senior professor and department chair of systematic theology at Faith Baptist Theological Seminary, has […]
Singing and Making Music
I heard Paul Jones lecture this fall and was pleasantly surprised at his detailed and conservative approach to church music. Jones is music minister at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia where he ministered under Dr. James M. Boice for a number of years before his death. Jones is admittedly Presbyterian in his style of church […]
Church on the Rise
As a pastor I am always looking for good and accurate information about those things which are present dangers to the church. Sometimes the truth is brought to light by contrasting it with error. Pastor DeBruyn (Th.M., Dallas) has added valuable light to the already growing stack of books on the contemporary church. The sub-title, […]
Charismatic Confusion
Dr. Pickering wrote this book in 1976. Regular Baptist Press printed a 1980 edition and recently in 2006. All non-Charismatic believers need to have a good grasp on why the miraculous gifts ceased with the passing of the Apostles and the completion of the New Testament. This is best done by a fundamental and dispensational […]
Redefining Christianity
I had not read Bob DeWaay before this book. My friend Gary Gilley writes the Forward and can be counted on to give good recommendations. The book is a pointed critique of Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven movement. Unless you are already a Warren fan, you can’t help but agree with most of what DeWaay writes, […]