Author: Martin, Albert N.
Genre: Christian Living
Tags: Christian Living / Cross / Discipleship
Series:
Rick Shrader‘s Review:
This is a recent and timely book on the fear of God, published by Reformation Heritage Books in 2015. The subtitle is: “Where have all the God-fearers gone?” Martin is a Reformed writer who has also become a popular source for this topic. This book is laid out in a practical way, defining the fear of God from the Old and New Testaments, then giving the ingredients, the source, and the obligation in our conduct, to the fear of God. The book is good in that it is obvious that the contemporary church has lost much of its fear of God. In some circles the fear of God would be downplayed as an Old Testament relic that has no place in the church, or it would simply be redefined out of existence. The downside to the book might be that Martin bases much of his discussion on the new covenant and, as a Reformed writer, has no place for the new covenant in a future, literal kingdom on the earth. For Martin, Jeremiah’s promise (Jer. 31:38-41), “I will put My fear in their hearts,” is a promise for salvation now and the fear of God is placed in every believer at the time of his salvation so that if there is no fear of God there is no salvation. Though there is some application there, it can create complications in interpreting lordship and carnality. However, the overall need for a renewal in the fear of God overrides Martin’s own views on these things. It is a worthwhile read.