Book Blurbs: February 2022

The Pastor and His Work by Homer A. Kent, Jr. (published by Moody Press in 1963). 301 pages. This book was “old school” – in good ways and bad ways. While the book is a “how to” book for what pastors should be spending their time doing, I didn’t always find his instructions to be helpful. The author has a specific way (or the word is “protocols”) for accomplishing pastor responsibilities, but his ideas are almost too specific. For example, there is a section in the chapter on baptism where he gives instructions for how to fold a baptismal robe in an orderly way, which he claims, reflects an orderly Creator. It is a dated book. Some old ideas for pastoral ministry that don’t translate well to today’s challenges in church ministry. BOOK RATING: 7 out of 10 stars.

The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates: A Proper Resistance to Tyranny and Repudiation of Unlimited Obedience to Civil Government by Matthew J. Trewhella (published by CreateSpace in 2013). 115 pages. I disagreed with significant conclusions in this book. The author claims there is vast biblical support for defying tyrannical governments and, yet, he failed to show one clear example. The examples he showed were of citizens appealing to their governments or using available means to protest or resist – not defy. He also fails to explain why Paul and Jesus commanded submission and paying taxes to a tyrannical Roman Empire.  Iwas not convinced of his main arguments but, of course, agree that if any government ever tells us to disobey God, we obey God rather than our government. BOOK RATING: 5 out of 10 stars.

Each for the Other: Marriage As It’s Meant to Be by Bryan Chapell with Kathy Chapell (published by Baker Books in 2006). 222 pages. This is a book about marriage, where the author takes the Ephesians 5 and 6 passages and explains the spouse’s roles to one another, a parent’s roles to their children, and a child’s role toward their parent. It’s more application than exposition. The strength of the book is the treatment of husbands, and I was particularly challenged by the section where he exhorts husbands to spiritually provide for their wives. BOOK RATING: 9 out of 10 stars.

Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristen Kobes Du Mez (published by Liverright Publishing in 2020). 358 pages. The author’s goal is to trace the history of “militant masculinity” or “patriarchy gone wild” in the history of the U.S.A. – basically from Billy Graham to the modern era. She contends that Christian men are looking for a hero to emulate, and that their problem is they look for only other white men or patriarchs. She shows her wokeness card often and her Christian feminist bias. While she does have a point that Christian men have not been always looking at righteous role models, the right solution is a more robust biblical understanding of manhood and womanhood, which she does not supply or recommend. She asks more questions that she does give answers. BOOK RATING: 6 out of 10 stars.

Character Matters: Shepherding in the Fruit of the Spirit by Aaron Menikoff (published by Moody in 2020). 195 pages. This is a book on the fruit of the Spirit (big “S”, not little “s”), but the applications in the book are mainly for pastors. While the non-pastor will be helped by the explanations of what each fruit means, the applications to ministry won’t be too helpful for them. I was encouraged and helped by the book, as the author shared relatable defeats and weaknesses. I am eager to lean in to grow more in the areas of spiritual fruitfulness. BOOK RATING: 9 out of 10 stars.

Living with the Giants: The Lives of Great Men of the Faith by Warren W. Wiersbe (published by Baker Book House in 1993). 274 pages. What a fun read this was! Some of the “giants” that are covered in this collection of biographical surveys are not men you may know much about (e.g., W. Robertson Nicoll, R.W. Dale, George Matheson). You will enjoy being introduced to a host of men who have helped build church the last few years. Most of these men are pastors, some writers. Each chapter is brief with only 3-6 pages. It would make a good resource for a small group to go through. BOOK RATING: 10 out of 10 stars.