Today we present an exciting lineup of fairly influential books. You may disagree with some of them, but their impact - or that of their authors - on the Christian Church in America (and in one case, in the United Kingdom) is undeniable.
Rewinding back to 1990 and the important Turning Point Series from Crossway Books, Leslie Wiggins' review of More Than Kindness: A Compassionate Approach to Crisis Childbearing by Marvin and Susan Olasky suggests that although much headway has been made in the arena since 1990, there is still far to go. She suggests an updated reprint is in order (hint hint, Crossway).
We post three Tim Challies reviews:
Derek and Rosemary Thomas' introduction to the Song of Solomon, entitled A Biblical Guide to Love, Sex, and Marriage. I always appreciate it when these types of books are written by husband and wife teams.
Thabiti Anyabwile's 9 Marks book What Is A Healthy Church Member? breaks no new ground but is a solid reminder of what constitutes a contributing member in the life of the Church.
Christian justice advocate Shane Claiborne's book The Irresistible Revolution does not fulfill its titular mandate for Tim, who suggests we would be well served to resist reading it.
Finally, new Discerning Reader reviewer - not new to book reviewing, however - Trevin Wax contributes two reviews:
N.T. Wright's popular adaption of his massive book The Resurrection of the Son of God is entitled Surprised By Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church and contains much that is good, but is still too problematic for the casual reader, according to Trevin.
Trevin cannot praise Stephen Nichols' cultural history Jesus Made in America too highly. He commends it for its Christ-centeredness and calls it one of the best books he has read all year.
Yet more summer reading awaits as we will be back next week with a new batch of reviews.
