Category Archives: Book Reviews

Review: Smooth Stones Taken From Ancient Brooks

Posted on April 20, 2011 | Leave a comment

Smooth Stones Taken From Ancient Brooks: Selections from the Writings of Thomas Brooks by C.H. Spurgeon

Thomas Brooks

Banner of Truth Trust: 2011

Students of Charles Spurgeon know that he loved the Puritans. He poured over volumes of their books until their words poured out of him. One of his favorite Puritan authors was the 17th century Independent pastor Thomas Brooks. “Had Brooks been a worldly man,” writes Spurgeon, “his writings would have been most valuable; but since he was an eminent Christian, they are doubly so.”

Smooth Stones is Spurgeon’s collection of “sentences, illustrations, and quaint sayings” gleaned from Brooks’ six volume Works. It was first published in 1855, but is now Banner of Truth Trust’s latest in the Puritan Paperbacks series.

Like the author of the book of Proverbs, Brooks repeats the same themes in a variety of ways, and always with a different twist. “He saw similes, metaphors, and allegories everywhere; but they were all consecrated to his Master’s service:”

“Were riches ever true to them that trusted them? As the bird hops from twig to twig, so do riches hop from man to man.”

Readers will find plenty in Brooks’ writings to convict, humble, and warn them: “But as for such as cannot spare time to seek God in secret, they sufficiently manifest that they have little friendship or fellowship with Him to whom they so seldom come.” Or, “Open profaneness is the broad road that leads to hell, but closet duties rested in, is a sure though cleaner path.”

But Brooks doesn’t just shoot his arrows and leave readers in despair; there is something comforting or encouraging on every page. And whether convicting or comforting, Christ is always foremost: “Christ is the sun, and all the watches of our lives should be set by the dial of his motion.”

This excellent edition could be improved with more careful editing. We are told that, “The wick of a candle is little worth, and yet less where it smokes, yielding neither light nor heat, but father offends with an ill smell, which man cannot bear,” (page 36). And we don’t know whether to despair or rejoice when we read that the Lord says, “I will never have thee nor forsake thee,” (page 14). Such are the fruits of relying on technology. These errors don’t abound, but they do detract from the overall quality.

There is a disadvantage to reading quotes that are removed from the larger context. Readers may, in places, see the appearance of contraction, at least on the surface. But Smooth Stones is excellent for devotional reading, and is also a good introduction to the vast writings of Thomas Brooks. Over the last several mornings it has moved me to pray, increased my appetite for the Scriptures, and given me something to think about throughout the day.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Banner of Truth Trust in exchange for an honest review.

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Posted in Banner of Truth, Book Reviews, Puritans, Spurgeon

25th Anniversary Edition of Desiring God

Posted on February 24, 2011 | 1 Comment

Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist

25th Anniversary Edition

By John Piper

WaterBrook Multnomah

I first read John Piper’s Desiring God several years ago. Not when it first came out, as some other reviewers of this 25th anniversary edition can say. At that time I was ten, and Tom Sawyer was more to my liking. But it has been long enough to look back and see how it has influenced my thinking, theology, and concept of worship.

Piper’s theme is simple: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” He tells us that we should seek our pleasure and joy in God. Not in His gifts, but in Him: “The pleasure Christian hedonism seeks is the pleasure that is in God Himself. He is the end of our search, not the means to some further end.”

We should find so much joy in Christ that sin and worldly pleasures lose their pull: “This is the great business of life—to put our mouths out of taste for those pleasures with which the tempter baits his hook.” Piper’s is a most Christian message, and one that is at odds with much of what passes as Christianity in the West.

Christian hedonism won’t appeal to more traditional hedonists. It calls us to embrace suffering, to give away our money, to take up our crosses. And since Piper practices what he preaches, he isn’t easy to ignore. He is sincere, passionate, humble—one who represents Christ well. He is also a deep thinking theologian. His book isn’t easy to read, even if your normal diet consists more of Spurgeon and Edwards than Lucado or Stanley. But it’s worth the effort, as much today as it was 25 years ago. Some parts might trouble you. You may occasionally argue with the author—I do. You may have to re-read a page or a chapter. But this book has the potential to change your theology, even your life. It has changed lots of lives already, and there’s no reason to doubt that it will change more.

I received a review copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah in exchange for an honest review.

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Posted in Book Reviews, John Piper, WaterBrook Multnomah

Becoming King by Troy Jackson

Posted on February 18, 2011 | Leave a comment

Becoming King: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Making of a National Leader

By Troy Jackson

University Press of Kentucky: 2008

Paperback: February 28, 2011

Troy Jackson, author of Becoming King, says that it was the people of Montgomery who shaped Martin Luther King Jr. rather than Martin Luther King Jr. who shaped the people of Montgomery.

Civil rights advocate Virginia Durr described Montgomery, Alabama in the 1950’s as a place of “death, decay, corruption, frustration, bitterness and sorrow.” And Jackson convinces us that she wasn’t exaggerating. Blacks were oppressed, intimidated, and abused, and they were ready for change. Durr wrote: “I think the Negroes are stirring and they won’t be held down much longer.”

Through Jackson’s thorough research and extensive quotes, we come to know and appreciate many of the African-Americans working for change in Montgomery before King arrived—those like E.D. Nixon, a Pullman Porter and “tireless fighter for justice,” and his secretary, “a local seamstress” named Rosa Parks. Along with Nixon, there were other courageous men like Vernon Johns, pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist church, who posted the title of an upcoming sermon on the church billboard (which was only a block from the State Capitol): “It’s Safe to Murder Negroes in Alabama.” But Jackson shows that it was the women who were most essential to the movement:

“Though many black men in the city were just as frustrated with the racial status quo, they had more to lose by being outspoken. Whites believed they had much more to fear from black men, and therefore they responded more quickly, and often violently, to any who got out of line. As whites fixed their attention on black men, several black women were stirring the waters of racial change in Montgomery.”

When the young Martin Luther King Jr. arrived in Montgomery in 1954 to replace Johns as pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, he didn’t plan to lead a civil rights movement. But plans change.

Claudette Colvin, a student at Booker T. Washington High School, refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in March of 1955. When an officer tried to physically move her, “she fought like a little tigress” and was arrested. Soon after, Rosa Parks was also arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat. Jackson writes: “After a little more than a year in Montgomery, Park’s arrest thrust King into the front lines of a local movement for civil rights.” The bus boycott began. “Because the people of Montgomery were willing to walk, King had the opportunity to lead.”

The newly formed Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA), which elected King as president, led the boycott for the next thirteen months. Jackson gives a detailed account, telling the good and the bad, and correcting the idea that it wouldn’t have happened without King. It was Nixon’s idea, and the working people carried it out. “King brought the refined dimension required,” but never took any credit for himself:

“If I am stopped, this movement will not stop. If I am stopped our work will not stop. For what we are doing is right. What we are doing is just. And God is with us.”

The locals responded to the boycott with threats, legal action, and violence. King’s house, along with Nixon’s and several others, was bombed. And the city government wouldn’t budge until the U.S. Supreme Court found bus segregation unconstitutional. Even then, Jackson says there were minimal gains for the local blacks:

“The U.S. Supreme Court decision supporting integrated buses in the city proved more of a victory for King and the burgeoning civil rights movement than it was for the Montgomery African-American community.”

While “King became the face for the national struggle for civil rights,” the conditions in Montgomery worsened. Violence increased, and lots of those who took part in the boycott lost their jobs. Many had to move, including Rosa Parks.

In the introduction to Jackson’s book, Clayborne Carson writes:

“By acknowledging that the bus boycott had only a limited impact on the lives of Montgomery’s black working class, Becoming King is a necessary correction to romanticized versions of Civil Rights progress and Great Man historical myths.”

When King announced that he was leaving Montgomery in 1960, a Dexter member wrote: “The history books may write it Rev. King was born in Atlanta, and then came to Montgomery, but we feel that he was born in Montgomery in the struggle here, and now he is moving to Atlanta for bigger responsibilities.”

E.D. Nixon put it less politely: “If Mrs. Parks had gotten up and given that cracker her seat you’d never heard of Reverend King.”

We can’t say whether Nixon was right or not, but Jackson makes it clear that it was in Montgomery that King became the leader we remember. Jackson’s work is as engaging as it is important, and I highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the University Press of Kentucky in exchange for an honest review.

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Posted in biography, Book Reviews, history, Martin Luther King Jr.

The Legacy of the King James Bible by Leland Ryken

Posted on February 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

The Legacy of the King James Bible: Celebrating 400 Years of the Most Influential Translation

Leland Ryken

Crossway: 2011

This year is the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, which, according to Leland Ryken, is the most influential book of all time. Though he doesn’t “believe that the King James Bible is the best translation for a reader today,” his book makes it clear that he’s a strong advocate.

(Read a pdf sample of the book here.)

Ryken tells how in 1604, a group of “dejected Puritans” were granted permission by the recently crowned King James I to begin work on a new Bible. The task was not to create a whole new translation, but to revise the 1568 Bishop’s Bible, which was the version commonly kept chained in the churches of England for public reading.

A group of 47 scholars, divided into six committees, worked at Westminster Abbey, Oxford, and Cambridge. The group was diverse—from Puritans to high churchmen—but shared a commitment to accuracy and a dedication to the task, working long hours for little pay in “rooms so cold and damp, except close to the fires, that fingers and joints got stiff.” Ryken says that the popular “depiction of the translators ‘working in the sumptuous furnishings of the great universities and the royal court’ is preposterous.”

There is no evidence that the King James received the authorization of the church or king when it was published in 1611. It “was authorized, not by an edict imposed upon the people, but by popular acclamation.”

Regarding its accuracy, Ryken writes: “There can be little doubt that when the King James Bible was released in 1611, it was the most accurate English translation in existence.” The translators were careful to make sure that “every word in the original biblical text would be represented by an equivalent English word or phrase.” This was their main goal. How does Ryken say it compares today?

If we believe that the standard of accuracy is a translation’s giving us the words of the original text in equivalent English words, the KJV shows its superior accuracy over modern dynamic equivalent translations on virtually every page of the Bible (and probably multiple times on every page).

Though the KJV is known for being a literal translation, it is best known for its eloquence and beauty, traits that are mostly accidental. Much of the style resulted from the translator’s faithfulness to the Hebrew and Greek; what was poetic in the original became poetic in the English. Also, because most of the Bible reading was oral in those days, the translators wanted to ensure that the rhythm flowed “smoothly off the tongue and into the ear of the listener.”

Ryken’s book concentrates on the King James Version’s influence on the English world, from subsequent Bible translations to the various arts: “That the King James Bible has been the largest single influence on the English language is often asserted and can be plausibly inferred….It is from [the KJV] that the English-speaking world learned to read and to think.”

The work’s influence is especially evident in literature. “I do not remember ever having encountered a member of the literary establishment who preferred any English Bible other than the KJV.” Ryken gives sample after sample, his evidence as vast as the influence itself, until his book sounds like an anthology.  But it is interesting, and it is important, and Ryken is an English professor after all.

Though Ryken usually writes clearly, his style occasionally departs from the eloquent simplicity of his subject:

The fact that Yeats used a New Testament commonplace of a second coming in a metaphoric sense of the coming age of terror rather than Christ’s return at the end of history does not affect my claim that we need to know certain biblical texts before the title means anything.

Ryken answers questions, corrects myths, and gives the Authorized Version the attention and praise that it deserves. I’ve had the unhappy opportunity to read many of the writings of King James only advocates. Ryken, though far from that camp, does more to persuade me to return to the Bible of my ancestors than all of those writings combined.

Solomon said, “Of making many books there is no end.” I’m afraid that goes for Bible versions, too. But, endless though they may be, there will never be another that surpasses the beauty or influence of the King James Version. Ryken’s book convinces us of that; it is a fitting celebration of a most important anniversary.

I received a copy of this book from Crossway in exchange for an honest review.

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Posted in Bible Versions, Book Reviews, Crossway

Thomas Nelson’s Beginning Reader’s Bible

Posted on February 1, 2011 | Leave a comment

Our little girls like having daily Bible reading; it’s something that we’ve always done with them. Though I’ve tried lots of story books and devotionals for kids, we always go back to the Word itself. The children don’t understand it all, but neither do their parents, and they still benefit from it and enjoy it.

Thomas Nelson’s new Beginning Reader’s Bible is different from other Bible story books. Instead of giving someone’s interpretation, it tells the stories from the text of the International Children’s Bible—real Scriptures complete with chapter and verse. Each story comes with a related memory verse, a prayer from Scripture, and an activity.

Along with twenty-six familiar stories from the Old and New Testaments, there are twelve useful resources at the end of the book: selected verses from Proverbs, the Ten Commandments, the 23rd Psalm, the Lord’s Prayer, and more. These are all listed with page numbers in the contents, but the reader will look high and low without finding a single page that’s numbered. Another minor complaint: there is a prayer of salvation given at the end of the book, which I find unscriptural, yet can be easily ignored.

Anyone who reads to children knows that the pictures are important. Marijke ten Cate has done well with this book. The illustrations are colorful, detailed, and a great compliment to the text.

Overall, our family is pleased with the Beginning Reader’s Bible and will get some use out of it. The International Children’s Bible is a weak translation, but is good for children, and is a step toward preparing them for a more mature version. It’s being a Bible version at all makes the Beginning Reader’s Bible better than most story books.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.

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Posted in Bible Versions, Book Reviews, children's books

Secure Daughters, Confident Sons by Glenn T. Stanton

Posted on January 19, 2011 | Leave a comment

Secure Daughters, Confident Sons: How Parents Guide Their Children into Authentic Masculinity and Femininity

Glenn T. Stanton

Multnomah: 2011

Add to your Amazon cart here

Glenn T. Stanton unapologetically believes that males and females are different, and that the difference isn’t just a result of social conditioning. Little boys are different from little girls just like their daddies are different from their mothers. Their interests are different, their needs are different, even their brains are different. Stanton’s book itself is evidence. If we were to remove his name along with all of the references to his being male, there wouldn’t be a doubt that a man wrote the book. What lady would write a section on the benefits of throwing and catching babies, after all?

Stanton makes it clear that “different doesn’t mean inferior”:

“Different means different—think unique if that helps—and many of these female and male differences show us how important, vital, and necessary both male and female are for society and the family. Each has essential qualities, strengths as well as weaknesses, that the other doesn’t have.”

(Read a sample pdf chapter here.)

And to back that up, he gives equal space to raising boys and raising girls; they even get their own chapters. Why wouldn’t they? The goal of raising little boys is to make good men, he says, and the goal of raising little girls is to make good women. While “goodness” is the same regardless of gender, what makes a good man is quite different from what makes a good woman, and so there are aspects of their upbringing that should be different. “Raising secure daughters and confident sons is, by definition, gender distinct work.”

Stanton also makes a big fuss about the difference in parenting styles between mother and dad, and he says that both are important. Kids benefit from the balance. His examples of these differences were on the mark for my family, and I was happy to show my wife that I’m not so weird after all; that’s just my being male. While mother sees that children are nurtured and safe, dad makes other contributions. For instance, by throwing baby in the air, dad builds confidence and, ironically, comfort. In a bit of an understatement, Stanton says that “Moms build comfort in their children in other ways.”

Sure, we read a little about discipline, but very little. And to this reader, that’s refreshing. I can only read so many books with multiple chapters on multiple spankings, but Stanton doesn’t mention the rod at all. Instead, we get to read about hugging our kids, working with them, listening to them, and being involved in their lives. There’s even a whole chapter on “the serious business of play.” But even in play, there are lessons to be learned: “Dad needs to show his son how to destroy the right things safely.”

Rank this review here.

Stanton, who is the director for family formation studies at Focus on the Family, draws from several sources. There is a sprinkling of Scripture and, for the most part, his arguments are biblical. He also leans heavily on psychology, science, and experience. Some will find these worldly influences too heavy. When he says that men should teach their sons to stand up to bullies, to even fight them when necessary, I find myself agreeing. But then I suspect that that’s the Texan, rather than the Christian, in me. Overall, Stanton finds a good balance in this well-written, well-edited, often funny and very helpful book.

Get it from Barnes and Noble here.

I received a copy of this book from Multnomah in exchange for my review.

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Posted in Book Reviews, family, parenting, WaterBrook Multnomah

Abortion: A Rational Look at an Emotional Issue by R.C. Sproul

Posted on January 17, 2011 | Leave a comment

Abortion: A Rational Look at an Emotional Issue

© 2010 by R.C. Sproul

Published by Reformation Trust Publishing 

All Rights Reserved.

R.C. Sproul writes that abortion “may be the most serious ethical dilemma ever faced by the United States.” It’s certainly an issue that divides the nation and arouses strong emotion on both sides. This is no less true today than it was twenty years ago, when Dr. Sproul first published his book, Abortion: a Rational Look at an Emotional Issue.

Sproul says up front that abortion is not a simple issue to address:

“It is a multifaceted, complex matter that involves a conflict of perceived rights. No matter how the issue of abortion is resolved, someone’s rights—or at least perceived rights—will be in jeopardy. Can such a web of interwoven and conflicting issues be untangled?”

In this reader’s estimation, Sproul does a great job of untangling the issue with clear facts and skillful logic.

While the book is short and easy to read, it provides a good overview of the questions surrounding abortion. What is the proper role of government and law? What does natural law teach us about the sanctity of life? What does the Bible say about the sanctity of life? Does the sanctity of life have any bearing on abortion at all? When does life begin? What does science say? In each of his responses, Sproul shows that “abortion is against the law of God, against the laws of nature, and against reason.”

Sproul’s arguments probably won’t move many who are firmly planted on either side of the debate. Those who are pro-life will agree with him; those who are pro-abortion won’t. But his primary audience is those who aren’t convinced. Those who are undecided or who, in an attempt to take a middle ground, call themselves pro-choice.

Why should anyone who is already pro-life read this book?  By examining the issue from several angles, readers will be more equipped to present balanced and convincing arguments in support of their view. Sproul also answers the most common arguments in favor of abortion, further preparing readers to engage in informed discussion.

Unfortunately, many professing Christians don’t act wisely when it comes to addressing abortion. Sproul discusses both appropriate and inappropriate responses. Most importantly, he reminds readers that, for those who are repentant, regardless of their sin, there is forgiveness in Christ:

“Though what I have done cannot be undone, I can be forgiven. Forgiveness is one of the marvels of God’s grace. Its healing power is magnificent. If a woman has been involved in abortion, God does not require that she spend the rest of her life walking around with a red ‘A’ on her chest. He does require that she repent of her sin and come to Him for the cleansing of forgiveness. When God forgives us, we are forgiven. When God cleanses us, we are made clean. That is a cause for great celebration.”

The fact that everyone needs God’s forgiveness should remind us that, though we may hate the practice of abortion, we are to extend grace and love to everyone, especially to those who are hurting.

Of all that I’ve read about our “most serious ethical dilemma,” Dr. Sproul’s book is the most convincing. And, regardless of what side of the argument readers are on, I’m sure they will agree that Sproul is both fair and, as the subtitle says, rational. To those who don’t know where you stand, I encourage you to read this book. For those considering an abortion, I beg you to read this book. It may be the most worthwhile reading of your life. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with a final word from the author: “The simple adage of common wisdom applies to you: ‘When in doubt, don’t.’”

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Reformation Trust Publishing in exchange for my review.

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Posted in abortion, Book Reviews, R.C. Sproul, Reformation Trust

The Faith of Ronald Reagan by Mary Beth Brown

Posted on January 11, 2011 | Leave a comment

          President Reagan was a man of faith. He believed in prayer, and he depended upon a sovereign God who answers prayer. He displayed his faith through generosity, kindness, and love. Because I admire these qualities and the President who possessed them, I was eager to read Mary Beth Brown’s The Faith of Ronald Reagan. Brown is a New York Times Best-Selling Author, so I assumed that the book would be well written. Had I thought twice, I would have remembered that popularity has little to do with quality.

Brown gives us an overview of each stage in the President’s life, even going back as far as the childhood of his parents. She covers the most important events while throwing in the more interesting details, and has no shortage of quotes from Reagan and those who knew and loved him. By the end, I appreciate President Reagan even more than I did before, and I am convinced that he trusted God, both in public and private.

Though Brown succeeds in highlighting the faith of Reagan, she fails to write a serious biography. She is too attached, too adoring. The book sounds like a mother’s ode to her most beloved son, or a high school yearbook tribute to the quarterback who died in a tragic accident written by the overly familiar friend.

True to her role as overly familiar friend, Brown mentions any Reagan event that she was “fortunate to attend,” even when it has little to do with the context. And, once she tells us that Reagan’s childhood nickname was “Dutch,” we almost lose hope that she’ll ever use his real name again:

“Dutch also occasionally led prayer meetings at church. Members of his church enjoyed listening to Dutch’s dynamic, engaging voice and delivery, which was most likely the result of the elocution (the art of public speaking) lessons that his mother gave him. Some church members later remarked how Dutch would make the Bible seem personal and alive…”

Finally, after several chapters, Dutch grows up, and we remember that we are reading about a President of the United States. But then there’s the problem of awkward, repetitive, redundant prose:

“In 1976, he faced a sitting U.S. president, Gerald R. Ford, for the Republican nomination, and his campaign strategy called for delivering a knockout blow to Gerald Ford in the early primaries of New Hampshire and Florida. The strategists of the 1976 campaign believed that those early wins would knock Ford out.”

Nothing is beautiful, but has to be stunningly beautiful. Danger has to be “a brush with death.” And paragraphs drop in from nowhere. We think we’re reading a chapter about Reagan’s mother, but maybe it’s about Moon (Reagan’s brother), or Muggs (Reagan’s girlfriend). Or is it about Dutch’s collection of bird’s eggs? No, it’s Bible commentary—the Mary Beth Brown Bible commentary, which readers get a strong dose of. For Brown, every story is a “teachable moment,” and she never misses an opportunity to enlighten us on things that are “almost universally misunderstood.”

There are other problems besides the writing. There is the equating of patriotism with faith, the belief that the U.S. is the “shining city on a hill,” and the certainty of the Holy Spirit’s involvement in Reagan’s acting career and political speeches. Maybe Reagan was the most Christian President of modern times (“Even though Carter was a self-described born-again Christian, he gave eleven religious discourses…whereas Regan gave twenty-four”). But God’s chosen servant?

“John Barletta, a Secret Service agent close to President Reagan (who has traveled all over the world with him) has said that he too noticed this amazing phenomenon with the weather at Reagan’s inauguration and other appearances: ‘The sky would be gray and cloudy at an outdoor event, and then when President Reagan came up to speak, the sky would clear and the sun would shine down on him.’”

Serious readers will want to find another Reagan biography. For those who prefer a shallow, sentimental book that borders on mystical, this book will do.

Note: The Faith of Ronald Reagan is the 2011 version of Brown’s Hand of Providence: the Strong and Quiet Faith of Ronald Reagan, published in 2004.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Thomas Nelson.

         The Faith of Ronald Reagan

Mary Beth Brown

Thomas Nelson: 2011

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Posted in biography, Book Reviews, Politics, Thomas Nelson

Ignatius of Antioch by Sinclair Ferguson

Posted on January 2, 2011 | Leave a comment

     Ignatius of Antioch: The Man Who Faced Lions

By Sinclair B. Ferguson

Illustrated by Alison Brown

Banner of Truth: 2010

“A ‘hero’ is someone who is much more than a ‘personality’ about whom we may know little or nothing,” writes Sinclair Ferguson. “A hero is someone who has shown moral fibre, who has overcome difficulties and opposition, who has been tested and has stood firm.” Such are the qualities of the subjects of Ferguson’s Heroes of the Faith series published by Banner of Truth Trust.

Ignatius was no exception. Ferguson tells the story of this first century bishop of Antioch whose name literally means “on fire.” Because he refused to worship the gods of Rome, Ignatius was forced to stand trial before the Emperor Trajan, where he defied the idols and confessed the Lord Jesus Christ. For this, he was sent to the Colosseum in Rome where he was thrown to the lions.

Ferguson writes in a way that children can understand, while the adults benefit, too. The gospel is presented clearly, and the truth that following Christ may lead to persecution and martyrdom is handled well. For a children’s book, Ignatius of Antioch is quite serious. My six-year-old continued asking questions for a quarter hour after we read it. It is also educational and edifying for parents, though it may not hold the attention of very young children.

Heroes, the Gospel, serious thinking: all good for a six-year-old and her dad. I’m pleased with this book, and other parents will be, too.

Other titles in the series include:

    Irenaeus of Lyons: The Man Who Wrote Books

    Polycarp of Smyrna: The Man Whose Faith Lasted

I received a review copy of this book from Banner of Truth Trust.

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Posted in Banner of Truth, Book Reviews, children's books, Sinclair Ferguson

God’s Almost Chosen Peoples by George C. Rable

Posted on December 30, 2010 | Leave a comment

God’s Almost Chosen Peoples: A Religious History of the American Civil War

By George C. Rable

The University of North Carolina Press: November, 2010

George C. Rable says that during the American Civil War, “Loyalty to the nation could not be separated from loyalty to God.” This was the case regardless of which “nation” one was part of. Both sides believed they were doing the Lord’s work. A lack of patriotism equaled a lack of faith, or even atheism. “One could be a good citizen without being a Christian, an Indiana Baptist association conceded, but one could not be a Christian without being a good citizen.” At the same time, in his address to the Georgia General Assembly, Confederate preacher Benjamin Palmer said: “Our cause is preeminently the cause of God himself, and every blow struck by us in defense of his supremacy.”

During church services, it was common to “confess” the sins of the nation, though these sins were mostly attributed to the other side. While the North pointed to slavery and rebellion as the cause of God’s wrath, the South blamed it on the Yankee’s “atheism” and oppression:

“Lincoln, like the Egyptian Pharaoh, had hardened his heart against eleven states that sought to leave the house of bondage.”

Preachers throughout the Union and Confederacy found no shortage of Old Testament stories to represent their plight: the Exodus, the division of the twelve tribes (used skillfully by both sides), Israel’s battles with the Philistines, the Southern David fighting the Northern Goliath (less popular after Union victories), and so on.

Rable shows how religion was even used to justify slavery. In a sermon preached in Savannah, Stephen Elliott called slavery a “divinely guarded system, planted by God, protected by God, and arranged for his own wise purposes.” Calls for abolition were clear displays of the godlessness of the North.

This assurance on the part of both sides that theirs was the righteous cause helped justify hatred. One Alabama preacher claimed a “deep Christian and inextinguishable hatred toward the demons of the north….it is doing God service to kill the diabolical wretches on the battlefield.” Horace Bushnell, a Congregationalist Minister from Connecticut, asked a soldier whom he met on the road, “Killed anybody yet?” When the officer was not sure, Bushnell replied, “Time you had, that’s what you went out for.”

Though Rable records a lot of rhetoric and hypocrisy, he also gives plenty evidence of true religion, both on the battlefield and at home. There were some ministers who refused to be political and continued to preach nothing but the Gospel, while their congregations served in whatever way they could. Some, such as the Catholic Sisters of Mercy, tirelessly rendered aid and showed love to soldiers from either side. And though the war hardened some, it had a sanctifying affect on others. One soldier wrote:

“There is something irresistible in the appeal which the Almighty makes, when He strikes from your side, in the twinkling of an eye, your friend and comrade.”

As mentioned above, others found the war not so sanctifying. When upbraided for swearing, one Baptist minister turned captain replied: “The Lord has given me a furlough until this damn war is over.”

Most, however, were never Christians to begin with. Rable says estimates suggest that no more than 25% of Union armies and around 1/3 of the Confederate forces were Christians. But who can number the faithful? One thing is sure: there was enough drinking, gambling, cursing, and dancing on both sides to keep the tract presses running and the missionaries praying.

Rable examines every aspect of religion during the Civil War, showing both the good and bad without apparent bias. And if his book lacks in any area, it’s not in the research; there are almost two hundred pages of bibliography and footnotes. This is a work that would be difficult to dispute, as we hear directly from those who were involved. Rable quotes letters, diaries, sermons, and speeches from soldiers, mothers, preachers, and nuns.

Whatever Rable’s religious background, he shows an excellent understanding of church history, theology, and denominational distinctions. He also displays a thorough familiarity with the Bible. We can trust that he knows what he’s talking about.

My difficulty with this otherwise great work is the repetition. Though there is a loose chronological progression, the writing is mostly made up of short anecdotes and quotes that, after a while, sound the same. In the first chapter we learn that both sides believed God was on their side, both saw their victories as favor and their defeats as judgment, both twisted Scripture to justify their cause, both looked for providence in every blink of a gnat. And, though illustrated in different ways each time, we hear the same themes throughout each chapter. But Rable throws in enough new material and interesting quotes to keep us reading; in the end we’re glad that we did.

God’s Almost Chosen Peoples will be most enjoyable to history lovers, and is essential for those who have an interest in the American Civil War. But it will also be valuable to students of religion, as it provides an in-depth look at the state of religion during the most difficult period in American history.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from The University of North Carolina Press.

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