Following the
challenge of the Blamires book on The Christian Mind
is John Stott’s Issues Facing Christians Today.
Stott, one of the leading evangelical preachers and scholars of
the 20th century, first published the book in 1984.
This important book has now been revised and updated and
includes a new chapter by John Wyatt.
When we talk
about thinking with or developing a Christian mind there is the
tendency to draw back and say, “That’s too hard. I do not know
how to do that. And what difference does it really make?”
Along with
The Christian Mind, this book is among the list of several
books that I recommend using in making kingdom disciples, or
those who know how to think God’s thoughts after Him and apply
them to life or how to think with a transformed mind. Blamires
deals with the necessity of the concept of the Christian mind
while Stott is more hands on with the topic by looking at issues
we are facing today.
Stott
establishes five foundations to further challenge and instruct
us in the process. In the chapter entitled “Our Complex World:
Is Christian Thinking Distinctive?” he lists five foundational
elements for thinking Christianly.
First, Stott
says we need a fuller doctrine of God. God has concern for all
of humankind, which has important consequences for our thinking.
God is the God of the nations and not simply of the covenant
people. God begins with all the nations before he focuses on
Israel, and he ends with all the nations. We need to remember
that as well. Also, the living God is the God of justice as well
as justification. He is concerned that community life be
characterized by social compassion and justice, especially from
those who are justified.
Second, we need
a fuller doctrine of human beings, body and soul, based on being
God’s image and likeness. Evangelism, relief, and development
should define our Christian responsibility.
Third, we need
a fuller doctrine of Christ that is consistent with His
revelation of Himself as the Lord and Savior who is the agent of
our redemption, not as depicted by things like The Da Vinci
Code.
Fourth, we need
a fuller doctrine of the church; not an isolated, withdrawal
view of the church from life but Christians as agents of God’s
reconciliation and thereby having significant influence on
society. This comes about by living like kingdom people are
supposed to live, with a concern for all of life.
Fifth, we need
a Christian mind. Developing a Christian mind that thinks with
integrity, is not anti-intellectual, and knows how to understand
and speak to the problematic issues in today’s world is crucial.
These five
elements are the keys to having a biblical world and life view,
which is the right view of God, creation, man and the fall,
redemption and restoration, and consummation. Knowing how these
apply while we are living between the kingdom come and the
kingdom coming is what God requires of us.
With certain
basics in place, we are in a better position to think about,
understand, discuss with intelligence, and impact those around
us. Issues Facing Christians Today deals with issues such
as bio-technology, same sex relationships, gender issues, war
and peace, poverty, human rights, work and business
relationships.
You will
benefit tremendously from reading, studying, and discussing this
book. There are discussion questions to use with each chapter
and topic. And though you may not always agree with the book,
you will be better equipped to understand and think about major
issues of life.
-
Charles Dunahoo
CEP Coordinator |
Third
Quarter 2009 Book Review