Top 10 Books for 2019 1-5

Yesterday I listed the first half of my favorite reads for 2019 6-10. Today I'll give you my top five.

5. In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors by Doug Stanton. As a Navy veteran and a resident of Indiana I thought this would be an interesting read, especially since I picked it up for a couple of dollars at an auction. It turned out to be an incredible read. The ship was returning from dropping off Little Boy, the first atomic bomb used in warfare, when it was sank by a submarine. Because of the secrecy of its mission few people knew where it was supposed to be and that it was sunk. It is an extraordinary tale of courage on the part of those who survived.

4. DARK AGENDA: The War to Destroy Christian America by David Horowitz. I enjoy everything I read written by Horowitz, a Jewish agnostic. He takes on the new Atheists and all those who want to remove Christianity from the American landscape. He exposes their hatred and intolerance for Christianity and points out the shallowness of their arguments. He is one of the leading conservative writers in America today and deserves to be read by all who are concerned about the direction of our nation.

3. Saving Truth: Finding Meaning and Clarity in a Post-Truth World by Abdu Murray.  The author points out that in our post-truth world people prefer their preferences to objective truth. Logic and evidence mean nothing to such people if they contradict their preferences. If you wonder if post-truth is actually a word or a mindset, Oxford Dictionary selected post-truth as its word of the year in 2016. With such a mindset it is no wonder that we have such confusion around sexual issues, ethics, freedom and human dignity. Not only does this book sound a warning about the post-truth mindset it offers practical ways to respond. It was a very good read.

2. Scientism and Secularism: Learning to Respond to a Dangerous Ideology by J. P. Moreland. The author is a respected professor of philosophy at Biola University, a Christian and the author of a number of books. He defines scientism as "the view that the hard sciences alone have the intellectual authority to give us knowledge of reality." He writes that scientism in fact distorts science. Science has never claimed to be the only way to understand reality. Throughout the book he shows how scientism is impacting the church, harming our children, and making it difficult to share our faith. I really enjoyed this book.

1. The Global Public Square: Religious Freedom and the Making of a World Safe for Diversity by Os Guinness. This was actually the last book I read in 2019 but easily became my top book of the year. Guinness points out how divided our world is today and rightly points out the way to overcome this division is to practice soul freedom for all people. He writes that "Soul freedom is the inviolable freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief that alone does full justice to the dictates of our humanity...It best expresses human dignity and agency; it promotes freedom and justice for all; it fosters healthy giving, caring, peaceful and stable societies; and it acts as a bulwark against the countless current abuses of power and the equally countless brutal oppressions of human dignity." This was on page 14, and the remainder of the book fleshes out his thoughts on religious freedom for all. I couldn't help but think that it should be required reading for every college student and should be on everyone's reading list who are concerned about the divisions affecting our nation today.

These are my top 10 books for 2019. In my next post I'll share with you what I'm currently reading.

Happy New Year everyone!

Top 10 Books for 2019 6-10

Each year I share the best 10 books I read the previous year. As we begin a new year it's time to give you my top books for 2019. Today I'll share 6-10, and tomorrow we'll look at 1-5.

10. How to Lead in a World of Distraction: Four Simple Habits for Turning Down the Noise by Clay Scroggins. The author tackles a problem common to anyone in a leadership position in any organization, including churches. He is the lead pastor of one of the largest campuses of North Point Ministries in Atlanta so you know he has plenty of distractions.  In the book he shares four habits to help leaders overcome the distractions they face: the habit of finding simplicity, the habit of speaking to yourself, the habit of getting away and the habit of pressing pause. I found it to be a very practical book that most leaders would find helpful.

9. God Attachment: Why You Believe, Act, and Feel the Way You Do About God by Tim Clinton and Joshua Straub. Clinton was one of my professors when I earned my doctoral degree so I was familiar with some of the material before reading the book. Actually, this was a re-read as I first read it a few years ago. The book looks at how our relationships with others, especially family, affects our relationship with God. The authors list four attachment styles: avoidant, anxious, fearful and secure. They help the reader understand better how to improve the way they relate to God regardless of which attachment style they may currently have. I found myself in the book which triggered a lot of self-reflection on my part.

8. Thinking for a Change: 11 Ways Highly Successful People Approach Life andWork by John Maxwell. This is another re-read. Actually, I've read this book a couple of times before reading it again this year. Most of us, at least me, could learn to think better, to think deeper and to think more creatively. As Maxwell writes, "Good thinkers are never at a loss to solve problems, they never lack ideas that can build an organization, and they always have hope for a better future....A person who knows how may always have a job, but the person who knows why will always be his boss." If you want to have tools to help you think better you'll want to read this book.

7. The Prodigal Prophet: Jonah and the Mystery of God's Mercy by Tim Keller. If you've followed my top 10 book lists in the past you might remember there is always at least one book by Keller on the list. In this book he looks at the story of Jonah and then relates him to both the prodigal son and to Jesus. More importantly, he points out how this Old Testament prophet points us to the grace of God. I'll also add that if you are looking for some great sermon material, this book will preach!

6. Cultural Apologetics: Renewing the Christian Voice, Conscience, and Imagination in a Disenchanted World by Paul Gould. We live in a time when the Christian message is often muted, ignored and mocked. The author asks the question, How does the gospel get a fair hearing in this day and age?" He believes the answer lies in practicing cultural apologetics which he defines as "the work of establishing the Christian voice, conscience, and imagination within a culture so that Christianity is seen as true and satisfying." Cultural apologetics seeks to understand the culture we want to reach, how it thinks and what it is seeking from life. The believer is then ready to show how Christianity speaks to those deepest needs. This is a very good book for anyone wanting to better relate the Gospel to his or her community.

Tomorrow we'll look at the final five books on the list.

Political divisions in the church

Few people would doubt that America is going through a very difficult time right now politically. Since the last presidential election we have seen our nation become more and more divided politically. Civil discourse is hard to find. Even before President Trump was sworn into office congressional Democrats were demanding his impeachment. Mobs took to the streets protesting his election. For the better part of three years his enemies have investigated every rumor, leaking information and rumors to the press to be proclaimed as absolute truth to the masses in hopes of causing his followers to lose faith in him and question his legitimacy to the office he holds. The House finally did vote to impeach the president only because the Democrats held the majority, but now for reasons only known to the Speaker, she refuses to send that impeachment to the Senate for a vote.

The president has hardly done himself any favors. He is often crass, rude and obnoxious in his statements, both spoken and published on social media. He has shown himself to be thin-skinned and unable to take criticism. No doubt, many of his supporters wishes he would be a little more presidential in his actions and words.

One thing is certain: it will take years for the divisions that now exist in our nation to heal, and they may never heal completely. Some have suggested that because of the impeachment of this president that every president in the future is likely to be impeached, especially if the opposite party controls the House. If this happens it will be a sad day for our nation.

What is even sadder is that the divisions we see in our nation are also seen in our churches and between people of faith. Christian leaders have spoken strongly against President Trump and even questioned the faith of those who support him while other Christian leaders have proclaimed him to be God's man for our time. Christians have gone on social media attacking one another for their political views.

The recent article in Christianity Today is just one example of the divisions affecting the church. The article listed many reasons why the president should be removed from office. It was written by an editor who was just days away from retiring from his position. It kind of reminded me of the pastor who preaches his last sermon at the church he is leaving with his car engine running in the parking lot. He can say what he wants to say and get out of town fast without having to worry about any consequences.

Of course, the secular media ran with the story as proof that the president should be removed from office. I doubt that anyone in the secular press had ever given much credence to anything Christianity Today published before, but since it fit their agenda they gave it plenty of press. The article further divided Christians with leaders on both sides of the issues taking to social media to make their claims.

Who really benefits from this division? The only one who benefits from such division among Christians is Satan himself. While we continue to fight among ourselves and attack each other over our political beliefs we are distracted from the work God has given the church. Furthermore, the unchurched community looks at us and sees us as nothing more than another bitterly divided political entity. We have one message to give to the world, and it is not the Democratic message or the Republican message; it is the message of the Gospel. Our political divisions are creating stumbling blocks that can prevent people from coming to Jesus Christ.

Does that mean that we cannot have political beliefs and opinions? Of course not. One of the problems today is that the church stayed out of the political arena for too many years. Christians should be involved in the political process, but we must tone down the rhetoric and stop attacking one another. Support and vote for the candidates of your choice, but don't hate those who vote for that person's opponent and don't question their faith or their values because they don't vote or believe as you do. I long ago gave up the hope that our political office holders (I don't call them leaders any more.) would unify for the good of the nation. I still pray that our religious leaders can unify for the good of the Kingdom of God. That, my friends, is far more important than promoting any political agenda.

What will your church DO in 2020?

I've been away from posting on this site for a couple of weeks. There was a lot going on before Christmas so I took a little break. My wife and I did travel to Austin, TX to visit our son and his family for Christmas and then returned home to host our daughter and her family Christmas day at our house. It was great spending those days with family.

This was the 53rd Christmas Faye and I have been together. I spent some time reminiscing previous Christmases. As a young married couple our first Christmas was interesting and a lot of fun. The next four Christmases I was in the Navy. We were fortunate that we were able to be together for each of those. Little ones came along and that changed our Christmas activities a little, and over the years family members left us which made future Christmases different as well. As different as each Christmas was, each were special in their own way. We are a very blessed couple and give God all the praise!

Many of my friends have posted stories and pictures of Christmas activities in their churches. A lot of work went into many of them, and I'm sure each of them were a blessing to their congregations and others in the communities.

But, now it's time to think about 2020 if you haven't already. For me, the most important question at this time is what will your church DO in 2020? I believe the world is looking for the church to be actively involved in impacting the world for good. We have a message of hope to give to the world and that message must not only proclaimed but demonstrated as well. It is not enough to stand behind a pulpit and preach the Gospel; we must be out in the streets living the Gospel. Jesus never invited people to come to a building for an hour each week to sing a couple of songs and hear a three-part sermon. He challenged His disciples to be engaged in people's lives. That hour each week can be important if it allows us to worship and be equipped for the week of ministry before us, but it must not be seen as the totality of our Christian experience.

What needs exist in your community that your church can address? Once again this year I've read where churches paid off thousands of dollars of medical bills for people in their communities. I've never pastored a church that had the financial ability to do something like that, and chances are your church could not do that either. But, it can do something.

The church spends too much time talking about the problems that exist in our society today and too little time doing something about them. I want to challenge every church to prayerfully consider what it might DO to make a difference in people's lives. Let's be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ throughout this new year. Let us find ways to show people the love of God for them, and in so doing, earn the right to tell them about Jesus Christ. If we will do this, when we come to this time next year I bet things will look different both in our churches and in our communities.

Our worst enemy

I am currently enjoying reading Os Guinness' book The Global Public Square: Religious Freedom and the Making of a World Safe for Diversity  This book is about religious freedom and how it is being challenged throughout the Western world. We've heard of the atrocities that occur in other places of the world where religious minorities have suffered much from religious majorities and atheistic governments, and while the attacks in America on religious freedoms pale in comparison to what others experience, it is real nonetheless. In fact, Guinness quotes a Pew Forum study that found that in 2010 "the United States moved into the top sixteen countries of the world where there was a rise in both government restrictions and social hostility toward religion."

Normally, I do not write about books I'm reading until I am finished with the book, but in this post I am making an exception. This book is not a quick read! It is filled with a lot of information that causes one to think. In a section I read earlier today he writes about some of the voices that attempt to drive religion from the public square, and one of those voices is "the rising disgust at the crude unwisdom of religious voices in public life."

A few years ago a pastor in Florida advocated the burning of the Quran sparking widespread protests. Ministers on TV promise miracle healings if you send them money for specially anointed cloths while others promote a "health and wealth" message to all who follow their teachings. Another church often protests at funerals of US service people and others claiming that these deaths are God's judgment on America for its acceptance of homosexuality. White evangelical and fundamentalist leaders were noticeably absent in the early days of the Civil Rights movement, and in some cases joined the efforts to promote segregation. The list of unwise and unnecessary voices goes on.

With the widespread use of social media these types of views and statements can go viral in a matter of days. Today when everyone has a camera and recording device unwise comments can live on forever. Many a politician wishes they had not spoken the words they did or took the stand they did to appease their current audience. It often comes back to haunt them when they are in front of a different audience. Religious leaders need to exercise caution as well.

In the past presidential election I was deeply troubled by some of the unwise things religious leaders were saying about the candidates running for office in both the primary and in the general election. Some of the things that were being said went far beyond the pale of supporting a particular candidate. I'm referring to hateful and virulent comments that people of faith were making about candidates and those who voiced support of them. In a few cases I simply unfriended them so I would not be subjected to any more of their hateful thoughts. In other cases, I cautioned people to consider how their comments were being received by others, especially those outside the faith.

Since the election we've seen the rhetoric continue between the political parties, the media and among individuals. While this is all troublesome and not healthy for our nation, it is especially sad when Christians question the faith of other Christians because of the political views they hold.

The church has a mandate to be salt and light to the world. We must speak out on the moral issues of the day, but we must do so with grace and compassion, not with malice and hatred. Our nation faces many challenging issues, and it must not exclude the voice of the church in its efforts to address these issues. Government can pass laws, but only the church has a message that can change hearts. But, if the church wants to be included in the public square it must learn to speak with wisdom. It must be committed to lifting up Jesus Christ, not its denomination or individual church or personal preferences.

What will your church do differently in 2020?

As I've written here many times before I love the start of a new year. When January 1st rolls around I feel like I have a brand new, clean sheet to work with. As a pastor I always loved planning for the new year and thinking about the possibilities that were available.

It's so easy for a church to fall into ruts in its thinking and ministries. One year just flows into the next, and nothing ever changes. We keep doing the same things, getting the same results, and complaining that nothing is improving. Why not spend some time leading up to the new year thinking about what could be done differently that might produce different results? Let me offer some suggestions to consider.

• What will your church do in 2020 to improve its evangelistic outreach? If we believe the Bible as many of us claim, people without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ are lost. The Great Commission tells the church that we are to go into all the world and share the good news about Christ and encourage people to trust in Him. How many people did your church see trust Christ for their salvation in 2019? Are you satisfied with that number? If not, what are you going to do intentionally to change that in 2020?
• The second part of the Great Commission has to do with discipling those who come to faith in Christ. How effective is the disciple-making ministries in your church? How many of your people are involved in Sunday school classes or small groups? How many people showed spiritual growth in the past year? Does your church need to improve this aspect of its ministry, and if so, how will you do that?
• What can your church do to strengthen families in 2020? So many families are struggling with problems related to addictions, finances, single-parent homes, abuse, and a host of other issues. I see no organization other than the church and para-church groups offering to help families address these challenges. Because many of these problems have a spiritual element to them, I don't believe any other organization can help families overcome these problems. Every church needs to have some ministries that specifically address family issues if we want to see families remain healthy. Does your church have such ministries?
• How will your church deal with justice issues in your community? There is so much injustice in our world today it can seem to be overwhelming. Everywhere we look we see poverty, homelessness, racism, sexism, ageism, crime, violence and the list goes on. Government cannot solve these problems. They can pass laws, and they have, but these laws do nothing to change human hearts, and injustice occurs when people's hearts are hardened to the point that they don't care about the fate of other people. The church must address these issues by not only talking about them but also by doing something to effect change. I ask the question again, what will your church do in 2020 to address the injustices that exist in your community?

This should be enough for your church leaders to think about between now and the start of the new year. If your church does nothing new in 2020 your church will look a lot like it does now when 2020 ends. But, if you are willing to dream and pray I believe God will show you some new things that will make the new year an exciting time of ministry and growth for your church.