Today I want to continue my list of my top 10 favorite reads in 2021. Yesterday I covered 6-10; today we will look at the top five.
5. Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers is Telling the American Church by Kenda Creasy Dean is a fascinating if somewhat disturbing read about the faith of American teenagers. This book relies on the National Study of Youth and Religion study that looked deeply into the faith of our teens. What was found in that study is that, while these teens are mostly positive about Christianity, they are mostly apathetic about its practices. Fortunately, Dean provides guidance for teen workers, pastors and parents who want to help their teenagers experience a more robust, and biblical, faith.
4. For some reason I resisted buying Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory for a long time. Written by Tod Bolsinger, this book describes how Lewis and Clark were so certain they would find a waterway to the Pacific Ocean they never dreamed they would need anything but their canoes. They were shocked when they encountered the Rocky Mountains and realized their canoes were worthless. They could either return home defeated or they could seek new ways to reach their goal. Sounds like the church today doesn't it? We are facing new challenges today that our old methods can not resolve. We must choose whether to find new ways to achieve our mission or give up and abandon the purpose God has for us. This turned out to be an excellent book.
3. Don't let the title scare you. Human Freedom, Divine Knowledge, and Mere Molinism: A Biblical, Historical, Theological, and Philosophical Analysis by Timothy A. Stratton is an important read for those who are trying to understand how human freedom can exist in light of a sovereign God. This is not a book you will read quickly nor are you likely to agree with everything the author writes, but you will profit from the time you invest in this book. In much of the book Stratton discusses the theological thinking from Augustine to Edwards and compares them to Scripture and philosophy. He then introduces the concept of middle knowledge and looks at the significance of Molinism to this discussion of free will and predestination. Again, this is not light reading but one that will be very profitable.
2. Where Do We Go from Here?: How Tomorrow’s Prophecies Foreshadow Today’s Problems by David Jeremiah examines some of the issues in our culture in light of biblical prophecy. Some of the issues discussed in the book are the growing cries for socialism in our nation, the pandemics that threaten to overtake our world, cancel culture as well as many others. However, this is not a book of despair nor is it written to inspire fear in the reader. Rather, it reminds us that God is in control and is working out His will for our lives. Jeremiah writes to inspire hope in the reader, and I found that it did that very well.
1. Drum roll, please. My #1 pick for 2021 is We Will Not Be Silenced: Responding Courageously to Our Culture's Assault on Christianity by Erwin W. Lutzer. As we watch American moving further away from God and biblical teaching many Christians find themselves silenced due to fear of facing condemnation, ridicule and even physical attacks. Those who demand freedom of speech refuse to allow those who hold opposing views the same freedom. Lutzer pulls no punches as he points out the dangerous trends impacting our culture today. He addresses the hypocrisy of the left and the lies we are fed on a daily basis. He then challenges the church to speak boldly to those issues while at the same time showing compassion to those who have views that differ from our own. This is a serious book for our time and one that every Christian leader should read.
Here is my annual list of my ten favorite reads of the year. I encourage you to check them out and let me know what you think.
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