Why Trust the Bible? by Greg Gilbert

From Amazon
The Bible stands at the heart of the Christian faith. But this leads to an inescapable question: why should we trust the Bible? Written to help non-Christians, longtime Christians, and everyone in between better understand why God’s Word is reliable, this short book explores the historical and theological arguments that have helped lead millions of believers through the centuries to trust the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Written by pastor Greg Gilbert, author of the popular books "What Is the Gospel?" and "Who Is Jesus?", this volume will help Christians articulate why they trust the Bible when it comes to who God is, who we are, and how we’re supposed to live.

This little book is a fairly short, but excellent, read. The Christians of today's generation often end up believing in God, but they have no idea why or even how to explain their reasons to those who ask. And in our "don't believe everything you read" culture, many are skeptical of the inerrancy and inspiration of the Scriptures. But Greg Gilbert lead the reader through seven chapters answering vital questions regarding the inerrancy of Scripture. 

From translation copies and historical reliability to document accuracy and the resurrection, Gilbert skillfully and carefully demonstrates how biblical manuscripts are reliable, accurate, and right. He discusses the question of miracles and testifies to how Christianity is based on the resurrection of Christ. For unbelievers, this book would be extrememly beneficial if they desired to understand the basis for Christianity, as Gilbert logically and methodically answers the main questions people have about Scripture. For believers, this book is a great help in showing us how we might defend our faith to those who question us. Gilbert writes in a simple way while yet tackling difficult arguments, and he enables his reader to understand the information in order to pass it on to others. 

Gilbert talks about whether the meaning of Scripture would have been lost through translation from the original languages or whether the Bible was just "copies of copies of copies of copies". He takes his reader through questions such as "Are these really the books you're looking for?" or "Were the authors of the biblical documents deluded or deceived or were they telling us what really happened?"

My favorite chapter was called "So Did It Happen?", which refers to the resurrection. I wished it could have been the last chapter. But like Gilbert says, the book title is "Why Trust the Bible?" and not "Why Trust That Jesus Rose from the Dead?", so the seventh and last chapter concludes that we can indeed trust the documents that have been translated knowing that they are inspired by the Holy Spirit and contain the reason for Christianity and the proof of a resurrected Man. Gilbert also discusses how the resurrection means something from the Old Testament and the New Testament, for both are necessary for a complete picture of the wonder of salvation. 

Another great book in the 9Marks series! Check out a review of What is the Gospel?, which is another book by Greg Gilbert in the same series.

The Power of Together by Jim Putman

Back Cover
The joyful and powerful Christian life you long for is closer than you think. None of us is lovable all of the time--and no one can make us feel worse than those closest to us. So we keep others at arm's length to protect ourselves rather than reaching out for relationship. But think of who Jesus invited into his life and ministry. They weren't always lovable. Yet he modeled perfect love for us and showed how the mark of a spiritually mature believer is engaging with others in meaningful relationships. This in-depth, biblical look at the critical importance of "doing life" in close fellowship with other believers will draw you closer to your spiritual family--and to Jesus--than ever before.

Jim Putman addresses a topic that I believe is much needed in today's churches. Some churches today have solid doctrine down pat, while others are exemplary in their friendliness and relational closeness within the church. However, few churches combine the two in a biblical manner. Solid doctrine without relational fellowship produces an emotionally unstable and socially awkward congregation. Fellowship without doctrine leads to a false understanding and lack of knowledge of the Scriptures. 

Putman's church, while certainly not filled with perfect people, demonstrates a working understanding of biblical relationships through solid doctrine, and he uses examples from people around him and from the staff in his church to display how healthy relationships should work among believers. He begins with a definition of what is missing and a description of how people are "hardwired to connect". He states that though we may be fully committed to Christ and understand doctrine, we won't experience all God has for us unless we are intentional in our relationships. We think we can handle anxiety and pressure on our own, but in reality that leaves us with burdens that we weren't meant to carry. We fight the devil alone when we have an incomplete picture of Christianity. "Yes, as an isolated Christian, you can still make it to heaven. But while on earth, something will always be missing. You will not experience all the good that God has for you, and you will not be the light in the dark world that God desires that you become."

In the next several chapters, Putman writes of and describes spiritual maturity and how pride keeps us from continually resolving conflict and interacting with others of the same faith. He states that the churches today are great at training up polite and friendly people in their churches, but that they fail at producing relationships in order to disciple new believers and grow the older believers. "True relationship is different from surface politeness--it goes much deeper..." Politeness won't end up satisfying those who are crying for the fellowship of the Spirit through other believers. 

Putman describes relationships, and the community of the church family. He also takes a chapter to explain the danger of pride--the vice that divides relationships. He gives examples of and writes of relationships that are real in his church or in others' lives. "Authentic Christianity is incomplete without real relationships that strengthen and supprt." We refuse or weaken God's grace when we think that in our pride we can handle our trials, burdens, sins,  and questions alone. Defeating the enemy becomes a group effort, rather than a single exhausted warrior attempting to fight the spiritual darkness single-handedly. In being a city on a hill, we must be just that...a city. Not just merely an individual. And combined with the relationships, solid doctrine is preached in order to keep the congregation functioning as the bride of Christ. Relational efforts don't always work, but there is a method that works when both parties are willing to grow together. 

Toward the end of the book,  Putman's paragraphs can seem rather redundant because he's writing about one single topic, but in all, I found his book extrememly helpful (and encouraging) in pinpointing the struggles of most--if not all--churches today. There is something missing, but once discovered, we cannot say that we do not know the solution. An easy read on a vital issue. 



Disclosure: 

I received this book free from Baker Books through the Baker Books Bloggers www.bakerbooks.com/bakerbooksbloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

Lion of Babylon by Davis Bunn

I picked up this book at a biannual booksale this year. I recognized the cover because I also had it in audiobook. I had read a few other of Davis Bunn's coauthored books, some of which I would not recommend, so I was a bit skeptical. But I was pleasantly surprised.

It took me a couple tries to actually get into the book, but once I was in it was hard to stop.

Back Cover
   Marc Royce worked for the State Department on a variety of clandestine assignments--that is, until personal issues led to his dismissal.
   When Alex Baird goes missing in war-torn Baghdad, State comes calling again. Alex is an intelligence agent--and a close friend of Royce. Three others have also dropped out of sight--a nurse, an aid worker, a wealthy young Iraqi. Are these cases linked? Rumors circulate about a kidnapping conspiracy, yet both American and local officials refuse to pursue it.
   Blocked at every turn, Royce eventually unearths a trail of secret encounters between sworn enemies. What he discovers could transform the course of rivalry and reconciliation throughout the Mideast. As the human and political drama escalates, can one man summon the courage to make a difference?

I don't often read books set in current time, but I enjoyed this one. Perhaps the strongest theme of this book is the theme of friendship and trust in relationships. People of different religions and cultures need to learn to trust each other in order to bring about a rescue operation. Marc's loyalty to Alex for all that Alex did prompts him to take on this monumental, risky task, simply because of their friendship. The friendship that grows between Sameh, Bisan, Miriam, and Leyla is precious. Bisan is a dear and she brings laughter and compassion to all her scenes. I loved following Marc through his struggles and mental wrestlings. It's interesting to have him as the center character in the main part of the book, written from his view, and then nearer the end of the book Bunn writes more about Marc from others perspectives. It's an interesting switch, and I think it's a good one. Sameh, also, is a special character and I love how Marc and he are thrown together and must learn to trust one another.

One interesting thing I noticed was the lack of romance. It's hard to find a book that doesn't have it these days, but there was virtually none in this book. One man's wife had left him before the start of the book, another character's wife had died, so perhaps the lack of it was due to those factors. While there were husband-wife relationships, they didn't play into much of the story except in family settings. There were a few comments toward the end of the story regarding a young man and his fiance, but they weren't part of the main plot. And while there was a bit of teasing that went on regarding romance and such, the theme of friendships and loyalty was much stronger, and I appreciated that greatly.

I also enjoyed learning about the Iraqi and Iranian way of life better. Their family values and government system wasn't something I had really studied before, but this story gave me a small glimpse into their challenges and virtues.

The theme of worship is another interesting concept in this book. People are brought together from different religions, lifestyles, sects, and backgrounds, and really have nothing in common except Jesus. While I would have appreciated a stronger Christian message, the few church scenes and spiritual comments and discussions were powerful. The name of Christ can unite even enemies.

An intriguing read and an amazing outcome.

While I have read the other two books in the Marc Royce series, you can find the reviews of them here on another book lover's blog: Rare Earth (2) and Strait of Hormuz (3).