Providence Points: A Short Review 1
shawn...@gmail.com
Biblical, Devotional & Informational
September 14, 2007
Vol. 2, No. 13
>From the Editor: This week is the meeting of the Presbytery of the
Dakotas. And I am the moderator. I covet your prayers. Of course,
the Presbytery needs our prayers as well.
On a monthly basis for over two years I have written short book
reviews for Providence-short enough to fit on a half-page in the
bulletin. The goal was simple: find good, unobjectionable Reformed
works for people to read-books and pamphlets that would be relatively
short, yet challenging and easy to read. For a man whose read
philosophy and Van Til since before he was a deacon, this was a tall
order. Well, I hope to bring these mini-reviews to your attention,
praying you can still benefit from them.
===================
A Short Review 1
Where in the World is the Church? A Christian View of Culture and Your
Role in It
Michael S. Horton
This thought-provoking introduction to a Reformed understanding of
culture is a helpful cure to the typical Evangelical fare. Bringing
the issues home to the average Christian, the author begins a brief
history of the rise of the arts, science and culture through the power
of the Reformation. Then he explains sphere sovereignty and the
Lord's control over all of life as the foundation of any culture. The
remainder of the book explains the relationship of the Christian-
individually and corporately-to intellectual endeavors, the arts, the
sciences and even leisure time.
By removing the misunderstandings that permeate modern conservative
Christendom (either escapism or absorption of culture), Horton walks
the tight rope of "in the world but not of it." He gives
encouragement to believers to work hard at their job and not to worry
about scalping unbelievers for the latest "ministerial" work of mass
conversions. He also challenges the "Christian ghetto" mentality
(separate music, art, clothes, movies, etc) of many Evangelicals.
Although the author tends to quote many secular sources (which can be
very interesting)-and some may not agree with all that is written-this
is still a recommended book to challenge those who do not realize they
have "become worldly when 'Phil Donahue' pep talks replace sermons,
worship is transformed for market-driven consumerism and therapeutic
or political categories begin to replace the solid emphasis in our
churches" (p.179).
===================
H. L. Mencken, "The urge to save humanity is almost always a false
front for those who want to rule it."