Posted by Jeff Short on March 26, 2021 · Leave a Comment
The Wrath of Grapes: Drinking and the Church Divided by Andre S. Bustanoby
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Bustanoby’s books is a helpful contribution to studying the issue of wine from the Bible. He helps to clear up some of the myths and erroneous conclusions on both sides of this issue, which cloud many discussions of it. He presents a moderationist view and ably defends it as the scriptural view. He spends time on exegetical and lexical work with words used and the meaning of relevant biblical passages. He echoes the condemnation and warning from scripture concerning drunkenness or the abuse of alcohol. He ends with a few practical chapters on alcohol abuse and alcohol abusers. This felt a little beyond the scope of the book, but had some helpful information. That section particularly could use some updating.
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Posted by Jeff Short on December 30, 2020 · Leave a Comment
The Spirituality of Wine by Gisela Kreglinger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is a fascinating book. Too many of us have giving too little thought and study about what the Bible says about wine. Regardless of what side of the issue of drinking wine you are on, it can’t be denied that wine is a prevalent theme in Scripture, which needs honest treatment. I disagreed with some of the theology and philosophy in this book, but the biblical passages treated in the book were handled fairly well. The historical and contemporary milieu of winemaking sections in the book were interesting and informative. The book really shines in the artful descriptions of vineyards and the connection between wine in the barrel and the soil of the place. Kreglinger dealt with the delicate balance between artful craft and the role of technology.
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Posted by Jeff Short on December 17, 2020 · Leave a Comment
Ploductivity: A Practical Theology of Tools & Wealth by Douglas Wilson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Pretty good book overall. I have long been a devotee of plodding, and still, Wilson, gave me many things to think about. You can think of this book as a more biblical treatment of “How To Do What You Want To Do” by Hauck, though that is a good book in its own right. I may have been inclined to cough up more stars if it weren’t for the explicit postmillennialism. Everything Wilson writes, and I do mean everything, is laced with postmillennialism as a hidden transcript. Sometimes it stitches his patchwork together with external seams. Had Spurgeon known Wilson’s writing the way he knew Bunyan’s, he might have remarked of Wilson, “Prick him and he bleeds postmill.” All that said, he does a good job with work, tools, technology, and wealth. It’s worth reading.
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 30, 2020 · Leave a Comment
How Can I Love Church Members with Different Politics? by Jonathan Leeman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a helpful and needed booklet on divisive political issues in a church. Too many churches have become cultic and ingrown where there is simply no room for disagreements with the group think. Christian identity becomes entangled and confused with political parties or movements. There are hardly any categories for someone to disagree on such issues and still be deemed Christians. If every person in your church looks and thinks just like you do, is that a sign you’re Christians, or it could it reveal something else?
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What Should I Do Now That I’m a Christian? by Sam Emadi
