Posted by Jeff Short on February 7, 2023 · Leave a Comment
Let Go and Let God? A Survey and Analysis of Keswick Theology by Andrew David Naselli
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Excellent study of the history and theology of the Keswick movement. Errant Keswick theology is pervasive throughout Christendom. You encounter it in songs, books and articles, sermons, small group discussions, testimonies, social media memes and posts, and even in the prayers of dear old brother means-well when he offers a dismissal prayer or asks a blessing on food. Because much of it sounds good, people embrace it and repeat it with little thought about where it comes from.
Keswick theology has given us the errors of varying degrees of perfectionism, second blessing, two kinds of Christians, higher/deeper/victorious life, sham holiness through misguided piety, and more. Some errors may seem well intended and harmless but some lead to dangerous heresy. Every Christian should read this book, though they won’t. Every preacher must read this book.
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Filed under Reviews, Short Booklog · Tagged with Charismaticism, Christian Life, Deeper Life, Higher Life, HIstory, Pentecostalism, Perfectionism, Reviews, Sanctification, Second Blessing
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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Can I Smoke Pot?: Marijuana in Light of Scripture by Tom Breeden
