Two fine books for pastors

Newspaper editors regularly get copies of new books the authors hope will get some promotion in the state paper. Many just don’t ever make it to the top of my “good intentions” book pile. That’s regrettable. I’d really enjoy providing notification and even reviews of more books that come my way. 

For now, I want to highlight two books that deal with crucial subjects in pastoral ministry. The first is an interesting little book titled, “The Spiritual Condition of Infants,” by Adam Harwood, assistant professor of Christian studies at Georgia’s Truett-McConnell College. The book is Professor Harwood’s doctoral dissertation from Southwestern Seminary translated from the tortured prose of academic types to American English. He did a fine job of making the book accessible to even Baptist editors. 

No experienced pastor can dodge the tragic duty of ministry to a family who has lost a young child. Although every funeral is full of ministry opportunities, these are, more than most, also full of difficult questions about what God does and why. Eventually, pastors are asked about the eternal state of a young, even unborn child. Ministers of all kinds should know what they think about knotty questions of this sort before they’re caught flat-footed in an emotional ministry setting.  

From its introduction, the book demonstrates the difficulties surrounding issues of sin and guilt imputed from our father, Adam. Mr. Harwood handles theological and exegetical issues deftly, building his case that sin is imputed from Adam but guilt comes from the willful deeds of a sinner. His historical survey adds a fine aspect to the work as the reader is led to understand the significance of this question throughout the life of the church. 

“The Spiritual Condition of Infants” is not a long book but it will give your mind a workout as you test or work out for the first time your own biblically based convictions regarding this common question. The book is available from Wipf and Stock Publishers, wipfandstock.com. Buy it for yourself, and maybe a copy for your pastor. 

A second significant new book comes from another of our conservative Baptist colleges, Union University in Tennessee. “Read the Bible for Life” was written by George H. Guthrie, the Benjamin W. Perry Professor of Bible at Union and a Southwestern Seminary Ph.D. He calls it a “collection of conversations” with practitioners and experts on various aspects of Bible study. 

The book is part of an initiative shared by Union and LifeWay Christian Resources intended to highlight the importance of biblical literacy and to address the problems behind biblical ignorance (see our story on page 1). The author interviewed David Dockery, Union’s president; Old Testament scholar Gary Smith, also of Union; Don Whitney, professor of spiritual formation at Southern Seminary; Christian musician Michael Card; New Testament scholar Douglas Moo of Wheaton College; Darrell Bock, professor of New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary; Pastor David Platt of The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham; and several other very interesting people. Each conversation reveals a committed Bible student who has found exciting things within the pages of God’s Word. 
I’ve used this column in earlier years to address the need for all who would understand Western culture to have a grasp of biblical content. Christians, of course, have an even more urgent need to know what God says. The last 40 years have seen a perfect storm of hostility toward biblical Christianity, timidity among Christian people, and a general decline in literacy among Americans.  

Professor Guthrie has noticed these trends and has produced this book, intended to provide background information and motivation for those who wish to increase their biblical understanding, a workbook for the nine-week small group study, a video to support the lessons, and reading plans (chronological and semi-chronological) for Bible students. Other tools are under development that promise to help churches make this a more thorough practice within family units.

As a weekly Bible teacher, occasional preacher, former church staff member, and long-time state convention worker, I’m convinced that George Guthrie’s efforts address the root of church needs more directly than anything we’ve tried. Biblical ignorance stunts discipleship, evangelism, prayer, the strength of marriages, church stewardship, and just about any other vital aspect of our families and congregations. I pray that we will see within our churches a revival of hunger for, and knowledge of, what God says. This will without a doubt lead to other kinds of wondrous spiritual renewals. 
“Read the Bible for Life” includes two Bible reading plans and is available through LifeWay and their stores for $14.99. Professor Guthrie’s site is readthebibleforlife.com. You need this book.