Here are the titles of books that I received for Christmas in 2009. I plan on having a review of the books as I complete them, but for now I will only give a short synopsis of the title. I have not listed them in any particular order.
1. Salvation and Sovereignty: A Molinist Approach by Kenneth Keathley. Keathley describes himself as a three point Calvinist who rejects Limited Atonement and Irresistible Grace. The book seeks to present a Molinist (middle knowledge) approach to God’s sovereignty and human freedom.
2. Debating for God by Richard Cherok. This book is the fascinating look at the Restoration movement leader Alexander Campbell and his defense of Christianity in the 19th century against liberalism, atheism, deism, and other religions. Campbell’s famous debate with humanist Robert Owen (whose thoughts led to socialism and communism in Europe) is described in detail. Campbell was a brilliant man who soundly defeated every person he debated using logic and a firm belief in the authority of the Bible. It is also an interesting look at how debates in the 19th century were one of the main forms of entertainment in America. Debates were held all across the United States on nearly every subject and people by the thousands would turn out to hear debates. Mr. Campbell became known as one of the greatest debaters in American history.
3. How To Bring Your Children to Christ by Ray Comfort. 88% of evangelical children leave the evangelical church at the age of 18 never to return. How can we as parents avoid this tragic number? How can we ensure that the gospel of Jesus Christ is truly being taught correctly to our children? Comfort’s book explores the gospel, the Law, and how we can teach our children the Word of God to bring them up in the fear of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). As a parent, I long for my boys to love Christ and follow Him all their days, and this book can help.
4. The Imperial Cruise: A Secret History of Empire and War by James Bradley. I enjoyed Bradley’s book Flag of our Fathers and will no doubt enjoy this historical book as well. In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt dispatched the largest diplomatic mission team out in American history to travel throughout southeast Asia. The team had no constitutional basis and was top secret but what they did set up the American wars that would rage in southeast Asia throughout the 20th century. This book takes you along the mission as you see and hear the Americans meet with Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese officials that would set up an empire and war.
5. Wesley and the Men Who Followed by Iain Murray. Murray is a Calvinist, but I have enjoyed his other books in the past and so I am looking forward to seeing how a Calvinist historian will view Wesley and the Methodists who followed after him. Murray begins the book by pointing out how popular Wesley has been among Calvinists both when he was alive and in his death. He tells how British pastors from Spurgeon to Lloyd-Jones have held Wesley in reverence and yet they didn’t agree fully with his theology. I wonder how fair and balanced this book will be toward Arminianism?
6. No Holiness, No Heaven! by Richard Alderson. Alderson is a Calvinist, but this short book published by Banner of Truth attacks those Calvinists who teach antinomianism such as Calvinist R.T. Kendell. Alderson strongly believes what the title suggests and that while God does save us by His grace through faith, He expects His redeemed children to obey and follow hard after Him. I am interested to see how Mr. Alderson will get around his own Calvinism and the possibility that it opens for antinominism.
7. The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Gary Habermas and Michael Licona. The title tells it all in this book. This is an apologetic defense of the historical and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. The cool thing is that this book includes an interactive CD game that helps “prove” the resurrection. I haven’t played the game yet.
8. The Book of Revelation Made Easy by Kenneth Gentry. This is a short preterist book on the book of Revelation. Gentry takes you through the book of Revelation showing that John’s revelation was not meant to be hidden from us but as the title of the book suggests, it is to be unveiled, yet we in the 21st century are the ones who often convolute the book by making this mean that and that mean this when in fact all that we need to understand Revelation is found in the book itself. I have enjoyed Gentry’s books in the past and his books always make you think, so if you get this book, prepare to be challenged in your thinking about the book of Revelation.
9. What the Bible Says about God the Redeemer by Jack Cottrell. This is the third volume in the trilogy on the doctrine of God written by Arminian Jack Cottrell. Even Calvinist John Frame said that this series of books by Dr. Cottrell is the best Arminian theological books on the doctrine of God. I have been greatly impressed by Cottrell’s use of Scripture, logic, and he leaves no stone unturned as he examines the doctrine of God. In this book, Dr. Cottrell looks at the subject of God as Savior. In the previous two books, Cottrell examined God as Creator and God as Ruler. Well worth having for any Arminian serious about studying the doctrine of God. [Editor’s note: Cottrell is not actually an Arminian because he rejects the doctrine of Total Depravity. Nevertheless, he does have a lot of helpful material on soteriology.]
[Link to original post and comments on Roy Ingle’s website.]
