Today is the last day of our Crossway Impact Cyber Monday sale. As a reminder, we’re offering everything on Crossway.org at a 40% discount, with 60–70% off select books and Bibles.
The sale is exclusively for Crossway Impact members, but signing up for Impact is quick and easy.
Place your order today to take advantage of some great deals and make a ministry impact!
Every Wednesday we like to share some recent links that we found informative, insightful, or helpful. These links will often be related to Crossway books, Bibles, or authors—but not always. We hope this list is an interesting break for the middle of your week, encouraging your faith and equipping you for life and ministry.
So I want to ask you to think of this letter as the work of an appreciative and affectionate and somewhat distant Dutch uncle . . . although I am not Dutch. I believe you have been called to a very important task, and I want to urge you to honor God in that work. The reason for this letter is that I believe that the importance of your labor is such that it is going to generate a great deal of trouble for you, and I believe that I do know something about handling that, whether we are talking about causes or consequences.
Though she isn’t a substitutionary Christ figure, I think there’s another type to consider when looking at her story (especially in the first two installments): the suffering servant. Consider The Lord of the Rings trilogy as a parallel: The Hunger Games doesn’t give us an Aragorn, a warrior-king who rallies the forces of good. Instead, it gives us someone more complex and difficult, a girl who unwittingly becomes a symbol of national hope and rebellion, whose road is marked not by victory but suffering. She’s not Aragorn; she’s Frodo, a young, brave girl, carrying a burden in a political drama that is much bigger than her. Aragorn doesn’t have nightmares about the enemies he’s killed, but Frodo (and Katniss) never sleep well again.
How are we supposed to navigate the relationship between expertise and community? Our attitude when there are experts in our midst should be, I believe, a teachable spirit that is open to correction and new insights, combined with a holy boldness to do what God has called us to do.
When I am in the role of the expert in the house, I try to live by a few rules…
I think I can honestly say that my desire to write and be published was mostly about a passion to say something worthwhile and a love for writing. I was thrilled when my first book (Freedom and Boundaries) was self-published. This meant my elders could read it, my church could read it, my parents could read it. I wasn’t thinking about anything bigger. I just wanted some of my ideas to get out there. But I also know I have to remind myself of these motives often. It’s easy to start with the best of intentions and end up being an author for all the wrong reasons—because someone tells you it’s time to publish another book, because you want another pay day, because you want to climb the ladder of ministry success. All of us who write must constantly ask the question: am I really doing this to serve others or to serve myself?
Michael Horton recently sat down and answered five of the most common apologetics questions people get when they share their faith with their friends and family. We’ll be posting one each week through the end of the year.
Today through Thursday (Dec 5) everything on Crossway.org is 40% off. Additionally, we’re featuring select books and Bibles at 60–70% off (listed below).
As we noted last week, this special Cyber Monday sale is available exclusively to Crossway Impact members. If you’re not already an Impact member, signing up is quick and easy, and offers other great benefits for life.
Please note: Unfortunately, Crossway Impact is only available to those with a U.S. mailing address.
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Crazy Busy: A (Mercifully) Short Book about a (Really) Big ProblemBy Kevin DeYoungI’m too busy. We’ve all heard it, we’ve all said it. Sometimes being busy seems like the theme of our lives. Yet this frenetic pace poses a serious threat to our physical, social, and even spiritual well-being. With his usual warmth, humor, and honesty, best-selling author Kevin DeYoung deftly attacks the “crazy busy” epidemic and offers up the restful cure we’ve all been too busy to find.
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Joseph and the Gospel of Many Colors: Reading an Old Story in a New WayBy Voddie Baucham Jr.Joseph and the coat of many colors is a classic story, but what if we’ve missed the real story behind the story? Voddie Baucham Jr. reveals how the story of Joseph is a key moment in the storyline of the Bible. Demonstrating God’s unwavering commitment to his people, Joseph’s life fits into God’s original plan to save the world through a promised Messiah: Jesus Christ.
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What is the Meaning of Sex?By Denny BurkThis book clearly explains the truth about sex and winsomely responds to society’s evolving views on human sexuality and gender. From marriage to birth control, homosexuality to singleness, What is the Meaning of Sex? sets forth a distinctly Christian perspective, equipping the reader to engage our confused culture with a God-glorifying vision of human sexuality.
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Found in Him: The Joy of the Incarnation and Our Union with ChristBy Elyse M. FitzpatrickEveryone, Christians included, knows what it’s like to feel isolated and alone. The good news is that we aren’t alone, and the gospel tells us why: Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth to be forever united with his people—to be one of us. The Incarnation changes everything for the Christian. Writing with everyday readers in mind, Elyse Fitzpatrick fleshes out the practical implications of our union with Christ.
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The Poverty of Nations: A Sustainable SolutionBy Barry Asmus and Wayne GrudemEconomist Barry Asmus and theologian Wayne Grudem have teamed up to outline a robust proposal for fighting poverty on a national level. These two experts believe the solution lies in a comprehensive development plan that integrates the principles of a free market system with the Bible’s teachings on social ethics. This book offers a clear path for promoting economic prosperity and safeguarding a country’s long-term stability.
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When I Don’t Desire God: How to Fight for JoyBy John PiperWe all want to experience liberating, love-producing, risk-taking satisfaction in God. But the reality is that we often struggle to find, and hold onto, true and lasting joy. So we face a crucial question: What should I do when I don’t desire God? John Piper aims to help us find joy in Jesus that is so deep and so strong that it frees us from bondage to comfort and security, and impels us to live merciful and missional lives.
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ESV Literary Study BibleCombining thousands of insightful notes with the complete ESV Bible text, the ESV Literary Study Bible helps readers understand God’s Word more fully, in all its richness and beauty. It highlights the Bible’s story lines, complex characters, historical settings, literary genres, motifs, theological themes, imagery, and important terms, making the Bible come alive with greater clarity and impact. Featured Covers:
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ESV The Four Holy GospelsThe Four Holy Gospels is an exquisitely designed and produced edition of the four canonical Gospels in the English Standard Version, published in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the King James Version (KJV) Bible in 1611. The artist commissioned for the project is Makoto Fujimura, a devout Christian, and one of the most highly-regarded artists of the twenty-first century. Featured Cover:
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ESV Compact BibleThe ESV Compact Bible combines classic portability and improved readability. This Bible will be a favorite of anyone who likes to take God’s Word wherever they go: from daily commuters to faithful students, world travelers to busy moms. Featured Cover:
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ESV Journaling BibleThe one-and-only Journaling Bible provides the perfect way for you to keep a journal of your spiritual life right inside the Bible that you read and study each day. With covers and formats that look like the finest journals, the Journaling Bible features 2-inch ruled margins for writing observations, reflections, prayers, praises, notes, and journal entries. This unique Bible makes a great gift and lasting keepsake for anyone who values God’s Word. Featured Cover:
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ESV Large Print BibleThe ESV Large Print Bible features generous 12.75-point type, clear black letter text, and ample margins for easier reading and reference. A true large print edition, it includes an extensive concordance, introductions that summarize the themes and messages of each Bible book, and helpful full-color maps. Readers of all ages will find it ideal for daily reading and studying. Featured Covers:
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UBS Greek New TestamentThis reader’s edition of the UBS Greek New Testament is an essential resource for those who regularly work with the New Testament in its original language, as well as students and others learning Greek. Containing the complete UBS4 Greek New Testament text from the United Bible Society, this edition features a clean layout with the Greek text above notes on every page. These notes include parsings of difficult verb forms as well as translations of Greek words occurring 30 times or less in the New Testament. The UBS Greek New Testament will serve as a lasting resource for all seeking to study the New Testament in its original language. Featured Covers:
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ESV Thinline BibleThe top-selling ESV Thinline Bible is ideal for use at home and on-the-go. At less than 1″ thick and available in multiple designs, there is a perfect ESV Thinline Bible for everyone. Featured Covers:
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Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
Can a Christian boast? Clearly Jeremiah rejected the worldly boasting of the “wise” men, the rich, and the powerful. There is only one basis for boasting, and that is to boast in knowing the Lord. Even this might sound like pretentious pride. But in the context of God’s grace it is not a boasting in oneself but in the Lord. So Paul, without in any way condoning pride (Romans 3:27-28), quotes Jeremiah and encourages the Christian to boast in the Lord (1 Cor. 1:30-31).
How can this be? It is because God provides our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption—ultimately in Christ. The boasting that Jeremiah urges as a consequence of one’s knowledge of the Lord (and not one’s own qualities) anticipates the gospel. Our union with Christ by faith is the basis for any merit that we have before God, as what characterizes Christ’s perfect humanity becomes ours—imputed to us by his grace. We have the confidence and comfort of knowing that our acceptance by God is perfect, since it is based on Christ’s perfect acceptance by the Father (Rom. 3:21–26; Eph. 2:5–6). God would have to turn his back on his own Son, to turn his back on those who are united to his Son.
This series of posts pairs a brief passage of Scripture with associated study notes drawn from the Gospel Transformation Bible. For more information about the Gospel Transformation Bible, please visit GospelTransformationBible.org.
I can only think of three reasons. Sometimes the reader expects to be elevated by classic literature. I tried reading War and Peace for such lofty reasons once. Truth be told, I didn’t finish.
Literary novels are also read by students. Most purchases of the great classics are probably intended for the classroom. For every copy of Moby Dick or To Kill a Mockingbird bought to pass the time on a plane, I imagine ten are bought by somebody in a literature class.
Most novels, however, aren’t fine literature. Few writers can expect future doctoral dissertations to be written about their works. And that brings us to the reason the vast majority of novels are published: for entertainment. People love to read stories—and any fiction writer who forgets that fundamental human motivation is in danger of becoming unemployed.
Surprisingly, though, many aspiring Christian novelists seem to think otherwise. Since Christians believe in absolute truth, they suppose novels ought to be written for didactic purposes. In such books the characters pause at critical junctures to give long sermons. Listeners sit in rapt attention while the mouthpiece character expounds his theological views. All of this lets the author convey divine dogma. But this isn’t realistic. People don’t sit quietly with bright eyes and busy little pens when somebody starts talking about doctrine. Believe me, I know – I’m a theology professor.
So does this mean the Christian novelist should “sell out”? Just write books that keep the readers turning the pages, with no intent to communicate lasting truth? Make our novels as vapid and nihilistic as secular fiction? Surely there must be a balance.
When I wrote the Chiveis Trilogy, I had to confront these issues head on. I wanted to write a page-turner. My editor said the plot is “cinematic,” and I was glad to hear she thought so. I always felt I was writing a grand adventure that could sweep you into a swashbuckling escapade like the Indiana Jones movies I loved as a kid. However, my day job is teaching theology. Did I have to hang up my theological hat when I penned my three novels?
I hope not. There’s a lot of theology in the Chiveis Trilogy, and my particular readership wants that. Yet you have to use subtle patterns as a writer. For example, the over-arching structure of my trilogy is Trinitarian. In the first book the characters encounter the Creator God as seen in the Old Testament. In book two they quest for God as he is known in Christ. The third book centers on the Holy Spirit in the catholic church. With this macro structure in place, various theological themes can be expressed naturally in the individual scenes—often without the readers even knowing they are imbibing theology!
One especially important theological topic is evil. The Christian novel must present sin on the page—sometimes with gut-wrenching, jaw-clenching intensity—and not gloss over it like cotton candy religious novels often do. Even so, evil must be revealed as grotesque. It always exacts a terrible cost, and in the end it does not win. My trilogy includes scenes with torture, rape, adultery, prostitution, violence. Those scenes make the reader’s heart beat faster because the terror is real. But I promise you, the depictions are not “gratuitous.” They are part of an overall narrative in which moral evil is shown as atrocious—yet the all-sovereign God still reigns on his throne. Christian novels should reflect this truth and not descend into pessimistic hopelessness.
Some Christian novelists think they must aspire to something higher than entertainment to justify a novel. Though unbelievers might write for “mere entertainment,” Christian novels should always teach or they have little reason to exist. When this instinct leads to unpleasant sermonizing, readers see it and run.
But we’re all going to entertain ourselves with something. Much of what comes out of Hollywood or the New York publishing industry reflects an anti-Christian worldview. Believers consume these works for their excellent entertainment value while trying to filter what is objectionable. Doesn’t this indicate a crying need for works that are truly entertaining—but which glorify Christ as well?
Many readers have said the Chiveis Trilogy brought them closer to the Lord. The person who finishes the three-part cycle can only look back on it and say it elevated God’s name. However, if it doesn’t also keep you up past your bedtime, dipping into the next chapter although you promised yourself you’d quit, then I haven’t done my job. Christians need entertainment that honors Christ instead of trashing him. A novel’s first purpose must be to tell a great story—and there’s no reason it can’t be glorifying to God as well.
Bryan M. Litfin (PhD, University of Virginia) is professor of theology at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. He is the author of the Chiveis Trilogy as well as Getting To Know the Church Fathers. Bryan and his wife, Carolyn, have two children.
 everything on Crossway.org is 40% off. Additionally, we're featuring select books and Bibles at 60–70% off (listed below)){kind=link}
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