Books that have caught my eye.
The Hole in Our Gospel: The Answer That Changed My Life and Might Just Change the World
By Richard Stearns
World Vision just sent me a copy of this volume, the 2010 Christian Book of the Year, according to the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. In it, Rich calls for “a world-changing social revolution,” in contrast to a faith that involves merely going to church, studying the Bible, and avoiding “the most serious sins.” Well, yeah, of course, but I’ll be interested to see how Rich handles the gospel itself as being transformative for individuals and societies.
While we ought to encourage people to work for healing and justice, let’s also remember that the good news changes lives all by itself. We don’t need the gospel plus anything, be it a social message, a special interpretation of the end times, or a particular understanding of creation. We need the gospel, pure and simple. The Word will do its work in our hearts if we let it, and the ripples will show in our lives and in those we touch.
I expect Rich will say this, that a truncated gospel is no gospel, and I will let you know,
About Stan Guthrie
Stan Guthrie is an editor at large for Christianity Today magazine and for the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview. His latest book is God's Story in 66 Verses. He also is author of All that Jesus Asks: How His Questions Can Teach and Transform Us, Missions in the Third Millennium: 21 Key Trends for the 21st Century, and A Concise Guide to Bible Prophecy. He is co-author of The Sacrament of Evangelism. Besides authoring, writing, and editing books, Stan is a literary agent, bringing together good authors, good books, and good publishers.
Stan writes the monthly Priorities colum for BreakPoint.org. He has appeared on National Public Radio's Tell Me More, WGN's Milt Rosenberg program, and many Christian shows, including The Eric Metaxas Show and Moody Radio's New Day Florida. A licensed minister and an inspirational speaker, he served as moderator for the Christian Book Expo panel discussion, Does the God of Christianity Exist, and What Difference Does It Make?
One Response to Off the Shelf: The Hole in Our Gospel