I am still on my reading roll! The next book I just finished reading is Finding Faith in a Skeptical World. I read this book as part of a Pump Up Your Book Promotional Book Tour.
This book is written by a former atheist turned Christian who had a lot skepticism about Christianity that held him back for many years. The chapters in this book tackle many subjects that once stood between him and obtaining faith in Christ.
This was an interesting read for me. There was a lot of great information, and I really felt like the author started off very strong. However, I found myself disagreeing with the author on three major topics, which I am going to take the time and discuss thoroughly (Sorry that it’s long…) in this post.
There were a lot of good things in this book including sharing the gospel, but there were also some issues that were raised biblically. I do believe that the author has a heart for Christ and spreading the gospel. However, I feel like the author may not have done enough research and gained enough information to have written a book with so many theological topics that take a while to understand and grasp and then be able to communicate.
By posting this review, I am in no way trying to say that the author is not a Christian, only God knows the state of each of our hearts, and from this book I can say that I d believe the author is a Christian. I am just trying to share what I see as statements that do not align with the Bible.
1. On pg. 28 the author says this of forgiveness, “…Christians aren’t obligated to forgive unless the offender acknowledges the wrong and commits to changing his behavior.” I do not believe that this is a biblical sound statement. And actually later in the book on pg. 107 the author states that forgiving men who sin against you is an important part of the Christian walk, quoting Matthew 6:14 as the biblical proof. Those two statements contradict themselves to me, but besides that, let me explain why I feel the way that I do.
Matthew 6:14-15 says:
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
This tells us very clear cut that if we forgive, we will be forgiven. However, if we do not forgive, then we, in return, will not be forgiven. This says nothing in regards to if the offender seeks forgiveness or commits to changing their behavior. We are obligated to forgive, no matter what, otherwise we lose our forgiveness.
2. “Why Do Bad Things Happen?” is the discussion in Chapter 12 (pg. 59-64). Here is the author’s stance on the subject, “Many people believe that God directs and controls everything. If this were the case, it would be impossible to regard him as good, since he would be the deliberate cause of all these tragedies.”
I think that bad things happen to show God’s glory. By saying that God is not in control of everything, you are taking His glory away from Him! He is in control of everything! Let’s look at when God sent the 10 plagues over Egypt. God directed this and controlled every single minute of it. The plagues caused a lot of harm. But God said this in Exodus 7:3-5:
But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.
God sent the plagues over Egypt so that He could multiply His signs and wonders. He did this for His glory! So that the Egyptians would know that He was the Lord!
Sometimes we can’t explain why things happen, but we have to remember that God is in control and have hope in the promise that he gives us in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Without God being in control, we would have no hope to get us through the day. So, praise be to God that He is in control!
Another reason why bad things happen is for us to be challenged and grow in our faith. Look at what James 1:2-4 says:
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
When we are faced with trials and struggles, we are to have joy! Because the testing of our faith will help us develop steadfastness and it will help us to become perfect and complete! Our trials helps us learn and grow closer to Christ! Without bad things, we wouldn’t be tested and grow.
3. The last problem that I found in the book was on pg. 100 and was on the topic of baptism, “Some people think that all born agains must be baptized as adults. While many born again Christians have been through a believer’s baptism by immersion, it’s not necessary.” He quoted Titus 3:5 as proof of this statement.
Titus 3:5 says, “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” Yes I completely agree with this. Salvation comes from a personal relationship with God, it is an act and change of the heart, there is nothing we can do to earn this.
However, I really feel like the author misses the point by not talking about how important the act of obedience is in relation to being baptised. I do not believe that being baptised saves a person, but I do believe that being baptised is a step of obedience for a new believer in Christ.
Lots of people like to individualize baptism and make it all about them, which I feel like the author does clearly in this chapter. However, when we make baptist an individualistic ritual instead of a church ordinance that proclaims the glory of the gospel, we are missing the mark. Romans 6:3-4 says:
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
This is such a beautifully painted picture and
proclamation
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! I love how
my pastor says it, “We must redeem such a glorious ordinance from an empty sign of self-glorification to an all surpassing glimpse of the glory of Jesus Christ and the redemption that He brings to all who call upon the name of the Lord.”
I am not saying that these are the only issues found in this book, these are the three issues that stood out to me, there may be more. I would encourage anyone who would read this book to read it with your Bible close and checking anything that you feel is questionable.
You can learn more about this book by visit Chet Galaska’s website.
For the month of April, I have been doing the 30 Day Encouragement Challenge for Wives (PDF) from Revive Our Hearts. This is also a part of my 101 in 1001 Project.
