Book Review: Sex God

Rob Bell was recently named in the top 25 of most influential Christians in the United States, and he certainly seems to gain a lot of attention for both his teaching and writing. In Bell’s first book, ‘Velvet Elvis,’ he looked at some really wide issues of faith and life, but here in his second book, he narrows that focus down to the topic of sexuality and its connection with human spirituality.

In ‘Sex God,’ Bell argues that despite the fact the church often doesn’t talk about sex, both sexuality and spirituality are fundamentally connected and so you just cannot talk about sex properly without talking about God. Similar to his preaching style, Rob Bell writes in a conversational manner, with short and often witty paragraphs, and provocative chapter titles designed to draw your attention such as “God wears lipstick,” “Sexy on the inside,” and “Leather, whips and fruit” – well, they certainly managed to gained my attention!

Throughout this book, Bell attempts to peel back the layers of why we act the way we do, and to connect our spirituality with everyday life, and our everyday life to God our Creator. Bell makes the point again and again that ‘sex’ is not an act within itself, but instead points to something much larger and more spiritual about human beings and reality.

The first part of the book argues that “our sexuality is our awareness of how profoundly we’re severed and cut off and disconnected.” Secondly, Bell says that our sexuality is “all of the ways we go about trying to reconnect.” (Both quotes from p. 40). He deconstructs some of the very damaging myths about sexuality that our society propagates (excuse the pun), and outlines how these myths can destroy our intrinsic God-given identity. I especially enjoyed his definition of freedom (from sexual lust and more) on p. 75 where Bell states that it isn’t about being able to have what we crave, but rather freedom is being able to go without what we crave and be fine with it.

In the second half of ‘Sex God,’ Bell also deals with the concept of marriage and says that, “The point of marriage isn’t marriage. It’s a picture.” Bell points to the deeper context of sex and marriage as mission. Dealing with words like submission, headship and sacrifice, Bell scales the redemptive beauty of the wedding gospel found in Ephesians 5. The vulnerability of marriage can be a little scary - “Being naked is terrifying,” Bell writes, but our desire for someone to accept us no matter what speaks to a deeper need, a need for the unconditional love of God; a love that’s worth the risk. In these chapters Bell also handles the hoary question of “submission in marriage,” and the book is worth reading for his thoughts on this alone.

Don’t make the mistake, however, of thinking this book is only for married couples. Bell attempts to deal with the full scope of sexuality as an expression of human hunger for intimacy with ‘something more and someone else.’ ‘Sex God’ is a thoroughly enjoyable beginning primer on sex, marriage, and God, and is written in a charmingly simple manner. I might disagree with a few things he says here and there, but on the whole this is an excellent read.

Book Review: Surprised By Hope

N.T. (Tom) Wright is respected around the globe as one of today’s foremost Biblical scholars. Not only is he highly appreciated in academic circles, but Wright is also a ‘fan-favourite’ amongst many of the average church-going crowd. This is because he manages to combine excellent Biblical scholarship with a compelling writing style that is accessible by your normal reader.

In “Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church,” Wright has put together an impactful and far-reaching work that should be read by every Christian old enough to pick up a book. “Surprised by Hope” addresses what to Wright, is the two-sided coin of Christian hope. The first hope is what we can expect as Christ-followers before our bodily death, while the second kind of hope addresses what happens after we die. Wright argues that these two aspects of hope should never be understood separately, and that it is only in understanding Biblical Christian hope in all its fullness that we can expect to faithfully fulfil the mission of the Church.

Wright’s book is quite frankly, brilliant. He exposes as false many of the popularist Christian versions of the afterlife such as that heaven will be a time of disembodied, eternal bliss spent amongst the clouds and angels of heaven. Wright shows how this type of thinking has more in common with Greek philosophy than Scriptural teaching. Wright also forcefully argues against the dualism that is inherent in so much of our spiritual thinking that regards physicality and the material aspects of life as inferior. Wright depicts how the New Testament vision includes the redemption of not only our physical bodies but also of all Creation itself.

As Wright himself says, “This book addresses two questions…First, what is the ultimate Christian hope? Second, what hope is there for change, rescue, transformation, new possibilities within the world in the present? And the main answer can be put like this. As long as we see ‘Christian hope’ in terms of ‘going to heaven,’ of a ’salvation’ which is essentially away from this world, the two questions are bound to appear unrelated…But if the ‘Christian hope’ is for God’s new creation, for ‘new heavens and new earth’ – and of that hope has already come to life in Jesus of Nazareth – then there is every reason to join the two questions together. And if that is so, we find that answering the one is also answering the other.”

Wright then spends the rest of his book practically showing how embracing this kind of hope will dramatically impact the mission of the Church. Here he focuses a lot on the Kingdom and the Church, and he manages to powerfully flesh out the dramatic points concerning Christian hope he makes in the first half of the book. I cannot recommend this book more highly! Don’t be frightened away because it seems a little heavy because the great importance of this topic means that any effort in reading it, is well worth it. It wouldn’t be a case of hyperbole if I said the Church NEEDS its Christians to be reading this exact kind of book.

Book Review: The Illustrated Guide to Bible Customs and Curiosities

Why did Bible people wash each other's feet? What was wrong with Leah's "tender eyes"? Why were the Israelites forbidden to boil a young goat in its mother's milk? What did Jesus mean about His "yoke" being "easy"? The Bible, in particular the Old Testament, is filled with accounts of strange practices and confusing stories like these. While the ancient Israelites understood their meaning, modern readers find many of them quite puzzling.

This is what this wonderful little book is all about. The Illustrated Guide to Bible Customs and Curiosities is written as a companion to the Bible and will be especially helpful to those who find their reading of the Bible somewhat stymied by its more perplexing stories. This guide will not only clear up any confusion but also open up whole new exciting worlds for you as you are brought deeper into Scripture by better understanding the customs and practices of the cultures and contexts it describes.

More than 750 clear, concise and orderly entries are included, covering every book of the Bible in order. Full-color illustrations as well as sidebars and photographs enhance the text, making The Illustrated Guide to Bible Customs and Curiosities both informative and entertaining.

I would highly recommend this book to everyone who wants to make their Bible reading more meaningful.

The Illustrated Guide to Bible Customs and Curiosities is written by George W. Knight, and published by Barbour Publishing.

Book Review: Knowing Christ Today - Why we can trust spiritual knowledge

Just before I read this book I was warned that it was rather heavy going, and the author himself agrees with this assessment when he states in the introduction that it is a bit of a mental workout. Whatever you do, don’t let that stop you from reading this book because it is well worth any and all effort. Willard does not apologise for making us concentrate a little, and neither should he. In Dallas Willard, the Christian faith is gifted with a clear thinker who is not only able to intelligently dialogue with some of the dominant modern philosophies that are opposed to Christian thought, but also to challenge them to the core.

Willard sets out to do exactly this in ‘Knowing Christ Today,’ by throwing down the gauntlet to those in both the secular and religious spheres who assert that it is not possible to know Christian truths. The core thesis of ‘Knowing Christ Today’ is that it IS possible for knowledge and faith to support each other, and indeed that rational and reasoned knowledge of Christ and what Christ proclaimed is essential for healthy, balanced faith. Willard argues that the “standard of knowledge is truth and proper evidence” and he then leads his readers through various proofs for God’s existence; the resurrection of Christ, God’s continued involvement in daily life and then the logical possibility of vibrant spiritual practice centred on an “interactive life with Christ.”

Each chapter deals with compelling questions such as, "What is real?" "Who is good? and "How does one become good?" Willard writes with keen understanding and compelling conviction, and here his skills as a professor at the University of Southern California's School of Philosophy, as well as his own wide reading of various theologians, sociologists and philosophers are clearly evident. Each chapter ends with helpful questions which could easily be used in Bible studies or small groups.

I wholeheartedly recommend reading this book, but don’t just take my word for it, rather hear what some well known Christian thinkers have to say about it:

"The Knowledge of Faith" may not be an easy read, but it is a must read. It is for your life.” (Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline).

“This is clear, lucid thinking about what matters most, as is desperately needed today. Only Dallas Willard could have written this, but I don’t know anyone who doesn’t need to read it.” (John Ortberg, pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, author of The Life You've Always Wanted).

“A spiritual defense of the proposition that faith and reason are not contradictory.” Peter L. Berger, Director of the Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs, Boston University).

Book Review: Blue Like Jazz

Blue Like Jazz is subtitled “non-religious thoughts on Christian spirituality,” and it is a series of very personal and yet ultimately helpful musings on Christian teachings and ideas. Donald Miller has a laid back but very readable style of writing and so although Blue Like Jazz is classified as non-fiction, it is by no means difficult to read. The book has become particularly popular amongst university age students because Miller wrestles with his spirituality in a way that easily relates to postmodern generations, but people of all ages will find much to inspire and encourage them in this book. If the book has a weakness, it is probably because Miller’s conclusions are a little too rooted in his own experience and not held accountable enough by the wealth of church history and tradition.

I would warmly recommend this book as a thoroughly good read. Read it as it is intended however, an engaging, sincere and refreshing honest journal of Miller’s personal spirituality, struggles and other thoughts – don’t expect Blue Like Jazz to be what it is not.

Blue Like Jazz is written by Donald Miller and published by Thomas Nelson.