Book Reviews

Posted: 8/04/06

Book Reviews

C.S. Lewis’s Case for Christ: Insights from Reason, Imagination and Faith by Art Lindsley (InterVarsity Press)

An abundance of good books are available on that late Anglican layman whom many classify as “one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century.”

Art Lindsley draws from C. S. Lewis’ various books, letters and lectures to condense the Narnian’s thoughts and theology into a 200-page gem. In the process, we learn some of Lewis’ obstacles to faith as an atheist and how he answered those tough questions after coming to faith in Christ. The problem of evil and suffering, myth and religion, rationalism, belief in miracles, and the purpose of imagination in faith each get chapters.

What are you reading that other Texas Baptists would find helpful? Send suggestions and reviews to books@baptiststandard.com.

Having read most of Lewis’ writings, I especially enjoyed reading Lindsley’s take on what Lewis would say (or actually did say) about the important contemporary topics of postmodernism, moral relativism and religious pluralism.

The book leads the reader to ponder the famous intellectual’s writings on the claims of Christ and to decide whether Jesus was “liar, lunatic or Lord.”

Greg Bowman,

minister to students

First Baptist Church

Duncanville

The Prayer God Longs For by James Emery White (Inter-Varsity Press)

Jim White, founding pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, N.C., offers a deceptively succinct series of meditations on the Lord’s Prayer. White draws from deep waters, with footnoted sources ranging from Teresa of Avila to C.S. Lewis to Evelyn Underhill, Glenn Hinson, William Willimon and Stanley Hauerwas. But he presents his findings in an approachable, easy-to-read format.

White explores what the Lord’s Prayer reveals about God’s character and the kind of communion the Father wants with his children. Examining the Model Prayer phrase by phrase, he concludes God desires prayer that is intimate, expectant, reverent, submitted, dependent, honest and humble. In a final chapter, he deals with questions such as what happens when people pray and how do we handle it when prayers seem to go unanswered.

This slender book can be read on several levels. Read it through quickly for an overview of lessons to be learned from the Lord’s Prayer. Read it slowly and contemplatively as a devotional aid and prayer guide. Then keep it handy as a source of timeless illustrations and priceless quotations about prayer.

Ken Camp,

managing editor

Baptist Standard

Dallas

Christ-Based Leadership By David Stark (Bethany House)

This is a practical, thought-provoking work that blends leadership principles of Scripture with modern business models. Stark challenges the status quo and stretches the reader. All 12 chapters present a question about leadership to be answered from the biblical text and then from successful business practice. Stark sees these as compatible—not competing—perspectives on corporate leadership.

This book is helpful to the pastor and to any person who seeks to rise to his or her leadership potential. Stark describes key elements to successful church leadership—faith in the people, equipping followers, a culture of excellence over a culture of winning. The leader must focus on others’ strengths while managing their weaknesses. Every church needs to know “what time it is” within the 10-step life cycle of the organization.

Stark is insightful. The book is well-written and thoroughly documented. This is not a work for the academic, but the practitioner. With natural flow and stimulating assertions, Stark captivates the imagination of any leader wishing to integrate biblical truth with successful corporate models.

Mark Denison, pastor

First Baptist Church

Gainesville