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Have you ever been tempted to change a word of the Bible to make it communicate something you wish it said? Ever been inclined to leave out certain verses that make you uneasy … or add ones that make you feel a little more comfortable? That's exactly what Old Testament scholar and NIV Translation Committee member Dr. Andrew Shead believes has happened with The Passion Translation (TPT) of the Psalms. In a recent international, evangelical, peer-reviewed theological journal, Shead describes TPT as:
It can be daunting for Christians to share our faith in this politically correct 21st century world. The evangelistic nature and exclusivity of Christianity has never been more unpopular in America. With cultural mottos such as, "Live and let live," and "Live your truth," evangelism has become taboo. It's more difficult than ever to share the gospel with anyone.....let alone with Mormons, who share many doctrinal terms and values with Christians. 
Welcome to the most depressing blog post ever....or is it the most hopeful? I'll let you decide. Could it possibly be a good thing to learn about and ponder the Nazi Holocaust, American slavery, the Nanking massacre, the Rwanda genocide, and the atrocities of ISIS? In his new book, Why Does God Allow Evil? Clay Jones argues that it is. 
"Just ONE MORE chapter, Mom....PLLLLEAAAASSSSEEE!!!" This became a regular plea during the 4 days (yes 4 days) it took to read J. Warner Wallace and Susie Wallace's new book, God's Crime Scene For Kids with my 8-year-old daughter, Dyllan. It took only 4 days because she could. Not. Get. Enough. She fell in love with Jason, Hannah, Daniel, Jasmine, and Detective Jeffries—and loved the challenge of solving the mystery of what they found in Grandma Miri's attic. She excitedly applied the skills she learned from that investigation to the investigation of the origin of the universe. 
As a Christian parent, have you ever felt like the world has gone mad, and you aren't sure how to navigate it? Have you wondered how to deal with the challenges of addiction, racial tension, "hook-up culture," and consumerism? Have you wondered how to best help your child who is struggling with their gender identity or sexual orientation, or how to help steer your child's entertainment choices? Have you wondered how to love your gay neighbors while maintaining a biblical worldview? Have you ever wondered how to protect your children from pornography, or even face your own porn problem? You need this book. 
[When my friend Teasi Cannon told me she was reading the latest book by William Paul Young, I asked her if she would be willing to guest post a review. I'm thrilled and honored that she agreed. This is an important post that shows how vital it is to be discerning in the times we live.] By Teasi Cannon: Author of The Shack, William Paul Young, has delivered to millions of devoted followers a book entitled Lies We Believe About God. A little late to the game, I just finished reading it, and I’ll be honest…it breaks my heart. After reading The Shack several years ago, I felt I'd met a kindred spirit in Paul Young—a friend who understood the depths to which God will go to heal a broken heart. I had been so deeply wounded by childhood sexual abuse...and the message of the Father's love brought tremendous healing to my life. The Shack echoed so much I held dear, and though theological quirks were there, I dismissed them as mere creative license allowed in a fiction. Though there were points I didn't fully agree with, I developed a trust and respect for Paul. Which is what I suspect many others would do: respect him...and trust him. Enough to invite him into their hearts again by reading his latest book. 
A few years ago, I taught my first apologetics class for the women's ministry at my church. Afterwards, a woman approached me, thanked me for the class, and then said something interesting:
I was a bit puzzled that she didn’t seem to connect the dots—that the faith she had handed down to her daughter was void of some important answers. And if she didn't think they were important enough to learn, why should her daughter? Since then, I have discovered that some of the toughest objections to the discipline of apologetics come from within the church itself. Time and time again I’ve heard claims like, “I don’t need apologetics because I don’t have any doubts,” or “I don’t want my intellect to get in the way of my heart,” or “You can’t argue anyone into the kingdom.” Many Christians seem to be personally disconnected from the rich intellectualism, critical thought, and theological depth that defines our church history. R.C. Sproul said, “We live in what may be the most anti-intellectual period in the history of Western civilization.” In Forensic Faith, Wallace takes a helpful step toward turning that around. |
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