Rumor's of God - mroe of the same

Rumors Of God; Experience the Kind of Faith You´ve Only Heard About.  Written by; Darren Whitehead and Jon Tyson and Published by Thomas Nelson.
This book takes your through many of the issues today that Christians feel unfulfilled with; generosity, love, grace, freedom, commitment, community, justice, and hope.  These issues are broken down and studied against scripture to see if biblical application can be tied to these issues.
While I think that scripture is used adequately I think that it is also selective. The idea’s of this book are based more on stories they know either theirs or those around them, instead of deeply researching scripture. I think that these issues are not disposed of through proper hermeneutics; rather they are viewed through the prism of modern Christianity.  One of seeker thoughts and everything can be fulfilled if we believe it to be so.  Not surprising considering it is a Willow Creek product.
Many times we see issues such as success as a bench mark for faith.  If someone is successful they must have more faith or God loves them more.  That is not the case.  It is, I feel, not simply a coincidence that while reading this book I also came across another one that sort of deals in the same realm as Rumors of God.  It is Just Do Something written by Kevin DeYoung.  Both books ask the same question, why are we waiting for God when we are called to place faith in Him and proceed?  While they are close in their teachings, there are some areas where they are worlds apart.  I think for me it comes down to whether I want to learn about issues through the cultures definition of abundant or if I want to live through the Biblical definition of abundant.
If you are looking for another feel good book then I suggest Rumors.  If you enjoy the “teachings” of Andy Stanley, Rick Warren, and other seeker preachers then this is a book for you.  If you are looking for something educational, Biblically truthful, and humbling, then I suggest moving on.
I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishing through their website booksneeze.com

Why God Won't Go Away

When I started this book I was not aware there was a “New Atheism”.  I guess I assumed that atheists were who they were and their views don’t change.  To an extent that is true.  The new medium in which they us however has changed remarkably with the internet.  No longer is a person hindered by their identity or help back by the fear of people knowing who they are; we are free to be the worst in us because who will know the difference.  The “new atheists” have used this to their advantage.   The basic change in their philosophy has been a more violent outcry against any and all religions.

“While atheism is the lack of belief in any god, anti-theism means that actively seeking out the worst aspects of faith in god and portraying them as representatives of all religion.  Anti-theism seeks to shame and embarrass people away from religion, browbeating them about the stupidly of belief in a bellicose god” (pg 36)

This book isn’t a point counterpoint against atheism; rather it is an informative book regarding the subject of the new ideas of atheism from the interesting perspective of an ex-atheist.  It is not exhaustive and doesn’t claim to be; it touches on issues that Christians should be aware of if engaging an person who is a new atheist.  There is an interesting and surprising story towards the end of the book, you will enjoy it.

I received this book free from booksneeze.com.  The opinions expressed are my own.