The Gospel of John: When Love Comes to Town

A new type of commentary

The Gospel of John: When Love Comes to Town
Author: Paul Louis Metzger

Publisher: IVP Books (http://www.ivpress.com/) Pages: 302

The Gospel of John: When Love Comes to Town, which is part of the new Resonate Series of commentaries, is “a hybrid commentary where the best in biblical scholarship is coupled with theological reflection of the text that is accessible to the lay person.”

This is written for the non-academic. Instead of a verse by verse exegesis, author Paul Louis Metzger breaks the gospel of John into sections of thought that he makes into easy to read essays.

What makes this fun are frequent references to popular culture. Each one is done with an eye toward making scriptural truth relevant to everyday life. Occasionally, some readers may find the modern analogies tiresome, but Metzger uses them judiciously with dignity. Those who are averse to having U2 or other cultural icons invade their sacred space may want to skip this.

This makes an excellent companion to the standard commentary in the same way that a modern translation of the bible is a compliment to a more literal translation. Both are helpful for study.

Those who favor inspirational and application-oriented material will be well served. Most sections are short enough that they can serve the same purpose as a daily devotional.

It’s unique to be able to read a commentary like a book. Most commentaries are not written in an essay style. Don’t be surprised if this becomes a forerunner for others, and that’s not bad.

There are plenty of formal commentaries, with more being written all the time. There is a real need for making scholarly learning accessible and relevant to Christians outside the academic community without compromising the truth of Scripture.

The author succeeds admirably. I welcome the other volumes in the series. Church leaders and teachers will find them useful for sermon and lesson preparation, but again, they are written for Christians and even seekers who may not be schooled in the world of Scripture.

Indicative of the author’s humility, and a favorite essay, is “Doormats and Red Carpet” on John 13. “I like being called a servant leader,” Metzger says, “until someone treats me like one.” The red carpet refers to the triumphal entry in John 12 where a crowd rolls out the red carpet for Jesus. But Metzger sees Jesus rolling out the carpet, “Unlike most people for whom red carpets are rolled out, Jesus rolls out the red carpet for us because of his love for us and not because of our performance. If merit and performance were the criteria, we would get the doormat treatment instead.” Christ gave us an example by washing the feet of his disciples. “Now we are to roll out the red carpet for one another, even if that means becoming doormats for our brothers and sisters.”

Metzger illustrates by sharing the story of someone who lives out John 13. It’s not someone who is part of the “CEO church culture that prizes hierarchy and status and national platform.”

Gavin, who suffers from diabetes, is ordinary by the world’s standards. Many people might just see him as a doormat, but when Gavin volunteered to help Metzger move to a new home, Metzger saw something else. After all of the other helpers had gone home for the day, Gavin, despite having to taking breaks to recuperate and replenish because of his condition, insisted on staying until the work was done. Metzger and his wife wondered, who is this guy? They could not have completed their work that day if it had not been for Gavin.

This marked the beginning of a long-term relationship, one in which the author, has seen Gavin lead by his example of sacrificially loving and caring for others. Gavin gets that “Jesus has laid down his for him, rolling out the red carpet on the night of his passion so that Gavin can journey home to the Father’s house (Jn. 14:1-4). The more we experience Jesus’ red carpet treatment, the more we’ll lay ourselves down as doormats for others and live out the full extent of Jesus love….”

I wonder if humility is an overlooked attribute in biblical exegesis. Who we are determines in part how much we see. Metzger’s humility serves the reader well. His openness and honesty enable readers to get to the heart of the matter. He sees what is important.

In “Burnout” (Jn. 15:1-8) he writes, “It’s not how much I do, but how dependent I am on him and his word as I relate to others that makes the biggest impact, bears the most abundant fruit to the glory of God and shows that I am Jesus’ disciple (Jn. 15:7-8).”

It would be easy to provide more examples of the author’s rich devotional thought. This is a wonderful supplement to more formal commentaries. It’s not just something new and fresh; it’s a worthy addition to the growing body of scriptural exegesis. It’s an excellent resource for relating timeless truths to today’s world. Metzger is professor at Multnomah Biblical Seminary in Portland, Oregon and director of its Institute for the Theology of Culture: New Wine, New Wineskins (http://www.new-wineskins.org/).

A Place of Healing - Joni Eareckson Tada

Joni’s swan song?

A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain and God’s Sovereignty
Author: Joni Eareckson Tada
Publisher: David C. Cook
Pages: 214

In A Place of Healing, Joni Eareckson Tada writes “in the midst of my experience, in the violence of a firefight, in the crush of circumstances, and in the vice grip of unrelenting pain,” which brings an immediacy to the entire book.

As hard as it is to live for more than 40 years as a quadriplegic in a wheelchair, Joni had become somewhat acclimated to it all. This book chronicles her agonizing battle with a season of unrelenting pain. This is prior to her more recent breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment, which continues to this day.

Joni’s season of suffering, which she details in these pages, leads her to revisit questions about healing, suffering and God’s sovereignty. Having been exposed to popular and theological views on healing over the course of years, I found this to be one of the best and most balanced presentations that I have ever read.

There are repeated references and quotations from the book Miraculous Healing by Henry Frost, which has profoundly shaped her views. She articulates wisdom from this source and her own experience.

Regardless of where one falls on the theological spectrum, this is a valuable work that deserves a place in any theological library. The greatest value though will be to those who are personally wrestling with these issues. It’s biographical, transparent, winsome, encouraging and practical.

By the end, Joni is thanking God for her wheelchair. If God had healed her after her accident in 1967, none of her subsequent ministry (speaking, writing, broadcasting, singing, distributing wheelchairs, painting, etc.) would be in existence today.

One of the most moving chapters is filled with stories of people around the world who have received wheelchairs through Joni’s Wheels for the World ministry. It’s easy to see the hand of God in these accounts.

It’s a little hard reading about how much Joni has been suffering, but that is not the focus. She writes to bring glory to God and give hope to others. She is like a bird singing in the dark, waiting for the break of dawn. Her eyes are forward-looking, and she takes readers with her.

If she never writes another book, this is a fitting swan song.

At the Edge of Imperfection - Joseph Henschel

Creativity spreads like wildflowers on worship recording

At the Edge of Imperfection
Artist: Joseph Henschel (http://www.josephhenschel.com/)
Label: Independent
Length: 12 tracks/53:02 minutes

Thankfully, we may have reached a stage where artists that create worship music are paying nearly as much attention to form as content. In earlier days a simple chorus and straightforward music garnered mass appeal. Artistry seemed to be secondary, with much of it sounding the same and not appealing to those with more refined tastes.

I see progress in recordings like At the Edge of Imperfection by Joseph Henschel. Sure, there are similarities with other recordings in the genre, but commonalities are inescapable. Some originality is what makes this a little different.

“Prelude” starts with the sounds of an old, scratchy vinyl record followed by the lone sounds of a piano made to sound like some forgotten recording. Though I have heard this before, it’s just one among several examples of the little touches sprinkled throughout this CD.

The song continues with acoustic guitar strumming that intensifies, building anticipation as Henschel repeats, “I was born to love you.” A crescendo followed by a solitary rhythmic electric guitar kick it up another notch, followed by the addition of drums. This is just the introduction to “Born to Love,” the second track.

The variation between acoustic sounds mingled with more modern ones works well. Just when “Ruler of My Heart” seems over, the last 30 seconds contain a quiet reprise of the lyrics accompanied by piano. Toward the end, “Awake the Day” has all the drive of a Coldplay song, but not unlike this influence who mix tranquil moments with rock, the last minute is a beautiful interplay of acoustic guitar, piano and angelic voices. As much as I like modern rock, these reprieves of quiet are my favorite moments.

Henschel deserves the credit. He produced and engineered this second release (he debuted with Capture Me on {L}istener Records) in such a way that like wildflowers bits of artistry pop up unexpectedly. The sound is clean and crisp and not over-produced.

The subject matter is what you would expect on a worship recording with alternating praise, declarations and pleas. He sings with obvious passion to music that matches his intensity.

One of the curiosities is the length of the title track, which is under two minutes. I should not be surprised. It’s another quiet, imaginative interlude that exudes the spirit of worship.

Don’t miss the hidden track at the end of “Beautiful Light.” It’s a fitting close, with nothing more than Henschel baring his soul to the strumming of his guitar.

If you download this and transfer it to a CD, don’t make the mistake of leaving a few seconds gap between tracks. Many of the songs are seamless (another creative plus), with the end of one being the beginning of another.

You can find At the Edge of Imperfection at Henschel’s website (see Artist listing above) and iTunes.

Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith That We Defend - Ravi Zacharias (Author and General Editor)

Preparing heart and mind to defend the faith

Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith That We Defend
Author and General Editor: Ravi Zacharias
Managing Editor: Danielle DuRant
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pages: 360

Normally, I would never recommend starting a book by reading the last chapter. Beyond Opinion is the rare exception. In the conclusion, Ravi Zacharias summarizes basic considerations and saves his acknowledgments to contributors for last. This serves as a fitting guide and a wonderful foretaste of the expertise to be found here.

Aside from this being an essential handbook for the 21st century apologist, I was struck by the quality of the contributions, which come from a multitude of individuals associated with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. Those familiar with Zacharias know that he is one of the foremost Christian thinkers of our time. Reading these chapters, it is readily apparent that his associates are of the same spirit and write with the same competence and integrity. I am tempted to give Zacharias credit for assembling such an outstanding team, but I am sure that he would rightly give the glory to God. If Zacharias was to part from the scene today (God forbid!), his ministry would be in good hands and be a vital force to serve the Church for many years to come.

Apologetics is all about defending the Christian faith. It seeks to provide answers to seekers and skeptics alike. This is not a Josh McDowell Evidence that Demands a Verdict type of book that outlines what Christians believe and provides the evidence. It’s geared toward preparing the heart to engage the world with a vibrant faith that is seen as well as heard.

It does, however, delve into different belief systems. There are excellent overviews of postmodern belief, atheism, youth culture, Islam, eastern religions and challenges from science. But right from the start Zacharias identifies the biggest challenge: “As I have said many times, I have little doubt that the single greatest obstacle to the impact of the gospel has not been its inability to provide answers, but the inability on our part to live it out.”

Alister McGrath identifies this as an important factor in the rise of atheism, “One of the fundamental factors leading to the rise of atheism is a perception that belief in the divine does not lead to a morality that is clearly superior to that offered by secular culture.”

Again, the same theme emerges in a different light where Alison Thomas, in writing “Challenges from Youth,” quotes Nancy Pearcey, “In a world of spin and hype, the postmodern generation is searching desperately for something real and authentic. They will not take Christians seriously unless our churches and parachurch organizations demonstrate an authentic way of life—unless they are communities that exhibit the character of God in their relationships and mode of living.”

The importance of community is highlighted in different places throughout the book. This relational side of the Christian life comes into focus in L. T. Jeyachandran’s fascinating “The Trinity as a Paradigm for Spiritual Transformation.” God is a relational being. Taking that as a starting point, Jeyachandran makes the argument that “our emphasis on devotion to God tends to be an individualistic one and, in more than one unfortunate sense, is no different from the pursuits of Eastern religions. Religious showmanship today is often taken to be a sign of true spirituality. Against this backdrop, I submit that in the exercise of spiritual disciplines of every sort, we need to give to and receive from one another and thus, truly reflect the Trinitarian God whom we worship. Further, the Bible presents the understanding of true virtue as relational—summed up by the simple word love (1 Cor. 13; 2 Peter 1:5-7; 1 John 4:7-12, 16), which cannot be actualized except in relationships.” This corrective may not be new, but it cannot be emphasized enough in our highly individualized society.

This is one among many examples of how practical each writer makes the subject matter. It’s no less true for Zacharias in tackling the challenge of evil and suffering. He quotes one of his favorites, Malcolm Muggeridge, to show the importance of perspective, “Contrary to what might be expected, I look back on experiences that at the time seemed especially desolating and painful, with particular satisfaction. Indeed, I can say with complete truthfulness that everything I have learned in my seventy-five years in this world, everything that has truly enhanced and enlightened my existence, has been through affliction and not through happiness, whether pursued or attained…. This, of course is what the cross signifies. And it is the cross more than anything else, that has called me inexorably to Christ.”

Zacharias follows another favorite, F. W. Boreham, in his line of reasoning. Regardless of where he starts, he ends at the cross. The simple reason is that it explains more than many realize. I struggle to understand all the implications, but I’m challenged to see more as Zacharias points out, “What emerges from all of these thoughts is that God conquers not in spite of the dark mystery of evil, but through it.”

Reality is seen through the vantage point of the cross. Danielle DuRant provides a healthy dose of it in her perceptive analysis of idolatry, denial and self-deception. Stuart McAllister shares a trying personal experience that brought him to the end of himself as he explains the role of doubt and persecution in spiritual transformation. Zacharias brings the final words as he shares on the role of the church in apologetics and the development of the mind.

The contributions are uniformly excellent. They stimulate the mind, convict the conscience, and challenge the heart.

Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church - N. T. Wright

Hope of the early church

Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church
Author: N. T. Wright
Publisher: HarperOne
Pages: 332

Surprised by Hope by N. T. Wright feels like one of the most significant books that I have read. This may put me on thin ice with my evangelical, pre-tribulation rapture friends who might be aghast at Wright’s take on the subject.

Wright sees the rapture as a misunderstanding of two scripture passages attributed to the apostle Paul: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-54. Wright’s brief analysis is plausible but not necessarily irrefutable. I appreciate his reasoning even if I am not sure if he is correct. I knew there were Christians who didn’t believe in the rapture, but this is the first time that I can see why.

There are scholarly books on each side of the debate, but logic leads me to believe that two contradictory views cannot both be correct. The rapture will either occur or it will not. Reading Wright made me want to find an expert on the subject who could give me a definitive answer. There are two sides to an argument, and sometimes the first seems right until we have heard from another.

Fortunately, one’s belief about the rapture will not determine one’s destiny. I am glad that the deciding factor is our relationship with Christ. When we are reconciled to God through faith in Christ, our future is secure. Just as Christ rose from the dead, so we too will one day rise, which is what this book is all about.

The rapture debate is just a side issue. Wright believes in the second coming of Christ. He emphasizes that the Scriptures speak of God coming to us, rather than us going to Him. The separation between the physical and spiritual realms will be done away at Christ’s appearing. In His wake will be the new heavens and the new earth.

The bulk of the book is about the hope of the early church being a physical, bodily resurrection and how that relates to us today. Wright convincingly supports the idea that the earliest Christians had their hopes set on a physical resurrection from the dead. This is the substantive teaching of Scripture as opposed to just an immaterial existence in heaven, the belief that you go to heaven when you die. Wright acknowledges that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, but this is an in between state while we wait for the resurrection of our bodies.

I could not help wondering why in my 30 plus years of being a Christian I was taught so little about this. This hope caught me by surprise because so often the focus has been on receiving Christ so that you can go to heaven when you die. I would never want to minimize the importance of putting one’s faith in Christ for eternal life, but as Chuck Colson states in Christianity Today (December 2010), this is not the whole picture: “He (Jesus) was talking about the eschatological certainty that in the end, God’s reign will be made manifest. His message is teleological; it is to the world. It is not just to us as individuals: ‘Come to the cross and you can be saved.’ As wonderfully significant as that is for every one of us, and as grateful as I will always be for the night that Christ came into my life, it’s all part of a much larger purpose. I am being saved from my sin so that I may serve him in the building of his kingdom, the establishing of his rule. The really good news is that the gospel isn’t just about you or me. God has saved us as part of a larger plan, the coming of his kingdom.” Colson is arguing that the Good News has often been reduced to a personal self-help story.

One reason I enjoy Wright is because he expounds a gospel that is immense in scope, reaching to the world, encompassing Old and New Testaments, and revealing the breadth, length, height and depth of God’s story. It’s such a pleasure to gain an all-encompassing view through his scholarly and practical analysis that can appeal to academic and non-academic.

I can see from reading a recent article about the differences between what Jesus and Paul preached that Wright’s perspective is colored more by Christ’s preaching on the kingdom of God than Paul’s emphasis on justification by faith. I am sure that Wright would agree that these two perceived distinctives are not at odds, but it’s interesting to note some Christians tend to emphasize one or the other.

Wright’s emphasis is not to be confused with a “kingdom now” theology where Christians take over the present world. It’s more along the lines of making visible in myriads of small, practical ways the kingdom that Christ has inaugurated. Each act of love, every expression of truth, the creation of beauty and the rendering of service in His name are like signs pointing to this reality, which is becoming more visible in this world. Colson again provides a similar perspective: “In the interim, while we personally cannot usher in the kingdom (only God can do that), we can faithfully live as citizens of the kingdom to come. The Beatitudes, for example, give us a pattern of life for that coming kingdom that we can aim to live out now.”

I like how Wright emphasizes that nothing is wasted in God’s economy. We don’t have to look at the state of the world and think that there is nothing that we can do. It’s not a matter of just waiting idly until Jesus returns. We have the privilege of being ambassadors for a kingdom that began when Christ rose, will be consummated when He returns, but is even now breaking into the world as we live out, “your will be done on earth as it is heaven.”

Like fall, the colors are exquisite

When I’m With You
Artist: JJ Heller (http://www.jjheller.com/)
Label: Independent
Length: 10 tracks/35:42 minutes

With the world as her medium, JJ Heller creates with beautiful colors on When I’m With You. Warm and vibrant tones characterize love songs like the title track and “Boat Song.” “Tell It Again” and “Until You Came Along” had me wondering if God was the subject or her husband. It is the latter, but there is plenty here for those who savor relationships, both the human and divine.

This recording is a great antidote for the times in which we live, where good is bad and bad is good. It exudes goodness and childlike wonder. There is a gentleness that makes me “believe in love.” Boats and sky, trees and birds take their place in honoring love that blossoms. To employ the language of the psalmist, “Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other” (Psalm 85:10 ESV). Heller’s relationship with God holds these things in harmony.

These whimsical sketches had me thinking of Katie Herzig. The rich spectrum of musical tones brought to mind the early work of The Innocence Mission. The thoughtful lyrics reminded me of Sara Groves. If I didn’t know it was Heller, I would think Groves was performing “Olivianna,” the story of one who has gone to a better place.

Theologian N. T. Wright has written often on the future to come, when all shall be made new. I think he would appreciate “Kingdom Come,” which expresses these things so succinctly. It is the theme of several of his books. Here it is a simple, worshipful look toward the future.

What adds to the beauty is the uncluttered production of Mitch Dane and Ben Shive. It’s an understated collection of pop with folk and rock influences. Heller’s voice is strong and clear, making it easy to hear the words.

Songs like “Control” and “No Fight Left” are an engaging look at an old theme: surrender. Even the cooler tints feel warm.

Heller has become a new favorite with this recording. Like the fall season, the colors on display are exquisite, enriching my life.

Heller gained national attention when her song, “Your Hands,” from Painted Red (2008) was used by a contestant auditioning for the FOX TV show, “So You Think You Can Dance?” A radio station manager, who happened to be watching, decided to play the song for his audience. The station was inundated with calls from listeners who resonated with what they heard. The song was picked-up by nearly 60 Christian adult contemporary stations, including K-LOVE, the largest Christian radio network in the US.

“Your Hands” stayed on Billboard Magazine’s Christian Songs chart for 24 weeks, peaking at #13. Painted Red peaked at #12 on Billboard’s Folk Albums chart.

Outlaw - Mark Chesnutt

A tribute to country music outlaws

Outlaw
Artist: Mark Chesnutt (http://www.markchesnutt.com/)
Label: Saguaro Road Records
Length: 12 tracks/45:41 minutes

On Outlaw, Mark Chesnutt pays tribute to the songs that “brought him to the dance.” “I cut my teeth on this kind of music,” Chestnutt said. “It’s an opportunity for me to pay tribute to some of my biggest heroes in country music.”

This Texan enjoys a special kinship with some of the performers and writers who made these songs popular. Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson, along with songwriters Billy Joe Shaver and Guy Clark, all come from Texas. Rather than permanently move to Nashville, Chesnutt chose to keep Beaumont, Texas as his hometown.

The tracks are a mix of Chesnutt’s neotraditional style that alternates between honky-tonk and ballads. The lyrics may not be as familiar, but the chorus on Kristofferson’s “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” is immediately recognizable. It’s an impressive song that Chesnutt performs to perfection. He gives Neil Young’s “Are You Ready for the Country” (recorded by Waylon Jennings) a grit that Young’s version never had. Another standout is “A Couple More Years,” previously done by Willie Nelson, and recorded here as a duet with Amber Digby.

The production, musicianship and vocals are impeccable throughout. The songs live up to the album title with plenty of stories about women, partying and a hard lifestyle. That’s not to say that this doesn’t have its tender moments. Kristofferson’s “Lovin’ Her Was Easier” and “Freedom to Stay” (recorded by Waylon Jennings) are beautifully rendered love songs.

Chesnutt can honky-tonk with the best, but his reverent interpretations of classic ballads moved me the most. You can hear the pathos in the closing “Desperados Waiting for a Train.”

Outlaw is Chesnutt’s fourteenth studio recording. Along the way, he has earned four platinum and five gold albums plus fourteen #1 singles. This modern-day outlaw shows no signs of slowing down with this heartfelt work.