Sinner
Ted Dekker
BOOK
Release date: 09.02.2008
374 pages

Dekker's latest work, Sinner, is hailed as "the most important book" he's ever written. It is a continuation of the story began in Showdown and Saint (although each book can stand alone) and it centers around the ongoing battle between light and darkness.

In the not-too-distant future, America is on the brink of collapse as racial and religious intolerance leads to lynchings, riots, and general anarchy. Unable to contain this outbreak, Congress is persuaded to amend the Constitution, making public racial and/or religious intolerance a hate crime.

In theory, this is a practical way to solve a problem, but in practice, it prevents anyone from claiming that their religion is exclusive, a big problem for those who believe Jesus when he said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" [John 14:6], a sentiment expressed often in this book.

These events involve three individuals -- Johnny, Billy, and Darcy -- who are connected by their past and who each share a unique ability. I won't discuss too much more for fear of spoiling the plot, but each one has a key part to play in all that transpires.

As for the book, Dekker tells a decent story, although he telegraphs some of the surprises from a ways off. And the climactic showdown with Marsuvees Black (a character Dekker fans will recognize) came across as a bit too anticlimactic for a villain written so powerfully.

Still, this novel is a step back in the right direction for Dekker, who is able to tell a cohesive story with solid pacing. The dialogue seems less forced and the ending a bit more thought out than some of his other works. If nothing else, it's premise is very relevant in this postmodern world, and Sinner is worth the read just to think about these things. C+

REVIEW ARCHIVE

Creation Regained
Albert M. Wolters
BOOK
Release date: 1985/2005
143 pages

In this short book, Albert Wolters challenges his readers to rethink the foundational principles of the way they see the world. Creation is one of the central themes of Wolters’ worldview, and he begins by challenging us to reexamine exactly what creation is. From there, Wolters takes us through the fall and its effects, and then speaks of redemption in terms that are generally more encompassing than how it is usually portrayed.

But this isn’t just a matter of metaphysical concepts or lofty ideals. Instead, Wolters claims that every area of creation is subject to normative principles. These norms, or innate instructions on the way things are meant to work, are part of God’s creation. We are to discover these norms in everything we do, from banking to art to dancing, and apply them to the manner in which we act.

Wolters goes into a great deal more detail concerning this, and if it sounds at all intriguing to you, this book might be of interest to you. One of its shortcomings, however, is the small length. Although it might make the book more accessible to hesitant readers, it also means that a great deal of Wolters’ foundational assumptions are skipped over (the second edition has an expanded section at the end which addresses some of these things, but it would make more sense to have that chapter first).

While this worldview is promising in its attempts to be comprehensive in scope and to also trace everything back to the sovereignty of God, it fails to answer every question and even raises some new ones. And yet it remains, even 20 years after originally seeing print, a challenge exercise in evaluating how we see this world and how our worldviews affect our lives, which they undoubtedly do. B-

REVIEW ARCHIVE

Here are some quotes from Creation Regained:

If your action is out of tune with your beliefs, you tend to change either your actions or your beliefs. You cannot maintain your integrity (or your mental health) for long if you make no effort to resolve the conflict. [6]

The Scriptures are many things to the Christian, but central to their purpose is instruction. There is no passage in Scripture that cannot teach us something about God and his relationship to us. [7]

The same Creator God and the same sovereign power that called the cosmos into existence in the beginning has kept the cosmos in existence from moment to moment to this very day. [13]

The Scriptures are the story of our sin in Adam and God’s forgiving grace in Christ. Creation, by contrast, does not tell a story at all, nor does it tell us anything of that sin or grace. As a message of salvation its revelation is useless. In that regard the two revelations are not comparable. They are comparable, however, as manifestations of God’s law, as two ways of making known his will, specifically for human life. [36]

God does not make junk, and we dishonor the Creator if we take a negative view of the work of his hands when he himself takes such a positive view. In fact, so positive a view did he take of what he had created that he refused to scrap it when mankind spoiled it, but determined instead, at the cost of his Son’s life, to make it new and good again. God does not make junk, and he does not junk what he has made. [48]

The sum of our discussion of a reformational worldview is simply this: (1) creation is much broader and more comprehensive than we tend to think, (2) the fall affects that creation in its full extent, and (3) redemption in Jesus Christ reaches just as far as the fall. The horizon of creation is at the same time the horizon of sin and of salvation. To conceive of either the fall of Christ’s deliverance as encompassing less than the whole of creation is to compromise the biblical teaching of the radical nature of the fall and the cosmic scope of redemption. [86]

What was formed in creation has been historically deformed by sin and must be reformed in Christ. [91]

The Gospel is a redirecting power. It is not first of all doctrine or theology, nor is it worldview, but it is the renewing power of God unto salvation. The gospel is the instrument of God’s Spirit to restore all of creation. [121]

To miss the grand narrative structure of Scripture is a serious matter; it is not simply a matter of misinterpreting parts of Scripture. It is a matter of being oblivious to which story is shaping our lives. [125]

There is an incompatibility between the gospel and the story of our culture. Every culturally embodied grand narrative will seek to become not only the dominant, but the exclusive story. If we as the church want to be faithful to the equally comprehensive biblical story we will find ourselves faced with a choice: either accommodate the Bible’s story to that of our culture, and live as a tolerated minority community, or remain faithful and experience some degree of conflict and suffering. [134]

Martin Luther is best known for his role in the Reformation of the 16^th century, a move to reform the practices of the church by bringing them back in line with Scripture. Luther also wrote this hymn, which is a poignant reminder of the power of God, the necessity of Christ, the gifting of the Spirit, and the final victory that already belongs to the Almighty.

God is referred to as a “mighty fortress” which immediately conjures up images from the Psalms, where David calls God his “rock and deliverer” [18:2], his “stronghold” [27:1], his “help and shield” [33:20] and so on. God protects his people; He is a bulwark (a defensive wall) that never fails. Even though Satan should come against us with all his might, we are “hidden with Christ in God” [Colossians 3:3] and nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [Romans 8:39]

And Christ is the key to that eternal protection. If we tried to depend on our own ability “our striving would be losing.” The only way to be secure is with “the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing.” The chosen one (Messiah) of God is none other than Jesus. He is the “Lord Sabaoth,” or the Lord of hosts (the heavenly army) and he has already won the victory. Who can rightfully say “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” [Matthew 28:16]? Who can rightfully say that he “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them” [Colossians 2:15]? Who can say these things? “Christ Jesus, it is He.” 

This is why, no matter that “this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us” and despite the fact that Satan is on the prowl, “we tremble not for him.” James tells us that we must “submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Satan is already defeated. His eternal destiny is reserved in the lake of fire, where he will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

So how does Satan still attack Christians today? By distraction and the pursuit of folly. He draws our eyes with appeals to earthly pleasure and temporary happiness. This is why Luther reminds us “let goods and kindred go; this mortal life also.” Our love for God must put everything else in its proper place. Our things, our families, even our own lives, all take a backseat to the power and rule of God.

It is this attitude that allowed Justin Martyr, one of the earliest Christians to die for his faith (and the one for whom all such martyrs are now named) to say: “You can kill us, but cannot do us any real harm.” This is what Luther meant when he wrote, “the body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still.” Death has been defeated by Christ and holds no power over the Christian. All death does now is take us directly into the presence of God. As the apostle Paul said: “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” [1 Corinthians 15:56-57]

Not only does Christ allow us to share in his victory over death, but “his kingdom is forever.” This is why Isaiah foretold that “of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.” [Isaiah 9:7] It is also referred to be the writer of Hebrews, who says, “therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken…”  [Hebrews 12:28] No one, no thing, no power, will ever steal away one iota of Christ’s kingdom. It is forever!

TOP 20 HYMNS