Basics for Believers
by D.A.Carson
Paperback
Price: £7.99
Publisher:IVP(Inter Varsity Press)
Published:March 2010
ISBN:978-1-844-74426-8
GoodBookStall Review:
Originally written in 1995.
“I would like to buy about three dollars worth of gospel, please. Not too much—just enough to make me happy, but not so much that I get addicted. I don’t want so much gospel that I learn to really hate covetousness and lust. I certainly don’t want so much that I start to love my enemies, cherish self-denial, and contemplate missionary service in some alien culture. I want ecstasy, not repentance; I want transcendence, not transformation. I would like to be cherished by some nice, forgiving, broad-minded people, but I myself don’t want to love those from different races—especially if they smell. I would like enough gospel to make my family secure and my children well behaved, but not so much that I find my ambitions redirected or my giving too greatly enlarged. I would like about three dollars worth of gospel please.” So says scholar-pastor, Don Carson in an early dash of sarcasm declaring a great truth. Too often, in an effort to maintain a semblance of autonomy, we become subtly humanistic rather than our unrelenting focus on Jesus, God's own son! The gospel truly is radical. It makes radical sinners radical Christians.
This is a simple and strongly conservative re-skinning of four talks from more than a decade ago, journeying through the Book of Philippians. So perhaps less true to its title than planned and definitely not something I'd put in the hand of a new Christian. It's very small, practical, straight-forward and challenging. It makes a helpful starter for pastors, as a mini commentary with some helpful insights.
Reviewer: Johnny Douglas (04/08/10)
Originally written in 1995.
“I would like to buy about three dollars worth of gospel, please. Not too much—just enough to make me happy, but not so much that I get addicted. I don’t want so much gospel that I learn to really hate covetousness and lust. I certainly don’t want so much that I start to love my enemies, cherish self-denial, and contemplate missionary service in some alien culture. I want ecstasy, not repentance; I want transcendence, not transformation. I would like to be cherished by some nice, forgiving, broad-minded people, but I myself don’t want to love those from different races—especially if they smell. I would like enough gospel to make my family secure and my children well behaved, but not so much that I find my ambitions redirected or my giving too greatly enlarged. I would like about three dollars worth of gospel please.” So says scholar-pastor, Don Carson in an early dash of sarcasm declaring a great truth. Too often, in an effort to maintain a semblance of autonomy, we become subtly humanistic rather than our unrelenting focus on Jesus, God's own son! The gospel truly is radical. It makes radical sinners radical Christians.
This is a simple and strongly conservative re-skinning of four talks from more than a decade ago, journeying through the Book of Philippians. So perhaps less true to its title than planned and definitely not something I'd put in the hand of a new Christian. It's very small, practical, straight-forward and challenging. It makes a helpful starter for pastors, as a mini commentary with some helpful insights.
Reviewer: Johnny Douglas (04/08/10)
