Review: "Dug Down Deep: Building Your Life on Truths That Last"

Joshua Harris has written an extremely accessible introduction to the major themes and terms of theology in his book, Dug Down Deep:  Building Your Life on Truths That Last.  I would rarely consider a book using the words justification, sanctification, imputation, propitiation, etc., a “quick read,” but this one is.  Harris has written to get people to understand these crucial terms and concepts in theology by writing a conversational, narrative theology – he tells stories about himself, his family, and others he knows.

Harris begins by confessing that he is a sinner and that he did not embrace Christianity in his youth.  In the second chapter, he comforts those who are immediately scared by the thought of theology by explaining that in order to truly love Jesus, we need to know Him.  Knowing Him is what theology is all about.

The third chapter begins the theology looking at God proper.  Harris explains that there is a God and He is Holy, and very other than us.   He looks at a number of God’s Attributes and then considers how we can know a God so different from us.

In the fourth chapter, Harris looks at the doctrine of Scripture.  If the Bible is God’s Word, what does that mean, and how do we read it.  Harris argues against those who say the Bible is a rule book, and show instead that the Bible is the story of Jesus.  (He recommends Lloyd-Jones’ children’s Bible storybook as a first place to learn theology.)

Then, he looks at why the Incarnation was necessary – why God had to become human.  Continuing in the sixth chapter by looking at the atonement and justification, he explains how Jesus made all those who believe right with God, and he also touches on the Lord’s Supper.

The seventh chapter is the story of the conversion of Harris’ father.  Warmly and humorously told, Harris well makes the point that salvation is completely God’s Work.  Humans can do nothing to make themselves right with God.  We do not choose, participate in, or merit salvation.

The eighth chapter, on sanctification, is one of the best, in which Harris works at length to show that all people are born slaves to sin.  God justifies those He wills to, and then, those people are made right with God – by God’s Work Alone.  After that, Christians are still tempted by sin and give in to sin.  We are not holy; we are not yet sanctified in reality.  Sanctification is the process by which, those who have been justified by God, progress towards becoming holy.  He illustrates this through a series of cartoons.

In the ninth chapter, he addresses the Holy Spirit, rightly pointing out that He is a Person, not an “it,” not a force or power.  He begins the chapter by “confessing” that he is charismatic/non-cessationist/continuance about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but he states that it is not necessary to agree with him on this to be a Christian.  He encourages people not to get bogged down in identifying their gifts, but to live for God by the Power of God the Holy Spirit Who lives in every Christian.  And he uses the imagery of a spotlight to explain the Holy Spirit’s Work – that is, the Holy Spirit seeks to illuminate and point us to Jesus.

He then explores the doctrine of the Church – defining the Church as the people of faith, yet arguing that participation in a local congregation is necessary for Christian life.  He mentions three marks of the Church being the right preaching of the Word, administration of the sacraments of the Lord’s Supper and baptism, and church discipline.

He ends the book talking about “humble orthodoxy” – arguing that learning and understanding God and Who He is, etc., ought not to puff us up or make us arrogant, but rather make us humble – seeing ourselves for who we are sinners and looking to Jesus for life and hope, as we seek to spread the Gospel to the world.

The edition of the book I read also includes an in-depth study guide for individuals or groups.  It goes through the book to make sure everything was understood and nothing missed.  After this is an appendix of books for further reading.  I always find it helpful, not merely to look at footnotes, but the books the author has found foundational for his understanding.  I plan to follow up on many of them.

I read this book as a Reformed pastor, and as such, I would say that this would be an excellent introduction to theology for about 90% of people (junior high age and up).  I would, however, say that this book would best be used in a class discussion group because of some denominational issues:

In the Reformed tradition, we understand the Bible to teach that God is Absolutely Sovereign in all things, including salvation.  The certainly seems to be what Harris believes and teaches through this book.  However, I know some traditions would not agree – at least with how he presents it.

Also, as I read this from a Reformed perspective, I found the book lacing in the presentation of the sacraments.  Very little is said, and what is said, I cannot wholly agree with:  both on page 100 and 204, Harris explains that the Lord’s Supper is a memorial of what Jesus did.  And I put in both margins “Is that all?”  In the Reformed tradition, we understand that it is not merely a memorial, but Jesus meets with us in the reception of the elements, giving us His Grace, and the Supper is an assurance of the hope we have the Jesus will return.  On page204, Harris states that baptism is only for professing Christians.  We baptize infants, understanding that baptism is a sign of entrance into the community, not salvation.

I might be accused of being a grumpy Reformed guy, as I am talking about a whole three sentences in the book.  However, for this book to be ecumenical – useful to all Christians, he would have done better to simply state that the Lord’s Supper and Baptism are the sacraments – and leave it at that – or briefly present the different views on them.

In the chapter on the Church, he also mentions church disciple, but doesn’t such much about it – I wish he had said more.

Finally, in the chapter on the Holy Spirit, he explains at length his belief that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are still for today, though he says that is not the litmus test of Christianity, and he doesn’t want to say that others must agree with him.  But, in presenting it the way he did at all, it will be assumed that this is what Christians ought to believe.  Again, if he desired to mention the gifts of the Spirit at all, he would have done better to give a short explanation of why some believe they are for today and why some do not.

Overall, this is an excellent book, and I do recommend it for group discussion and for example of how to explain doctrine in a vox populi kind of way.  But I would not give this to someone with no instruction other than, “this is Christianity.”

[This review appears on Amazon.com and on my blog.  I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.]