Review: "40 Questions on Prayer"

 

I have read several of Kregel’s “40 Questions” books, and, by and large, I have found them to be informative and useful.  I have just read 40 Questions on Prayer by Joseph C. Harrod – which no one should be surprised is on the topic of prayer.

Harrod begins by stating his bedrock definition of prayer comes from John Bunyan, “Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart or soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God hath promised, or, according to the Word, for the good of the Church, with submission, in Faith, to the will of God” (19).  The answer to the questions are given with this definition in mind.

As with each volume, each chapter begins with a question followed by the answer and ends with a summary of the chapter and reflection questions which can be used for personal reflection or group discussion.

The book is divided into sections of question of general questions, prayer and theology, pray in the Scripture, prayer in practice, and prayer in historical context.

I found two sections to be especially strong and helpful – that on praying the Scripture – both to guide our expression and content of our prayers, and the history of the understanding of prayer and praying.  There seems to be a “chronological snobbery” – a C. S. Lewis put it – that continues on – the idea that what is said and taught and believed and seen as good today is where we ought to put most or all of our attention.  Harrod points out that there is much value in the historical studies of prayer.

One problem I had was his exegesis of Genesis where Harrod say that the three men who visited Abraham is a theophany of God as three men – that the Trinity temporarily appeared as men (198).  If for no other reason, the text says this is not the case – Genesis 18:33 says that the Lord – one of the three men – left.  Here is a Theophany. However the other two men were not members of the Trinity – Genesis 19:1 says that the other two men were angels.

Overall, this is an excellent book for anyone wanting to know more about prayer.  There are some areas where I wish there was some greater detail in some areas – but this isn’t an academic thesis.  The identity of the three men in Genesis 18 needs to be corrected.

Well worth buying.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

[This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, Kregel.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "Satan You Can't Have My Country"

 

One of the women from church lent me Satan You Can’t Have My Country: A Spiritual Warfare Guide to Save America by Mike Evans.

Evans loves America.  He loves Israel.  He loves Jesus.  He loves the Bible.  He understands the seriousness of sin and that it must be punished.  Apart from that, I had a lot of trouble with this book.

Evan’s states that it is the sin of our Christian nation that has causes God not to prosper us. Yet, to read the Bible is to see that though sin must be punished, there is not a one-to-one punishment in this life.

He argues that American is a chosen Christian nation (13).  The founding fathers worked from a Judeo-Christian perspective, but they don’t argue for a Christian theocracy.

He argues that American needs another Great Awakening, like the Second Great Awakening, in which Charles Finney played a great role (33).  However, Finney was not a Christian and denied the necessity of Jesus for salvation.

He argues that the Church is not spiritual Israel (42).  Paul says differently: Romans 9:6-7.

He argues that Isaiah 18 clearly prophesies that America is the nation on the West, so American is the parallel chosen nation to Israel (82).

He argues that God is not sovereign -- in the sense that God knows the beginning and the end, but the road between the two is build on the decisions of men (88).  However, if even one thing is not Absolutely Sovereignly in His control, then God is less than God, which is no God at all.

He argues for a pre-trib, pre-mill eschatology, which I disagree with, but simply state here. (93).

He says that Solomon was a reprobate (106).  This is something I have read argued elsewhere recently, but I don’t see the biblical support for this.

He argues that if we pray God will bless America (106). This is a problematic statement, and he does this throughout the book – quoting promises to Ancient Israel and sating that they apply to America and all Christians.  But Scripture has a context of time and place and person or people.

Each chapter ends with a prayer for America and other Scriptures to read.

The book ends with end notes.

In this brief sketch, you may get the idea that I did not like this book which is unfortunately true.  He is passionate and wants Christians to believe and pray and do good, but his explanation of the text – as well as his look at American history – is just wrong.  Pass this book by.

[This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]