Esther: The Hidden Hand of God

 

Lydia Brownback’s new Bible study, Esther: The Hidden Hand of God is a well-written, thought-provoking study of the book of Esther.  This is the first release of Brownback’s “Flourish” Bible study series. 

This 10-week study takes a deep look into the book of Esther.  Each week covers approximately one chapter of Esther.  Brownback includes a helpful introduction and several charts throughout, to aid in understanding the flow of the book.  She provides background information for each chapter, and then walks the reader through Esther, verse-by-verse.  Brownback does an excellent job of pointing out repetition, explaining historical context, and highlighting major themes throughout this study.  She concludes each chapter with questions for the reader, to guide in points of application. 

I have been studying the book of Esther with my oldest daughter.  The questions I cover with her are based on Brownback’s book, though tailored to fit the emotional/maturity level of an eleven year-old.  I appreciate that Brownback is teaching Bible study methods that will help my daughter develop good habits now, which she will be able to implement throughout her entire life.  We are enjoying our study together, and I am thankful for this resource!

I highly recommend this author for those who seek a challenging inductive Bible study.  This study can be used for groups or individuals alike.  Brownback is set to release a study of 1 and 2 Peter in January.  I look forward to seeing and working through more of her studies in the future.  Her website gives a schedule of what studies to expect and when.  A leader’s guide to the study of Esther can also be downloaded there for free.

Rachel's Rating:

★★★★★

Thanks to NetGalley for providing and advanced copy of this book for review, in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Recovering From Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

Aimee Byrd's Recovering From Biblical Manhood and Womanhood is a book written in response to John Piper and Wayne Grudem's 1991 book, Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.  Byrd begins her book with a summary and explanation of a short story, The Yellow Wallpaper, which was written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in the 1890's.  This short story tells of a woman who is suffering from post-partum depression and is prescribed rest therapy by her physician husband.  She spends her days alone in a room she does not like, the walls of which are covered in yellow wallpaper.  She eventually begins to see hallucinations of a woman struggling inside the wallpaper.  In an effort to free the woman in the wallpaper, the narrator tears down the wallpaper and is found creeping around the room.  Byrd references this story often throughout her book and addresses the issue of "yellow wallpaper" present in our churches.  Byrd states in her introduction that Recovering From Biblical Manhood and Womanhood is not a "man-bashing book.  And this isn't a womanempowerment [sic] book.  This is a book that appeals to the reader to look at the yellow wallpaper in the church and to do something about it."  

 

Summary

Byrd's book is divided into three sections, each of which confronts an area Christians need to "recover" regarding biblical manhood and womanhood.  The first section deals with recovering the way we read Scripture.  Byrd writes that although men and women read the same text in Scripture, the Bible is marketed differently to men than it is to women, both in sales and in church culture.  Some things Byrd cites as major gender-based issues in the church are the availability of Bibles in beautiful patterns, the fact that women tend to post Bible study pictures on social media in picture-perfect shots, and women not being taken seriously for their theological insights.  Byrd states, "I want to read my Bible just as seriously as the men.  The pretty cover on the women's Bible already begins to send a message that women will approach Scripture less seriously than men.  I'm judging the cover as I see the cover judging the readers by their gender."  She addresses that there seems to be an unwritten message that men cannot be taught by women, which she states is not consistent with Scripture.  She writes of Huldah, Ruth, Naomi, Rahab, Shiphrah and Puah, Achsah, and Deborah, etc. as "gynocentric interruptions", who were active in God's overall plan throughout Scripture, not merely in women's ministry.

Section two builds upon the first section, addressing how Christians need to "recover our mission".  This section specifically addresses Piper and Grudem's book.  Byrd tells of her first encounter reading their book as a new bride, compared to her next reading of their book years later.  She claims Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood promotes an unorthodox view of the Trinity, called eternal subordination of the Son, which she states Piper and Grudem use to build their premise of women being subordinate to men.  She confronts what it means to be a masculine male and a feminine female.  All this discussion is to build up to her main question:  Is Biblical manhood and womanhood our aim in discipleship?  Byrd rightly states, "Christian men and women don't strive for so-called biblical masculinity or femininity, but Christlikeness.  Rather than striving to prove our sexuality, the tone of our sexuality will express itself as we do this."

 

Byrd discusses how parachurch organizations are taking over the church's responsibility of discipling believers and why this is an issue.  There is much truth in her statement, "We reap the fruit of our interpretive community.  The public teaching of the Word shapes our private reading."  She adds, "It's the continual meeting together under the Word and sacraments, the continual receiving of God's means of grace, the continual benedictions of blessing and call to bear fruit, and continual personal time spent in the Word that truly shapes us."  In essence, what we learn in our church shapes how we read Scripture, and we need the community of men and women in the church setting, as God designed, to help us learn, interpret, and apply Scripture. 

 

Byrd's final section is titled, "recovering the responsibility of every believer".  In this section, she addresses women as necessary allies to men, rather than as ones who are "to continuously be looking for, affirming, and nurturing male authority", which she quotes John Piper as stating.  She uses the example of Phoebe being commended by Paul to show that in the New Testament, women were entrusted with great responsibilities, even delivering and subsequently explaining Paul's letter to the Romans.  

 

My Thoughts

I was first introduced to Aimee Byrd about 2 years ago, through her book No Little Women, which I reviewed here. I enjoyed that book and was excited to read another book by Byrd. I liked how No Little Women called for discernment and challenged women to be doctrinally sound.  I expected the same of Recovering From Biblical Manhood and Womanhood but was surprised to find that was not entirely the case.  Though Byrd called for those things in words, she referenced many egalitarian authors and agreed with them, which was discouraging.  I expected more discernment from her.

Having never read John Piper and Wayne Grudem's book, Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, I did not realize what I was about to read when I selected Byrd's book.  I found myself wishing her book had been laid out more clearly, quoting specific sections of Piper and Grudem's books so that the context of the ideas she was conveying was more clear.  At times it was difficult to understand the point she was trying to make.  Perhaps being more familiar with Piper and Grudem's book would make this easier.  I have read and listened to John Piper many times, and I have much respect for him and his teaching.  I find it difficult to believe that he is promoting the things Byrd claims, and I would like to study more what Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood is conveying.

There were several issues Byrd addressed as major that I consider very minor.  The beautiful covers on women's Bibles are just simply beautiful covers.  They appeal to a gender that is attracted to beautiful things.  If anything, it is a profitable marketing scheme to compel women to purchase more Bibles.  I do not think my church takes my theology less seriously based on my flower-print Bible that I purchased because of its beauty and lined margins, perfect for my colorful notes that help me visually remember the flow of Scripture.  Her statement about women in Scripture being active in God's overall plan, not just women's ministry put me on the defensive.  Of course women are active parts of God's plan.  In my complementarian circles, I do not personally know anyone who denies that. 

Byrd makes some statements in generalities that I personally have not experienced.  She states that pastors' sermons are geared toward men rather than women.  My experience has been that pastors give illustrations based on their own lives.  These illustrations do likely speak more to men, simply because the ones speaking are men.  This does not mean pastors do not consider how Scripture impacts women.  This does not change the application of a passage.  Byrd also speaks of not being taken seriously by the pastors in her church.  This is unfortunate, though not my own experience.  I have been blessed with godly leaders who have invested in my life through book recommendations, Scriptural preaching, and being willing to participate with me personally in theological discussions.  As a pastor's wife, I am blessed to have daily theological discussions with my pastor in my own home.  My husband/pastor encourages me to study Scripture and recommends resources to help to that end.  I know from watching him that he treats other women in the same manner.

Byrd's book was disappointing in that it did not address key Scriptures regarding women in the church.  1 Timothy 2:12 - "I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather she is to remain quiet."  I would expect this would be a key text to confront in a book on this topic.  Also, she took much liberty in expounding on the unknowns of Scripture regarding the women mentioned previously.

 

Denny Burk, current president of the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) reviewed Aimee Byrd's book.  Regarding statements Byrd claims the CBMW makes about the eternal subordination of the Son (ESS), Burk states, "The Council has never approved any official statement endorsing ESS. Byrd’s case against CBMW relies on there having been some official endorsement of ESS at CBMW, but that has never happened. Many of the council members have never held to any version of ESS (however it is defined) and would resist any implication that they have. But Byrd misrepresents this."

 

Overall, I was disappointed in this book.  I expected more of Byrd, based on her previous writings.  Unfortunately, this is not a book I can recommend to others.

Rachel's Rating:

★★☆☆☆

 

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Guarding Your Heart

A.W. Pink's Guarding Your Heart is based on Proverbs 4:23:  "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life".  This book is devoted to explaining this verse in detail and providing useful application for everyday life.  As Pink rightly states, "All outward actions are worthless while our hearts be not right with God". Throughout this book, he builds on this truth and seeks to show believers both the importance of having a heart right with God and the diligence it takes on our part to make that happen.  He does not forsake the work of the Holy Spirit in this endeavor, but the focus of this book is on the directive given in Proverbs 4:23.

 

Pink devotes his first chapter to the phrase "keep thy heart".  He offers both definitions and examples before transitioning to the next chapter, "diligent effort".  Here he emphasizes both man's responsibility to keep his heart and his helplessness in and of himself to do so.  My favorite quote in this short book is the prayer that follows:  "Lord, Thou requirest me to keep my heart with all diligence, and I feel utterly incompetent for such a task; such a work lies altogether beyond my poor feeble powers; therefore, I humbly ask Thee in the name of Christ to graciously grant unto me supernatural strength to do as Thou hast bidden me.  Lord, work in me both to will and to do of Thy good pleasure."  

Pink's third chapter focuses on the fact that the Lord looks on the heart.  He exhorts believers to remember this truth when deciding how to spend their time, money, and care.  This chapter concludes with a list of the heart-characteristics Christian ought to have, including Scripture references for further study.

The fourth and fifth chapters focus on practical applications.  Chapter four discusses keeping the heart during different seasons, including prosperity, adversity, public danger, trouble in the church, injuries and abuses, spiritual gloom, and critical illness.  Chapter five addresses "other issues".  Both of these chapters are again full of Scripture and prod the reader to examine his own heart.

In his final chapter, Pink discusses the benefits of keeping the heart.  He offers a conclusion of encouragement to those who faithfully and closely perform this hard work of keeping their heart.  

I chose this book by A.W. Pink for two different reasons.  First, the topic.  Proverbs 4:23 is a verse that confused me during adolescence and young adulthood.  I would hear peers quote "guard your heart" in reference to relationships with the opposite sex.  "Don't give your heart away too soon or to the wrong guy" was what they meant.  While this is wise counsel, I was convinced the verse meant much more than that.  

The second reason I chose this book was because my favorite Bible study author mentioned that A.W. Pink is her favorite theologian. A.W. Pink is new to me, but I can see why my author thinks so highly of him. His writing is easy to follow, but deep with personal application.  This book may only take about an hour to read, but the practical implications need to be mulled over and digested for days, weeks, and months to come.

I look forward to reading more by Pink and intend on coming back to this book for further study in the future.

Rachel's Rating:

★★★★★

Book Review - (A)Typical Woman: Free, Whole, and Called in Christ

Abigail Dodds' (A)Typical Woman:  Free, Whole and Called in Christ addresses the topic of biblical womanhood from the complementarian perspective.  This is not a book that is addressing a new idea.  Dodds states in the beginning of her book, "So many are searching for a novel approach, a new way to think about something, a uniqueness or niche.... Novelty leads to heresy and false teaching....  If this book seems like new information to you, it isn't because I came up with something novel; it's because we've forgotten the basics, or we were never taught them." 

(A)Typical Woman is broken into three parts.  Part one addresses what it means to be a Christian woman.  Dodds focuses on being dead to sin and made into a new woman at the point of becoming a Christian.  She debunks the notion that a "typical" woman exists and focuses on the call of all women to be faithful to God in the circumstances He has given.

Part two breaks down the different titles seen throughout womanhood:  single, married, mothering, working, and discipling.  She points out the differences in these varied stations of life, but exhorts that these different viewpoints are inter-dependent.  Dodds poses a question all women, regardless of their current stage of life, should consider before embarking on new endeavors such as "entering the workforce or motherhood or setting up their home or any sphere of work".  She challenges women to ask themselves, "Am I faithfully obeying God as his child by meeting the genuine needs of others, or am I pursuing self-actualization, self-fulfillment, or selfish ambition apart from him?"

In part three, Dodds focuses on how women are fearless and free in Christ. She spends time discussing the importance of relationships with others who differ from us and the growth and perspective that can be developed from those relationships.  She focuses once again on the myth of "typical" womanhood.  "The nature of being Christian women isn't based on what we do but on who we are - who he's made us."  In conclusion, she offers a challenge.  "Are we willing to be agents of the gospel of Jesus Christ?  Are we willing to exercise the gifts God has given us, whether teaching, serving, administrating, giving, counseling with wisdom, exhorting, and on and on, to his glory and for his people, holding nothing back?  Are we willing to really have some skin in the game?"

True to her word, Dodds did not present anything new or different from the Biblical perspective of womanhood that I have been taught from Scripture my entire life.  I appreciated her reminders of serving Christ in every aspect of our lives and remaining faithful to all He has called us to.

 

Rachel's Rating:

★★★★☆

Book Review: Is God Speaking to Me

Is God Speaking to Me, by Lysa TerKeurst, is a brief booklet taken from her book, What Happens When Women Say Yes to God.  In this three-chapter synopsis, TerKeurst spends the first chapter describing what it means to have a soul that "longs for more".  She encourages women to daily say "yes" to God, emphasizing the act of surrendering to God through prayer each morning.  She focuses on obedience to God's commands, which she terms "radical obedience".  She also introduces the idea of radical blessings, though she does not define these blessings until chapter three.

Set to release September 1, 2020

The next chapter is spent discussing what it means both to hear God's voice and to be assured it is Him speaking.  She states, "When God speaks to me, it is a certain impression on my heart that I've come to recognize as Him."  She then lists 5 questions she asks herself to determine if what she is hearing is from God or not.

The final chapter describes the radical blessings that result from following God wholeheartedly.  These include a deeper relationship with God, a more adventurous life, depth of inner peace, better relationships with people, having a meaning and purpose to life, and having an eternal perspective.

TerKeurst emphasizes subjective experience in this book, which is not surprising, considering the title.  She states, "As we experience God personally, we come to know new names for Him.  When we've experienced His provision, we come to know Him as our Provider.  When we've experienced His comfort, we come to know Him as our Comforter.... The longer we know Him and the more we experience Him personally, the more we learn about His character."  This sounds good.  But let us think it through.  Wouldn't it be great if God would just write us a book with all of these characteristics prominently on display, worked out in the lives of sinful humans who have lived before us?  Isn't it great that He has done just that in the Bible?  Isn't it great that we do not have to wait for personal experience to see and embrace Him as our Provider and Comforter?  There is great value in experiencing God's character on display in our lives, but we learn about His character, first and foremost, through His written Word.

TerKeurst lists questions to ask oneself while studying Scripture.  While she states that these are just starting point questions, they are mostly self- focused:  "Who is this passage speaking to?  What is it saying to me?  What direction is this passage giving?  How might I need to change my way of thinking or acting as a result of this verse?  What are some other verses that relate to this topic, both in the Old Testament and New Testament?"  She does not include any question of context or authorial intent.  These two questions are essential building-blocks for studying Scripture.  Skipping to personal application of a passage without regard to the context surrounding the passage or authorial intent is dangerous!  We must handle the Word of God properly in order to understand what God is communicating to us through it. We cannot skip the step of interpretation on our way to figuring out application.

When determining whether one is hearing the voice of God, TerKeurst states one should ask herself whether or not the action she is seeking to do would please God.  She states, "Would this please God?  You see, if what you are doing pleases God, then even if what you thought you heard from Him wasn't His voice, you still please Him.  We should always seek to err on the side of pleasing God.  Ask this question, and you'll know what to do."  This statement should raise red flags!  Yes, we want to please God.  But does it really please God when you claim your actions are something God instructed you to do, when He did not?  Arriving at the proper actions does not excuse using an erroneous method to get there.  The ends do not justify the means.  Putting words in the mouth of God that He did not say is irresponsible and dangerous.

I mostly disagreed with what TerKeurst had to say.  She makes statements that sound so good, yet are not quite right.  Her subtle deviation from Scripture is difficult to discern at times.  This practice of misrepresenting Scripture is dangerous and cannot be taken lightly.  Small errors in Biblical interpretation lead to big errors in theology.  And theology sets the framework for how one views and interacts with the world and with God Himself.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel's Rating:

★☆☆☆☆

Book Review: Think

My children LOVE the library.  We are fortunate to have two libraries in the area that we can visit, and my children like to rotate so that we are choosing new books every two weeks or so.  We spend our time at the libraries "shopping" for the five kids, and I rarely am able to make an escape to the adult section to make a selection for myself.  This past library trip, I made it a priority to select a book for myself.  I was looking for a book in the Christian Living section that was worth reading and was happy to find John Piper's Think.  Though I had never heard of the book before, I selected this based on Piper's good reputation as a pastor.  I was not disappointed in the book.  But I must say, I quickly realized that I do not enjoy borrowing books to read.  I am one who enjoys underlining, and the library frowns upon marking up their material!  I found myself utilizing my camera phone, taking photos of important things I wanted to remember.

Piper begins his work by clarifying the intent behind his book.  He quotes 2 Timothy 2:7, "Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything."  He then clarifies, "Thinking is essential on the path to understanding.  But understanding is a gift of God.  That is the point of this book."  Then he examines Proverbs 2:1-6, and states, "...we should seek understanding like a miser seeks silver.  We should use our minds with eagerness and skill.  What is the reason given?  The same one Paul gave:  'For the Lord gives wisdom.'  They go together - our seeking understanding and God's giving it.  Seeking it like silver is essential to finding.  But finding is a gift of God.  That is the point of this book."

We are not called to be lazy Christians. We are called to search, to study, to work hard!  "The mind is mainly a servant of the heart.  That is, the mind serves to know the truth that fuels the fires of the heart."  We are called to think.  Piper exhorts that this thinking is mainly the art of reading.  He clarifies, "The best reading of the most insightful literature (especially the Bible) involves serious thinking."

I have recently heard two women I know and love express their self-consciousness at "not being smart enough".  I write in quotations, because I do not at all agree with these ladies' assessments of themselves.  Mortimer Adler, author of How to Read a Book, is quoted as saying, "Most of us do not know what the limits of our comprehension are.  We have never tried our powers to the full.  It is my honest belief that almost all the great books in every field are within the grasp of all normally intelligent men."  I fully agree!  Adler also states, "What for one man requires little or no effort may demand genuine exertion for another."  Perhaps we may not grasp all details of what we read.  But we grasp some details.  We work hard to understand what we can, and further reading adds to our previous understanding.  Through hard work and persistence, our knowledge grows.  And through this understanding, our heart changes.

Piper has much to say on the topic of thinking.  His thoughts are clearly stated and challenging to consider.  I especially appreciate his explanation of what it means to have childlike faith.  This is not anti-intellectualism.  Rather, it is humility.  Children are "happy to depend on their parents for help in all their obvious helplessness".  The struggle within Christianity is not whether to be intellectual or not, for God has called all of us to be thinkers.  The struggle is to preserve humility!  "The aim of this book is serious, faithful, humble thinking that leads to the true knowledge of God, which leads to loving him, which overflows in loving others."

I was challenged by this book.  The past year has been one of increasing reading in my own life and focusing on reading challenging material.  Piper's book encouraged me to continue doing what I have been doing.  It encouraged me to work hard to understand even the things that are overwhelming at first glance.

May we all be working diligently to understand and grow in our knowledge of God.  And may we stay humble in this pursuit, knowing that this is a gift from God.  May we fall more in love with Him as we know Him more.

Rachel's Rating:
★★★★☆

Book Review - Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was and Who God Has Always Been

I am working through Tim Challies' 2020 Christian Reading Challenge.  For my "book of your choice" I chose Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was and Who God Has Always Been by Jackie Hill Perry.

As I observe those around me, I see different responses to those who struggle with homosexuality.  There are Christians and non-Christians alike who see this lifestyle as being acceptable.  They say we should not question who someone loves, and people are homosexual from birth...it is not something they choose to be.  On the other end of the spectrum, we see those who are labeled "homophobic".  They avoid homosexuals and condemn every aspect of their personhood, based on this lifestyle.  My question is, what does the Bible teach about how we are to address those who struggle with homosexuality?  What of a Christian who has same-sex attraction?

In Gay Girl, Good God, Perry gives an open account of her life.  After being rejected by her birth father and raised by her single mother, Perry did not see men as "safe".  As a teenager, she discovered her attraction to females and entered into homosexual relationships.

But God.  Perry came to know Christ as her Savior, and her life changed.  I love how she emphasizes that God did not simply save her from homosexuality.  He did not swoop in and change her, so that she was suddenly no longer attracted to females.  Rather, God forgave all of her sin, transformed her mind, helped her to see her homosexuality as the sin that it is, and gave her both the desire and the strength to turn from this sin.  Same sex attraction is still something she struggles with and likely always will.  As Perry writes, "Same sex desires are actual.  Though born of sin, they aren't an imaginary feeling one conjures up for the sake of being different.  But the actuality of the affection doesn't make them morally justifiable.  It is the mind, when conformed to the image of sin, that moves us to call evil good simply because it feels good to us."

At the end of her book, Perry offers some resources for those who may be struggling with being a Christian while having same sex attraction.  These chapters are well thought-out and filled with helpful Scripture.  Written by one who has struggled through these things herself, this looks to be a very encouraging resource.  These chapters can also be helpful to those who do not understand how a Christian can struggle with same sex attraction and who wish to find clarity on the matter.

Homosexuality is fairly common in our culture, and Christians need to know what the Bible teaches on the subject and how to interact with those who struggle with this sin.  This book helps teach in a way that is practical and easily digestible.  I am thankful for Perry's candor on the matter and would recommend this book to those interested in learning more.

Rachel's Rating:
★★★★☆

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy

History has never really been "my thing".  It was not interesting in school, so I did not bother to commit details like dates, names of wars, or famous leaders to my long-term memory.  I learned enough to take the tests and pass the classes.  Even now, history is a struggle for me.  But somehow, reading a biography makes it fascinating.  Having a specific person's name and being privy to his thoughts makes history come alive.  Suddenly, I am interested and take note.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a theologian, pastor, spy, and ultimately a martyr.  He lived in Nazi Germany and took part in a plan to assassinate Adolf Hitler.  Eventually, he was discovered and put to death for this role, a mere three weeks before Hitler took his own life.

In reading (and partially listening through) this hefty 600+ page biography by Eric Metaxas, I learned much about Germany that I did not know.  I learned much of Hitler's rise to power.  I learned of the ways he deceived so many well-intentioned people who could not see what he was doing!  But somehow, Bonhoeffer knew, and he sought to do something about it.

In the midst of all this, I learned of Bonhoeffer's work as a theologian and a pastor.  He was a truly amazing man.  He was a deep thinker, firm in his faith and unapologetic for his beliefs.  Though he lived in a time were true persecution was a reality for many like himself, he stood firm to the end.  That steadfastness is respectable.

As I read, I was struck by so many of Bonhoeffer's quotes.  He wrote many letters, and his encouragement to his friends has been preserved in that way.  One thing he wrote that has stuck in my mind, was in a letter to other leaders of the Confessing Church, informing them that a friend and fellow pastor had been killed.  He wrote, "I am sure that he was prepared to go.  Where God tears great gaps we should not try to fill them with human words.  They should remain open.  Our only comfort is the God of the resurrection, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who also was and is his God."  What great perspective and response in such a time of suffering!

Though this is a long read, and even a long listen via audiobook, I highly recommend this book.  The theology and history taught throughout is well worth the time investment.  I look forward to reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer's literature and learning more from this man.

Rachel's Rating
★★★★☆