I was in a bookstore today for my weekly....'Tuesdays at Barnes & Noble'.....to look over the new releases....and see if there's anything that I can't live without. My wife has to laugh at me at times as I seem to often interject myself at bookstores in other people's conversations and even thoughts. The Christmas before last....2017.....I overheard a lady that I did not know....ask the clerk about a book she was giving in a book exchange. I made a comment on the book....and here it turned out she was buying it for my wife. Another time a lady looked perplexed in the aisle for quite a while. I just had to ask! She was looking for a woman's devotional. I was able to introduce her to a wonderful woman's devotional. Now how would I know the answer to that? A few weeks ago the clerk was trying to find a book for a patron.....'It should be right here?" he kept saying over and over. I couldn't take it anymore and asked the clerk what book he was looking for. When he told me the title....I said follow me....we walked to the other side of the aisle and I pulled the book out for him...."It was misshelved"....I told him....."I noticed it earlier."
OK...enough boring anecdotes. I had given away my copy of John MacArthur's recent....Christ's Call To Reform The Church.....and thought that I'd pick up another copy. Well....they didn't have a copy.....but just thinking about the book again reminded of this older post....so I thought it a good time to bring that post back:
A Book That The Church Needs To Read
My wife and I were having lunch the other day with missionary friends who were home on furlough from Africa where they have served 27 years so far! I was asking the husband about the spiritual condition of the churches that they had been visiting since returning home....and while on that topic I mentioned to him something that I've brought up often in these posts. We no longer have Billy Graham Crusades on television in America whereas in times past his crusades were broadcast a couple of times a year. We only had a limited number of channels available back then so just about everyone at one time or another stumbled across one of his crusades....and heard the gospel of Jesus Christ preached marvelously! Just about every person in America would either hear of what happened on Calvary two thousand years ago.....or they would have to just keep turning that dial. It is a big deal that we no longer have this source of the gospel for everyday Americans!
There's yet another blessing that we no longer have in America.....and I mentioned this to him.....and he knew exactly what I was talking about. Not that many years ago there were six Christian bookstores within a short drive my my home. Today there are none. I don't even know where I might find one in Pittsburgh. Here's my story....36 years ago while my wife was shopping in a department store I just walked aimlessly around the shopping center only to come across one of those Christian bookstores. "Should I go in?" I asked myself? Why not? I walked out with the classic apologetic Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell. That aimless walk turned out to be a major development in my life. Americans in general no longer have these bookstores.
The 1980s and most 1990s were a wonderful time as far as the publication of excellent Christian books. It would be hard not to find an exceptional Christian book in one of those stores. Today it's the opposite in Barnes & Noble as it would be difficult for someone such as I was in 1982....just browsing....to discern a good book....the few of them that might be there....from all the not so good Christian books....and that description I think is somewhat of an understatement. These two examples...televised Billy Graham crusades and Christian bookstores....combined with the abysmal preaching and modern easy-believism that is literally everywhere today....are a big part of the reason that America is without basic Christian discernment as it is today....while stumbling in the dark for answers!
Now for the point of this post: John MacArthur was one of the men who wrote some of those wonderful books from the 80s and 90s. Well.....he's written another.....maybe his best....that's saying a lot....and I am hoping that this is a sign of what might be to come! The book is Christ's Call To Reform The Church. I devoured it....underlining everywhere.
Folks.....we need to concentrate today....right now....on the seven letters to the seven churches of the second and third chapters of Revelation! Now the average Christian might be above such a suggestion as this...."easy-believism....abysmal preaching....why our churches are doing extremely well....just check out the attendance figures"....they probably left this post a few paragraphs back....but you didn't. Pick up the book friends. You won't be disappointed....and it may be a turning point in your life.
OK...enough boring anecdotes. I had given away my copy of John MacArthur's recent....Christ's Call To Reform The Church.....and thought that I'd pick up another copy. Well....they didn't have a copy.....but just thinking about the book again reminded of this older post....so I thought it a good time to bring that post back:
A Book That The Church Needs To Read
My wife and I were having lunch the other day with missionary friends who were home on furlough from Africa where they have served 27 years so far! I was asking the husband about the spiritual condition of the churches that they had been visiting since returning home....and while on that topic I mentioned to him something that I've brought up often in these posts. We no longer have Billy Graham Crusades on television in America whereas in times past his crusades were broadcast a couple of times a year. We only had a limited number of channels available back then so just about everyone at one time or another stumbled across one of his crusades....and heard the gospel of Jesus Christ preached marvelously! Just about every person in America would either hear of what happened on Calvary two thousand years ago.....or they would have to just keep turning that dial. It is a big deal that we no longer have this source of the gospel for everyday Americans!
There's yet another blessing that we no longer have in America.....and I mentioned this to him.....and he knew exactly what I was talking about. Not that many years ago there were six Christian bookstores within a short drive my my home. Today there are none. I don't even know where I might find one in Pittsburgh. Here's my story....36 years ago while my wife was shopping in a department store I just walked aimlessly around the shopping center only to come across one of those Christian bookstores. "Should I go in?" I asked myself? Why not? I walked out with the classic apologetic Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell. That aimless walk turned out to be a major development in my life. Americans in general no longer have these bookstores.
The 1980s and most 1990s were a wonderful time as far as the publication of excellent Christian books. It would be hard not to find an exceptional Christian book in one of those stores. Today it's the opposite in Barnes & Noble as it would be difficult for someone such as I was in 1982....just browsing....to discern a good book....the few of them that might be there....from all the not so good Christian books....and that description I think is somewhat of an understatement. These two examples...televised Billy Graham crusades and Christian bookstores....combined with the abysmal preaching and modern easy-believism that is literally everywhere today....are a big part of the reason that America is without basic Christian discernment as it is today....while stumbling in the dark for answers!
Now for the point of this post: John MacArthur was one of the men who wrote some of those wonderful books from the 80s and 90s. Well.....he's written another.....maybe his best....that's saying a lot....and I am hoping that this is a sign of what might be to come! The book is Christ's Call To Reform The Church. I devoured it....underlining everywhere.
Folks.....we need to concentrate today....right now....on the seven letters to the seven churches of the second and third chapters of Revelation! Now the average Christian might be above such a suggestion as this...."easy-believism....abysmal preaching....why our churches are doing extremely well....just check out the attendance figures"....they probably left this post a few paragraphs back....but you didn't. Pick up the book friends. You won't be disappointed....and it may be a turning point in your life.
