HOW THE BIBLE CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE
Answers to the ten most common questions
about the Bible
By Josh Moody
Christian Focus. 107 pages. £4.99
ISBN 978 1 527 101 517
Josh Moody, Senior Pastor of College Church, Wheaton, Illinois, wants to persuade ordinary Christian people to read and use their Bibles both as individuals and in their church communities. I think he is absolutely right to do so, because both activities are seriously under pressure in many ways.
He pursues his goal by answering the ten most common questions that people ask. Is the Bible true, relevant, interesting, authoritative? How and when do you read the Bible? Does it matter if we use the Bible in church? Does the Bible make you stupid, or intolerant? Is the Bible inerrant? All spot-on.
Criticisms of the Bible
Each question contains an implied criticism of the Bible or an implied reason why sensible people should not read the Bible. In each chapter he rebuts that criticism, poses discussion questions, and also offers a real-life(?) story to illustrate the associated positives.
It seems to me that his target audience is people who have been affected by non-Christian propaganda, or non-evangelical views of Scripture, or just the contemporary unfamiliarity with Scripture – which actually includes more people in our churches than we might first think.
I generally found the arguments he uses logically sound and persuasive, and pastoral-ly helpful – especially the ‘how and when to read the Bible’.
However, I did find some of the prose style and vocabulary raising some barriers for me and for potential readers in the ethnically and educationally diverse church where I serve. The text reads like the transcription of talks given to USA university students.
A valuable book that tackles a vital subject in a helpful way – if people aren’t put off by the style.
