Death by Love: Letters from the Cross (Re:Lit)
by Mark Driscoll, Gerry Breshears
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Book Summary Information
Author: Gerry Breshears, Mark DriscollEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-09-12
ISBN: 1433501295
Number of pages: 272
Publisher: Crossway Books
Book Reviews of Death by Love: Letters from the Cross (Re:Lit)
Book Review: Vintage Driscoll
Summary: 5 Stars
This new book on the atonement stands in marked contrast to many of the other volumes by the emerging church leaders. Many of them have been rejecting key doctrines in our understanding of the cross. Indeed, many of them have been jettisoning major biblical themes, be it hell, the exclusivity of Christ, or the uniqueness of biblical revelation.
Not so Mark Driscoll. Here he, along with theology professor Gerry Breshears, presents the orthodox case for the atonement. Indeed, he fearlessly and unashamedly proclaims core teachings that many Christians are shying away from, including the penal substitution, propitiation, and the reality of eternal punishment.
What makes this book unique as it deals with basic biblical themes about the cross is how it is presented. It is a mix of theology and pastoral counselling. The twelve chapters discussing the atonement are based on twelve true cases of individuals who are pastored by Driscoll.
Each chapter begins with several pages of an individual's story, followed by perhaps a dozen pages of Driscoll responding in theological and pastoral fashion to their story, followed by a few pages of theological questions and answers by Breshears.
Thus the moving story of Bill and how he was regularly beaten by his father is followed up by a discussion of propitiation. Bill's sense of anger and outrage at how his dad also beat his mother and siblings reflect God's anger and sense of justice violated when we sin.
A just God must hate sin, and must act against it. Therefore Bill's reactions were in many ways similar to how God reacts to sin and injustice. Of course God's anger is always a perfect anger, a righteous indignation. Our anger if often tainted by bitterness, selfishness and a desire for revenge. But genuine anger at sin, injustice and oppression is a thoroughly biblical response.
Or consider Mary's story of how she endured two years of sexual abuse and rape at the hands of her boyfriend. In addition to the hurt and sense of betrayal, Mary struggled with loads of guilt and shame. In his counsel to Mary, Driscoll reminds her of what Christ accomplished at Calvary.
He reminds her that not only did Christ go the cross for her sin, but he also did so to scorn her shame, as Heb. 12:1-3 teaches. Jesus knows all about the disgrace, shame and defilement that she has experienced. Jesus too was betrayed by someone he loved and considered to be a friend.
Driscoll reminds Mary of the Day of Atonement, and how two goats were involved, one as a sacrifice of propitiation, and one as a scapegoat of expiation. The work of Christ embraces both elements. The just wrath of God against sin is dealt with, as is the guilt and shame of sin.
Thomas's addiction to lust and adultery is also dealt with by Driscoll. He reminds him that sin has consequences, and unless he is willing to let Christ set him free from the chains of sin and self, he will simply be unable to appropriate God's forgiveness and cleansing.
Driscoll does not mince any words as he offers biblical rebuke to Thomas who clearly seems to be a believer in name only. His real god is lust, and his only worry is public exposure at being caught. He has no sense of his own sinfulness, or how he is by his actions nailing Christ afresh to the cross.
Driscoll reminds him of the Exodus story, and how it was impossible for Israel to set itself free from Egyptian bondage. Only Yahweh's miraculous intervention could bring deliverance. In the same way only the perfect work of Christ at Calvary has the power to set sinners free, and to give us the desire to live for God and not for self.
Just as the Israelites were spared the wrath of God if they had the blood sprinkled on the doorposts of their dwellings, so today we can escape the wrath of God as the just punishment of our sin if we are covered by the blood of Christ, our Passover.
Driscoll also reminds Thomas of other key biblical themes such as ransom and redemption. He relates how Christ redeemed us from the slave market of sin. By his blood he purchased our freedom, just as a Roman slave could be set free by the payment of a ransom.
All in all this is a unique and invaluable book. It involves real life stories about those who struggle with everyday problems. Thus it has plenty of pastoral concern and insights from biblical counselling. But it is also thoroughly biblically-based. Indeed, sound theology is the platform from which wise counsel is offered.
Without a solid understanding and appreciation of the core biblical doctrines associated with the atonement, there is no wise counsel available to these struggling individuals. Changed lives can only come about by standing on the firm foundation of solid beliefs and basic biblical theology.
Thus Driscoll wants nothing to do with the common emerging church tendency to play down, minimise and even scorn theology, biblical doctrine, and orthodox Christian beliefs. We help no one if we play fast and loose with vital biblical teachings.
Paul said we are to guard our life and our doctrine closely. God is concerned about both, and the two always go together. Orthopraxis is predicated upon orthodoxy. Driscoll knows that only a firm allegiance to the Word of God and fundamental Christian doctrine will help a needy and broken world.
This wonderful mix of sound theology and practical application is how the emerging church should be operating. Unfortunately Driscoll tends to be a lone voice here. But the many deficiencies, weaknesses and imbalance of much of the emerging church movement are very nicely countered in the ministry of Driscoll, and by this book. It deserves a wide reading.
Summary of Death by Love: Letters from the Cross (Re:Lit)
Real people. Real sin. Transformed lives. A compilation ofheartfelt letters written from a pastor to his people that explainsJesus' work on the cross.
Death by Love is a unique book on the cross of JesusChrist. While many books debate the finer points of the doctrine ofthe atonement, what is often lost are the real-life implications ofJesus' death on the cross for those who have sinned and have beensinned against. Written in the form of pastoral letters, Deathby Love outlines the twelve primary effects of Jesus' death onthe cross and connects each to the life of a differentindividual.
Driscoll, one of America's most influential pastors, andBreshears, a respected theologian, help readers understand,appreciate, and trust in Jesus' work on the cross in a way thatwill transform their lives. Both deeply theological and intenselypractical, this book shows how everyone can find hope through thedeath of Jesus Christ.
"This book is brutally honest about sin and suffering, andwonderfully hopeful as it points us to our true Savior."
Timothy S. Lane, Executive Director, ChristianCounseling and Educational Foundation
"The stories portrayed in the chapters of this book are all tooreal, but more importantly, the pastoral responses offer rivetingapplications of the cross for true and lasting transformation."
Bruce A. Ware, Professor of Christian Theology,The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
"Practical and powerful. It applies the sufficiency of Jesus tothe real-life challenges we face in the church every day. If youwork with hurting people you need Death by Love."
Dan Jarrell, Teaching Pastor, ChangePoint Church,Anchorage, Alaska
"A key reason for my confidence in this book is its brilliantpresentation of the historic theology of the cross and how itdefends reprehensible attacks against it."
Gregg R. Allison, Associate Professor of ChristianTheology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
"The authors connect squarely with our ever-changing culture,declaring the central doctrine of Jesus' death and why it isimportant."
Bill Mounce, President, BiblicalTraining.org
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