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 PrintableVersion LivingHelp for seekersLIVING Living is a general evangelistic booklet that sets out its aim and agenda from the beginning: ‘The key to life is to recognise that there is a God who made the universe and who wants us to live in a good way’. The author opens by appealing to that inner ‘there must be more to life’ feeling that most honest human beings will admit to experiencing at some time. He then sets out the standards God has set that, if kept, would produce a well-ordered society. We are then shown that even though we might be in agreement with these standards, we sadly fall short and stand in need of God’s forgiveness and help. In a culture such as ours, where the word ‘sin’ has little meaning, the law of God is clearly presented and applied to life today. However, I was a little concerned that, although the author himself may well understand the reason for the cross, and gives two Scripture references concerning substitutionary atonement, it was not clearly explained in the booklet exactly why Christ died, especially as earlier we are told that ‘Jesus was put to death for his teaching’ (p.19). Though this, no doubt, is true in one sense, in the context of an evangelistic tract it detracts from the reader’s personal accountability before God, and clouds the truth that a sinner is justified, and as a result finds forgiveness and power to live a new kind of life, by faith in Christ alone. As a result, the message in the booklet — in spite of a prayer of commitment that asks for forgiveness because of a Saviour’s atoning death — rings of legalism. Having said this, it is always difficult (if not impossible) to bring out all aspects of the gospel in perfect symmetry and, as we all trust daily in a God who can ‘draw a straight line with a crooked stick’, I still trust this booklet will be of help to the seeking souls who receive a copy from the hands of a concerned believer. Mike Mellor, © Evangelicals Now - July 2009 |
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