Books to Note

Short reviews of ‘Not a Fan,’ ‘Why God Won’t Go Away,’ and ‘A Parent’s Guide to the Christian College.’

Not a Fan

Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus Kyle Idleman (Zondervan)

In Not a Fan, Kyle Idleman, teaching pastor at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, critiques a nominal Christianity that distorts the historic faith, focusing on the benefits of salvation while ignoring what it costs to follow Christ. He contrasts “fans of Jesus” (those content to remain passive spectators with a Christian label) with “followers of Jesus” (those who seek a life of submission to Christ’s lordship). Idleman’s book is a restatement of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s emphasis on dying to oneself in order to live for Christ.—Trevin Wax

Why God Won’t Go Away

Is the New Atheism Running on Empty? Alister McGrath (Thomas Nelson)

Intense opposition by Christians to the “Four Horsemen” of the New Atheism—Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, and Christopher Hitchens—comes as no surprise. But surely fellow non-believers hold them in high esteem? Not always, argues Alister McGrath. The Four Horsemen and their acolytes still inspire fanatical loyalty, especially within certain online colonies, where the barest hints of heterodoxy bring forth venomous anger. And yet, among more temperate skeptics, McGrath finds growing embarrassment at the movement’s bellicosity and selective historical amnesia.—Matt Reynolds

A Parent’s Guide to the Christian College

Supporting Your Child’s Heart, Soul, and Mind during the College Years Todd C. Ream, Timothy W. Herrmann, and C. Skip Trudeau (Abilene Christian University Press)

Whether you’re shepherding Junior through applications, unloading his belongings into a freshman dorm, or nervously pondering his readiness for academic rigors and extracurricular temptations, A Parent’s Guide to the Christian College offers a wonderful resource. The authors bring a wealth of classroom and administrative experience to these reflections on student growth and parental involvement. Exploring the spiritual, intellectual, and social dimensions of student development, they affirm that the Christian college exists not merely to mold minds or provide professional training, but also to cultivate Christian character.—Matt Reynolds

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Christianity Today August, 2011

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