Books

Books to Note

Short reviews of ‘Moral Apologetics for Contemporary Christians,’ ‘Beautiful Outlaw,’ and ‘The Accidental Revolutionary.’

Moral Apologetics for Contemporary Christians

Pushing Back Against Cultural and Religious Critics Mark Coppenger (B&H Academic)

Mark Coppenger believes Christians should not shy away from our ethical heritage when defending Christian truth claims. Instead, we should consider the ways in which a Christian ethic intersects with Christian apologetics. If true ideas bring life to society, one should expect life and culture to flourish where Christianity is embraced. Coppenger’s writing is feisty and persuasive as he argues for Christianity’s moral superiority.—Trevin Wax

Beautiful Outlaw

Experiencing the Playful, Disruptive, Extravagant Personality of Jesus John Eldredge (FaithWords)

The newest book from John Eldredge seeks to surprise readers with the powerful per-sonality of Jesus. Eldredge is at his best when describing the awe-inspiring nature of Christ’s incarnation and humility. Unfortunately, he tends to pit Christ’s immanence against God’s transcendence, as well as Jesus against the church. The end result is largely a “me and Jesus” Christianity.—Trevin Wax

The Accidental Revolutionary

George Whitefield and the Creation of America Jerome Dean Mahaffey (Baylor University Press)

Jerome Dean Mahaffey’s new biography is about a major Founding Father whose first name was George. No, not the man from the Mount Vernon, the one whose visage adorns the dollar bill, but George Whitefield, the British itinerant whose preaching propelled the First Great Awakening. Whitefield did not aim to rock the boat politically. Throughout his life, he pledged loyalty to the crown and the Church of England. But Mahaffey shows how Whitefield’s bold challenge to settled religious doctrines and hierarchies helped coax the colonies in the direction of independence.—Matt Reynolds

Copyright © 2011 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

Christianity Today has more music, movies, books, and other media reviews.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

How to Read the Bible

J. Todd Billings

My Top 5 Books For Young Adults

Sara Zarr

The Messy Business of Clean Water in Africa

Excerpt

Simply Jesus

N. T. Wright

The Green Collection: Bibles and More

News

Persecution Prompts Missions Agency to Transform

Tim Stafford in Secunderabad, India

The Coach in Your Head

Matt Branaugh

John Stott: Four Ways Christians Can Influence the World

John R. W. Stott

Wilson's Bookmarks

John Wilson

News

Go Figure

The 'Big Love' Strategy

Power Washed by God

News

Catholic Hospitals Not Exempt From Contraception Rules, Hungary Severely Redefines 'Church,' & More News

Is Online Dating for Christians?

Jenell Williams Paris, Leslie Ludy, and Dennis Franck

Review

What's New Is Old: 'America's New Evangelicals'

Excerpt

A Fully Biblical Liberation Theology

Survey: Frequent Bible Reading Can Turn You Liberal

Aaron B. Franzen

News

Undoing the Famine Damage

Mark Moring

A New Bible Battle

Review

Half the Sky Is Falling

Marian V. Liautaud

Interview: Chai Ling on Saving China's Daughters

Interview by Timothy C. Morgan

Editorial

Unexpected Political Hero

A Christianity Today Editorial

News

Sherwood Baptist Partners with a Black Church to Bring Racial Healing

Mark Moring

Interview: Douglas Groothuis on Good Apologetics

Calling for Heroic Commitment

Steven D. Greydanus

Theological Interpretation in Action

News

Passages

Review

Profiling Christians Who Have Suffered Under Chinese Communism

News

Church Drops Mortgage for Expansion

Ken Walker

News

Online Boycotts Separate Corporations from Christian Groups

Bobby Ross Jr.

News

Should Pastors Perform Marriages for Cohabitating Couples?

Compiled by Ruth Moon

News

Quotation Marks

News

Tanzanians Throng to Miracle Cure

Tom Osanjo in Nairobi, Kenya

View issue

Our Latest

The Bulletin

Kidnappings in Nigeria, Rep. Greene Resigns, Mamdani Meets Trump

Mike Cosper, Clarissa Moll

Persecution in Nigeria, Marjorie Taylor Greene resigns, Mamdani and Trump have a friendly meeting, and listeners give thanks.

Excerpt

You Know Them As Fantasy Writers. They Were Soldiers Too. 

Joseph Loconte

An excerpt from ‘The War for Middle-Earth: J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Confront the Gathering Storm, 1933–1945.’

Our Prayers Don’t Disappear into Thin Air

Bohye Kim

Why Scripture talks of our entreaties to God as rising like incense.

From Outer Space to Rome

In 1962, CT engaged friends and enemies in the Cold War and the Second Vatican Council.

May Cause a Spontaneous Outburst of Festive Joy

8 new Christmas albums for holiday parties, praise, and playlists.

Excerpt

Meet CT’s New President

The Bulletin with Nicole Martin and Walter Kim

Nicole Martin seeks to mend evangelical divides and uphold biblical truth.

The Christmas Cloud

Dave Harvey

Christmas feels decidedly unmerry when our emotions don’t align with truth.

Night Skies and Dark Paths

Scott James

God is our unwavering guide through incomprehensible darkness.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube