Quite frankly, we were surprised. In a survey asking CT readers to list the doctrinal/spiritual life questions that concern them most, the conundrum most often rated “important” or “very important” was not the problem of pain or the deciphering of God’s plan in an individual’s life (the “classic” chart busters). It was, instead: Should Christians take their Lord’s Day observance more seriously?
Whether an attempt to assuage workaholic guilt or to find God’s true meaning of “rest,” the question presented pastor Eugene Peterson an opportunity to share his own Sabbath-breaking past along with some ways he and his Maryland congregation remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
An expanded treatment of Peterson’s article will appear early next year in one of the first of a new line of books to be copublished by Christianity Today and Victor Books. Tough Questions Christians Ask will feature discussion of other questions that CT readers considered critical in their Christian walk. Among them: Is the Bible completely accurate and trustworthy? Will a just God condemn to hell those who have never heard of Jesus Christ? Is Christianity the only way to God?
Contributors include CT senior editor Kenneth Kantzer, theologians Colin Brown and Wayne Grudem, developmental psychologist Bonnidell Clouse (with historian husband, Bob), philosopher Peter Kreeft, and, of course, pastor Eugene Peterson.
CT will be featuring edited versions of some of these chapters in the months to come.
HAROLD B. SMITH, Managing Editor
Cover illustration by Paul Turnbaugh.
