Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Blog
    • Grace in Focus International Blogs
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
Home
→
Journal Articles
→
Book Reviews
→
Above All Earthly Powers: Christ in a Postmodern World

Above All Earthly Powers: Christ in a Postmodern World

Posted in Book Reviews

Above All Earthly Powers: Christ in a Postmodern World. By David F. Wells. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2005. 339 pp. Paper, $18.00.

Wells powerfully captures the influence of postmodernity on the church in America today. Lots of books on postmodernity are written for scholars and are hard to follow. Not so with this book. It is clearly written and for the most part easy to follow.

The author’s discussion of Open Theism (and especially the transformation of Clark Pinnock, pp. 243-51) and of the seekersensitive Willow Creek type of church (pp. 263-309) is truly eye opening. Wells shows that what is happening in Evangelical seemingly conservative churches today is very akin to what liberalism did in the past. The concern among many church leaders today is not what the congregation needs to hear. Rather, the congregation is now viewed as the customers and as such the concern of the leaders is what they want to hear (p. 276). Now many churches are not only eliminating coats and ties, pulpits, hymnals, and choirs. They are also eliminating much of what is taught is in the Bible as well!

“There is much in Scripture that is not of much interest to many in these new churches, and much which does not seem to make any connection with their lives. These themes therefore fade away [i.e., are not preached] in much the same way as an unwanted product, sooner or later, will be taken off the store shelf” (p. 305).

Concluding the last major chapter, the one on megachurches and consumerism, Wells writes, “Christianity is not up for sale. Its price has already been fixed and that price is the complete and ongoing surrender to Christ of those who embrace him by faith. It can only be had on his own terms. It can be had only as a whole. It refuses to offer only selections of its teachings. Furthermore, the Church is not [a] retailing outlet. Its preachers are not its peddlers and those who are Christian are not its consumers” (pp. 308-309). While his reference to surrendering to Christ and embracing Him by face might imply more than Lordship discipleship, his sentiment is certainly right on target in terms of the Great Commission. We are to make disciples. We are to teach people to observe all that the Lord Jesus commanded.

This book should be read by pastors, church leaders, and believers who are seeking Christ’s, not the Evangelical world’s, approval.

Robert N. Wilkin
Editor
Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society

Denton, Texas

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
Bob_W

by Bob Wilkin

Bob Wilkin (ThM, PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary) is the Founder and Executive Director of Grace Evangelical Society and co-host of Grace in Focus Radio. He lives in Highland Village, TX with his wife, Sharon. His latest books are Faith Alone in One Hundred Verses and Turn and Live: The Power of Repentance.

Cart

Recently Added

March 20, 2023

1 Peter–Part 01–1:1-2 Introduction

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Ken Yates, Philippe Sterling and Bob Wilkin are introducing a short study about the New Testament book of...
March 20, 2023

Is Everlasting Life Everlasting?

Chris from West Virginia asks an important question: I found myself Googling, “What is eternal life in Greek,” and stumbled upon a Quora forum where...
March 17, 2023

How Should One Define the Phrase “Belief in Jesus”? What is Saving Faith?

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Bob Wilkin, Steve Elkins and Ken Yates answer a question about the nature of saving faith. What does...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen to Stitcher

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • Hebrews: Partners with Christ $22.00 $15.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Paperback) $6.95 $3.00
  • The Road to Reward, 2nd Edition $9.95 $5.00
  • A Free Grace Primer: The Hungry Inherit, The Gospel Under Siege, and Grace in Eclipse $20.00 $12.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Hardcover) $13.95 $5.00
Grace Evangelical Society

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube