Oct

11

2009

Justin Taylor|9:55 pm CT

New Brainerd Bio

brainerdFrom John MacArthur’s foreword to a new biography of David Brainerd:

In this marvelous new biography, Vance Christie has given us a thorough, engaging, meticulously documented but wonderfully readable new chronicle of the life of David Brainerd. Christie makes Brainerd live and breathe for the twenty-first century reader in a vivid, colorful account of the young man’s heart, mind, and work. This is a splendid volume, full of insight into what drove David Brainerd to give his life in the Lord’s service—despite several obstacles that would seem insurmountable to the typical person today.

This retelling of Brainerd’s story is a much-needed and strategic answer to many of the current generation’s spiritual needs. Brainerd’s devotion to serving others for God’s glory makes a sharp contrast with the shallowness and self-centeredness of our postmodern culture, and points to a better, more Christlike way. Brainerd’s own words, quoted frequently but always strategically by Christie, reveal Brainerd as a real and honest man, with struggles, discouragements, and bouts of depression that, if anything, make our postmodern woes seem paltry by comparison. The Appendix deals in detail with Brainerd’s battle against frequent and crippling waves of depression, and is one of the most valuable chapters of the book.

| PRINTABLE VERSION

 

6 Comments

  1. Josh C
    October 12, 2009 at 3:49 pm

    That sounds really good. I actually began reading “The Life and Diary of David Brainerd” today, so that was ironic.

    Do you know of a really good biography of William Tyndale? He’s another hero of mine.

  2. New David Brainerd Biography | Missions Mandate
    October 12, 2009 at 4:01 pm

    [...] JT and Team [...]

  3. Richard A. Bailey
    October 12, 2009 at 4:29 pm

    Here is another recent volume on Brainerd that some of your readers might find attractive.

    http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/ReligionTheology/American/?view=usa&ci=9780195372373

  4. Simon
    October 13, 2009 at 12:55 am

    Cool I wonder when this will be available in South Africa then…( that is where I reside) I have so wanted to read Brainerd but I have not understood all the old english!

  5. David Brainerd revisited « The Wanderer
    October 13, 2009 at 7:49 am

    [...] first is by Vance Christie, published by Christian Focus, and seems to be a more typical, appreciative [...]

Comments are closed.