Nov
09
2011
Book Notes: Moral Apologetics, Beautiful Outlaw, Good to Great
Brief notes on three books I’ve read recently:
Moral Apologetics for Contemporary Christians:
Pushing Back Against Cultural and Religious Critics
Mark Coppenger (B&H Academic)
My Rating: ****
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. Here’s how Coppenger opens the book:
Foes of the faith often declare Christianity morally deficient… This book is designed to push back against such criticism, arguing that Christianity is morally superior as well as true. I will note uncomfortable realities, including the misbehavior of many Christians (and false professors) but will seek to demonstrate that the moral and cultural center of genuine Christianity is clearly superior to that of its competitors.
Beautiful Outlaw:
Experiencing the Playful, Disruptive, Extravagant Personality of Jesus
John Eldredge (FaithWords)
My Rating: **
The newest book from John Eldredge seeks to surprise readers with the powerful personality 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 that focuses on personal experience more than God’s Word.
Good to Great:
Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t
Jim Collins (Harper Business), 2001
My Rating: *****
This book was an eye-opener for me. It explains the success of Walgreens, Kroger, and other organizations that left their competition behind as they delivered unprecedented, sustained results.
What makes this book more helpful than other business books is that Collins didn’t just research the companies that succeeded; he and his team also researched the similar companies that declined during the same period. By comparing and contrasting the companies, the team was able to discern key findings related to leadership, discipline, technology, and perseverance.
It’s worth noting that some of the findings are counterintuitive (e.g., technological innovation is an accelerator, not a creator of growth, and effective leaders tend to be humble and more focused on the good of the company than their own renown). The book is an easy read thanks to Collins’ ability to distill his research into easy-to-remember concepts and illustrations (the Hedgehog, rinsing one’s cottage cheese, and the flywheel are three that immediately come to mind and will stick with me for a long time).
(Two of these reviews were first published in Christianity Today, October 2011.)