This short book by pastor and author Tim Keller is an exposition I Corinthians 3:21 - 4:7 focusing on how a person who has been set from sin through Christ should esteem themselves and others. In a few short chapters Keller dissects this powerful passage of scripture and lays bare the core of humanity's problem - sinful, self-centered pride.
From there Keller shows how our basic bent towards selfishness and pride is at of the root of both those who esteem themselves too highly and those who "suffer" from low self esteem. This section is an insightful exploration into a biblical view of the natural condition of the human ego and how Christ can rescue us from ourselves.
Keller goes on to explain that Christ doesn't transform our view of ourselves but actually transforms our very self. Finally, Keller brings us back to I Corinthians and shows through Paul that ultimately it is not how others view us or even our view of ourselves that sets us free but it is God's view of us that matters and that through Christ, He can justly view us as holy and precious in His sight. Our sinful nature and deeds no longer define us in Christ. We are accepted "because of what the Lord Jesus has done. Then, the only person whose opinion counts looks at me and He finds me more valuable than all the jewels in the earth." That is freedom.
A very helpful, powerful little book.
This book by a Sovereign Grace pastor is like having a motivational speaker in paper form. It's not incredibly deep, and the content is not overly original, but what is said is said enthusiastically, optimistically, helpfully, and clearly. Altrogge reminds his readers that part of being created in the image of God is that we all have the ability to create and that this ability is given to us in order to bring praise to God, not ourselves. Since worship is the motivation, we can be free from the hindrance of fearing what people think of our creativity. And as we continue to be faithful in flexing our creative muscles, we will often improve the quality and efficiency of our creations.
This is the book that started a movement in the church local and global to call God's people back to orthodoxy and orthopraxy in the area of adoption, both earthly and heavenly.
Although I tend to be schizophrenic when it comes to traditions (my tradition is not being tied down by tradition...unless I want to be) - getting married, growing a family, and getting older has shown me the importance and value of traditions, especially within the family. Every family has traditions, even non-traditional families. The question is to what purpose do our traditions serve? Are we are slaves to our traditions, as if they exist for their own sake? Or are traditions our slaves, our tools, or old testament Ebenezers - reminders to point us to something more important and meaningful than the tradition itself? As we strive to create a Christ-centered culture in our family, we have looked to some traditions that God's people have observed throughout history and tried to incorporate those that help us keep our eyes and hearts fixed on the Gospel. Advent is one of those traditions. And that's where this book comes in.
This book was recommended to me by a dear friend and student of the author years ago. I am just now finishing it. The length of time that it took me to read it does not reflect an inaccessible writing style, insurmountable length, or any fault of the author. It took me this long to finish because of the level of conviction the book brought about in my life. Often I felt so convicted either at my need for growth or at my lack of desire to grow in the spheres of spiritual discipline that Whitney lays out that I let the book lie on my desk unopened for weeks and sometimes months at a time. Yet there it would lie, a silent reminder to me that godliness isn't the natural direction towards which my heart and life freely drift.