In a world full of voices, most proclaiming ‘truth’ contrary to the Truth, it is important to know who you are listening to, and to find trustworthy teachers. For centuries the Church carried out its mission in face-to-face fellowship and discipleship. These last few decades have seen a surge in on-line or app driven …what can you call it? It is not fellowship, nor discipleship–for both require the sharing of life, the mutual upbuilding of one another, and a unity in mind and heart. And in the midst of these I see many who have no authority but themselves undergirding their platform. Read lots of good books, enjoy the teachers from hundreds of years of Church history; but do not let it replace the ministry of your local church–in which you were meant to partake!
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1 John 4:1
We test the spirits at work in this age by holding up every one of their words to the Word. Does the teacher you are listening to declare truths that require knowledge of the original languages? Have they studied Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic? Do they cite their sources? Is your teacher claiming to have studied deeply and is now sharing what they’ve learned? What sources did they study? Is their study method “what does this verse mean to me?” Are they interpreting Scripture by Scripture, or by their culture, their ‘common sense experience’ and their emotions?
These ‘spirits’ we test are human beings, prophets, those claiming to speak and teach on His behalf. If you want to know more about the Holy Spirit, Sinclair Ferguson’s book is priceless! And approachable, any layman can enjoy it. This volume should be in every Christian’s home library.
Though a favorite author of mine, Ferguson is not the author I’m highlighting. I want to share a bit about three books on my shelf all by Natalie Brand. I’ve never met her, but having heard her on various podcasts, and read these books, I can wholeheartedly recommend her to you as a faithful teacher, pleasing to the LORD in how she carries out her writing and speaking. She loves God’s Word, and that love is conveyed in her writing very clearly.
So without any further ado, a bit about her books!
Complementarian Spirituality: Reformed Women and Union with Christ.
When I read Dr. Robert Letham’s glowing review of this book I knew I would enjoy it. If you have never spent a season of life studying “Union with Christ” this book will encourage and instruct and inspire you! If you have, it will take you deeper and refresh your soul. Throughout the book is woven the theology of our Triune God; after discussing the historical Reformed Legacy of this doctrine, she moves into discussing its “ecclesiastical significance” without becoming a mere ‘how-to’ book. The last four chapters move into how this doctrine impacts our spirituality. Too many try to divorce spirituality from the Spirit’s work through the Word, but Natalie Brand will help you see and appreciate the robust communion with God that the Spirit ushers us into!
“As this chapter [4] and the next particularly seek to explore a feminine articulation of the Reformed doctrine of union with Christ…by means of a female author this project looks to counterbalance the strong male presence in Reformed theology by uniquely responding to the dearth of female academic contribution…that will encourage further scholarly writing from Reformed women.” Brand then goes on to present “an initial definition of feminine Reformed spirituality” and means whereby to use women’s gifts for the building up of the church. She does not recommend ordaining women, and if you read the whole work you see the beauty of Complementarianism, which is not to be confused with believing women to be inferior or seeing them as subservient to men.
Clearly, she is a champion of women sitting at Jesus’ feet, digging deep into His Word, and loving and serving in His Church and in their communities. This book is a great resource for determining too the difference between feminine spirituality, and feminist. Many passages are underlined, and as I flip back through and read these portions I am encouraged once again!
Priscilla, Where Are You? A Call to Joyful Theology.
This book would be great for small groups, or personal reading. You will walk away with a fuller understanding of not only who Pricilla was, but how we too can be theologians, and indeed must be if we are in Christ. This book is instructive, and each chapter ends with questions to ponder and/or discuss. I am excited for my daughter to read this some day.
“Priscilla, Aquila, and Paul shared warm times of fellowship together, feeding each other with the Old Testament Scriptures–from their memories and their scrolls…We can imagine Priscilla standing up from the table and moving to the doorway to enjoy the cool evening breeze–storing up the apostle’s accounts of sinners being transformed by the gospel, her heart overwhelmed, humbled that God would use her in the building of his church. Her face is displaying a stomach-stirring desire to speak out the gospel…I know what that looks like. I have seen it on the faces of many dear sisters in Christ: a holy restlessness to declare aloud the goodness and wonders of God.” page 9
The Scuttlebutt Letters: Words to a Wild Tongue.
A real pleasure of a book! Written in the style of Screwtape Letters, this book will have you soul searching, chuckling, and being reminded of the glory of God’s work in our hearts. There were a few passages that stung, as we can all admit our tongues sometimes run away from us…but the letters written from a changed heart, a heart full of the Gospel, were balm.
It might be tempting to look at the size of this book, and think “I’m a fast reader, I shall read this over the weekend.” Don’t; give yourself time to wrestle with the ideas, the let them sink in, to enjoy the switch that happens in the letters about midway (no spoilers!) and to remember what you’ve read. If you are planning already, this book would make a great Christmas gift for fellow believers!
Ponder this week:
Who are your fellow partakers?
Revelation 1:9 …fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus…
Who is refreshing you? Who are you refreshing?
Romans 1:12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.
Philemon 1:4-7 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints; 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for the sake of Christ. 7 For I have had great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
Are you and your fellow partakers listening to faithful teachers? Do their doctrines conform to godliness? (1 Timothy 6:3; but really, a careful study of this letter and the next will always help!). Do you have any friends (fellow partakers) to discuss good books with?