Book Review: The Reason for God

There has been no one who has influenced me more about bringing the gospel to the urban centers of our country than Timothy Keller.  His vision and love for people who live in the big cities is both personally challenging and authentically engaging.  I have listened to him preach a few times and have been impressed by his conviction regarding the truth of the gospel and his passion for reaching the lost with the gospel.  I knew I had to read his new book, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism when it was released. 

Perhaps, I did not realize I was purchasing a book strong in philosophy, yet written for a popular audience.  I actually wish this book was required reading when I took the class Introduction to Philosophy rather than some other of the drier books I had to read.  When I say this book is strong in philosophy, I mean, Keller has a way of getting to the heart of the Christian worldview and all other worldviews to argue for the coherence of Biblical Christianity against any other worldview.  He does a masterful job of explaining what Christianity really is (dispelling what some people think it is) and what the Christian gospel is all about. 

As the subtitle indicates, the audience is the skeptic.  Having a growing church in the heart of New York City and serving there 19 years, Keller is no novice when it comes to having dealt with skeptics.   In the first part of the book Keller deals with seven objections or questions the skeptic might raise against Christianity.  Some of these include, “There can’t  be just one religion,” “How could a good God allow suffering?,” and “How can a loving God send people to hell?”  I found, for the most part, Keller did a good job of responding to these with grace, yet demonstrating how the objection really reflected faulty presuppositions or simply misinformation.

The second part of the book deals with reasons for faith.  Here Keller simply states what it means to be a Christian.  From arguments to God’s existence, to the problem of sin, to the story of the cross, and the reality of the resurrection, Keller shows the unity of the Christian worldview and the rationality of it.

I am thankful for Tim Keller’s hard work and faithfulness to the gospel of Christ.  God is greatly using him to bring many to Jesus Christ. 

There are, however, a few points I did not agree with.

1.        I think Keller should have put more emphasis on God’s Word.  It is not used too much in answering the objections and is still not used much when he talks what faith is all about.  The Bible, being the foundation of the Christian Worldview, must be given ample attention and be given a chance to speak the truth.  It must be the lens which we look through to evaluate all else.  While I believe Keller does this, he doesn’t show the reader how or why he is doing it.

2.         I do not agree with Keller’s view of creation.  Keller says, “The difficulty comes in the few places in the Bible where the genre is not easily identifiable, and we aren’t completely sure how the author expects it to be read.  Genesis 1 is a passage whose interpretation is up for debate among Christians, even those with a “high” view of Scripture.  I personally take the view that Genesis 1 and 2 relate to each other the way Judges 4 and 5 and Exodus 14 and 15 do.  In each couplet one chapter describes a historical event and the other is a song or poem about the theological meaning of the event.  . . . I think Genesis 1 has the earmarks of poetry and is therefore a “song” about the wonder and meaning of God’s creation.  Genesis 2 is an account of how it happened.  There will always be debates about how to interpret some passages – including Genesis 1.  But it is false logic to argue that if one part of Scripture can’t be taken literally then none of it can be.  That isn’t true of any human communication.”  I think there is a lot wrong with this statement.  While Keller does give a few footnotes of those who might support his view, he never really gives evidence for why he believes such a claim.  It made me read this and automatically think, “He has not done his homework, he has just accepted a view which straddles the middle trying to save face in the intellectual society.”  I know it would not have been appropriate for him to go into great detail defending this belief in the book, which is not the point of the book.  I was at least looking for more general support such as, “After greatly studying the original language of Genesis it is clear . . .”  Yet this was never stated.  If Genesis one is a “song” why does it stop at chapter 2?  Why not chapter 3, or 5, or 12, or 50?  Is God’s rest on the seventh day (beginning of chapter 2) narrative?  What about how God created man in Genesis 2 is this just part of the “song?”  There are so many more questions one could ask here.  For an argument as to why Genesis 1 or 2 cannot be poetry read this short article by someone who has thoroughly done his homework. 

While there are these two major points I contend with, I was also greatly convicted with what Keller had to say about fanaticism and moralism in the church.  He has seen what goes on in the church in America and is not ashamed to point out that which is wrong.  I hope the Lord continues to bless Keller’s church and ministry in Manhattan.  As for the book, I hope many skeptics are challenged by it and the Lord uses it to start to soften their heart.  I do not think I would hand the book to a skeptic I encountered, but now would definitely take advantage of the rational given in this book as I present the gospel.

Excerpt:

Pharisaic people assume they are right with God because of their moral behavior and right doctrine.  This leads naturally to feelings of superiority toward those who do not share their religiosity, and from there to various forms of abuse, exclusion, and oppression.  This is the essence of what we think of as fanaticism. 

What if, however, the essence of Christianity is salvation by grace, salvation not because of what we do but because of what Christ has done for us?  Belief that you are accepted by God be sheer grace is profoundly humbling.  The people who are fanatics, then, are so not because they are too committed to the gospel but because they’re not committed to it enough.

Think of people you consider fanatical.  They’re overbearing, self-righteous, opinionated, insensitive, and harsh.  Why?  It’s not because they are too Christian but because they are not Christian enough.  They are fanatically zealous and courageous, but they are not fanatically humble, sensitive, loving, empathetic, forgiving, or understanding – as Christ was.  Because they think of Christianity as a self-improvement program they emulate the Jesus of the whips in the temple, but not the Jesus who said, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone” (John 8:7).  What strikes us as overly fanatical is actually a failure to be fully committed to Christ and his gospel.   

 

Book Review: The Cross — The Pulpit of God’s Love

When I saw The Cross: The Pulpit of God’s Love on the Westminster Bookstore website, I knew I had to read it.  Not only do I greatly appreciate the writing of Iain Murray, but it deals with that subject which I cannot learn enough about — The Cross!  This book did not disappoint in drawing my thoughts to the cross. 

From the second sentence Murray writes, “The purpose of gospel preaching is to make known what God has done in the cross of Christ.”  He then goes on with powerful succinctness to lay out how the atonement proclaims God’s love.  It is this love the author urges the reader to proclaim.

The main thrust of the book is to encourage gospel ministry and the center of this work is the cross.  While Murray faithfully demonstrates how we learn about who God is through the death of Christ on the cross, he also calls ministers to proclaim this message practically to all.  He says, “the good news of a provided forgiveness is to be as universally proclaimed as is the command to repent.” 

It is clear Murray believes in particular redemption, but in the conclusion from the book Murray makes it clear how it is dangerous when the doctrines of grace become more theoretical than practical.  God displaying His divine love through the cross should spur us on to tell others.  If we are to do so in such a way that is convincing, the truth of the cross must be impressed daily upon our own hearts.

I highly recommend The Cross: The Pulpit of God’s Love for anyone wanting to continue to understand what the cross of Christ is all about and how it should encourage us to spread the gospel.  It will be particularly helpful for any in or seeking full-time ministry as it focuses on that which is at the heart of gospel ministry.  I was impressed with the depth of content in this short book (about 40 pages).  I hope the little time invested in reading this will continue to have an effect on how I think about the cross, ministry, and evangelism.

Excerpt:

Persuading men of God’s love is the great calling of the Christian ministry.  It is part of preaching ‘to root out all the secret reserves of unbelief concerning God’s unwillingness to give mercy, grace and pardon to sinners.’  It cannot be done without conviction in the preacher that this love is a wonderful reality, and that it is to be pressed on all his hearers.       

Next Book Review:  The Reason for God by Timothy Keller

Book Review: Young, Restless, Reformed

One of my book purchases at T4G was Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist’s Journey with the New Calvinists by Colin Hansen.  I was excited to see what Colin had to say about this movement, sinceI would probably be considered one of these “new calvinists.”  I had read Colin’s article in Christianity Today, which goes by the same title, but was left wanting more.  My hope was that this book would expand the ideas laid down in the article. 

Colin states that many have heard of the Seeker-Sensitive and Emergent movements in the churches of America, but he knew more people who were young and a part of this “reformed” movement.  This book takes you on a tour around the United States to various churches, seminaries, or conferences which are building Christians who are young, restless, and reformed.  Each chapter in the book deals with a different aspect of this movement (if it can be called a movement).  As I read through the chapters dealing with the Passion Conference, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Yale University, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Covenant Life Church, the New Attitude Conference, and Mars Hill Church I was struck by how different all these places were yet how they were all centered around the Gospel of Christ. 

Colin does a great job of outlining the impact of each of these.  One can easily see why these can be appealing to believers, even if they do not agree with everything.  I learned much about various churches, various people, and their beliefs.  One surprise was a church in New Haven, Connecticut called Trinity Baptist Church, which seems to be building a great ministry.

One area I wish Colin would have spent more time talking about is why he thought this group is growing.  There might be hints to it here and there, but a nice wrap up of why this is happening would have been  helpful. 

If you keep hearing about John Piper, Albert Mohler, C.J. Mahaney, Mark Driscoll, Josh Harris, Ligon Duncan, and  Mark Dever and don’t know who they are, this book is a good introduction.  It is also good to learn about other intricacies of the movement.  For example, I currently attend The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary but have no experience with the Southern Baptist Convention.  I learned much about some of the ideas floating around in the SBC and how not everyone is on board with what SBTS is doing.  Any student attending SBTS with no background with the SBC (like I lacked) would do well to read chapter four in this book. 

To gain, perhaps a better understanding of this book check out this review as well. 

Excerpt (Quoting Tom Schreiner):

“If a church asked me, ‘Are you a Calvinist?’ I’d say, ‘Yes, but I don’t use the word Calvinism. I teach what Scripture says, and I explain it in terms of biblical theology, what the Bible as a whole is teaching, the framework of Scripture.  That’s what I want to teach this congregation.  I want this church not to be a Calvinistic church but a biblical church.  Now I think there’s a lot of overlap there biblically.  But we’re not indebted to John Calvin; we’re indebted to the Scriptures at the end of the day.’”

“It is simple in the sense that you go into a church and you teach the Scriptures and you love people,” Schreiner said.  “That sounds easy, but it’s hard.  You have to be patient.  You can’t expect to turn things around quickly.  It doesn’t always succeed.  Maybe the church is so immature that they kick you out.  Maybe you’re so immature that you get kicked out.”

Book Review: A Gospel Primer for Christians

Stop reading this review and go buy this book.  Then after its on its way, come back and read this.

I was excited when I saw this book on the Westminster Bookstore website.  There are two reasons why I wanted to buy this book.  First, I hoped it would deepen my own understanding of the gospel and be a resource I could use over and over again for my own personal walk with Christ.  Second, I hoped I would be able to use it in family worship.  After reading this book I have found it to be valuable in both ways. 

A Gospel Primer for Christians: Learning to See the Glories of God’s Love is a book not to just be read once and put on a shelf.  It is written so the believer might preach the gospel to himself or herself each and every day.  The truths of the gospel are not just powerful and transforming at the time of conversion, but are designed by God to continue to produce fruit in saints’ life as his or her understanding grows.  Pastor Vincent makes this clear in the introduction, “God did not give us His gospel just so we could embrace it and be converted.  Actually, He offers it to us every day as a gift that keeps on giving to us everything we need for life and godliness.  The wise believer learns this truth early and becomes proficient in extracting available benefits from the gospel each day.”  What Vincent has done by writing this book is to help the believer in extracting these benefits.

The book is divided into four parts.  Part one is entitled, “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily.”  Here Vincent gives 31 impacts the gospel should have on our life.  These include a cure for distrust, enslaved by Christ’s righteousness, perspective in trials, and mortifying the flesh with fullness.  All of this is written in the first person so it is as if we could speak these reasons to our self as a reminder.  I decided to put a small number next to each section so I would read one of the reasons each corresponding day of the month. 

Part two is entitled, “A Gospel Narrative — Prose Version.”  In this part Vincent simply lays out the gospel in prose.  It is no more than eight pages long so it does not take long to read.  I have been reading over this each day with my devotional time so I might continually preach the gospel to myself.

Part thrre is entitled, “A Gospel Narrative — Poetic Version.”  This is the gospel, just in the form of a poem.  Vincent has done a great job at helping the reader make the gospel memorative.  I think this part might be especially helpful in teaching young children the gospel.  I think it would be very appropriate to even put it to song.  How cool would it be if Sovereign Grace took these as used them as lyrics to a song!

Part four is entitled, “Surprised by the Gospel.”  Vincent here gives teestimony to the gospels work in his own life.  It is encouraging to hear his struggles, even as a pastor, over justification and sanctification.  I think this section will offer much encouragement to many believers who can easily fall into the trap of trying to keep themselves in God’s good favor. 

One of the great features of this book are the footnotes.  Read the footnotes, all of them!  I am not a big footnote guy, but in this book all the footnotes are Scripture where you can find the truth VIncent is talking about.  It is truly a powerful aid and brings the truth of God’s Word to the forefront.

Like I said at the beginning, buy this book.  Buy it because you want a gospel-centered life, buy it because you want to teach the gospel to your kids, or buy it because you want to use it to disciple someone else.  You won’t be disappointed, you might even be surprised by the gospel.   

Book Review: Culture Shift

Let me be honest.  The reason I live in Louisville right now is because of one man.  If God had not worked through this man, who knows where I would be attending seminary.  That man is Albert Mohler.  His commitment to the sufficiency, inerrancy, and authority of God’s Word has brought The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary back from the depths of liberalism. 

You can imagine how excited I was to hear of the publishing of his first book, The Culture Shift: Engaging Current Issues With Timeless Truth.  I do not know of another theologian who has a more comprehensive grasp of what is going on in the culture or one who answers the questions more biblically than Dr. Mohler.  What more appropriate topic could he write about for his first book? 

As I thought about what books I wanted to read this summer Culture Shift was at the top.  It did not disappoint.  Dr. Mohler clearly articulates how Christians are to think and live in this culture.  He talks about very specific events which have taken place (or are taking place) and then guides the reader to think biblically about the issue.  He systematically clears away all peripheral distractions and is able to tackle the heart of the problem.  From the Christian in politics, to the Supreme Court, to torture, to education, to postmodernism, to abortion, to natural disasters, to nuclear war, Dr. Mohler gives us insight on how we should approach these topics. 

While this book is about the culture, it is also about wisdom.  Dr. Mohler has given us godly wisdom and points us to fear the Lord so we can deal with cultural problems.  The subtitle of this book (Engaging Current Issues With Timeless Truth)really says what he does.  The chapters of the book deal with very specific examples.  One might think that these examples will one day be obsolete, but Dr. Mohler masterfully applies the Truth of God’s Word so the reader will have the timeless truth.  He is not just giving us renewed thinking on limited topics, he provides a lens for the Christian to look through no matter what cultural issue they encounter.

It would serve everyone well to read Culture Shift.     This is an excellent book, which does not take long to read.  The benefits gleaned, though, will last a lifetime. 

Excerpt:

“…a faithful Christian will affirm the true character and power of God–His omnipotence and His benevolence.  God is in control of the entire universe, and there is not even a single atom outside His sovereignty.  At the same time, God’s goodness and love are beyond question.  The Bible leaves no room for equivocation on either truth.” — pg. 126

“We must speak were the Bible speaks and be silent where Scripture is silent.” — pg. 126-127

2008 Summer Goals

As I finish up a few seminary classes, I was think about what I was going to do this summer.  There were a lot of thoughts floating around in my mind.  So I decided to pick three of those thoughts and make them my goals to accomplish over the next three or four months.  So here they are:

1.  Write Family Goals.  These are goals I want to see accomplished in my family, specifically how my wife and I are going to raise our son based on ths Scriptures.

2.  Review Hebrew.  I took Elementary Hebrew this past semster and I am taking Syntax and Exegesis next semster.  I want to be ready for that and not forget all I have learned.

3.  Read!  I want to read at least 20 pages a day.  With all of these books from Together for the Gospel, I haven’t read any yet.  It is amazing how many of these books I can get through this summer if I just read 20 pages a day. 

My third goal is why I really wrote this post.  This summer is going to be a summer of reviews on Heart of Ezra as I read through a bunch of books.  You can look forward to reviews on The Culture Shift; A Gospel Primer; Young, Restless and Reformed; The Reason for God; In My Place Condemned He Stood; Why We’re Not Emergent; Worship Matters and hopefully many others.  May your summer be profitable as well!

The Duty of Theologians

“Theologians are called to be the churches water engineers and sewage officers; it is their job to see that God’s pure truth flows abundantly where it is needed, and to filter out any intrusive pollution that might damage health. The sociological remoteness of theological colleges, seminaries, and university faculties of theology from the true life of the church makes it easy to forget this, and the track record of professional teachers in these units has in my time been distinctly spotty so far as concerns their responsibility to the church and to the world.” — J.I Packer from A Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision for the Christian Life.

What do you think of when you hear the word “theologian?”  When I hear this word I picture a man in his sixties, with gray disheveled hair, thick black frame glasses, clothes that do not match, who sits in a windowless office all day reading large dusty books.  When they do emerge from their cravat, they are about 30 years behind the times and cannot relate to the world or the church around them.

I appreciate what Dr. Packer says in this quote because he gets at the heart of what a true theologian should do.  Theologians are those who are able to accurately divide the Word of truth and press it upon the churches heart.  This comes by giving the Living Truth of God’s Word and by warning of snares laid on the path of life.  Theologians deal with real Truth and put it into people’s real life.  There cannot be a disconnect between these two aspects.  When such a separation happens ineffectiveness, stagnation, and fruitlessness occur.

Those who have taken on the responsibility of training the next generation of theologians (i.e. seminaries, Bible colleges, etc.) must guard themselves from such “sociological remoteness.”  The study of theology is not complete without knowledge and experience of the true life of the church.  It must contain an appropriate application of the Truth to people’s real life.  How else are we seen to be set apart if not in the way we live?  The knowledge of theology is not what sets us apart.  The how to of ministry is not what sets us apart.  But rather, the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers is what shines forth so others may see the glory of Christ in us.

True theologians cannot shy away from the real problems people deal with in the church.  Unfortunately, the church is not immune to such problems as drunkenness, sexual immorality, abortion, people with suicidal thoughts, anorexia, rape, depression, etc.  There must be biblically based solutions theologians can give to people with these problems.  Solutions which will set these people apart from the rest of the world.  Solutions which will encourage people to come to Christ and become Christlike.  This is the duty of all true theologians.  May the Holy Spirit rise up such theologians who are ready to pour their lives into the Church and reach out to the world.

Book Review: Raising Children God’s Way

With the Iowa caucuses being held today, it is easy to hear many messages which promote change to our society.  Every presidential hopeful has an answer to what they would do in order to change society.  While they say much about taxes, health care, the war on terror, international experience, and education, I have not heard one talk about parenting.  What part do parents play in the fabric of society?  Would things be different in the word if parents parented differently than they currently do? 

Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers these questions and more in Raising Children God’s Way.  These five sermons from Ephesians 6:1-4 compiled by Banner of Truth Trust give great insight into how parents are to raise children for the kingdom of God.  Even though these sermons were given decades ago, they still are accurate with the trends of parenting today.  It goes to show that God’s Word is timeless.  Dr. Lloyd-Jones has given biblical precision concerning what the Lord requires from parents.  When one picks this book up they will immediately see the passion and concern he has for the family. 

Only 85 pages, Raising Children God’s Way is a short read, but it must be thoroughly digested.  It is packed with biblical truth applied accurately to the fallen conditions of man.  Those parents who are seeking to raise children who glorify God will be challenged and convicted by this book.  The church thirsts for books like this, which brings the light of the Word of God to shine on the family.  God has designed the family, instituted the family, and been an example to the family.  We can no longer ignore the problems of parenting or seek to remedy them with anything other than the Bible. 

Read a few excerpts from the book:

I believe that Christian parents and children, Christian families, have a unique opportunity of witnessing to the world at this present time by just being different.  We can be true evangelists by showing this discipline, this law and order, this true relationship between parents and children.  We may be the means under God’s hand of bringing many to a knowledge of the truth.  Let us therefore think of it in that way.

Whether we like it or not, a breakdown in home-life will eventually lead to a breakdown everywhere.

But the tragedy of today, with its superficial thinking, is to assume that the opposite of wrong discipline is no discipline at all.

There is no more important influence in the life of a child than the influence of the home.  The home is the fundamental unit of society, and children are born into a home, into a family.  There you have the circle that is to be the chief influence in their lives.  There is no question about that.  It is the biblical teaching everywhere; and it is always in so-called civilizations were ideas concerning the home begin to deteriorate that society ultimately disintegrates. 

Raising Children God’s Way is a must read for any parent.  It will help shape one’s thinking around the truth of God and convince him or her of the importance of the necessity of the family.  God’s design must not be forsaken and those of God’s church must uphold it for the glory of God and the testimony of Christ.  Raising children God’s way will make your family look different than the rest of the world, but think of the opportunity it opens for the proclamation of the gospel.  May the church encourage fathers and mothers to faithfully uphold the biblical standards of child rearing.             

Academic Studying For Sanctification

Being a seminary student, I study a few hours every day.  Whether it is reading, writing a paper, or preparing for an exam there is always something to do during the semester.  It is a privilege to be able to gain this knowledge for use in ministry.  I have been thinking about something said by a few professors at the SBTS School of Theology Orientation luncheon.  They emphasized how students should not just be studying to gain knowledge but to grow spiritually as well.  Our acquiring of theological information and facts must not stop at our head.  It must penetrate our heart as well. I thought it might be helpful to think through some ways we can do this. 

1 Pray.

             A.  Pray before you read or study.

            Give the time you are about to spend learning about God, the gospel, the Bible, the church, etc. to God.  Pray that He would give you understanding and wisdom as you study.  Ask the Lord to teach you more about Himself as you studying.  Remember the time you spend investing in this time will have an impact on you and will most likely have an impact on those you minister to.  Ask the Lord that you would be a good steward with the time you spend studying and that you would remain focused and disciplined.  It seems like an obvious thing to do, but so often it is overlooked.   

             B.  Pray while you study. 

            When you come upon something which is difficult to grasp ask for the Lord’s assistance.  I have found many times that what I am learning makes me want to praise God.  Express praise to God in prayer.

             C.  Pray for ministries you participate in (current and future).

            We are learning for a reason.  This reason is bigger than just passing a class.  It is done for the glory of God and the furthering of the Kingdom.  Pray about how you can incorporate what you are learning into ministry.  Seek to find ways your gaining of knowledge can apply to your life and to others lives.  Then pray the Lord would accomplish this as you desire to obey the Word of God.     

 Prayer is just one aspect of how one can study with sanctification in view.  I am sure there is much more one could say about praying while you study.  I hope these brief thoughts spark your interest and you think about how you can incorporate prayer into your learning.  In future posts we will look at other ways to studying for our sanctification.

Focus on Evangelism!

I wanted to use this post to respond to the comment made on my last post.  I am grateful for the honest discussion R. Mansfield was willing to make on Grace Vs. Global Warming.  Hopefully, this will spur on continuing discussion in the future.

On the last post R. Mansfield commented:

That doesn’t mean that we should ignore environmental issues. God gave humans the mandate to care for his creation. Christians should be at the forefront of environmental concerns, but instead we quote 2 Peter 3, say “It’s all gonna burn anyway, so let just focus on evangelism.” Personally, I think that’s the wrong approach. God created this earth for us, and we should care for it, nurture it, protect it. Anything less is sin. And how great could our witness be if we were to show our concern for creation for right biblical reasons as opposed to the reasons that non-believers use to care for the earth.

Let me start by repeating what is said in my previous post.  I believe human beings have the responsibility and obligation to care for creation and to subdue it.  I am not saying we should not care about environmental concerns.  What I am advocating, however, is looking at environmental issues with a biblical worldview.  I believe this means that (more often than not) we are going to be interpreting what must happen with environment differently than non-believers.  So when non-believers say the globe is warming and that we should all “Go green,” drive hybrid cars, and do “our part” so that the tides don’t rise and we all drown, we as believers have to look at what God’s Word says and believe in His sovereignty over His creation.  Part of this is understanding the world as we know it will only exist for a limited amount of time.  The earth is temporal and we can “go green” all we want but when the Lord says times up he means it.

One the other hand, there are eternal souls living on this earth who need to hear the Gospel before God says times up.  He has given this charge to believers.  I think this priority of evangelism is seen explicitly in the life of Christ.  In the Gospel of Mark the first words we read Jesus saying are:

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

We see Christ’s emphasis on the saving of souls so they might have eternal life.  In fact, there are many places we could go in the gospels which stress the necessity of evangelism (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 1:17; Mark 6:7-13; Luke 19:9; John 4:34-38; etc.).  In reading these accounts it is easy to see Jesus said, “Focus on evangelism!”  Why would He put urgency in evangelism if future judgment was not immanent?  Jesus even says what will happen to these “weeds” (sons of the evil one):

“The Son of Man will send His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers and throw them into the fiery furnace.  In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 13:41-42).

Realize that the earth will burn, but God will make a new heaven and a new earth.  On the other hand their will be people who will burn eternally in the fiery furnace (see above quote).  That seems like good motivation to focus on evangelism. 

 
I would propose this evangelism must be more than just being a witness by showing our concern for creation.  Non-believers will not understand our reasons for caring for creation unless their eyes are opened by the Creator to see they are sinners and deserve judgment.  It is plain in reading the Bible that in God’s economy the worth of a man’s soul is worth more than that of a stable earth environment.  Jesus Christ came to this earth, lived a perfect life, died on the cross to save people from their sins and rose again on the third day.  Jesus Christ did not come to “Save the Dolphins.” He came because He loved the world (people) and He knew the God would be glorified in the eternal salvation of human souls.  I am not afraid to say then, “Focus on evangelism!”