Tough Topics: Biblical Answers to 25 Challenging Questions
by Sam Storms
Sam Storms, Senior Pastor at Brideway Church in Oklahoma
City, founder of Enjoying God Ministries and prolific author has put together
another work of clarity and thoughtful engagement with the issues. This book is designed to take some of the
most challenging questions from demons, open view theism, and infant salvation
and give cogent answers to them chapter by chapter. The result is a guide to understand these
challenging issues from a biblical, pastoral and theological perspective. Sam minces no words here but gets right to
the heart of the issue. With insight and
detail, Sam is able to deftly answer these questions with patience by focusing
in on the Scriptural warrant for each issue.
The structure of the book was evident indeed that Sam wanted
the reader to be a foundation on the trustworthiness of Scripture so that he
could engage the issues properly.
Therefore, the issue of Inerrancy is the first challenging topic that
Sam provides an answer to. While I
agreed with his assessment of the need to rest on the infallibility and
inerrancy of Scripture, I also thought highly of his conclusion. Same writes, “Second, we should subject our
souls to the infallibility and authority of the Scriptures, immerse our minds
in tis truths, and bathe our spirits in its teachings because the inerrant special
revelation of God in Scripture has the power to change human lives and to
transform the experience of the church” (31).
The power of Scripture rests on its ability to change the lives of its
hearers due to its supernatural character and the work of the Holy Spirit in
its pages. This is good news for every
Christian because it illuminates the fact that Scripture is a balm for their
souls and a word for the unbeliever at the same time. The Scriptures are effective and
transformative, informational and an instrument of radical change.
On a similar vein, Sam took great pains to relate difficult
passages in Scripture to Jesus’ teaching.
In the answer to the warning passages in Hebrews, Sam writes, “They are
not Christians who have “lost” their salvation.
I believe the spiritual state and experience of those described in
verses 4-6 is virtually identical to that of the first three soils in the parable
of the sower” (216). When troubles come
their way, they walk away from the truth.
Sam is right to connect Hebrews 6:4-6 with Matthew 13 and Mark 4 because
the situation is similar with the seed.
Sam indicates that there are ‘varying degrees of understanding,
interest, and joy’ but not a full-blooded faith that weathers any storm. Because Sam is able to interpret less clear
Scriptures by more clear ones, the reader is able to deal with these issues
from a full on biblical perspective and not isolated texts that are often very
difficult.
I found this book to be very good at answering some really
tough questions. There were times where
I hoped Sam would deal with other issues, but his topics were on the hearts of
people’s minds. The takeaway is a
biblical and thorough investigation that is both theologically and pastorally
sensitive.
Thanks to Crossway Books for the copy of this book in
exchange for review.
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