Zondervan,
2018
pbk., 236
pp, $16.99/£10.99
ISBN
978-0310337775
The premise
of J. D. Greear’s Not God Enough
needs to be repeated wherever Christ’s people are gathered: we often make God
small enough to be understood, rendering him no longer big enough to be
worshiped. The resulting idol does not inspire worshipful fear or wilful trust
but produces doubt, despair, and spiritual decline. We are left faithless and
fruitless.
This accessible
and personable yet pointed book broadly revolves around Moses’ divine encounter
at the burning bush, and is divided into three parts. In “God Is”, Greear
confesses his own past struggles with doubt, providing a helpful theodicean
apologetic for God’s existence and attributes. “God is good” focuses on God’s
sovereign wrath and love, which redemptively meet at the cross of Christ.
Finally, in “Bold Faith in a Big God”, Greear demonstrates what God’s
sovereignty means for us: basically we need to get over ourselves, be amazed by
God, and press forward on gospel-centred, faith-filled mission.
Greear’s
American context does not render his message irrelevant elsewhere - indeed,
those crippled by the gloom-mongering pervasive folly of British churches that
“these are the days of small things” would do well to read this book.
Greear is
maligned by some in his circle of churches for being a “Calvinist”, while
others argue that he is not “Calvinist” enough. Both groups deprive themselves
of blessing and benefit. Unlike the dry doctrine and doctrine-less dross often
in circulation, Not God Enough refreshed me and led me to worship - it may
you too!
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