Bound Together: How We Are Tied to Others in Good and Bad Choices

by Chris Brauns

We are not just isolated individuals. Instead, our lives are woven together with others. We have solidarity with other people―the choices one person makes affects the lives of others, for good and for bad. Because much of the pain we endure in life is in the context of relationships, this truth often strikes us as unfair. Why should a child suffer because of the choices of his parents? And on a grander scale, why do we all suffer the curse of Adam’s sin? Why should anyone be judged for someone else’s sin? In Bound Together, Chris Brauns unpacks the truth that we are bound to one another and to the whole of creation. He calls this, “the principle of the rope.” Grasping this foundational principle sheds new light on marriage, the dynamics of family relationships, and the reason why everyone lives with the consequences of the sins that others commit. Brauns shows how the principle of the rope is both bad news and good news, revealing a depth to the message of the gospel that many of us have never seen before.

Genres: Christian, Marriage, Christian Living, Theology, Relationships, Religion

208 pages, Paperback

First published March 5, 2013

Reviews

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

No man is an island. We are bound together. These simple sentences open up a pandora box of how a society fails or suceeds. We are bound together in the fact that what each of us chooses big, or small, good or bad, it effects someone else. Individualism is not bad in itself, however, radical individualism is without regard to others and weakens society. Because we are bound together, individualism is not gospel centered. Individualism does not bring life to others, gospel brings life to others, individualism does not compliment others, but competes with others, individualism says thats the way I am, the Gospel says I am free in Christ. Individualism plays the victim, the gospel knows the victory. We are bound together whether we believe that or not. That is God's design and individualism is against the design of God to redeem his people.

Chris Brauns does an excellent job in revealing this truth in this book Bound Together. We start in Chapter 1 by describing how we are "roped" (bound) together by the example of current celebraties such as Hank Willaims Jr and his struggle with drugs. Hank Williams famous song, Family Traditions, knew this truth of being bound by the his father's sin. Is that excuse? - No...Is there hope-yes. A stronger rope in Christ Jesus. He in detail teaches the doctrine of original sin and what union of Christ means for those that seek after truth. If we are blaming others, we are not clinging to the rope of Christ but to Adam's rope. We in essence are bounding ourselves to Adam instead of Christ. That is why doctrine is so important. We may think we are bounding ourselves to Christ, when we are not. My favorite chapter was bound together for joy. It really is the mission for the church and the body of the church. When we are not experiencing joy, we are either missing the gospel or the fellowship of God's people. We need both. Because we are bound together.

The chapter on Bound Together in Marriage is significant to the gospel. Marriage is the gospel. We have lost our high view of marriage and in doing so we have lost our high view of the gospel. The solidarity of a marriage is a beautiful thing and in that our marriage reflects the gospel. I appreciated Brauns quote...The Son submits to the Father yet is equal in essence, sharing in the glory. His submission does not make him inferior in any way. Bibical submission means we voluntarily yied to one another in love.

Chapter 10 Roped Together in Country and Culture is signficant to all Christians in this time in history. Loved the research in this part of the book. The rise of American solidarity was what made America great. A young French political theorist more than 180 years ago wanted to know what it was all about, his results will astound you and his prophetic fear will amaze you. This alone is worth the read of this book. It is a book for a time such as this. I highly recommend it.

A complimentary review copy was provided to me by Cross Focused Reviews (A Service of Cross Focused Media, LLC). I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Kevin Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently I asked the students in one of my theology classes to retell the biblical account of the fall of Jericho. They got the basics of the story just fine – Israelites returning from slavery, walking around the walls and the walls come tumbling down. Pressed for more, they recalled the story of Rahab. Pushed for even more details they described just how the Israelites silently walked along the walls except on the last day. When I told them there was something still missing from their account, some students resorted to memories of a Veggie Tales videos… Not one of the students remembered that all the inhabitants of the city were to be slaughtered. Young and old, male and female – even the livestock were to die. It’s not what we want to think about. It’s not part of the story that ever made it on to the flannel board when I was a kid in Sunday School.

As good Christians we tend to ignore parts of the Bible that leave us a little uncomfortable. We don’t want to think about Achan’s family also being stoned for their father/husband’s sin. Yet, in his book Bound Together, Pastor Chris Brauns takes these accounts head-on and explains how stories such as this in the Bible actually point to a larger truth about sin and redemption.

Pastor Brauns introduces us to the “principle of the rope – the simple truth that our lives, choices and actions are linked to the lives, choices and actions of other people.” (page 25) Its an uncomfortable truth, but true nonetheless. We all find ourselves dealing with the consequences in which the actions of others have placed us. In our representative form of government, this happens all the time. I did not vote for President Obama, but his choices and actions surely have an effect on me. I did not choose the family I was born into, but the actions of my parents sure have played a huge role in my life and development and will continue down to my children and grandchildren. Today as I type this review, the entire nation is grappling with the evil plans of unknown bombers from Boston. Those in Jericho suffered the consequences of being bound together with the sinful choices of others.

We are bound together in solidarity with entire human race. We all trace our roots back to the same person standing naked in the garden with a little bit of fruit still fresh on his lips. Ever since Adam, the entire human race must struggle with the actions stemming from our shared sin nature. Though we may not have been physically present with Adam or complicit in that exact sin, we suffer the consequences as guilty people. We all suffer the consequences.

Brauns writes,

“Broadly speaking, there are two consequences to Adam’s rebellion. First, Adam and all his descendants are guilty of sinning against God, and second, all of Adam’s descendants inherit a corrupted nature. This means all human beings, including babies and small children, are not innocent victims of circumstance. They are born sinners. As David confessed in Psalm 51:5, ‘Behold I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.’ The problem we face as Adam’s descendants is not that we are sinners because we sin; rather we sin because we are sinners.” (Page 45)

However, there is another rope… As strong as the rope that binds to Adam and his fallen race, even stronger is the rope that binds us to Christ and his righteousness. The principle of the rope is not merely negative. The positive aspect of this principle highlights our identity in Christ Jesus. Drawing from Romans 5, Pastor Brauns shows us that though through Adam we are bound in sin and death, in Christ we are given righteousness and life. The same principle that imposes death on the human race also grants salvation to all who believe.

“The blessing of God’s love is greater than the curse of sin. The negative and positive applications of the principle of the rope are not symmetrical. Our solidarity in Christ is more powerful than our solidarity in sin with Adam.” (page 84)

The principle of the rope not only helps to see the metanarrative of Scripture is a clearer light, but it also helps us see our personal struggles and difficulties in a clearer light. In the second half of the book Pastor Chris applies this principle to issues such as marriage, families, death, and culture.

This is a book I wish I could hand to every family. As someone who works with children each day, I wish parents could see the effect their decisions have upon their children. Somehow some parents have managed to delude themselves into thinking their divorce will have no effect on their children since both parents plan to remain active. Yet, they fail to recognize their selfishness is not only seen by their children but in many ways is imitated by their children. Likewise, I wish children saw how their actions affect their siblings and even their parents.

Of course, I also greatly appreciate the strong emphasis on the local church. The principle of the rope demands that we associate ourselves with a community of believers. In fact, in the last chapter, Pastor Brauns argues the only thing that can truly combat our age of radical individualism is the local church.

This book would be a valuable addition to your library. I would urge you to get your copy and read it soon.

Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher for review. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.

[Michael Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pastor and author Chris Brauns, in his latest book Bound Together, tackles an important theological and practical concept that is often misunderstood by most believers, namely that of original sin and union with Christ and how those two important doctrines weave their way through everyone’s life from cradle to grave. The very idea all of humanity suffers under the weight of the original sin of Adam and Eve, truly boggles the minds of both believers and unbelievers. Why should we be impacted by the actions of someone we have never met? How can that be fair? These questions and many more are what Brauns addresses in his excellent and timely book.

In a societal milieu where individualism is increasingly the rage, the idea of community has become all but lost. The closest people come to being connected is clicking the “connect” button on LinkedIn.com in order to expand their network of associates, many of whom are people they have never met. While that is a reality of the digital age, it demonstrates a lack of understanding of what Brauns presents as the biblical principle of the rope. He rightly notes “the choices, words, and actions of one person represent many others. Solidarity has always existed among groups of people, from the beginning of the world.”

To a large degree, the flow of Scripture supports the principle of the rope. We see throughout the biblical drama the importance of community. God provided the Torah as the guidelines for how Israel and NT believers for that matter as noted by Jesus, was to relate to God and to their fellow man. In the historical books of Scripture, it is evident that when a righteous king of Israel or Judah reigned, the people followed God and were blessed. Conversely, when a wicked king reigned, the people subsequently followed his lead down the path of destruction. This demonstrates the validity of the principle of the rope.

In presenting this principle of the rope, Brauns notes both the negative and positive side of this principle, the negative being the entrance of sin into the world through Adam and the positive being the substitutionary work of Christ on the cross. Such an approach rightly compares the first and second Adam and the impact of their actions on all of mankind. Due to Adam’s sin, all of creation now groans under the weight of sin also impacting our relationship with our Creator. As noted in Romans 5:12, “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.” The second Adam, the Messiah, died to be the atonement for sin, an action that provided a remedy to the sin nature inherited by us all from the first Adam. This remedy is the shed blood of Christ that restores our relationship with our Creator.

The present reality is all have sinned, all are guilty because of Adam’s sin and the present suffering and groaning of all creation finds its roots in Adam’s sin. This is truly the negative side of what is means to live in solidarity with our fellow man. There is a positive side to the principle of the rope; one which Braun aptly notes provides a “lifeline to rescue us. He (Christ) severs our tie to Adam and binds us to himself.” He further elaborates on the good news of the positive side of this principle by averring “The principle of the rope is what underlies the good news of the gospel, namely, that if we are roped to Christ, we are so bound to him that nothing – not even the rope that ties us to Adam – can ever separate us from his love.”

So what does this mean for our daily lives and does it have any impact on how we relate to one another in community? Braun spends the remainder of his excellent book elaborating on how to apply the principle of the rope to several key areas of our life to include living in Christian community, marriage, family, death, and the local body of believers.

In regards to living in Christian community, being united with Christ should bring the believer great joy, especially in knowing the rope that ties us to Adam has been unwound and replaced with an even stronger rope that ties us to our bridegroom Jesus Christ. Braun rightly notes “The gospel is the bedrock of joy. And so, when the gospel is diminished, joy is diminished too.” Trials and tribulations will continue to be a part of life until Christ returns. How then are we to remain joyful? Braun comments we should look at what the Apostle Paul, a man who experienced much trial in his life states. Paul comments that joy is a life shared in fellowship with other believers. Through community and the bonds of Christian friendship, we can weave a strong bond that will help us all walk through the ups and downs of life. In 2 Corinthians 2:3, Paul notes “I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all.” Living in Christian community is how God made us to operate and joy is often connected, something Braun continually reiterates and rightly so, to fellowship with fellow believers.

What better place can one apply the principle of the rope than marriage. After all, when a couple gets married it is often called the bond of holy matrimony. Braun once again returns to the salient words of Paul and the comparison of a husband and wife and that of Christ and the church. Just as the church is bound to Christ in love, a husband and wife should be bound together in a similar manner. Solidarity is a must in a marriage especially given the biblical command for a husband and wife to become one flesh. Brauns provides a number of excellent practical suggestions for strengthening the bonds of marriage. While this is certainly not a marriage counseling guide, Braun nonetheless rightly comments on the importance of understanding biblical submission and the role of the husband as the servant leader of the family.

Understanding the principle of the rope can also greatly assist in addressing family discord. Whether we admit it or not, the actions of family members can greatly impact the health and welfare of both the immediate and extended family. Brauns is quick to note this principle will not solve all of our family problems and the inherent hurts caused as a result of the actions of those we love. Additionally, just because the decisions of for example a father who is abusive or an alcoholic may great increase future generations chances of enacting the same type of behavior, that by no means absolves one of their actions. What the principle of the rope does is to help us recognize how our actions and the actions of others truly have an impact on others. We do not live in isolation and our actions have consequences. Despite the issues we may face within our families and the hurts that often result from wrong actions, Brauns saliently reminds the reader “If you follow Jesus, rest in the hope that God will use you in your family’s life in ways that you cannot even begin to imagine.”

The body of Christ is another place where the principle of the rope can be found. Brauns notes the word sharing is the Greek word koinonia which is translated as fellowship. Fellowshipping with believers within the confines of the church is something the New Testament authors discuss repeatedly. Brauns avers this is the point of a passage such as Philemon 7, namely the reality that “Christian joy will grow only to the extent that we grow in active fellowship with the body of Christ.” Brauns also rightly points out the activities that constituted the early church, that of “studying the apostles’ teaching, that is, sound instruction from the Word of God; fellowship, that is koinonia – which carries the idea of sharing life together; breaking of bread, which pertains to the Lord’s Supper but also includes worship; and prayer.” This was what the early church was devoted to with great passion and zeal. It was what bound them together in the midst of great persecution and growing pains. We are called to build one another up and to “spur one another to love and good deeds” as noted in Hebrews 10:24. This is accomplished within the bond of Christian fellowship.

Bound Together is a clarion call for believers to understand two important theological concepts, that of original sin and union with Christ. Brauns effectively uses what he calls the principle of the rope to demonstrate how the concept of being bound to one another is a reality of life. We are not islands unto ourselves, and this is not how we were created to be and that is not what it means to be made in the image of God. What we must understand is what Brauns effectively communicates, namely that our actions impact everyone around us. Comprehending and applying that truth will only serve to positively impact our relationship and bond with Christ, our familial bonds, our bonds with those in our work places and communities, as well as where we fellowship with other believers. To that end, I echo the recommendation given for this book by Collin Hansen, “Chris Brauns sketches out a recovery plan informed by God’s Word that will help us rebuild the relations so vital to human flourishing and so often forsaken today.” Those desiring to understand how to love God and love others, two actions which Jesus said is what all of the Torah and the prophets meaning all of Scripture is based on, will find Bound Together to be an enchiridion, an extremely timely, helpful, and holistic guide for understanding what it means to relate to one another in a godly manner as outlined throughout Scripture. Our actions have repercussions and it is high time we all understand what that means!

I received this for free from Zondervan via Cross Focused Reviews for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

We are connected to one another and the choices we make will impact those around us. There is really no such thing as ‘private sin’ or personal piety but all of it spills over into the lives of loved ones and friends, neighborhoods and communities. Author and pastor Chris Brauns calls this the ‘principle of the rope’ and roots it theologically in the biblical account of human fallenness and the hope of redemption found through Christ.


Bound Together: How We are Tied to Others in Good and Bad Choices by Chris Brauns
Bound Together divides into two sections. In part one, Brauns describes the ‘principle of the rope.’ Because of Original Sin, Adam and Eve’s fall from grace in the garden, all of their descendents were impacted. We are all born with the proclivity to sin because of it and face the consequences. Yet we need not go back to origins to see the principle at work. Braun begins his book with an account of a childhood friend’s drunkenness and the alcoholism and struggles that whole family faced. We have all been directly impacted by the sins of others and that in turn has influenced our own decisions and perceptions of our world. Often the abused becomes the abuser and the cycle continues.

But Brauns doesn’t leave us to wallow in the mire of human sinfulness but describes the hope we have in Christ. Through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has untied the rope and set us free. Those who respond with belief are bound together with Christ and share in fellowship with God and one another. The new rope (Christ) is stronger than the rope of Original sin. Jesus Christ has broken the power of sin and death in our lives. All of that is part one.

In part two, Brauns describes how we can apply this ‘principle of the rope’ in living out our lives. He urges Christians to lay hold of the joy that is promised to those bound together in Christ. He describes the hope Christ brings to the sinful, the hurting, and those who are facing the fear of death. Brauns also describes how marriage (for Christians) mirrors our connection to Christ, and how the gospel challenges American styled individualism.

There is a lot I commend in Brauns account. I certainly agree with his broad theological vision, both in his description of how our sin impacts our loved ones and neighbors (even when we tell ourselves it won’t) and his description of the hope we have in Christ. I also appreciated the care in which Brauns described how generational sin impacts us and yet we remain free and our responisble for our own actions (see especially chapter four in the first section). What I really liked about Brauns’s ‘principle of the rope’ is that it gives us a new language to communicate the gospel in a way that is winsome and accessible. I also loved (theology nerd alert) that his book was organized by a ‘gospel grammar’ of indicative-imperative. Part one declares the truth of the gospel whereas part two tells you how to live in light of that truth.

Nevertheless I found this book wanting in places. I agree with Brauns about the ‘principle of the rope,’ but I felt that he insufficiently y unpacked the implications. He does talk briefly about abuse and the cycle of addictions but the socio-political implications are never fully addressed. Racism, sexism, poverty, prostitution exist on grand scales are imbedded in cultures because of the ‘principle of the rope.’ The madness of crowds and institutional sin is hinted at but not fully explored by Brauns (though he does draw on the sociological insights of Bellah, Berger, Hunter and others). I honestly think he could have built a more compelling case for our complicity in corporate and institutional sin. I htink the hopelessness of the modern institution makes union with Christ more compelling.

Brauns also draws heavily on Reformed Evangelical sources (and Puritans). I have no axe to grind against Calvinists (I consider myself a .5 Calvinist) but they are not the only one to traverse this ground. I found myself thinking of other authors who have articulated our sharing in Sin and our Sharing in Christ. I wished that other theological voices were brought to the table because I believe they would have enriched Brauns’s text. These include patristic sources like Augustine, and Irenaeus and modern sources like Jacques Ellul, Rene Girard, etc. I realized that Brauns own theological perspective is informed most by the Calvinist crowd, but if it is true that we are bound together in Christ, I would expect a more eccumenical feel to this book.

I also found myself occasionally excluded by Brauns. For example he uses his chapter on marriage to argue for Biblical Complementarianism using Ephesians 5:22-33 and dismisses Biblical egalitarianism as being baseless (tells an anecdote of one mouthy egalitarian to illustrate this). However he fails to put the wife’s submission in the context of mutual submission [note: the word submission does not appear in the Greek of Ephesians 5:22. It is translated literally 'Wives to your husband as to the Lord. . . .' The verb 'to submit' is supplied by the previous verse, "Submit yourselves one to another.' The household code that follows is an explication of that mutual submission]. His word to the husband is that they are to serve their wife by leading them. Paul’s words to husbands is that they should love them as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. I have no problem with Brauns being a complementarian but his decision to focus on that in this context meant that he failed to expound on the mutual aspects of this passage which speak to his overall theme.

These caveats aside I still think that this book can be read fruitfully. Brauns is on the right track and I loved the gospel focus of this book. This could be a good book for personal study or for a small group study (however a discussion guide is not in the book or on the publisher website). I give it three stars: ★ ★ ★

Thank you to Zondervan and Cross Focused Reviews for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Bound Together, Chris Brauns explored the concept of how everyone is connected together and we're bound together. What one of us does, affects everyone else. We're not lone rangers and we're created for community. Adam was commanded by God to be fruitful and multiply and to have dominion over all creatures. They could have any fruit they wanted expect from one tree. Satan tempted Eve into eating from the forbidden tree of knowledge of good and evil and she talked Adam into it. Everything changed! Chris Brauns used the principle of the rope to elucidate that Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden has profoundly impacted all generations. Since then, sin has consumed every generation and we're all guilty of sinning. Because we're all a part of Adam's descendants. He used the term "solidary" to describe the principle of the rope. Solidary, denotes "a union of interests, purposes, or sympathies among members of a group. It speaks to the ties that bind a group together" Page 26). The book also goes on to say that Christ has died for our sins and when we received salvation we become a portion of His body. Christ is the ultimate head of the Church and the body. His death allows us a chance at repentance and forgiveness from our numerous sins.

Chris Brauns shared the example that if he leaves his wife and children it will negatively hurt everyone not just himself. We can't assume that our choices that we make only effect ourselves. Chris Brauns also stated that divorce is like an amputation and it should only be done when it's the last choice. Divorce brings deep emotional pain to everyone involved. He also discussed the significance of marriage and how God compared marriage to our union with Christ. Marriage bonds and ties us emotional, physically, and spiritually to another forever. Scriptures remind us that wives are supposed to submit to their husbands. And the man is the head of the wife like Christ is the head of the church. This doesn't mean that if the husband is abusing the wife then you should submit. The scriptures also tell husbands to love their wife like Christ loves us. Basically this means we're both called to love each other when we made the vow before the Lord to care for another person until the everlasting.

I would recommend this splendid book to anyone who has ever wondered why we have to pay for Adam's and Eve's sin and to people who feel believe their choices doesn't harm anyone but themselves. This book goes into vast detail on the how each person's life affects another whether we realize it or not. I loved the story of Rehab that Chris Brauns clarified. Rehab was a prostitute in Jericho and she hide the spies of Israel in her home. She asked the spies if God could spare her and her family from the destruction of Jericho. God answered her and they were the only family freed from the annihilation of Jericho. The grace of God forgave her for her sinful past and she became a huge follower of Jesus Christ. I cherished how Chris Brauns used this point to remind readers that the grace of God can cover them and He can forgive you for your sins. Even if your family has a history of generational sins, it can be broken completely with Christ's assistance. I immeasurably loved the chapter devoted entirely to marriage and it helped me to see the importance of marriage in God's eyes. Even though I haven't met my wife yet, it gave me a much needed reminder on what my roles of a husband are intended to be. The book was an enormous reminder that our actions and behaviors doesn't just impact us, they influence the next generations for good or for bad! It's up to us to make a wise decision on which one we will ultimately choose. If you're looking for a book that you reveal to the truth about why people suffer and how our choices affects others, then this book is for you!

"I received this book for free from Cross Focused Reviews / Zondervan for this review".

[Tyler Eason · Rating 5 out of 5]

In “Bound Together”, Chris Brauns reminds us of an important, but oft-forgotten truth. He summarizes the entire book by saying, “On varying levels, we are roped together with others. When someone we are roped to is lifted up, we are lifted up with them. When he or she jumps off a figurative cliff, we are pulled down with them. This is what I refer to as the “principle of the rope” – the truth that our lives, choices, and actions are linked to the lives, choices, and actions of other people” Pg. 25.

Brauns begins this journey by looking at how all people are roped to Adam and his subsequent fall into sin. Because he fell, so have we. But this seemingly disastrous principle of the rope is necessary in order to make it possible for us to be roped with Christ. So at first, it may seem like an unfair truth, but it turns out to be our only hope. He then looks at how our solidarity with others affects marriage, church, and the nation as a whole. He closes his book with a fantastic critique on the “radical individualism” of America. He posits that the church, with its core teaching of unity with God and man through Christ, is in a unique spot to bring reformation to the individualism of our nation.

This was truly a fantastic book through and through. Chris Brauns faithfully deals with tough biblical texts, while maintaining readability and staying relatable. I commend this book to anyone who struggles with individualism and its effects. The truths taught in this book are truly revolutionary in our day, but are as old as the Trinity. Read, reflect on, and live in light of the fact that what you do is bigger than yourself. Far bigger.

[Matthew Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Bound Together by my online friend Chris Brauns.

It's now my "go to" book for a brief and practical explanation of the doctrines of original sin and union with Christ. Bound Together is a great introduction to those big ideas and also brings them together in eye-opening ways.

I didn't get all of my questions answered about how solidarity works (especially in tension with a healthy individuality), but I'm more convinced than ever of the truth of solidarity and more thankful than ever, as well, because "the rope of the gospel is stronger than the rope of original sin."

Bound Together has helped me to see the world more clearly and make sense of things I feel but can't put into words.  For example, Chris recently posted on how the lottery costs our culture a lot more than $2. That's the "principle of rope" at work.

[David Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review has been reproduced (minus some links) from an earlier review posted to the Pious Eye site (reviewer’ blog).

On balance, this is an excellent book: well organized, theologically Reformed (in Baptist mode), engaging. Since I am a critical, glass-half-empty sort, and since I’m writing this review in the midst of assorted life problems and annoyances, I will attempt to offer some criticisms. Don’t let these criticisms mislead you; this is one of the better books I’ve read recently and I highly recommend it.

Bound Together has two parts: part one, “Understanding The Principle of The Rope,” comprising chapters one through five; and part two, “Applying the Principle of the Rope,” comprising chapters six through ten. Chapter one, “Strange and Troubling Truth” (23-35), introduces the central motif of Bound Together, what Brauns calls “the principle of the rope.” This phrase is Brauns’ pastoral attempt to make the meaning of a theological concept clear to average readers. The concept is that of “corporate identity” or “solidarity.” He first discusses the concept in general terms of people being “roped” together so that decisions of one affect the fortunes of another; for instance, roped whalers in Melville’s Moby Dick could both expect to drown if the partner they were roped to for a certain operation in the whale harvesting process got clumsy (26-7). Brauns sees this principle, what New Agers might call the “interconnectedness” or “oneness” of people, as a law of life pervasive and undeniable in much the way gravity is undeniable and pervasive (28). (I’ll leave it to others to determine how Brauns’ understanding of the principle of the rope differs from a New Age concept of an ultimate “interconnectedness” or “oneness” of people, beyond the fact that New Agers typically include more than just people in their web of interconnections.)

“There are endless illustrations of this principle...,” Brauns writes. “Recently, when I was out for a walk with my ten-year-old son, I asked him, ‘Benjamin, what do I mean by the principle of the rope?’ He responded....‘....Here’s the best example I can give. Today a couple of kids in my class got in trouble. So none of us got to go out for recess. That’s the principle of the rope.’ So it is....When Ben’s classmates misbehaved, they were ‘roped’ to the rest of the class. Two jumped off the behavioral cliff. And...they pulled the rest of the class down with them” (25, paragraph break removed). This example troubles me. (Admittedly, I am easily troubled.) In a discussion about how, just as everyone succumbs to the law of gravity whether they think it fair or not (28), so all persons are invariably affected by the choices of others (and invariably affect others through their own choices), Brauns introduces an example where clearly no “natural law” of social cause-and-effect was involved: this rope was tied by school officials who decided that punishing all the students for the rogue actions of two was good policy. Shouldn’t ropings arbitrarily effected by human agency be placed in a different category from ropings that simply inhere in the nature of things or that God himself has ordained?

While school officials may have been unjust in their roping together of students, if God ropes persons together there can be no question that doing so is just, since God is perfectly just (see Deuteronomy 32:4, for example). That God does rope persons together Brauns shows clearly from Scripture. For instance, in the Flood (Genesis 7:9-19), not only wicked adults but whole families with children drowned. How could God do this? “The only answer that makes sense,” Brauns observes, “is that young children drowned in the flood because they were roped together with their parents and their culture” (29). This troubling reality Brauns further illustrates by referencing, to name a few examples, the certain death of children in Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:23-29)(29-30); the punishment of all Egyptians, adults and children, for the obstinacy of Pharaoh (Exodus 7-14)(30); and the punishment of all Israel for the secret sin of Achan, who hid rather than destroy some valuable items from the siege of Jericho (Joshua 7)(31).

Not every biblical example Brauns adduces is ideal. One, at least, would be better omitted. The wives and children of Daniel’s accusers were executed at the orders of a pagan king, not by God’s instructions (Daniel 6)(31), so the roping of these families together is no more necessarily indicative of justice than the roping together of students in the schoolyard example. A more rigorous distinction between ropings clearly validated by God’s own actions and ropings potentially expressing human injustice (humans taking on divine prerogatives to rope together whom they please) might somewhat improve the chapter. Were this rigor extended to the entire text, the book as a whole might be even better than it is already.

Nevertheless, Brauns adduces so many examples that do show God roping persons together in his treatment of them, that do show God choosing to deny individuals the right to be judged solely as individuals, that his basic argument cannot be gainsaid. Either one accepts the principle of the rope, at least in those instances where God himself affirms it, or one rejects Scripture’s authority.

Chapter two, “Original Rope” (39-50), discusses the doctrine of “original sin” as the ultimate negative example of the principle of the rope. God has roped all humans to Adam as their representative. “Broadly speaking,” as a result, “there are two consequences to Adam’s rebellion....[1] Adam and all his descendants are guilty of sinning against God, and...[2] all of Adam’s descendants inherit a corrupted nature” (45). After unpacking this basic idea, Brauns spends some time discussing realist and federalist (covenant) views of just how Adam’s sin could be transmitted to his descendants. Whereas the federalist/covenant view sees our roping to Adam as purely a matter of his being our representative, the realist view proposes that all Adam’s descendants were somehow “really present when Adam sinned,” as (it is alleged) Levi was really present when Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:4-10) (46-47). Though Brauns wants to make room for both views as revealing something true about our roping to Adam (48), I confess to being a solid federalist here and to finding the realist view a weird, spooky misapprehension of the full implications of being represented (roped) and so subject to imputation (assignment of guilt for Adam’s actions). Since Adam received a sinful, corrupted nature as the consequence of his (immediate) guilt, I see no problem identifying our sinful, corrupt natures as the consequence of our (imputed) guilt for the sin of our representative, Adam. (As a matter of detail, the imputation seems to apply to natural offspring of human fathers, thus showing the necessity of our Savior’s conception to a virgin mother.) That Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek in Abraham because he was metaphorically present as a descendant roped to Abraham as his representative is as clear to me as that the bread and wine of communion represent (are metaphorically) the body and blood of our Lord. If you believe in “the real presence” of Christ’s body and blood in the communion elements, you may find the realist approach to original sin appealing; I do not.

The how of our roping to Adam aside, the what of that ropings’ implications is apparent, and Brauns’ presentation of it is clear and persuasive. “The principle of the rope means,” he concludes, “that the decision that Adam made to rebel against God has left us in a desperate situation.” Specifically, “despite our best efforts and good intentions, we cannot change the reality of sin in this world or in our lives. Original sin is, indeed, bad news—the very worst sort of news” (50). (Though I’ve already mentioned that the justice of God’s ropings cannot be questioned by anyone claiming to recognize Scripture’s authority, I would note as an aside that complaining about being represented by Adam rather than facing the ultimate divine testing ourselves is like complaining about being represented at a swimming competition by Michael Phelps in his prime. Adam was a human creation so perfect as to merit God’s “very good” label; our divine-human Lord excepted, no human since Adam has been more well equipped to pass God’s test than Adam himself was. God roped us to the best among us.)

So much for the ultimate negative example of the principle of the rope. In chapters three and four, “The Rope That Is Stronger” (53-60) and “Bound to a New King” (63-71), Brauns shows how the reality that God’s justice permits roping of persons to their representatives is the best possible news. Brauns’ treatment, which unpacks the implications of Romans 5:12-21 then proceeds to unpack the meaning of union with Christ, is persuasive and solidly Reformed (citing the Westminster standards, John Calvin, and John Murray, for example). (Apparently, Brauns is Reformed Baptist, since he later mentions the importance of believer’s baptism [192]. No complaints here.) The conclusion of the chapter is that, “When confronted with the reality of evil, the death of innocent children and suffering that we cannot explain or even comprehend, the most important thing we can do in response is fly as quickly as possible to the good news of our union with Christ. We can acknowledge the reality of sin and evil...by pointing to the truth that we stand condemned, that we are under the curse, because of the rebellion of Adam. But the very reality that condemns us is also the basis of the good news that God graciously announces to us—that we can be cut off from Adam and united to Christ” (71).

In chapter five, “Can We Blame the Rope?” (75-87), Brauns seeks to refute those who, in the manner of (Brauns’ example) Hank Williams Jr., try to evade responsibility for their own sins by blaming them on the sins of others to whom they are roped, such as their parents. He finds scriptural refutation of such blame-shifting in Ezekiel 18. Brauns’ bottom line is that, even though the sinful decisions of others may have predisposed one to sin (as Adam’s rebellion has predisposed us all), this negative result of roping does not free one from responsibility for one’s own choices. These are “hard sayings,” no doubt, and Brauns seems aware that readers may struggle to accept that they remain fully responsible for their sins even when they find themselves in sin-favoring circumstances created by others without their knowledge or consent. Brauns makes a persuasive case that Ezekiel (and so God) teaches just this, however. The only resolution for the tension is in the availability of grace through repentance, in the reality that “sin is never inevitable” because “God is eager to extend grace in response to repentant hearts” (84). Yes, God’s justice is hard, not even giving a pass to those roped to the most sinful of forebears; thankfully, God’s grace is stronger than bad circumstances and the sinful rope-mates causing them.

Part two, “Applying the Principle of the Rope,” includes five chapters: “Bound Together for Joy” (93-106), “Bound Together in Marriage” (109-23), “A Red Rope for Hurting Families” (127-44), “A Rescue Rope for Those Facing Fear of Death” (147-59), and “Roped Together in Country and Culture” (163-182). “Bound Together for Joy” seeks to show that the roping together of believers in Christ’s body makes active engagement in a soundly biblical local church an indisputable prerequisite for joy. (The need to understand the gospel of grace and to regularly reiterate it to oneself is also highlighted.) One possible flaw is that Brauns does not give a biblical definition of “joy” until a few pages into the chapter (“not...glib happiness....[but] a deep and abiding pleasure in Christ that withstands the vicissitudes of life and that will one day give way to eternal joy in God’s presence”—96). Also, as seems common, Bound Together propounds the importance of becoming actively engaged in a soundly biblical church, yet fails to offer detailed description of what doctrines and practices merit a church’s identification as soundly biblical.

“Bound Together in Marriage” deals with the divinely ordained roping that is marriage. Notable aspects of this chapter include a discussion of the biblical roles of husband and wife that warms my complementarian heart but is certain to anger egalitarians and feminists (116-23) and vivid description of divorce as the equivalent of amputation (115-16). “A Red Rope for Hurting Families” points to the story of the deliverance of Rahab’s family during the destruction of Jericho (Joshua 2) as the source of hope for those whose decisions have so far harmed the families roped to them. To any who say, “I’ve already made so many mistakes in life. What I’ve done has way too many negative consequences for my family. It’s too late.” Brauns responds, “’Read the first six chapters of Joshua again.’ Do you not remember what Rahab did for a living? She was a whore. The Bible repeatedly reminds us of her history....Her lifestyle is included so we never forget that the story is all about the grace of God, who is quick to forgive those who turn and put their trust in him” (136-7). “A Rescue Rope for Those Facing Fear of Death” points to our being roped to Christ as reason to approach death without fear: “Death hurts. It is ugly. It stings. But we need not fear it. Our champion, the second Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ, has won the victory...[after taking] on flesh and blood so he might establish solidarity with [rope himself to] us” (158).

“Roped Together in Country and Culture” acts much more as a conclusion to the whole text than its title might suggest. While it does not summarize earlier chapters, some of what was implicit there becomes explicit here and Brauns’ “vision” of things comes into clearer focus. With apologies for “language borrowed from sociologists,” Brauns describes the chapter’s thesis as follows: “Only New Testament churches can offer the plausibility structures needed to legitimize solidarity and counter the radical individualism unraveling the fabric of Western culture” (164, emphasis removed). A welcome aspect of this chapter is that it endeavors to distinguish between malignant and benign individualism: the former Brauns labels “radical individualism”; the latter he at one point calls “biblical individualism.” Quotation of David Wells’ distinction between individualism-past and individualism-present is particularly helpful (170). Though one could always wish for even more perfect and precise terminology, Brauns’ treatment of this issue is a welcome corrective to the “all individualism is evil” rhetoric of some contemporary writing.

One aspect of the chapter requiring comment is Brauns’ use of the phrase “plausibility structures.” Setting aside the fact that Brauns’ use of such terminology runs against the pastoral mandate that prompted him to refer to corporate identity or solidarity (or interconnectedness or oneness, if you like) as “the principle of the rope,” the term “plausibility structure” shares an irksome quality common to much specialized language: it appears clearer than it is. Like much social scientific terminology that has found its way into church discourse, “plausibility structure” doesn’t mean what we of a more philosophical and theological background, or just of a common English usage background, might suppose. This is not a structure of thought, not an organization of ideas, not even (say) the set of unquestioned presuppositions that underlie all one’s thinking and so determine what one does or does not find plausible. Rather, this is a “social structure”; specifically, it is the community of persons who believe a certain way, who share certain convictions and presuppositions in common, within which one is embedded. “Belief culture,” you might (and I would prefer to) call it. That, at any rate, is the definition I derive from Brauns’ quotation and discussion of Peter Berger, with whom the “plausibility structure” terminology originates (172-3).

The idea is that (generally speaking; social science does not deal in absolutes) individuals can only find plausible beliefs that important persons in their community embrace (that is, persons important to the individual considering a belief, whether important because of high status in the community or because of personal ties to the individual). If you want to relate this to the presuppositional framework you might have been tempted to assume “plausibility structure” refers to, you could say that individuals’ presuppositional frameworks are largely determined by the “plausibility [social] structure” (belief culture) within which they live. Irritating though this opaque terminology might be to some of us, one can hardly doubt that persons’ social or cultural contexts influence the range of possible beliefs they will find plausible. (Terminological asides: [1] If memory serves, the branch of sociology within which the term “plausibility structure” originates is “sociology of knowledge,” which would better be called “sociology of belief.” [2] I believe that William James also made a point of distinguishing between potential beliefs that either are or are not “live options” for a given individual. An individual’s context can make certain beliefs “dead on arrival,” automatically implausible and so unlikely to be considered—if they are even understood.) Brauns’ deployment of the “plausibility structure” concept is to argue that “radical individualism” so pervades the dominant plausibility structures of contemporary America (and the West generally) as to make beliefs and practices at variance with radical individualism automatically implausible. Biblically sound churches, however, can (Brauns believes) provide an alternative context into which persons can be embedded, one where the plausibility structure (belief culture) permits thinking and believing “outside the box” of radical (malignant, unbiblical) individualism.

The book concludes with a sound presentation of the gospel and basis for assurance of salvation (Appendix One, 187-192) and some suggested readings (Appendix Two, 193-95).

[Craig Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Corporate solidarity and individualism. These words represent two concepts that speak to the heart of national and personal identities. Individualism is the mindset that one is as an island unto themselves. I am on my own and tied to no one. On the other hand, corporate solidarity speaks to the fact that, even though we are individuals, we are all tied together. While corporate solidarity is present within almost every society, more and more people are trying to live as if it were not so. After all, who wants to be tied to a Hitler? What innocent person wants to suffer for the actions of another? And yet, it is a reality of everyday life.

It is this idea of corporate solidarity, in fact, this biblical idea, that Chris Brauns writes about in his new book Bound Together: How We Are Tied to Others in Good and Bad Choices. The kind of corporate solidarity Brauns writes about is one that crosses community, ethnic and national solidarity. It is one that has tied us all together since the beginning of man. This is our corporate solidarity in Adam.

The Ties That Bind: By What & To Whom?

Corporate solidarity is a simple concept and Brauns does a masterful job of presenting it in an easily understandable manner. While the term can seem distracting from its simple meaning, Brauns uses an explanatory concept he calls the principle of the rope to help readers understand this important truth. The principle of the rope is "the simple truth that our lives, choices, and actions are linked to the lives, choices, and actions of other people." (25)

It is only natural that many people, even Christians, will have a hard time accepting this truth that permeates their everyday lives. Brauns reminds us of some biblical examples: consider the flood in Gen. 7 that destroyed everyone left on the earth, the judgement of Sodom and Gomorrah in Gen. 19, the plagues in Egypt as told in Exodus, the conquest of Canaan by Israel in Joshua and even the sin of Achan that brought death to many people. These are just a few examples of corporate solidarity that run throughout Scripture.

Bigger than any of these examples is the rope that ties all of humanity together from Adam till the last person on earth is born. This is the rope that ties us all to Adam and his choice to sin against God. It is here that the doctrine of original sin comes into the picture. Stated similarly to the principle of the rope, the doctrine of original sin "refers to the reality that we are all bound to Adam in his choice to disobey God's command." (44) In regards to the nature of original sin, Brauns distills what can be the complex discussion of the realist versus the federalist/covenant view. Despite the differences of how original sin works, Brauns takes away three overlapping essentials to each position:

All are counted guilty because of Adam's sin.
Al have a corrupt nature because of Adam's sin. "We sin because we are sinners" rather than "we are sinners because we sin."
All the death and suffering and pain of human history are predicated on Adam's failure in the garden. (48)
In the simplest terms using the rope analogy, "when Adam jumped off the cliff of sin and death in his rebellion against God, we were tied to him in his rebellion, and he pulled us over the side with him." (49) This is perhaps one of the clearest and most succinct analogies to explain the doctrine of original sin.

While the principle of the rope ties all of humanity since Adam to Adam, there is a rope with a stronger bond, that, once tied to, we are severed from our ties to Adam. While the principle of the rope initially brings bad news to all of mankind, it can also bring good news. Romans 5: 12-21 tells us of the rope tied to Christ that is stronger than the rope we are born with tied to Adam. The essential argument of the passage is this

Just as we have been united to Adam - roped to him in his sin and rebellion - so now we can be united to Christ - roped to him - and receive his freedom, forgiveness, and salvation from our sin. (58)

Unlike the rope that ties us to Adam, this new rope that ties us to Christ cannot be broken. Similar to being severed physically from ones mother at the time of birth with the cutting of the umbilical cord, so believers are severed from their tie to Adam at the new birth and are then tied to Christ. They are united to Christ. It is this union with Christ that ensures we receive the status and benefits of our new tie to Christ.

Applications for Being Tied to Christ

While the first half of the book deals with defending the biblical doctrine of the principle of the rope, the second half of the book looks at several ways in which the principle of the rope has positive applications to our lives.

One of the benefits to being tied to Christ is the joy it brings. What might surprise readers is how this joy is experienced. After surveying numerous passages that discuss joy and the Christian life, Brauns concludes with the observation that joy in the Christian life is most experienced in our relationships with other believers. If the Christian life cannot be experienced as an island unto ones self, it follows that the joy of the Christian life cannot be experienced by ones self. We need the community of the saints to experience the fullness of the joy of our salvation in Christ.

Further, Brauns draws out helpful applications of being corporately tied to Christ within marriage, living in hurting families, help for those facing and fearing death along with applications for how Christians can utilize the ties that bind us together in the church and society.

Conclusion

While a book on corporate solidarity can potentially be a deep discussion, Brauns has done a masterful job of bringing its essential truths and components to the surface without loosing its teeth. Bound Together is a perfect model for how to condense big deep truths into manageable material. This is the kind of book that I would give to everyone in my church if I could.

Brauns ably and clearly explains the biblical doctrine of corporate solidarity that will make it hard for skeptical readers to disagree with. He does with it just as Scripture does, he gives us the bad news and then follows it up with the good. The tie that binds us to Adam is not so strong that the gospel of Jesus Christ cannot loose us from and in turn eternally tie us to the second Adam, Christ the savior.

NOTE: I received this book for free from Zondervan through Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for a review. I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review and the words and thoughts expressed are my own.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Individualism and personal choice are concepts that are highly regarded in our culture. And yet, no man is an island. Our actions and choices do affect those around us. The concept of corporate solidarity - that we are bound together with others in both good and bad choices - not only has profound implications for how we live, it explains how our salvation is accomplished, helping us understand the theology behind original sin, Christ's sacrifice, and how God deals with us.

This is the premise of Bound Together: How We Are Tied to Others in Good and Bad Choices by Chris Brauns. He calls this concept of being bound together the "principle of the rope". He explains it as:

"...simply the truth that we human beings are not strictly autonomous individuals. Rather, we are bound to one another in corporate relationships. To various degrees, we are represented by the choices, actions, and decisions of others, and they, likewise, are affected or represented by ours. We are united to others, in our good and in our bad decisions." (p 39)

In Part One, he explains this principle of the rope and how it relates to our salvation and union with Christ. After giving examples from history, movies, literature, and the Bible to illustrate the concept, Mr. Brauns shows how it can be used to explain original sin. We are all "roped" to Adam as our representative, so we also suffer the consequences of his actions. The good news, of course, is that:

"Just as we have been united to Adam - roped to him in his sin and rebellion - so now we can be united to Christ - roped to him - and receive his freedom, forgiveness, and salvation from our sin." (p. 58)

Scripture gives us numerous images to help us understand how we are "roped" to - in union with - Christ: the temple (Eph. 2: 19-22), the body (Eph. 4: 1-16), vine and branches (John 15: 1-17), marriage, even the Trinity.

Part one wraps up with a brief discussion of "blaming the rope", based on Ezekiel 18. Since there's no denying that we're bound together and are more than the product of our individual choices, are we doomed by the sins of others? Can we use the sins of someone else as an excuse? Where does personal responsibility fit in? These questions are addressed thoroughly.

Part Two unpacks the implications of the principle of the rope - how understanding it changes our lives - beginning with the effect it has on our joy. Biblically speaking, joy is always connected to our relationships with other believers.

"The answer to the problem of joy is clear. We must not live the Christian life solely as though we have an individual relationship with Christ. Rather, to experience more joy, we must be actively investing in body life. No Christian will experience true joy apart from fellowship in the body of Christ, any more than an amputated finger will be healthy." (p. 105)

Next marriage is addressed. The principle of the rope sheds light on the profound nature of the marriage relationship, and helps us understand how truly devastating divorce or the loss of a spouse is. This leads into a discussion of family relationships in general. The principle of the rope can help us understand why rebellion and discord in families results in such deep hurt, and gives us resources for coping.

Our solidarity with Christ also has profound implications for facing death. Because of the reality of the incarnation and our union with Christ, martyrs throughout history have been able to face death without fear:

"Soon enough, you and I will face death. It may be instantly in a car accident; it may be after a prolonged battle with cancer. Whatever the case, if Jesus of Nazareth is to have any significance for us as death approaches, it can only be because we are truly united to him. Hebrews 2: 10-18 establishes beyond question that the solidarity of the believer with Christ allows him or her to go through life without being a slave to the fear of death." (p. 154)

Finally, understanding the principle of the rope is the only way to successfully counter the radical individualism rampant in our culture. Using sociological data, the Biblical examples of the New Testament church in Acts and the letter to Philemon, and quotes from Alexis de Tocqueville and C.S. Lewis, Mr. Brauns lays out true Biblical community as the solution to this problem.

So, to sum up, Bound Together lays out the case for the reality of corporate solidarity - being bound to others - and then clearly shows how this principle underlies our salvation and union with Christ. He goes on to spell out how this truth, properly understood, will affect every area of our life, from our joy in life and fear of death to our personal relationships and sense of duty to society and our fellow men.

I really enjoyed this book. It's the perfect balance of theology and application, and even though the concepts discussed are deep, the style is highly understandable and readable! It's not at all dry or too esoteric for the average reader. In fact, I think I'm going to have my high schooler read it.

The explanations of original sin, Christ as our representative, and our union with him are truly excellent...possibly the clearest and simplest I've seen. Likewise, the discussion of the implications for our lives and relationships is wonderful. We all intuitively understand that our actions and choices affect each other, yet we struggle with how to balance that fact with our own personal autonomy and responsibility. Here, it's laid out clearly and understandably.

Bound Together is profound, but accessible. I highly recommend it! If you have a Kindle, the Kindle version is just $3.79!!

Thanks so much to Zondervan and Cross-Focused Reviews for providing a review copy of this title to me. I was not required to give a positive review and all opinions are my own.


Read more: http://www.homewithpurpose.net/2013/0...
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[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The apparent unfairness of being lassoed in with the bad choices of others makes the [concept of the] rope decidedly unpopular. And yet, as 'Bound Together' winsomely explains, it is our only lifeline. We may dislike the rope, but our hands would be tied without it." --Michael Wittmer [Forward]

I like and appreciate the use of metaphors. When I was a teacher, metaphors were useful tools in aiding my young students to better understand concept that were new to them. Metaphors are useful in teaching couples how to communicate with each other. Word pictures and metaphors go hand in hand in assisting adult communication within a workforce, in advertising, and to motivational speakers, for example. The Bible uses metaphors to help us understand key concepts, and Jesus used metaphors in His teachings. In his book Bound Together, Chris Brauns uses the metaphor of the rope to explain and explore a difficult idea for most to grasp and accept--how we as individuals are bound together in our various associations with each other.

Most of us do not have difficulty understanding this concept when discussing team sports. When one person scores a goal for his team and the team wins, they are all winners. And if one player misses a free throw in the last minutes of the game, the entire team loses those points. "The principle of the rope is simply the truth that we human beings are not strictly autonomous individuals. Rather, we are bound to one another in corporate relationships. To various degrees, we are represented by the choices, actions, and decisions of others, and they, likewise, are affected or represented by ours." It is not a concept we particularly like but, as with gravity, can be witnessed in events over and over. We can't deny that it exists.

Events in history illustrate this: when a ruler or leader moves in a certain direction, the entire nation moves along with him. There are both negative and positive examples of this everywhere we look. This principle is seen even in families, where patterns emerge over time. A wage earner's good fortunes are passed on to the rest of the family, just as a loss of income can have unfortunate consequences. Since this concept of "corporate solidarity", the principle of the rope, is basic to a biblical worldview, it is important to study it. The author does this effectively in this book.

In chapter two, the ultimate negative example of the rope principle is Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Adam represented all of humankind and through his actions brought sin and its consequences to everyone who has lived after him. "For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by one man's obedience the many will be made righteous." (Romans 5:19) Because we don't like this idea, we find our individualistic selves arguing how unfair this is. Most would concur. The ripples cast by Adam's stone did not diminish with time. We live in a corrupt world and innocent people suffer in it. But there is good news--the gospel. "If we are roped to Christ, we are so bound to him that nothing--not even the rope that ties us to Adam--can ever separate us from his love."

In the remainder of Part 1, the author goes into more detail how Christ's obedience overcomes Adam's disobedience. Since Adam was the ultimate bad example of the principle, Jesus Christ is the ultimate good example of same. This leads to my favorite quote in the book. "The rope to Christ and the gospel is exceedingly stronger than the rope to Adam and sin. The good news is good more than the bad news is bad." I love that saying, and I can visualize it on a t-shirt somewhere, or perhaps on a Facebook graphic. It reminds me that Adam was just a human being after all, while Jesus, though he took on the form of humanity for awhile, was and is always God. What he did on the cross was powerful.

Part two of the book gives the reader an opportunity to see how the rope principle applies to us in five areas:
1) In our personal joy
2) In marriage
3) In hurting families
4) In facing the fear of death
5) In country and culture

These chapters work through what it actually means to be one in Christ, or as the book phrases it, to be roped together with Christ. The author uses biblical references, historical references and modern stories to help us understand how solidarity with Christ changes our hearts and minds and gives us victory in different challenging situations. Throughout the book, the author encourages the reader to take time to meditate on the truths he places before us. It is only when we are fully convinced that we are bound together with Christ that we can apply the principle of the rope to obtain joy personally, in our marriages, within our hurting families, facing death, and in working and living in a culture that is increasingly antagonistic to God's ways.

I enjoyed Chris Bauns personable writing style, his humor, and the historical and biblical references he used in making some difficult concepts easy for his readers to understand. Besides the ten chapters of the body of the book, he includes a thorough gospel message in the Appendix, a section with suggestions for further reading, and references and notes broken down chapter by chapter. Pastors may want to include this book in their counseling tool kit. But anyone who wants to understand original sin and the relationship we have in Christ after our salvation would find this book helpful in unlocking some of the mysteries.

A complimentary review copy was provided to me by Cross Focused Reviews (A Service of Cross Focused Media, LLC) and Zondervan. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Lisa]

Having lived in Israel for a while, surrounded by several cultures who highly value community and family ties, I’d say that there’s something more for Westerners to understand and experience in this regard. Chris Brauns’ book is a great place to start exploring how the concepts of covenant and community are very good news for us.

[Marc Mullins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: Bound Together by @chrisbrauns
APR 19
Posted by marc mullins
Most everything about Bound Together, from the God it calls our attention to and the implications of its thesis is counter-cultural. There is nothing in this post-modern individualistic and hedonistic world we live in that honestly considers how we affect others and how others affect us. Enter Bound Together.

Bound Together takes this worldview, binds it with a rope until it cries uncle under the convincing weight of the biblical evidence that human beings were always intended, currently affected by and will continue to impact other people. Bound together shows us how relationships, both personal and in the community, affect us in both good and bad. Humans were designed to live in community, not isolation. This is the Principle of the Rope.

Honestly, the first couple chapters are a bit depressing. Brauns takes all of humanity and shows us how scripture and existential evidence shows us how all humans are intertwined, we are woven together into this fabric called humanity by a master weaver who has the authority, skill and sovereignty to take each individual strand and all of its baggage and create a masterpiece like a fine Persian rug that shines to glorify his workmanship. The problem is in Brauns first few chapters, and rightly so, he shows us how all humanity is bound under the federal headship of Adam and the necessary consequence of his original sin is imputed to all of us. Brauns shows us biblically that humans are indeed bound together not only the good, but in the bad. I am glad he took an honest look at original sin. To have avoided it to be more palatable would have done no justice to the Bible and would have unraveled his principle of the rope.

But how refreshing it is to see the first signs of Spring after the dreariness of the cold Winter. Brauns in many ways seems to lay out a very convincing understanding of the biblical Gospel in his Principle of the Rope. Not only does he show us how desperately we need Gospel hope after being bound by the rope of Adam’s sin, he goes on to make a case that we can be bound by faith through the rope of Jesus’s righteousness. Through Jesus’ righteous acts, Adam’s sinfulness we have a lifeline. Literally.

What if we were not bound? Would we choose otherwise? How can a good God bind us? Simply, Brauns anticipates this as anyone would who is as informed enough to write a book that smacks individualism right across the face with a sobering blow of biblical truth. Brauns shows us biblically, that our individualism is not contrary to our collective entanglement, they are mutually exclusive. We would have chosen sin anyways.

Finally, Brauns spends some time comparing and contrasting this principle with the pervasive worldview of our culture and how it should inform the believer to live his life in family and marriage as well as country and culture.

Bound Together is a unique work in that it touches on several critical issues of today. Apart from just sharing the gospel with you it is a guided tour through the follies of contemporary culture and the hope and truth of being bound with others and by others to Jesus Christ.

Christian Community and the local church
Marriage and Family
Country and culture
Gospel need, Gospel Hope (or Gospel Rope I should say) and Gospel assurance
This book was provided in return for an honest and thoughtful review through Cross-Focused Reviews.

[Taryn Raulston · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you asked me three weeks ago what the word solidarity meant, I would not have been able to define it. I understood the concept but never really thought much about it. After reading Chris Brauns book, "Bound Together", I now have a much better understanding of how we are intertwined or "roped together". Brauns calls this connection we have to others the "Principle of the Rope" and through careful examination shows the dangers of radical individualism and benefits of Christian solidarity.

After clearly defining the "Principle of the Rope"', Brauns describes the two most extreme examples of the concept. First, the most negative example is that of our connection to Adam through original sin. For those who have a hard time understanding the fall of man, Brauns does a wonderful job of explaining the reality of our connection to Adam. Second, Brauns gives the most positive example of solidarity, which is union with Christ. Here the author clearly shows that Christians have hope that our union with Christ is stronger to save us than our connection to Adam is to condemn us.

Next in his book, Brauns gives several applications of the Principle of the Rope. Using examples from the Pauline epistles, he clearly proves that joy in the Christian life is experienced in direct correlation to the community of faith known as the local church. The Principle of the Rope can also help readers to understand and appreciate the marriage relationship better. Understanding this principle also explains why the death or sin of a family member is such a deep hurt, but reminds the reader that there is hope in Christ.

Brauns concludes by explaining that only New Testament churches can offer the true solidarity that people are searching for. People know they need healthy relationships but don't know how to cultivate them because they are so blinded by radical individualism - the idea that "it's all about me".

I love how Brauns writes from the perspective of a pastor - he allows Scripture to make the point, then he clearly explains the deep theological implications, and then reexplains in layman's terns and analogies so any reader can fully grasp the concept and learn a deeper insight by putting the three together. Plus, he is gentle and caring toward those readers who may initially be opposed to the ideas presented.

I found "Bound Together" to be a wonderful, eye-opening perspective on life, especially for generations like mine that have been raised in such a self-centered culture. To view our union with Christ and other Christians as a desired treasure should help us overcome disappointment in our relationships and be more intentional about building unity in our local church families.

*Special thanks to Cross Focused Reviews for providing this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Jimmy Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hesitate to tell you that this book tackles with verve the theological ideas of original sin and union with Christ. I can hear the groans–another theology tome. Please reroute your thinking as this volume is so much more than academic exercise. In Bound Together by Chris Brauns and published by Zondervan we have so much more!

There’s real life questions here. In discussing how we are tied to others in both good and horrifying ways, we find the questions tough. We all know on some level, and are actually glad about it, that blessing have come our way over the choices of some. But when someone’s choice rips our family down the middle, or the choice of a leader lands the whole nation in peril, well, that is another matter. The deeper question is why the Lord designed our world so. Like it our not, He did.

Mr. Brauns uses the analogy of the rope. We are tied together. In some ways if one goes over the cliff, we all will. While that is not true on some levels (personal accountability), it definitely is on others. He shows that what happened to us when Adam fell demonstrates this very thing. Before we sink in despair, we should see the upside of the rope. CHRIST!

We are now tied to Him and as he triumphs over sin He literally pulls us up out of or own sin. You see, the rope rescued us. If you could remove the rope from God’s Universe, you would do yourself far more harm than good. So we praise Him for the rope even if on occasion it appears unfair. He also explains that the new rope in Christ is far stronger than our old rope tied to Adam.

No, he explains, this doesn’t extinguish personal responsibility. I can’t just blame the rope, but I can trace how my choices have the potential to pull up or down. In his one chapter on marriage you see how the home might be the greatest length of the rope. Any idea that I am just my own person and can do as I please is absurd. There are too many hurting children in our world, for example, for this to be true.

He offers hope to hurting families too. He uses Rahab as an illustration. The robe can be used by me for good. She made a daring decision and her entire family was spared. This may not always work out so, but at least it is a shot.

In the latter parts of the book he explains how something so valued in our culture, and truly good on some levels, could be the very thing that is destroying us. That thing is individualism.

He pulls off the theology too. By the book’s end you will add to your obvious knowledge that your personal sin affects you and others the truth that original sin affects you too. That affect is only overcome through Jesus Christ. This is a great book.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Kristin Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when you realize that every decision that you make and much of what you go through somehow affects the next person regardless to whether you know them or not? That is the principle of the rope. That sometimes what one person does can and will affect the people around them. An example? A two kids in a class get in trouble and the consequence is that the entire class has to forfeit recess for that day. Usually one would think that if only two kids got in trouble then only those two kids should have to pay the consequences, not so. Another example, a man loses his job, granted its his job but him losing his job affects his whole family because there may not be enough funds for food or bills. If they lose their home, everyone who lives in the home is affected. The upside to the principle of the rope? When one man succeeds (Christ) it opens the door for everyone else to succeed. When one man is blessed abundantly, guess what? His family reaps the benefits of that blessing. An example of this is when a guy I know got an unexpected check in the mail for a few thousand dollars, not only did he benefit from it but he shared it with the church, with his siblings, with his family. Everyone benefited from a blessing given to him. This is what I have learned from reading Bound Together by Chris Brauns. I have learned that whatever decision I make, what ever actions I commit will affect my family regardless to whether they had anything to do with it or not. Prior to reading this book, I’d never really thought about it as such nor did I take the time to really pay attention to the examples of this in the bible. Achan (in the book of Joshua) took what he was not to take and his choice affected more than just him. First it caused nearly 40 deaths in battle. Then it caused his ENTIRE FAMILY (including him) to be stoned to death as punishment. This book made me realize that while I stand before God alone in judgment of my sins, it does not mean the consequences of my sin only affects me. It does NOT. And going forward I need to realize that and make MUCH better decisions. And not only make better decisions THINK before I do or say anything. Think about how it will affect my family. Think about what the decision will do for us going forward.

I encourage each of you, even if you don’t go purchase this book. Take the time to REALLY think about the people you are bound to. Think about what you may or may not do. Think about how it will affect them. Then go read up on people Achan and David, whose sinful acts caused the death of his son.



{FYI: I received this book from the publisher, Zondervan, in exchange for my HONEST opinion & review.}

[Roger Leonhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one is an island to themselves.

I have heard people argue, "As long as it doesn't hurt anyone, it doesn't matter what I do in private". In America, we are so used to doing everything alone, that we do not know what it is to live for others. That individualism is nothing but an illusion.

Brauns book is about this very subject. He shows that we are all connected in some way. Everything we do has some consequence on others.

What about the alcoholic? If a father stays drunk most of his waking hours, what bearing does that have on his wife and children? Even worse, what if he is driving drunk and kills someone else. This tragedy will hurt not only his family, but the other family involved. It doesn't stop there. The friends and loved ones of both families are affected. There are thousands of illustration that could be used to prove the message of this book. Brauns uses many good ones.

Brauns shows that this connection we all have has both negative and positive results. With mans fallen state, we would think that the negative would win out. But he shows the positive outweighs the negative.

The ultimate negative comes from Adam. When he disobeyed God we received the results of that disobedience. We are all born sinners. The positive comes from Christ. Because He died in our place, we now receive forgiveness. He replaces the sin on our account with His righteousness.

I heard Martyn Lloyd-Jones make a statement one time (also quoted in this book) that if we can not accept the idea that Adam's sin can be accounted to us, we can not have Christ's righteousness accounted to us.

Even though we reap the fruit of what others do, we are still accountable for our own sins. Adam will be punished for his and I will be punished for mine. There is a mystery here of the same variety as the Trinity. Our finite minds can not understand it fully. But we see enough of it in the world that we know it is true.

This book is a must read. If you have a problem understanding how we are accounted sinners because of something Adam did or righteous because of what Christ did, this book has the best explanation I have found. He uses many real life illustrations to prove that we are all connected.

I highly recommend it and give it 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free of charge from Zondervan, Cross Focused Reviews, and NetGally in exchange for an honest review.

[Create With Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review originally appeared at Create With Joy.

Today I’d like to ask you a few theological questions.

Have you ever struggled to understand the concept of original sin, wondering why the sins of Adam and Eve are transmitted onto the entire human race?

Do those Old Testament verses about iniquity being passed down from generation to generation confuse you?

Do you understand, from an intellectual perspective, how the Gospel works – that is, how can the sacrifice of one man, Jesus Christ, can take away the sins of the world?

If so, put Bound Together – How We Are Tied to Others in Good and Bad Choices by Chris Brauns on your list of books to read!

In Bound Together, Chris Brauns uses a metaphor called “the principle of the rope” and a concept called solidarity to explain how we are all bound together – and how everything we do impacts one another, for better of for worse.

The book is divided into two parts. The first part, Understanding The Principle Of The Rope, provides a biblical basis for “the principle of the rope.” It addresses the doctrine of original sin, and explains why Adam’s sin was transmitted to us. Likewise, it explains how the good news of the gospel applies to everyone. It also explains how the concepts of generational sin and individual responsibility for one’s own action tie into this concept.

Part Two, Applying The Principle Of The Rope, uses examples from the Bible and from our lives to help us to better understand and apply these principles. Chris examines how we are bound together in marriage and in families, and discusses the impact of radical individualism on American culture, versus the biblical emphasis on community.

This is one of the few books that I have come across that specifically addresses these topics, and I appreciated Chris’s efforts to explain challenging theological concepts in such an accessible and memorable way. Bound Together will deepen your understanding and appreciation of the Christian faith.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher to review. I was not compensated or required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[Rusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bound Together: How We Are Tied to Others in Good and Bad Choices by Chris Brauns

"principle of the rope" -- the simple truth that our lives, choices and actions are linked to the lives, choices, and actions of other people."

This book is not only timely in offering hope and practical action for today's questions about original sin but also timeless in that Chris Brauns digs deep into scripture and the reformed tradition, giving us much to meditate on and ultimately enlarging our vision of Christ, the gospel and the church.

This is an amazing book! The main idea is what the author calls “the principle of the rope” in that we are all bound together. He starts with an explanation of the doctrine of original sin and shows how that principle, “the principle of the rope” is not just bad news; We all get dragged down by Adam's mistake, but it is also great news; We all get lifted up by Christ's obedience if we are “bound together” with Him. Chris Brauns shows how this is true in scripture and offers very practical applications for those who have suffered from the poor decisions of family members.

“Our union with Christ is more than a legal matter, it is also a vital organic connection.”

I was also surprised and delighted by chapter 7 which applies these ideas to Christian marriage. Husbands and wives will have a lot to think about what union really means.

The fear of death is treated in a marvelous way from Hebrews 2:10-18.
“The author of Hebrews understood that if Christians were to be confident in the face of death, they must first be confident they are truly bound to Christ. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin.”

Finally the author offers a cure to our cultures radical individualism. The Gospel and the Church are shown to be the means of change. And by not understanding the solidarity that the Gospel creates in the community of the Church we have not had an answer for radical individualism.

Thank you to Zondervan for providing me an ePub copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our choices, both good and bad, affect others, not just ourselves. Brauns writes a well researched and in-depth book on how our lives are woven together. The first, and worst, example of this is in the fall of Adam. The last, and best, example of this is through Christ's death which saves us all. We are bound to Adam and his sin in a negative way but bound to Christ in a positive way. He saved us.

Not to make myself appear stupid but this book was written in higher language that I am used to reading. After reading so many YA books, the technical nature of this one took some getting used to. It felt a bit like reading a really long term paper. Complete with references at the back. I was pulled into his writing and argument that we are all bound together. It did seem somewhat redundant and seemed to be written more for the theological minded over the "common man" but that might have just been me.

It was separated into two sections. The first section explains the idea of the rope. The second section shows how we can and should apply it to our lives.

He uses numerous examples in the Bible and in history to show how a choice made affects not only the person making the choice but also those around him.

He tells how marriage is such a powerful illustration of the rope principle and likens divorce to an amputation. Two people were made one. One cannot go back to two without tearing. Because of this, he shows the importance of understanding how our choices affect others.

It all boils down to the blessing of God's love is greater than the curse of sin.

If you are looking for a well thought out, deep book about original sin and God's grace through Jesus to save us from it, Brauns does an excellent job of laying the background and then showing an application of those truths. Although our ties to Adam doomed us, our ties to Jesus saves us.

I was given a copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book falls into the genre of religion, Christian life and personal growth. The basis of this book is how we are all interconnected to each other by the good and bad choices we make. Mr. Brauns calls it the principle of the rope. While a lot of us feel that our choices is what propel us to where we end up whether that be good or bad. But our decisions do impact the people around whether we think about it or not.

The very first example comes from the original sin. Which is when Adam and Eve ate of the apple which caused them to be casted out of the Garden of Eden. As Christians we been dealing with that from day one. The book continues as it mentions how not every one is willing to believe that the rope is real.

The book is divided into two sections. The first is understanding the idea of the rope. The second section is how to apply it to our lives. There are a lot of reference to the Bible and scriptures for us to dive into to better help us the principles of the rope.

This was a hard book for me to review for even though I know the author was knowledgeable with this material it could have been written a little more for the layman who happens to pick up this book.

I do like the concept or over all theme of this book. However there were several times I had to reread sentences and whole paragraphs that lost me. This book is very in-depth and deep. It is not an easy sit down and read in one or two sitting kind of book. At least it was not for me. I am sure I miss some of the points the author was trying to convey to the readers.

I received this book for free in exchange for two honest opinions

[Alexis Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excerpt of a review recently posted on Schaeffer's Ghost:

In this fascinating, insightful, and well-written book (which I highly recommend), author and pastor Chris Brauns explores the corporate nature of life and faith—that is, the connectedness between and among people whereby we are, well, ‘bound together’ in what Brauns calls ‘the rope principle.’ 

This principle rang chillingly true as I read this book against the tragic backdrop of the Boston bombings. If there is a clearer picture of our vulnerability to the aftermath of others’ choices, I don’t know what it could be. An unhinged terrorist plants bombs in the midst of unsuspecting citizens—he makes a choice, and despite any claim to autonomy or independence, others suffer the consequences. Lives are ripped apart—many lives—because of someone else’s choice. 

As much as we want to only be judged, only be punished, or only be rewarded for the actions we ourselves have taken or the choices we ourselves have made, the fact remains that we are all connected.

Full review available here.

[Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

The OT definitely raises some difficult questions. How do we respond appropriately to the person who just can't believe in a God who would command His people to wipe out another group of people, including women, children, and animals. How can this be called just? In "Bound Together", Chris Brauns answers this question by presenting what he calls "the principle of the rope". This principle states that "our lives, choices, and actions are linked to the lives, choices, and actions of other people." This principle is easily observable all around us, but we often question its fairness. The author establishes that Adam is the ultimate negative example of this principle, while Jesus is the ultimate positive example. While we wrestle with fallen notions of fairness, we overlook the good news that our ability to be bound to righteous Jesus is predicated on us first being bound to fallen Adam.

In an age where individualism is most cherished, "Bound Together" reminds us of the hope available to us through a binding relationship to Jesus Christ and His covenant community, the Church.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The doctrine of original sin is not an easy topic, so I was interested in reading more about it. This book was written clearly, defining terms for the layperson.

I rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. It is helpful and encouraging, pointing time and again to Christ and the hope found in Him in the midst of a sin-filled world. Our actions do affect others, for good or bad, and yet there is One whose actions are stronger than all of man's or Satan's. My only complaint is the repetitiveness (though this may help drill it in the reader's head). It was still a great blessing to read. I appreciated the quotes from the Bible and Christian authors, and there are many additional worthwhile quotes and thoughts in the book that I couldn't take time to post.

For a much more detailed review (my notes on the book) and a giveaway, see my post here: http://readingeachyear.blogspot.com/2...

[Lindsay Wilcox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Catholic Social Teaching has made me relatively familiar with the concept of solidarity—that we are bound together, as in the title—so I knew I wasn't in for anything too surprising. I liked Brauns's systematic unpacking of solidarity, though, and of course the perfect image of the rope. There were a few places I could have used more theological detail (places where Catholics tend to differ, such as with marriage and the assurance of salvation), but for the most part, I agree with his conclusions. Christianity in particular is a counterbalance to individualism, which denies the truth that we are all united, whether we like it or not.

Read my full review at Austin CNM.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Yet even as you grieve, focus on the hope of the gospel. Remember that the principle of the rope is stronger in the positive than in the negative Christ's victory is greater than Adam's transgression."
The title caught me, the theme kept. This book was a great encouragement that truly, we rest in God's goodness; the evil and mire of this world doesn't come close to Christ and His resurrection.
Fixing my eyes on Jesus and His rope put the rope of Adam in perspective.
A wonderful encouragement, and a good rebuke.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful book. An easy read, but I didn't realize how little I had considered this aspect of life in general and the Christian life specifically.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16...#