What do you think?
Rate this book
Humble Orthodoxy: Holding the Truth High Without Putting People Down
We don’t get to choose between humility and orthodoxy. We need both.
Orthodoxy, for the faithful, evokes what’s cherished and beautiful and eternal. Yet in our day, orthodoxy is too often wielded like a weapon, used to bludgeon others with differing points of view. The word has become associated with behavior like argumentative, annoying, and arrogant.
It’s time for God’s people to demonstrate both right thinking and right attitudes. We are called to embrace and defend biblical truth. But that truth includes repeated commands to love our neighbor, love our enemy, and be clothed in gentleness and respect.
In Humble Orthodoxy, bestselling author Joshua Harris examines New Testament teachings about the calling of believers to a love-infused courage that ignores foolish controversies, patiently endures evil, and champions truth with generosity of spirit. Without this kind of humility, Harris asserts, we become like the Pharisees—right in our doctrine, but ultimately destroying the cause of truth with our pride.
Orthodoxy, for the faithful, evokes what’s cherished and beautiful and eternal. Yet in our day, orthodoxy is too often wielded like a weapon, used to bludgeon others with differing points of view. The word has become associated with behavior like argumentative, annoying, and arrogant.
It’s time for God’s people to demonstrate both right thinking and right attitudes. We are called to embrace and defend biblical truth. But that truth includes repeated commands to love our neighbor, love our enemy, and be clothed in gentleness and respect.
In Humble Orthodoxy, bestselling author Joshua Harris examines New Testament teachings about the calling of believers to a love-infused courage that ignores foolish controversies, patiently endures evil, and champions truth with generosity of spirit. Without this kind of humility, Harris asserts, we become like the Pharisees—right in our doctrine, but ultimately destroying the cause of truth with our pride.
98 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
About the author
Joshua Harris
74 books567 followersJoshua Harris lived outside Washington, D.C., in Gaithersburg, Maryland, where he was a pastor at Covenant Life Church. His greatest passion was preaching the gospel and calling his generation to wholehearted devotion to God. Each January he lead a national conference for singles called New Attitude.
He since apostatised, divorced & became an LGBTQ+ advocate.
He since apostatised, divorced & became an LGBTQ+ advocate.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
April 7, 2015
*Required Disclaimer*
I was given this book free of charge by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The opinions are mine and have not been influenced in one way or another by the generosity of the publisher.
Pros:
Humble Orthodoxy by Joshua Harris is a small but impactful book on the need for Christians to hold fast to orthodox doctrines while maintaining an air of humility. It was written in the simple but clear style which characterizes Harris's other writings. This book would be a wonderful addition to the reading library for Christians ages 10 and above. Especially those who are prone to have a critical spirit of others.
Harris is careful to maintain the necessity of orthodox doctrine. Yet he zeroes in on the propensity of critical thinkers to also be critical of others. This imbalance is simply foreign to scripture. In fact, quite the opposite is true. God's children are called to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15) and those who are critical thinkers love this verse as they should. However, what is often neglected is the verse which introduces this imperative! Right before Paul urges us to rightly divide the word of truth he warns us to not quarrel about words because doing so does no good and only serves to ruin the hearers! Harris does a good job pointing out the balance needed to "rightly divide".
Cons:
I found very little to disagree with in the book. However, there is one part which I am not sure that I can not bring up. In the chapter entitled "Living for God's Approval" and under the division "Whose Approval?", Harris makes a statement which I think should be addressed. In the spirit of the book, I am compelled to not be silent (as Harris has urged us to not be silent) but at the same time, to do so without suspicion or accusation.
After doing a wonderful job rightly dividing 2 Timothy 2:15, Harris goes on to say,"we should do our best to present ourselves for approval . . . to God". I get what Harris is saying here. The main point of what he is saying is that we should not care about the approval of anyone except God. However, the fact of the matter is that we cannot present ourselves FOR approval to God because we have already been approved by God in Christ! We cannot add to that approval and we cannot by any means merit that approval.
This is supported by the grammar of the text as the Greek noun 'workman' and pronoun 'yourself' (and as a result the adjective 'approved') are in the accusative case. This means that the noun (workman) and pronoun (yourself) are not DOING the verb and adjective (present yourself approved)... which would be the nominative case... but rather, are having them DONE TO them. The only nominative noun (the noun which is "doing") here is God. So the better translation, which some Bible translations get right, is: present yourself (our responsibility) as one who HAS BEEN APPROVED (what God has already done in Christ).
Has Harris ventured into heresy in this chapter? No- absolutely not! I have heard enough from Harris to know for a fact that he is not teaching that we can merit approval by God by following a prescription given in 2 Timothy 2:15. He is usually a very careful thinker and my honest opinion is that he did not mean to communicate that we need to do our best to present ourselves for approval. He was simply urging us to seek God's approval (which we have in Christ) and not man's. So why even bring it up? Because his book compelled me to do so! I think Harris would want an honest critique done in such a way that is not hostile, but rather seeks truth for the mutual benefit of all believers. That is the very point of the book- to debate rigorously and yet at the end of the day, embrace one another in love as co-laborers.
As a concluding comment on the "cons" section . . . this minor disagreement with the book did not influence my overall rating because Harris has demonstrated in the rest of the book that he is one who knows how to handle scripture very well.
Conclusion:
I like what Harris is getting at here and my only complaint is that such an important topic deserves a deeper evaluation. The book is worthy of four stars but the simplistic nature and broad approach are not my preferred style. For others, a broad overview would be just what they like and for them, this book is worthy of 4+ stars. However, since this review is supposed to express my own personal opinion based on my own personal preferences, I give it three stars (meaning I liked it!) and if Goodreads would allow half stars, I would give it three and a half.
I was given this book free of charge by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The opinions are mine and have not been influenced in one way or another by the generosity of the publisher.
Pros:
Humble Orthodoxy by Joshua Harris is a small but impactful book on the need for Christians to hold fast to orthodox doctrines while maintaining an air of humility. It was written in the simple but clear style which characterizes Harris's other writings. This book would be a wonderful addition to the reading library for Christians ages 10 and above. Especially those who are prone to have a critical spirit of others.
Harris is careful to maintain the necessity of orthodox doctrine. Yet he zeroes in on the propensity of critical thinkers to also be critical of others. This imbalance is simply foreign to scripture. In fact, quite the opposite is true. God's children are called to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15) and those who are critical thinkers love this verse as they should. However, what is often neglected is the verse which introduces this imperative! Right before Paul urges us to rightly divide the word of truth he warns us to not quarrel about words because doing so does no good and only serves to ruin the hearers! Harris does a good job pointing out the balance needed to "rightly divide".
Cons:
I found very little to disagree with in the book. However, there is one part which I am not sure that I can not bring up. In the chapter entitled "Living for God's Approval" and under the division "Whose Approval?", Harris makes a statement which I think should be addressed. In the spirit of the book, I am compelled to not be silent (as Harris has urged us to not be silent) but at the same time, to do so without suspicion or accusation.
After doing a wonderful job rightly dividing 2 Timothy 2:15, Harris goes on to say,"we should do our best to present ourselves for approval . . . to God". I get what Harris is saying here. The main point of what he is saying is that we should not care about the approval of anyone except God. However, the fact of the matter is that we cannot present ourselves FOR approval to God because we have already been approved by God in Christ! We cannot add to that approval and we cannot by any means merit that approval.
This is supported by the grammar of the text as the Greek noun 'workman' and pronoun 'yourself' (and as a result the adjective 'approved') are in the accusative case. This means that the noun (workman) and pronoun (yourself) are not DOING the verb and adjective (present yourself approved)... which would be the nominative case... but rather, are having them DONE TO them. The only nominative noun (the noun which is "doing") here is God. So the better translation, which some Bible translations get right, is: present yourself (our responsibility) as one who HAS BEEN APPROVED (what God has already done in Christ).
Has Harris ventured into heresy in this chapter? No- absolutely not! I have heard enough from Harris to know for a fact that he is not teaching that we can merit approval by God by following a prescription given in 2 Timothy 2:15. He is usually a very careful thinker and my honest opinion is that he did not mean to communicate that we need to do our best to present ourselves for approval. He was simply urging us to seek God's approval (which we have in Christ) and not man's. So why even bring it up? Because his book compelled me to do so! I think Harris would want an honest critique done in such a way that is not hostile, but rather seeks truth for the mutual benefit of all believers. That is the very point of the book- to debate rigorously and yet at the end of the day, embrace one another in love as co-laborers.
As a concluding comment on the "cons" section . . . this minor disagreement with the book did not influence my overall rating because Harris has demonstrated in the rest of the book that he is one who knows how to handle scripture very well.
Conclusion:
I like what Harris is getting at here and my only complaint is that such an important topic deserves a deeper evaluation. The book is worthy of four stars but the simplistic nature and broad approach are not my preferred style. For others, a broad overview would be just what they like and for them, this book is worthy of 4+ stars. However, since this review is supposed to express my own personal opinion based on my own personal preferences, I give it three stars (meaning I liked it!) and if Goodreads would allow half stars, I would give it three and a half.
Read
January 7, 2014Adapted from the material of a chapter in a previous book, “Humble Orthodoxy” takes a fresh look at a tension common in Evangelicalism today- how do we defend the core tenants of the Christian faith while maintaining a humble, loving attitude to those who are knowingly or unknowingly disassembling the central claims of orthodox Christianity?
The message of this book is timeless, and I hope it will help foster fresh dialogue within the Church. The speed of cultural and theological shifts in the Church is increasing, and Harris claims the underpinning question of our resulting debates is “about whether we can reinvent theology and belief.” Those of us who claim to be orthodox in belief risk being harsh in our response to those whose beliefs are either forming or divergent in specific areas. We must orthodox in belief and humble in all our relationships, or as Harris says, “we must care deeply about truth, and we must also defend and share this truth with compassion and humility.” And there is only one way to do so: live in obedience to God, and practice the repentance that always accompanies obedience.
I found the section on examining our heart to determine “whose approval are we going to live for?” to be graceful and helpful. Harris states that we typically take at least of three responses: we overreact to the previous generation’s error and quibbles; we try to impress our secular culture; or, we simply disengage our culture. Each of these responses is misguided, and Josh says the only correct response is to “…do our best to present ourselves for approval—not to our place in history, not to our culture, not to our Christian peers, but to God. We are his servants. Only his approval matters.”
This will make an excellent book for a Sunday School class, especially for high school or college age students who have recently or will soon be living among a wider number of people with divergent views. Being placed in new social contexts can throw us off our balance; it is very important to be rooted in the essentials of our faith and know how to be graceful on ancillary issues of faith and practice. This book can be a helpful way to begin a deeper discussion on how to be discerning and loving at the same time.
Correct doctrine and correct behavior do not go hand in hand unless God is the author of the changes in the heart. Harris urges us to examine our heart and ask whose approval we are really seeking: unless we are committed to obeying God and seeking His approval, even our best efforts of orthodox belief and practice will fall short of the humility we are called to show to others.
I received this book from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for review
The message of this book is timeless, and I hope it will help foster fresh dialogue within the Church. The speed of cultural and theological shifts in the Church is increasing, and Harris claims the underpinning question of our resulting debates is “about whether we can reinvent theology and belief.” Those of us who claim to be orthodox in belief risk being harsh in our response to those whose beliefs are either forming or divergent in specific areas. We must orthodox in belief and humble in all our relationships, or as Harris says, “we must care deeply about truth, and we must also defend and share this truth with compassion and humility.” And there is only one way to do so: live in obedience to God, and practice the repentance that always accompanies obedience.
I found the section on examining our heart to determine “whose approval are we going to live for?” to be graceful and helpful. Harris states that we typically take at least of three responses: we overreact to the previous generation’s error and quibbles; we try to impress our secular culture; or, we simply disengage our culture. Each of these responses is misguided, and Josh says the only correct response is to “…do our best to present ourselves for approval—not to our place in history, not to our culture, not to our Christian peers, but to God. We are his servants. Only his approval matters.”
This will make an excellent book for a Sunday School class, especially for high school or college age students who have recently or will soon be living among a wider number of people with divergent views. Being placed in new social contexts can throw us off our balance; it is very important to be rooted in the essentials of our faith and know how to be graceful on ancillary issues of faith and practice. This book can be a helpful way to begin a deeper discussion on how to be discerning and loving at the same time.
Correct doctrine and correct behavior do not go hand in hand unless God is the author of the changes in the heart. Harris urges us to examine our heart and ask whose approval we are really seeking: unless we are committed to obeying God and seeking His approval, even our best efforts of orthodox belief and practice will fall short of the humility we are called to show to others.
I received this book from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for review
March 14, 2013
"...we must care deeply about truth, and we must also defend and share this truth with compassion and humility." AMEN! I loved this book. It's sure to be a re-read. Why is it so hard for followers of Christ to find the balance between orthodoxy and humility? Harris addresses the issue in a loving way with great conviction and insight.
April 30, 2013
Why are all the truly orthodox Christians--the doctrinally minded, theologically sound ones--complete jerks? Why are nice, loving Christians typically wishy-washier than Charlie Brown? Is there a way to love your neighbor and love truth, to uphold good teaching without being an arrogant ass? According to Joshua Harris, the two qualities--humility and orthodoxy--not only can be combined, but should be.
Clocking in at just over 50 pages (not counting the study guide and other extra material), Humble Orthodoxy is an expansion of a chapter from Joshua Harris's recent (and much longer) book, Dug Down Deep . Apparently lots of folks (including John Piper) told him that this topic needed its own book. Who am I to disagree?
It's a short book, to be sure, but Harris packs a lot in. As a more doctrinally-minded individual, I was convicted by his exhortation to apply the theology I value so highly, to live out the things I believe. And I was encouraged to love well the brother in Christ who believes the same Gospel I do, without looking down my nose at him for his incomplete grasp of the Five Points of Calvinism. I assume those on the 'other side'--that is, those who are tempted to undervalue (and underprotect) sound teaching for the sake of kindness and love --would be similarly convicted, though I confess I don't actually know of anyone from that camp who's read the book, or how they've responded. Most of the folks I know tend to be pretty protective of their theological beliefs. Harris is writing to correct both errors, and I hope folks on both sides respond, well, humbly to the orthodox teaching he presents here.
One nitpick: Every other page or so, there's a sort of pop-up box--a sentence from the text, highlighted and enlarged. As I've mentioned before, this is something of a pet peeve of mine. It makes sense in, say, a magazine, where there are columns and columns of small text. But here, where the pages are already small (approximately 4"x6") and the font is not, this kind of summary/attention getter is completely unnecessary--especially since the pop-up sentences often appear immediately before or after the same sentence in the regular text. Really, no sentence needs to appear twice in a tiny two-page spread. If the editors wanted to draw attention to those sentences, they should have only had them appear in the pop-up, and position the pop-up accordingly. Of course, I question the need for such pop-ups in what is essentially a 50-page booklet, but then, I am not a professional editor.
Otherwise, the book is excellent--an easy read, well-written, clear, and largely unobjectionable. Not that some folks won't object. I'm sure there are self-identified Christians who would challenge the need for orthodoxy or humility. But most Christians will, I think, be moved by Harris's call to meekness and humility in espousing the revealed truth about God from Scripture. I've been fortunate to know many folks who embody this principle well--who gently and kindly, yet firmly, defend the Gospel against all would be detractors. I hope that Harris's book will challenge more Christians to strive for that ideal.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
Clocking in at just over 50 pages (not counting the study guide and other extra material), Humble Orthodoxy is an expansion of a chapter from Joshua Harris's recent (and much longer) book, Dug Down Deep . Apparently lots of folks (including John Piper) told him that this topic needed its own book. Who am I to disagree?
It's a short book, to be sure, but Harris packs a lot in. As a more doctrinally-minded individual, I was convicted by his exhortation to apply the theology I value so highly, to live out the things I believe. And I was encouraged to love well the brother in Christ who believes the same Gospel I do, without looking down my nose at him for his incomplete grasp of the Five Points of Calvinism. I assume those on the 'other side'--that is, those who are tempted to undervalue (and underprotect) sound teaching for the sake of kindness and love --would be similarly convicted, though I confess I don't actually know of anyone from that camp who's read the book, or how they've responded. Most of the folks I know tend to be pretty protective of their theological beliefs. Harris is writing to correct both errors, and I hope folks on both sides respond, well, humbly to the orthodox teaching he presents here.
One nitpick: Every other page or so, there's a sort of pop-up box--a sentence from the text, highlighted and enlarged. As I've mentioned before, this is something of a pet peeve of mine. It makes sense in, say, a magazine, where there are columns and columns of small text. But here, where the pages are already small (approximately 4"x6") and the font is not, this kind of summary/attention getter is completely unnecessary--especially since the pop-up sentences often appear immediately before or after the same sentence in the regular text. Really, no sentence needs to appear twice in a tiny two-page spread. If the editors wanted to draw attention to those sentences, they should have only had them appear in the pop-up, and position the pop-up accordingly. Of course, I question the need for such pop-ups in what is essentially a 50-page booklet, but then, I am not a professional editor.
Otherwise, the book is excellent--an easy read, well-written, clear, and largely unobjectionable. Not that some folks won't object. I'm sure there are self-identified Christians who would challenge the need for orthodoxy or humility. But most Christians will, I think, be moved by Harris's call to meekness and humility in espousing the revealed truth about God from Scripture. I've been fortunate to know many folks who embody this principle well--who gently and kindly, yet firmly, defend the Gospel against all would be detractors. I hope that Harris's book will challenge more Christians to strive for that ideal.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
January 17, 2014
John's gospel describes Jesus as displaying the glory of God the Father by being "full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). In his short book, Humble Orthodoxy, Joshua Harris offers helpful instruction in our pursuit of these qualities as followers of Jesus Christ. Our human tendency is to focus on one to the exclusion of the other. However, we must view these as equally valuable virtues to be constantly held in tension. Harris admits: "There is a fine line between contending for the truth and being contentious."
In our culture that is set on challenging many of the foundational truths of the Scriptures, Harris insightfully lists some of the wrong reactions. Some christians, "Driven by a desire to reach lost people, cross the line from trying to reach our culture and start trying to impress our culture." When this becomes one's motivation, "Very quickly all that God has to say becomes, instead of precious truth, a hinderance. The christians who go this way become slaves to the trends, values and ideals of a spiritually lost culture."
The other extreme that other christians adopt is that "They turn their back on culture altogether. They lock themselves in their little christian sub-culture, move into their little christian ghetto and make their focus impressing people within their little christian clique. They might love truth, but to them truth isn't about God changing lost people, it's about them proving themselves right on any given issue." The biblical stance in relation to truth is not about trying to please people, rather, it's about seeking the approval of God (2 Timothy 2:15). When our motivation for living becomes what people think of about us, then we are in danger of being pulled to either extreme regarding how we handle truth.
Harris challenges us with some probing questions: "Are we giving as much energy to obeying and being reformed by God's word personally as we are to criticizing its detractors? . . . As we lose the esteem of our culture, as we see false teachers gain ground, what will we do? Will we grow bitter, angry and vengeful? Or, like Jesus, will we continue to love our enemies even as we suffer? Will we keep praying? Will we keep praying for God to open others' eyes?"
I highly recommend this short book to all who seek to be like Jesus by embracing the truth while living humbly. It can be read through in a few hours and concludes with a study guide for individuals or groups who desire further relflection and application. I am thankful to my pastors who passed it along to me.
In our culture that is set on challenging many of the foundational truths of the Scriptures, Harris insightfully lists some of the wrong reactions. Some christians, "Driven by a desire to reach lost people, cross the line from trying to reach our culture and start trying to impress our culture." When this becomes one's motivation, "Very quickly all that God has to say becomes, instead of precious truth, a hinderance. The christians who go this way become slaves to the trends, values and ideals of a spiritually lost culture."
The other extreme that other christians adopt is that "They turn their back on culture altogether. They lock themselves in their little christian sub-culture, move into their little christian ghetto and make their focus impressing people within their little christian clique. They might love truth, but to them truth isn't about God changing lost people, it's about them proving themselves right on any given issue." The biblical stance in relation to truth is not about trying to please people, rather, it's about seeking the approval of God (2 Timothy 2:15). When our motivation for living becomes what people think of about us, then we are in danger of being pulled to either extreme regarding how we handle truth.
Harris challenges us with some probing questions: "Are we giving as much energy to obeying and being reformed by God's word personally as we are to criticizing its detractors? . . . As we lose the esteem of our culture, as we see false teachers gain ground, what will we do? Will we grow bitter, angry and vengeful? Or, like Jesus, will we continue to love our enemies even as we suffer? Will we keep praying? Will we keep praying for God to open others' eyes?"
I highly recommend this short book to all who seek to be like Jesus by embracing the truth while living humbly. It can be read through in a few hours and concludes with a study guide for individuals or groups who desire further relflection and application. I am thankful to my pastors who passed it along to me.
February 9, 2019
Sometimes it is necessary to be rebuked in order to see our faults. This correction can help us move toward change that results in us being more like Christ. As I reflect on Humble Orthodoxy by Joshua Harris, that is the concept that comes to my mind.
It is an extremely short book. The font size is large, the pages are small, it only has 4 sections, and If you exclude the study guide at the end, it is only 61 pages in length. But despite it’s small size, it can make an impressive impact on the reader. In some ways it did for me.
Throughout the book, Josh speaks of people who have a strong, high regard for the teachings of Jesus Christ, and yet treat people like jerks. This is sad to read, but I think that it is often true.
Some of the things the author discusses include:
At the start, Joshua conveys the idea holding to the orthodox perspective on a doctrine, and also being humble in sharing it with others. He compares the difference between orthodox and heterodox teachings, and also the humble and arrogant perspectives of both. From this chapter we also learn that much of what the author conveys comes from reading Paul’s second letter to Timothy (pgs. 8-16). He discusses many verses from 2 Timothy where it speaks of the necessity of both humility and orthodoxy.
In section 2, Josh shares a revised parable that we can to relate to in today’s world (pgs. 17-19). One is a doctrinally sound individual who looks down on others and is arrogant. The other person watches Christian TV and thinks that it is deep. He attends a megachurch and everything about him screams squishy theology. At the end of the day, he is quick to recognize that he is a sinner and needs forgiveness. The man who knows all the sorts of biblical doctrine doesn’t do any of that. He is glad that he has the right teaching from the Bible, and that he is not like the one who goes to the megachurch.
In the third section, Mr. Harris describes a friend of his who has a popular blog (pgs. 31-33). This individual seeks to act in humility, and when he receives nasty comments, strives to respond with patience and meekness. Near the end of the chapter he describes the rebellion of not only the people of Israel, but also that of Moses himself (pgs. 39-42). The story he shares is when Moses is told to speak to the rock so that water would gush out of it, but instead strikes it in his anger (Numbers 20).
In the last section, Joshua describes the importance of rightly handling the word of God (pgs. 51-54). He contrasts dropping a basketball, which does no harm, versus handling the word of God in such a way that it could explode and harm others (pg. 52). Mishandling the word of God destroys people’s lives. The author is totally right in saying this. Later he talks about the fact that none of us will be bragging in heaven, and instead we will be rejoicing that all of it was true. We will also be ashamed of all the times we split over silly things like organ music and the arguments that we made about baptism (pgs. 54-57). We will be so grateful for the grace and mercy God gave us in His Son, Jesus Christ.
In many ways, I think Mr. Harris’ main ideas are good and valid. The point in which he speaks of mishandling the word of God and how it destroys people’s lives was impressive. I remember pausing for a moment when he described Moses’ sin with the rock, and how the transgressions of others does not give us the license to sin. I also benefited from the concept of properly following orthodox teachings leads us to being humble. At least they should. That is one of my key takeaways from the book.
Having shared all that, I think that this book is sometimes impressive, but I cannot recommend it completely. Earlier in this review I stressed the shortness of the book. That is both a benefit, and also a drawback. It can be read in an afternoon, but I always felt like I was only hearing one side of Mr. Harris’ main idea. I don’t recall any instance where the apostles’ strong rebukes against others are ever mentioned. The specific examples I am thinking of include Peter and Ananias and Sapphira, and also Paul and Elymas the sorcerer. They are in chapters 5 and 13 of Acts if you want to read what I am talking about. Jesus turning over tables and rebuking the pharisees are another couple of events that come to mind.
Some may think that the above examples do not apply to us today. After all, Peter and Paul were apostles, and Jesus was (and is) the Son of God. We are merely people who are imperfectly trying to be disciples of Christ. We sin everyday. Despite this, there are passages outside of 2 Timothy that speak to correcting people in their error. Sometimes this is done in a way that doesn't seem humble. In Titus 1:10-14 the apostle Paul describes those of the circumcision who need to be rebuked sharply. In those verses, Paul quotes a prophet who describes the Cretians as liars, evil beasts, and slow bellies (Tts. 1:12). In another place, Paul writes to the Corinthians and reflects on his correction of them (2 Cor. 7:8-12). He recognizes that he made them sorry by his letter but was glad that they were made sorry after a godly manner, and that this sorrow worked repentance to salvation (2 Cor. 7:9-10).
Beyond this sense of only one side of the story being given, there is something else that concerns me a bit more. In the summary above I wrote of Churches splitting over organ music and how the Baptists and Presbyterians argued over baptism. One of them would have to admit that the other was correct and so on (pg. 56). It is almost like the author is saying that certain matters are not important enough to defend vigorously while we are here on earth. That may not be what the author intended, but I came away with that impression. It is like we should hold the truth high, but we shouldn’t actually get into strong disagreements about certain teachings in the Bible. Is the point just to make it so that nobody in the world thinks we are being a jerk? I hope not. Who is to say what truths need to be defended vigorously, and what others can be handled more casually? I don’t feel like this distinction is made very well in the book. I guess we supposed to ascertain what truths of the Christian faith are critically important to defend, and which ones are not. As if some truths aren't “important enough” to do so.
Although I consider these to be the two main reasons why I cannot recommend this book completely, I still found it to be beneficial. I thought the main concept that Joshua was trying to convey was great, and something we should apply in our lives as appropriate. Unfortunately, I expect that sometimes when the truth is proclaimed, the person doing so will still be considered a jerk simply because he or she is holding to biblical orthodoxy. We should not shy away from such experiences just because a person of the world hates what is being said.
It is an extremely short book. The font size is large, the pages are small, it only has 4 sections, and If you exclude the study guide at the end, it is only 61 pages in length. But despite it’s small size, it can make an impressive impact on the reader. In some ways it did for me.
Throughout the book, Josh speaks of people who have a strong, high regard for the teachings of Jesus Christ, and yet treat people like jerks. This is sad to read, but I think that it is often true.
Some of the things the author discusses include:
At the start, Joshua conveys the idea holding to the orthodox perspective on a doctrine, and also being humble in sharing it with others. He compares the difference between orthodox and heterodox teachings, and also the humble and arrogant perspectives of both. From this chapter we also learn that much of what the author conveys comes from reading Paul’s second letter to Timothy (pgs. 8-16). He discusses many verses from 2 Timothy where it speaks of the necessity of both humility and orthodoxy.
In section 2, Josh shares a revised parable that we can to relate to in today’s world (pgs. 17-19). One is a doctrinally sound individual who looks down on others and is arrogant. The other person watches Christian TV and thinks that it is deep. He attends a megachurch and everything about him screams squishy theology. At the end of the day, he is quick to recognize that he is a sinner and needs forgiveness. The man who knows all the sorts of biblical doctrine doesn’t do any of that. He is glad that he has the right teaching from the Bible, and that he is not like the one who goes to the megachurch.
In the third section, Mr. Harris describes a friend of his who has a popular blog (pgs. 31-33). This individual seeks to act in humility, and when he receives nasty comments, strives to respond with patience and meekness. Near the end of the chapter he describes the rebellion of not only the people of Israel, but also that of Moses himself (pgs. 39-42). The story he shares is when Moses is told to speak to the rock so that water would gush out of it, but instead strikes it in his anger (Numbers 20).
In the last section, Joshua describes the importance of rightly handling the word of God (pgs. 51-54). He contrasts dropping a basketball, which does no harm, versus handling the word of God in such a way that it could explode and harm others (pg. 52). Mishandling the word of God destroys people’s lives. The author is totally right in saying this. Later he talks about the fact that none of us will be bragging in heaven, and instead we will be rejoicing that all of it was true. We will also be ashamed of all the times we split over silly things like organ music and the arguments that we made about baptism (pgs. 54-57). We will be so grateful for the grace and mercy God gave us in His Son, Jesus Christ.
In many ways, I think Mr. Harris’ main ideas are good and valid. The point in which he speaks of mishandling the word of God and how it destroys people’s lives was impressive. I remember pausing for a moment when he described Moses’ sin with the rock, and how the transgressions of others does not give us the license to sin. I also benefited from the concept of properly following orthodox teachings leads us to being humble. At least they should. That is one of my key takeaways from the book.
Having shared all that, I think that this book is sometimes impressive, but I cannot recommend it completely. Earlier in this review I stressed the shortness of the book. That is both a benefit, and also a drawback. It can be read in an afternoon, but I always felt like I was only hearing one side of Mr. Harris’ main idea. I don’t recall any instance where the apostles’ strong rebukes against others are ever mentioned. The specific examples I am thinking of include Peter and Ananias and Sapphira, and also Paul and Elymas the sorcerer. They are in chapters 5 and 13 of Acts if you want to read what I am talking about. Jesus turning over tables and rebuking the pharisees are another couple of events that come to mind.
Some may think that the above examples do not apply to us today. After all, Peter and Paul were apostles, and Jesus was (and is) the Son of God. We are merely people who are imperfectly trying to be disciples of Christ. We sin everyday. Despite this, there are passages outside of 2 Timothy that speak to correcting people in their error. Sometimes this is done in a way that doesn't seem humble. In Titus 1:10-14 the apostle Paul describes those of the circumcision who need to be rebuked sharply. In those verses, Paul quotes a prophet who describes the Cretians as liars, evil beasts, and slow bellies (Tts. 1:12). In another place, Paul writes to the Corinthians and reflects on his correction of them (2 Cor. 7:8-12). He recognizes that he made them sorry by his letter but was glad that they were made sorry after a godly manner, and that this sorrow worked repentance to salvation (2 Cor. 7:9-10).
Beyond this sense of only one side of the story being given, there is something else that concerns me a bit more. In the summary above I wrote of Churches splitting over organ music and how the Baptists and Presbyterians argued over baptism. One of them would have to admit that the other was correct and so on (pg. 56). It is almost like the author is saying that certain matters are not important enough to defend vigorously while we are here on earth. That may not be what the author intended, but I came away with that impression. It is like we should hold the truth high, but we shouldn’t actually get into strong disagreements about certain teachings in the Bible. Is the point just to make it so that nobody in the world thinks we are being a jerk? I hope not. Who is to say what truths need to be defended vigorously, and what others can be handled more casually? I don’t feel like this distinction is made very well in the book. I guess we supposed to ascertain what truths of the Christian faith are critically important to defend, and which ones are not. As if some truths aren't “important enough” to do so.
Although I consider these to be the two main reasons why I cannot recommend this book completely, I still found it to be beneficial. I thought the main concept that Joshua was trying to convey was great, and something we should apply in our lives as appropriate. Unfortunately, I expect that sometimes when the truth is proclaimed, the person doing so will still be considered a jerk simply because he or she is holding to biblical orthodoxy. We should not shy away from such experiences just because a person of the world hates what is being said.
June 26, 2013
While it makes for an atypical review, I want to share a bit of my testimony:
My time in graduate school was frustrating. As I’d soon learn, however, I was the source of my own frustration.
My degree focused on the "practical" aspects of ministry (mentoring, biblical counseling, educational models, etc...), and I often found myself frustrated by the apparent lack of theological depth in many of the current models. Said another way, I was a new Calvinist, and—in my mind—these models didn't rely on or teach theology enough.
Because I so treasured the joy I had found in the theological depth of the gospel I wanted to share it. Unfortunately, with a lack of experience and a lack of grace, my original desire to share the importance of theology devolved into a need to be right.
My arrogance and frustration grew until my now wife reminded me that the doctrines of grace were named thus for a reason. While encouraging me to cling to the truths of Scripture, Kate encouraged me to grow first and foremost in my understanding of grace. She knew winsomeness would follow. While we didn't use the term at the time, she was effectively praying that I would get to a place of Humble Orthodoxy.
This brings me to why I loved this short book by Joshua Harris. In Humble Orthodoxy, Harris shows believers the same truths my wife showed me. Harris calls believers to hold fast to the text of scripture, while simultaneously living it out in the world. For whatever reason, Satan has made this a hard tension to live in, but when rightly understood, there's no tension at all—truth leads to humility.
Let me share—in my opinion—the best truths of Harris's book:
Harris, in Humble Orthodoxy, winsomely points the church—as my wife pointed me—to the gospel. For, in the gospel, we see the beautiful intersection of truth and humility. While I'm not claiming to have arrived, through my wife's encouragement and prayers, I saw that a right understanding of theology humbles the heart. I was reminded that theology is about God’s work, not mine.
I received this book from WaterBrook Multnomah for the purpose of this review.
My time in graduate school was frustrating. As I’d soon learn, however, I was the source of my own frustration.
My degree focused on the "practical" aspects of ministry (mentoring, biblical counseling, educational models, etc...), and I often found myself frustrated by the apparent lack of theological depth in many of the current models. Said another way, I was a new Calvinist, and—in my mind—these models didn't rely on or teach theology enough.
Because I so treasured the joy I had found in the theological depth of the gospel I wanted to share it. Unfortunately, with a lack of experience and a lack of grace, my original desire to share the importance of theology devolved into a need to be right.
My arrogance and frustration grew until my now wife reminded me that the doctrines of grace were named thus for a reason. While encouraging me to cling to the truths of Scripture, Kate encouraged me to grow first and foremost in my understanding of grace. She knew winsomeness would follow. While we didn't use the term at the time, she was effectively praying that I would get to a place of Humble Orthodoxy.
This brings me to why I loved this short book by Joshua Harris. In Humble Orthodoxy, Harris shows believers the same truths my wife showed me. Harris calls believers to hold fast to the text of scripture, while simultaneously living it out in the world. For whatever reason, Satan has made this a hard tension to live in, but when rightly understood, there's no tension at all—truth leads to humility.
Let me share—in my opinion—the best truths of Harris's book:
“I don’t know any other way to say this: it seems like a lot of the people who care about orthodoxy are jerks. But why? Does good doctrine necessarily lead to being argumentative, annoying, and arrogant?” (3)
“Whether our theological knowledge is great or small, we all need to ask a vital question: What will we do with the knowledge of God that we have?” (4)
“Love for God and love for neighbor require us to oppose falsehood. There is nothing more unloving than to be silent in the face of lies that will ruin another person.” (11)
“You and I need to contend for the truth. But there’s a fine line between contending for truth and being contentious.” (12)
“Even when [Paul] fiercely opposed them, he didn’t just want to beat them in an argument; he wanted to win the to the truth.” (14)
“Christians are humble because their understanding of truth is not based on their own intelligence, their own research, their own acumen. Rather, it is 100% dependent on the grace of God. Christian knowledge is a dependent knowledge. And that leads to humility (1 Cor 1:31).” (16)
“Instead of looking down on the unorthodox, how can we not want to humbly lead them toward the same life-giving truth that has changed our lives?” (19)
“If being right becomes more important to us than worshipping God, then our theology is not really about God anymore. It’s about us . . . If we stand before the awesome knowledge of God’s character and our first thought isn’t I am small, and I am unworthy to know the Creator of the universe, then we should be concerned. Too many of us catch a glimpse of him and think, Look at me, taking all this in. Think of all the poor fools who have never seen this. God, you’re certainly lucky to have me beholding you.” (26–27)
“Just because we can’t know God exhaustively doesn’t mean we can’t know hi truly (Psalm 19:7–10; John 17:17).” (29)
“Shouldn’t we be known for consistent confession of all the ways our own lives fall short of the truth we espouse?” (36)
“I won’t pretend that I’ve arrived at humble orthodoxy. When I gain a bit of theological knowledge, I all too frequently get puffed up with pride. But I’ll tell you what deflates my arrogance and self-righteousness fast than anything else: trying to live whatever truth I have.” (37)
“Life and doctrine can’t be separated. Our lives either put the beauty of God’s truth on display, or they obscure it.” (39)
“Friend, the truth is not about us. It’s not self-determined. It’s not an accessory. It is about God. And we believe it and we hold to it, not because we want to make a statement about ourselves, but because we want true statements to be made about him. We want his glory.” (47)
“In eternity we’ll see the silliness of self-righteousness and quarreling over the nonessentials. But we’ll also see with piercing clarity just how essential the essentials really are.” (57)
“As we lose the esteem of our culture, as we see false teachers gaining ground, what will we do? Will we grow bitter, angry, and vengeful? Or, like Jesus and Paul, will we continue to love our enemies even as we suffer? Will we keep praying? Will we keep hoping for God to open others’ eyes?
We don’t have to be jerks with the truth. We can remember how Jesus showed us mercy when we were his enemies. We can demonstrate a humble orthodoxy, holding on to our identity in the gospel. We are not those who are right; we are those who have been redeemed.” (61)
Harris, in Humble Orthodoxy, winsomely points the church—as my wife pointed me—to the gospel. For, in the gospel, we see the beautiful intersection of truth and humility. While I'm not claiming to have arrived, through my wife's encouragement and prayers, I saw that a right understanding of theology humbles the heart. I was reminded that theology is about God’s work, not mine.
I received this book from WaterBrook Multnomah for the purpose of this review.
January 26, 2018
Great book by Joshua Harris. Very concise and easy to read. He wrote a lot of statements that really make you think and reflect on how you are living. He talks about truth and humility wonderfully!
February 28, 2018
This book was fantastic - what a great message. It IS possible to hold true to what the Bible says, but do so in a loving way that builds others up rather than tears people down.
April 3, 2013
Three years ago, I
wrote
that "Humble Orthodoxy," the final chapter of Joshua Harris' book Dug Down Deep, was worth the price of the book all by itself. Evidently, I wasn't alone in thinking so!
By popular demand, Harris has finally expanded and expounded the contents of that great chapter into its own book, and I'm so glad he did! Humility is sadly lacking in modern discourse, particularly in the realm of theological convictions. While the abundance of attention being given by evangelical authors to getting our doctrine right is a good thing, far less attention has been given to how we ought to contend for the faith.
Does God care about the attitude with which we stand for truth? Of course he does! Yet, as Harris points out, "orthodoxy has gotten a bad reputation." We Christians are not exactly known for our compassion and humility when it comes to defending our beliefs.
Something has to give. As Harris argues, that something is our pride. We need to stop seeking the approval of men, and start living for the only approval that matters—God's. When we understand that our deeds merit nothing but damnation, and that God's approval is based solely on the obedience of Christ, we cannot be arrogant. This is the heart of true orthodoxy, and it can only be realized in true humility.
We don't have to choose between humility and orthodoxy. We need both, and, in fact, each leads to the other. Humble orthodoxy changes the way we relate to others. Instead of puffing ourselves up through comparisons with those we see as more sinful, we should see God's grace as something to be extended to others. Harris writes, "Instead of looking down on the unorthodox, how can we not want to humbly lead them toward the same life-giving truth that has changed our lives?"
This book is tiny—its 61 pages weighing in at under five ounces—but exhibits an incredible economy of words. Nearly every sentence is worthy of highlighting... no filler material here! Throughout its four chapters, Harris gives examples from Scripture of men who exhibited humble orthodoxy, and shows readers how to develop this godly character in our own lives.
There is quite a bit of overlap with the last chapter of Dug Down Deep, but there is easily enough new material to make this book stand on its own merits, even if you have read the "Humble Orthodoxy" chapter that led to it. Its small size and easy readability means this book lends itself to many repeat readings, something I'll be certain to take advantage of whenever I need a good dose of conviction about my pride (which is often!).
This is also a perfect little book to give away to young Christians and new theologians, whose "newfound zeal for truth often makes them dangerous," as Harris points out. I'll definitely be keeping my eyes open down the road for deals on bulk purchases of this book to go in the giveaway box in my office. It's important to note, though, that as this book is primarily concerned with exhorting readers toward humility rather than establishing orthodoxy, this book alone would not be sufficient to help a new believer achieve humble orthodoxy. To get a good grasp on what orthodoxy is, they will need to consult other resources. For this purpose, Harris' earlier book remains one of my top recommendations.
Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Humble Orthodoxy. Reference it frequently. You won't regret it!
By popular demand, Harris has finally expanded and expounded the contents of that great chapter into its own book, and I'm so glad he did! Humility is sadly lacking in modern discourse, particularly in the realm of theological convictions. While the abundance of attention being given by evangelical authors to getting our doctrine right is a good thing, far less attention has been given to how we ought to contend for the faith.
Does God care about the attitude with which we stand for truth? Of course he does! Yet, as Harris points out, "orthodoxy has gotten a bad reputation." We Christians are not exactly known for our compassion and humility when it comes to defending our beliefs.
Something has to give. As Harris argues, that something is our pride. We need to stop seeking the approval of men, and start living for the only approval that matters—God's. When we understand that our deeds merit nothing but damnation, and that God's approval is based solely on the obedience of Christ, we cannot be arrogant. This is the heart of true orthodoxy, and it can only be realized in true humility.
We don't have to choose between humility and orthodoxy. We need both, and, in fact, each leads to the other. Humble orthodoxy changes the way we relate to others. Instead of puffing ourselves up through comparisons with those we see as more sinful, we should see God's grace as something to be extended to others. Harris writes, "Instead of looking down on the unorthodox, how can we not want to humbly lead them toward the same life-giving truth that has changed our lives?"
This book is tiny—its 61 pages weighing in at under five ounces—but exhibits an incredible economy of words. Nearly every sentence is worthy of highlighting... no filler material here! Throughout its four chapters, Harris gives examples from Scripture of men who exhibited humble orthodoxy, and shows readers how to develop this godly character in our own lives.
There is quite a bit of overlap with the last chapter of Dug Down Deep, but there is easily enough new material to make this book stand on its own merits, even if you have read the "Humble Orthodoxy" chapter that led to it. Its small size and easy readability means this book lends itself to many repeat readings, something I'll be certain to take advantage of whenever I need a good dose of conviction about my pride (which is often!).
This is also a perfect little book to give away to young Christians and new theologians, whose "newfound zeal for truth often makes them dangerous," as Harris points out. I'll definitely be keeping my eyes open down the road for deals on bulk purchases of this book to go in the giveaway box in my office. It's important to note, though, that as this book is primarily concerned with exhorting readers toward humility rather than establishing orthodoxy, this book alone would not be sufficient to help a new believer achieve humble orthodoxy. To get a good grasp on what orthodoxy is, they will need to consult other resources. For this purpose, Harris' earlier book remains one of my top recommendations.
Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Humble Orthodoxy. Reference it frequently. You won't regret it!
April 28, 2013
Which one do we need: orthodoxy or humility? Both says Joshua Harris! In fact, we don’t have the luxury to choose one at the expense of the other. Or as the subtitle of this volume published by Multnomah says, we should be “holding the truth high without putting people down.” So what does that leave as the goal? What he calls humble orthodoxy.
This is actually a reworking of the last chapter of his Dug Down Deep. If I were forced to choose I would prefer that volume to this one as I really enjoyed reading it. Still, this book has something to say and I need to hear it.
Our tendency to be a Pharisee, our latent idolization of self, our propensity to be so impressed with who we are and what we know, he exposes with care. He says, “The message of Christian orthodoxy isn’t that I’m right and someone else is wrong. It’s that I am wrong and yet God is filled with grace.” Ouch!
He demonstrates how at our core we are about God being on our side. That is a world of difference than wanting to be on God’s side. If it is about God being on my side, then I will argue and fight till my last breath. Sadly, at that point our lives are no longer about God and His glory. We live for what he calls “the tiny kingdom of self.” In that setting, of course, “Knowledge puffeth up.”
We have the wrong focus to make correct theology, as critically important as it is, the goal. Our Lord is the goal. Any other goal is inferior and little more than misspent effort. If correct theology is the goal I can so easily look down on others who I know has less theology than me. I know I have fallen in that trap before and am glad I had Mr. Harris to take me to task for it.
He attacks “arrogant orthodoxy” as actually falling short on the orthodoxy scale rather than the other way around. He sees true theology as telling me that repentance must start with me. Well, he has us there!
He sees a interlocking link between orthodoxy and humility. More orthodoxy leads to more humility and more humility leads to more orthodoxy. When our pride grows, what, then, does that tell us about our orthodoxy? That is a painful, yet particularly helpful, insight.
As much as I want to have my theology right, there is enough remaining sin in me to keep me humble, he says. You can speak for yourself, but that really describes me. A critical spirit, though a spirit quite at home in our age, is pure nonsense in a sinner like me. I must defend my faith without reducing myself to a critical spirit that denies on many levels the very faith I defend.
He also says: “Friend, the truth is not about us. It’s not self-determined. It’s not an accessory. It is about God.” That will help us not develop a Christian subculture with all the weirdo that can accompany it. He also says: ” In eternity we’ll see the silliness of self-righteousness and quarreling over the nonessentials.” That sums it nicely for a book well worth your time to read.
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 .
This is actually a reworking of the last chapter of his Dug Down Deep. If I were forced to choose I would prefer that volume to this one as I really enjoyed reading it. Still, this book has something to say and I need to hear it.
Our tendency to be a Pharisee, our latent idolization of self, our propensity to be so impressed with who we are and what we know, he exposes with care. He says, “The message of Christian orthodoxy isn’t that I’m right and someone else is wrong. It’s that I am wrong and yet God is filled with grace.” Ouch!
He demonstrates how at our core we are about God being on our side. That is a world of difference than wanting to be on God’s side. If it is about God being on my side, then I will argue and fight till my last breath. Sadly, at that point our lives are no longer about God and His glory. We live for what he calls “the tiny kingdom of self.” In that setting, of course, “Knowledge puffeth up.”
We have the wrong focus to make correct theology, as critically important as it is, the goal. Our Lord is the goal. Any other goal is inferior and little more than misspent effort. If correct theology is the goal I can so easily look down on others who I know has less theology than me. I know I have fallen in that trap before and am glad I had Mr. Harris to take me to task for it.
He attacks “arrogant orthodoxy” as actually falling short on the orthodoxy scale rather than the other way around. He sees true theology as telling me that repentance must start with me. Well, he has us there!
He sees a interlocking link between orthodoxy and humility. More orthodoxy leads to more humility and more humility leads to more orthodoxy. When our pride grows, what, then, does that tell us about our orthodoxy? That is a painful, yet particularly helpful, insight.
As much as I want to have my theology right, there is enough remaining sin in me to keep me humble, he says. You can speak for yourself, but that really describes me. A critical spirit, though a spirit quite at home in our age, is pure nonsense in a sinner like me. I must defend my faith without reducing myself to a critical spirit that denies on many levels the very faith I defend.
He also says: “Friend, the truth is not about us. It’s not self-determined. It’s not an accessory. It is about God.” That will help us not develop a Christian subculture with all the weirdo that can accompany it. He also says: ” In eternity we’ll see the silliness of self-righteousness and quarreling over the nonessentials.” That sums it nicely for a book well worth your time to read.
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 .
May 17, 2013
Humble Orthodoxy, by Joshua Harris, is a concise booklet. It has only four chapters, spanning just 60 pages*. However, with those 60 pages, Harris writes about a message absolutely relevant to Christians today, and that’s one concerning love.
Humble Orthodoxy is a follow-up book to Harris’ Dug Down Deep. It’s practical and to the point. In Chapter One, “Your Attitude Matters,” Harris lays the groundwork for why this book is important. Too often, Christians are either too humble or too orthodox, and each camp is plagued with problems. Harris writes,
This book packs a punch. My copy is filled with underlines and stars. The message is humbling (intentional pun!) and challenging. Harris makes his point, and at least to me, it’s one that I am trying hard to infiltrate in my life. Pride is insidious. It’s toxic. It’s detrimental to the gospel and it’s keeping millions of people in sin. I don’t want my life ruled by pride or by my own personal truths/agendas, and Joshua Harris’ Humble Orthodoxy is an excellent resource to help combat that.
I highly recommend Harris’ little book, Humble Orthodoxy. It offers a message that each and every Christian needs to hear. A message on humility is not a fun message, nor is one on orthodoxy, but they are messages that are still important. I pray that God works in my heart to make it more aligned with His truth. I want to have genuine love and compassion for each person I encounter in my life. I want to also hold fast to the Truth that God has revealed.
* There’s an additional study guide section in the back.
-----
FTC Thingy: This book was delivered on the wings of a three-winged Pegasus, festooned with spring rolls and lucky Vegas dice. It also was delivered free of charge in exchange for my honest (to goodness) review. I was not obligated to review this book positively, nor was I obligated to feed the Pegasus my last Oreo cookie, either, though I did manage to do both.
Humble Orthodoxy is a follow-up book to Harris’ Dug Down Deep. It’s practical and to the point. In Chapter One, “Your Attitude Matters,” Harris lays the groundwork for why this book is important. Too often, Christians are either too humble or too orthodox, and each camp is plagued with problems. Harris writes,
“Christians need to have a strong commitment to sound doctrine. We need to be courageous in our stand for biblical truth. But we also need to be gracious in our words and interaction with other people.” (p. 3,4)Harris takes no credit for the term humble orthodoxy, but his teaching on the topic is nevertheless powerful. It’s refreshing that’s he’s candid, for he, too, has much room for improvement.
This book packs a punch. My copy is filled with underlines and stars. The message is humbling (intentional pun!) and challenging. Harris makes his point, and at least to me, it’s one that I am trying hard to infiltrate in my life. Pride is insidious. It’s toxic. It’s detrimental to the gospel and it’s keeping millions of people in sin. I don’t want my life ruled by pride or by my own personal truths/agendas, and Joshua Harris’ Humble Orthodoxy is an excellent resource to help combat that.
I highly recommend Harris’ little book, Humble Orthodoxy. It offers a message that each and every Christian needs to hear. A message on humility is not a fun message, nor is one on orthodoxy, but they are messages that are still important. I pray that God works in my heart to make it more aligned with His truth. I want to have genuine love and compassion for each person I encounter in my life. I want to also hold fast to the Truth that God has revealed.
* There’s an additional study guide section in the back.
-----
FTC Thingy: This book was delivered on the wings of a three-winged Pegasus, festooned with spring rolls and lucky Vegas dice. It also was delivered free of charge in exchange for my honest (to goodness) review. I was not obligated to review this book positively, nor was I obligated to feed the Pegasus my last Oreo cookie, either, though I did manage to do both.
April 13, 2013
The final chapter of Joshua Harris's last book, "Dug Down Deep", was entitled "Humble Orthodoxy". People loved that particular chapter so much that they expressed their desire that he write an entire book about the concept. Thus, the book "Humble Orthodoxy" was born. Taking the main points from the chapter of the same name and expanding on them, this short book (only 61 pages plus a study guide) is full of necessary and relevant truths that deserve to be discussed and wrestled with.
Since the word "orthodoxy" tends to be misunderstood, Harris starts off with a definition: "The word orthodoxy refers to right thinking about God. It's about teaching and belief based on the established, proven, cherished truths of the faith. These are the truths that don't budge. They are the plumb line that shows us how to think straight in a crooked world" (p. 1-2). He then goes on to define humble orthodoxy as "we must care deeply about truth, and we must also defend and share this truth with compassion and humility" (p. 5). With those two definitions in mind, the reader is then ready to tackle the rest of the book.
Harris points out over and over that truth matters. Doctrine matters. But we need to allow the truth of God's word to shape and influence our lives first and foremost. We need to allow the gospel of grace to impact us so that we can go out and impact others. "...while we shouldn't be mean and spiteful in representing biblical truth, neither should we apologize for believing that God has been clear in his Word. The humility we need in our theology is first and foremost a humility before God" (p. 28-29).
This little book is so relevant for our time. Every believer should read this book, wrestle with the content of it, and allow the Holy Spirit to do a work. The study guide at the back of the book makes this book perfect to go through with a Bible study, book club, or even as an individual. The questions will really help take the material to the next level. Highly recommend this book!
(I’ve received this complimentary book from Waterbrook-Multnomah through the Blogging for Books program in exchange for a review. A positive review was not required and the views expressed in my review are strictly my own.)
Since the word "orthodoxy" tends to be misunderstood, Harris starts off with a definition: "The word orthodoxy refers to right thinking about God. It's about teaching and belief based on the established, proven, cherished truths of the faith. These are the truths that don't budge. They are the plumb line that shows us how to think straight in a crooked world" (p. 1-2). He then goes on to define humble orthodoxy as "we must care deeply about truth, and we must also defend and share this truth with compassion and humility" (p. 5). With those two definitions in mind, the reader is then ready to tackle the rest of the book.
Harris points out over and over that truth matters. Doctrine matters. But we need to allow the truth of God's word to shape and influence our lives first and foremost. We need to allow the gospel of grace to impact us so that we can go out and impact others. "...while we shouldn't be mean and spiteful in representing biblical truth, neither should we apologize for believing that God has been clear in his Word. The humility we need in our theology is first and foremost a humility before God" (p. 28-29).
This little book is so relevant for our time. Every believer should read this book, wrestle with the content of it, and allow the Holy Spirit to do a work. The study guide at the back of the book makes this book perfect to go through with a Bible study, book club, or even as an individual. The questions will really help take the material to the next level. Highly recommend this book!
(I’ve received this complimentary book from Waterbrook-Multnomah through the Blogging for Books program in exchange for a review. A positive review was not required and the views expressed in my review are strictly my own.)
April 24, 2013
Nobody likes a jerk.
Even a right jerk. I don't care how "right" their words may be, I'm not hearing it from them!
As bad as this situation is, it's devastating when the jerk is talking about Christ and his church. How many souls have been turned off to the Gospel because of situations like this one?
My wife has been telling me for years, "It's not what you say, but how you say it!" How can we share a message of mercy and grace when we act as though we possess neither?
Sadly, one of the biggest culprits of this are those who care most about having right doctrine. The Bible refers to them as Pharisees. You remember, the ones Jesus reserved his harshest words for. It seems as though the stronger the desire to obtain sound doctrine, the more likely it is to become prideful in one's new found knowledge.
So, is it possible to love theology and people? To have a humble orthodoxy?
Joshua Harris explains how we can in his book, Humble Orthodoxy. Though it is a quick and easy read, the sting of conviction will last. It seems we are often the last to know just how much we are in need of this message. Ouch!
Sometimes our problem is that we forget that it is all about God and what he has done for us, not our own accomplishments.
One of my favorite quotes,
"When you truly understand the doctrine of grace in the gospel, you don't go around checking people's IDs to see if they are in or out. You walk around with tears of gratefulness in your eyes, saying, "Why in the world would he choose me?"
Humble Orthodoxy is a must read for every lover of doctrine. The danger of becoming a pharisee is just too great. Joshua Harris gives us the gentle reminder, that even if we have all the right theology, but have not love, we are nothing. (1 Corin. 13:2)
I would like to thank WaterBrook Multnomah publishing for sending me this free copy for review.
Even a right jerk. I don't care how "right" their words may be, I'm not hearing it from them!
As bad as this situation is, it's devastating when the jerk is talking about Christ and his church. How many souls have been turned off to the Gospel because of situations like this one?
My wife has been telling me for years, "It's not what you say, but how you say it!" How can we share a message of mercy and grace when we act as though we possess neither?
Sadly, one of the biggest culprits of this are those who care most about having right doctrine. The Bible refers to them as Pharisees. You remember, the ones Jesus reserved his harshest words for. It seems as though the stronger the desire to obtain sound doctrine, the more likely it is to become prideful in one's new found knowledge.
So, is it possible to love theology and people? To have a humble orthodoxy?
Joshua Harris explains how we can in his book, Humble Orthodoxy. Though it is a quick and easy read, the sting of conviction will last. It seems we are often the last to know just how much we are in need of this message. Ouch!
Sometimes our problem is that we forget that it is all about God and what he has done for us, not our own accomplishments.
One of my favorite quotes,
"When you truly understand the doctrine of grace in the gospel, you don't go around checking people's IDs to see if they are in or out. You walk around with tears of gratefulness in your eyes, saying, "Why in the world would he choose me?"
Humble Orthodoxy is a must read for every lover of doctrine. The danger of becoming a pharisee is just too great. Joshua Harris gives us the gentle reminder, that even if we have all the right theology, but have not love, we are nothing. (1 Corin. 13:2)
I would like to thank WaterBrook Multnomah publishing for sending me this free copy for review.
May 17, 2013
I really enjoyed Humble Orthodoxy. I was intrigued by it from the start, but even so, I ended up liking it more than I thought I would initially. It's a short book (only four chapters), so it's an incredibly quick read.
It touches on some things that I feel like should be common sense, but I know from what I've witnessed it too often isn't. I've seen a lot of Christians who are so caught up in "being right" that they often overlook the fact that we're supposed to love everyone and treat them with respect. I thought this book did an amazing job at explaining why both orthodox and humility are important to Christians and why neither one can be overlooked. It's definitely something that a lot of people need to read.
I did have one small problem with the book, but it was so miniscule that I won't even bother to mention it. It was more of a personal thing than anything else, and I had pretty much sensed that it would be there. Still, even with that I extremely enjoyed the book as a whole. The author said so many great things that all Christians, no matter what their denomination is, need to hear.
I think this book discusses one of the biggest issues among Christians today, and I would highly recommend that all Christians read it. It really does put things into perspective. In my own experience, I think humility is something often overlooked by many Christians, and this book really helps show why it is so important. (I'm sure orthodoxy is too, but I haven't seen it as much in my own experiences.) If I could, I would find a way to have everyone read Humble Orthodoxy.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
http://hmweasley-blog.blogspot.com/20...
It touches on some things that I feel like should be common sense, but I know from what I've witnessed it too often isn't. I've seen a lot of Christians who are so caught up in "being right" that they often overlook the fact that we're supposed to love everyone and treat them with respect. I thought this book did an amazing job at explaining why both orthodox and humility are important to Christians and why neither one can be overlooked. It's definitely something that a lot of people need to read.
I did have one small problem with the book, but it was so miniscule that I won't even bother to mention it. It was more of a personal thing than anything else, and I had pretty much sensed that it would be there. Still, even with that I extremely enjoyed the book as a whole. The author said so many great things that all Christians, no matter what their denomination is, need to hear.
I think this book discusses one of the biggest issues among Christians today, and I would highly recommend that all Christians read it. It really does put things into perspective. In my own experience, I think humility is something often overlooked by many Christians, and this book really helps show why it is so important. (I'm sure orthodoxy is too, but I haven't seen it as much in my own experiences.) If I could, I would find a way to have everyone read Humble Orthodoxy.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
http://hmweasley-blog.blogspot.com/20...
May 2, 2013
Humble Orthodoxy means that "we must care deeply about truth and we must also defend and share this truth with compassion and humility," according to the author, Joshua Harris.
This book sets out to explain why it is in our best interest to adopt this way of thinking. Joshua Harris also introduces and defines the other "doxies" such as, Arrogant Heterodoxy, Arrogant Orthodoxy, and Humble Heterodoxy. It all starts with your attitude, are you willing to change your attitude?
No matter how many times I started to read this book I just couldn't get into it. One major turn off was the number of ways the author took to say the same thing.
Re-reading various sentences, paragraphs far too many times. Asking: a). What point was the author trying to make? b). What was the connection to the previous sentence, paragraph? c). He already made this point. There was too much crammed into the book and it would have been more impactful if he followed the "less is more" format.
Humble Orthodoxy follows the predictable template of scripture, highlighted points of interest and a study guide at the back of the book. The study guide is designed for individuals or groups, to allow you to be an active participant with the discussion questions, to create a personal prayer and be accountable with an action step.
So, at the end of the day, the author asked two lingering questions: 1). "What will we do with the knowledge of God that we have?" 2). How do you choose to share that information with people who are seeking to develop a relationship with God -with humility or with pride? Guess you have to read Humble Orthodoxy - holding the truth without putting people down.
This book sets out to explain why it is in our best interest to adopt this way of thinking. Joshua Harris also introduces and defines the other "doxies" such as, Arrogant Heterodoxy, Arrogant Orthodoxy, and Humble Heterodoxy. It all starts with your attitude, are you willing to change your attitude?
No matter how many times I started to read this book I just couldn't get into it. One major turn off was the number of ways the author took to say the same thing.
Re-reading various sentences, paragraphs far too many times. Asking: a). What point was the author trying to make? b). What was the connection to the previous sentence, paragraph? c). He already made this point. There was too much crammed into the book and it would have been more impactful if he followed the "less is more" format.
Humble Orthodoxy follows the predictable template of scripture, highlighted points of interest and a study guide at the back of the book. The study guide is designed for individuals or groups, to allow you to be an active participant with the discussion questions, to create a personal prayer and be accountable with an action step.
So, at the end of the day, the author asked two lingering questions: 1). "What will we do with the knowledge of God that we have?" 2). How do you choose to share that information with people who are seeking to develop a relationship with God -with humility or with pride? Guess you have to read Humble Orthodoxy - holding the truth without putting people down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2022
This is a short book, easy to read in one sitting if you were so inclined. But it's so much deeper than that: you'll want to focus on it and think about it for awhile. There is a study guide at the back to help you do that. I could see this book being an excellent choice for a small group or adult (or teen) Sunday School class since it's divided into four easy chapters.
The main point of the book is that there are three easy errors and one biblical alternative: Arrogant heterodoxy (bad doctrine, bad behavior), arrogant orthodoxy (good doctrine, bad behavior), and humble heterodoxy (bad doctrine, good behavior) which should be contrasted with Biblical thought and practice: Humble orthodoxy (good doctrine, good behavior).
Don't be scared off by big words like orthodoxy. Harris makes this easy to understand. Christians should be speaking the truth in love, defending Biblical truth, without wielding truth or doctrine as a blunt weapon.
I'll confess: one struggle I had while reading this book was thinking something along the lines of, "That's excellent! You know who really needs to read this?" and then filling in the blank with someone I know who could use a dose of this book.
Which means I was missing the point: Humble Orthodoxy is about getting it right myself. It's about my humbly embracing the truth of the Bible while still loving others.
Great book and, since it is small and not expensive, I highly recommend it to you.
(I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.)
The main point of the book is that there are three easy errors and one biblical alternative: Arrogant heterodoxy (bad doctrine, bad behavior), arrogant orthodoxy (good doctrine, bad behavior), and humble heterodoxy (bad doctrine, good behavior) which should be contrasted with Biblical thought and practice: Humble orthodoxy (good doctrine, good behavior).
Don't be scared off by big words like orthodoxy. Harris makes this easy to understand. Christians should be speaking the truth in love, defending Biblical truth, without wielding truth or doctrine as a blunt weapon.
I'll confess: one struggle I had while reading this book was thinking something along the lines of, "That's excellent! You know who really needs to read this?" and then filling in the blank with someone I know who could use a dose of this book.
Which means I was missing the point: Humble Orthodoxy is about getting it right myself. It's about my humbly embracing the truth of the Bible while still loving others.
Great book and, since it is small and not expensive, I highly recommend it to you.
(I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.)
May 2, 2013
No, it isn’t an oxymoron. Best-selling author, Joshua Harris’s newest book, ‘Humble Orthodoxy’, deals with keeping orthodoxy whi;le operating in love. This is quite a short book with 60 actual pages then a study guide. It’s length allows him to get straight to the point minus the fluff.
Utilizing the role of Pharisees during Jesus’ earthly ministry, he examines the pattern of how not to approach orthodoxy. Is it possible to think Kingdom-minded thoughts, but still love thy neighbor? Yes, it certainly is. While we should never bend on God’s ways, there are gentle & loving ways to get our point across.
Pastor Harris’s main idea is simple. Be gracious to those who disagree, but hold on to the truths & promises of God. Of course, it’s never that easy, but it is what we should strive to do.
Less seasoned Christians will gain tremendous insight from his writing. I found it to be quite similar to ‘Accidental Pharisees’ in example & main idea. But, for a reader struggling to keep things balanced when they witness, it will be a great companion book.
If you feel that you have the teachings of Christ understood, but have a hard time not lashing out at those with differing opinions, then this book is for you. Sound in teaching & theology, it is well written.
I received 1 print copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. More info is available through www.waterbrookmultnomah.com & www.joshharris.com.
Utilizing the role of Pharisees during Jesus’ earthly ministry, he examines the pattern of how not to approach orthodoxy. Is it possible to think Kingdom-minded thoughts, but still love thy neighbor? Yes, it certainly is. While we should never bend on God’s ways, there are gentle & loving ways to get our point across.
Pastor Harris’s main idea is simple. Be gracious to those who disagree, but hold on to the truths & promises of God. Of course, it’s never that easy, but it is what we should strive to do.
Less seasoned Christians will gain tremendous insight from his writing. I found it to be quite similar to ‘Accidental Pharisees’ in example & main idea. But, for a reader struggling to keep things balanced when they witness, it will be a great companion book.
If you feel that you have the teachings of Christ understood, but have a hard time not lashing out at those with differing opinions, then this book is for you. Sound in teaching & theology, it is well written.
I received 1 print copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. More info is available through www.waterbrookmultnomah.com & www.joshharris.com.
December 10, 2018
Tratando do orgulho, esse pequeno livro traz uma reflexão interessante sobre o seu problema e sua consequência. Joshua Harris encheu de palavra de Deus em suas explicações, mostrando o seu temos e zelo pela verdade.
January 9, 2015
This is really a 5+ stars book. It is one of the best books I have read in years, and it only took part of an afternoon to read. To know me is to know that I have reached a place where I question whether modern evangelicalism is sustainable. We live in an era of disposable Churches. It seems that nearly every evangelical Church is destined to be crippled by either mean spirited and pride based doctrinal squabbles or compromising the truth. Yet we don���t worry too much about this disturbing reality though because when the inevitable comes we just essentially allow that body to die (be disposed) because across the street some well-meaning dynamic pastor is ���planting��� a new Church and so we gravitate to the new ���belle of the ball,��� (pride and all) and let the cycle begin anew. This book (though not addressing this cycle explicitly) proposes ideas that stand to slow down the plague in the Evangelical branch of the Church. The author states that, yes, orthodoxy is of paramount importance and cannot be allowed to be compromised, but of equal importance is one���s ATTITUDE about orthodoxy. Does it make you arrogant? Do you (can you) actually live it (really it's impossible without grace), or do you just use it as a catalyst for debate? Where is your heart? Sometimes great things come in small packages. This book fits that bill. Humble Orthodoxy is powerful and it���s timely.
April 13, 2013
Joshua Harris's most recent book, Humble Orthodoxy (2013), is an important little book. I say little, because it weighs in at 61 small pages plus an added study guide. It is really not much more than an extended essay or what one other reviewer called a series of blog posts.
Having said that, the words that fill these 61 pages are important for many Christians today, particularly those of us who seem to enjoy living in the subculture of reformed theology and the Christian blogosphere where humility is often seemingly absent.
Early on in the book, Harris writes "it seems like a lot of the people who care about orthodoxy are jerks" (p. 3). Reading his words bites a little bit for me because I am someone who does care about orthodoxy (=right thinking/right beliefs) a great deal. I also recognize in myself a tendency to be arrogant about those beliefs; however, I think my year spent in the Centurions Program has helped me to slow down in how I respond to others.
Micah 6:8 reminds us to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly. In other words, truth matters, but we must present it mercifully and humbly.
Having said that, the words that fill these 61 pages are important for many Christians today, particularly those of us who seem to enjoy living in the subculture of reformed theology and the Christian blogosphere where humility is often seemingly absent.
Early on in the book, Harris writes "it seems like a lot of the people who care about orthodoxy are jerks" (p. 3). Reading his words bites a little bit for me because I am someone who does care about orthodoxy (=right thinking/right beliefs) a great deal. I also recognize in myself a tendency to be arrogant about those beliefs; however, I think my year spent in the Centurions Program has helped me to slow down in how I respond to others.
Micah 6:8 reminds us to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly. In other words, truth matters, but we must present it mercifully and humbly.
March 26, 2014
I appreciate Josh Harris' love for the Lord and for others in Humble Orthodoxy. Having a proper view of the Word of God and believing in solid Biblical theology and doctrine is a good thing, he says, but then, so is humility. Knowledge has a tendency to puff up, Harris reminds us. I loved this book because it was a needed exhortation to
1) have a proper view of God and the Gospel.
2) be humbled at how little we know of God, and how much we have to learn of Him.
So, the good I got from this book? Don't slap people with theology and doctrine. Believe it humbly and speak it lovingly.
What I didn't like so much:
There was the snippets of reformed theology sprinkled through the book...but I expected it because I know he's a Calvinist. I just overlooked it, because I'm NOT a Calvinist.
Also, in the last chapter, Josh Harris went in great lengths of how in Heaven, we're all going to be apologizing humbly to each other for our dogmatic attitudes to each other on earth. Um. Okay, I'm not sure where he got this from the Bible. I'm not saying this won't happen, he just spent most of the chapter on this speculative thought so it was rather annoying. ;-)
1) have a proper view of God and the Gospel.
2) be humbled at how little we know of God, and how much we have to learn of Him.
So, the good I got from this book? Don't slap people with theology and doctrine. Believe it humbly and speak it lovingly.
What I didn't like so much:
There was the snippets of reformed theology sprinkled through the book...but I expected it because I know he's a Calvinist. I just overlooked it, because I'm NOT a Calvinist.
Also, in the last chapter, Josh Harris went in great lengths of how in Heaven, we're all going to be apologizing humbly to each other for our dogmatic attitudes to each other on earth. Um. Okay, I'm not sure where he got this from the Bible. I'm not saying this won't happen, he just spent most of the chapter on this speculative thought so it was rather annoying. ;-)
June 3, 2013
I was able to review this nice little book through blogging for books.
Don't let its small size fool you its an awesome book on how to be more humble while not sacrificing you core beliefs. its hardcover so its built to last and fits really well in a handbag to take along.
I think this is one if the better book I have read about Humility and it would make for a fantastic gift.
Humble Orthodoxy: Holding the Truth High Without Putting People Down written by Joshua Harris really helps us dig deep into how we really want to treat people who may have different beliefs than we do, and how we can not fall into the trap of putting them down for it. I really liked this book it was easy to read and really made me think.
I think every Christian should read this book so we can find out how to hold on to the truth with out making others feel bad and not behaving like the pharisees in the past. Its a short read but gives you a lot of things to put into practice and think about. I hope you read it you can find it on amazon as well as at the store thanks for reading my review :)
Don't let its small size fool you its an awesome book on how to be more humble while not sacrificing you core beliefs. its hardcover so its built to last and fits really well in a handbag to take along.
I think this is one if the better book I have read about Humility and it would make for a fantastic gift.
Humble Orthodoxy: Holding the Truth High Without Putting People Down written by Joshua Harris really helps us dig deep into how we really want to treat people who may have different beliefs than we do, and how we can not fall into the trap of putting them down for it. I really liked this book it was easy to read and really made me think.
I think every Christian should read this book so we can find out how to hold on to the truth with out making others feel bad and not behaving like the pharisees in the past. Its a short read but gives you a lot of things to put into practice and think about. I hope you read it you can find it on amazon as well as at the store thanks for reading my review :)
June 29, 2013
Humble Orthodoxy, by Joshua Harris, in its simplest sense, is nothing new. It’s basically speaking the truth in love, and yet, I found this book to be a refreshing and timely message for society. The book is written for Christian laymen. I liked that it contained small boxes that highlighted key points throughout the text. Additionally, at the end of the book, Harris presents study questions. Orthodoxy sounds intimidating, and so, the small size of the book makes it portable and inviting. This book will appeal to Christians of all ages—new and long-time believers alike.
I have so many favorite quotes from this book, but one of my favorites is on page 35: “One test for whether we’re pursuing humble orthodoxy is this question: Are we giving as much energy to obeying and being reformed by God’s Word personally as we are to criticizing its detractors?”
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review, but this did not affect my review in any way. The opinion expressed here is my own.
I have so many favorite quotes from this book, but one of my favorites is on page 35: “One test for whether we’re pursuing humble orthodoxy is this question: Are we giving as much energy to obeying and being reformed by God’s Word personally as we are to criticizing its detractors?”
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review, but this did not affect my review in any way. The opinion expressed here is my own.
April 23, 2013
Joshua Harris offers the church an extended tract on how we should be approaching God's Word and our faith in His Word at this time in history. He invites all of us to consider what we believe and then challenges us to remain consistent with the beliefs of Scripture while realizing that we may not always be right in our interpretation of Scripture. One of the most poignant things that Josh says is that when we get to heaven we will realize that only one has everything right and it will not be us, it will be God. We need to live in such a way as to honor God and the Word that He delivers to us and honor the way in which our sin infiltrates our belief structures. No one of us is 100% correct in our understanding of God, His revelation or the way in which His grace enters into our world. We all need humility so that God's message is spread and more can receive the grace that He provides.
May 11, 2013
Joshua Harris wonders why so many of us with immaculate theology are such stupendous jerks. Really, I don't know why he had to write a book exploring this when he could have just asked--it's not like we're going to keep the answer a secret. We are such jerks because we are right. And when you are right, you have a moral and ethical obligation to proclaim that rightness to the world and in the face of anyone and everyone who would stand in your way. Don't like it? Well maybe you should have thought about that before you decided to be wrong...
In all seriousness, this is an excellent enough little book. (And it is little--weighing in at 83 index-card sized pages, of which 20 are "study guide" material.)..
Read the rest here: http://coyleneal.blogspot.com/2013/07...
In all seriousness, this is an excellent enough little book. (And it is little--weighing in at 83 index-card sized pages, of which 20 are "study guide" material.)..
Read the rest here: http://coyleneal.blogspot.com/2013/07...
December 28, 2013
This short little book is a must read, probably by everyone, because everyone fits into the two categories talked about in the book. We are either orthodox jerks or are overly polite wishy washies. I suppose we've all been both one time or another. And that is where this book excels. It really is a very brief expositional over view of 2 Timothy where Paul is really saying the something to Timothy that Mr. Harris is saying to us.
Though Humble Orthodoxy speaks to both sides of the issue, it felt to me that the book mostly was addressed to those of us with strong orthodoxy who need to work on our humility. So again this should be a must read for any one in a leadership and/or teaching position, but would also highly recommend it to everyone particular due to its length.
Though Humble Orthodoxy speaks to both sides of the issue, it felt to me that the book mostly was addressed to those of us with strong orthodoxy who need to work on our humility. So again this should be a must read for any one in a leadership and/or teaching position, but would also highly recommend it to everyone particular due to its length.
September 11, 2015
"Here’s what I believe: truth matters … but so does our attitude. This is what I mean by humble orthodoxy: we must care deeply about truth, and we must also defend and share this truth with compassion and humility."
"Love for God and love for neighbor require us to oppose falsehood. There is nothing more unloving than to be silent in the face of lies that will ruin another person. Sometimes love demands that we say, “This philosophy, no matter how plausible or popular, is not true. This person, no matter how likable, gifted, or well intentioned, is teaching something that contradicts God’s Word; therefore, it is untrue.”
"Paul was arguing for this type of love-infused courage—a courage that is willing to contend for God’s unchanging truth."
"Love for God and love for neighbor require us to oppose falsehood. There is nothing more unloving than to be silent in the face of lies that will ruin another person. Sometimes love demands that we say, “This philosophy, no matter how plausible or popular, is not true. This person, no matter how likable, gifted, or well intentioned, is teaching something that contradicts God’s Word; therefore, it is untrue.”
"Paul was arguing for this type of love-infused courage—a courage that is willing to contend for God’s unchanging truth."
September 7, 2013
Been anticating this read and it was well worth the wait. It is spoken from a heart is not only broken for the things of God, but also for the people of God. You see yourself in ways that remind me of how King David saw himself when the Prophet Nathan told him that this wretched heart is you. You are confronted with your misplaced confidences and your self-righteouness with humility and grace. It points to how wrong we are and how good God is and in doing so we can no longer hold doctrine against others but be filled with grace. This book is not grace pitted against truth but how the both work together for the glory of God. I highly recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews