God in the Whirlwind: How the Holy-love of God Reorients Our World

by David F. Wells

Building on years of research, writing, and cross-cultural ministry, renowned author and theologian David Wells calls our attention to that which defines God's greatness and gives shape to the Christian life: the holy-love of God.

In God in the Whirlwind, Wells explores the depths of the paradox that God is both holy and loving, showing how his holy-love provides the foundation for our understanding of the cross, sanctification, the nature of worship, and our life of service in the world. What's more, a renewed vision of God's character is the cure for evangelicalism's shallow theology, with its weightless God and sentimental gospel.

Written by one of evangelicalism's most insightful minds, this book will help you stand firm in your faith despite the changing winds and raging storms of the modern world.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Cultural, Christianity, Christian Living, Faith, Nonfiction

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2014

About the author

David F. Wells (PhD, University of Manchester) is the Distinguished Senior Research Professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

In addition to serving as academic dean of its Charlotte campus, Wells has also been a member of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization and is involved in ministry in Africa.

He is the author of numerous articles and books, including a series that was initiated by a Pew grant exploring the nature of Christian faith in the contemporary, modernized world.

Reviews

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

God in the Whirlwind
How the Holy-Love of God Reorients Our World

Author: David F. Wells
Publisher: Crossway
First published: 2014
Price: $24.99 Hardcover (US dollars)
ISBN: 9781433531316
Classification: Christian
Number of pages: 272


I usually make a few notes when reading a book for review. While reading, “God in the Whirlwind,” I found myself making notes from almost every page. It was then I knew I was reading an exceptional book. In fact, after making so many notes, I finally just decided to “highlight” what I thought were important parts. Yes, that ended up being most of the book!!

David Wells spells out so clearly what I have “felt” for a long time but have been unable to put into words. There is something wrong in the churches and in Christianity today. In the book, Mr. Wells explains that we no longer understand God’s character, his Holy-Love. Today we hear a lot about God’s love but not much about his Holiness. In fact, the author states:

“We have become inclined to think of God as our Therapist. It is comfort, healing, and inspiration that we want most deeply, so that is what we seek from Him. That too, is what we want from our church experience. We want it to be comforting, uplifting, inspiring, and easy on the mind. We do not want it to be something that requires effort or concentration. We want God to be accepting and nonjudgmental.”

This is not what God calls us to be and to do. We are not to be served, but to serve God and others. We are to take up our cross and follow Jesus. Our culture says “God is Love - He won’t send anyone to Hell”:

“Love is the only attribute of God we can come close to understanding. We don’t really comprehend eternality, omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence. But we think we understand love, our love and God’s love”. (But the author says our assumptions are wrong.) “We are beginning not with who God has revealed Himself to be, but with our intuitions as to who we think He is. We are making projections from ourselves. God’s kind of love comes from above not from below. It is the opposite of what we assume. It is contrary to the way our culture inclines us to think. In fact, it goes against our deepest instincts. God’s love descends to us. It is generated purely by Him to us. There is nothing we can do to make God love us, to send His Son, the Holy Spirit, or to come down to us and bring us back to Him.”

We cannot know God’s love except in its union with what is Holy. Over the years, I have talked to many people who always want to talk about God’s love. I understand God is love but I always have to respond “but God is also Holy”. Mr. Wells says Holy-Love is in God’s character and cannot be separated. For us to dwell on the Love of God and totally ignore His Holiness is to worship something other that the true nature of God. While the narrow focus on Love may be a cultural response to “legalism” it swings the pendulum to far in the other direction. “We cannot know God’s love except in its union with what is Holy.” “God, therefore, stands before us not as our therapist, concierge, or genie in a bottle. He stands before us as the God of utter purity to whom we are morally accountable.”

David Wells has done an excellent job of explaining where, how and why we have gotten off track and he shows how we are to return to true Christianity. I have tried to give just a little taste of what you will find in his book. However, I have not even shown you the tip of the iceberg. Please read this book for yourself and you will see what I mean. I recommend the book highly and wish that every Christian would put it at the top of their “to be read” list.


I was provided a free copy of this book for review from Crossway Publishing. I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review.

Reviewed by: Barbara Wright

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

David Wells states that there is something wrong in the churches & in Christianity today, & I would agree with him. In this book, he explains that we no longer understand God’s character, his Holy-Love. Today we hear a lot about God’s love but not much about his Holiness.

Before I go on, this book is not as good as his others, in fact if you have not read David Wells before I would suggest that you read NO PLACE FOR TRUTH, GOD IN THE WASTELAND, & LOSING OUR VIRTUE first. They are excellent.

I am not saying this book is bad, it isn’t, here is a quote to give you a taste of what he is dealing with in “God in the Whirlwind”, “We have become inclined to think of God as our Therapist. It is comfort, healing, and inspiration that we want most deeply, so that is what we seek from Him. That too, is what we want from our church experience. We want it to be comforting, uplifting, inspiring, and easy on the mind. We do not want it to be something that requires effort or concentration. We want God to be accepting and nonjudgmental.”

This is not what God calls us to be and to do. We are not to be served, but to serve God and others. We are to take up our cross and follow Jesus. Our culture says “God is Love - He won’t send anyone to Hell”:

“Love is the only attribute of God we can come close to understanding. We don’t really comprehend eternality, omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence. But we think we understand love, our love and God’s love”. (But the author says our assumptions are wrong.) “We are beginning not with who God has revealed Himself to be, but with our intuitions as to who we think He is. We are making projections from ourselves.

Now I am bothered a bit by his Covenant Theology, it comes out & I believe it is not necessary.
An example is where David Wells states that"...Paul argued that being a 'Jew' was no longer a matter of ethnicity....'is one inwardly...(Romans 2:29)' The logic here is inescapable. Those who have been justified on the basis of Christ's work, be they Jew or Gentile, constitute the one 'Israel of God'(Gal. 6:16)" Yes, being a Jew was not JUST a matter of ethnicity but it includes ethnicity, the true remnant of Israel is the elect descendants of Israel, the Israel of God. But Israel never becomes Jews & Gentiles. The Bible does not teach this. Jews & Gentiles do not cease to become ethnically Jews & Gentiles before God & on this earth just because they are united in salvation. Just as men & women do not cease to be men & women before God & on this earth because they are united in salvation. God saves Jews, Gentiles, men and women indiscriminately, He has not chosen to save only one people group, like the Jews, or one sex, or only people who are not slaves, He saves all kinds of people Galatians 3:28.

[AJourneyWithoutMap · Rating 4 out of 5]

God in the Whirlwind: How the Holy-Love of God Reorients Our World by David F. Wells is a path-breaking book which calls on the reader to get back to the heart of God. Living in a materialistic world where culture has reshaped and redefined our faith and belief, it is easy to fall prey to false assumptions and frivolous belief system. The church is in a precarious state, and Christianity seems to be falling apart at its seams.

Through nine insightful chapters David F. Wells urges the church and Christians to return, as God’s people have done so often in the past, to the heart of the Christian faith, the holy-love of God:
1. God Our Vision, Culture Our Context
2. The Gospel across Time
3. So Much More
4. The Love of God
5. The Splendor of Holiness
6. A Sight Too Glorious
7. Walking with God
8. Come, Let Us Bow Down
9. And, Come, Let Us Serve

It is timely and relevant. Every single Christian must own a copy of this profound book, and not only read through it but also take the time to study it.

[Jon Cheek · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Excellent overall. Chapter on worship was outstanding.

[Joshua Schwisow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book critiques the superficial nature of modern American Christianity, but it does more than that. It sets forth a positive vision by revisiting the foundations of God’s majesty, the plan of redemption, the power of the gospel, and Christian worship and service. It is a book that recovers and revisits critical foundations. Very much worth the read.

[Patrick Poteet · Rating 5 out of 5]

After much cultural analysis in previous volumes, Wells seeks to point us forward to how the holy love of God reorients our world. This is an important foundation on living as Christian in this world. I highly recommend it.

[Christiana Luttrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deeply insightful, this book is an excellent read for modern Christians. It clearly and directly addresses the distinction between a true theology of God and his holy-love versus a psychologized view of God that views all of life through the lens of “the self.”

Tracing God’s character from the Old Testament to the new, working through each element of salvation, and applying these profundities to the regular practices of worship and service, Wells offers a thorough call to believers to live in light of the true God in the midst of a chaotic, confused, and often hostile world.

There were times when the chapters were dense, but the portions in which he tied the thread of thought together are worth quoting and referencing repeatedly, thus proving even the more challenging sections valuable for the overall theme. I’d recommend not trying to read this book too quickly, especially considering its richness.

[Brad Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

There reader will receive some important takeaways, but there is nothing really new here that a person can't receive from the earlier books of David Wells. The most important takeaway for me was that in our present cultural environment, God has no "weightiness" in the minds and hearts of just about everyone (Christians and non-Christians). We have pretty much reduced God to a therapist and have psychologized who he is. God, for us, must exist on our own terms. Wells issues the clarion call that we exist on God's terms. This book now makes me wrestle with the question, "How is the "weightiness" of God restored in such a culture? How can God be taken seriously in our culture and in our churches? What's missing?" Wells diagnoses the problem really well, as in his other books. He offers an understanding of God's "holy-love" as the answer, and tries to flesh this out in the book. Every reader will be helped in some way by reading this book.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent commentary on the idea of God's holy-love amidst our current cultural conditions. Very insightful as to how American evangelicalism has become what it is today, and provides some great categories for engaging those who have bought into our culture's post-modern, therapeutic, me-centered emphasis. Really helpful stuff.

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fine stuff.

[Eric Durso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good. Chapter one is worth going back to.

[Emmanuel Boston · Rating 2 out of 5]

David Wells’ newest book seeks to examine the Christ-and-Culture discussion by infusing the “Christ” side with a view of God in holy-love.

He comments concerning the various volumes he’s authored over the past 25 years: “I began what would turn out to be five interconnected volumes. These we all in answer to the question originally posed by Pew: What is it that accounts for the loss of the church’s theological character?...These volumes were a sustained cultural analysis” (13).

And he introduces the current volume by stating: “What has been principally lost in the evangelical church…is our understanding of God’s character but an understanding in which that character has ‘weight.’ …And now, in this volume, I have shifted my focus. No longer am I so preoccupied with the culture part of the equation. Now I am looking out on life from the other side of things, what is symbolized by ‘Christ’ in the Christ-and-culture juxtaposition of things. This volume reflects on what we have so often lost in our work of framing Christ-and-culture. It is the holy-love of God” (14).



We must be sure to catch his intent; otherwise we will judge the book inaccurately. Wells wants to address the Christ-and-Culture debate by discussing the holy-love of God. His application and conclusion explain that by the redeemed persons of the Church portraying the holy-love of God the ‘culture war’ will fall in favor of Christ. It is interesting to note what is absent from his conclusion. The Christ-and-Culture debate is not a debate between Christians and Atheists, but Christians among Christians: how are we as the covenant people of Yahweh to relate to the surrounding culture? The argument that Wells offers (both implicitly and explicitly) is that we are to be within culture as sanctified (holy-love conformed) individuals and that people will recognize Christ as a result. However, in order for this to be true within culture, we must spend a great deal of time apart from culture—the greater part of chapter 7 is dedicated to “carving out” time for spiritual disciplines. So Wells wants to influence the Christ-and-Culture discussion in a rather unconventional way. Does it work? That awaits to be seen among the lives of those who take his words to heart.


But how does Wells get from thesis to conclusion? Does he argue well? Is he convincing? Clear? Unfortunately not as much as we would hope.

There has been mass amounts of press surrounding this release, even heralded as his magnum opus—his hearts’ work and gift to the evangelical world. James Smith shadowed the glory early on in CT’s pre-release review of the book, but Crossway released a follow-up interview with Wells to address Smith’s concerns; The Gospel Coalition has done similarly highlighting the release of the book with praise. Crossway has continued to release interviews, videos, and a study guide alongside the book. Many well-respected evangelical leaders have endorsed the book. I mention all of this because it isn’t easy to say that God in the Whirlwind is rather unconvincing and commonly confusing in its discourse; I acknowledge that I am at odds with a great deal of evangelical leaders—at least ones that have voiced opinions about the book.


I do want to say one thing, however, before I mention my problems with his discourse:

Wells passionately loves Jesus, and that truth redounds through every chapter of the book. You simply cannot miss his adoration for our Savior; it is convicting and encouraging through and through to feel the love through printed words.


I plan to explain my reservations and then offer a final commendation (if you would only read a portion, read reservation 3).


Reservation 1: Wells’ Christian-cultural corrective is often over-corrective
This is a time-bound book as all cultural engagements are necessarily. This book would be near senseless in many other areas of the world because Wells is engaging the Western world, and more specifically the United States. What’s more this book will not be nearly as pertinent twenty years from now as it is today. That’s not bad, however, that’s actually good! It means Wells has hit something of today. However, I fear that many of his assertions and corrections of the attitude today are over-corrective. Sometimes things are simply too strongly worded, reaching for an emotive effect, but stretching the truth beyond its equilibrium. And at times his overstatement actually usurps his own argument.

For example on pages 30 and 31, he warns of culture’s redefining efforts and how concerned we ought to be, but then he compares it to the Marxists attempt which “now lies in ruins,” and states, “One suspects, though, that the outcome will not be very different.” Ought we to even fear such redefinitions if they will lie in rubble ten years from now? A common refrain throughout is that God is “objective.” In several places he further explains that we cannot know God through ourselves that he must be known outside and external and apart from us only. Truly, God is external, but we were also created in the image of God and can know God in part by an internal viewpoint. Our culture today is too self-focused, but that doesn’t mean an external look is the only valid option. On page 34, he states that our world “today is deeply, relentlessly, and only therapeutic.” But it is a bold and unsupported claim. Perhaps much of the culture is, but by stacking the adjectives together, he leaves no room for any anomaly. That is a dangerous place to stand. On page 147 he engages in syntactic overload: depending on an ambiguous grammatical construction for his argument. Chapter 8 laments the current state of evangelicalism with strong sympathetic tones to the point of despair, but on the final page (217) he says, “There is a way back. We can come back to what we ought to be and to what we ought to be doing. And that is what I perceive is beginning to happen today.”


Reservation 2: Wells’ is occasionally imprecise, unclear, or unsupported
At times Wells is philosophically, historically, or otherwise inaccurate. On page 27 he collapses modernity and postmodernity, but they are quite different. It is uncertain whether he is using “objective” as meaning ‘pertaining to an object’ or as ‘absolute.’ He states that if John had written I John 4.10 today it “would have been completed quite differently” (33). But that statement overlooks the Holy Spirit’s work—assumed, of course, but it doesn’t mean the statement is precise. He claims that the apostles were perplexed: “as if David had a deeper and truer knowledge of God without the gospel than we sometimes have with it” (43). I’ve never read that in Scripture. Were “the works of the law” a reference to “matters that were distinctive to Jewish national identity” (46)? Perhaps, but his exposition on page 46 and 47 contains too few and unrelated verses to convince me. He commonly draws on judicial language for justification, but he forgets that judicial language in the ancient near east was magisterial, not judicial in a three-branch sense. Similarly, legislative language is cultic-legal, not legal alone. The chapter “The Gospel across Time” seems to promise a phenomenological look at the development of the gospel, but ends up actually taking an eternal perspective and leaning upon New Testament Scripture to interpret the Old… though in a dynamic time-bound way! This systematic theology where biblical theology is required causes self-refuting claims such as Abraham first not participating in sacrifices, but also—yes—participating in sacrifices; all believers being regenerate, justified, etc., but not being united to Christ, and yet that these realities are not possible without Christ having actually entered time. Chapter 4 explains that we cannot know God from down up but he must be known from up down which sounds like a question of epistemology, but which Wells turns into a question of justification. Some statements are explicitly contradictory—in word if not in thought: “There are not two sides to it” (86, paragraph 1), and “Indeed, we see this two-sidedness in the very passage…” (86, paragraph 2!). the discussion on imputation is clouded and unhelpful (142, 143). Page 145 uses “incomprehensible” incorrectly when the word used should have been ‘unapprehendable.’ He confuses means for ends in his discussion on reconciliation (147). He first states that redemption should be taken as slave language rather than war language only to later say that we should take it as war language over slave language (148). On page 192 he exposits John 17.11 by ‘worship,’ but his claims simply are not found in his base verse. On page 204 he criticizes Saturday evening services forgetting that Israel measured days by sundown not hours/sunrise.


Reservation 3: Well’s is predisposed to the number two (2) even when it is wise to consider others
Unfortunately Wells often espouses false dichotomies. He is prone to play off the number two: two sides to a coin, etc. But many times there are three or more possibilities. The most problematic is foundational to his argument throughout the book. He frequently foils a “therapeutic” worldview over against a “moral” one, attaching Christian faith and the Bible to the “moral” one. However, that is extremely unhelpful for those of us engaging the public square and the lives of individuals. A moral worldview is not exclusively Christian, and in fact, the Christian worldview is not primarily moral. The “war” between Christ and culture, the marketplace of ideas, is not simply a fight between Christian faith and atheists. It is full of Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslim persons, agnostics, wiccans, Buddhists, and others. Is there a psychological-therapeutic worldview? Absolutely, but it is not the only other one. Mormons have a moral worldview. Moralistic-legalism in fact… some might argue a more strict moral view than Christians. Muslim’s as well. Wiccans, Taoists, and Yin-Yang have a positive-negative correspondence as worldview. The biblical worldview is certainly moral in part, but not anywhere near in whole. The biblical worldview is three-tiered in relationship, sovereignty, and character as we image forth the God who has entered into covenant with us. “Morality” is a subsection of character. By no means is it the whole story. Yes, we ought to live forth in holy-love as a moral expression of the God whom we serve, but that is a drastically small point to consider. Returning, therefore, to the thesis: it is good for us to consider how we might live as holy-love conformed individuals in the midst of culture, but the question as a whole is far from answered.


Final commendation:

All reservations explained, I commend this book to a very particular audience. This book would be best suited in the hands of a recent high-school graduate as they begin to enter college/university. An understanding of holy-love is certainly missing from the minds of evangelicals, and we would do well to remember it—particularly those who have grown up in an Oprah-saturated world. This book would serve well the young minds who are soon to encounter persons who believe that love is only emotional and that holiness is dead and unappealing. I choose this group for a second reason: they are unlikely to pick up on the reservations I have—most have not read enough sustained argument to recognize when something is unsupported, and the main point of the book issues through and will be remembered far beyond the minute problems.


This book compares with others that you might be interested in with particular foci
Christ-and-Culture: Leslie Newbigin or James K.A. Smith
Character/love of God: Knowing God, Packer
Relation of love-holiness: God the Peacemaker, Graham Cole

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This review is crosslisted on http://ejboston.blogspot.com and amazon.com

[Davidson Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deus no Redemoinho é um livro que busca relacionar a teologia com a prática da igreja em um contexto de cultura moderna e secularizada. O autor, David F. Wells, é um renomado teólogo reformado que já escreveu outras obras críticas sobre a situação da igreja evangélica contemporânea.

O livro tem como ponto central a ideia de que Deus é um Deus de "Santo-amor", que se revela na história e na Escritura, e que chama seu povo a viver de forma santa e amorosa em meio ao mundo. Wells defende que a igreja precisa recuperar a visão de Deus como o soberano e transcendente Senhor, que não se conforma às expectativas e preferências humanas, mas que transforma e renova os que se submetem à sua vontade.

O livro tem vários pontos fortes, como a análise perspicaz da cultura pós-moderna e seus efeitos na igreja, a exposição bíblica e teológica do caráter de Deus e sua obra redentora, e as aplicações práticas para a vida cristã individual e comunitária. Wells também faz uma crítica contundente aos movimentos evangélicos que se adaptam ao espírito do tempo, como o evangelicalismo terapêutico, o pragmatismo, o consumismo e o relativismo.

O livro também tem alguns pontos fracos, como a linguagem densa e acadêmica, que pode dificultar a compreensão de alguns leitores, a falta de interação com outras perspectivas teológicas que não sejam reformadas, e a tendência a generalizar e caricaturar alguns grupos evangélicos que não concordam com sua visão.

Deus no Redemoinho é um livro desafiador e provocativo, que convida o leitor a refletir sobre sua concepção de Deus e sua relação com a igreja e o mundo. É uma obra relevante para os tempos atuais, que oferece uma alternativa bíblica e histórica ao cristianismo superficial e superficializado que predomina em muitos lugares.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

God in the Whirlwind by David Wells is an explanation of God's holy love, how God is so different, even opposite, from how our society has imagined Him to be. "However it happened, the external God has now disappeared and has been replaced by the internal God. Transcendence has been swallowed up by immanence. God is to be found only within the self. And once that happened, the boundary between right and wrong - at least as we had thought about these things - went down like a row of falling skittles. Evil and redemption came to be seen as the two sides of the same coin, not the two alternatives in life." Or as he also put it, "We want God's love without his holiness..." Wells addresses this erroneous viewpoint by explaining who God really is, and what His love is really like. I really liked his critique of our culture, how it has a 'therapeutic vision'. As Wells indicates, sadly, the 'church' has been going this way as well, following the spirit of the age they adapt the gospel to be about the fulfillment of our needs, our self-promotion and about our happiness now. The church needs to actually live like a community of 'aliens' and 'strangers' not assimilating the cultures of this world but living as citizens of Heaven, proclaiming God's Word accurately. We are to live as sanctified people, not worldly ones, as Wells puts it, we are to "work out what God, in his grace, has worked in" us, living as citizens of Heaven.

I'm sorry to say that there are several things in the books that prevent me from giving this book a higher rating. First, the author's view of Israel and covenant theology, or reformed theology bothered me too much, . I have read books before where I have disagreed with the author's 'Reformed' eschatology and yet have still liked the book, but that was not the case with this one. Here are a couple of instances, first, his statement that"...Paul argued that being a 'Jew' was no longer a matter of ethnicity....'is one inwardly...(Romans 2:29)' The logic here is inescapable. Those who have been justified on the basis of Christ's work, be they Jew or Gentile, constitute the one 'Israel of God'(Gal. 6:16)" Yes, being a Jew was not JUST a matter of ethnicity but it includes ethnicity, the true remnant of Israel is the elect descendants of Israel, the Israel of God. But Israel never becomes Jews and Gentiles. The Bible does not teach this. Jews and Gentiles do not cease to become ethnically Jews and Gentiles before God and on this earth just because they are united in salvation. Just as men and women do not cease to be men and women before God and on this earth because they are united in salvation. God saves Jews, Gentiles, men and women indiscriminately, He has not chosen to save only one people group, like the Jews, or one sex, or only people who are not slaves, He saves all kinds of people Galatians 3:28.

Another instance is the author's view of types....for example, he thinks that the Exodus of Israel from Egypt is a type of Christ and his work. I just don't see that connection made in the Bible, rather if there is any pictorial connection, I see the event mentioned in support of the view that God will one day bring all of the physical descendants of Israel back to their land(Jeremiah 16:14-15) and that they will be able to stay there because, unlike the first exodus of Israel and the Mosaic covenant God made with them, God will make their hearts new, will make the new covenant with them(Jer. 31:31-35,Ezek. 36:22-38). So when this mass exodus(initiated by God) from the countries where they have been scattered happens, they will return to their land for good(Amos 9: 14-15)because they will then be righteous, which was the requirement for their staying in the land.(Ezek. 36:22-38).

Besides the eschatology/Reformed typological view that kept clouding things, it was also mentioned three times that Abraham stumbled over the promises of God. This view is blatantly contradicted by Romans 4:20-21, speaking of Abraham, "yet, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform." Even in the event with Hagar, God's word does not say that that was a wavering of belief on Abraham's part. Of course, he was mistaken in how God would give him an heir, but it does not seem as though he struggled with unbelief of the promise.

To sum this up, these things, especially the typological views, just bothered me too much and were too distracting so I can only give this book three stars.

I'll end with one of the quotes/points that I Iiked, here he is critiquing recent and modern society, "When God was displaced from the center of life, revelation was replaced by natural reason, salvation by psychology and eschatology by social progress. However, even as this worldview was becoming dominant, it also began to disintegrate......What has lingered on is the substitution of psychology for salvation, and therefore the main thread of continuity across these decades, the thread that links the older modernist culture and our current postmodern culture, is the autonomous self. This is the self, the person in his or her inner being who is unrestrained by the past, by any authority, or social convention, or community, or any truth as something other than his or her own private opinion. They are not restrained by any God external to themselves. This is what our culture is validating all the time.

Many thanks to Crossway for sending me a free review ebook(My review did not have to be favorable).

[Hank Pharis · Rating 2 out of 5]

(NOTE: I'm stingy with stars. For me 2 stars means a good book or a B. 3 stars means a very good book or a B+. 4 stars means an outstanding book or an A {only about 5% of the books I read merit 4 stars}. 5 stars means an all time favorite or an A+ {Only one of 400 or 500 books rates this!).

The great news is that I can listen to a book a day at work. The bad news is that I can’t keep up with decent reviews. So I’m going to give up for now and just rate them. I hope to come back to some of the most significant things I listen to and read them and then post a review.

Not as good as the other two I've read in this series but still definitely worthwhile.

[History7teacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Wells is a master at giving us the why behind what we believe and how we should live and worship. Starting with the fact of God’s holy love, Dr. Wells explores the Trinity, our salvation and sanctification, culminating in our work and worship. Masterfully explained and illustrated, this is not a one and done read. On the level of J. I. Packer’s Knowing God, this is a volume to digest and be nourished by again and again.

[Josh Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I agree with a lot of what Wells has to say in this book, but it is also all stuff that I've read before (in ways that were better presented). The author covers a lot of ground - in fact, I'd consider this a "Basic Christianity" sort of book - but doesn't do so in a particularly engaging manner. At times, reading through it felt like a chore. That being said, the book would serve as a solid introduction to/summary of the Christian faith if you're looking for a resource like that.

[Bobby · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Wells is an amazing writer. The whole book is good but the second half of this book is fantastic. This is the 3rd book of his I have read and I’m amazing at his insight into culture and the church.

[Bruce Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely an excellent work! David Wells offer great insight into the issues facing our church in this 21st century. Be warned! This book requires patience. There is much to be read and even more to comprehend. However, the value of the book is worth the effort!

[Anthony Locke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book on the holy-love of God. Takes a little while to get started and he ends the book on what feels like a tangent, but nonetheless, Wells offers his solution (along with some of his acclaimed cultural analysis) to cultural trends and problems he's raised in other books.

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed everything I've read by Wells. He is intensely practical and willing to go where the text leads him. There were a few "Yeah, but,"s in here, but the majority of the book was firing on all cylinders.

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a well-written and insightful examination of the challenges facing modern-day Christianity, particularly within the Evangelical church. Similar, if in my opinion somewhat better than, Wells's earlier No Place for Truth.

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent description of a biblical world view in a therapeutic culture.

Excellent description of a biblical world view in a therapeutic culture. Sound exegesis coupled with practical theology. A must read.

[David M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb.

[Bruno Rafael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Livro sensacional

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. Well worn and orthodox paths, but helpful perspective.

[Ryan Handermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Wells latest book - a vital reminder of the importance of God in the emptiness of modernity.

[Paul Herriott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book, but not my favorite from David Wells, he brings to clarity the struggle over our holy and loving God in contemporary Christianity.

[Peggy McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most powerful books I have ever read. It has the power to revolutionize the Church and change the world. It is a must read for all who profess faith in Jesus Christ.

[Joshua Fang · Rating 3 out of 5]

not as good as his other books. A Biblical theology of God's love and our reponse.