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Truth Matters, Life Matters More: The Unexpected Beauty of an Authentic Christian Life
Is there more to the Christian life than what you’re currently experiencing? Leading Christian apologist Hank Hanegraaff has dedicated his life to defending truth, because truth matters. However, his life and ministry were radically transformed by this three-word life matters more . In essence, Truth Matters, Life Matters More is two books in one. Because truth matters, part 1 explicates the essentials of the Christian faith in a memorable way to equip readers to communicate Christian truth. In part 2, Hank explains why life matters more and how we can experience the height of human existence—union with God. Simply put, the map is not the territory. The menu is not the meal. We cheat ourselves of unadulterated union with Christ when we elevate the message above the Messenger. Truth Matters, Life Matters More is a modern classic and the magnum opus of one of the great theological minds of our time. Prepare to discover the unexpected beauty of an authentic Christian life.
- GenresNonfictionChristian
320 pages, Hardcover
Published November 12, 2019
49 people are currently reading
1190 people want to read
About the author
Hank Hanegraaff
109 books132 followersHendrik "Hank" Hanegraaff, also known as the "Bible Answer Man", is an American Christian author and radio talk-show host. Formerly an evangelical Protestant, he joined the Eastern Orthodox Church in 2017. He is an outspoken figure within the Christian countercult movement, where he has established a reputation for his critiques of non-Christian religions, new religious movements, and cults, as well as heresy in Christianity. He is also an apologist on doctrinal and cultural issues.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 20, 2020
One of the latest books by the "Bible Answer Man", Hank Hanegraaf, this book explores the ideas of Truth and Life as it must relate to the Christian. It is a wealth of information on science, history, apologetics, and the spiritual disciplines. Its goal is to equip the Christian to have both reasonable intellectual defenses for the faith and a life that follows after Christ. The "walk" meeting the "talk".
This reads like a college textbook, which is where it lost a star. If studying apologetics and the Bible is your thing and you have experience reading scholarly works, jump right in. This book speaks your language. If not, it is a difficult read. It's like drinking water from a fire hose. I found I could follow it pretty well because of my previous education and study, but the language in here might be above your average layman. This leads me to suspect that Hanegraaf wrote this book for his contemporaries who scoff at his recent conversion to Orthodoxy and not necessarily for the average Joe. It reads like an argument, complete with a myriad of notes and prooftexts, to support his defense. It's well done in that regard but not entirely accessible to everyone.
However, I loved how he brought in Intelligent Design and treated it as legitimate science (which it is). Too many Christians buy into false views of this movement and miss all the amazing discoveries it has made that can bolster their faith. To see a big-named Christian fronting ID made me immensely happy.
I also loved how he tackled Orthodox theology and especially the concept of theosis or deification which is widely misunderstood in the West. I was personally edified by that chapter and learned so much from it. His last chapter on church unity was powerful and is something I have always thought to be important. It is a message we definitely need to hear right now. I loved how he ended on the power of the Eucharist. That was wonderful to read! I also appreciated his treatment of the spiritual disciplines, though almsgiving was surprisingly absent from his discussion. I like his Legacy Reading Plan as a way to study Scripture and will probably implement that in my own life, but his discussion of the Theotokos needed more. Considering how controversial she is in Western theology, I was surprised that he didn't elaborate more on that.
The writing style, apart from being heady, also felt rushed and a tad repetitive in parts. I think it needed a better editing job, honestly. Or maybe Hanegraaf just needed given more time/space to clarify things. I'm not sure. The content is great. The delivery needs a bit of work.
I would absolutely recommend this to any Bible college student or seminarian. It's great for the intellectual Christian, but it needs more clarification and simplicity if it's to be grasped by the general public. I respect Hanegraaf a lot as his podcasts were instrumental in my own conversion to Orthodoxy. I enjoyed reading one of his books and found great encouragement from it.
This reads like a college textbook, which is where it lost a star. If studying apologetics and the Bible is your thing and you have experience reading scholarly works, jump right in. This book speaks your language. If not, it is a difficult read. It's like drinking water from a fire hose. I found I could follow it pretty well because of my previous education and study, but the language in here might be above your average layman. This leads me to suspect that Hanegraaf wrote this book for his contemporaries who scoff at his recent conversion to Orthodoxy and not necessarily for the average Joe. It reads like an argument, complete with a myriad of notes and prooftexts, to support his defense. It's well done in that regard but not entirely accessible to everyone.
However, I loved how he brought in Intelligent Design and treated it as legitimate science (which it is). Too many Christians buy into false views of this movement and miss all the amazing discoveries it has made that can bolster their faith. To see a big-named Christian fronting ID made me immensely happy.
I also loved how he tackled Orthodox theology and especially the concept of theosis or deification which is widely misunderstood in the West. I was personally edified by that chapter and learned so much from it. His last chapter on church unity was powerful and is something I have always thought to be important. It is a message we definitely need to hear right now. I loved how he ended on the power of the Eucharist. That was wonderful to read! I also appreciated his treatment of the spiritual disciplines, though almsgiving was surprisingly absent from his discussion. I like his Legacy Reading Plan as a way to study Scripture and will probably implement that in my own life, but his discussion of the Theotokos needed more. Considering how controversial she is in Western theology, I was surprised that he didn't elaborate more on that.
The writing style, apart from being heady, also felt rushed and a tad repetitive in parts. I think it needed a better editing job, honestly. Or maybe Hanegraaf just needed given more time/space to clarify things. I'm not sure. The content is great. The delivery needs a bit of work.
I would absolutely recommend this to any Bible college student or seminarian. It's great for the intellectual Christian, but it needs more clarification and simplicity if it's to be grasped by the general public. I respect Hanegraaf a lot as his podcasts were instrumental in my own conversion to Orthodoxy. I enjoyed reading one of his books and found great encouragement from it.
January 12, 2022
This book will definitely be easier to understand if you are already familiar with Hank and his ministry and if you are familiar with Orthodox Christianity. He does bring forth many key issues facing modern Christianity and offers some practices that will lead to healing.
The difficult truth is that modern Western Christianity has focused too long on fitting into the culture rather than transforming the culture and has cut itself off from its own rich, ancient history. What this book can do, if you let it, is start you on a journey to understand Christianity from the beginning so that you too can experience the fullness of the faith. This journey is not a quick one or one done in isolation. But, if you take it, you will find that it leads to healing.
The difficult truth is that modern Western Christianity has focused too long on fitting into the culture rather than transforming the culture and has cut itself off from its own rich, ancient history. What this book can do, if you let it, is start you on a journey to understand Christianity from the beginning so that you too can experience the fullness of the faith. This journey is not a quick one or one done in isolation. But, if you take it, you will find that it leads to healing.
August 18, 2023
Christianity is better than you dream.
I pick up every book I can find that concurs with me on This Most Amazing Thing that I perennially discover.
I pick up every book I can find that concurs with me on This Most Amazing Thing that I perennially discover.
February 5, 2025
an epiphany on every page
I recommend this book to everyone who seeks a closer walk with God. Hanagraaff has invested his life in the study and research that can help us understand the importance of seeking the abundant life Christ promised His true believers.
I recommend this book to everyone who seeks a closer walk with God. Hanagraaff has invested his life in the study and research that can help us understand the importance of seeking the abundant life Christ promised His true believers.
April 25, 2020
As the author admits, it's two books in one, and they don't fit together particularly well. The first is a rehearsal of standard apologetic arguments of Christianity--the validity of the resurrection, the composition of the Bible, etc. Basic McDowell stuff only lightly dusted off. Hanegraaff's tone is tolerable, if a little tiresome.
The second half is what got my attention as I was hoping to hear about the author's movement from evangelicalism into Eastern Orthodoxy. He provides little of this, focusing instead on spiritual disciplines as the way to "an authentic Christian life." The practices he advocates are generally commendable, but certainly unworthy of the billing: "Have you ever wondered if there was something more to the Christian life that you were missing out on? Try prayer!" Granted, the section on prayer was my favorite. I appreciated his passion for the subject, especially evident in the audiobook (read by the author).
You know it's heading there all along, but the final chapter on "fusion" is where Hanegraaff makes an understated and haphazard case for Orthodoxy. Biographical elements in the book reveal his longstanding interest in theosis and antipathy toward the Calvinism of his youth, but little else is given detailing his theological shift. For all the emphasis on finding the truth in the first half, the second half gives scant (if any) evidence for his embrace of venerating icons, adopting additional sacraments, Mary's perpetual virginity, and theosis as a controlling metaphor for the Christian life.
The second half is what got my attention as I was hoping to hear about the author's movement from evangelicalism into Eastern Orthodoxy. He provides little of this, focusing instead on spiritual disciplines as the way to "an authentic Christian life." The practices he advocates are generally commendable, but certainly unworthy of the billing: "Have you ever wondered if there was something more to the Christian life that you were missing out on? Try prayer!" Granted, the section on prayer was my favorite. I appreciated his passion for the subject, especially evident in the audiobook (read by the author).
You know it's heading there all along, but the final chapter on "fusion" is where Hanegraaff makes an understated and haphazard case for Orthodoxy. Biographical elements in the book reveal his longstanding interest in theosis and antipathy toward the Calvinism of his youth, but little else is given detailing his theological shift. For all the emphasis on finding the truth in the first half, the second half gives scant (if any) evidence for his embrace of venerating icons, adopting additional sacraments, Mary's perpetual virginity, and theosis as a controlling metaphor for the Christian life.
Read
November 6, 2023I don’t really know how to rate this book because on one hand I am deeply thankful I was able to grasp a view of salvation (union with God and fellowship in the Trinity, not just forgiveness of sins), and the notion that the experience of this “partaking of the divine nature” is worth pursuing and experiencing through spiritual discipline.
I began reading with really high hopes — the title alone made me think it would bring greater clarity about the “life that matters more”. However I still feel like it could have been discussed a bit more — perhaps this feeling of being unresolved is itself the impetus to seeking this experience of life with God firsthand? I didn’t quite feel it was a 50-50 discussion of ‘truth’ and ‘life’ but felt like I was reading a lot about ‘truth’.
I must say the content is very informative in respect to debunking arguments for evolution, providing evidence/arguments for the resurrection of Jesus, shedding insight into a bit of church history. Although the academic style of writing makes it a little inaccessible for the average reader.
If anything, I think my biggest takeaway would be that the experiential reality of the truths I claim to believe matter more — as he says, the meal matters more than the menu and the territory matters more than the map, but you don’t get to the former without the latter.
I began reading with really high hopes — the title alone made me think it would bring greater clarity about the “life that matters more”. However I still feel like it could have been discussed a bit more — perhaps this feeling of being unresolved is itself the impetus to seeking this experience of life with God firsthand? I didn’t quite feel it was a 50-50 discussion of ‘truth’ and ‘life’ but felt like I was reading a lot about ‘truth’.
I must say the content is very informative in respect to debunking arguments for evolution, providing evidence/arguments for the resurrection of Jesus, shedding insight into a bit of church history. Although the academic style of writing makes it a little inaccessible for the average reader.
If anything, I think my biggest takeaway would be that the experiential reality of the truths I claim to believe matter more — as he says, the meal matters more than the menu and the territory matters more than the map, but you don’t get to the former without the latter.
February 23, 2020
For several years I caught "The Bible Answer Man" on my local Christian radio station and was always impressed with the depth of his knowledge. No longer living in the area where I heard the program, I forgot about Hank Hanegraaff. When his book "Truth Matter, Life Matters More: The Unexpected Beauty of an Authentic Christian Life," was offered in the Good Reads giveaway program, I signed up. It's been several months since I received my copy and it's been difficult to work through. While Hanegraaff definitely has much to offer, the depth of the writing, the intricate thought processes of faith topics, are not presented for the average reader. This book will find its readership in those who enjoy theological debate and the average pew reader will find it frustrating. I have awarded it two stars because of its limited window of readers.
December 3, 2020
Loved Every Moment
I have been researching the topics that make up the second half of this book for the greater part of this year. I am so relieved to know that this research had been done and is far more thorough than what I had. I can finally rest with the hope I've learned about the Orthodox faith.
I have been researching the topics that make up the second half of this book for the greater part of this year. I am so relieved to know that this research had been done and is far more thorough than what I had. I can finally rest with the hope I've learned about the Orthodox faith.
December 5, 2024
“At present you and I are sandwiched between the triumph of the cross and the termination of time…” Hanegraaff’s humble accounting of his story thus far surprised me. Surprised with joy, I found this book to be a beautifully well-crafted walk through a wonderfully profound mystery. I plan to return to its pages often as I continue on my journey “out-of-port.”
June 19, 2020
If you are familiar with Hank Hanegraaffs work a lot of part 1 will seem very familiar. However it is all tied together in part II beautifully and I loved it very much.
May 25, 2022
This certainly is a powerful read for any dedicated Christian. This book was a positive influence in my personal Christian walk.
October 8, 2025
The first three chapters I learned the most from this book- the following chapters felt disorganized and scattered.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews