Balanced Christianity
Overview
Christians tend to polarize. Some have an intellectual faith, while others are more emotional. Some focus on structure while others focus on freedom. And some champion evangelism while others advocate for social action. John Stott’s classic statement of balanced Christianity shows how we can hold these tensions together in biblical, faithful ways. Also included is an interview with John Stott with further reflections on the need for balance in contemporary evangelical Christianity.
Top Highlights
“Let me take one example, the exercise of faith. Many imagine that faith is entirely irrational. But Scripture never sets faith and reason over against each other as incompatible. On the contrary, faith can only arise and grow within us by the use of our minds.” (Page 16)
“Uncritical iconoclasm is as stupid as uncritical conservatism” (Page 34)
“Preaching is theology coming through a man who is on fire.5” (Page 23)
“Here trusting in God and staying the mind on God are synonyms, and perfect peace is the result.” (Page 16)
“their trust springs from their knowledge of the trustworthiness of God’s character.” (Page 16)
- Title: Balanced Christianity
- Author: John Stott
- Edition: Expanded Edition
- Publisher: IVP
- Print Publication Date: 2014
- Logos Release Date: 2018
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Apologetics › History--20th century
- ISBNs: 9780830871919, 9780830844074, 0830871918, 0830844074
- Resource ID: LLS:BLNCDCHRSTNTY
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T22:16:03Z
John Stott is known around the world as a preacher, evangelist, and writer. He was one of the main contributors to the Lausanne Covenant (1974) and the founder of Langham Partnership, which seeks to equip a new generation of Bible teachers around the world.
Reviews
1 rating
Glenn Crouch
11/9/2018
I quite enjoyed this small book - which is an expanded edition to the original, with an extra chapter being an Interview with John Stott in 1995. This addition is worthwhile and does add well to this small book. Stott argues for a Balanced Christianity, as he points out our tendency to go for extremes - and to go from one extreme, to the other. He covers quite a range of areas - including Intellect / Emotions and Conservatism / Radicalism, with this latter probably my favourite chapter. You will probably be left wanting more, but there is great value in short books that give us a taste of big topics, or simply give us a nice kick in the butt and point us back to Scripture.