Rating: 
Summary: It wasn't the nails...
Review: ...that held Christ to the cross, but His love for you and me. That point is made very clear in the book. One of the things I have always liked about Mr. Lucado is his chatty style of writing and his ability to take what you didn't see and show it to you with clarity. In his book, "Just Like Jesus" he did a very good job of this, and "He Chose the Nails" remains true to that form; however, I don't agree with other reviewers who overlook the theological errors. They are many, and it seems a product of carelessness. For example, while it appears that Lucado buys into the idea of our total depravity (Chapter 2), our unconditional election seems to him more of a human choice rather than divine intercession (Chapter 6). Foresaking truth for a convenient metaphor is not in anyones best interest. I like the stories, the personal touches and the chatty style, but please Max, don't run rough over sound theology. You are talented enough to achieve the light-touch along with being rooted in sound Biblical truth.
Rating: 
Summary: A Serious Look at Max Lucado
Review:
My review will not likely be popular as I am the only reviewer thus far to give Lucado's work such a low rating. I invite you, however, to be patient with me and allow me to explain my reasons for this. I have tried to be as fair to Mr. Lucado as possible and I hope it shows. I consistently quote from his book, 'He Chose the Nails,' providing corresponding page numbers for referencing.
I think that the most important place to begin is with Lucado's view of GOD's chief end in regards to mankind. According to Lucado, GOD desires above all else it seems to save the entirety of the human race without exception. 'Would you offer the life of your child for someone else? I wouldn't . . . .ask me to make a list of those for whom I would kill my daughter. . . . The sheet will be blank. I don't need a pencil. The list has no names. But God's list contains the name of every person who ever lived. For this is the scope of his love. And this is the reason for the cross' (p. 114). This view (known as 'unlimited atonement' in theological circles) is the guiding light for the rest of the work and it influences the rest of Lucado's theology. He attempts to consistently apply the implications of this view and man, as he is the center of all GOD's striving, becomes in the hands of Lucado a creature that GOD is dependent upon and cannot live without. In pondering the question as to why Christ did not resist being nailed to the cross, Lucado answers, 'What kept him from resisting? . . . He knew the price of those sins was death. He knew the source of those sins was you, and since he couldn't bear the thought of eternity without you, he chose the nails' (p. 34) In this, GOD is seen to be utterly in need of man, apparently unable to bear an eternity without us. GOD is, therefore, rendered incomplete without His creatures, for, as Lucado continually repeats throughout this work, 'He did this just for you.' Man becomes an end-in-himself and that is why Lucado can suggest many times that Christ died for us because there was so much that is beautiful and good in mankind. Why was Christ willing to go to the cross? Lucado teaches that it was because 'he sees the beauty within the beast' (p. 20). This is a message he adopts throughout the book and it further affects his view of the nature of sin, for man cannot be 'totally depraved,' thoroughly wicked, while yet retaining a beauty that Christ could not live without. Lucado views humanity, rather, as a victim of the 'beast within.' In a personal aside, Lucado describes a moment when 'the ugly part' of him 'showed his beastly face' (p. 14). Notice that he refers to this 'side' of himself in third person, as though he were not responsible for his actions but is simply doomed to struggle with someone else inside of him, who is not the real Max Lucado. Lucado offers the same excuse for his readers, whom he includes among those who have surely 'wrestled the beast within' (p. 15). He urges us to just 'accept the fact that there is something beastly within each and every one of us. Something beastly that makes us do things that surprise even us' (p. 17). I leave the reader to judge whether this is Scriptural. Not only, according to Lucado, are we a victim of a 'beast' within us but we appear to be also victims of a sort of moral clumsiness. For Lucado, the 'sins' we commit are seen merely as a lifetime of 'mistakes' (p. 141) and, among the 'mistakes' we make, Lucado lists 'lusts,' 'lies,' 'greedy moments,' (34) and also includes 'drinking too much,' 'cheating at marriage', 'cheating at work' and 'mismanaging money' (141). These are all 'mistakes,' which implies that we do not really mean to do such things. This implies that we are perhaps victims of ignorance rather than truly wicked. As sin is not given a very serious treatment by Lucado, seeing it as little more than a mistake, it is just as easily forgiven. The result is a view of GOD's attitude toward man's sin that is superficial as well. Lucado portrays GOD as having no anger toward man in the least. As Christ has already paid for the sins of 'every person who ever lived' (p. 114), GOD has wiped clean all our sins already so that Lucado feels secure in promising his readers that 'God isn't angry with you. He has already dealt with your mistake.' (p. 85) Again, is this Scriptural? What is Lucado promising his readers and what would be the result of believing this doctrine? What responsibility does a pastor of a church have in regards to teaching the Word of GOD honestly? Lucado did make use of the phrase 'totally depraved' once early on in the book, yet he defined it as merely a 'tendency to sin' (p. 18) and went on to reject the usual definition of the term, as can be seen above. There is much more that might be commented upon, including Lucado's particular understanding of 'free will,' his struggle with the problem of evil and suffering in chapter six, his strange view of inspiration (dictation) on pages 42-44, his perversion of the character of Christ and the contradiction of his views on sin with man's rejection of a God who 'woos' us. I am very sorry to say that I could not find a single doctrine in the entire work that is not distorted to some degree. All of them lead to serious ramifications about what Scripture is teaching in the passion of Christ. I had honestly expected to find a very different book when I approached 'He Chose the Nails.' It has received good reviews by many. Yet, I cannot agree with certain reviewers who have pointed out Lucado's distortions but dismissed them as 'not the point of his book.' The book is meant to teach and to guide and to enlighten. If the teaching is not an honest guide nor one that enlightens us as to the contents of Scripture, then what purpose does it serve? If it makes us feel good about ourselves and our struggles at the expense of what GOD has said to us about our own nature and relationship to Him, then shall we not do as Scripture commands and let GOD be true and every man a liar, even if that man is Max Lucado? Again, there may be those who read the quotes I have given and who do not see anything wrong with them. I encourage you to look into these matters further and I appreciate your patience. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Rating:
Summary: To be read with the heart
Review: As a voracious reader of Christian books, it is somewhat surprising that I had not read a book by this extremely popular Christian author until now. Max Lucado is very gifted in taking what a more casual reader of the Bible might regard as incidental aspects of the crucifixion (the sign on the cross is three languages, the wine-soaked sponge, etc.) and extracting deep meaning out of each detail. He has an engaging way with words that touches the heart, using illustrations from his own life to drive home his points. Unfortunately, at least once or twice he sacrifices sound theology to make a dramatic point. But theological precision is not the point of this book. This is a book to be read with the heart more than the head, to touch the soul more than the intellect. At this the book succeeds admirably.
Rating: 
Summary: Nicely Done
Review: As I understand it, this book is a composition of a sermon series that Lucado delivered to his church. I think this would have been quite a sermon series to listen to live.
Lucado does a good job of combining everyday examples of life with the imagery of the cross to paint a compelling picture of God's love as demonstrated by sending the perfect lamb of Jesus Christ to live among sinful beings and to die on their behalf only to conquer the grave and be physically resurrected for the world to see. When I first started reading this book, I was frankly a bit skeptical of Lucado's premise - that the individual components of the cross themselves have meaning in terms of comprehending God's love. But this book got me thinking about this premise, and reminded me and reenforced within me a timeless truth. In all creation, God's perfection, beauty, love, and omnipresence are evident if we take the time to look. The Creator is distinct from the creation, but the creation reflects the Creator. And while reading Lucado's book, it dawned on me that if we accept this premise, then why can't the nails, wood, thorns, etc of the crucifixion provide insights into God's character if the rest of creation does? The answer I came to is that Lucado's premise makes sense, and the ideas he puts forth are very compelling within that context. Whether Lucado's ideas in and of themselves can be regarded as theological truth is somewhat open to interpretation. But in my view, his ideas taken as a whole most definitely support and reenforce a long held theological truth - that God's love knows no competition because it far surpasses anything that human beings are capable of expressing. God's love can be imperfectly emulated, but it cannot be duplicated. Lucado's book eloquently speaks to this truth, and provides great comfort for those of us who have recognized His love by accepting Christ. And the book provides compelling reasons for those who haven't yet accepted Christ to seriously contemplate the love and forgiveness that is waiting for them to experience by coming to faith in Christ. A very good book.
Rating:
Summary: He Chose the Nails: God's love letter to me
Review: As it always does, Max Lucado's writing once again grips your heart and gives it a big squeeze. His humor and folksy stories make you feel like you're listening to a close friend. I read this book at a time when I was emotionally drained and wrung out-and what a thirst-quencher. Chapter after chapter, his vivid descriptions made me feel (only in a much greater way) like I do when I realize my husband did something incredibly caring or sacrificial on his part; I sit back and think, wow, he really does love me. On such a larger scale, each aspect of what Jesus did on the cross and leading up to it was Him saying to me personally, I love you, I hurt when you hurt, I do know your pain. The title says it: he didn't have to - he CHOSE to because God Almighty, creator of the universe, LOVES ME! Wow. I gave this book to a friend having a rough time. The next day, she called me in tears, sobbing "He really does love me, doesn't he?" What a love letter.
Rating:
Summary: He Chose The Nails by Max Lucado
Review: Before you go any further, please take a moment to ask God to bless and protect Max and his family. Max has, and continues to allow God to use his writing to reveal His Heart to millions of believers. Satan must have Max at the top of his list. Max has stated that each of us must stand at the foot of His cross before we can truly give ourselves to Christ. This book will put you there.
Rating:
Summary: He Chose The Nails by Max Lucado
Review: Before you go any further, please take a moment to ask God to bless and protect Max and his family. Max has, and continues to allow God to use his writing to reveal His Heart to millions of believers. Satan must have Max at the top of his list. Max has stated that each of us must stand at the foot of His cross before we can truly give ourselves to Christ. This book will put you there.
Rating:
Summary: He Chose The Nails
Review: Every Lucado book I read is the best one yet. This book is no exception! Insightful and inspiring! I could not get enough of this one. One minutes you're laughing, in awe the next. God is good.
Rating:
Summary: He Chose The Nails
Review: Every Lucado book I read is the best one yet. This book is no exception! Insightful and inspiring! I could not get enough of this one. One minutes you're laughing, in awe the next. God is good.
Rating:
Summary: ALMOST MADE ME CRY! A NEW WAY OF LOOKING AT JESUS DEATH!
Review: First of all, I have to say Max Lucado is a great author. All of his books not only make you think, they really move you. At least they have for me. This is one of my most favorite books by Max Lucado. He takes you to the cross, he shows you the small details some you might not even thought did matter, and he shows you what the meant to you and me. Like when he says that it they hadn't nailed Jesus to the cross, Jesus would have taken the nails and nailed Himself there. This book made me want to cry. If you have forgotten what the cross meant, if you dont know, if you want to know more, if you want to fall in love with Jesus more, if you want to know more about HOW MUCH Jesus loved you, buy this book. It is a quick read, each chapter isn't very long at all, and its so GOOD you will read it and wish to read more. Its a great book, I HIGHLY recommend to anyone out there. I wanted to recommend this book for my job at the bookstore but they got rid of all the copies so I recommend it here! For Easter or any time of the year. You will walk away with a new sense of who you are, and what Jesus did for you. God Bless You!
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