Ten Lies About God And How You Might Already Be Deceived

Rating:
Summary: This is Excellent Stuff
Review: I approached this book with some trepidation, since I'd never heard of this author--not even through other authors that I read a good bit of.... But now that I'm finished with this one, I'm definitely putting more of Lutzer's work on my wish list!

He takes ten things people commonly believe about God and works through each one, showing how each is wrong, and what the truth is. They are each discussed frankly and honestly, and the answers are taken straight from God's word. There is no condemnation here, or ranting, but pure, excellent, logical answers.

Get this book if you have any doubts--or even if you don't.

Rating:
Summary: uneven, inspiring at times but ultimately disappointing
Review: I first decided to read this book when I saw that Lutzer's eclectic list of lies included these three: "God takes no responsibility for natural disasters," "God does not know our decisions," and "The fall ruined God's plan." Naturally, I read those chapters first. I was astounded. I could not believe that this book could receive an award, based on the material in these chapters.
Lutzer writes,
"...God plays by a different set of rules. If you were standing beside a swimming pool and watched a toddler fall in and did not pull the child out, your negligence would be cause for prosecution. Yet God watches children drown or, for that matter, starve every day and does not intervene. He sends drought, creating scarcity of food; He sends tidal waves, wiping out homes and crops.
"We are obligated to keep people alive as long as possible; if God were held to that standard, no one would ever die. He could keep the whole population of the world alive indefinitely. What for us would be criminal, is for God an everyday occurrence.
"Why the difference? He is the Creator; we are the creatures. Because He is the giver of life, He also has the right to take life. He has a long-term agenda that is much more complex than keeping people alive as long as possible. Death and destruction are part of His plan. "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isa. 55:8-9)."
Lutzer sanctions God's behaving like a criminal, and to bolster his argument, he cites a Scripture from Isaiah. However, read in context, the verses Lutzer quoted are not used to show why God can destroy, but rather show He is merciful, the exact opposite of wicked and evil human beings (see Isa. 55:6,7, NIV: "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. For my thoughts..."). Lutzer's use of this passage is tantamount to character assassination... but he is not the first, nor the last, writer to use these verses this way. Lutzer's Reformed theological bent requires that he resort to this type of hermeneutics in dealing with difficult issues like that of this chapter.
I had not intended to read further, but a friend encouraged me to read the rest of the book, so I did. In all fairness, I have to say there is much that is praiseworthy in this book. At times I found myself stopping to read one passage, or another, out loud to myself or to a friend, enjoying Lutzer's use of language, his eloquence, the quotes and stories he put together. Two chapters stand out as particularly good: Lutzer's chapter on joy, and the one on whether God suffers. These chapters are awesome and inspiring. Other chapters are well-written, but do not offer anything particularly helpful or new. The lies that Lutzer takes on are an odd collection, and perhaps he took on far too much in trying to tackle them all in one book.
Though the book is intended for non-believers as well, Lutzer too often speaks only to the choir, and a choir with Reformed theology, at that. If you do not agree with Reformed theology, you will have trouble accepting Lutzer's facile portrayal of God as criminal. Thoughtful non-Christians, or new believers, may find themselves repelled and disappointed by Lutzer's answers.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best doctrinal books I've ever read
Review: I've read a lot of doctrinal books in the past few years and this ranks up with the classics, such as those by Pink, Ironside and Packer. Lutzer is a clear, organized thinker and this work is very timely. I suspect all of us have been deceived at one time or another by one or more of the "lies" Lutzer discusses. He re-emphasizes that God is absolutely sovereign, has known everything throughout eternity, and is in complete control of even the bad things that happen to this world.

Rating:
Summary: Lots of potential, but ultimately mediocre
Review: Lutzer chose a very good title and a very good premise for writing this book. And while there were parts of the book that were quite good, he ultimately tried to bite off more than he could chew with this book in my view.

Lutzer's premise for the book is that there are ten 'lies' about God that he intends to analyze and refute. These lies are indeed attention grabbing and successfully generate interest in the reader to read what Lutzer has to say. Unfortunately in my view, in order to really do justice to many of these 'lies', much more than a chapter of examination is desperately in order. Whole books could be written on many of the lies that Lutzer attempts to contain within 20 page chapters, and the result is a book that doesn't dig nearly deep enough to do justice to the very compelling lies and subsequent questions that are asked in this book.

Each of the lies are the starting points for the chapters in the book. I think Lutzer did a good job of identifying many popularly held views about God. The lies in this book are quite pervasive throughout the culture and it is good that Lutzer attempted to discredit them. But all too often, I found that the chapters started out better than they ended, with Lutzer doing a good job of setting the table, but falling short in the quality of the meal. In particular, Lutzer repeatedly reinforced what I guess is a deeply held belief of his that I don't agree with, and it is this belief that often hurts the quality of his analysis, in my view. In my view, he too often takes the easy way out on tough questions related to purpose, suffering, creation, and omnipotence by essentially saying that good answers aren't available to these kind of questions. Lutzer makes what I believe to be a cardinal mistake in today's church by appealing not to a faith bolstered by intellectual sensibility and emotional satisfaction, but to a faith that at its core, is anti intellectual. As such, at several key points in his book where a solid, Biblically based intellectual and philosophical examination would not only be appropriate but very compelling as both an intellectual and emotional proposition, Lutzer punts by essentially saying 'I don't know' way too often. And this is the fundamental failure of the book. I guess I'm not sure why Lutzer felt it necessary to write a book about a number of compelling topics if he didn't have more meat to offer.

The ten 'lies' about God that Lutzer profiles are good and relevant topics for discussion. But unfortunately in my view, like most of the book, his ending points are not nearly as compelling as his starting points, where the reader is left with an appreciation of the immensity of God and how much we don't know, but no appreciation for how much God has revealed to us about Himself and how much we do know. And in my view, by falling short in his analysis of the ten lies in this way, he inadvertently goes a long way toward contributing to another lie about God - God is unknowable.

So in conclusion, I would recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with appreciating the immensity of God. But for those who might pick up this book looking for tangible answers about the nature of God, His purposes, the reasons why things happen the way they do, I would suggest that they not base their whole analysis of these difficult issues to this book, and would commend them to additional research and examination of other books which more adequately address these areas. Because in my view, Lutzer simply doesn't do justice to many of these issues here. Readers who pick up this book to gain emotional solace or satisfaction on some of these issues may or may not find enough meat in here, but readers who turn to this book for intellectual sustenance on these issues will encounter too many chapters where the author at least flirts with anti intellectualism, and presents a God who too often doesn't reveal Himself or His purposes at all. And as a matter of both theology and emotional experience, I fundamentally take issue with this sentiment and believe it to be wholly inadequate to the God of the Bible and how He has revealed His purposes and holiness not only in Scripture but in the annals of human history in ways we can know and gain comfort and hope from.

Rating:
Summary: Lots of potential, but ultimately mediocre
Review: Lutzer chose a very good title and a very good premise for writing this book. And while there were parts of the book that were quite good, he ultimately tried to bite off more than he could chew with this book in my view.

Lutzer's premise for the book is that there are ten 'lies' about God that he intends to analyze and refute. These lies are indeed attention grabbing and successfully generate interest in the reader to read what Lutzer has to say. Unfortunately in my view, in order to really do justice to many of these 'lies', much more than a chapter of examination is desperately in order. Whole books could be written on many of the lies that Lutzer attempts to contain within 20 page chapters, and the result is a book that doesn't dig nearly deep enough to do justice to the very compelling lies and subsequent questions that are asked in this book.

Each of the lies are the starting points for the chapters in the book. I think Lutzer did a good job of identifying many popularly held views about God. The lies in this book are quite pervasive throughout the culture and it is good that Lutzer attempted to discredit them. But all too often, I found that the chapters started out better than they ended, with Lutzer doing a good job of setting the table, but falling short in the quality of the meal. In particular, Lutzer repeatedly reinforced what I guess is a deeply held belief of his that I don't agree with, and it is this belief that often hurts the quality of his analysis, in my view. In my view, he too often takes the easy way out on tough questions related to purpose, suffering, creation, and omnipotence by essentially saying that good answers aren't available to these kind of questions. Lutzer makes what I believe to be a cardinal mistake in today's church by appealing not to a faith bolstered by intellectual sensibility and emotional satisfaction, but to a faith that at its core, is anti intellectual. As such, at several key points in his book where a solid, Biblically based intellectual and philosophical examination would not only be appropriate but very compelling as both an intellectual and emotional proposition, Lutzer punts by essentially saying 'I don't know' way too often. And this is the fundamental failure of the book. I guess I'm not sure why Lutzer felt it necessary to write a book about a number of compelling topics if he didn't have more meat to offer.

The ten 'lies' about God that Lutzer profiles are good and relevant topics for discussion. But unfortunately in my view, like most of the book, his ending points are not nearly as compelling as his starting points, where the reader is left with an appreciation of the immensity of God and how much we don't know, but no appreciation for how much God has revealed to us about Himself and how much we do know. And in my view, by falling short in his analysis of the ten lies in this way, he inadvertently goes a long way toward contributing to another lie about God - God is unknowable.

So in conclusion, I would recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with appreciating the immensity of God. But for those who might pick up this book looking for tangible answers about the nature of God, His purposes, the reasons why things happen the way they do, I would suggest that they not base their whole analysis of these difficult issues to this book, and would commend them to additional research and examination of other books which more adequately address these areas. Because in my view, Lutzer simply doesn't do justice to many of these issues here. Readers who pick up this book to gain emotional solace or satisfaction on some of these issues may or may not find enough meat in here, but readers who turn to this book for intellectual sustenance on these issues will encounter too many chapters where the author at least flirts with anti intellectualism, and presents a God who too often doesn't reveal Himself or His purposes at all. And as a matter of both theology and emotional experience, I fundamentally take issue with this sentiment and believe it to be wholly inadequate to the God of the Bible and how He has revealed His purposes and holiness not only in Scripture but in the annals of human history in ways we can know and gain comfort and hope from.

Rating:
Summary: From the gentle heart of a Shepherd
Review: Pastor Erwin Lutzer, now pastor of historic Moody Church for almost 25 years (following Warren Wiersbe's pastorate there), feeds the people of God through this profound, yet easily understood volume.

Having sat under his ministry for more than two years, week in and week out, Pastor Lutzer preached the truths of Scripture with compassion, clarity, and conviction. He does the very same with this volume.

In a culture that has made God whatever they want Him to be, this clarion call to Biblical Christianity could not be more urgent than it already is! Thinking Christians will want to research the Scriptural references themselves (just as the early Christians did) and see if these things are so.

I contend they are.

Phil Hoover
Chicago

Rating:
Summary: A FINE ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN THE HUMAN CONDITION
Review: Ten Lies About God is a fine, modern-day summation of several years of studies that leading Christian authorities have undertaken in order to explain who God is and isn't. Throughout the chapters are themes or lies embraced throughout the world that contain messages that either misidentify or misappropriate the attributes of Almighty God. For instance, in our Western society, there is such a primary focus on the so-called good life that God is a god of materialism and financial prosperity, and many have come to believe that this God is described in the Bible. However, Lutzer offers a serious rebuttal to this concept; on page 7, he cites, "It would be difficult indeed to convince the martyrs of the church that it was actually their God-given right to be healthy and prosperous; they would have been content with poverty, if only they had been delivered from the lion's mouth or the assassin's sword."

Not only does Lutzer point out each lie and then contrast it with the viewpoints of the 1st Century Christians, he also attempts to explain, whether it is from a scriptural or sociological point of view, why so many false ideas have come to exist. He says that, in essence, we are of an idolatrous nature and that the kinds of ideas about God that one constructs or misconstructs is a reflection of the condition of his or her heart.

Though Lutzer does not take on the burden of expaining the myriads of hardships and sufferings that have existed throughout man's history, he nonetheless states that God has our best interests at heart and that His ways are not always to be comprehended. In sum, Lutzer says that this is where the elements are faith are drawn, for it is when God is acting in such a way that seems contrary to our perception of His nature that we must acknowledge that He loves us and that many of His purposes will continue to be a mystery until the next life.

Rating:
Summary: JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY!!!!
Review: THIS BOOK IS THE ESSENCE OF SCRIPTURE. WHEN I READ I LOOK FOR SCRIPTURE NOT OPINION. MR. LUTZER DOES VERY WELL IN KEEPING IN LINE WITH WHAT THE HOLY SCRIPTURES TEACH. I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO BE READ BY ANYONE THAT IS A BELIEVER IN CHRIST, AND TO PASS IT ON TO THE UNBELIEVER TO BRING THEM TO CHRIST.

Rating:
Summary: CAUTIOUS ENLIGHTENMENT
Review: WHAT A WAKEUP CALL TO THE POST-MODERN, REMOTE-CONTROL, DRIVE-THRU MENTALITY TO WHICH MANY CHRISTIANS HAVE SUCCUMBED!! WHILE IT IS CLEAR THAT LUTZER LEANS CALVINISTIC IN HIS VIEWS OF GOD, HE STILL DOES AN ADMIRABLE JOB OF WRENCHING US FROM THE TRAPS OF "NEW AGE" CHRISTIANITY (ALL IS GOD & ALL IS OK) AND "LIBERAL" CHRISTIANITY (ALL IS FAIR & ALL IS TOLERABLE) THAT WE HEAR BEING ESPOUSED FROM TODAY'S PULPITS !!!

Rating:
Summary: Timely and on target!
Review: What an excellent find! I had been looking for material to help me address some of the common issues that non-believers or those seeking Christianity often wonder about.This book is a fabulous resource for those wanting to clarify and define Biblical principles. It is well organized, and does not shy away from difficult questions that those questioning the validity of the Bible often raise. Intelligently written, it relies heavily on scriptural references rather than simply the author's opinion. A must read for those interested in strengthening their "witness".