Customer Reviews

Putting Amazing Back into Grace: Embracing the Heart of the Gospel

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I read this several years ago at the recommendation of a friend, then I started recommending (and even buying) it for others!

Although I grew up in a Presbyterian Church and sat through many months of Catechism, I remember almost nothing from those days. But "Putting Amazing Back Into Grace" (as well as other of Dr Horton's works) is a book to remember. He simplifies Grace and Salvation like no other Christian scholar I've read, without dumbing down. He writes as though to young college students of theology, thus keeping it scholarly while easy to read and comprehend. (I can't say the same for his quarterly magazine, however; his articles there seem to be marketed toward seminary students, making him more difficult to comprehend.)

I lost count on how many copies of this book I bought and/or recommended for people wanting to gain a thorough understanding of Reformation Theology. So here I am again, recommending it not just to a select few friends, but to the thousands that may read this review.

What St. Horton Really Said

Yes, I am basing my title off an N T Wright book (I borrowed the title, I am not critiquing or applauding Wright). I really get annoyed at having to write reviews that are both explanatory of the book and refuting what some anti-Horton apologist wrote. I am speaking particularly of the reader from Portland, OR. I will not spend too much time refuting him, he does a good job of it himself. My aim in this review is to speak of the book, refute the attacking reviewer, and explain how one is to write a review.

Horton attempts several things in this book: 1) present historic, reformed Christianity in a popular fashion, and 2) offer this new-found protestantism as an antidote to the self-help psychology group. Since many in the debate are familiar with the five points of Calvinism, I will forego them, sufficing to say that Horton gives them new (and better) names, killing the acronym. Instead of Total Depravity--Rebels without a Cause; Unconditional Election--Grace before Time; Limited Atonement--Mission Accomplished; Irresistable Grace--Intoxicating Grace; Perseverance of the Saints--No Lost Causes. Fear not, Calvinists, these are the same doctrines always taught, just renamed.

Horton does several challenging things with this gospel: 1) after affirming that God is Soveriegn, he then critiques Dispensationalism and charges it with affirming that God has lost control over creation. His second to last chapter is on keys to spiritual growth (think: sacraments). I have to disagree with him on baptism, although it is a well-defended chapter. I disagree with Horton on two points: Baptism and his representation of postmillennialism. I know he is aware of the differences between theonomic postmillennialism and pietistic postmillennialism, he tends to blur the lines a few times

How Not to write a Review:
The above mentioned reviewer claimed that Calvinists always used Augustine as their prime spokesman; that is only half-true. Calvinists find Augustine has a powerful ally against the Pelagians; however, his views on the sacraments helped plunge the Middle Age Church into darkness. Kevonic is attributing to Horton what the history has revealed about Augustine. Even if his historical analysis were true (which I doubt), that would be totally irrelevant to the issue at hand. HORTON DID NOT EVEN ONCE QUOTE AUGUSTINE, NOR DID HE NEED TO!!!!!! That leads me to infer that the reviewer DID NOT EVEN READ THE BOOK!. And what is the deal with bringing up Tom Oden. Every one knows that Oden is an Arminian. Furthermore, we all welcome Oden restoring the Church Fathers to our reading lists, and we applaud his heroic attacks on liberalism. Does not Mr Kevonic know that Oden appeared as a special guest in Horton's magazine, MODERN REFORMATION? And contrasting Oden with Packer? They have co-authored at least one book, ONE FAITH, I think it is. I know they have thier theological differences. Furthermore, most Calvinists know the difference between a semi-Pelagian (which is what the Evangelical Church is today) and an Arminian. For a difference, of which Horton is aware being that he was a contributor to the book, see FOUR VIEWS ON ETERNAL SECURITY, which has Calvinist, Arminian, and Semi-Pelagian views. In fact, I will quote Horton from that book, "Stephen Ashby's (an Arminian) contribution represents a much-needed correction of the caricatures of Arminius's views" (Four Views, 188). Does that sound like Horton is unaware of the distinction?

How to write a Review"
Briefly explain the review, express, with examples, your areas of disagreement/agreement. Correct caricatures made of the book; recommend other books.

I probably would never have got to the end of the book except I was reading it on the exercise bike at the gym! However I was glad I persevered. I think it is an excellent presentation of calvinism, but the title is deceptive because grace is not really the main focus of the book.

JI Packer and Mike Horton are two of the most exciting Evangelical authors in North America today - so it is great to see both their names on this very significant book. Anything they write are must reads for thinking Evangelicals today, so add them to your library and make sure that your pastor and church leaders get them on their shelves too. Christopher Catherwood, author of CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS AND ISLAMIC RAGE (Zondervan, 2003)

mike takes us on a tour of reformation theology with joy, wit and intelligence as he explains why the reformers captured the heart of the biblical view of amazing grace. Mike makes it exciting to discover the richness of reformation theology and biblical study. Great book for catholics, protestants, and all christians as an inviting and warm invitation to embrace what he and St. Paul disovoered--Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!

Michael Horton in this book clears up many false presuppositions of people against Calvinism. In my own journey to Calvinism I struggled particurlarly with the doctrine of Limited Atonement. Horton defines it rather as "Particular Redemption." After reading this spin of it, my own logical fallacies were swept away and I began to rejoice in a God so beautiful as to ransom me. Another interesting part of the book is the end where he in gives the reader a bibliography to pursue furhter study. Also, he quotes extensivley from Church Fathers and their view on the 'Doctrines of Grace'. My only disagreement with Horton is his view on infant baptism. This is only natural, I being a Baptist. Be that as it may, this is a wonderful book and will be very helpful in helping young Calvinists gently and persuasivly explain their beliefs to their Arminian brethren.

This is an easy to read, easy to understand summation of the 5 points of Calvinism. I really enjoyed it. I highly recommend it both for people who are seeking to understand it for themselves or for those just seeking to understand what Calvinists believe.

Michael Scott Horton exalts the sovereignty of God in this excellent work. I highly recommend this book and believe it will make a powerful contribution to a clearer understanding of the Biblical concept of "grace." This is no dry and humorless book ... each chapter is illustrated and comes with questions for further consideration. Good for Bible study groups or individual study.

Michael Horton's book on the Reformed faith is unlike any others. On one hand he packs a lot of theology in this book. On the other hand, he makes it look it readable with the various illustrations in the book, neat chapter titles and sub-titles and "less than serious" looking front cover.

Those who are familiar with the Christian organisation Mike works for [Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals (ACE), previously Christian United for Reformation (CURE)] and the organisation's Christian magazine - the excellent modern Reformation (mR) - will know what Mike is talking about in this book. Most of the insights in this book are used very often in an expanded and elaborate fashion in previous issues of mR.

Horton goes beyond mere 5 point Calvinism - though he writes no less on it in this book. He talks also about the 2 Sacraments and a bit of the Christian's role in the world (which is expanded in his other book, "Where in the world is the Church")

As i start to mature in my understanding of the Reformed faith, I've always been brought to refer back to this book. What this shows is that this book contains a lot of good stuff! Horton does a wonderful job in trying to write an introduction to the Reformed faith. But I always wonder if this would be a good book to give my non-Reformed friends. I don't know. For those who aren't familiar with the Reformed faith, they won't be able to get the full gisp of what Horton is saying. Nevertheless, that only shows that there is so much to learn in Reformed theology and that a book on introducing the Reformed faith is no doubt going to be very general in nature.

After all has been said, this still remains the best book and most comprehensive introduction on the Reformed faith!

I love this little book. Not because I have a great respect for Michael Horton (which I really do). But because this book is a tall glass of water in a hot dry waste land. Horton has presented the ultimate essence of the gospel of grace and brought down the false notions that most evangelical Christians have stitched into the fabric of the Christian faith. Horton is honest about many of the misconceptions that have confused those who were raised in a feel good do good type of Christian background. He presents the gospel the way it was intended to be presented. Namely, without all the baggage that has been added over the centuries. If you are looking for a book that cuts to the chase and presents the Christian faith in a clear and concise manner, then this is the only book aside from the Bible that you may ever need.