Book Review: Humble Orthodoxy by Joshua Harris

Joshua Harris writes, "The word orthodoxy refers to right thinking about God. It's about teaching and belief based on the established, proven, cherished truths of the faith" (pgs. 1-2). Harris' latest book, Humble Orthodoxy is about coming to back to the healthy teachings that have defined Christianity but not in a way that is proud and arrogant like the Pharisees understood the Law. This book is an expanded edition of the final chapter in another book by Harris called Dug Down Deep.

The phrase, "humble orthodoxy," came from a friend of Harris' who told him this is what Christians need today. Harris goes on to write, "Christians need to have strong commitment to sound doctrine. We need to be courageous in our stand for biblical truth. But we also need to be gracious in our words and interaction with other people. Whether our theological knowledge is great or small, we all need to ask a vital question: What will we do with the knowledge of God we have?" (pgs. 3-4)

Having a humble orthodoxy is not about being right and everyone else is wrong, which leads to pride. It is about being humbled at the fact that we were all sinners and God has redeemed us through the finished work of Christ on the cross, therefore, we are now his servants. Servants of God strive to study the Word and getting right beliefs about God which does not lead us to pride but humble us. The point of getting a right theology about God is to worship God. Harris writes, "If being right becomes more important to us than worshiping God, then our theology is not really about God anymore. It's about us" (pg. 26). Harris goes on to write that when we get a right theology about God, it leads us to repentance and when we come to knowledge of the truth, it should leads us to faithful practice.

The final chapter of the book, which there are only four, talks about living for God's approval which can be misleading at first because when one puts their faith in Christ they are approved by God. Salvation is not what Harris is talking about. He is talking about what Paul wrote in Timothy in his second letter, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). We are to live as one who correctly handles the Bible to show as one who has been approved by God.

This book was a short one but it is a good read for all who are not familiar with Joshua Harris' writings especially those who still think of his as the I Kissed Dating Goodbye guy, which he did write the book, but that is all you know him as. I recommend you read this book, then read the book this book was taken from, Dug Down Deep

Thanks Multinomah for letting me review this book.

Scripture Is Our Final Authority

The doctrine of Scripture teaches us about the authority of God's Word. Scripture must be the final rule of faith and practice for our lives. Not our feelings or emotions. Not signs or prophetic words or hunches.

What more can God give us than what He's given in Scripture? The question is, will we listen? Will we obey when we don't like what the Bible has to say?

This is a moment when our belief about Scripture meets reality. What we say we believe makes little difference until we act on our belief. I suppose most Christians would say that the Bible is the authoritative Word of God. But until this authority of Scripture is nothing but a bunch of religious lingo. We're treating the God-breathed Word of God like a lot of hot air.

Scripture is always meant to work in our lives. When Paul said Scripture is God-breathed, he didn't stop there. He said, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV).

God's Word teaches us how to think. It teaches us truth. It rebukes and corrects our old, self-centered ways of thinking. It trains us in righteousness. God's Word has authority, and when we submit ourselves to it, Scripture equips us for good works. It gives us what we need to love, serve, and sacrifice.

Joshua Harris, Dug Down Deep