Why God Makes Sense in a World That Doesn't, The Beauty of Christian Theism
It has never been more important to articulate the wonder and enchantment of the Christian message. Yet the traditional approaches of apologetics are often outmoded in an age of profound disenchantment and distraction, unable to meet this pressing need. This winsome apologetics book for a new generation makes the case that Christianity offers a compelling explanatory framework for making sense of our world. Pastor and writer Gavin Ortlund believes it is essential to appeal not only to the mind but also to the heart and the imagination as we articulate the beauty of the gospel. Why God Makes Sense in a World That Doesn't reimagines four classical theistic arguments--cosmological, teleological, moral, and Christological--making a cumulative case for God as the best framework for understanding the storied nature of reality. The book suggests that Christian theism can explain such things as the elegance of math, the beauty of music, and the value of love. It is suitable for use in classes yet accessibly written, making it a perfect resource for churches and small groups.
Publisher: Baker
Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9781540964090
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Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is a scholar, pastor, and writer with a growing profile among the next generation of Christian apologists and philosophers. He serves as senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Ojai in Ojai, California, and is the author of a number of books, including Retrieving Augustine's Doctrine of Creation, Theological Retrieval for Evangelicals, and Finding the Right Hills to Die On: The Case for Theological Triage. He blogs at gavinortlund.com.
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"If you've long thought that Christianity is unsophisticated and by the looks of things a boring way to live, and yet every now and again you find yourself wondering, But just what if there is something to it? then Why God Makes Sense in a World That Doesn't is a book you should read. Gavin Ortlund avoids the overreach of attempting to 'prove' God. Instead, he argues that belief in God and the Christian story is more rational and desirable than believing in atheism and the story that naturalism tells about the world. Ortlund serves as a careful guide through the arguments, engages the other side fairly, and admits he knows what it feels like to doubt. At the core of Christianity are the claims that there is a God and that Jesus rose from the dead. If true, they change everything. If false, they are some of the biggest errors of all time. Either way, these claims are worth your attention. This book will help you consider how wagering on God and Jesus might surprisingly make sense to you after all." Josh Chatraw, executive director, Center for Public Christianity