Andy Naselli

Thoughts on Theology

Will your book be available in print?

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Within a week of announcing that Logos Bible Software is publishing my book Let Go and Let God? A Survey and Analysis of Keswick Theology, I received over one hundred emails and comments asking the same question: “Will your book be available in print?”

Short Answer

No, at least for now. ***Don’t miss the update at the bottom of this article.***

Longer Answer

No. The plan for now is that the book will be available exclusively in electronic format from Logos Bible Software.

The factors involved in this decision are complicated, but here are some reasons that I chose Logos Bible Software to publish my first solo book:

  1. I love Logos Bible Software. I’d rather have a book in Logos format than in print any day. [Read more…] about Will your book be available in print?

Mike Bullmore on the Gospel and Pastoral Ministry

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My pastor, Mike Bullmore, began his sermon last Sunday with a brief update regarding a conference he ministered at the previous week in Toronto. The conference MP3s are available for free, and here’s what Mike contributed:

  1. The Functional Centrality of the Gospel
  2. Panel with Q&A: Bullmore, Martin and guests
  3. The Gospel and Pastoral Character
  4. Panel with Q&A: Bullmore, Symons, Boot, Martin, and guests
  5. The Gospel and Pastoral Labor
  6. Panel with Q&A: Bullmore, Martin and guests
  7. The Gospel and Pastoral Hope
  8. Panel with Q&A: Bullmore, Martin, Symons, and guests

Interview on Keswick Theology with Alex Chediak

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I recently answered these questions from Alex Chediak about my book on Keswick theology:

  1. Keswick theology teaches that, after salvation, one must pursue the second blessing. Having received it, can one lose this “second blessing”? If so, what would be the mark(s) of such a loss?
  2. How would such a person get it back?
  3. Is Keswick thinking in any way at the root of the struggle many have with discerning “the personal will of God” for their lives?
  4. Some of us might read names like Andrew Murray, J. Hudson Taylor, and Amy Carmichael and think “Wow. Whatever it is, it can’t be that bad.” Does Keswick thinking, historically, have a track record of promoting more holy living on the part of Christians?
  5. In your handout, you say, “Since it is unlikely that all living believers will agree on their view of sanctification, believers should promote unity on this issue as much as possible.” Can you unpack this a bit?
  6. Romans 7 is a text that divides Christians, with some saying that Paul is referring to the believer’s ongoing struggle with sin, and others (like Doug Moo, and Martin Lloyd-Jones) arguing that Paul is referring to a pre-converted man (possibly himself). Is it possible to take the latter view and still not be a proponent of Keswick theology?
  7. Related to the previous question, when discussing the believer’s ongoing struggle, should we use the word “flesh” or “old man” to refer to what John Owen called our “remaining corruptions”? Is there a difference?

—Part 1 | Part 2

Related:

  1. Let God and Let God? A Survey and Analysis of Keswick Theology
  2. Interview on Keswick Theology with Kevin DeYoung

Update on 8/23/2017: My latest book attempts to survey and analyze “let go and let God” theology:

No Quick Fix

The Importance of Argument

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I’m listening to an audio-essay of J. Gresham Machen’s “The Important of Christian Scholarship” (HT: Phil Gons), and this sentence stood out to me: “But because argument is insufficient, it does not follow that it is unnecessary.” I’ve placed it in bold below so that you can read it in context.

The Importance of Argument

Certainly a Christianity that avoids argument is not the Christianity of the New Testament. The New Testament is full of argument in defense of the faith. The Epistles of Paul are full of argument—no one can doubt that. But even the words of Jesus are full of argument in defense of the truth of what Jesus was saying. “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?” Is not that a well-known form of reasoning, which the logicians would put in its proper category? Many of the parables of Jesus are argumentative in character. Even our Lord, who spake in the plenitude of divine authority, did condescend to reason with men. Everywhere the New Testament meets objections fairly, and presents the gospel as a thoroughly reasonable thing. [Read more…] about The Importance of Argument

Lectures on Keswick Theology

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I posted on this in March 2008, but I’m highlighting it again since these lectures on Keswick theology summarize my book Let Go and Let God? A Survey and Analysis of Keswick Theology.

Detroit Baptist Theology Seminary is hosting the following resources from the lecture series I presented there in 2008:

  1. Handout. This five-page PDF ends with diagrams of major views on sanctification.
  2. Power Point presentation as a PDF. This collection of eighty slides is filled with pictures of the forerunners, proponents, and successors of Keswick theology.
  3. MP3s. About three hours of lectures:

Update on 8/23/2017: My latest book attempts to survey and analyze “let go and let God” theology:

No Quick Fix