Getting yourself right side up
Over the next week, I intend to introduce some of the latest new resources from Matthias Media.
Today, I thought we might kick off with the brand new book written by one of our esteemed Sola Panelists, Paul Grimmond. It is Paul's ‘debut’ book Right Side Up.
Like preachers who regularly preach that “The passage we are looking at today is one of the most significant passages in the Bible”, I guess I also run the risk of devaluing the currency when I say that “This latest resource is one of the most significant we've published”. Naturally enough, I get pretty excited about all our new resources.
But even when I force myself to apply some objectivity to the assessment, I am going to stick to my guns on the significance of this book for at least two reasons.
Firstly, this is a book specifically written for new Christians. Its aim is to map out a clear explanation of what living the Christian life means, and what it is like. I think that in itself makes it important, because we really haven't had a good book to fill this need since we lost a bit of confidence in The Fight many years ago. At Matthias Media, we produced a book for a while called Kicking Off, and that book did a good job of explaining seven introductory topics for new Christians—topics that tied in to the Just for Starters Bible studies. But Kicking Off didn't quite hit the spot in terms of explaining clearly and powerfully the fundamental change that takes place in a person's life when they become a Christian.
To write a book for new Christians, it seems to me, is a very important contribution to the cause of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in this day. We desperately need a book that clarifies and powerfully persuades Christians—no matter how long they've been following Jesus—of the radical change in perspective that becoming a Christian involves. Right Side Up is the sort of foundational book that I think will help not just new Christians, but all Christians—especially those Christians who don't seem to have yet fitted the pieces together in a coherent way that affects the reality of their daily lives and their life choices. As Paul says,
I set out to write a book for new Christians, to explain what it means to be a Christian and what the lifelong adventure of following Jesus is like. But I soon realized that what Jesus wants to say to a new Christian is really the same thing he wants to keep saying to the seasoned saint: “Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it”. My prayer is that this book will persuade you of the truth of those words, and help you live like you believe them. It's a book for the brand new Christian that should challenge every believer—whether you've been following Jesus for five minutes or fifty years.
Secondly, I think Right Side Up is a significant new book because, in what he sets out to do, Paul has done an outstanding job. In my opinion, Paul has written an engaging, challenging, thoroughly biblical explanation of the Christian life.
You can download the contents page and first chapter for free from the Right Side Up page in the Matthias Media online store. But I highly recommend that you get hold of a copy of the whole book as soon as possible, and start thinking about who you know who might benefit from reading it.
Sounds good. But, can I ask, what’s wrong with The Fight? I still give it to new Christians and don’t want to be missing something glaringly obvious…? Thanks, Pete
Hi Pete
Thanks for your question.
I wouldn’t want to be too critical of “The Fight”, because I was one of those young Christians who was helped by it many years ago. It’s also some time since I’ve read it.
I guess the loss of confidence was more in the author, John White, than the book itself. John White subsequently hitched his wagon to the Vineyard Ministries/John Wimber/Signs and Wonders movement, publishing a book along those lines. Many evangelicals then felt uncomfortable about recommending his books generally. (When you recommend a book it is hard not to be perceived as recommending that author.)
I think when that all happened, some also went back and read The Fight a bit more carefully. Perhaps other readers can comment on this.
Thanks Ian. You can never seem to get away from the “signs and wonders” crowd, wherever you go!
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