What's In Our Library? #1

Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegrop

When suffering strikes, it leaves most of us at a loss for words. Whether from fear, embarrassment, grief, anger, or a thousand other emotions, we are left spinning. How do we process, cope, and move forward? In his book, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, Mark Vroegop explains how Christians can learn to lament, learn from lament, and learn to live with lament.

Vroegop writes that there are often two responses to suffering and trials: anger or denial. In the first response, many Christians allow their circumstances to drive a wedge of bitter anger into their hearts. Whether it is quiet resentment or outright rage, anger can dominate a Christian’s experience of suffering. On the flip side, some Christians live in a kind of denial. In an effort to exemplify the “rejoice always” passages in Scripture, some believers choose to live almost as if the pain had no effect on them.

Not only do Christians wrestle with responding to their own pain, but they also tend to feel uncomfortable around other saints’ suffering and honest wrestling. Well-intentioned brothers and sisters in the Lord watch their friends or loved ones walk the valley of the shadow of death and either offer well-meaning platitudes that provide little help, or just stare in silence. How do Christians respond to suffering in a way is both honest and humble? How do we acknowledge the pain as well as the promises of God?

The Bible provides an answer: lament.

Vroegop describes lament as “a prayer that leads us through personal sorrow and difficult questions into the truth that anchors our soul.” He outlines lament in four steps: turn, complain, ask, and trust. Walking through several of the lament psalms and the book of Lamentations, he shows how lament is a God-given ballast in the storms of suffering. When believers turn to God in honesty about the pain, humbly ask God to hear and answer, and trust God to do what He has promised, that is when they find deep mercy under dark clouds. The book is now available in the church library available to borrow. This book greatly encouraged my soul, and I pray it encourages you as well. May it guide you in the divinely-given response of suffering: the grace of lament.

Humility, True Greatness by C.J. Maheny

Ah, the enigmatic word: humility. Almost every Christian knows the importance of humility, has seen the value of humility, and knows it is a virtue and quality worth possessing. You might even pray for humility, asking the Lord to give you a more humble character. I remember when I used to pray for humility, I inwardly dreaded the Lord granting my request because I knew that more than likely, rather than a dose from a magically appearing vial of humility to take every morning, he would give me opportunities to practice humility! If I was honest, I hated that.

A lot of that dread disappeared when I read C.J. Mahaney’s book Humility. It is by far the best book I have read on the subject, and I have returned to it time and time again for its rich truths and practical insight. His writing comes from a lifetime of studying and teaching God’s word, as well as a lot of trial and error in putting pride to death. The first section of the book defines humility and gives reasons for the necessity of becoming a humble Christian, the second section explores the example of Christ as a call and motivation for humility, and the last section is filled with practical advice on putting action to the desire of becoming humble.

Apart from the fact that the book is written in a very honest and down-to-earth style, I appreciate Mahaney’s specific, practical advice. Rather than ending his book with a vague call to "go be humble" or an admonition to read your bible and pray, he gives steps to actively kill pride and cultivate humility as soon as our heads leave our pillows in the morning. Some examples include contemplating the doctrine of sin, playing golf (read his book to find out why), embracing sleep, seizing the commute time, and other tips. While most of those tips were not readily apparent to me as humility-inducing practices, I have come to find them hugely helpful in my own pursuit of humility.

As you contemplate the humility of Christ in being born in human flesh to save sinners, consider the Christmas season as a call to grow in humility. And whether you’re just starting out in your walk with the Lord or you’ve been on the journey with God for years, I would highly recommend this book as both a convicting and encouraging reminder to grow in humility and become more like Jesus every day.

The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

Other than the Bible, few books have shaped Christian thought like The Pilgrim's Progress. In fact, at one point, it was a best-seller, surpassed in popularity only by the Bible. It was penned by author John Bunyan while he was imprisoned for his faith and is equal parts exciting, encouraging, and perceptive.

The premise is simple: it's an allegorical narrative that depicts the spiritual journey of every Christian, from pre-salvation to their arrival in heaven. Along the way, the main character, Christian, goes through the Interpreters Mansion, the Cross, the Palace Beautiful, the Valley of the Shadow of Death, Vanity Fair (an actual fair, not the magazine), and other locations, almost all of them either a direct Scriptural reference or inferred from a biblical theme. Christian also meets characters like Evangelist, Mr. Worldly Wise Man, Mr. Legality, Pliable and Obstinate, Lust of the Eyes and Lust of the Flesh and Pride of Life, Apollyon, Mr. By-Ends, Talkative, Faithful and Hopeful, and others.

There are numerous examples of how Bunyan artfully and accurately depicts the Christian life, but one instance that I will never forget occurs as Christian and his companion take a detour from the path and rest in By-Ends Meadow. In their napping, they are rudely awakened by Giant Despair and thrown into the darkest dungeon of Doubting Castle. There, Christian begins to despair of life itself. Weeks go by with no reprieve, until Christian remembers one day that around his neck is a chain with a key called Promise, and it unlocks every door out of Doubting Castle, leaving the raging Giant Despair behind as the two companions hurry on their way. I have yet to find a better depiction of a Christian's wrestling with depression and despair (and the method of release through God's promises) than the one that Bunyan paints in that story.

When I was a boy, I loved the thrilling imagery and storytelling and understood some of the biblical concepts. It's a great story for kids. But as I grew older and began to understand the truth Bunyan is expounding, depth and encouragement were added to the thrill of the story. Every time I read it, a new aspect of the book stands out for its insightful truths and deep encouragement, and I think the same will be true for you.

The Art of Divine Contentment by Thomas Watson

Few books outside of the Bible have shaped my life, perspective, and theology more than The Art of Divine Contentment. Aside from the fact that I used it as a conversation starter to segue into asking out my future wife on a date, I have found the small book extremely helpful. The Art of Divine Contentment by Thomas Watson explains the necessity of contentment, exposes hidden sin, and explains the better way (or the art) of divine contentment.

Few of us would disagree with the proposition that Christians should be content. However, not many of us can say with full honesty, “Yes, I am content.” Watson tackles this head-on, identifying contentment not just as a virtue to strive for but discontent as a deadly sin that makes us rebels. Discontented Christians are no better than the murmuring Israelites, and murmuring “is mutiny in the heart; the rising up against God.” My grumbling about what a rotten day I had can easily be a declaration of all-out war against the God I love. Watson reminds us that contentment is not just godly but necessary for the life of a Christian.

Beyond emphasizing the necessity of contentment, The Art of Divine Contentment exposes hidden sin. Second to the Bible, I have had no other book so bring me to a prayer of confession like this one. Watson pulls no punches and demands what the Bible commands: a striving to avoid sin, including the sin of discontent. Here’s just one of the many convicting quotes that challenge just how seriously I actually take my sin: “In every loss, there is only a suffering, but in every discontent, there is a sin–and one sin is worse than a thousand sufferings!” Do I avoid suffering more than I avoid sin? Later, he writes, “For every cross that befalls us, shall we call the infinite wisdom of God into question? O the blasphemy of our hearts!” Ouch. And yet, so true.

Finally, Watson explains a better way: the art of divine contentment. Ultimately, the divine contentment that God commands is rooted in the character of God. There is no suffering, no trial too severe that should be able to rock us from a contentment that is cemented in the foundation of God’s character. Pulling just one quote (though there are so many good ones!), Watson writes, “What though I am despised? Yet God loves me; what though my friends cast me off? Yet God loves me; he loves to the end, and there is no end of that love.”

Since Watson was a puritan author, some of his phrasing can be more antiquated and difficult to read, but if you put in the time and energy to get past that, the truths of God’s word he expounds are timeless and extremely beneficial.