The Bondage of the Will
by Martin Luther
Reviewed by R.C. Sproul Jr.

What do you get when you combine in one man a deep love for polemics, for sarcasm, for humor, for the Reformed faith, for his wife, for fattening foods and for beer? You get me, the reviewer. Now suppose you add to the mix unshakable courage, penetrating insight, and a profound knowledge of the Word of God? You get Martin Luther, whose book, The Bondage of the Will, the reviewer is reviewing.

Luther was one of those rare figures who not only stood astride the great events of history, but one who rightly belonged there. He was larger than life, but not in a stuffy, imperious way. For all his brilliance and courage he was so down to earth that perhaps earthy would be a better way to describe him.

The Bondage of the Will is in many ways like Luther. It was in his own estimation, and in my less significant judgment, his greatest work. While the Lutheran church is today a sort of hodgepodge of Arminian and Reformed thinking, one need only read this to know that Luther was himself squarely Reformed. It was his lieutenant Melancthon who led the church astray.

In The Bondage of the Will we see the link between the Protestant affirmation of justification by faith alone and what has come to be known as Calvinism. Reading this work we discover that predestination was not the icing on the Protestant cake, but was, in Luther's estimation the cake itself. He calls predestination the cor ecclesia, the heart of the church.

And he pours his heart out in the defense of this doctrine in this work. Luther wrote this work as an answer to the humanist Romanist Erasmus' Diatfibe, a work which at once argues that theology doesn't matter, and that man's will is free, as Arminians understand it. Having thanked Erasmus for at least getting to the real issue, and leaving off the comparatively petty issues of penance, purgatory and mariolatry, Luther attacks Erasmus and his views with vigor, charm and biting humor. Though it is an older work, because it is a work of Luther, it is suffused with life. Just as Luther was no dry and dusty academic, so this is no dry and dusty tome. Instead it is a clear articulation of man's total inability to come to Christ without the uninvited, regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.

If you can read only one book outside the Bible, this, I would argue is the book to read. It will not intimidate you, it will delight you. It will not confuse you, it will enlighten you. It will not weigh you down, it will lift you up into worship of our great, merciful, electing God. Of all the books I've ever read, this one is my favorite. I venture to guess it would be one of yours as well. But be sure to get a translation that comes with the introduction by J.1. Packer. It is Packer at his best, and that's pretty good. The book is published by Revell.

The Hospitality Commands
by Alexander Strauch
Reviewed by Denise Sproul, the hostess with the mostest

A friend of the study center who lives in Colorado graciously donated money for us to purchase several books, one of which is The Hospitality Commands by Alexander Strauch. This short 64 page booklet from Canon Press is packed with insights about this vital aspect of every Christian's life.

Strauch notes that the ideal beginning point for every Christian's service unto the Lord is the home. The most frequent image used to describe the church in the New Testament is "family." It follows that we should invite our brothers and sisters into our homes since they are part of our families. Christ's command to love one another requires that we serve one another regularly and are involved in each others' lives. Contrary to what some might think, this requirement applies to all believers, not just pastors and elders (though hospitality is listed as a requirement for church shepherds- see I Timothy 3:, 1 and 2). In fact, having those who rule in the church to your home might be a great way for you to minister to and encourage them. The author suggests that if anyone in the church complains of not knowing many fellow congregants, well, that person should take the initiative and invite others to his home to develop relationships and show Christian love.

Missionaries, new Christians, old families from church, elderly people, deaf people, teachers and pastors can all appreciate being welcomed into your home, whether it is for a meal, prayer, study, or a comfortable place to rest

while one is traveling. Another that would welcome an invitation is large families. I would imagine you know one or two and they probably don't get many invitations. It will take you a bit longer to prepare the meal, but the enjoyment you all will enjoy will be multiplied as well. I have been surprised and saddened at the shock I hear in the voices of mothers with many children when we have invited them here: "Really!? All of us? Are you sure?"

Hospitality is, as Strauch maintains, "a launching pad for the Gospel." If you are striving to live a life completely surrendered to the Lord, think what a radical difference seeing you and your family relate would be to an unbeliever or new convert. This is where the Christian life is fleshed out and where we can really share the Good News. We're not talking about Martha Stewart perfection (though if your entertaining gifts lean in that direction wonderful!) but the warmth of a shared meal and conversation and the effectiveness such has for showing Christ's love.

The author goes on to give some practical hints about being hospitable and firmly puts to rest fears and excuses. He discusses planning for a fairly regular time (whether it is weekly or monthly), making a list of people you think would be encouraged, asking thoughtful questions to get to know them, collecting recipes for inexpensive meals, promoting hospitality in your church by encouraging everyone to practice it, and praying that God would give you joy in this service to Him.