Book: The Cross Centred Life - Keeping the Gospel the Main Thing
Author: C J Mahaney
C J Mahaney is
currently the Senior Pastor of Sovereign Grace Church in Louisville and is a
co-founder of Sovereign Grace Ministries.
He was previously the Senior Pastor at Covenant Life Church in
Gaithersburg, Maryland and there he mentored Joshua Harris, a name many of us
will recognise from student weekend-away book reviews and in depth discussions
on singleness and relationships.
Topic: The cross and living in light
of it.
Duh, I know. So now
for something a little more informative. The book focuses on 2 Timothy. As this
was Paul's last letter we expect to see the answer and the great truths he's
known all along to come out. And so the great truth that comes out is... The Cross.
The one great truth. Mahaney goes on to explain how having this cross centred
focus is the most important thing of all and how it can free us from the traps
of legalism, condemnation and subjectivism. These are particularly helpful
chapters.
Length: Short
The first time I
read this book it was on a plane from Newcastle to Bristol which took an hour
and a quarter. I started at take off and finished as we landed. This time reading it took a little longer,
but that is only to be expected from a more in depth and thoughtful study.
Style: Casual, very easy read
If you are person
for whom, like myself, big books on theology take a lot of time and effort
to read and get your head around you will find comfort and joy in this little
book. Mahaney writes in a way that is very
understandable and approachable, using honest examples from his own life, without compromising thoughtfulness and
intellect. There will be sentences that you want to read again to make sure
that you understood, but understanding will come quickly. He also asks lots of
questions throughout his book which could be sometimes read as hypothetical.
They often aren't, however, and are designed to really get you thinking and
questioning where you are at. Overall, there is a great balance of theology,
exegesis and application in this book. You will start by understanding more and
then be encouraged as you are taught ways to apply this great truth to your
life.
Why this book?: Honestly? Convenience.
If I'm perfectly
truthful, I read this book because my husband and I were going away for a long
weekend and we had decided to dedicate some time to reading Christian books. I
am currently making my way, very slowly, through Heaven by Randy Alcorn and was
aware that I should probably review something in the meantime because it was
taking me so long. However, that lovely weekend away (we have a very good
suggestion of a B&B in Wales is anyone is interested) was last October and
I still haven't written this review until now. Please forgive me!
However, there is a
secondary reason this book was the one instead of any other little book. I want
to keep my eyes fixed on the cross. This is one of the most important things I
can do as I try to live out my life under God's rule. I need a constant reminder
of the cross, and as I'm currently reading through the Old Testament in my
daily Bible reading time it was good to have a little book which was so focused on the cross to remind me of what
the OT is pointing to.
It's taught me:
This little book has
taught me to think again on the cross. We can all get complacent in our daily
Christian lives. But this is not what God has for us. He has promised to renew us daily, and for this I, CJ Mahaney
and the apostle Paul believe we need to be looking to the cross. In fact, CJ
Mahaney even starts this book with a chapter entitles 'Restating the obvious',
going on to say that it is often the most important thing that is the easiest
to forget. This book is all about our salvation, which we can only have through
the cross. It has also taught me that it is a loving thing to teach that we are
all sinners who desperately need the substitutionary death of Christ. This was
especially good to remember recently in conversations with non-believing
family.
Personally, the part
I found particularly helpful was the chapter on condemnation. I must admit to
putting myself under condemnation every day and not looking to Jesus who has
been sacrificed for me, has saved me and has taken all this baggage that I insist
on placing on myself. In my notes on this I have written: "I should not
waste any time feeling condemnation but be amazed and joyful because I do not
have to! Christ has taken it all!" A few months down the line and I am
glad to say that God has been changing me in this area and making me more
joyful and much less self-condemning.
Favourite quote:
"A cross
centred life is made up of cross centred days."
A bit cheesy I know,
but very good to remember.
Who is this book for?
This is actually
quite a difficult question. In simple terms, the answer is all Christians. Again, I feel this may not be
the best book for someone who is just questioning as it assumes that you are a
believer already. But with regards to who would particularly benefit from this
book I feel there are a few categories of person:
1) A new/'baby'
Christian - During the first few years after coming to Christ I would call
myself a 'baby' Christian. All I meant by this was that, as a child, my
understanding was not as fully developed as I would hope it would one day be. I
feel that this book would be good for someone with a basic understanding. Even
if, as is the case with many new Christians, they are not struggling with the
issues presented in this book such as legalism, condemnation and subjectivism
it is a great starting place for them. If we put the gospel at the centre of
our lives from early on in our walk with God then it can only be a good thing.
2) Those who haven't
seen spiritual growth for a while - When we do not grow as Christians we are
sometimes tempted to think that it is God not holding up his end of the
bargain. However, there is no bargain. We have done nothing to deserve growth
and closeness to God. If we are able to realign our thinking to God's, to his gospel, then we are bound to
see growth.
3) Old Testament
dwellers - By this I only mean people who maybe are, like myself, reading their
way through the bible in a year (or three...) and have got a lot of Old
Testament still to go. There often isn't time in our day to read both our daily
reading and a bit of a gospel or the New Testament, but we do often read a book
alongside our daily bible reading. This book will help us see some core truths
from the New Testament and not forget about the culmination of the Old.
Final Thoughts:
I first read this book when it was the topic of a student weekend away. It was
fantastic to read then, and really impacted me, and it is still very good to
read. However, for me, as my theology and my thinking has developed I do feel
it does often miss out the resurrection. The cross and the resurrection together should be the most important thing.
This is just a small note to make for anyone who wants to read it - just think
on what came after the cross as well as the cross itself.
I found this book
very helpful. It helped me to realign my thinking with God's and to keep the
gospel message in mind. This has been great while I'm reading through the Old
Testament. It was great to try and answer the questions that Maheney posed to
try and evaluate if I truly do keep the gospel at the heart of my Christian
life, and I can say that God is doing some really great work in my life. Praise
be to Him!
Do read this book.
It's only little. It won't take very long. It's wonderful to have in your bag
when you have a short-ish train/plane journey ahead. And if you really love it then there is an
extended version called "Living the Cross Centred Life" which will
continue to keep your heart fixed on Jesus.
What's next?
I'm still going on
Heaven by Randy Alcorn. I apologise that it is taking me so long. If you are
really interested then my delay is partially due to new work commitments and
due to my newfound creative streak. I have started knitting and sewing, and I'm
afraid I have, over the past few months, found my knitting needles in my hands
more than my books! I seem to be finding more of a balance now and so I hope
that my review of Part One of Heaven will be with you in the next month or so.
Thank you for your patience, and you can place your orders for knitted garments
or accessories in the comments box below.
