The World-Tilting Gospel, a Book Review

It has always perplexed and bothered me that many, many books about the gospel (and many evangelical tools) start with the Law, or the cross, or the perceived needs of a particular person or group. Starting with the Law assumes that the person listening cares about what God says (and if he does, he probably already has an idea of the Law); starting with the cross assumes (or should assume) that the person already understands God and sin and human nature. Starting with the perceived needs of the people...well, that just misses the mark altogether, I think. Every non-Christian I know either thinks he understands everything (but doesn't) or doesn't understand anything about God; both of them need to start with the basics.

And that is exactly what Dan Phillips does. In The World-Tilting Gospel, he starts at the beginning: creation. Starting at this point, he is able to show us, from the Bible, who we are and who God is. He explains everything carefully and clearly so that there can be no question about what he is saying, and he backs it up with Scripture through the book.

Once we understand who we are and who God is, and how completely removed we are from God and His standard for us, then we are ready to continue to the next part of the book: God's rescue plan. Here Dan makes clear that God's plan of salvation was planned from the beginning and executed in Christ, in His birth, life, death, and resurrection. Furthermore, it was completed in Christ: there is nothing left for us to do. Moreover, it is God who saves us. This, I think, is not a popular concept for a lot of people, who want some credit for their salvation, for their faith. This is also the reason I'm very glad that Dan starts at the beginning, because only then can we see that there is no way we can be involved in our salvation, and no way that we want to be involved with God.

And so we need salvation, God has planned salvation, we receive salvation (justification through faith...both from God). This is where too many of the books and such in the first paragraph stop. It's where everyone who told me about salvation stopped. It's a very bad place to stop because life doesn't stop there. It keeps going.

So does The World-Tilting Gospel. See: even when we're saved, there is still a struggle between the flesh and the Spirit. We're undergoing sanctification (being made holy) but we're not there yet. Here Dan talks about different errors, "misguided mind-sets" that seem pervasive in the church. I found this section particularly interesting, because in high school and university I ran into (and sometimes agreed with) all of them.

The first he calls "Gutless Gracers" who focus entirely on grace and maintain that works and obedience are not necessary. They claim that obedience turns grace into works. It's main danger is that it's very close to truth: we are not saved through works. What it forgets (or conveniently ignores) is that faith must be more than words, and that true faith produces obedience.

The second group are the "Crisis Upgraders." These people are all about the experience after salvation that makes you a better Christian. There are different versions, but in my world it was the importance of yielding yourself, making a deeper commitment (very symbolically, usually at a retreat), and becoming more like Christ in a one-time experience. That was supposed to make us more spiritual and less prone to sin (or to a particular sin). The problem is, the experience never lasted (but could be repeated at the next retreat). Eventually I learned exactly what Dan teaches here: Christian growth (and yielding) is an on-going thing, a process, not a quick-fix.

Finally, there is the group he calls the "Muzzy Mystics." Here we stop trying to live a Christian life and we let Jesus live it through us. Suddenly we don't have to work at it; in fact, it makes us more spiritual to not do anything. I don't have as much experience with this; Dan does, but I'm not going to quote the entire chapter (you can all read the book), but let me say this: it's not in the Bible either. We're not supposed to sit around and do nothing on the basis that Jesus will do everything; He's already done everything (remember the cross?). We're commanded to live holy lives, which means obedience to God's Word.

Dan goes on to talk about the struggle with the flesh that every believer encounters. He does not deny it and does not give false hope that one day we will become perfect Christians without sin or struggles; it is a struggle that will only end with glorification in Christ's presence. He also reminds us that we can't use it as an excuse for sin. This leads nicely into the work of the Holy Spirit, who was sent to all believers. It is only through the work of the Holy Spirit that we can put to death sin; it is only through the Holy Spirit that we can know victory.

He finishes by putting it all together. He shows us the ramifications of the gospel for our lives, how it has to be part of our entire lives, not just a part here or there. We must know the truth, we must live the truth, and we must tell the world the truth.

This is an excellent, excellent book. It is well-written and interesting (I have a friend who is reading it slowly because she's enjoying it so much and does not want it to end). Everyone should read it. If you are a Christian, read it for the joy of seeing things laid out so nicely and to see how to lay things out when speaking with unbelieving friends and family. Or, read it to refresh your mind and remind yourself of what's important. If you aren't a Christian, read it to see what Christianity is really all about. If you don't think you need to read it, read it anyway. It won't be wasted time, I promise.