Customer Reviews

Apprentice: Walking the Way of Christ

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I bought this book unaware of the controversy Chalke created with a prior book regarding the subject of atonement. I'm glad I did, because otherwise I would have missed out on some very good nuggets of biblical wisdom.

I was very much enjoying the book until I got to the section on Forgiving, when suddenly the biblical Jesus was replaced with the "social activist" Jesus. Most people are uncomfortable with the theology of turning the other cheek. Chalke is apparently so uncomfortable with it that he completely turns the traditional interpretation of this passage around to make it about asserting ourselves. He goes into a very contrived explanation of how turning the left cheek would dare a slave owner to hit an inferior with an unclean hand, which would then make them equals. Huh? He provides not one single reference to back up this interpretation.

The social activist Jesus stays with us for the remainder of the book, when suddenly Christianity is defined as a religion created by God to ensure the liberation of the poor, oppressed and enslaved. While I certainly believe liberating the poor, oppressed and enslaved is among the goals of Christians, I believe the primary goal of the Christian is to glorify God (Isaiah 43:7). While Jesus did desire to liberate the poor, oppressed and enslaved, his primary goal was to liberate all people from their own sin (John 8:34-36). He was open and available to both the oppressed and the oppressors.

There is much to learn from this book about walking in the way of Christ -- much that I will try to incorporate in my own walk. The section on Believing is in particular very good. But while some ideas may sound very good, I would be hesitant to accept anything new that has no proof -- biblical or otherwise -- to back it up.

Very good condition for a very good price. Got it brand new and under a dollar. One thing i would have to mention is that i paid more for the shipping than the book itself! Either way it's a better deal i would get anywere else.