Customer Reviews

Confronting The Controversies: Biblical Perspectives On Tough Issues: Leader's Guide

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Adam Hamilton is my pastor and I had the privilege of hearing his sermon series on controversial issues. Through all of his study and research for the sermons, he created this book. Each of the seven chapters covers one issue. They include the following: The Separation of Church and State, Creation and Evolution in the Public Schools, The Death Penalty, Euthanasia, Prayer in Public Schools, Abortion, and Homosexuality. In each chapter, Adam presents the most common and convincing arguments for both sides of an issue. Then he gives his conclusions and his personal stance on the issue. Although I would characterize Adam as a moderate, you'll find his various conclusions not representing liberalism or conservatism, but his search for the truth in Christianity.

Adam Hamilton's outstanding book gives a concise overview of different perspectives within the Christian community on issues that are problematic for many of us such as abortion, homosexuality, euthanasia and the death penalty. I found the chapters on homosexuality and the death penalty to be particularly enlightening because he is so candid with regard to his own struggle to come to terms with these questions. If you want to confront the "truth" in both sides of these controversies and to challenge yourself to understand why you believe what you do, this is the book for you. One of the best Christian books I have ever read. And did I mention that it is well-written, concise, easy to understand and includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter? I am buying multiple copies for friends and family.

Adam does a nice job of walking you through the issue and leaves it somewhat open so you can create your own thoughts and beliefs. Unlike popular media where you are told what to think - Adam takes a far better approach so you as a Child of Christ can work through the issue depending on where you are at with your journey.
Dave

Adam Hamilton has the remarkable ability to hold two opposing positions "in tension", and then encouraging the reader to synthesize a viable resolution.

In this book, Hamilton confronts seven difficult issues that the Church and society have not been able to satisfactorily resolve, including abortion, homosexuality, and prayer in schools. Instead of pounding his pulpit, Hamilton exposes the various sides of the argument with honesty and fairness. Instead of coming down hard on one side on the other, Hamilton enables the reader to appreciate the sincerity that permeates all sides.

No matter what you end up deciding about each topic, you owe it to yourself to read this book to gain an even-handed insight into the subject.

Truly great study of the issues facing today's society and a Christian, a true Christian, response to those issues. This book is not, repeat IS NOT, for those Christians who claim to have and to know all the answers, those who are quick to judge and condemn, but slow to understand or accept the concept Jeus preached most--grace.

This book is for the caring, concerned Christian trying to ascertain and determine how to live a Christ-like life in today's world with all of the issues we face. One may or may not agree with Adam Hamilton's decisions on his personal perspective, but those to think, care, and want to truly view and study the issues as Jesus would have, will find this book most helpful and meaningful. Not a "deep" book, but a valuable book, filled with meaningful perspectives and insights.

Again, this is not a book for the Religious Right, those who claim to be "Christian" and have all the answers, those who enjoy "owning" the moral high ground and take great pleasure in judgement and condemnation of others, those who, while denying it, eagerly look forward to acting as God's Gestapo. This book is for those who earnestly and prayerfully seek to live a Christian Life in our world today.

Great Service, Great Book, Is a Great Sunday School Study, Adam Hamilton, is a good, easy to understand,

Exceptionally sensitive to all sides of the issues, yet
boldly on the side of the Scriptural position.
It is good to be able to purchase this kind of serious book
at Amazon.com

The Sunday School class that I attend selected this book to be the source material for a discussion period. I purchased a copy of the book so that I would be more familiar with the material presented during the weekly discussions.

I recommend this book. Adam Hamilton presented the various sides of some of the most controversial issues facing the Church and the United States today. I am using it as a source for my Sunday Adult Christian Education class.

The author is a pastor who took a sermon series on controversial issues and turned it into a book. The author claims to describe both sides of the controversies and then look at them from the biblical perspective.

The book deals with the following topics:

* Evolution
* Church/State Separation
* Death Penalty
* Euthanasia
* Prayer in School
* Abortion
* Homosexuality

I found in most cases the author did not do a good job of presenting both sides of the argument.

For example, with the death penalty, the author provided about 1 page on the "for" side and about 3 pages on the "against" side.

The only two topics that I believe the author did present sufficient information about both sides of the controversy was with abortion and homosexuality.

On some of the issues I believe the author is just plain wrong with his conculsions and several statements. For example, the author seems to agree with the basic principles of evolution and believes that there is no danger in teaching it to our children. The author even alludes to mankind as being an experiment of God's! I am not sure what Scripture he twisted to come up with that interpretation.

Another example is the church-state separation issue. He tells people when praying publicly not to pray in Jesus' name so we don't offend anyone! The purpose of praying in Jesus' name is certainly not to offend people, but we are to pray to God in Jesus' name as described in Scripture.

I do agree with the author about prayer in school somewhat. I do not believe it is the school's job to raise children, especially in the faith. The responsibility to teach children about right and wrong comes from the parents, the family, and the church.

Overall this book seems to fail at providing an independent look at both sides of these controversies. In some cases I believe it even fails to look at them from a proper biblical perspective. Therefore, this is one book that can be skipped.