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Dug Down Deep: Unearthing What I Believe and Why It Matters

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In today's world, doctrine and orthodoxy get a bad rap. Many sincere Christians assume studying doctrine is primarily a waste of time. Doctrine usually leads to cold and dead religion, or else it promotes a divisive and bitter spirit that splits churches and wounds people. What really matters is one's personal relationship with God, and his love for fellow believers.

Joshua Harris would have agreed with this basic sentiment at one time. Dug Down Deep is the story of how he came to realize how important and even life-changing the study of the Bible's doctrine really can be. Harris invites the reader along as he explains what the basic doctrines (or teachings) of the Bible are and illustrates the impact they have had in his own spiritual walk.

Harris writes in a refreshing, open manner. He lets you into his life even sharing some of the dark secrets of his past. He shares the story of his father Gregg's conversion to Christ, as well as his own journey from a seeker-sensitive church youth group to being pastoral intern to C.J. Mahaney.

The book's readability helps it to communicate so effectively when Harris explains such doctrines as the sovereignty of God, sinfulness of man, substitutionary atonement, and the gospel of God's grace. It is the books focus on grace which most dramatically stands out. This is what drew Harris to the joy of knowing Bible doctrine, and it is worth quoting him at some length on this point.

"...it was this message of the gospel of grace for which C.J. Reserved his greatest passion. Most preachers and zealous Christians I knew got fired up over what we needed to do for God. But C.J.'s greatest passion was reserved for exulting in what God had done for us. He loved to preach about the Cross and how Christ died in our place, as our substitute.

For someone who had practically been born into church, I found this surprisingly new. The deeper I delved into Christian doctrine, the more I saw that the good news of salvation by grace alone in Jesus, who died for sin--the gospel--was the main message of the whole Bible.

I suppose it might seem completely obvious that this is the center of the Christian faith, and yet it felt new to me. I began to see orthodoxy as the treasuring of the truths that point to Jesus and his saving work. Doctrine was the living story of what Jesus did for us and what it means...." (pg. 27)

As you can see, Harris' own story provides the perfect backdrop for illustrating how important it is to learn Bible doctrine. Harris argues that we need to dig down deep in order to build our lives on the rock of the solid Biblical teaching of Christ.

This book will introduce the young Christian to the glory of orthodox Christian doctrine. It will also encourage those who do know doctrine, to aim for a humble orthodoxy and see how such knowledge should fuel love and service for others. Dug Down Deep will be an easy read for anyone, but it packs a punch. It will challenge you to make sure you are building on a sure foundation. I recommend this book highly.

My thanks go out to WaterBrook Multnomah publishers for providing me a review copy of this book.

I have been writing book reviews for almost three years and sometimes you know when a book is going to make a difference. I received this book while I was away on Christmas vacation and when I arrived, for the first time in three years a book arrived almost destroyed (this was NO fault of those who sent it). Something leaked from someone else's mailbox, I knew this was a book Satan did not want me to read. This made me even more determined to dry the pages out and read the book. Boy was I glad I did. If you have ever thought studying orthodoxy is just for scholars, well Josh shows you that is not true. His book is easy to read, easy to understand and written in a smooth conversational tone. Readers will feel like they sitting across the table listening to Harris share some of his insights of why theology matters.

This was a GREAT book to begin 2010.

Whether you are just exploring Christianity or you are a veteran believer finding yourself overly familiar and cold-hearted, Dug Down Deep will help you rediscover the timeless truths of Scripture. As Harris challenges you to root your faith and feelings about God in the person, work, and words of Jesus, he answers questions such as:

What is God like and how does he speak to me?
What difference does it make that Jesus was both human and divine?
How does Jesus's death on the cross pay for my sins?
Who is the Holy Spirit and how does he work in my life?

Joshua Harris takes the well known, but not well understood, parable of the builder (who builds his home on the sand vs the builder who builds his home on the rock under the sand) and applies it in a rich and insightful way to our understanding of Christian doctrine and theology. Dug Down Deep calls the reader to a deeper understanding of Christianity; to the why not just the what of our belief. It is a call to a firm foundation that will lead to a revived love for and appreciation of God. Each of the chapters in the book, after the first couple which serve to introduce us to the topic, go into greater depth on a specific orthodox theology, explaining why it matters and how we apply that knowledge to our walk with Christ.

In reading this book I found a balance between head knowledge and its affect on heart. Too many times I have seen someone go to the extreme on either side. I've seen people go too far to knowledge side where they know so much about God but they may not actually know God, and I've seen the opposite where people experience God but have no idea what their experiences mean. This book is a great resource for those in your life (including yourself) that fit into one of those categories.

Highly recommended.

This book was supplied by WaterBrook Multnomah as a review copy.

"We're all theologians. The question is whether what we know about God is true."

So begins the first book from Joshua Harris to hit the shelves in almost five years. Those familiar with his previous books and magazines will recognize his winsome and engaging writing style, but the content is very new for him. "Dug Down Deep" tackles some weighty theological issues in a simple, accessible way... something not easily accomplished!

Rather than approach theology from an academic perspective, Harris draws the reader into his own story of learning to dig deep into the Scriptures, the same way the man in Luke 6:48 dug deep to lay the foundation of his home on solid rock. This is a very conversational, pastoral approach to theology, and one which works very well. As we are drawn into his personal story, we encounter theological terms like "propitiation" and "penal substitution" in a way that doesn't simply define the terms, but shows us -- through parables, analogies, and personal reflections -- what they mean in a real and practical way.

See, the premise of this book is that theology is for everyone, not just scholars. Furthermore, everyone has a theology of some sort; we all have knowledge and ideas about God (even that He may not exist). What matters more than anything is that what we know about God is actually true. So Harris brings these lofty terms down to ground level so those who've never been introduced to them can get to know them, and those who have studied them at length can encounter these Truths in a fresh new way.

Harris does all of this without compromising on sound, orthodox theology. While there may be minor points of doctrine where some would disagree with him (for instance, with regard to spiritual gifts), he does a masterful job of navigating some controversial topics in a way that promotes unity among the Body of Christ where we so often have division. In particular, I appreciated his care in explaining God's sovereignty in our salvation and sanctification, and also the chapter on the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

The reason Harris is able to make these tricky subjects so accessible is that he truly exemplifies what he calls "Humble Orthodoxy", which is the title and subject of the final chapter. Though it is the shortest chapter, it is easily the best, and worth the price of the book all by itself. Harris addresses the way orthodoxy should make us humble, but often seems to make us (read: me) arrogant and contentious. Let me share just a few great quotes from this chapter that, while not new, are things I desperately need to hear over and over again in my life:

* "Love for God and love for neighbor require opposing falsehood. There is nothing more unloving than to be silent in the face of lies that will ruin another person."
* "Many Christians, especially young ones, are running from orthodoxy, not so much because of doctrine, but because of the arrogance and divisiveness they associate with those who promote it."
* "The solution to arrogant orthodoxy is not less orthodoxy; it's more. If we truly know and embrace orthodoxy, it should humble us."
* "Do you want to keep your orthodoxy humble? Try to live it. Don't spend all your time theorizing about it, debating about it, or blogging about it. Spend more energy living the truth you know than worrying about what the next guy does or doesn't know. Don't measure yourself by what you know. Measure yourself by your practice of what you know."
* "The message of Christian orthodoxy isn't that I'm right and someone else is wrong. It's that I am wrong and yet God is filled with grace."

Amen and amen! May we all undertake a lifelong pursuit of humble orthodoxy... starting with me.

This book may not be destined to be read multiple times by any one person, but it has just been bumped to the top of my list of books to recommend or loan to those who are just beginning their study of theology.

Dug Down Deep is the new book by Joshua Harris. Joshua Harris is senior pastor of Covenant Life in Gaithersburg, Maryland, which belongs to the Sovereign Grace network of local churches. A passionate speaker with a gift for making theological truth easy to understand, Joshua is perhaps best known for his runaway bestseller, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, which he wrote at the age of twenty-one. His later books include Boy Meets Girl, Sex Is Not the Problem (Lust Is), and Stop Dating the Church. The founder of the NEXT conferences for young adults, Joshua is committed to seeing the gospel transferred to a new generation of Christians. He and his wife, Shannon, have three children.

Content
In Dug Down Deep, Harris sets out to tell his journey toward orthodox theology. He also describes why it matters. In the book, Harris discusses the major doctrines of the church. He looks at the Bible, Jesus, Sin and the crucifixion. He looks at who God is, who the Holy Spirit is, and the second coming of Christ. The first part of the book tells his journey from a teenager in a seeker-oriented church in Oregon to his role as senior pastor of Covenant Life Church in Maryland. The second part deals with the doctrines and his theological underpinning.

Thoughts
I really enjoyed the first part of the book. I appreciated how he told with great transparency the journey from a consumeristic, attractional youth ministry in Oregon to a theology-soaked heart in Maryland. I also appreciated the story of how his soul longed for the depth of a relationship with the Godhead. The background of his life was revealing and mirrors many folks today who grew up in an attractional youth group. However, after I got past the autobiographical piece, the book just became a bit ho-hum. While it didn't read like a systematic theology, it really was just an espousal of reformed theology along the lines of more readable, though not so hefty Wayne Grudem.

I do appreciate that he called on his readers to bypass the attitude that theology doesn't matter or that it is only for those in ivory towers or in the ministry. In addition, I also appreciate how he made the doctrines a bit more accessible. For a younger audience, or for those who have little exposure to theology, I'm sure it might be an interesting reading. However, for me, it was not motivating or engaging.

I love this book. Harris uses a gentle style, reminiscent of his friend Donald Miller, to walk the reader through a thoroughly Biblical systematic theology. He uses many personal stories about his family members and his own struggles, but they don't feel indulgent because they always connect directly to the theological concepts he is trying to illustrate. What I particularly like about this book is that Harris is someone who shot to fame in Christian circles with I Kissed Dating Goodbye (Hardcover), and rather than trying to squeeze another book out of an old concept, he uses this book to really let himself be challenged by the Bible, even admitting that his theology wasn't well developed when he became famous. This is a very humble book, both true and compassionate, and I would not hesitate to recommend it for anyone who wants to learn about God from an author who genuinely cares for both God and his own readers.

"What is God like and how does he speak to me? What difference does it make that Jesus was both human and divine? How does Jesus's death on the cross pay for my sins? Who is the Holy Spirit and how does he work in my life? With grace and wisdom, Harris will inspire you to revel in the truth that has captured his own mind and heart. He will ask you to dig deep into a faith so solid you can build your life on it. He will point you to something to believe in again." This excerpt from the book jacket pretty much sums it up!

I can honestly tell you that what I have read has opened my heart to receive all that Jesus has for me and to give HIM all that I have in me. I certainly have a new perspective and I must say, a new attitude.

While I have always had faith that there is a God, that Jesus died for me and that His Holy Spirit dwells in me, I did not have a complete understanding. It made me want to weep when I think about how I have been so cavalier about the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross for me... FOR ME! I don't think I ever really felt the depth of His sacrifice.

Joshua Harris breaks it down so that the newest of Christians to the most mature, will have an understanding of how much Christ sacrificed for us and what our response should be. He explains the nature of God, His Son and the Holy Spirit in such detail, that there is no doubt that he is the Holiest of Holies! He provides scriptural references as well as insights and passages from well known Christian Pastors and theologists. Most importantly, he explains away all of the excuses and lies that belong in the world, not in the Christian life. There is no perfect Christian but there are many who are striving to live a life similar to Jesus. I highly recommend this book to help you answer some of the questions you might have on your path to having a truly fulfilling relationship with Jesus.

Love and Blessings!
Margaret

This was book was provided to me for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Dug Down Deep, Unearthing What I Believe and Why It Matters by Joshua Harris has been a delight to read. He delves into some of the basic doctrines of the Bible. Doctrines that bridge the gap between our soft beliefs and the strength of the Word of God.

Yes, he discusses salvation, sanctification, redemption, orthodoxy, atonement, theology, substitution, propitiation, regeneration and other doctrines of the faith. But it is far from a dry book. With reverence and humor he walks us through concepts we may never have heard of before or maybe we have just dimmed our eyes and hearts to them--pushing them to the back burner of our lives.

Joshua writes, "Every new generation of Christians has to ask the question, what are we actually choosing when we choose to be Christians?" This book introduces the discussion and inspires us to learn more of God's plan for mankind.

Believing the Bible is God's word is not enough for the long haul. He believes it is important that we understand, "the story line of the Bible from start to finish."

Throughout the book Joshua Harris makes reference to the many books he has studied on these subjects. They are great resources for further study on our part.

"What makes it difficult for us to see the truth about God, I think, isn't his overwhelming immensity but our overwhelming self-centeredness." Joshua Harris

The tenth chapter was where my mind and heart settled. I am still pondering the truths found in, "The Invisible Made Visible," 'God's plan has always been a group plan--he reveals himself through his people.'

I have been struggling with the issue of church attendance and membership for a couple of years, ever since 2007 when my husband was dying. Reading this chapter today has given me a clearer picture of God's purpose for his imperfect body of blood-bought believers. It doesn't heal old wounds, but it gives me a new lens to see through.

Many of us can relate to this powerful truth from his book:

"Compliance isn't conviction. Conformity to other people's standards isn't conviction. Adapting to a church culture isn't conviction. Biblical conviction is the result of the study of Scripture, careful thought, discussion, and the search for wisdom. It requires work. It requires the humility to test the results of our choices and change our actions when necessary. Most important it requires a laser focus on God."

This book was provided for review by Waterbrook Mutlnomah. This review is my opinion and receiving the book for free has not swayed that opinion.

Joshua Harris needs to do some research about the Amish before he totally disses them in his next book. I used to buy all his books, but this one is the last one. I am an Amish girl and I NEVER stumbled around in a long dowdy dress drinking moonshine! His thing about rumspringing is so false. My parents and I are actually normal people with morals and brains. I am so disappointed in Joshua Harris for passing his opinion on the Amish culture without researching it. M. Yoder

It is a book on Orthodoxy--meaning, right belief about God. Theology 101. Yes, the essentials. And it's not dry!

Harris' style of communication is very engaging. Here is a man who doesn't write about Theology as "here are the answers, deal with it!" but as a journey of wrestling through his own beliefs and making sense of his own experiences in light of Scripture.

My recommendation is: Read it. Be inspired. It's very healthy for your spiritual life. You can't own your beliefs until you've thought them through and wrestled with them. All of us come to Scripture with many preconceived ideas or we simply accept whatever our pastors say. Let's examine these beliefs under the light of the Word of God!

We're all theologians. Let's not be bad ones.