Customer Reviews

Putting Amazing Back into Grace: Embracing the Heart of the Gospel

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Putting Amazing Back Into Grace is the first book I have read by Michael Horton. It will certainly not be my last. On the cover of the book J.I. Packer declares the book "a breaktaking workout" and his praise is justified. This book points us back to the Reformation and ultimately to the Bible itself as the source of an amazing grace that much of modern Christianity seems to have lost. He presents timeless truths as being as relevant to us today as they were when they were first discovered.

Horton redraws the standard TULIP acronym using modern terms. Total Depravity becomes Rebels Without A Cause, Unconditional Election becomes Grace Before Time, Limited Atonement becomes Mission Accomplished, Irresistible Grace becomes Intoxicating Grace and Perseverance of The Saints becomes No Lost Causes. While the terms may have changed, the truth behind each is defended and, perhaps best of all, made relevant to life. More than a theological treatise, this book contains an element of intense practicality where Horton shows how these doctrines are relevant to everyday life.

Among the other topics Horton covers are dispensationalism which he bravely attacks and the sacraments which he describes as being two keys to spiritual growth. I found the chapter of sacraments the weakest part of the book. While he has given me some food for thought, I do have to take issue with some of his statements. He takes a firm stance for paedo-baptism as well as a sacramental view of the "ordinances", so be prepared for that. His comments about evangelical churches adding extra sacraments (ie recommitment) are well-taken.

Perhaps my greatest praise is that this book challenges so many assumptions and so many of the words and phrases Christians use all the time. Horton traces the evolution of many of these phrases and shows how they are unbiblical at best, and heretical at worst. Some examples of this are "let go and let God" and "the Spirit's leading." Common phrases, but ones we use without really examining their underlying theological implications.

I do not use the term life-changing easily, but I do not believe it would be unfair to say that this book can change a life. It is a stunning portrayal of the doctrines of grace and one I know I will return to often. I give it my wholehearted recommendation for all believers. If you do not know the doctrines of grace, read this book and discover them for yourself. If you do, read this book to rediscover their greatness. This book will leave you in awe before the greatness of our God.

What St. Horton Really Said

Yes, I am basing my title off an N T Wright book (I borrowed the title, I am not critiquing or applauding Wright). I really get annoyed at having to write reviews that are both explanatory of the book and refuting what some anti-Horton apologist wrote. I am speaking particularly of the reader from Portland, OR. I will not spend too much time refuting him, he does a good job of it himself. My aim in this review is to speak of the book, refute the attacking reviewer, and explain how one is to write a review.

Horton attempts several things in this book: 1) present historic, reformed Christianity in a popular fashion, and 2) offer this new-found protestantism as an antidote to the self-help psychology group. Since many in the debate are familiar with the five points of Calvinism, I will forego them, sufficing to say that Horton gives them new (and better) names, killing the acronym. Instead of Total Depravity--Rebels without a Cause; Unconditional Election--Grace before Time; Limited Atonement--Mission Accomplished; Irresistable Grace--Intoxicating Grace; Perseverance of the Saints--No Lost Causes. Fear not, Calvinists, these are the same doctrines always taught, just renamed.

Horton does several challenging things with this gospel: 1) after affirming that God is Soveriegn, he then critiques Dispensationalism and charges it with affirming that God has lost control over creation. His second to last chapter is on keys to spiritual growth (think: sacraments). I have to disagree with him on baptism, although it is a well-defended chapter. I disagree with Horton on two points: Baptism and his representation of postmillennialism. I know he is aware of the differences between theonomic postmillennialism and pietistic postmillennialism, he tends to blur the lines a few times

How Not to write a Review:
The above mentioned reviewer claimed that Calvinists always used Augustine as their prime spokesman; that is only half-true. Calvinists find Augustine has a powerful ally against the Pelagians; however, his views on the sacraments helped plunge the Middle Age Church into darkness. Kevonic is attributing to Horton what the history has revealed about Augustine. Even if his historical analysis were true (which I doubt), that would be totally irrelevant to the issue at hand. HORTON DID NOT EVEN ONCE QUOTE AUGUSTINE, NOR DID HE NEED TO!!!!!! That leads me to infer that the reviewer DID NOT EVEN READ THE BOOK!. And what is the deal with bringing up Tom Oden. Every one knows that Oden is an Arminian. Furthermore, we all welcome Oden restoring the Church Fathers to our reading lists, and we applaud his heroic attacks on liberalism. Does not Mr Kevonic know that Oden appeared as a special guest in Horton's magazine, MODERN REFORMATION? And contrasting Oden with Packer? They have co-authored at least one book, ONE FAITH, I think it is. I know they have thier theological differences. Furthermore, most Calvinists know the difference between a semi-Pelagian (which is what the Evangelical Church is today) and an Arminian. For a difference, of which Horton is aware being that he was a contributor to the book, see FOUR VIEWS ON ETERNAL SECURITY, which has Calvinist, Arminian, and Semi-Pelagian views. In fact, I will quote Horton from that book, "Stephen Ashby's (an Arminian) contribution represents a much-needed correction of the caricatures of Arminius's views" (Four Views, 188). Does that sound like Horton is unaware of the distinction?

How to write a Review"
Briefly explain the review, express, with examples, your areas of disagreement/agreement. Correct caricatures made of the book; recommend other books.

I have been re-re-reading "Putting Amazing Back into Grace" by Michael Horton and am stunned once again! Any book that can capture your thoughts the third time around and make you expand on those thoughts is a book that you can really enjoy over and over until the binding wears out. The way I'm reading the book this time is reminiscent of the way I read "Desiring God" by John Piper about a year ago, chapter by chapter.

It is a slow, methodical process and one would think that reading a chapter more than once before moving on would get monotonous, but not so. This is my favorite way to read anything of substance.

When an author presents something radical and new to me, I pour over it and look at the evidence given. I consult other works that I trust and ask questions of those whose opinions I have learned to respect. I also look to these sources for objections. When I was told about the Doctrine of Grace, my first thought was, "Of course one is saved by grace as soon as he takes the necessary steps toward grace." Trusted brothers in Christ patiently presented a grace to me that was much more amazing than what I had believed before.

The radical idea that I don't have to jump through any hoops! The belief that God is active at every level of our being, including the important parts! The concept that the atonement was not even a partial failure! These are the kinds of things I wrestled with until this doctrine was presented to me.

I read and learned, but had some nagging questions about it all. And then came a book review by Tim Challies. I immediately decided to purchase this title.

After one quick reading of this book, it all began to really make sense to me. The Reformed faith is not some legalistic holier-than-thou faith, contrary to the way that some practice it. On the contrary, it is a faith that despises legalism as the very reason the Reformers broke from the church was for their concerns with rules being added to the word of God. The Doctrines of Grace are nothing if you don't recognize the fact that sin is not found in the world per se, but within yourself. In light of much of today's teaching that humans are basically good people who have a myriad of options toward redemption (assuming the need for redemption is expressed), the doctrine of a self who is tainted by sin, both original and personal, is one that humbles all. Nobody has the right to act pious, as if their outward showing could fool God!

This book is the straw that broke the camel's back and caused me to turn away from self-redemption. I came to realize that no measure of retribution to God could begin to pay my debt. I also came to understand that an outwardly pious attitude is an affront to our Lord and Savior who did not leave any debt for me to pay.

This book offers so many reasons for my recommendation that I cannot list them all here. If you have questions about any of the major doctrines of the Reformed faith, this book brings the doctrines of the Reformation down to the lower shelf where anyone can understand their logic.

Michael Horton's Putting Amazing Back into Grace has many strengths to commend it. Horton writes relatively simply and primarily for his own generation, Generation X. (The book originally was published in 1991 and includes several pop culture references familiar to members of that generation.) He covers a lot of theology, making J.I. Packer's summary of the book as a serious workout apt. And while opinionated, Horton is generally genial when he discusses opposing positions. The greatest strength of the book is seen in how Horton begins his discussion with humanity's creation and then moves on to give the big Scriptural picture from there.

Nonetheless, if you're not of a Reformed persuasion, this book may fail to convince you. At times, particularly in the section "Christian Liberty," Horton drives his arguments from Reformers' beliefs rather than, strictly speaking, Scripture per se. (More than one wag has said before that Reformers tend to use Scripture to interpret the Reformers rather than the other way around.) Horton's appendix of Scripture references and quotes from Christians throughout history is the book's weakest part: Far too many times, Horton cites verses favorable or seemingly favorable to the Reformed position, only to leave out text that seemingly points in a non-Reformed position just a few verses away. The quotes from Christians throughout the centuries contain few from the Middle Ages, and, worse, often clearly show that the authors do not totally agree with Reformed views. (Quite a few give humanity more freedom in their choices than Reformers do.) Furthermore, many of the quotes are so short that you cannot really be sure that the author meant what Horton says he meant in context.

Nonetheless, Putting Amazing Back into Grace helped me understand Reformed theology a good deal more; Horton's discussion of the atonement in Chapter 7 was particularly helpful in this regard. For a good, general overview of Reformed theology, I cannot imagine a better book.

Michael Horton's book on the Reformed faith is unlike any others. On one hand he packs a lot of theology in this book. On the other hand, he makes it look it readable with the various illustrations in the book, neat chapter titles and sub-titles and "less than serious" looking front cover.

Those who are familiar with the Christian organisation Mike works for [Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals (ACE), previously Christian United for Reformation (CURE)] and the organisation's Christian magazine - the excellent modern Reformation (mR) - will know what Mike is talking about in this book. Most of the insights in this book are used very often in an expanded and elaborate fashion in previous issues of mR.

Horton goes beyond mere 5 point Calvinism - though he writes no less on it in this book. He talks also about the 2 Sacraments and a bit of the Christian's role in the world (which is expanded in his other book, "Where in the world is the Church")

As i start to mature in my understanding of the Reformed faith, I've always been brought to refer back to this book. What this shows is that this book contains a lot of good stuff! Horton does a wonderful job in trying to write an introduction to the Reformed faith. But I always wonder if this would be a good book to give my non-Reformed friends. I don't know. For those who aren't familiar with the Reformed faith, they won't be able to get the full gisp of what Horton is saying. Nevertheless, that only shows that there is so much to learn in Reformed theology and that a book on introducing the Reformed faith is no doubt going to be very general in nature.

After all has been said, this still remains the best book and most comprehensive introduction on the Reformed faith!

I read this several years ago at the recommendation of a friend, then I started recommending (and even buying) it for others!

Although I grew up in a Presbyterian Church and sat through many months of Catechism, I remember almost nothing from those days. But "Putting Amazing Back Into Grace" (as well as other of Dr Horton's works) is a book to remember. He simplifies Grace and Salvation like no other Christian scholar I've read, without dumbing down. He writes as though to young college students of theology, thus keeping it scholarly while easy to read and comprehend. (I can't say the same for his quarterly magazine, however; his articles there seem to be marketed toward seminary students, making him more difficult to comprehend.)

I lost count on how many copies of this book I bought and/or recommended for people wanting to gain a thorough understanding of Reformation Theology. So here I am again, recommending it not just to a select few friends, but to all that may read this review.

I was not raised a Calvinist but as a Roman Catholic. Presently I am an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God( That is correct, a Pentecostal Calvinist). This is one of the most readable and easily comprehendable books on Reformed theology that I have yet to encounter. No doubt there will be many who do not agree with the author's theological presuppostions. But for anyone who is curious, or perhaps, is being drawn to the Reformed tradition, this is an excellent place to begin. Horton merely takes "the cookies and places them down on the lower shelf," easily within a person's grasp. Agree or disagree, this book is a must for anyone who desires to understand the essentials of historic Christianity. And yes, there are many who are Pentecostal/charismatic who are also completely Reformed, while not being altogether cessasionist.

Michael Horton in this book clears up many false presuppositions of people against Calvinism. In my own journey to Calvinism I struggled particurlarly with the doctrine of Limited Atonement. Horton defines it rather as "Particular Redemption." After reading this spin of it, my own logical fallacies were swept away and I began to rejoice in a God so beautiful as to ransom me. Another interesting part of the book is the end where he in gives the reader a bibliography to pursue furhter study. Also, he quotes extensivley from Church Fathers and their view on the 'Doctrines of Grace'. My only disagreement with Horton is his view on infant baptism. This is only natural, I being a Baptist. Be that as it may, this is a wonderful book and will be very helpful in helping young Calvinists gently and persuasivly explain their beliefs to their Arminian brethren.

This simple and easily understood volume is one of the best, if not THE best introduction to Biblical Christianity. Horton explains man's helpless condition and his need for a grace that only God can provide. He shows that the Triune God is not only the finisher of faith but also its author. Not only does he document these doctrines with Scripture but he also provides a nice appendix which contains several quotes from Christian thinkers throughout the history of the Church, showing that the idea of sovereign grace is not some new theory of Christianity developed by the Reformers, but that the message of grace is the very heart of Christianity. This book explains how the grace of God through Christ is truly amazing and that 'Salvation is of the LORD.' 5 stars.

mike takes us on a tour of reformation theology with joy, wit and intelligence as he explains why the reformers captured the heart of the biblical view of amazing grace. Mike makes it exciting to discover the richness of reformation theology and biblical study. Great book for catholics, protestants, and all christians as an inviting and warm invitation to embrace what he and St. Paul disovoered--Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!