The result of the kind of introspection that I’m suggesting will be either (1) the destruction of some sacred cows, or (2) the continued slaughter of sacrificial lambs. The sacred cows are numerous (and I intend to identify them both directly and indirectly in the ensuing chapters). Meanwhile the sacrificial lambs represent the myriad families strewn across the battlefields of their broken homes, having been ravaged by passivity, ignorance, cowardice, and usurpation (19).

The biggest problem with Pastor Baucham’s book is that it might just be too provocative and persuasive. His logical and cohesive argument propels the reader to a place of untenable discomfort with the status-quo of normal American church culture. His argument begins in the beginning with the “dominion mandate” of Genesis 1:28, which reveals the “absolute necessity of the practice of family discipleship” (21). However, Baucham doesn’t stop in Genesis.

From Genesis to Revelation, we see a clear picture of the role of the family in redemptive history, and the role of the father in the family. This is no small matter. The Bible leaves no room for fatherhood that doesn’t take seriously the responsibility  of raising children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Whether it’s found in the Law, the Prophets, the Gospels, or the Epistles, our calling is clear. We must shepherd our families (25).

Once Baucham lays this solid foundation for the divine imperative of family discipleship, he outlines his “three-legged-stool” of Biblical discipleship. The first leg of the stool is “godly, mature men and women in the church;” the second is “godly, manly pastors and elders;” and the third is “biblically functioning homes” (28). The remainder of the book is an exposition of this third prong. This exposition is divided into four parts: (1) family evangelism and discipleship, (2) marriage enrichment, (3) child training, and (4) lifestyle evaluation.

Overall, Pastor Baucham’s book is well worth the time it takes to read. It is an intensely helpful book that manages to move easily from the conceptual realm of family discipleship to the practical realm of your family’s living room. Family Driven Faith is both a call to arms and an intense training ground for battle. As such, this book is a must read for pastors, spiritual leaders, and fathers. However, I must offer a humble caution. I wholeheartedly agree with Baucham’s exegesis and I respect his ecclesiological convictions, but I do not believe that there is only one way to live out these truths in our churches. (In all fairness, I do not believe that Pastor Baucham would believe that either.) In other words, you should prayerfully seek God and determine how these truths should be evidenced in your ministry and family before you blow up your children’s ministry or throw out your television. Then, once God leads, you should not hesitate to do what He says – even if it means blowing up your children’s ministry or throwing out your TV.

A few weeks ago I was approached by a friend who asked me to consider writing a weekly guest post for the blog that he directs (www.therenew.org). After about 15 seconds of deliberation – I was playing hard to get – I decided that it sounded like a lot of fun. So every week, I will be posting an expository commentary at The Renew. We are starting things off in the book of Nehemiah. This first series is called Catalyst, and the first post went live today.

heck it out here: http://www.therenew.org/2012/01/04/catalyst-nehemiah-11-4-2/

At the center of this book lies the paradoxical teaching of Jesus: come to me and die so that you might live. Staying true to this message of Jesus, the authors of Die Young build upon the foundation of Gospel paradox by teaching us that (as the chapter titles suggest) Death is the New Life, Down is the New Up, Less is the New More, Weak is the New Strong, Slavery is the New Freedom, Confession is the New Innocence, and Red is the New White. With chapters like these, it should be easy to see how Die Young manages to avoid the well-traveled shortcuts of gospel relevance by calling us to the dangerous high road of gospel reality.

The more I read, the more I was convicted. My earlier cynicism may have had an infinitesimally small kernel of truth, but the much larger truth is that I needed gospel wakefulness. I was in the throes of a pride induced coma. The reason I didn’t like the book is because it described something that I longed for, but didn’t have. It was a story about a treasure that I desperately wanted to have, but was unwilling to hunt for. I still have a few questions about gospel wakefulness … Does it only happen once? How exactly does it differ from sanctification (is it a difference of quality or quantity or is it a difference in definition or degree)? … But, I can now assuredly say that this is a valuable book. I challenge you to read it and to live it. Thank you Mr. Wilson for your contribution.