BOOKS
"Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? Four Views," edited by Wayne A. Grudem (Zondervan, $16.99). Among the most helpful books from evangelical publishers in recent years have been those that bring together four or five scholars with differing viewpoints on a given topic. Each writes a longish essay to which the others offer shorter critiques. Each contributor then answers the critiques.
The present volume deals with a real hot-button issue among some Christians: Are the miraculous gifts described in the New Testament - such as speaking in tongues, prophecy and healing - for today? Or did they cease when the apostles died and the New Testament writings were completed?
Richard B. Gaffin Jr., a professor at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, presents the case for believing that miraculous gifts ended with the church's apostolic age. At the other extreme, Douglas A. Oss, a professor at Central Bible College in Springfield, Mo., contends that all the gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Scriptures are operative today.
There are two mediating positions. The first is the "Third Wave," articulated by C. Samuel Storms, president of Grace Training Center in Kansas City. The "Third Wave" movement believes in "signs, wonders and miracles" but doesn't emphasize speaking in tongues to the extent that Pente- costals do. Finally, Robert L. Saucy of the Talbot School of Theology in California represents what the editor calls "the broad center of evangelicals," who are "open but cautious."
The contributors are frank in their disagreements, but they also stand on much common ground. All believe that God answers prayer today. All recognize their fundamental unity. All affirm the truthfulness of scripture and look to it as an absolute rule. - Paul R. Buckley
"Living by the Book: The Joy of Loving and Trusting God's Word," by James Montgomery Boice (Baker, price not listed). Christians who have a high view of scripture - of its divine inspiration, infallibility and authority - are sometimes accused of "bibliolatry." Perhaps it is possible to worship the book without worshiping its divine author, but is there reason to think that a lofty view of one is at odds with a lofty view of the other? Witness Psalm 119, the subject of Boice's book. Right there, in the middle of the Bible, one finds what amounts to a hymn to the excellencies of holy scripture. "I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws," the psalm says early on. And elsewhere: "I delight in your commands because I love them. I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees." Laws, commands, decrees: These or other terms, such as ordinances and statutes, appear in almost every verse of this longest psalm. "We live in a day when people do not much value God's Word, even in evangelical churches," Boice writes. "We say that we value it, but our neglect of the Word belies our confession." - Paul R. Buckley
MAGAZINES
Moment (April), the magazine of Jewish culture and opinion, has a cover story on "Dr. Laura: `National Mommy' and Jewish Priest." The profile reveals that, although Laura Schlessinger was raised in a Jewish neighborhood in Long Island, her mother was an Italian Catholic war bride and her father "was a Jew in name only ... (there was) no Jewishness in the house, nothing, zero." Her conversion to Conservative Judaism is recounted and she discusses bringing her newfound religious values into dispensing advice on her syndicated radio talk show. - Robert Plocheck
U.S. Catholic (April) has an essay arguing "Keep God out of the big leagues." Jason Kelly, a reporter for the South Bend (Ind.) Tribune," writes that athletes and coaches who attribute victories to divine intervention trivialize belief and religion. "Faith is about something deeper than a three-point play at the buzzer," Kelly writes. He adds, "Revel in the recreation that games provide .. but don't make them a religion." Another article counsels "Don't Make the Devil the Fall Guy" when we pick sides in the game of life. Patrick McCormick, an assistant editor of ethics at Gonzaga University, writes about the current tendency to demonize political and religious opponents. - Robert Plocheck
MUSIC
Switchfoot, "The Legend of Chin" - 3 stars; Label: re:think
Description: The music is a blend of upbeat, funky, alternative pop. The tempos jump from mellow, flowing rhythms to sudden bursts of bouncy, percussive energy. The vocals consist of laid-back power-pop crooning. Lyrically, the songs touch on issues from the meaning of life to standing firm in your beliefs to acknowledging God's sovereignty. Each theme is related in an approachable, this-is-what-I'm-going-through manner. A good example is one of the wittier songs, "Ode to Chin": "Grow where you are/anchor your roots underneath/ doubt your doubts/and believe your beliefs."
Artist bio: The band is made up of three guys from San Diego "who love to play music, surf and honor their creator." They get their name from a surfing term that refers to a surfer's switching his foot position on the surfboard to gain a new perspective.
What's good about it: The unusual pacing of the songs makes for a unique, ear-catching sound. The music has enough hooks to please even the most demanding pop listener. - Brent Castillo