Book Review How to live as a Christian

A review based on this one can be found in this month's EN.

HOW TO LIVE AS A CHRISTIAN

Ed Joel Beeke

Evangelical Press

116 pages. £5.99 ISBN 9781783971923

A collection of 36 short articles that originally appeared in The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible this book was written by 28 different authors under the editorship of Dr Joel Beeke. The helpful articles cover many practical aspects of the Christian life, from being Assured and persevering to Worship and the means of grace. Some subjects covered are basic and obvious, such as Reading the Scriptures, How and why to pray and Fellowship with believers.

Others are perhaps less obvious or more neglected – How we regard ourselves, Godly contentment and Using leisure time well. It was a pleasant surprise to see, alongside articles on being a Christlike husband or godly wife, on raising children and on honouring your parents, one on Being a Christian grandparent. The chapter on How to kill pride is potentially redundant next to the one on Humility.

The style is very concise and the best contributions make a series of numbered points. For example, early on seven points are made on The fear of God – respect and reverence God as holy, worship him as he instructs, hate and flee from sin, live out of the forgiveness promised in Scripture, be spoiled and ruined as far as this world is concerned, long to commune with other God fearers and always desire to know God better.

Half way through the book we find another nine points on coping with criticism. We are urged to consider its inevitability, source and timing and our prayers (wait 24 hours before responding if possible), Consider also - yourself, the content, Scripture, Christ, love and eternity.

This book would make a fine resource for a new or young Christian but would also make for valuable reading for those more mature in the faith or a pastor looking for help on what to include in a course on Christian basics. All Bible quotations are from the KJV.

Gary Brady Pastor Childs Hill Baptist Church, London