Scadalous Freedom Book Review
In the winter of 2004, I attended a conference for college students with Campus Outreach. Randy Pope spoke that week on the topic of counterfeit faith. What he really discussed was true faith and how faith and grace play out in our walk with Christ.
What stood out most to me was his story about his daughter who struggled intensely with depression and felt awful all the time. Though his daughter was a Christian, she was in legalistic bondage and had sense that she was not good enough. If my memory serves me right, I remember him telling the crowd that he told his daughter to go out, sin, so that she would see her need as a sinner, and come to experience the beauty that the gospel is for sinners. His daughter shocked by what her pastor father told her, did not go out and sin big, however, she did come to realize the beauty of the gospel and came to appreciate it further for what it is.
When I became a Christian, I knew the gospel of course; however, it was so easy to submit to bondage without realizing it. For example, if somehow I did not study my bible that day, I would blame the bad day on not studying my bible, as I should. On the other hand, if I snapped at my family, I thought I should pray more and read my bible more. However, doing those things in that frame of mind made me so serious, and it caused a lot of distance and inability to empathize with the weaknesses and failings of others.
During that Christmas Conference in 2004, I picked up a book by Steve Brown, a professor of practical theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, titled “Scandalous Freedom.” This book is about God’s grace. One of Brown’s talking points is how as Christians we are afraid of freedom, and that we are more comfortable with placing limits upon our freedom in Christ. Just in case you are wondering, Brown Does Not endorse antinomianism.
If you are a Christian who finds themselves at times “playing the part” or “wearing a mask” and thus not experiencing the joy, freedom, and authenticity according to the gospel I would recommend this book. If you are a Christian, however, you find yourself judging other Christians because they are not like you or your church, this book will help demonstrate how gospel fellowship can be worked out in the community of faith. If you are a Christian who lacks boldness and constantly feels like a failure, you may want to read what Brown has to say. This is truly a book worth reading and considering.