The women’s book club will be meeting to read Tell the Truth: The Whole Gospel Wholly by Grace Communicated Truthfully and Lovingly by Will Metzger. Starting September 27th, the group will meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 9:30am in the church library. Contact the office or Joy Sole for more information. New participants can join at any time.

Picture a gigantic cruise ship filled with happy people. “It’s the S.S. Evangelical Gospel. In the midst of their fun and excitement, passengers have not noticed holes in the ship’s side under the water line. Well-meaning leaders are attempting to plug these holes with new methods, technology, social activism and cultural savvy. All these are important, yet the structure of the ship remains compromised by years of neglect.

Metzger’s book is comprised of three parts, each focusing on the three elements listed in the subtitle of the book. The first section deals with the content of the `whole gospel.’ Here, he begins by emphasizing that bearing witness is more than just giving one’s testimony. There is a specific message to which one is bearing witness. In section two, Metzger focuses on the idea of converting the whole person. The first chapter in this section explains his view of biblical conversion. Here, Metzger wants to convey the distinction between God’s work, regeneration, and the individual’s response, conversion. The third and final section deals with the whole person (character and actions) who delivers the message of the gospel. Metzger begins by explaining that a good methodology is needed, but Christians must not be satisfied with simply having a biblical methodology – they must practice it!

One of the strengths of Metzger’s book is his desire to be thoroughly biblical in his basis for the methodology that he espouses. This is important today when much of what the church does is based, not on the Bible, but on apparent pragmatism. Metzger evaluates many approaches throughout the book and finds them wanting.