Thread: Worst book you've read? (Grenz, for me!)

Originally Posted by PuritanCovenanter

Originally Posted by jaybird0827

Originally Posted by Ivan

Anybody ever hear of C.S. Lovett?

Hew boy....those were stinkers.

Yeah, Dealing with the Devil. That was my first clue that all is not well with Christian bookstores. In the mid-70's mind you. I don't think I read more than 20 or 30 pages before I tore it up. Yeah, I know, that many???

Remember His book... Help Lord, The Devil wants me fat!


Dealing with the Devil and that one were big when I was in the Navy many moons ago.

Help Lord, The Devil wants me fat!

I didn't know he wrote THAT. Figures.

Originally Posted by jaybird0827

Originally Posted by PuritanCovenanter

Originally Posted by jaybird0827

Yeah, Dealing with the Devil. That was my first clue that all is not well with Christian bookstores. In the mid-70's mind you. I don't think I read more than 20 or 30 pages before I tore it up. Yeah, I know, that many???

Remember His book... Help Lord, The Devil wants me fat!


Dealing with the Devil and that one were big when I was in the Navy many moons ago.

Help Lord, The Devil wants me fat!

I didn't know he wrote THAT. Figures.

I can't remember the title of the book I read in late 60's, but it was something like Evangelism Made Easy. The book tells how to manipulate people in making a decision for Christ. It actually gave step-by-step instructions on every little thing to do. I'd been a Christian for only a few years but I knew even at the time is was horrible.

Originally Posted by Vonnie Dee

The worst book I have ever read was "A Divine Revelation of Hell" or something like that. Mary Baxter said that she left her body and spent time in Hell so that she could come and tell us about it (for just $9.99). Her trip to hell was so profitable, she took another trip. This one was to heaven. I ordered it from CBD for a book club that I belonged to at the time. I didn't take her second trip with her though.

Isn't that the book where hell is shaped in the form of a body of a man?

ANYTHING by Joyce Meyer or Kenneth Copeland.

Originally Posted by Guido's Brother

The worst I've read recently was William P. Young's the Shack. An awful, awful book.

Yuck. I had to read it because a parishoner asked my opinion. It was poorly written and very confusing? What exactly is the author's intention? I really don't understand what all the hoopla is about.

The Emotionally Healthy Church by Peter Scazzaro. The ultimate work for the modern "therapy gospel".

Your Best Life Now. Before I come under discipline for this lapse in judgment, I want to say that I started it, couldn't bear it, and burnt it in my front yard. Needless to say, the smoke didn't rise skyward...

I hate to say it, but after finishing Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll, this has to be in my top 4.

The last couple of books by Stuart Woods, what happened to this guy? His stories are always over the top and ridiculous, but his last book was pure drivel.

Originally Posted by kvanlaan

Your Best Life Now. Before I come under discipline for this lapse in judgment, I want to say that I started it, couldn't bear it, and burnt it in my front yard. Needless to say, the smoke didn't rise skyward...

I've read the "Search for the Historical Jesus" guys and I have to say they are a complete waste of time.

1. Dispensatonalism Today-Charles Ryrie
2. The Holy Spirit- Charles Ryrie
3. A New Kind of Christian- Brian McLaren
4. Who Needs Theology?- Roger Olsen and Stan Grenz
5. God's Blueprint For the Church- Kenneth Good

I attended an undergraduate institution where all of these books were required readings at one point or another. Ryrie's books consitute my top choices. His Childish grammar, bad syntax, historical revision, logical fallacies, hermeneutical gymnastics, and strawman argumentation put him at the top of the list.

Originally Posted by kvanlaan

Your Best Life Now. Before I come under discipline for this lapse in judgment, I want to say that I started it, couldn't bear it, and burnt it in my front yard. Needless to say, the smoke didn't rise skyward...

LOL

Originally Posted by christianyouth

One that is worse, is ANYTHING by Andrew Murray.

OH! I had to commiserate with you on this one. UGHUGHUGH!!

I have a love-hate relationship with bad books. I tend to groan my way through them, but I can't put them down. It's like a literary MST3K.

Andrew Murray is pretty stinky.

And those Left Behind books were pivotal in making me see dispensationalism for what it's worth. I threw away my adherence to that system when I threw the last book in a truck stop trash can.

But right now, the worst book I've read in the recent past is Changed Into His Image by Jim Berg. Long story, but that is one bad book!

C

A few months ago I started reading Narcissus and Goldmund by Hermann Hesse. I had to stop reading it about 1/3 way through due to horrible content. I liked the story, and the themes, but the content was too sexually explicit for me to wade through anymore. So, it's the worst book I've read recently... on the whole, I avoid bad books.

A Cry In The Wilderness - Keith Green
The Christian's Secret Of A Happy Life - Hannah Whitall Smith
Charles Finney On Faith

John Eldridge's Wild At Heart.
While the wider Reformed and Conservative audience deride and lampoon Eldridge's book, what the wider Reformed and Conservative audience do not know are the seminary scholars and theologians who were the ones laying the bad doctrinal seeds. In many cases, bad doctrine doesn't start with the author or pastor, but starts with the seminary professor. And in Eldridge's case, and in the case for Wild At Heart, this would be a former GGBTS and Fuller Seminary professor, James William McClendon. His 3-volume Systematic Theology, in my opinion, is a must-read for pastors, scholars, and serious laymen who want to understand the premise and arguments from "the other side."

James William McClendon is also the doctrinal founder to shape and influence Brian McLaren. McClendon's work also shaped Grenz to change his theology. (Any work by Stanley Grenz prior to 1993 are solid works. But starting in 1993, Grenz's theology started following McClendon's line of thought).

Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge

Such a disappointing read. It made the Proverbs 31 woman seem so unattainable for a Christian woman.

I have to agree with Mr. Shin and Miss Ann concerning Eldredge.

Originally Posted by KMK

Originally Posted by Guido's Brother

The worst I've read recently was William P. Young's the Shack. An awful, awful book.

Yuck. I had to read it because a parishoner asked my opinion. It was poorly written and very confusing? What exactly is the author's intention? I really don't understand what all the hoopla is about.

I just finished reading it. Besides Pilgrim's Progress, it is the only Christian fiction book I've ever read. I don't think it would have been half as bad if Young (or Mac) wasn't claiming that the story was true.

Originally Posted by servantofmosthigh

John Eldridge's Wild At Heart.
While the wider Reformed and Conservative audience deride and lampoon Eldridge's book, what the wider Reformed and Conservative audience do not know are the seminary scholars and theologians who were the ones laying the bad doctrinal seeds. In many cases, bad doctrine doesn't start with the author or pastor, but starts with the seminary professor. And in Eldridge's case, and in the case for Wild At Heart, this would be a former GGBTS and Fuller Seminary professor, James William McClendon. His 3-volume Systematic Theology, in my opinion, is a must-read for pastors, scholars, and serious laymen who want to understand the premise and arguments from "the other side."

James William McClendon is also the doctrinal founder to shape and influence Brian McLaren. McClendon's work also shaped Grenz to change his theology. (Any work by Stanley Grenz prior to 1993 are solid works. But starting in 1993, Grenz's theology started following McClendon's line of thought).

I should also further note that McClendon is the prelude to the Emergent Movement. Even Justin Taylor mentions in Reclaiming The Center that McClendon is the theologian while McLaren is the pastor of the Emergent Movement.

This is why I mentioned in another post that bad doctrine is never isolated. If you trace it back by 20 years, what you may discover is that there is a common founding link that McLaren, Grenz, Emerging Movement, Eldridge, Risk-Taking God, Nancey Murphy, etc. all birthed from - and that fatherly link is McClendon.

Originally Posted by servantofmosthigh

Originally Posted by servantofmosthigh

John Eldridge's Wild At Heart.
While the wider Reformed and Conservative audience deride and lampoon Eldridge's book, what the wider Reformed and Conservative audience do not know are the seminary scholars and theologians who were the ones laying the bad doctrinal seeds. In many cases, bad doctrine doesn't start with the author or pastor, but starts with the seminary professor. And in Eldridge's case, and in the case for Wild At Heart, this would be a former GGBTS and Fuller Seminary professor, James William McClendon. His 3-volume Systematic Theology, in my opinion, is a must-read for pastors, scholars, and serious laymen who want to understand the premise and arguments from "the other side."

James William McClendon is also the doctrinal founder to shape and influence Brian McLaren. McClendon's work also shaped Grenz to change his theology. (Any work by Stanley Grenz prior to 1993 are solid works. But starting in 1993, Grenz's theology started following McClendon's line of thought).

I should also further note that McClendon is the prelude to the Emergent Movement. Even Justin Taylor mentions in Reclaiming The Center that McClendon is the theologian while McLaren is the pastor of the Emergent Movement.

This is why I mentioned in another post that bad doctrine is never isolated. If you trace it back by 20 years, what you may discover is that there is a common founding link that McLaren, Grenz, Emerging Movement, Eldridge, Risk-Taking God, Nancey Murphy, etc. all birthed from - and that fatherly link is McClendon.

This is interesting. I'm going to read into this further.

I know that this is an old thread, but I just have to add my

Anything by Henri Nouwen is awful. Actually, I'd only read Wounded Healer until about a month ago. Then I had to read Life of the Beloved for a class. When I finished, I told my wife that it was probably the worst book I've ever read.

And speaking of Grenz, I'm currently reading through his systematic theology (Theology for the Community of God) which isn't awful, but is quite spotty in more than a few places.

And dare I raise the name Leonard Sweet???

Originally Posted by CatechumenPatrick

What is the worst book you've read recently, or in your lifetime?

anything by Lewis Smedes.

"Essays on the Resurrection" by Sam Frost (Full Preterist book)

"What love is this" Dave Hunt

"Systematic Theology" Wayne Grudem

Originally Posted by KMK

Originally Posted by Guido's Brother

The worst I've read recently was William P. Young's the Shack. An awful, awful book.

Yuck. I had to read it because a parishoner asked my opinion. It was poorly written and very confusing? What exactly is the author's intention? I really don't understand what all the hoopla is about.

Challies did an extended review - give it to anyone that asks so you don't have to read it...

Smedes was one of my profs in seminary. He was an artful, elegant, artistic author and preacher. Frankly, he drove me nuts as a prof. (Plus he didn't like my writing style one bit).

Originally Posted by Roldan

"Essays on the Resurrection" by Sam Frost (Full Preterist book)

"What love is this" Dave Hunt

"Systematic Theology" Wayne Grudem

Hunt? YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Grudem? NO WAY!!!!!!!! I love a writer who tries to ground his theology in exegesis rather than abstract philosophy. One need not agree with all of his conclusions to appreciate the accomplishment of presenting essentially sound theology for a mass audience (250,000 copies in print). He has done almost as significant a job of popularizing as Sproul.

Originally Posted by annmarie

Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge

Such a disappointing read. It made the Proverbs 31 woman seem so unattainable for a Christian woman.

Originally Posted by joshua

I have to agree with Mr. Shin and Miss Ann concerning Eldredge.

Here here! Eldredge is horrible! I have ONLY read Wild at Heart. I couldn't stomach reading anything else by him. Life's too short and there are too many good books out there to waste time on stuff like this. I read it knowing it was going to be bad. I needed to be able to write an informed review to a freind.




This one hits it on the head:
http://www.churchofthegoodshepherd.info/WAHcritique.htm

Others:

http://www.csu.ruf.org/News/NewsStory.aspx?guid=1fd15ff3-ef28-458d-8f2d-1e316a70bae3

http://www.heartsandmindsbooks.com/reviews/john_eldredges_wild_at_heart_a/

Originally Posted by JM

.

Great avatar by the way JM!

Originally Posted by DMcFadden

Originally Posted by Roldan

"Essays on the Resurrection" by Sam Frost (Full Preterist book)

"What love is this" Dave Hunt

"Systematic Theology" Wayne Grudem

Hunt? YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Grudem? NO WAY!!!!!!!! I love a writer who tries to ground his theology in exegesis rather than abstract philosophy. One need not agree with all of his conclusions to appreciate the accomplishment of presenting essentially sound theology for a mass audience (250,000 copies in print). He has done almost as significant a job of popularizing as Sproul.

Actually I felt like I wasted my time in reading his systematic but I guess we would have to disagree.