Book Review - Wasted Faith
Pursuing God-A Seeker’s Guide is Jim Elliff’s short book for those who are drawn toward God, but want more understanding. It is an excellent guide to help those whom God is drawing to Himself and gives a solid, biblical explanation of the basics of the Christian faith. Wasted Faith is a natural follow-up, a book that challenges those who have made a profession of faith to ensure that their salvation is sure. “What is most alarming is the risky willingness of many professing Christians to gamble eternity on an emotional one-time experience, a ‘sinner’s prayer’ properly prayed, or a feeling of substantial relief at a juncture in time, without ever taking a serious look at what is evident now, at this moment. Is eternal life of so little value that it seems unnecessary to examine ourselves for evidence of it?” Elliff warns that hell is engorged with those who once thought of themselves as Christians.
Elliff takes a practical, consistent approach to the topic. He discusses faith without the Spirit, faith without Christ, faith without reason, faith without repentance, the initial act of faith, faith without fruit, and faith that does not last. He encourages those who profess Christ to ensure that they have had a genuine conversion and truly are children of God. He makes several proposals to this end and encourages us to struggle with them until we have a biblical, unshakable assurance.
What Pursuing God is to justifiction, Wasted Faith is to regeneration. It is a short, accessible, practical guide to helping people understand what God requires of those who claim to be His. Like Pursuing God I am glad to recommend it. It is available from Christian Communicators Worldwide.
Comments (7) »
1. Alan Kurschner
March 9, 2006
10:03 AM
Tim, I am glad that you are reviewing this short but substantive book. This is one of the few books that I keep about 20 copies on hand so I can give out to believers. Elliff gives anything but a dry explanation of the nature of faith.
I wish I had this booklet available during my fundamental Baptist upbringing and my tradition’s stress on the “sinners’ prayer” and non-Lordship teaching.
Those who are interested, you can buy the booklet in bulk from Elliff’s site:
http://www.ccwonline.org/bookorder.html
Thanks,
Alan
2. DLE
March 9, 2006
10:24 AM
Tim,
I know this is just a review, so I can’t draw too much from it, but I’m confused by the very existence of this book, especially from what is often mentioned as being the Calvinist perspective on election and perseverance.
Here’s my question:
If election is out of the hands of the individual, then there is no way way to “ensure” one’s salvation by doing anything to make it so—that would be adding to the finished work of Christ. You can’t do anything to add to justification to make it happen. God draws those He wills for election and not those he doesn’t. I heard R.C. Sproul once say in a teaching tape that even if someone wants to be saved, he can’t be if God doesn’t want him to be. That would seem to negate everything this book is claiming.
Could someone clarify that position for me?
Also, the following seems to run smack up against the TULIP’s “P”:
“What is most alarming is the risky willingness of many professing Christians to gamble eternity on an emotional one-time experience, a ‘sinner’s prayer’ properly prayed, or a feeling of substantial relief at a juncture in time, without ever taking a serious look at what is evident now, at this moment. Is eternal life of so little value that it seems unnecessary to examine ourselves for evidence of it?”
If a conversion is real, then one can’t effectively “fall away,” so what is the purpose of “taking a serious look at what is evident now, at this moment”? Justification isn’t a moment by moment variable thing in true Calvinism, so Elliff’s statement doesn’t make sense. What if someone examines himself today and is assured of salvation, but then examines himself tomorrow and is not so sure? Isn’t that the very thing that a Calvinist perspective on justification is trying to avoid?
Not trying to cause problems, just trying to make this all fit together so it’s coherent.
Thanks!
3. James
March 9, 2006
12:56 PM
Let me take a stab at answering DLE even though I must admit I am really new to reformed theology.
I read the sample chapter for the book and it appears to be used in the context of those that profess Christ but show no fruit.
I think in terms of “assurance” it would be along the lines of 1 John, knowing if I have “saving faith” or was I deceived into thinking I have “saving faith.” I think it primarily ties in with the whole altar call, sinner’s prayer methodology many churches use to proclaim a new believer.
4. David Chalkley
March 9, 2006
2:01 PM
Tim, I live around 175 miles from Kansas City. I once called Jim Elliff, obtained an appointment with him, then drove to Kansas City solely to meet him and discuss a very profound matter of a friend I knew, and we had a meal and talked 2 or 3 hours.
He is – in my experience and exposure – a rare man. He is a true scholar, and he glows reality, the reality of Jesus Christ. If you are ever near him, whether you are in the U.S. or he is in Canada, I recommend that you try to meet him and talk. He is a dear brother, and one of true insight. He is well known among Founders’ Group people. I would that he were far more widely known, and that many others more prominent than Jim realized things Jim realizes.
Thank you for reviewing this book.
5. Brent Bodenhamer
March 9, 2006
9:38 PM
This is in response to DLE’s questions. The whole purpose of “Wasted Faith” is to get those who think they are Christians, for whatever reasons, to look at their basis for thinking they are Christian. If their faith is based on something faulty, then they aren’t really saved.
Even if one is elect (which only God really knows), we still need assurance. James 1 tells us that trials reveal if our faith is real or if we are pursuing God for only the gifts He can give us. Trials, and the testing of our faith, is to clarify for us if our faith is in Jesus the gift-giver or in the gifts.
I’ve studied some of Sproul and reformed teaching and I find it hard to imagine any statement like you quoted coming from a reformed person. What I have read and what fits Scripture is that there cannot be a person who is not elect and then regenerated that would want to be saved. That’s the whole point of the need for election and regeneration. In our natural state, we are dead to God, enemies and children of wrath. There is no desire for God.
The Bible commands us to continually check to see if our faith is matching what true faith is described in the Bible. The parable of the sower and the seeds helps us here. So does Matt. 7. Some people seem to be believers for awhile. But Jesus never knew them and they wilt. I believe I am one of the elect by God’s generous, undeserved grace. Why? Because I’m too much of a sinner to love and desire God on my own. Plus, the trials I’ve been through have only brought me to cherish Christ more, not get angry at Him. But I still need to keep checking myself against and with Scripture to make sure my pursuit is in the right direction.
I hope this helps answer your questions.
6. Donna Clark
March 10, 2006
10:02 AM
Brent said:
“Plus, the trials I’ve been through have only brought me to cherish Christ more, not get angry at Him. But I still need to keep checking myself against and with Scripture to make sure my pursuit is in the right direction. “
But your still saved, right? I know that sometimes I question my motives for things that I do, but I agree, if I didn’t care, then I am probably not one of the elect. I think life would not be “abundant” if we worried all the time if we are saved or not. I come from an Armenian type background—still trying to grasp all of these, I suppose you’d say Calvinist, viewpoints.
Great insights Brent!
thanks,
Donna
7. r10b
March 10, 2006
11:39 PM
DLE: Recently I have been trying to understand how much of the doctrine of election is ours to understand. I am not satisfied with of the early-round-towel-throwing offered by so many. I have been reading Graeme Goldsworthy’s “According to Plan” introduction to biblical theology and I’m seeing the possibility that a broad all-encompassing view of scripture may unlock many truths about election, but it’ll take some time. The scriptures teach election. The scriptures teach evangelism. The scriptures teach salvation by grace. The scriptures teach the working out of salvation. IMHO, by comparison the trinity is a piece of theological cake!
By the way, I listen to Sproul a good bit and I can see him saying that… because he sometimes tends to be overly “logical” in order to make a point. As a matter of fact just this week in his radio progam (an old rerun) he said that are two ways to heaven; live a perfect sinless life, or trust in Jesus. Very strictly true, but of course nobody can do #1. I think Brent’s response was a good one.
Donna: Questioning one’s motives is, in my opinion, a very spiritually healthy sign. We should always keep Isaiah 64:6 in our minds (though it may not strictly apply). I came across a blog were the topic was how to “get” humility. To my astonishment nobody mentioned the practice of seeking to uncover the motivations behind our actions, especially our “religious” activity. Merrold Westphal’s Suspicion and Faith is a good book on that topic if you can tolerate reading Freud, Marx, and Neitzche. That will humble you up right quick!
And let me say that I’ve been going blog to blog looking for a thread like this with people who, like me, are almost hurting for answers to these questions.
I’d really like to continue this conversation with you all.
God bless.
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