John Crotts. Graciousness: Tempering Truth With Love. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, January 15th 2018. 141 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
Do you speak the truth graciously with others? This is a helpful book for Christian on speaking the truth in love. The author John Crotts is a pastor in Georgia and has written for us a helpful resource for Christian holy living and for biblical counseling. I also think this book is useful for those who might not be thinking they are in need of counseling; Christian pastors and those involved with ministry would benefit it from it if they read this work and apply it and thus become more effective in how they minister and speak truth to others.
The book consists of ten chapters. I felt the first two chapters were foundational: Chapter one is titled “Why This Issue is Important for You” and the second chapter goes over why graciousness is needed. The second chapter of the book also defined biblically what the author means by graciousness. Then chapters three through five looks at examples beginning first with the greatest example of graciousness: Jesus Christ. Then chapter four looks at the example of Paul and chapter five looking at a negative example with the church at Ephesus. The meat of the book felt like it was with chapters six to nine which covered cultivating graciousness with different aspect such as in one’s heart, mind-set toward others, through actions and in community. Finally the book ends with the chapter on the Gospel and
It did feel the book started out slow but it got good as one continued reading. I personally felt it started getting good beginning with chapter three with the discussion about the example of Jesus in being gracious towards others. Truly Jesus is the greatest example. I also appreciated this exposition for while the author does not state it 2 Corinthians 3:18 makes it clear that as we behold the glory of Christ we are transformed. Studying Jesus and His graciousness leads one to appreciate Jesus more and we are transformed as a result of it. I appreciated the author’s nuance in chapter four of how Paul was not perfect and fall short of graciousness but nevertheless his positive example are quite encouraging for us to emulate.
There are a lot of helpful suggestions and counsel on how to cultivate graciousness. Don’t let the last chapter’s title fool you that the Gospel is only discussed in the end of the book: throughout the book the author show how the Gospel has implication in how we cultivate graciousness. I appreciated the author discussing about putting off the sin of harshness is required before one can put on graciousness. Crott also had a good analogy here of putting one a new sports coat can only happen if one first remove the coat one is presently wearing (58). Crott’s discussion here about seeing rooting out harshness is applicable for the Christian life not only for the issue of harshness but also repentance and confession and change for other areas of life and issues too. I appreciated the fact that the book addressed the issue of the heart lest one’s “change” to gracious speech is not true heart transformative change but mere external behavioral modification.
A helpful work with the brevity and vocabulary being accessible for the general Christian adult reading audience. The thing I appreciate the most about this book is that the author’s worldview is thoroughly biblical and he doesn’t import unbiblical secular suggestions to motivate Christian obedience of being gracious. I recommend this work. Also its paperback size and simple but nice cover also makes this appealing enough as as a gift to be purchased for others.
NOTE: I received this book for free from the publisher Reformation Heritage Books through Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for my honest opinion. The thoughts and words are my own and I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review.
Sounds like good information we could all use.
I think it was a helpful read! Hope you are doing well my dear sister Beverly, how was the Lord’s Day for you yesterday?
Cold and quite.
Interestingly, the subject came up last night in a book by Sinclair Ferguson which I’m reading. I guess the Lord is sending me a message.
Is this Sinclair Ferguson’s latest book “Some Pastors and Teachers?”
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Thank you Vincent for the reblog!
You’re very welcome Brother 😎
Looks like a good resource. Thanks for the review! In the topics I write about, I must navigate between graciousness and bluntness. One person once wrote me saying I was being way too strong in my criticisms of Christian leaders who embraced ecumenism. I responded that these days the church pendulum has swung way too far in favor of graciousness over truth. In our relationships with unbelievers we must be gracious as we point people to the Gospel, but in delineating between error and doctrinal truth we must be uncompromising. I tend to be a “truth/doctrine” guy and know I can tend toward unnecessary harshness so a book like this would be good for me.
There should be more willing for the same.
Thanks, bc!
Tom,
I agree with your assessment: ” the church pendulum has swung way too far in favor of graciousness over truth.” I think we see this to be the case when it comes to preaching as well unfortunately. From reading your blog I personally don’t think you have been ungracious but everything you written I felt has been out of concern for the truth and you aren’t inflammatory in your rhetoric or sensational with stretching the truth. I think I know what ungracious blogs look like even with ones that share my perspective. And for all of that I really appreciate your blog. Thanks Tom for blogging and blogging the way you do.
Thanks a lot, brother! I truly appreciate the encouragement in the Lord! I’ve also seen some acerbic “discernment” blogs and websites that figuratively “take the enamel right off of teeth.”
[Is this Sinclair Ferguson’s latest book “Some Pastors and Teachers?”]
Yes it is, Jim. I’m obviously not a pastor but I am getting a lot out of the book.
Setting aside what love incarnate said in Matt. 16:23 and Matt 23 I will quickly move on to the Apostle Paul. His gracious language in 1 Cor. 5:5 and in Gal. 1:3 and Gal. 5:12 comes to mind. Now for current clergy and laity. The cruelty of the pastors who show no grace to even mild mannered dissenters. Rick Warren’s guide to rapid church growth insists that the non-compliant members need to be summarily kicked out. Rick Warren promotes deeds above creeds, therefor the faithful are kicked out. The missional movement requires members to do do do or get out. Editing Romans 14 completely out of the bible many pastors will beat the sheep until they formally join or leave.
Paul repeatedly commends Christians for being famous for their love for one another. If the pastors are wounding their flock their flock does it for them. I have had many conversations from Christians being gut punched by other Christians.
In the Lords real prayer in the Garden He states that a great deal of proof that He is the Messiah will be the noticeable love among the brethren.
Such “pastors” ought not to be in ministry; they are building their own kingdom and brand than the kingdom of God by the right motivation to feed and equip Christ’s flock. As a pastor it grieves me to hear of such “ministers.”
Thanks for the review SlimJim, how was the ending?
Thanks SlimJim,
I wonder just how many pastors have called themselves into the pastoral/shepherd ministry vs. how many have been called by God? It is every bit as bad as having been a false Apostle or prophet in the Apostolic era. One thing I appreciate about the Quakers is their screening process for pastors. The entire local church must after much prayer vote as to the validity of your calling. If the body says the candidates are not called by God then they are told to let go of their ambition. Of course it is far from perfect. After all they use this process to confirm women pastors. But if it keeps a few jerks out of the pulpit it cannot be all bad.
Just as many preach Christ out of vain glory many become pastors out of vain glory. Like the Sanhedrin they love their title and their seat of honor.
just to nit pick can you explain why poiman was translated shepherd in every case except for Eph. 4??? Was it not for that abborant translation no one would be called a pastor today. Pastors are never explicitly defined as the head elder in all of scripture that I can find. Is this too a tradition of man drug from the corrupted RCC by the Reformers?
Also in context their main duty was to use apologetic s to insure the flock was mature and invincible from heretical apostate deceptions,which is the last thing they typically do today.
Brother I think you asked a good question that I can’t answer as to why Ephesians 4 it is translated as pastors, though of course the title Pastor was more shepherding in its sense in the original context than what we think of when we hear the word pastors today. I think you made a good point that the role of pastors/elders has an apologetics dimension of defending the faith (Titus 1:9) and warning about dangerous doctrines, things popular Christianity today tend to downplay. T.I Miller I hope you have a blessed weekend in the presence of the Lord!
[…] unbiblical secular suggestions to motivate Christian obedience of being gracious.” Reviewer: Jim Lee Rating: 5 […]
[…] cultivate graciousness? Is there any resources that is helpful? I recommend and have reviewed Graciousness: Tempering Truth With Love. What if you are struggle with being gentle and you are a person who can’t handle conflict […]
This is helpful
With thanks!
There’s some woke Christians that really got to read this
2020: Year everyone should read this book