George,
Rusty. When You, Then God:7 Things God is Waiting to do in Your
Life. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale
Momentum, 2016.
Rusty
George has served as lead pastor of Real Life Church in Valencia,
California for approximately thirteen years. Being a friend and
understudy of Kyle Idleman, he takes a youthful approach to ministry
and seeks to develop new ways in which to communicate God's Word to
the coming generations. His first book, When You, Then
God, is evidence of his desire
to deliver lessons from the Bible in an energetic, fresh and easy to
retain manner. Drawing upon the multiple “If, Then” passages of
Scripture, George appropriates them into his “When, Then”
philosophy.1
The key purpose of the authors approach is to demonstrate a valuable
and more beneficial means by which a believer may walk in faith, see
God's hand in their life and not feel overwhelmed by regulations or
self effort.
Pastor
and Author, Rusty George seeks to relay 7 lessons that he has learned
through careful study of Scripture and more than a decade of pastoral
ministry. Having served as senior pastor of a church that has grown
from several hundred members to several thousand in that time, his
recommendations have a type of inherent weight. In outlining his
work, the author first identifies two categories of Christian
believer that he feels most encapsulate the modern church; the “Thou
Shalts” and the “Never Minds”.2
Those who fall into the former category feel that the Christian life
is nothing more than a series of rules and regulations. Often they
feel overburdened by the weight of keeping the laws. “The problem
with seeing God's words as a series of Thou Shalt commands is that we
find it nearly impossible to believe that God's love could be
anything other than conditional.”3
Those that meet the description of the latter category find the
Bible to be mostly outdated and obsolete with laws that no longer
apply. According to the author, “When all of God's Word becomes
'Never Minds,' obedience becomes optional and blessings are viewed as
unconditional.”4
As a remedy, George offers a third option, his “When, Then”
system of faith. By acknowledging that they are in partnership with
a loving God, the author believes Christians will be able to identify
there portion of this partnership and need only live accordingly to
see divine work in their lives.
What
follows from this thesis are seven chapters, covering seven “When,
Then” truths of Scripture. Covering aspects of trust, walk,
investing, hope, kindness and others, George sees each principle as
revealed truth for the believer's maturation in the faith and
effectiveness for the kingdom. The author's noticeable awareness of
much that plagues the 21st
century Christian echoes throughout each chapter. When discussing
resting in God in accord with releasing anxiety, the author
acknowledges the struggle many feel from trying to “be Christian.”
As he writes, “God is not interested in having us follow rules for
their own sake. He wants us to know him, love him, and live
accordingly.”5
It is only when a believer relaxes and trusts in God that they will
be able to accomplish what He has placed them on earth to do.
When
writing of the hope that God gives to Christians, George aptly
states, “We live life moving forward, but often we see God's hand
by looking back.”6
The life of a Christian is often one in which reflection causes them
to see God's handiwork more clearly. What the author seeks to
encourage in his readers is that such reflection should not only
demonstrate God's action but lead toward future hope in what God
will do. Rather than live in fear each day and worry what God's will
may be, the very fact that God's movement in a believer's life can be
reflected upon serves as evidence that He can be trusted in the
present and future. Communicating these and other truths, George
effectively works in various life experiences that cement them into
the reader's mind. Borrowing from the actions of Jesus, the author
understands that a story relays a message much more effectively than
a mere lecture. Closing the book with a brief discourse on a life in
partnership with God, George re-iterates his desire that more
believers will live in close and constant contact with God so that
they may be more effective in His kingdom.7
Upon reflection of this work
several points must be noted. It has become a common theme among the
new, young American pastors like Kyle Idleman and Rusty George to
seek a new approach to the biblical message. It is not that they
seek to change the message, but that they seem to feel that it must
be presented in modern concepts to be palatable. While there is a
sense in which the gospel is applicable to all generations and should
be relayed within a context that is accessible to its audience, the
question has to be asked if the categories of believer presented by
George are really that simple?
The author categorizes
believers into “Thou Shalts” and “Never Minds”, both with
negative connotations for the purpose of proposing his alternative
“When, Then” philosophy as the better alternative. However, it
cannot be denied that there are clear “Thou Shalt” commands in
Scripture. God has decreed in the past to the Jews and to present
believers a certain lifestyle that is in accord to His holy nature.
The fact that believers may misunderstand these passages or
misappropriate them in their lives does not invalidate the commands.
In the same way, the “Never Minds” are also an exaggeration.
There is legitimate areas of Scripture that address a specific place
and time context in which the point is not applicable to the modern,
western Christian.8
What does remain, in these instances, is the principle of the
command. Without acknowledging these nuances the author
oversimplifies the circumstances.
Secondly, the author
illustrates his “When, Then” approach through seven chapters in
which he seeks to oppose a “Thou Shalt” legalism, but does not
seem to recognize that his “When, Then” list is still a form of
“Thou Shalt.” By saying that When you abide in God's
Word, Then you will be available to be used, the author is
also saying Thou shalt abide if you want to be used by God.
While the author's “When, Then” approach finds its strongest
footing in Old Testament comparisons, George's attempt to apply it to
the teachings of Jesus, particularly the Sermon on the mount, is far
too strained. George does seek to defend his partnership approach to
the Christian life as opposed to prosperity gospel, and there is no
indication that they are similar, but it also must be acknowledged
that while God has chosen to use believers as His means on earth, the
partnership is no way equal. The author's approach to partnership
with God tends to blur this line in many areas, leaving the reader to
feel that if they act in these ways, God is obligated to respond in
tandem. Such understanding is dangerous in that it forces God into a
box and can set a believer up for failure.
That being said, it is clear
from the author's stories and life experiences that his heart is
genuine. Rusty George seeks to save the lost and draw those who
believe into a closer relationship with their Lord. These are
commendable traits. His chapter on worry and hope are worth the
entirety of the book and it is abundantly clear that his writing
springs forth from personal experience. While it may be easy to
criticize certain aspects of the approach, such criticism does not
invalidate the entire work. This text serves invaluably as a
resource for reflection and contemplation of the reader's on
perceptions of God and the Christian life. It's vibrant call for
partnership is encouraging and uplifting, and while it would benefit
from careful discernment, it is not a concept that should be ignored.
It is clear that the author
sought to use this book as a small group study guide and this, in and
of itself, is beneficial. Nothing will inspire the careful
reflection encouraged by this review than utilizing the discussion
questions at the end of this work. In doing this, the author opens
his writing up to criticism as well as appropriation and this is
commendable. Rusty George has offered a window into his soul and
this is a brave thing to do. Much can be gleaned from his actions,
his philosophy and his theology.
There is nothing in this book
that would cause it to stand out from those written by Francis Chan,
Kyle Idleman or David Platt, but it does create an opportunity for
readers to ask questions of their own faith. Too often, the modern,
western believer is found floundering when faced with “why” they
believe or “what” it means to be a Christian. Rusty George's
writing takes direct aim at defining the Christian life and
encouraging others to act on it. This work would be an excellent
resource for small group study and pastoral candidates as well as
devotional material for the lay person. It is an honest impression
from a faithful pastor and should be received as such.
Clark
Bates is a graduate of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and
manages an apologetics and theology blog at
http://www.exejesushermeneutics.blogspot.com.
I
received this book free from W Publishing Group and Thomas Nelson
Publishers as part of their BookLookBloggers.com book review bloggers
program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions
I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with
the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides
Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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