In this day and age, all you have to do is shop around and you can probably find the church that has a worship style of your choice. In some ways, this might be good, but it does cause some bitter division in churches that have not settled on the style that "works" for them.

Is this the right way for it to be? Has the purpose of worship gotten lost somewhere between the traditions and the new ways? Where is God in all this, in other words.

The author, one of the members of the popular White Horse Inn radio show that examines Reformed theology for the edification and equipment of the believers, realizes that worship is one of the primary functions of those God has called to Himself. Using Biblical illustration, he teaches readers what worship was meant to be, and also provides some useful material that brings aspects of the Bible to a new light and helps some parts that have not quite made sense a bit more comprehensible.

***** The man to whom the book is dedicated, James M. Boice, would be proud if he could read this educational and informative text.

A Better Way: Rediscovering The Drama Of God-Centered Worship by Rev. Michael Horton (Associate Professor, Westminister Theological Seminary, California) is a clear and careful examination of the Christian worship of God. Individual chapters address the Biblical passages that form the source of Christian worship, and the importance of putting God and Jesus Christ foremost. Specially written for those who keep the faith, as well as for pastors and worship leaders, A Better Way is strongly recommended as a profound, life-changing book about what it truly means to express one's reverence with a Christian context of scripture and tradition.

Many of the issues up for discussion are simply based upon the age-old debate between, semi-Pelagianism and Augustinianism. However the contributers adroitly cut through the flesh and get at the heart of contemporary church issues. This debate is not over a matter of style.But rather it accurately raises the concern as to what constitutes true Christian religion. If some of the points that are raised are indeed correct, one would have to wonder if authentic Christian faith even exists within much of the current church milieu. These articles should not be treated lightly but rather with fear and trembling.

This is a fantastic book, covering clearly many aspects which challenge and threaten the church and the truth of the gospel.

This book is a good warning to Christians who tend to hide from the world for fear of losing their faith. The author argues for the Christian's liberty to read fiction, to listen to good music, or to engage in scientific research without feeling guilty that his activities are "purely secular" and that God's time is too valuable to be "wasted" on such things. Prudent participation in culture is both a duty and a pleasure. It helps God's children to see Him as the Creator of everything that is beautiful and brilliant and to be able to say with J.S. Bach: SDG (Soli Deo Gloria)! The author does a wonderful job supporting his conclusions Biblically.

...change the way we look at spirituality. In our decadent day of modern Christian culture, very few are proclaiming the gospel truths that will enable us to return to the Better Way - the way of Scripture. Dr. Horton is one of these few, and this book is in my opinion his finest. Whether you are Reformed, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Roman or else, this book will broaden, if not transform, your view of biblical spirituality - the spirituality of the cross. Horton argues through sound exegesis that Biblical spirituality does not consist of the private, mystical ascension that is characteristic of both our modern day and the early church heresy of Gnosticism. The spirituality condoned in Scripture does not describe such ascension of man to the throne of God (for in so doing we find only fire and judgment). Rather, our spirituality is characterized by the descent of God to us (for there alone do we find grace, hope and peace), through Jesus Christ our mediator. Our spirituality consists in being identified with Christ, and this is afforded in the good grace of biblically instituted material sacraments. Buy this book, read it, teach it and re-read it.

Horton hits the nail right between the proverbial eyes with his treatment of this book on worship. If you're looking for something provocative, this is it. Read it and think, then weep at what you've mistakenly thought of or practiced as worship. Highly recommended.

This is a terrific book. Michael Horton steers the reader away from the current emphasis on subjective, gnostic religion -- especially in modern charismatic/Pentecostalism and much of pop evangelicalism -- and shows what true intimacy with the Almighty means. He also has an appendix answering common questions, including the subjective, self-centeredness common in modern praise and worship music. You might not agree with every point, but In the Face of God deserves your time and attention.

I was not raised a Calvinist but as a Roman Catholic. Presently I am an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God( That is correct, a Pentecostal Calvinist). This is one of the most readable and easily comprehendable books on Reformed theology that I have yet to encounter. No doubt there will be many who do not agree with the author's theological presuppostions. But for anyone who is curious, or perhaps, is being drawn to the Reformed tradition, this is an excellent place to begin. Horton merely takes "the cookies and places them down on the lower shelf," easily within a person's grasp. Agree or disagree, this book is a must for anyone who desires to understand the essentials of historic Christianity. And yes, there are many who are Pentecostal/charismatic who are also completely Reformed, while not being altogether cessasionist.

Michael Horton in this book clears up many false presuppositions of people against Calvinism. In my own journey to Calvinism I struggled particurlarly with the doctrine of Limited Atonement. Horton defines it rather as "Particular Redemption." After reading this spin of it, my own logical fallacies were swept away and I began to rejoice in a God so beautiful as to ransom me. Another interesting part of the book is the end where he in gives the reader a bibliography to pursue furhter study. Also, he quotes extensivley from Church Fathers and their view on the 'Doctrines of Grace'. My only disagreement with Horton is his view on infant baptism. This is only natural, I being a Baptist. Be that as it may, this is a wonderful book and will be very helpful in helping young Calvinists gently and persuasivly explain their beliefs to their Arminian brethren.

Michael Horton's book on the Reformed faith is unlike any others. On one hand he packs a lot of theology in this book. On the other hand, he makes it look it readable with the various illustrations in the book, neat chapter titles and sub-titles and "less than serious" looking front cover.

Those who are familiar with the Christian organisation Mike works for [Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals (ACE), previously Christian United for Reformation (CURE)] and the organisation's Christian magazine - the excellent modern Reformation (mR) - will know what Mike is talking about in this book. Most of the insights in this book are used very often in an expanded and elaborate fashion in previous issues of mR.

Horton goes beyond mere 5 point Calvinism - though he writes no less on it in this book. He talks also about the 2 Sacraments and a bit of the Christian's role in the world (which is expanded in his other book, "Where in the world is the Church")

As i start to mature in my understanding of the Reformed faith, I've always been brought to refer back to this book. What this shows is that this book contains a lot of good stuff! Horton does a wonderful job in trying to write an introduction to the Reformed faith. But I always wonder if this would be a good book to give my non-Reformed friends. I don't know. For those who aren't familiar with the Reformed faith, they won't be able to get the full gisp of what Horton is saying. Nevertheless, that only shows that there is so much to learn in Reformed theology and that a book on introducing the Reformed faith is no doubt going to be very general in nature.

After all has been said, this still remains the best book and most comprehensive introduction on the Reformed faith!

This is an excellent book from the ever thought-provoking Michael Horton. He takes the reader through each section of the Apostles' Creed, expounding on the doctrinal significance of each, relating each one to its implications for life and thought. He defends traditional teaching at every point against modern reinterpretations, contemporary philosophies and objections.

Horton is incredibly readable, offering excellent illustrations and drawing on sources from every tradition of philosophy and religion. His apologetic remarks are generally succinct and compelling. The chapter entitled, 'What if God became a man?' gives a grand overview of the whole history of God's redemption, from Genesis to Revelation, which will have every gospel believer on the edge of their seat.

One of his strongest points (and this is a feature of all his books) is his zeal for the outworking of the Christian faith in the world. He does not reduce Christianity to something wholly belonging to the 'sacred' sphere, but applies gospel truth to secular life. His concern is to see gospel doctrine impact believers here and now.

It will not take someone of the ilk of Sherlock Holmes to detect a Reformed bias. I have strong affinities with the Reformed stream of evangelicalism, though my theology would probably be better described as Arminian. However, Horton's own perspective was not enough to put me off. There is enough of the gospel in there, brilliantly expounded, to be of benefit to any truly evangelical reader.

I used this book as assistance in teaching the Apostles Creed to college students. It was moderately helpful overall with a few instances of unique insight. It is written much more to be read and encouraged, not as a help for teachers.

DR. HORTON TRULY SHOWS THE DANGERS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. THE CHURCH IS SUBTLY MOVING AWAY FROM IT'S ROOTS AND HE SHOWS THAT IF THE CHURCH DOESN'T WAKE UP IT IS GOING TO FIND ITSELF DEEPER IN APOSTASY. WE DON'T NEED NEW FORMATS IN THE CHURCH. THE OLD WAYS SUCH AS THE APOSTLE'S CREED DEFINE OUR ROOTS AND NEED TO BE BROUGHT BACK.

Made In America details how American Evengelicalism is more a propduct of the American Entrprenuerial spirit than Evengelical. It details clearly the shift that took place between the God-centered focus of the 1st Great Awakening to the man-centered focus of the 2nd Great Awakening.

The first awakening involved a focus on correct teaching. God was seen as the active party in Salvation creating faith in the hearts of belivers through the means of the preached Word. Worship, doctrine and life were all based upon the clear, consistent teaching of Christ as redeemer, living a life in obedience to God's requirements in the place of the sinner, and His sacrificial death in the place of the sinner. Christ was the active party bringing one to faith (throught the means of preaching Christ) and keeping them saved (through the same means.) The 1st awakening was a continuation of the Reformation that started in the 17th century.

The theology shifted drastically between the two awakenings. In reaction to the enlightenment, the ideas of a soveregn 'God who saves and sustains sinners' did not play well in the American Frontier. Rugged American individualism demanded a theological system with a much more optimistic view of mankind. Augustianian beliefs in mankind's total deprvity and inability to please God did not fit well with a lifestyle of people who had fought for independence and conquered a frontier. John Wesley had been preaching (in England) about mankind's ability to turn to God of his own volition, and this mixed much better with the optimistic view so common in America. This lead to the 2nd Awakening in which mankind was to turn to God on his own. The content of preaching shifted from Christ and Him crucified to Man needing to make himself Holy before God.

In this system, a large focus was placed on emotionalism. Emotional appeals were made to get a person to "make a decision for Christ". A new hymnody was developed which focus on mankind's feelings about God instead of God and his attributes. In many of these hymns, such as "In the Garden", Christ is almost seen as a lover of the singer. Sentimentalism about an "idea" of Christ, and of the day when one "made his decision" were severly stressed. One promoter of this viewpoint, Charles Finney, even viewed salvation as being completely the work of man, denying the supernatural in regeneration.

The focus of the preaching in the 2nd awakening was all "Do This" oriented. Christ's perfect obiedience in the place of the sinner was (and is ) absent. The sermon on each Sunday was 'doing better' or 'steps and principles to the victorious Christian Life'.

The Reformation understanding of "simultaneously justified and sinful" was dismissed. The church was not a collection of redeemed sinners, but of victorious people. The 10 commandments were replaced with extra-biblical taboos (such as smoking, drinking, dancing, seeing movies, etc.) that Christ himseld had no concern about. Sin was seen as something 'out there', not as something in each human heart.

Hence, the "outcomes based Christianity" that exists today. Most religous discouxse today is a product of this human centered focus. Evengelcalism has developed a Christian subculture with a "spirit-filled" equivolent of most secular activites.

I have a distinct bias in this. As a 'recovering fundementalist', I can state that confronting the history of the 'outcomes based faith' as profiled in this book, I was able to free myself of many man-centered, man-created false ideologies that had so warped my world-view. This text played a large part in leading me to reformation orthodoxy.

Soli Deo Gloria!!

John J. Lazarchi

If Catholics want to understand why unity is impossible, I would read this book. Protestants should read it and try to figure out how much truth should be sacrificed on the alter of unity. The most important sections was how the false claims of the papacy rose. I would suggest Calvin's Institutes as another reference. Michael Horton is also an engaging writer. Also deals with core issues such as justification and Catholic veneration of Mary.

Horton writes an excellent executive summary, if you will, of what truly continues to divide the churches of the Reformation from Rome.

Primarily as then, Rome's insistence on adding to Scripture alone as the only source of theology; of adding to grace and faith alone as the only source of salvation, continues to erect a huge, major divide between the two. As Horton correctly quotes Avery Dulles in Rome's continued holding to the anathemas of Trent as still prevailing now in Vatican II times, this is absolutely Rome's position.

My own church speaks in detail about this. See "The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification in Confessional Lutheran Perspective" available at www.lcms.org/ctcr/docs/pdf/justclp.pdf, or read Robert Preus' excellent work: Justification and Rome.

The authors present a helpful picture of church unity at the end of the millenium. Far from being anti-Catholic, the authors point out differences in the core beliefs of the reformed faith and the Catholic faith. Highly recommended.

Horton's book seems a little bit less than intellectually honest. While purporting to be a general sort of overview of Christian theology, particularly on the themes of salvation by grace and justification by faith, the fall of man, etc., it develops into a thinly veiled attempt to paint these doctrines under the banner of five point calvinism as if there exists no understanding of grace apart from TULIP. Rather than recognize that there is serious scholarly debate between the camps of calvinism and arminianism, Horton spins his explanation of salvation by grace as if it were a unique posession of reform theologians. In dealing with opposing views, horton frequently appeals to ad hominem slanders and insinuations rather than dealing with the real theological issues. Arminians "limit the power of the atonement". Those who believe men choose to trust in Christ of their own free will are secretly hoping to merit salvation by their works. Wesley is shallowly analyzed as having rejected the calvinist position on election because it took away the motivations of "fear of punishment and hope of reward". Non-reformed evangelists approach unbelievers as "targets, consumers, numbers, and converts" rather than human beings.

...

Horton hits the nail on the head with this book. His bold yet non-judgemental writing style captures your attention, and his sound theology is sure to change your perspectives on grace. I can't express enough how valuable this book is, pick up your copy today! This book is a must read for all Christians.