©2000, Intervarsity Press, 263 pp. incl. index, pbk.

Thinking is an important part of the Christian life. The author develops its importance and provides good insight to the development and employment of our minds for God’s glory.

Early in this book, Sire devotes two chapters to John Henry Newman, the author of The Idea of a University and other writings, who spurred him to further thinking on the intellect and its relationship to Christianity. Sire points out Newman’s stress on one’s thinking being grounded on theology. One cannot properly think in academic areas, for example, without relating thoughts to God, the Creator. The Bible is the basis for true thinking. Sire quickly points out his disagreement with Newman, a Roman Catholic, in his elevation of the church as the teacher and the Bible as the supporter of church teaching.

Throughout subsequent chapters, the author develops his theme with the presupposition that the Bible is infallible, inerrant, and the root out of which our thinking is to arise. No area of life is neutral. Thus, thought in any area of life should reflect biblical principles and God-consciousness.  In later chapters Sire addresses topics such as the fun of thinking and the importance of virtues such as patience and perseverance in one’s thought on subjects. These are only a few of the avenues Sire explores in which he underlines the importance of thinking being practical.

Developing one’s thinking requires solitude and silence. Both are difficult in our technological age. Our cell phones go where we go and can provide many interruptions. Computers, televisions, iPods, and many other technological developments call one away from silence and contemplation. The author faces many of the same temptations as do his readers. From practical experience he writes how he handles these hindrances to silence.

As a Christian, Sire realizes that knowledge is only one part of life and it cannot be isolated from daily duties. Knowledge must be put into practice. Knowledge and doing go together. This is certainly difficult as we seek to live out duties we have as Christians such as the development of our prayer life. However, knowledge also carries over into our living out what we know about God’s character. We can give much thought to the applicability of this as we think of God’s sovereignty and good purposes for the Christian in the midst of job losses, terminal illness in the family, or a host of other issues we face in a fallen world and a changing culture. Sire stresses the importance of living out truth. One chapter is devoted to Christ, Who is the Truth, and His thought-provoking responses to various verbal challenges to His Person and ministry. This is an excellent chapter and provides much food for thought. We must be a people who do what we say. He calls on Christian academia and others who speak in public to think by integrating Christian presuppositions and principles into their lectures.

The other side of the coin is that we must be careful to not become puffed up due to our knowledge and its out-working into life. That which is good can always be misapplied or be an environment for temptation.

The author has contributed positively to the area of Christian thinking. He writes mindful of his own growth in this area and aware of the danger that can result in this pursuit. Throughout this work he does not allow the reader to forget the importance of the Bible and our regularly reading it being the primary shaper of how we think.  This book can be used with great profit by parents with teenagers and also by adults who desire to properly interweave Christianity and thinking for God’s glory.

ce. Owen begins

©2010 Byron Snapp, Hampton,Virginia