You Are The Treasure That I Seek...: But There's a Lot Of Cool Stuff Out There, Lord (Paperback)
Read inside (PDFs): Sample Pages
Publisher: Discovery House
Author: Dutcher, Greg
ISBN-10: 1572933097 | ISBN-13: 9781572933095
Binding: Paperback
List Price: $12.99
Westminster Bookstore: $10.26
- 21% Off
|
|
|
"It is a clarion call for Christians to take seriously the issue of idolatry in our own lives and the life of the church"
- Ben Thocher, Westminster Bookstore
Read an interview with the author.
Publisher's Description: With honesty, humor, and compassion, author Greg Dutcher addresses a contemporary problem that most Christians aren’t even aware of: idolatry. He reminds his readers that there is a battle to be fought, and what is at stake is our lives, the lives of others, and, most importantly, the reputation of Christ Himself. With winsome anecdotes, references to modern culture, biblical references, and nods to respected theologians such as Charles Spurgeon, John Piper, and C. S. Lewis, Dutcher makes us aware of the problem, helps us isolate it, and then gives us the weapons to contain it. Study questions at the end of each chapter make this a great individual or group Bible study.
144 Pages
Published May 2009
About the Author: Greg Dutcher is senior pastor of Christ Fellowship Church in Fallston, Maryland. He and his wife, Lisa, have four children. |
|
"Greg Dutcher's book serves as a set of 'night-vision goggles' to help us root insidious idols out of our hearts. Then he goes futher and restores and renews us in full-fledged adoration of Jesus."
- Kris Lundaard, author of The Enemy Within
"This is a great book (and a needed one), and Greg's writing is crisp and fun."
- Dr. Steve Brown, nationally syndicated talk-show host, Key Life network
"Greg Dutcher’s book is excellent. It is biblical in content and very well written. It is wonderful that Greg has made the subject so accessible. He is a master of illustration. The discussion of the idols of our lives leads to a strong affirmation of the gospel. This book would be great for adult or high school Bible studies or as a gift for an inquirer."
- Dr. John Frame, professor of systematic theology and philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary, and author of The Doctrine of God and Salvation Belongs to the Lord
"Greg Dutcher . . . dares to tell us the bad news about ourselves in order that we can hear, clear and fresh, the good news in spite of ourselves."
- Mark Buchanan, author of The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath
“Greg Dutcher's You Are The Treasure That I Seek is one of the most helpful and challenging books I have read on the subject of idolatry in recent years. It is entertaining, engaging, exceptionally practical, and most importantly, thoroughly biblical. Dutcher's perceptive cultural analysis and deep pastoral concern make this book a joy to read as he takes us from the dark depths of our idolatrous desires to the glorious heights of Christ's accomplished work on our behalf. You Are the Treasure That I Seek is a tremendous resource for becoming a "recovering idolater" and seeing, understanding, and living in the truth that "Jesus Christ is our everything, or he isn't anything."
Answering the cry of the American Dream, You Are The Treasure That I Seek offers a counter-cultural assessment: idolatry is alive and well in the very fabric of our lives and routines. "We don't need to travel to distant jungles to find a place where idolatry is practiced; idolatry is going on inside of us." Dutcher moves us from seeing idolatry as "an old-fashioned word consigned to social studies classes and Clive Cussler novels" to understanding it for what it ultimately is: spiritual adultery. Mankind has "swapped the masterpiece of God for a garage sale counterfeit" and this exchange is at the heart of what Dutcher identifies as our "idolatry syndrome."
The strength of Dutcher's book by far lies in his careful attention not only to assessing the problem and its effects, but to offering helpful (and difficult) reflections on Jesus Christ as the exclusive remedy. The cure to our "idolatry syndrome" is nothing less than total abandonment to Jesus Christ. Dutcher writes that "until we are convinced that Jesus is a treasure in himself, for no other reason than for being who He is, we will continue to turn our hearts to the copies and counterfeits that offer us ‘fresher' benefits." Dutcher's book is not simply a call to pull up our spiritual bootstraps or to buckle down and try harder. Rather, we are consistently pointed to the excellencies of Jesus Christ as the sole weapon against the deceit of idolatry. He writes:
"Being enamored with Christ is the best offensive weapon against idolatry. When idols call for our attention, we should flee, yes, but in fleeing we need to ask God to show us the excellencies of the Savior. Hearts that cherish, trust, or fear Jesus more than anything else prove to be barren soil for idols. Counterfeit saviors cannot grow in soil that has been reserved for Christ alone."
Dutcher does not offer a quick and easy five step process to beat the idolatry odds, nor does he promise instant success. Instead, he introduces us to a lifelong journey, "a journey to explore why Jesus Christ is more precious than anything."
Not much more than a hundred pages in length, Dutcher's book is not a long read. Despite its brevity, though, You Are The Treasure That I Seek packs a theological punch. It is a wake-up call for Christians to take seriously the issue of idolatry in our own lives and the life of the church. Study questions accompany each chapter making the book a great resource for small groups or individuals. Dutcher's Christ-centered reflection is a helpful and much needed addition to the life of the church. I highly recommend this title.
|
