A Review Article -- By: Robert Pyke

Journal: Reformation and Revival
Volume: RAR 10:3 (Summer 2001)
Article: A Review Article
Author: Robert Pyke


A Review Article

Robert Pyke

Mighty Man Of God: A Return To The Glory Of Manhood, Sam Laing. Woburn, Massachusetts: Discipleship Publications International (1999). 156 pages, paper, $9.99

Discipleship Publications International is the publishing house for the Church of Christ, and Sam Laing is a Church of Christ pastor. He leads the Triangle Church in the Raleigh-Durham—Chapel Hill area of North Carolina. Author of Be Still, My Soul, Mr. Laing has also co-authored several other family-oriented books with his wife, Geri. Because the Church of Christ published this book, it will probably not be widely known in evangelical circles. It is being reviewed not because of its influence, but to alert readers to the subtle dangers often found in current Christian books arising out of the contemporary climate of con fused evangelical theology.

The author stresses that God created men to thrill to the challenge of a great cause, to hunger to go out and do mighty deeds, and to bravely overcome adversity as mighty warriors for God. Mr. Laing wants to rouse Christian men from the sloth, mediocrity, and forgotten dreams to which they so easily succumb, so that they may set their sights and standards very high. Who could argue with that goal? It is

not the goal of this book, but the motivation and means driving the goal, which trouble me.

Mighty Man of God reads much like Promise Keepers literature. It is an inspiring call for men to band together in groups committed to pursuing radical Christian discipleship. One can easily be caught up by the book’s appeal to lay aside the sin which so easily entangles, and become fired up to press on toward the mark of our high calling for which we are earnestly challenged to aim. Mr. Laing has high standards, a good deal of insight into human nature, and an infectious zeal. His velvet-gloved appeal for men to take Christian discipleship seriously also cleverly conceals the steel fist of works righteousness that drives it.

Mighty Man’s genesis is found in a challenge Mr. Laing gave to the men of his church:

You are invited to a special meeting on Saturday, October 10, at 5:30 a.m. at the Triangle Church. I have some plans to present that will change your life and have a profound influence on the entire church. The inconvenience of the hour is by design. If you do not wholeheartedly desire to be there, please do not come. If you are late, turn around and go home. The doors will be locked at the beginning of the meeting and will not be opened until we finish one hour later.

The meeting will be with a handpicked group ...

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