Book Review: Humble Orthodoxy by Joshua Harris

Book Review:  Humble Orthodoxy by Joshua Harris

Most people still remember the children’s riddle:

Question:  “What did the Big Firecracker say to the little Firecracker?” 

Answer:  “My pops bigger than yours.”

This applies to this small book by Harris.  In many ways it delivers a big bang.  Not that there is anything new in the content.  We find the same plea in the New Testament, both in the Gospels and in the Epistles.  Also, in the Early Church, prompting Augustine to write:  “In essentials, unity; in non essentials, liberty, in all things, charity.” 

In all things, charity.  In a sense this is what Harris is urging us, his readers, to do.  You do not have a corner on the truth…you are as blind and as fallible as the next person…so exercise restraint when slamming your fist on the table of doctrinal discussion.  “If we live with a heart of compassion and humility,” Harris writes on page 59, “the Holy Spirit can use that to draw people to God.” 

But what delivers the big bang is the simplicity, the readability, and the brevity of this book.  These three elements make this book accessible to many who would otherwise not take a second look.  While the truth of the content matter is profound, Harris presents it in a way that all may, not only grasp his point, but also take the theory and put it into practice.  The Study Guide in the back of the book helps with this necessary application phase. 

There was only one thing that bothered me…while Harris does mention Paul’s possible desire to apologize to Barnabas and John Mark on page 56, he missed the opportunity to show the growth of humility in this man who had once allowed the arrogance of his past as a Pharisee to dictate how he dealt with, not only Barnabas and Mark, but also with Peter in the issue with the Galatians.  This would have presented a ray of hope to those who, like me, have struggled for years to see the beam in my own orthodox eye.

"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review."

About the Author

Joshua Harris is senior pastor of Covenant Life in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He is the best-selling author of Dug Down Deep: Building Your Life on Truths That Last and several books on relationships, including the run-away bestseller, I Kissed Dating Goodbye. He and his wife, Shannon, have three children. Find out more at www.joshharris.com

For a sneak peek, see here:  http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/blog/2013/01/08/sneak-peek-humble-orthodoxy-by-joshua-harris/