Reviewing Four Books on Evangelism and Apologetics

I participated as a judge of four pre-selected books on evangelism and apologetics for TGC in 2022. It was a privilege. All four are notable works from accomplished men.

As I read each one, I realized I was reading with an eye toward who would benefit from it. This made it difficult to decide which one I liked the best. Each has a place where they could be enormously helpful. But in the wrong hands, they will be left unread on the bookshelf.

I only got to vote for one title, so here is my take on all four books.

4. Favorite for Taking the Legs out from under Detractors Concerning Disturbing Old Testament Texts: Is God a Vindictive Bully?: Reconciling Portrayals of God in the Old and New Testaments, by Paul Copan

This book is a thoughtful and scholarly look at the hard texts of the Old Testament. Copan corrects general misconceptions, possible mistranslations, and cultural miscues. While Copan differentiates between detractors—those “inside the Christian faith” (liberal commentators) and those “outside the faith” (the so-called “new atheists”)—most of the book concerns insiders.

Is God a Vindictive Bully? is an excellent resource for preachers who come to difficult texts in the Old Testament and need help. His charts, which look boring at first glance, are actually quite revealing.

I have two concerns that take it out of the running for top title.

I think Copan is too nice. Perhaps this comes from a reliance on more liberal evangelical scholars. But I agree with Tremper Longman, who says Copan tries to “soften the blow” of harsh texts. I appreciate that Copan includes this critique in his book.

To me, the fact that God owns us is critical. We are already cursed—“eat of this tree, and you will surely die.” So if it’s a flood, plague, fire from heaven, the sword, or asleep in our beds after a long full life (all of which are in the Bible), we will come to our deaths by the Lord’s hand. Copan does give evangelists the ability in a conversation to say, “Some Christians say X about that text.” Still, I don’t wholly buy that texts about wiping people out are merely braggadocio, like how we would describe the shellacking of one sports team against another, when judgment must also be in view.

My second concern is that the gospel is fuzzy. It’s there, but as compelling as much of Copan’s writing is, I’m left hoping that those convinced by his often-brilliant arguments will know what to do with that conviction.

3. Favorite for a Thorough, Classical Apologetic Work: Why Believe?: A Reasoned Approach to Christianity, by Neil Shenvi

Shenvi’s book is so wide-ranging it includes a helpful, detailed table of contents and a reading road map in chapter one, suggesting sections certain readers can skip. Before starting the book, I recommend reading Chapter 10 to give the best overview of where Shenvi will take you.

Regardless, I found the book to be excellent. It’s an updated, expanded, deeper Evidence That Demands a Verdict for a postmodern world filled with profound philosophical persuasions, hymns, and touching stories from the writer’s life.

I love this book for Shenvi’s extensive use of Scripture and compelling and clear presentation of the gospel. Of all four books under review, Shenvi’s gospel explanation is the most thoughtful and complete. People in campus ministry should know this book backward and forward.

My one concern is that it’s not exactly a book for a commoner; its place is for the educated—maybe highly educated. Much like Is God a Vindictive Bully?, Why Believe? is a book that trends toward a reference book. Yet, for the thoughtful, genuine questioner of the faith, it’s wonderful.

2. Favorite for Being the Most Winsome and Fresh Take on Christianity and Apologetics (and Coolest Cover): The Air We Breathe: How We All Came to Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress, and Equality, by Glen Scrivener

What a delightful book! Winsome and warm, clever with a wry and sometimes downright funny take on why we in the West think the way we do about the world.

Years ago, Jim Sire wrote about worldviews as a doorway to evangelism. Scrivener argues compellingly that those in the West derive their most deeply held worldviews from Christ. Scrivener juxtaposes Roman and Greek worldviews with the radical teaching of Jesus and sprinkles imaginative illustrations to punch home his points. He imagines Plato blinking under the lights of a TV show, Monty Python-esque, unable to understand a question concerning human value. But the reader will understand the question immediately, given it’s the “air we breathe.”

I appreciate that Scrivener addresses three groups of people: those who have no faith, those who have rejected Christianity, and those who are followers of Christ.

Scrivener zeros in on seven areas of worldview: equality (that all humans have equal value), compassion, consent (meaning sexual consent), enlightenment (which didn’t just take hold in the Enlightenment), science, freedom (dealing with slavery), and progress (the idea that the arc of progress is towards the good).

I found the ninth chapter describing the grave dangers of keeping the teachings of the Christian kingdom, while attempting to discard the King, especially helpful. Scrivener writes, “When equality is divorced from the Christian story, it risks becoming radical individualism.” Or when compassion is divorced from the Christian story, it risks generating “competitive victimhood.”

The gospel is woven throughout, especially in the last chapter “Choose Your Miracle.”

I would gladly give this book to thoughtful friends who have adopted a negative view of the Christian faith. However, it’s another book that is best served up to educated people.

My only quibble is that much of the world is not Western. To his credit, Scrivener addresses this briefly. However, I still found myself thinking of those I know from Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist backgrounds who believe their culture holds many of the same values, but not from Christianity.

1. All-Round Favorite: Reaching Your Muslim Neighbor with the Gospel, by A. S. Ibrahim (Full Review)

I suspect I was the minority vote for this book as number one. It was a hard choice, since all these books are wonderful. I confess it touches on many familiarities I’ve had over the twenty years I’ve lived in the Middle East. But, to be clear, I did not choose this book because I lived in the Middle East. Instead, I prefer this one for the following four reasons.

1. It’s the Only Book of the Four on Evangelism

Apologetics has its place. In my experience, apologetics goes far in shoring up a Christian’s convictions. But never in all my years of attempting to be faithful in evangelism have I led someone to Jesus because I won an argument.

Last month, my cousin Mary had her air conditioner repaired, and as the repairman worked, he announced out of the blue that he was seriously thinking of converting to Islam. Mary took a breath and said, “You know, before you do that, you should seriously consider Jesus.” She asked if she could tell him the heart of Christianity. He expressed genuine interest, and she outlined the message of the gospel.

His response, in wide-eyed wonder, was: “Do you mean Jesus will forgive all my sins?”

Mary said, “Yes, all of them.”

“Wow,” he said. “I didn’t know that. Thanks for telling me.”

I don’t think he needed to hear about the problem texts in the Old Testament. I don’t think he needed a reasoned approach to Christianity. Neither did he need to come to an understanding that his deeply held values about equity or compassion came from Jesus. Instead, he needed the gospel of Jesus Christ. This book gets that.

2. Muslims Say Islam Is the Fastest-Growing Religion in the World. Ibrahim Exposes This as an Exaggeration.

Still, Islam is growing in America. As I regularly say at missions conferences, “There is a mosque coming to a neighborhood near you.”

This book will help Christians prepare for their beautiful opportunity to share the faith with Muslims—without even needing to worry about going to jail!

3. Ibrahim Advances Biblical Evangelism

Many methods for Muslim evangelism sadly take a gnostic approach. That is, a body of secret knowledge must be learned before you talk to a Muslim about the Christian faith.

Hogwash. These overly creative, unbiblical methods only end in confusing a Muslim convert.

Not this book. It’s refreshing that Ibrahim’s method of sharing faith with Muslims is good, gospel-centered evangelism. Consequently, you can read this book and be a better evangelist with non-Muslims.

The principles are solid for all who thoughtfully share their faith. For example, Ibrahim coaches us to take time to consider how Muslims think—a helpful instruction for anybody from any background. His wise evangelistic counsel for Muslim evangelism is easily transposed to everyday evangelism: be ready to read the Bible, communicate clearly and effectively, and be bold and clear.

4. As Expected, This Book Is on Target for Muslim Evangelism

I can vouch for every one of his examples from my experiences in the Middle East. The one I most resonate with is that Muslims are the most accessible people to talk to about faith if you do so with grace and truth. I also appreciate that Ibrahim sweeps away some common misunderstandings about Islam and Muslims while locating potential land mines (specifically about the Koran and Muhammad).

Ibrahim’s book is an excellent, down-to-earth guide for sharing faith with a Muslim friend. Read it alongside Thabiti Anyabwile’s The Gospel for Muslims.

My only concern about the book is what’s left out: the church. (Actually, the church is unmentioned in all four of the books under review, except for a couple of sentences in Shenvi’s.)

Most Muslims I’ve seen come to faith and remain in the faith do so through friendship, the study of the Word, and the witness of a healthy local church. A loving and unified church is the very thing Jesus says is our most excellent evangelistic witness in John 13 and John 17.