Book Review: Humble Orthodoxy by Joshua Harris

ISBN: 1601424752
Published: April 2nd, 2013
Publisher: Multnomah Books
Read from May 10th to 12th, 2013
Synopsis from the publisher:

We don’t get to choose between humility and orthodoxy. We need both.
 
Orthodoxy, for the faithful, evokes what’s cherished and beautiful and eternal. Yet in our day, orthodoxy is too often wielded like a weapon, used to bludgeon others with differing points of view. The word has become associated with behavior like argumentative, annoying, and arrogant.

It’s time for God’s people to demonstrate both right thinking and right attitudes. We are called to embrace and defend biblical truth. But that truth includes repeated commands to love our neighbor, love our enemy, and be clothed in gentleness and respect.

In Humble Orthodoxy, bestselling author Joshua Harris examines New Testament teachings about the calling of believers to a love-infused courage that ignores foolish controversies, patiently endures evil, and champions truth with generosity of spirit. Without this kind of humility, Harris asserts, we become like the Pharisees—right in our doctrine, but ultimately destroying the cause of truth with our pride.

Review:

I really enjoyed Humble Orthodoxy.  I was intrigued by it from the start, but even so, I ended up liking it more than I thought I would initially.  It's a short book (only four chapters), so it's an incredibly quick read.

It touches on some things that I feel like should be common sense, but I know from what I've witnessed it too often isn't.  I've seen a lot of Christians who are so caught up in "being right" that they often overlook the fact that we're supposed to love everyone and treat them with respect.  I thought this book did an amazing job at explaining why both orthodox and humility are important to Christians and why neither one can be overlooked.  It's definitely something that a lot of people need to read.

I did have one small problem with the book, but it was so miniscule that I won't even bother to mention it.  It was more of a personal thing than anything else, and I had pretty much sensed that it would be there.  Still, even with that I extremely enjoyed the book as a whole.  The author said so many great things that all Christians, no matter what their denomination is, need to hear.

I think this book discusses one of the biggest issues among Christians today, and I would highly recommend that all Christians read it.  It really does put things into perspective.  In my own experience, I think humility is something often overlooked by many Christians, and this book really helps show why it is so important.  (I'm sure orthodoxy is too, but I haven't seen it as much in my own experiences.)  If I could, I would find a way to have everyone read Humble Orthodoxy.

You can follow the author on Facebook here.
You can read chapter one here.
Here is a biography of the author.

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