R. T. Kendall, Unashamed to Bear His Name: Embracing the Stigma of Being a Christian
Although Kendall’s topic is certainly an important one for every Christian to hear, no matter their theological proficiency, Kendall waters down much of his message and therefore some parts of his argument move along at a mundane pace. For example, he sets out to explain how the message of God was already causing offense throughout the Old Testament scriptures, but does little more than repeat basic narrative facts of the most well known Old Testament tales. He is also prone to going off topic throughout the book. For example, while sharing his thoughts on why the Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah, Kendall ends up trivializing the strength of the Jewish faith in a rather startling and dismissive way.
Overall, Kendall’s point is well taken that Christians should not worry about their status or prestige in the eyes of the world (or even in the eyes of other Christians). He reminds us that we may not always be popular for our “offensive” beliefs and that people of faith have suffered through such stigma for thousands of years. Instead of wallowing in shame and embarrassment, Kendall encourages us to consider any suffering because of Christ as a badge of honor, a divine privilege, and overall, a reason to rejoice.
Reviewed by Laura Gummerman
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Category: Living the Faith, Spring 2013
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