Author, Simon.
Published, January 12, 2009.

Death By Love was published late last year, and is the second in the ‘Resurgence Literature’(Re:Lit) series. Mark Driscoll is a pastor at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, and Gerry Breshears is a professor of theology at Western Seminary. Both Driscoll and Breshears co-authored the first in the series, Vintage Jesus, along the next in the series, Vintage Church.

As far as books on the Crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth goes, this is a powerful and challenging piece of writing. The format is as follows; Driscoll writes a letter to someone in his pastoral care. In it, he connects deeply with their particular situation, applying the death and resurrection of Christ to their needs. Essentially, he explains how the Cross applies to their life experiences. Breshears then answers some common questions regarding the material in the chapter.

As Driscoll explains in the introduction about Substitutionary Atonement is “the great jewel of our faith”, the twelve chapters of the book all “examine twelve glorious sides of that jewel that together shine forth the glory of God.” This is, however, not merely high theology. Each letter is written to individuals dear to Driscoll. Interestingly, some are Christians and some are not. Those whom are addressed vary from those who have sinned gravely (John, who molested a child), to those who have been sinned against (Luke, whose wife slept with his friend). Some letters make pleasant reading, like Driscoll’s letter to Susan, who simply “Want[s] to know God”. Others are to people who are simply revolting, like the letter to Hank, who is “Going to Hell”.

Incredibly, though, Driscoll balances harsh and honest words, with gracious and truly loving teachings of Gospel truth. Thomas, for example, cops a barrage of harsh words in his letter. Driscoll, though, shows plainly and powerfully that Jesus is Thomas’ redemption from his adulterous life, and makes it stunningly clear that he wants Thomas to turn to Christ. The most devastating story in the book is that of Mary, who was raped and abused. Driscoll examines and applies powerfully the doctrine of Expiation; Jesus has cleansed Mary, despite the fact that she was sinned against. This chapter is also the most beautiful.

Breshears answers the common responses and questions on each chapter, with clarity and depth. He challenges many widespread misconceptions about things like substitutionary atonement, and propitiation. Furthermore, this book is not only theologically engaging, but has widespread pastoral applications. It does two things brilliantly; it examines, in great detail and depth, the important doctrines which make up the truths of the Cross. It also applies these truths to real-life situations. These are situations which every person will either experience or talk to someone who has had the said experience. As Christians we should know what the work of Christ on the Cross has done for the hurting people we encounter every day. I agree with Dan Jarrell on the book’s back cover;

Practical and powerful. It applies the sufficiency of Jesus to the real-life challenges we face in the church every. If you work with hurting people you need Death By Love.

We all work with hurting people every day, because we live in a broken and dying world. Published by Crossway, available at Koorong and Word, or at Amazon.