Christ is All

This weeks Book of the Week is Christ is All by, Michael Haykin, and Darrin R. Brooker.

Summary of the Piety of Horatius Bonar:

Volume 4 in the Profiles in Reformed Spirituality series was written and edited by Dr. Michael Haykin and Darrin R. Brooker (the latter being the editor and publisher of the Life and Works of Horatius Bonar CD-Rom).
This volume – entitled Christ is All – gives a biography of Horatius Bonar and picks many glorious writings that help reveal his piety. Bonar is greatly known for his preaching of the gospel, which in turn saved many souls. Throughout his biography, it is shown how many great theologians influenced his life. Dr. Haykin also provides a brief summary of some of Bonar’s early pastorates in Leith and Kelso, and tells about the many writings that created revivals in Scotland. This book summarizes what was clearly seen in Bonar’s life, pastorate, and writings: that Christ is all. Bonar’s whole life centered around Christ, in Whom he served.

Summary of the selected works of Horatius Bonar:

The second section of Christ is All includes 65 selected writings from Horatius Bonar. These writings clearly reveal Bonar’s love for Christ. It seems that on every page Bonar points to Christ… whether it is the way we read, the way we grow, the way we do our work, or the way we pray – every aspect points to Him. Bonar saw that Christians were to be above reproach, were to be a strong and bold witness, and were to stay true to their Christian walk until the end of their ministry. He placed emphasis on the way that Christians use their time – not in things of the world, but spending time in the Scriptures, which led to a life of piety. Bonar knew the trouble of sin, and that is why his writings made it clear that believers are to aim to glorify God and focus their faith on Christ. He believed that all of Christianity was to be summed up in the lives of believers in how they lived out their doctrines. One of my favorite sections of Bonar’s writings is found in section 41, entitled Christianity: Doctrine in Life, where he says, “Christianity is both a life and a dogma; quite as much the one as the other.”

Recommendation: 8 out 10

Christ is All is lengthier than the first 3 volumes in The Profiles of Reformed Spirituality. Where the others had 28-30 sections, Bonar’s selected writings include 65. For the sincere Christian that wants to see and know how to live a life in tune with Christ, Bonar is a great example. His spirituality is clearly shown throughout his life and throughout these particular sections of writings. No matter if you are young or old in age, or young or old in the faith, like Dr. David Murray says, “As Bonar would wish, every word points us to the Christ of all ages for all ages.” And the same goes for us in the 21st Century, as Christians need to be reading substantial theology and substantial writings that point us to Whom saved us. When we read such writings as this, the believer will truly see that Christ is all.