I have just published a book called The Re-Justification of God.
Here’s the cover:
It is probably the ugliest book cover I have ever designed, but if you compare it with the cover from John Piper’s book on the right, you’ll see why I created the cover as I did.
Why did I write The Re-Justification of God?
Ever since I read John Piper’s The Justification of God about twenty years ago, I have wanted to write a book in response called The Re-Justification of God.
Why?
I believe that Piper’s book does more to malign the name of God and His character than uplift and glorify it. To put it bluntly, I don’t think Piper’s book does anything to accomplish “The justification of God” but actually does the opposite!
So I wanted to write a book which explains Romans 9 in a way that presents God in light of Jesus Christ, in a way that does not make God responsible for hating Esau, hardening Pharaoh’s heart, and condemning a large majority of mankind to everlasting damnation in hell.
Look, I have great respect for John Piper, but much of his theology really gets my blood boiling, and this book of his on Romans 9 was no exception.
But it wasn’t just his book. Most of the explanations of Romans 9 I have read from Calvinists seem to be completely off track and do more to undermine the character of God than glorify it.
So in light of all the bad theology that has been taught from Romans 9, I wanted to write a book that explained the text of Romans 9 in a way that truly presents God in the light that Paul presents Him, as a God of light, love, mercy, grace, and longsuffering toward all.
That would be a great book, right?
Well, guess what?
Despite appearances, the book I just published is not that book. My The Re-Justification of God is not a point-by-point refutation of Piper’s The Justification of God. My book is not even a point-by-point refutation of the typical Calvinistic understanding of Romans 9. That is the book I set out to write, but it is not the book I am announcing here.
…Sorry to disappoint you.
However…
…My book IS the first draft in what will hopefully become that book.
While I believe my new book does provide an overall big-picture analysis of Romans 9:10-24 that is neither Calvinistic nor Arminian, and while I believe my book provides logically and theologically sound explanations for why God “hated” Esau, why God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and how God treats the “vessels of wrath” destined for destruction, I was not able to provide ALL the scholarly and exegetical details that a book like this requires.
So this book is the brief summary of the book I initially set out to write so many years ago. It is not finished, however. It is less than half-way done. Oh, the ideas are all there, but the book contains very little of the exegetical evidence which is needed to defend the ideas.
So why am I publishing this book now if it’s not done?
In the opening pages to this new book, I explain why, but in a nutshell, the reason is that if I didn’t publish it now, it would probably never get done. Also, having the book out there allows people to respond to it and interact with it so that in a future edition I can correct or attempt to better explain the ideas I present in the book.
And following the theme in the cover image above, here is an image of some of the edits I performed on this manuscript:
As with many of my books, there are probably still several typographic mistakes in it. If you find some, please send me an email, or use the “Contact Me” section on my About page to let me know where they are so I can correct these mistakes in future editions of the book.
So how can you get and read this book?
This book is available for purchase on Amazon.
Once you have read it, let me know what you think by leaving a review on Amazon.
And hey, would you let others know about this new book by using the share buttons below? Thanks!
I’ve always wanted to write a response to that book, but really I just wanted someone to do it from a FG perspective. Thanks for doing the work!
Well, my book is not done, so you can work on yours, and then when I get around to finishing mine, I can cite the research done in yours! So get to work! 😉
I’m a few pages in. Like what I’m reading so far.
Thanks for reading it and for the feedback.
Just bought mine.
Just love Romans 9!
Ah, J.D. Myers! That’s the name that will stick. Not able to read the book yet, but hope to soon. Thanks for the copy.
Thanks! Let me know if you have feedback!
Thank you so much brother for blessing us with this book. The Lord has opened my eyes to so many things about His love for us through your writings. May God continue to bless the work of your hands.
Mark,
You have no idea how encouraging this comment was. Thank you very much. May God bless you as well.
Jeremy, looking forward to reading. Have always found Piper’s (and traditional Reformed Theology’s) explanation in Romans 9 to be full of problems. In fact, I have met many raised in those traditions who cannot even read Romans 9 because that cannot reconcile the picture of God there with the God they have come to know. There is little hope or real Good News in the view of God perpetuated by Piper et al.
FedEx
Right! I am hoping to restore hope to the Gospel of Hope! There is very little hope in some systems of theology.
In reading Jeremy Meyer’s _The Re-Justification of God_, I realized that one could analyze pericopes, using _The Communication Wheel_.
Working The Wheel
Clearly state what you are sensing:
* What do I see?
* What do I hear?
* What do I touch?
* What do I taste?
* What do I physically feel?
Clearly state what your thoughts are:
* Here is what I think is going on;
Clearly state what your current feelings/emotions are:
* I am glad;
* I am sad;
* I am mad / angry;
* I am frustrated;
Clearly state what your wants are:
* For your self;
* For the person one is addressing;
* For the people one is addressing;
* For other involved people;
* For other uninvolved people;
Clearly state what actions:
* You have taken in the past;
* You will take now;
* You will take in the future;
Using The Wheel
For every individual in the passage, Work The Wheel, responding on the basis of the content of the passage that is by, or about that individual. There will be parts of the wheel that one is unable to answer. Notate those passages. Using your Biblical software tools, locate other passages in the Bible, where the individual is present. Go through those passages, looking for information about how to fill in the blank parts of the wheel, for the individual.
I’m still testing this out. Thus far, it has had, shall we say, interesting consequences.
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Hi J.D.: Thank you for this beginning version of your book. I am sending this two and a half years after this blog started. Do you have an idea when your more complete version will be available?
Also, is there another book you can recommend in the meantime? I would appreciate a response.
John D. Wagner