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Easy Chairs, Hard Words: Conversations on the Liberty of God
by
Douglas Wilson (Goodreads Author)
'Easy Chairs, Hard Words' offers an honest look at many difficult passages in Scripture. Presented as a series of fictional conversations between a curious young Christian and a seasoned pastor, these dialogues speak with clarity to those new to the Reformed faith. They begin with the question, "Can salvation be lost?" and from there wrestle with other hard-to-sw...more
Paperback, 144 pages
Published
October 1st 1997
by Canon Press
(first published January 1st 1997)
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Easy Chairs, Hard Words is a book that describes conversations between a Calvinist minister and a lay person who is an Arminian. It is basically a presentation of a Calvinist apologetic on all of the essential doctrines of that denomination. It is a remarkably good book basing every argument upon strong Scriptural support. It is not written as a polemic against Arminianism, rather it is written as a proof-text for Calvinism.
The first topic is on the perseverance of the saints. The ...more
The first topic is on the perseverance of the saints. The ...more
This book, written in the form of a conversation between a Reformed pastor and a young Christian, is a fly-by examination of the collection of doctrines generally referred to as Calvinism. It is definitely not an in-depth examination of the Reformed teachings, but its brevity added much to its readability. Here are a few good quotes and paraphrases:
The question is not whether a Christian can lose his salvation, but rather, can Christ lose a Christian?
"Individual athe...more
The question is not whether a Christian can lose his salvation, but rather, can Christ lose a Christian?
"Individual athe...more
Concerning the truth as it relates to a number of important theological issues:
1. Losing your salvation/or not
2. Election
3. Is God really in control?
4. Terms that are loosely used (and buzz words)...what they imply or mean/or not.
5. The history of how many theological views/terms came to be; such as, evangelical and revivals.
Doug Wilson is "interviewing" a fellow pastor of another persuasion to determine why he believes what he believes. Doug wa...more
1. Losing your salvation/or not
2. Election
3. Is God really in control?
4. Terms that are loosely used (and buzz words)...what they imply or mean/or not.
5. The history of how many theological views/terms came to be; such as, evangelical and revivals.
Doug Wilson is "interviewing" a fellow pastor of another persuasion to determine why he believes what he believes. Doug wa...more
This book takes the form of a conversation between a younger Christian seeking answers and an older pastor who is willing to discuss the tough and often contentious issues surrounding the biblical doctrines typically labelled as Calvinism or Reformed theology. While the mechanics of the conversation are at times a bit contrived (as another reviewer has mentioned), this is not a major drawback of the book. There are many more thorough introductions to the distinctives of Reformed theology but thi...more
Wilson tells the story of a non-Calvinist coming to Calvinism through dialog with a Calvinist pastor in this short, easy to read book. Good reads says that two stars means "it was okay," and that's why I gave it two stars: it was okay. Nothing stellar. Certainly nothing I'd give an Arminian, especially a knowledgeable, well-read one.
This book is like the theological counterpart to Wilson's Persuasions book; and though not deep, I enjoyed that one.
Despite the su...more
This book is like the theological counterpart to Wilson's Persuasions book; and though not deep, I enjoyed that one.
Despite the su...more
If this one doesn't get you thinking more deeply about what you believe and why, I don't know what will. Addressing key issues is one of Wilson's fortes, as is making the hidden arguments understandable to the lay-reader.
The first chapter is a wonderful treatise for those who believe that we, not Christ, are the trustees of our salvation, and therefore are able to loose it or misplace it, or whatever.
Much more good stuff awaits you in the following chapters.
The first chapter is a wonderful treatise for those who believe that we, not Christ, are the trustees of our salvation, and therefore are able to loose it or misplace it, or whatever.
Much more good stuff awaits you in the following chapters.
Douglas Wilson invites you on a journey of one Christians desire to understand the difficult doctrines of grace. It is cleverly written, with the Easy chair belonging to the patient pastor from across town who lovingly and carefully teaches the young man seeking answers to very hard questions. This book masterfully answers many of the Bible questions one faces as he or she try's to better understand the sovereignty of God in all things.
As good as any Socratic dialogue, as far as I'm concerned. Or better, since he didn't conclude with a recommendation to ban music and hold women in common. I could see this book being translated into Bantu three hundred years from now and included in the Bantu edition of "Evangelical and Post-Evangelical Fathers" set. Not because it's earth-shattering, but because, like every classic, it unites depth and simplicity.
Fantastic book dealing with various issues relating to the sovereignty of God in all areas of life and doctrine, including salvation. Written as a dialogue between a Calvinistic pastor and an interested member of another denomination, this book is worth the read regardless of where you fall on the Calvinist-Arminian spectrum.
A fairly quick read. Pastor Wilson has a knack for putting difficult theological concepts in simple terms. This is a great introduction to the doctrines of grace! It doesn't interact with objections to a great extent, but gives good explanations and biblical support for some difficult doctrines.
Easy Chairs, Hard Words offers an honest look at many such difficult passages in Scripture. Presented as a series of fictional conversations between a curious young Christian and a seasoned pastor, these dialogues speak with clarity to those new to the Reformed faith. They begin with the question, "Can salvation be lost?" and from there wrestle with other hard-to-swallow doctrines, including the freedom of the will, election, and original sin.
Hard words, and yet the underst...more
Hard words, and yet the underst...more
This may very well be the best book on theology I have ever read. It is simple and easy to follow, written in a narrative dialogue format, and yet it's amazingly complex in its ideas. The book is set up as a series of "meetings" between a young seeker and an experienced spiritual mentor (who is probably a pastor) as they examine together some of the tenets of the Christian faith.
This book helped me personally when I was wrestling through some questions about my beliefs. ...more
This book helped me personally when I was wrestling through some questions about my beliefs. ...more
Excellent. A beautiful primer that makes good use of the phrase, coined by Pastor Mark Driscoll, "Soft words make hard hearts, hard words make soft hearts."
Certainly not the most comprehensive defense of Calvinism you will find in print, but one of the more whimsical and, I believe, effectively persuasive.
Remarkable dialogs in the tradition of Socrates, except pertaining to Christianity in the contemporary world. Superb!
Good. Easy to read conversational style. It covers some of the basics regarding what the scripture says about the sovereignty of God.
one of the first books i read when i was discovering the joys of theology, back in high school. excellent
This book led a paradigm shift in my thinking. Its only flaw is its brief length
one of the first books on the doctrines of grace i ever read.
This is all very clear, biblical theology. I feel a twinge of regret, because the vehicle is underused. Wilson makes the book into a form of dialogue between a Reformed Pastor and a doubting Arminian young man. This is good, but neither character does anything, but be a mouth-piece for the doctrinal info. It's good doctrine, but if one reads, say, Peter Kreeft's Socrates dialogues, it's clear you can have both doctrine and real characters.
This is a good primer on the doctrine of the unlimited sovereignty of God. The book is in an accessible conversation format, between an apparent inquisitive young christian and a seasoned Calvinist pastor. I thought that the discussion on free will was a little bit weak, not answering the main objections, however the analogy of actors and directors will resonate with some.
All in all this was a valuable and enjoyable read.
All in all this was a valuable and enjoyable read.
This is a great book, that I recommend to all. A man approaches a pastor known as a "Calvinist" and converses with him over the course of several weeks on topics of salvation, election, total depravity, the atonement and so on. The dialogues are excellent, logical, and scriptural debates between the Arminian and Calvinist positions.
Excellent!
Excellent!
2nd time through.
3rd time - Jan. 2010 (for Christus Rex Study Center)
Good stuff!
3rd time - Jan. 2010 (for Christus Rex Study Center)
Good stuff!
Good
Can't tell you how much this book reads like an actual conversation with Pastor Wilson. Therefore, I like.
Easy read for discussions on God's sovereignty.
Where R.C. Sproul Jr.'s Almighty Over All has the feel of classroom instruction, Easy Chairs and Hard Words by Douglas Wilson has the feel of a living room conversation. It, too, surveys a spectrum of topics relating to God’s sovereignty. It is written as a series of conversation between a baptistic young Christian and a ‘Calvinist’ pastor. The conversation turn immediately onto the question of eternal security and moves through a series of discussions that might flow from that first conversa...more
Wes King
marked it as to-read
Michael Wilson
marked it as to-read
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I write in order to make the little voices in my head go away. Thus far it hasn't worked.
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